i love that church is a place for broken people. that nobody is too bad to be loved by God. it isn't about perfection, it's about grace. God's grace upon a sinful people. :)
When Jesus heard this, he told them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor--sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners."
- Mark 2:17
love,
candice
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
let faith arise
Beautiful Woman was incredibly AWESOME! the first night was already so amazing, from the beginning of worship to the very end, and i am so amazed by how personal my God is. struggling with various insecurities (struggled!), i heard God whisper to me today, I love you, I love you, I love you. and i think of all the days i've listened to the enemy's lies that i wasn't loved, that i've messed up one too many times for God's complete forgiveness and i feel.. empowered. stronger. rooted in what i believe in, in what i know to be the truth. God's presence was SO TANGIBLE in that place tonight, throughout the message, He was stirring in that place, breaking bondages and setting people free from the clutches of the enemy. I am just blown away by our God that loves so extravagantly and cares so deeply.
I just wanted to share some of my favourite quotes throughout this weekend:
There's this song we sing that has this line - "You are everything to Me." and everytime i hear it, i feel like God's saying that to me.
When you have begin to have something real with God, He will challenge and mess up the comfort you have substituted for a relationship with Him.
He DESIRES a relationship with you deeply!
*When God encounters you, He always leaves you uncomfortable (happy-scared!). So you're gonna need to pray hard! "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" - Philippians 4:13 You have to be disconnected from the familiar to be connected to the divine.
*Don't look back, if your eyes connect back to where you came from, you get pulled back to who you were.
Sometimes if you would be great in God, you've got to keep moving forward even if your heart is breaking behind you, even if your emotions are raging, and not look back. God knows the plans He has for you and they are BIGGER and BETTER than what you left behind!
It will never be the right time, we just gotta go!
To be a vessel for God's healing and power to come through.
You can never conquer what you won't confront.
*One praying woman can BREAK the hand of the devil upon the people she loves. One praying woman can change a city!
The devil is afraid when you really get serious with praying cause that's when you'll defeat him! A place of prayer is enough to kill the enemy!
*You just need to BELIEVE the Scripture you know.
.. and that's just some! like if i could tell you all i experienced and learnt... just WHOA. still amazed. :P
* 1 - this was such familiar territory yet it rung as such a true reminder. i remember sharing about this in cg and i actually said.. "you know what guys, the harder the better, if it means i'll get to experience God in the midst of all that". and as soon as i left a place of comfort, it became difficult to believe that again. it became so easy to just not wanna pray, not wanna talk, and looking back i see the influence the enemy had on me then, to unleash my laziness and all. but now.. as i remember what i asked God for all that time ago, i know that deep down, i want to pray the same prayer again. Lord, push me to that place of total dependence on You, to a place where i know that i cannot do anything if it wasn't Your gentle hands guiding me and strengthening me. Make me uncomfortable Lord, if it's what it takes to make me grow. Thanks God, for letting me eat my words and learn a valuable lesson once again. :)
* 2 - In line with this Pastor Chris Hill said, "i refuse to be sad forever!" which made me think of how much of my heart i left behind in malaysia, in my past. i'm always whining about how much i miss home that i was blinded to the beauty and amazing people God put before me here, to the joy He's made available for me if i would only get over myself and let go and move forward. now, in no way is moving forward to me forgetting the amazing people i had to part with, but to me it's more not letting my past joys cause me present pain. and consequently, (or not so, cause it's all in God's hands.. ;) ), that morning i had such a fun time getting mini melts with my uni friends, and just soaking in all the laughter and happiness of the present moment. just talking, and opening up again once more, determined to make the best out of where God has put me now. and when i learn to actually appreciate all these people in my life, i find that i am happy. i AM. :)
sonia missed out on the picture though! :( but ah well, she was bunches of fun to watch ridiculous youtube videos with. :P DESPONDEX!
and gosh not to mention these awesome girls (+ ernying, pearly and ann ee) who are just complete blessings in my life, along with the rest of ULU-13. i really thank God for these godly role models in my life, people i admire so much and who make me feel so so at home everytime. it was really great spending this time in beautiful woman with you all! <3 <3 <3
* 3 - i forgot the power of prayer. like.. i really forgot. so many times when i felt so helpless, i did everything but pray. and now i remember, the peace i get when i'm in a real conversation with God when we're alone, the security and affirmation that everything's gonna be alright. :) i've decided to pick it up again, and to fast from facebook too for the next 40 days. facebook is ridonkulous in taking up my time man.. so yea. challenge for me. :) and i'll never forget to take advantage of the absolute privilege i have to be directly connected to God, as His daughter and baby girl. :) i'm gonna keep praying and believing for a breakthrough, and when it comes i KNOW it will come with a double portion. AMEN!
* 4 - i've been believing a lot of lies in my head and now only do i see how strongly and truly the Scripture i know in my head and heart contradicts those thoughts. so these are the truths i will hold on to more strongly from now on.
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] 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."
- Romans 8:38-39
"Now to him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."
- Ephesians 3:20-21
"..casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."
- 1 Peter 5:7
"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."
- Jeremiah 29:11
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."
- Ephesians 2:8-9
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful"
- Psalm 139:14
and reinforcing this now, i won't be fooled into thinking that i am not good enough, or unloved, or will never be strong enough to carry out God's will over my life, or believe that i'm not gonna make it through med school or whatever else circumstance comes my way because GREATER IS HE WHO IS IN ME!
i guess to many who've never experienced God in this way before, it's difficult to believe that people could be so.. tethered and drawn to an invisible God. but it takes more that seeing to be visible , and real in a person's life. i feel God when He's around me, i know He always is but when i really tune in to that, i can feel Him so real, so true, so loving in my life. and once you know that sort of love He has for you, that deep, immeasurable love that was shown so sacrificial when Jesus died on the cross for our sins that we may be set free, when you really realize that, you'll see that everything else pales in comparison to the everlasting God. there's NO ONE like God, and nothing like His love, and believing that His plans over my life are gonna be greater than i've ever imagined.
i'm not afraid anymore, for now at least but i have the weapons i need to kill the fear should it arise again! for now, i'm not afraid of the future anymore, not afraid of the bad decisions i might make in the future, cause God's holding my hand and leading me into my anointing, my future, my inheritance as a daughter of the Most High King.
God He's awesome! :)
be blessed!! <3
candice :)
I just wanted to share some of my favourite quotes throughout this weekend:
There's this song we sing that has this line - "You are everything to Me." and everytime i hear it, i feel like God's saying that to me.
When you have begin to have something real with God, He will challenge and mess up the comfort you have substituted for a relationship with Him.
He DESIRES a relationship with you deeply!
*When God encounters you, He always leaves you uncomfortable (happy-scared!). So you're gonna need to pray hard! "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" - Philippians 4:13 You have to be disconnected from the familiar to be connected to the divine.
*Don't look back, if your eyes connect back to where you came from, you get pulled back to who you were.
Sometimes if you would be great in God, you've got to keep moving forward even if your heart is breaking behind you, even if your emotions are raging, and not look back. God knows the plans He has for you and they are BIGGER and BETTER than what you left behind!
It will never be the right time, we just gotta go!
To be a vessel for God's healing and power to come through.
You can never conquer what you won't confront.
*One praying woman can BREAK the hand of the devil upon the people she loves. One praying woman can change a city!
The devil is afraid when you really get serious with praying cause that's when you'll defeat him! A place of prayer is enough to kill the enemy!
*You just need to BELIEVE the Scripture you know.
.. and that's just some! like if i could tell you all i experienced and learnt... just WHOA. still amazed. :P
* 1 - this was such familiar territory yet it rung as such a true reminder. i remember sharing about this in cg and i actually said.. "you know what guys, the harder the better, if it means i'll get to experience God in the midst of all that". and as soon as i left a place of comfort, it became difficult to believe that again. it became so easy to just not wanna pray, not wanna talk, and looking back i see the influence the enemy had on me then, to unleash my laziness and all. but now.. as i remember what i asked God for all that time ago, i know that deep down, i want to pray the same prayer again. Lord, push me to that place of total dependence on You, to a place where i know that i cannot do anything if it wasn't Your gentle hands guiding me and strengthening me. Make me uncomfortable Lord, if it's what it takes to make me grow. Thanks God, for letting me eat my words and learn a valuable lesson once again. :)
* 2 - In line with this Pastor Chris Hill said, "i refuse to be sad forever!" which made me think of how much of my heart i left behind in malaysia, in my past. i'm always whining about how much i miss home that i was blinded to the beauty and amazing people God put before me here, to the joy He's made available for me if i would only get over myself and let go and move forward. now, in no way is moving forward to me forgetting the amazing people i had to part with, but to me it's more not letting my past joys cause me present pain. and consequently, (or not so, cause it's all in God's hands.. ;) ), that morning i had such a fun time getting mini melts with my uni friends, and just soaking in all the laughter and happiness of the present moment. just talking, and opening up again once more, determined to make the best out of where God has put me now. and when i learn to actually appreciate all these people in my life, i find that i am happy. i AM. :)
sonia missed out on the picture though! :( but ah well, she was bunches of fun to watch ridiculous youtube videos with. :P DESPONDEX!
and gosh not to mention these awesome girls (+ ernying, pearly and ann ee) who are just complete blessings in my life, along with the rest of ULU-13. i really thank God for these godly role models in my life, people i admire so much and who make me feel so so at home everytime. it was really great spending this time in beautiful woman with you all! <3 <3 <3
* 3 - i forgot the power of prayer. like.. i really forgot. so many times when i felt so helpless, i did everything but pray. and now i remember, the peace i get when i'm in a real conversation with God when we're alone, the security and affirmation that everything's gonna be alright. :) i've decided to pick it up again, and to fast from facebook too for the next 40 days. facebook is ridonkulous in taking up my time man.. so yea. challenge for me. :) and i'll never forget to take advantage of the absolute privilege i have to be directly connected to God, as His daughter and baby girl. :) i'm gonna keep praying and believing for a breakthrough, and when it comes i KNOW it will come with a double portion. AMEN!
* 4 - i've been believing a lot of lies in my head and now only do i see how strongly and truly the Scripture i know in my head and heart contradicts those thoughts. so these are the truths i will hold on to more strongly from now on.
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] 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."
- Romans 8:38-39
"Now to him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."
- Ephesians 3:20-21
"..casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."
- 1 Peter 5:7
"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."
- Jeremiah 29:11
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."
- Ephesians 2:8-9
"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful"
- Psalm 139:14
and reinforcing this now, i won't be fooled into thinking that i am not good enough, or unloved, or will never be strong enough to carry out God's will over my life, or believe that i'm not gonna make it through med school or whatever else circumstance comes my way because GREATER IS HE WHO IS IN ME!
i guess to many who've never experienced God in this way before, it's difficult to believe that people could be so.. tethered and drawn to an invisible God. but it takes more that seeing to be visible , and real in a person's life. i feel God when He's around me, i know He always is but when i really tune in to that, i can feel Him so real, so true, so loving in my life. and once you know that sort of love He has for you, that deep, immeasurable love that was shown so sacrificial when Jesus died on the cross for our sins that we may be set free, when you really realize that, you'll see that everything else pales in comparison to the everlasting God. there's NO ONE like God, and nothing like His love, and believing that His plans over my life are gonna be greater than i've ever imagined.
i'm not afraid anymore, for now at least but i have the weapons i need to kill the fear should it arise again! for now, i'm not afraid of the future anymore, not afraid of the bad decisions i might make in the future, cause God's holding my hand and leading me into my anointing, my future, my inheritance as a daughter of the Most High King.
God He's awesome! :)
be blessed!! <3
candice :)
Monday, July 18, 2011
more than one kind of family
i've been meaning to post about this for a while now. :) going back to crisis home after i came back was a nice experience! i love going there, the uncles are always so nice and friendly, no new picture with them with me sadly. i titled this post such cause every time i go there and see 10-12 grown men living together and caring for one another, it teaches me that indeed, there is more than one kind of family. definitely though, blood is thicker than water no doubt, to me my family will always have a special place in my heart like no other people. but, in the lives of those not as fortunate as i am to have such a family, i realize that blood is not all that defines family.
it's love that does. and as cheesy as that sounds, it's true. love, and mutual respect. and each time i'm there i just get so amazed by the beauty of the God in our human spirits, that enable us to love one another, bringing everyone to a higher place. just.. wow. :)
and on another note, i've been having these flutters of unspeakable joy when i see anyone rising up to do greater things, to grow in God and do so much more than i expected of them, and when i see or hear of God working in people to make them just.. so much more beautiful, bringing them to where they are today. i think that that's my amazement towards a beautiful God and His works in people. breathtaking. :)
guess those are some of the pretty random thoughts i had. 5 days to go till i leave home once more. :( thank you heaps to people who made the effort to see me while i was here, and i am deeply blessed to know each of you. i will miss you so much. <3
love,
candice
Sunday, July 17, 2011
plain truth
i felt like doing this today. just one-sentences of all i'm feeling right now.
1. I'm scared.
2. It's time for me to let go.
3. There are different things i can no longer expect from different people in my life now.
4. I miss a time when everything was almost perfect.
5. I don't see where my life is heading.
6. Time is moving too quickly.
7. Hold out for more.
8. I don't know if i'm doing the right thing.
9. When i can't hear You, i know You still hear every word i pray.
10. I wish i was stronger.
sigh.
but.. on another note, i wanna thank this amazing daughter of God that really gave me the enormous encouragement i needed exactly when i needed it most. Khaw Ai Mee, it's a true honour to know you at all. thank you. :) <3!
leaving once more,
candice
1. I'm scared.
2. It's time for me to let go.
3. There are different things i can no longer expect from different people in my life now.
4. I miss a time when everything was almost perfect.
5. I don't see where my life is heading.
6. Time is moving too quickly.
7. Hold out for more.
8. I don't know if i'm doing the right thing.
9. When i can't hear You, i know You still hear every word i pray.
10. I wish i was stronger.
sigh.
but.. on another note, i wanna thank this amazing daughter of God that really gave me the enormous encouragement i needed exactly when i needed it most. Khaw Ai Mee, it's a true honour to know you at all. thank you. :) <3!
leaving once more,
candice
Saturday, July 16, 2011
live laugh love pray
some days, i can't believe i'm only 17.
bring me joy
bring me peace
bring the chance to be free
bring me anything that brings You glory
and i know there'll be days
when this life brings me pain
but if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus bring the rain.
- Bring The Rain by Mercy Me
bring me joy
bring me peace
bring the chance to be free
bring me anything that brings You glory
and i know there'll be days
when this life brings me pain
but if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus bring the rain.
- Bring The Rain by Mercy Me
Thursday, July 14, 2011
just breathe
The thought that i held in for most of the day was..
Lord, i don't wanna go back yet.
i'm not ready to go back to melbourne. and i'm so so much more sad and scared this time around because i know what it's like there. i know that there are lonely nights i will have to face, days where i feel so so incredibly discouraged and moments i just wanna give up completely. now that i know that, i know exactly how much more i'm leaving behind. friends, family, freedom, home.
but i wanna dedicate this post to a special group of people very close to my heart. people i believe bring out some sort of best in me. hahah. i know i will miss them heaps when i'm there, thinking of the days we do silly things together. who's gonna sing loud off-key music with me in the car now? in whose car? where am i gonna find people who'd plan uber budget vacations we can all enjoy together and have the perfect mix to make the trip memorable? who's gonna play baseball with me with a cheapo 5-dollar plastic bat in the middle of nowhere? who's gonna scold me for being so irritating all the time? sigh.
people ask me a lot, you and your friends are pretty close huh? why ah, one year only! compared to other friends i've know for longer. but i think, it's chemistry. we all just fit somehow. and we make up for what one another lacks with different plus points and with this exact blend, we form a really amazing friendship. we've got crazy people and stern people, forever loud people and occasionally loud people, normal people and elena, and i'm just so thankful God let me meet them all. :)
i know i should be thankful. not so much upset because i have to leave now, but to be like, really thankful for every single happy memory they've given me and turn that into a sort of strength and reminder that our friendship is real and that there will be more good times to come when we reunite. i know i should live in the present moment, and be glad i had an awesome vacation and be refreshed to go back and study hard to fulfill my dreams and make my parents proud. but i'm not that strong. i'm not the kind of person that does well with a good vacation, cause it just makes it harder to go back to reality.
i guess i'm just whining now. i'm scared of what's to come, knowing there's tears and pain in the future but trying to be hopeful for even more good moments and joy in there too. melbourne's not ALL THAT BAD. there are good people there too, and life can be quite nice sometimes. i know i gotta go back, to learn even more, to meet the people God wants me to meet, to do His work there obediently and to just live out His will for me. i just hope now that i can shake the heaviness in my heart about this. help me Lord i pray.
and don't let me lose this girl either God. please. i just started to remember her.
still, thanks God. no matter how sucky things get, i know You'll be with me every step of the way. i know You're there in my every tear and every joy. that, i can always count on. :) just.. help me through the coming obstacles i pray.
i'm really gonna miss you people. i love you all to bits. :')
scared,
candice
Lord, i don't wanna go back yet.
i'm not ready to go back to melbourne. and i'm so so much more sad and scared this time around because i know what it's like there. i know that there are lonely nights i will have to face, days where i feel so so incredibly discouraged and moments i just wanna give up completely. now that i know that, i know exactly how much more i'm leaving behind. friends, family, freedom, home.
but i wanna dedicate this post to a special group of people very close to my heart. people i believe bring out some sort of best in me. hahah. i know i will miss them heaps when i'm there, thinking of the days we do silly things together. who's gonna sing loud off-key music with me in the car now? in whose car? where am i gonna find people who'd plan uber budget vacations we can all enjoy together and have the perfect mix to make the trip memorable? who's gonna play baseball with me with a cheapo 5-dollar plastic bat in the middle of nowhere? who's gonna scold me for being so irritating all the time? sigh.
people ask me a lot, you and your friends are pretty close huh? why ah, one year only! compared to other friends i've know for longer. but i think, it's chemistry. we all just fit somehow. and we make up for what one another lacks with different plus points and with this exact blend, we form a really amazing friendship. we've got crazy people and stern people, forever loud people and occasionally loud people, normal people and elena, and i'm just so thankful God let me meet them all. :)
i know i should be thankful. not so much upset because i have to leave now, but to be like, really thankful for every single happy memory they've given me and turn that into a sort of strength and reminder that our friendship is real and that there will be more good times to come when we reunite. i know i should live in the present moment, and be glad i had an awesome vacation and be refreshed to go back and study hard to fulfill my dreams and make my parents proud. but i'm not that strong. i'm not the kind of person that does well with a good vacation, cause it just makes it harder to go back to reality.
i guess i'm just whining now. i'm scared of what's to come, knowing there's tears and pain in the future but trying to be hopeful for even more good moments and joy in there too. melbourne's not ALL THAT BAD. there are good people there too, and life can be quite nice sometimes. i know i gotta go back, to learn even more, to meet the people God wants me to meet, to do His work there obediently and to just live out His will for me. i just hope now that i can shake the heaviness in my heart about this. help me Lord i pray.
and don't let me lose this girl either God. please. i just started to remember her.
still, thanks God. no matter how sucky things get, i know You'll be with me every step of the way. i know You're there in my every tear and every joy. that, i can always count on. :) just.. help me through the coming obstacles i pray.
i'm really gonna miss you people. i love you all to bits. :')
scared,
candice
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
courage
God, where do i go from here?
"You can't find what you're looking for if you don't know exactly what it is you want."
"You can't find what you're looking for if you don't know exactly what it is you want."
Monday, July 11, 2011
honesty
i found this VERY GOOD, an honest article that spoke of a man's viewpoint about bersih. i believe everyone should read it, regardless of race or religion because the ultimate main point of this article is not even about the writer's religious preferences. if you still care about Malaysia, i challenge you to read it. not just this too, read more articles about bersih, watch the videos and decide for yourself what the truth is, and which side you're on.
Bersih 2.0 – Would Jesus have marched?
11 July 2011 By Thomas Fann | TinyURL TM
Dear John,
In your Facebook reference to Bersih 2.0, you said that you are glad the rally is over and you asked the question, “Is this the Christian approach to do things? What will Jesus do?” I guess the sight of so-called “street battles” in our capital city between protestors and the police are too distasteful to you and unbecoming behaviour for a follower of Christ. Furthermore it looks too much like a revolt against a sitting government in which case it would be against the words of Paul in Romans 13:1 that we must all submit to governing authorities.
In case you were not aware, I was there to support Bersih and what it stands for. Let me try to explain to you why I went.
In doing voters’ registration for the past year and a half, I have come across too many irregularities firsthand – people who tried to register over and over again but failed for no reason, people who voted before but deregistered, again for no reason. People in the same house but assigned to different constituencies, people who never registered but found themselves registered in some Felda scheme they have never heard before. I can go on and on.
What about gerry-mandering and malapportionment of constituencies? BN strongholds, fewer voters per seat; opposition strongholds, more voters per seat. E.g. Kapar 112K voters PKR; Putrajaya 6K voters BN. Generally, this has been the pattern nationwide. Boundaries are modified after each election to reflect change in the voting patterns. In fact, the way it is, even if the majority of people voted for opposition by 55% to 45%, BN will still form the government. Is this fair?
What about election fraud? The abuse of postal votes where police and military personnel have to vote under duress of being witnessed by their superiors and their votes are used to shore up key BN losing candidates. The buying of votes is now part of the BN election strategic now, doesn’t mind that it is a clear violation of election rules. Remember the famous “You help me, I help you” offer by the PM, not once but over and over again? He promised and delivered that if you vote for his candidate today, he will personally sign the cheque for millions of ringgit tomorrow, if not, don’t bother to come and collect. Is this right just because the PM does it? It is a known fact that huge amount of money were used to buy votes at by-elections these past few years. Power outages during crucial counting of ballots so that bags of ballots could be swapped are regular occurrences.
The fact that 4.3 million eligible M’sians are not registered as voters (about 1/3 of total eligible voters) when they could be registered at a click of a mouse like in S’pore where every citizen automatically becomes registered on their 21st birthday, is yet another concern. Yet, M’sians have to find out themselves how to register, find a place to register, fill up a form in duplicate, submit it, crossing their fingers hoping that SPR would not reject them. They won’t even be notified if they are registered or not, they have to go online to check on their own. Why should it be so in this day and age of technological advancement? The problem is not the lack of technology or funds but the lack of political will to want to register these unregistered voters. Could it be that these 4.3 million are mainly young voters who are more open to change and are better informed than their parents?
There are many, many more issues as demanded by Bersih 2.0 but I won’t go on.
For me, it is an issue of justice. There is a perversion of justice here. And believe me, the people who made up the Bersih 2.0 committee are not thugs or unlearned people. They have tried for years to get the authorities to reform our electoral system but to no avail. Taking to the streets for a peaceful demo is our constitutional right and that only after all other avenues have been exhausted.
I was there. I saw with my own eyes how the PDRM assaulted ordinary men and women without provocation or warning. The protestors were outstanding in their discipline – 50,000 over people and not a single property damage reported, no littering because we picked up our own rubbish and put them in the trash can. There were no street battles or unruly protestors provoking the police as portrayed by the government and the mainstream media. Despite the continuous assault by the police with tear gas and water cannons, the people did not fight back. There was no anger on the faces of the protestors, no fear, no despondency, just a quiet determination to be heard and for our rights to be upheld. I salute these pakciks, makciks, aunties and uncles, the young generation who came out despite the intimidation and unprecedented attempt by the authority to lock down an entire city. I am very proud to counted amongst them.
As we marched together, one elderly Malay gentleman turned to me, looking into my Chinese eyes, he said in Malay “This is the real 1Malaysia”, I agreed and said it is. It is not a slogan, not a logo, not a jingle without any reality. It is a walk. When people come together not to defend their own race or religion but to ask for their most fundamental right to be respected, the right to justice and to be heard, we are one, for we are. When every now and then we broke out into singing our national anthem, it was never more meaningful, especially when we came to the part “Rakyat hidup bersatu dan maju” – The People live in unity and in progress. We are Malaysians, we are all God’s creation, loved by Him.
For too long our nation has been divided when after fifty-three years of independence we should be more united and integrated. I still remember those times before politicians put their dirty fingers into the cultural pot and muddle it up, we were more 1Malaysia. There was no slogan or logo or PR firms to tell us how to be united but just a human decency to respect and accept each other’s differences, be it religion, race or social standing. Most of my best friends in school were people not of my own race and we never thought or talk in term of race or religion. We were Malaysian.
But today, after 30 years of “engineering”, we are so polarised that we have formed our own little “ghettos”, cut off from people not of our own race. We do not understand each other’s cultures, traditions, manners and customs like we used to or we should. In many of us, there is a deep-seated suspicion, resentment, and some, even hatred of the other races. We have forgotten that we are just people, who by divine providence, found ourselves sharing the same homeland. This is OUR home.
That day, as I marched with my fellow Malaysians, it all came back to me – we are as we should be, just honest, decent human beings who care for the future of this nation. I saw elderly pakciks and makciks being rudely spoken to, roughly man-handled and some arrested for simply being there. Have we lost our decency that we have to behave this way even if we are only discharging our duties? The protestors were peaceful but the provocateurs were the police. Have they forgotten who pays for their monthly salaries and who chose the political masters they are now serving? The very people they are now calling and treating as traitors, chasing them around like animals, firing tear gas and water cannons on! We are the rakyat, as you are.
Coming back to your question, John, what would Jesus do? If Jesus were to be living in this country and in this time, what would He have done? If he had known about the injustice done to the people through a flawed and corrupt electoral system, would Jesus have kept quiet and looked away and perhaps plan to migrate to “greener pastures”? If he had wanted to speak up but was told that he needed to apply for a permit and that permit was turned down, would he have just shrugged his shoulders and said, “I tried”? Would Jesus have said, “But the Bible said I have to submit to all governing authority, I can’t go against the government”? You know what. If Jesus had turned the other cheek to all the wrongs and evil in his days and submitted to the governing authorities, He would probably have lived to a ripe old age, gotten married and have children and grandchildren. So would all his disciples – Peter, Paul, Stephen, James, and countless others, they would not have been killed by the governing authorities. Jesus was framed by the politicians of his day, the Pharisees, accused of high treason and executed or as we would like to call it, crucified. Most of the early disciples were martyred because they spoke up, that is, became a “security risk” to the governing authorities. They refused to submit to their demands to be silent and they were executed.
But John, you may be saying, “But Jesus didn’t hold illegal rallies and go on street marches”. Well, he spoke to thousands when he delivered the Sermon on the Mount and when He fed thousands with only two loaves and five fishes. And wherever He went, hundreds, if not thousands followed Him. But He has permit, you say. Well, we don’t know if He has permit or not, though I doubt it. What if He needed to apply for permit and was not given? Would He still have delivered the Sermon on the Mount and fed thousands? I’ve a feeling that Jesus would still have gone ahead. What if in the middle of delivering the sermon, the governing authorities fired tear gas into the crowd and charged at them with batons, turning an otherwise peaceful gathering into a riotous scene. Was Jesus to be blamed though He offered no resistance to the police?
As a man, Jesus was a fire-brand speaker and a radical social reformer and He has asked us to follow in His footsteps. You are right to ask, “What would Jesus do?” I am just not too sure that I would agree with your assumption that Jesus would not be involved in the Bersih 2.0 rally. It was just as well that tear gas and water cannons were not invented during Jesus’ time, otherwise the Gospel pages would be rather scant and most of His speeches would have been interrupted by those same governing authorities He was condemning. Providentially for us, He was able to speak freely even though it offended the authority greatly, enough to plot His death.
John, it is my hope that you would realise that it is not easy for us as Christians to live a pluralistic society like ours and to try and figure out what Jesus would do if He was here. One thing for sure, Jesus was not one to avoid controversies or be cowed by those who opposed Him or is one who avoided taking action when the occasion calls for it; I think of Him overturning the money-changers’ tables in the Temple.
Let me close with this quote by Jesus when He was asked about John the Baptist. In Mathew 11:12 – And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. By “violent” I am sure Jesus does not mean those who would hurt others just to get what they want but Jesus meant that in order to advance the kingdom of heaven, it must be by people who have an inner character quality of quiet determination and discipline to pursue after that which God has called him to. With that I conclude and hope even if taking to the streets is not your cup of tea, you would at least stand with us for what Jesus stood for – freedom, justice, fairplay and love, for that is what Bersih 2.0 is about.
Another thing that I realised when I marched with fellow Malaysians of all races and religion, I am staking a claim to the future of Malaysian on behalf of my children and their children and on behalf of my race and religion. For now we are still defined by our race and religion but may there come a day when we are not. Maybe I will write to you again to explain further about this. Till then, take care.
Your brother in Christ,
Thomas Fann
i teared watching this. would you spare 12 minutes to watch this too?
today i read psalm 52 in my devotion. it's title was The End of the Wicked and The Peace of the Godly. how apt, i thought.
Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man?
The goodness of God endures continually.
Your tongue devises destruction,
Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
You love evil more than good,
Lying rather than speaking righteousness. Selah
You love all devouring words,
You deceitful tongue.
God shall likewise destroy you forever;
He shall take you away, and pluck you out of your dwelling place,
And uproot you from the land of the living. Selah
The righteous also shall see and fear,
And shall laugh at him, saying,
“Here is the man who did not make God his strength,
But trusted in the abundance of his riches,
And strengthened himself in his wickedness.”
But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God;
I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.
I will praise You forever,
Because You have done it;
And in the presence of Your saints
I will wait on Your name, for it is good.
O Lord, i pray for a better Malaysia. one where peace and justice reigns, and where the hearts of all Malaysians beat with unity. i pray for our cries to be heard O Lord, and for change and brighter days to come. Preserve the righteous men and women of Malaysia God, and uphold our nation with Your hand God. Amen.
moved,
candice
Bersih 2.0 – Would Jesus have marched?
11 July 2011 By Thomas Fann | TinyURL TM
Dear John,
In your Facebook reference to Bersih 2.0, you said that you are glad the rally is over and you asked the question, “Is this the Christian approach to do things? What will Jesus do?” I guess the sight of so-called “street battles” in our capital city between protestors and the police are too distasteful to you and unbecoming behaviour for a follower of Christ. Furthermore it looks too much like a revolt against a sitting government in which case it would be against the words of Paul in Romans 13:1 that we must all submit to governing authorities.
In case you were not aware, I was there to support Bersih and what it stands for. Let me try to explain to you why I went.
In doing voters’ registration for the past year and a half, I have come across too many irregularities firsthand – people who tried to register over and over again but failed for no reason, people who voted before but deregistered, again for no reason. People in the same house but assigned to different constituencies, people who never registered but found themselves registered in some Felda scheme they have never heard before. I can go on and on.
What about gerry-mandering and malapportionment of constituencies? BN strongholds, fewer voters per seat; opposition strongholds, more voters per seat. E.g. Kapar 112K voters PKR; Putrajaya 6K voters BN. Generally, this has been the pattern nationwide. Boundaries are modified after each election to reflect change in the voting patterns. In fact, the way it is, even if the majority of people voted for opposition by 55% to 45%, BN will still form the government. Is this fair?
What about election fraud? The abuse of postal votes where police and military personnel have to vote under duress of being witnessed by their superiors and their votes are used to shore up key BN losing candidates. The buying of votes is now part of the BN election strategic now, doesn’t mind that it is a clear violation of election rules. Remember the famous “You help me, I help you” offer by the PM, not once but over and over again? He promised and delivered that if you vote for his candidate today, he will personally sign the cheque for millions of ringgit tomorrow, if not, don’t bother to come and collect. Is this right just because the PM does it? It is a known fact that huge amount of money were used to buy votes at by-elections these past few years. Power outages during crucial counting of ballots so that bags of ballots could be swapped are regular occurrences.
The fact that 4.3 million eligible M’sians are not registered as voters (about 1/3 of total eligible voters) when they could be registered at a click of a mouse like in S’pore where every citizen automatically becomes registered on their 21st birthday, is yet another concern. Yet, M’sians have to find out themselves how to register, find a place to register, fill up a form in duplicate, submit it, crossing their fingers hoping that SPR would not reject them. They won’t even be notified if they are registered or not, they have to go online to check on their own. Why should it be so in this day and age of technological advancement? The problem is not the lack of technology or funds but the lack of political will to want to register these unregistered voters. Could it be that these 4.3 million are mainly young voters who are more open to change and are better informed than their parents?
There are many, many more issues as demanded by Bersih 2.0 but I won’t go on.
For me, it is an issue of justice. There is a perversion of justice here. And believe me, the people who made up the Bersih 2.0 committee are not thugs or unlearned people. They have tried for years to get the authorities to reform our electoral system but to no avail. Taking to the streets for a peaceful demo is our constitutional right and that only after all other avenues have been exhausted.
I was there. I saw with my own eyes how the PDRM assaulted ordinary men and women without provocation or warning. The protestors were outstanding in their discipline – 50,000 over people and not a single property damage reported, no littering because we picked up our own rubbish and put them in the trash can. There were no street battles or unruly protestors provoking the police as portrayed by the government and the mainstream media. Despite the continuous assault by the police with tear gas and water cannons, the people did not fight back. There was no anger on the faces of the protestors, no fear, no despondency, just a quiet determination to be heard and for our rights to be upheld. I salute these pakciks, makciks, aunties and uncles, the young generation who came out despite the intimidation and unprecedented attempt by the authority to lock down an entire city. I am very proud to counted amongst them.
As we marched together, one elderly Malay gentleman turned to me, looking into my Chinese eyes, he said in Malay “This is the real 1Malaysia”, I agreed and said it is. It is not a slogan, not a logo, not a jingle without any reality. It is a walk. When people come together not to defend their own race or religion but to ask for their most fundamental right to be respected, the right to justice and to be heard, we are one, for we are. When every now and then we broke out into singing our national anthem, it was never more meaningful, especially when we came to the part “Rakyat hidup bersatu dan maju” – The People live in unity and in progress. We are Malaysians, we are all God’s creation, loved by Him.
For too long our nation has been divided when after fifty-three years of independence we should be more united and integrated. I still remember those times before politicians put their dirty fingers into the cultural pot and muddle it up, we were more 1Malaysia. There was no slogan or logo or PR firms to tell us how to be united but just a human decency to respect and accept each other’s differences, be it religion, race or social standing. Most of my best friends in school were people not of my own race and we never thought or talk in term of race or religion. We were Malaysian.
But today, after 30 years of “engineering”, we are so polarised that we have formed our own little “ghettos”, cut off from people not of our own race. We do not understand each other’s cultures, traditions, manners and customs like we used to or we should. In many of us, there is a deep-seated suspicion, resentment, and some, even hatred of the other races. We have forgotten that we are just people, who by divine providence, found ourselves sharing the same homeland. This is OUR home.
That day, as I marched with my fellow Malaysians, it all came back to me – we are as we should be, just honest, decent human beings who care for the future of this nation. I saw elderly pakciks and makciks being rudely spoken to, roughly man-handled and some arrested for simply being there. Have we lost our decency that we have to behave this way even if we are only discharging our duties? The protestors were peaceful but the provocateurs were the police. Have they forgotten who pays for their monthly salaries and who chose the political masters they are now serving? The very people they are now calling and treating as traitors, chasing them around like animals, firing tear gas and water cannons on! We are the rakyat, as you are.
Coming back to your question, John, what would Jesus do? If Jesus were to be living in this country and in this time, what would He have done? If he had known about the injustice done to the people through a flawed and corrupt electoral system, would Jesus have kept quiet and looked away and perhaps plan to migrate to “greener pastures”? If he had wanted to speak up but was told that he needed to apply for a permit and that permit was turned down, would he have just shrugged his shoulders and said, “I tried”? Would Jesus have said, “But the Bible said I have to submit to all governing authority, I can’t go against the government”? You know what. If Jesus had turned the other cheek to all the wrongs and evil in his days and submitted to the governing authorities, He would probably have lived to a ripe old age, gotten married and have children and grandchildren. So would all his disciples – Peter, Paul, Stephen, James, and countless others, they would not have been killed by the governing authorities. Jesus was framed by the politicians of his day, the Pharisees, accused of high treason and executed or as we would like to call it, crucified. Most of the early disciples were martyred because they spoke up, that is, became a “security risk” to the governing authorities. They refused to submit to their demands to be silent and they were executed.
But John, you may be saying, “But Jesus didn’t hold illegal rallies and go on street marches”. Well, he spoke to thousands when he delivered the Sermon on the Mount and when He fed thousands with only two loaves and five fishes. And wherever He went, hundreds, if not thousands followed Him. But He has permit, you say. Well, we don’t know if He has permit or not, though I doubt it. What if He needed to apply for permit and was not given? Would He still have delivered the Sermon on the Mount and fed thousands? I’ve a feeling that Jesus would still have gone ahead. What if in the middle of delivering the sermon, the governing authorities fired tear gas into the crowd and charged at them with batons, turning an otherwise peaceful gathering into a riotous scene. Was Jesus to be blamed though He offered no resistance to the police?
As a man, Jesus was a fire-brand speaker and a radical social reformer and He has asked us to follow in His footsteps. You are right to ask, “What would Jesus do?” I am just not too sure that I would agree with your assumption that Jesus would not be involved in the Bersih 2.0 rally. It was just as well that tear gas and water cannons were not invented during Jesus’ time, otherwise the Gospel pages would be rather scant and most of His speeches would have been interrupted by those same governing authorities He was condemning. Providentially for us, He was able to speak freely even though it offended the authority greatly, enough to plot His death.
John, it is my hope that you would realise that it is not easy for us as Christians to live a pluralistic society like ours and to try and figure out what Jesus would do if He was here. One thing for sure, Jesus was not one to avoid controversies or be cowed by those who opposed Him or is one who avoided taking action when the occasion calls for it; I think of Him overturning the money-changers’ tables in the Temple.
Let me close with this quote by Jesus when He was asked about John the Baptist. In Mathew 11:12 – And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. By “violent” I am sure Jesus does not mean those who would hurt others just to get what they want but Jesus meant that in order to advance the kingdom of heaven, it must be by people who have an inner character quality of quiet determination and discipline to pursue after that which God has called him to. With that I conclude and hope even if taking to the streets is not your cup of tea, you would at least stand with us for what Jesus stood for – freedom, justice, fairplay and love, for that is what Bersih 2.0 is about.
Another thing that I realised when I marched with fellow Malaysians of all races and religion, I am staking a claim to the future of Malaysian on behalf of my children and their children and on behalf of my race and religion. For now we are still defined by our race and religion but may there come a day when we are not. Maybe I will write to you again to explain further about this. Till then, take care.
Your brother in Christ,
Thomas Fann
i teared watching this. would you spare 12 minutes to watch this too?
today i read psalm 52 in my devotion. it's title was The End of the Wicked and The Peace of the Godly. how apt, i thought.
Why do you boast in evil, O mighty man?
The goodness of God endures continually.
Your tongue devises destruction,
Like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
You love evil more than good,
Lying rather than speaking righteousness. Selah
You love all devouring words,
You deceitful tongue.
God shall likewise destroy you forever;
He shall take you away, and pluck you out of your dwelling place,
And uproot you from the land of the living. Selah
The righteous also shall see and fear,
And shall laugh at him, saying,
“Here is the man who did not make God his strength,
But trusted in the abundance of his riches,
And strengthened himself in his wickedness.”
But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God;
I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.
I will praise You forever,
Because You have done it;
And in the presence of Your saints
I will wait on Your name, for it is good.
O Lord, i pray for a better Malaysia. one where peace and justice reigns, and where the hearts of all Malaysians beat with unity. i pray for our cries to be heard O Lord, and for change and brighter days to come. Preserve the righteous men and women of Malaysia God, and uphold our nation with Your hand God. Amen.
moved,
candice
Sunday, July 10, 2011
the voice of the people
i really like this article.
It’s not just about 5,000 or 50,000, Najib — Clara Chooi
July 10, 2011
JULY 10 — Even if it is the voice of one man, you listen.
That man does not live alone in this world.
He has family, he has friends and he has colleagues.
His friends have family, friends and colleagues of their own and his colleagues have family and friends of their own.
The point here is: The thousands that gathered at the capital city yesterday, whether 5,000 or 50,000, did not mean that only 5,000 or 50,000 Malaysians are aware of or support Bersih 2.0’s purpose and demands.
In all likelihood, many of the 5,000 or 50,000 had left behind like-minded family members, friends, friends of friends, colleagues and so on, to join this “illegal” street rally.
The 5,000 or 50,000 who thronged the streets and traversed the stretch of the city centre, fleeing through plumes of tear gas and finding themselves itching from chemical-laced water, would have returned home on the night of July 9 with horror stories to tell.
To their friends, family and colleagues, the 5,000 or 50,000 will tell the story of a bald man seen with a bloody gash on his head being carted away by blue-uniformed men, stories of people locking themselves together in a tight knot on the ground as policemen try to tear them apart, dragging them away in arrest and beating some who resisted, stories of men in red helmets backed by fire-red trucks standing in lines and firing gas canisters at close range and without tilting their guns.
They will relate stories of the thousands of other protestors who stood together in groups, linking arms and marching on, daring to defy those who have defied them. They will describe tales of strangers becoming fast friends with one another, helping those who could not run as fast from the shower of chemical water, offering salt and wet pieces of cloth to those whose eyes were badly stung by the tear gas.
They will tell the story of an elderly lady, garbed in a yellow T-shirt, holding a long-stemmed flower and bravely marching along with protestors despite the rowdiness and chaos that surrounded her.
Above all, they will tell the tale of the 5,000 or 50,000 Malaysians who left the comfort of their homes on a rainy Saturday afternoon, to get gassed out and sprayed at in their own capital city, people who risked the possibility of violence, injury and arrest, just to march for one simple goal — free and fair elections.
If each of the 5,000 or 50,000 who gathered had told these stories to at least 10 others, whether their family members, friends or colleagues, then 50,000 or 500,000 Malaysians would now know the truth of what transpired between 1pm and 5pm on July 9, 2011.
And if each of these 50,000 or 500,000 Malaysians, in turn, repeated these stories to at least 10 others, then 500,000 or five million Malaysians would now also know what happened.
No one could ever say for certain what these people would think of these stories, whether they would condemn the protestors or the cops.
But if you were a family member of Baharuddin Ahmad, who died yesterday when he collapsed while running away from the bombardment of tear gas and water cannons, what would you have said?
Would you have said he deserved it because he participated in an illegal rally? Or would you have condemned the police for firing at civilians?
Today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak turned his nose up at yesterday’s turnout on the streets. He praised those who did not turn up and said they were the “silent majority”.
Has he forgotten what happened when the government turned its nose up at the thousands who attended Bersih’s first rally in 2007?
On March 8, 2008, Barisan Nasional (BN) nearly lost to the opposition in terms of popular vote, garnering only 51.5 per cent compared to 64 per cent in 2004.
Whether or not Bersih 2.0 was wrong to hold the street march, whether or not its demand for free and fair elections is unreasonable, is no longer the only arguments here. The fact is, thousands have spoken against the government and they want an answer.
So Najib would do well not to mock the 5,000 or 50,000 people who turned up yesterday.
He has to remember that, like the voice of one man reaching 10 others, the voices of the thousands yesterday has likely reached the millions who make up this “silent majority”.
* Clara Chooi is a reporter with The Malaysian Insider.
i find this article so true. and it's nothing short of amazing really, up till yesterday, i hardly cared about politics, just always amused when i hear stories about what's going on and saying the occasional prayer for our nation. today i'm reading and posting articles about it, feeling so inspired and more proud than ever to be Malaysian. On facebook, i see so many of my friends too who i have never discussed politics or our country with, all liking the same posts i am, supporting the same groups i am and agreeing with what one another are saying. all this began with the voice of one person. how amazing indeed.
don't give up on Malaysia yet rakyat! :) Keep praying and keep believing for better days! Amen!
love,
candice
It’s not just about 5,000 or 50,000, Najib — Clara Chooi
July 10, 2011
JULY 10 — Even if it is the voice of one man, you listen.
That man does not live alone in this world.
He has family, he has friends and he has colleagues.
His friends have family, friends and colleagues of their own and his colleagues have family and friends of their own.
The point here is: The thousands that gathered at the capital city yesterday, whether 5,000 or 50,000, did not mean that only 5,000 or 50,000 Malaysians are aware of or support Bersih 2.0’s purpose and demands.
In all likelihood, many of the 5,000 or 50,000 had left behind like-minded family members, friends, friends of friends, colleagues and so on, to join this “illegal” street rally.
The 5,000 or 50,000 who thronged the streets and traversed the stretch of the city centre, fleeing through plumes of tear gas and finding themselves itching from chemical-laced water, would have returned home on the night of July 9 with horror stories to tell.
To their friends, family and colleagues, the 5,000 or 50,000 will tell the story of a bald man seen with a bloody gash on his head being carted away by blue-uniformed men, stories of people locking themselves together in a tight knot on the ground as policemen try to tear them apart, dragging them away in arrest and beating some who resisted, stories of men in red helmets backed by fire-red trucks standing in lines and firing gas canisters at close range and without tilting their guns.
They will relate stories of the thousands of other protestors who stood together in groups, linking arms and marching on, daring to defy those who have defied them. They will describe tales of strangers becoming fast friends with one another, helping those who could not run as fast from the shower of chemical water, offering salt and wet pieces of cloth to those whose eyes were badly stung by the tear gas.
They will tell the story of an elderly lady, garbed in a yellow T-shirt, holding a long-stemmed flower and bravely marching along with protestors despite the rowdiness and chaos that surrounded her.
Above all, they will tell the tale of the 5,000 or 50,000 Malaysians who left the comfort of their homes on a rainy Saturday afternoon, to get gassed out and sprayed at in their own capital city, people who risked the possibility of violence, injury and arrest, just to march for one simple goal — free and fair elections.
If each of the 5,000 or 50,000 who gathered had told these stories to at least 10 others, whether their family members, friends or colleagues, then 50,000 or 500,000 Malaysians would now know the truth of what transpired between 1pm and 5pm on July 9, 2011.
And if each of these 50,000 or 500,000 Malaysians, in turn, repeated these stories to at least 10 others, then 500,000 or five million Malaysians would now also know what happened.
No one could ever say for certain what these people would think of these stories, whether they would condemn the protestors or the cops.
But if you were a family member of Baharuddin Ahmad, who died yesterday when he collapsed while running away from the bombardment of tear gas and water cannons, what would you have said?
Would you have said he deserved it because he participated in an illegal rally? Or would you have condemned the police for firing at civilians?
Today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak turned his nose up at yesterday’s turnout on the streets. He praised those who did not turn up and said they were the “silent majority”.
Has he forgotten what happened when the government turned its nose up at the thousands who attended Bersih’s first rally in 2007?
On March 8, 2008, Barisan Nasional (BN) nearly lost to the opposition in terms of popular vote, garnering only 51.5 per cent compared to 64 per cent in 2004.
Whether or not Bersih 2.0 was wrong to hold the street march, whether or not its demand for free and fair elections is unreasonable, is no longer the only arguments here. The fact is, thousands have spoken against the government and they want an answer.
So Najib would do well not to mock the 5,000 or 50,000 people who turned up yesterday.
He has to remember that, like the voice of one man reaching 10 others, the voices of the thousands yesterday has likely reached the millions who make up this “silent majority”.
* Clara Chooi is a reporter with The Malaysian Insider.
i find this article so true. and it's nothing short of amazing really, up till yesterday, i hardly cared about politics, just always amused when i hear stories about what's going on and saying the occasional prayer for our nation. today i'm reading and posting articles about it, feeling so inspired and more proud than ever to be Malaysian. On facebook, i see so many of my friends too who i have never discussed politics or our country with, all liking the same posts i am, supporting the same groups i am and agreeing with what one another are saying. all this began with the voice of one person. how amazing indeed.
don't give up on Malaysia yet rakyat! :) Keep praying and keep believing for better days! Amen!
love,
candice
Saturday, July 9, 2011
thoughts
For the bigger part of today, i was thinking about the Bersih 2.0 rally and i have to admit, a rather big part of me wish i had the guts and passion to march like so many other people did for a noble cause. A cause i have to admit, i didn't really know about until very recently either. For those who are in the dark like i was, this is what Bersih 2.0 was aiming to fight for.
These are the 8 immediate demands for Perhimpunan BERSIH 2.0:
1. Clean the electoral roll
The electoral roll is marred with irregularities such as deceased persons and multiple persons registered under a single address or non-existent addresses. The electoral roll must be revised and updated to wipe out these ‘phantom voters’. The rakyat have a right to an electoral roll that is an accurate reflection of the voting population.
In the longer term, BERSIH 2.0 also calls for the EC to implement an automated voter registration system upon eligibility to reduce irregularities.
2. Reform postal ballot
The current postal ballot system must be reformed to ensure that all citizens of Malaysia are able to exercise their right to vote. Postal ballot should not only be open for all Malaysian citizens living abroad, but also for those within the country who cannot be physically present in their voting constituency on polling day. Police, military and civil servants too must vote normally like other voters if not on duty on polling day.
The postal ballot system must be transparent. Party agents should be allowed to monitor the entire process of postal voting.
3. Use of indelible ink
Indelible ink must be used in all elections. It is a simple, affordable and effective solution in preventing voter fraud. In 2007, the EC decided to implement the use of indelible ink. However, in the final days leading up to the 12th General Elections, the EC decided to withdraw the use of indelible ink citing legal reasons and rumours of sabotage.
BERSIH 2.0 demands for indelible ink to be used for all the upcoming elections. Failure to do so will lead to the inevitable conclusion that there is an intention to allow voter fraud.
4. Minimum 21 days campaign period
The EC should stipulate a campaign period of not less than 21 days. A longer campaign period would allow voters more time to gather information and deliberate on their choices. It will also allow candidates more time to disseminate information to rural areas. The first national elections in 1955 under the British Colonial Government had a campaign period of 42 days but the campaign period for 12th GE in 2008 was a mere 8 days.
5. Free and fair access to media
It is no secret that the Malaysian mainstream media fails to practice proportionate, fair and objective reporting for political parties of all divide. BERSIH 2.0 calls on the EC to press for all media agencies, especially state-funded media agencies such as Radio and Television Malaysia (RTM) and Bernama to allocate proportionate and objective coverage for all potlical parties.
6. Strengthen public institutions
Public institutions must act independently and impartially in upholding the rule of law and democracy. Public institutions such as the Judiciary, Attorney-General, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC), Police and the EC must be reformed to act independently, uphold laws and protect human rights.
In particular, the EC must perform its constitutional duty to act independently and impartially so as to enjoy public confidence. The EC cannot continue to claim that they have no power to act, as the law provides for sufficient powers to institute a credible electoral system.
7. Stop corruption
Corruption is a disease that has infected every aspect of Malaysian life. BERSIH 2.0 and the rakyat demand for an end to all forms of corruption. Current efforts to eradicate corruption are mere tokens to appease public grouses. We demand that serious action is taken against ALL allegations of corruption, including vote buying.
8. Stop dirty politics
Malaysians are tired of dirty politics that has been the main feature of the Malaysian political arena. We demand for all political parties and politicians to put an end to gutter politics. As citizens and voters, we are not interested in gutter politics; we are interested in policies that affect the nation.
i really like this statement my friend posted on facebook too.
"Honestly, if you're going tomorrow for Bersih 2.0, go by all means, but know why you're going and what you're standing for. Don't go without critically analysing all 8points Bersih 2.0 stands for. If you're not going, stay home because you actually gave this some thought.
But don't ever ever be indifferent to this country we stay in."
i know that to some extent, everything i say seems pretty easy or useless cause i wasn't one of the 50000 who actually did something today. but i find it so amazing that so many turned up to fight for electoral reform, that there are everyday people out there who really do care about Malaysia's future and are willing to stand for it, even at the risk of being arrested. hearing the various posts about how someone i know got arrested today made me just so so.. in awe, of his passion and dedication in pursuing justice for this country. felt like no words were even good enough for me to praise, salute and thank him with.
today i watched the news eagerly for the first time, to hear what was going on with the rally. today i watched 50000 people march peacefully against dirty elections. today i felt the spirit of Malaysians like never before. i believe in everything bersih stands for and i think that it was such a good opportunity for people to rise up and speak with one voice too. i really do hope their memorandum gets passed to the YDPA or whatever the procedure is, must remember to keep this in prayer. the government handled it pretty stupidly though, like fighting a peaceful rally with tear gas and chemical-laced water. like wth. and the only message they were getting across was that they don't support a clean election. gosh, even parliament members were arrested! i really wonder what the police officers on duty today were thinking when they arrested people who simply wanted to make a positive change in malaysia, what they felt when they hurt people who had no intentions to cause any harm. ISH.
haihz, i don't have much left to say about this, other than that i really really admire the people who marched today knowing their purpose in doing so, with the hope that better times are to come for this country. i salute you all, and i am deeply blessed to have known some of you at all. may God be with you. :)
"We have stirred the imagination of the Malaysian people all over the world." Amazing. Malaysian rakyat in over 29 cities all over the world have stood up for this cause today too! RIGHT against MIGHT! :)
"Who is the judge?
The judge is God.
Why is he God?
Because he decides who wins or loses. Not my opponent.
Who is your opponent?
He does not exist.
Why does he not exist?
Because he is a mere dissenting voice of the truth I speak!
SPEAK THE TRUTH.."
- Great Debaters
on another note.. sometimes (including today), i'm thankful for my bad driving, cause it gives my mum (and me) an extra thing to thank God for every time i drive home safely!
i love my g8 vacations. it's always so crazy and funny and tiring. i told them, i really hope we make it a tradition to go on a trip AT LEAST once a year, to commemorate and celebrate our friendship. :) i really hope this comes to pass. i hope we never get too caught up with life and other things that we forget to put in effort to preserve this amazing connection we have with each other. going to melaka taught me that all of us have our own really good and really bad qualities, but with each other, that all balances out and everyone as a group is SO MUCH FUN to hang out with. :) Gosh i love these people to bits and pieces. :) i dream of vacations when we're all grown up already, looking older and with jobs, with maybe even more people on our trips, partners of g8-ians coming along too. here's where ivan and the rest of us together say AWWWW. :)
"Often, the greatest rewards come from finding the courage to do something we believe we must, and not so much in how the world reacts to that. In the end, the biggest battle we must fight is the one with our own selves."
- Anonymous
lazy to type already but love bunches,
candice :)
These are the 8 immediate demands for Perhimpunan BERSIH 2.0:
1. Clean the electoral roll
The electoral roll is marred with irregularities such as deceased persons and multiple persons registered under a single address or non-existent addresses. The electoral roll must be revised and updated to wipe out these ‘phantom voters’. The rakyat have a right to an electoral roll that is an accurate reflection of the voting population.
In the longer term, BERSIH 2.0 also calls for the EC to implement an automated voter registration system upon eligibility to reduce irregularities.
2. Reform postal ballot
The current postal ballot system must be reformed to ensure that all citizens of Malaysia are able to exercise their right to vote. Postal ballot should not only be open for all Malaysian citizens living abroad, but also for those within the country who cannot be physically present in their voting constituency on polling day. Police, military and civil servants too must vote normally like other voters if not on duty on polling day.
The postal ballot system must be transparent. Party agents should be allowed to monitor the entire process of postal voting.
3. Use of indelible ink
Indelible ink must be used in all elections. It is a simple, affordable and effective solution in preventing voter fraud. In 2007, the EC decided to implement the use of indelible ink. However, in the final days leading up to the 12th General Elections, the EC decided to withdraw the use of indelible ink citing legal reasons and rumours of sabotage.
BERSIH 2.0 demands for indelible ink to be used for all the upcoming elections. Failure to do so will lead to the inevitable conclusion that there is an intention to allow voter fraud.
4. Minimum 21 days campaign period
The EC should stipulate a campaign period of not less than 21 days. A longer campaign period would allow voters more time to gather information and deliberate on their choices. It will also allow candidates more time to disseminate information to rural areas. The first national elections in 1955 under the British Colonial Government had a campaign period of 42 days but the campaign period for 12th GE in 2008 was a mere 8 days.
5. Free and fair access to media
It is no secret that the Malaysian mainstream media fails to practice proportionate, fair and objective reporting for political parties of all divide. BERSIH 2.0 calls on the EC to press for all media agencies, especially state-funded media agencies such as Radio and Television Malaysia (RTM) and Bernama to allocate proportionate and objective coverage for all potlical parties.
6. Strengthen public institutions
Public institutions must act independently and impartially in upholding the rule of law and democracy. Public institutions such as the Judiciary, Attorney-General, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC), Police and the EC must be reformed to act independently, uphold laws and protect human rights.
In particular, the EC must perform its constitutional duty to act independently and impartially so as to enjoy public confidence. The EC cannot continue to claim that they have no power to act, as the law provides for sufficient powers to institute a credible electoral system.
7. Stop corruption
Corruption is a disease that has infected every aspect of Malaysian life. BERSIH 2.0 and the rakyat demand for an end to all forms of corruption. Current efforts to eradicate corruption are mere tokens to appease public grouses. We demand that serious action is taken against ALL allegations of corruption, including vote buying.
8. Stop dirty politics
Malaysians are tired of dirty politics that has been the main feature of the Malaysian political arena. We demand for all political parties and politicians to put an end to gutter politics. As citizens and voters, we are not interested in gutter politics; we are interested in policies that affect the nation.
i really like this statement my friend posted on facebook too.
"Honestly, if you're going tomorrow for Bersih 2.0, go by all means, but know why you're going and what you're standing for. Don't go without critically analysing all 8points Bersih 2.0 stands for. If you're not going, stay home because you actually gave this some thought.
But don't ever ever be indifferent to this country we stay in."
i know that to some extent, everything i say seems pretty easy or useless cause i wasn't one of the 50000 who actually did something today. but i find it so amazing that so many turned up to fight for electoral reform, that there are everyday people out there who really do care about Malaysia's future and are willing to stand for it, even at the risk of being arrested. hearing the various posts about how someone i know got arrested today made me just so so.. in awe, of his passion and dedication in pursuing justice for this country. felt like no words were even good enough for me to praise, salute and thank him with.
today i watched the news eagerly for the first time, to hear what was going on with the rally. today i watched 50000 people march peacefully against dirty elections. today i felt the spirit of Malaysians like never before. i believe in everything bersih stands for and i think that it was such a good opportunity for people to rise up and speak with one voice too. i really do hope their memorandum gets passed to the YDPA or whatever the procedure is, must remember to keep this in prayer. the government handled it pretty stupidly though, like fighting a peaceful rally with tear gas and chemical-laced water. like wth. and the only message they were getting across was that they don't support a clean election. gosh, even parliament members were arrested! i really wonder what the police officers on duty today were thinking when they arrested people who simply wanted to make a positive change in malaysia, what they felt when they hurt people who had no intentions to cause any harm. ISH.
haihz, i don't have much left to say about this, other than that i really really admire the people who marched today knowing their purpose in doing so, with the hope that better times are to come for this country. i salute you all, and i am deeply blessed to have known some of you at all. may God be with you. :)
"We have stirred the imagination of the Malaysian people all over the world." Amazing. Malaysian rakyat in over 29 cities all over the world have stood up for this cause today too! RIGHT against MIGHT! :)
"Who is the judge?
The judge is God.
Why is he God?
Because he decides who wins or loses. Not my opponent.
Who is your opponent?
He does not exist.
Why does he not exist?
Because he is a mere dissenting voice of the truth I speak!
SPEAK THE TRUTH.."
- Great Debaters
on another note.. sometimes (including today), i'm thankful for my bad driving, cause it gives my mum (and me) an extra thing to thank God for every time i drive home safely!
i love my g8 vacations. it's always so crazy and funny and tiring. i told them, i really hope we make it a tradition to go on a trip AT LEAST once a year, to commemorate and celebrate our friendship. :) i really hope this comes to pass. i hope we never get too caught up with life and other things that we forget to put in effort to preserve this amazing connection we have with each other. going to melaka taught me that all of us have our own really good and really bad qualities, but with each other, that all balances out and everyone as a group is SO MUCH FUN to hang out with. :) Gosh i love these people to bits and pieces. :) i dream of vacations when we're all grown up already, looking older and with jobs, with maybe even more people on our trips, partners of g8-ians coming along too. here's where ivan and the rest of us together say AWWWW. :)
"Often, the greatest rewards come from finding the courage to do something we believe we must, and not so much in how the world reacts to that. In the end, the biggest battle we must fight is the one with our own selves."
- Anonymous
lazy to type already but love bunches,
candice :)
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
buried treasures
i miss this bunch of people. :)
going out with them and talking with the one that didn't go too today made me remember all the good, stupid times we used to have. these people got me through high school, and i absolutely just can't help but wonder now, what happened? How'd we all go from being so close to just.. having memories of being that close once upon a time? i'm really glad i got to see them when i came back, and that there's picnic with the girls and getting to see goo soon to look forward to still.
i miss how faris would always be doing the random-est things, and that time where vonne threatened that we'd go eat non-halal food if he didn't stop misbehaving, and how he's always so full of himself, but cares enough to always plan our TOT outings. :)
i miss how james was always so nice to all of us, being so willing to fetch us around even when it was so out of the way, and the day we made him one of us! :P
i miss yvonne, and how we'd tease her about her bunch of stalkers, and listening to her lame jokes, and i love her for always being just so sweet and kind all the time. i remember how we stuck together in india, and had such a good time together too! :)
i miss goo, for being the idiot that he is. in our short sms spree today, i think we called each other idiot twice already. i miss all the nonsense we used to share, and how he was my underaged friend in this crazy bunch. and i miss seeing him in MADU, remembering the time he helped me give out my presents to certain kids without letting the others see, in a not-so-nice way LOL. and for endorsing the name Intensity Girl for me. =.=
and i really miss shum. my best friend for all that time, and i miss all those long phone calls where we'd just talk then do nothing over the phone until someone felt like talking again. i miss our peanut sessions where'd you'd make guesses about what was really going on with the people in my life, and where i'd get to listen to all your stories. i remember you praying for me that one time ages ago when i had the worst time ever, and it really did bring me some peace. i miss you bunches peanut, i hope we get a LONG LONG catch-up session soon!
i guess it took me going dunno how many thousands of kilometres away to realize how friendships are worth the effort to preserve. it isn't always easy, it isn't easy at all, but i think we all owe it to each other to hear how one another's doing more often than once a year, out of the fact that we knew each other once ago, and that we loved each other then, and because that's something that made us who we are today. i don't wanna to have to find that one day, my biggest regret was letting go of these precious friendships without trying. so thanks faris, for reminding me how important it is for us to meet up at least during the big times. :) i won't forget that anytime soon, and i'll try my best to always keep trying. :)
love loads,
candice
going out with them and talking with the one that didn't go too today made me remember all the good, stupid times we used to have. these people got me through high school, and i absolutely just can't help but wonder now, what happened? How'd we all go from being so close to just.. having memories of being that close once upon a time? i'm really glad i got to see them when i came back, and that there's picnic with the girls and getting to see goo soon to look forward to still.
i miss how faris would always be doing the random-est things, and that time where vonne threatened that we'd go eat non-halal food if he didn't stop misbehaving, and how he's always so full of himself, but cares enough to always plan our TOT outings. :)
i miss how james was always so nice to all of us, being so willing to fetch us around even when it was so out of the way, and the day we made him one of us! :P
i miss yvonne, and how we'd tease her about her bunch of stalkers, and listening to her lame jokes, and i love her for always being just so sweet and kind all the time. i remember how we stuck together in india, and had such a good time together too! :)
i miss goo, for being the idiot that he is. in our short sms spree today, i think we called each other idiot twice already. i miss all the nonsense we used to share, and how he was my underaged friend in this crazy bunch. and i miss seeing him in MADU, remembering the time he helped me give out my presents to certain kids without letting the others see, in a not-so-nice way LOL. and for endorsing the name Intensity Girl for me. =.=
and i really miss shum. my best friend for all that time, and i miss all those long phone calls where we'd just talk then do nothing over the phone until someone felt like talking again. i miss our peanut sessions where'd you'd make guesses about what was really going on with the people in my life, and where i'd get to listen to all your stories. i remember you praying for me that one time ages ago when i had the worst time ever, and it really did bring me some peace. i miss you bunches peanut, i hope we get a LONG LONG catch-up session soon!
i guess it took me going dunno how many thousands of kilometres away to realize how friendships are worth the effort to preserve. it isn't always easy, it isn't easy at all, but i think we all owe it to each other to hear how one another's doing more often than once a year, out of the fact that we knew each other once ago, and that we loved each other then, and because that's something that made us who we are today. i don't wanna to have to find that one day, my biggest regret was letting go of these precious friendships without trying. so thanks faris, for reminding me how important it is for us to meet up at least during the big times. :) i won't forget that anytime soon, and i'll try my best to always keep trying. :)
love loads,
candice
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
vulnerable
a friend referred to me as vulnerable a few days ago, in a good sense (i think). and i really gave it some thought and wondered what does it mean to really be vulnerable? does it mean i jump into things without thinking? or let whoever hurt me? or is it really just.. standing up again when i know, one day i'll fall again?
thinking about this led me to a few personal relations with who i am now. right now at least, i think, being vulnerable is letting people in. admitting that there are people i need in my life who do not need me as much, people who need me that i am meant to serve, and people that don't want to be relied on right now. and at the end of the day, after realizing how awful or how amazing people can be, to love them all the same. to accept the past, then let it go. to feel the pain, then dare to feel again. to do the things i thought i didn't have the guts to do, and wait with hope. to have experience in my back pocket, and be brave enough to share it with others that they too may learn from my mistakes or be encouraged by it.
maybe to be vulnerable is also to let go of the reins and let God lead. to come back to Him again and again, saying i'm sorry, God please let me try again. the courage to try to be obedient once more, when i know somewhere along the line i will falter again, i will disappoint Him again, and i will be disappointed by myself yet once more. maybe it is to keep serving knowing i am broken, and keep praying when i feel all hope is lost.
this song came into my mind today as i was brushing my teeth. and i need this, oh how i need this.
Come Away by Jesus Culture
Come away with me, Come away with me
It's never too late, it's not too late
It's not too late for you
I have a plan for you
I have a plan for you
It's gonna be wild
It's gonna be great
It's gonna be full of me
Open up your heart and let me in
and at the end of every day, i just have to remember that God loves me and He does it without holding any emotion, or any passion back. and it is a blessing to know and believe that, and for it, i know i am safe in the arms of my Father. come hell or high water, He is with me and i will never be alone.
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] 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."
- Romans 8:38-39
love,
candice :)
thinking about this led me to a few personal relations with who i am now. right now at least, i think, being vulnerable is letting people in. admitting that there are people i need in my life who do not need me as much, people who need me that i am meant to serve, and people that don't want to be relied on right now. and at the end of the day, after realizing how awful or how amazing people can be, to love them all the same. to accept the past, then let it go. to feel the pain, then dare to feel again. to do the things i thought i didn't have the guts to do, and wait with hope. to have experience in my back pocket, and be brave enough to share it with others that they too may learn from my mistakes or be encouraged by it.
maybe to be vulnerable is also to let go of the reins and let God lead. to come back to Him again and again, saying i'm sorry, God please let me try again. the courage to try to be obedient once more, when i know somewhere along the line i will falter again, i will disappoint Him again, and i will be disappointed by myself yet once more. maybe it is to keep serving knowing i am broken, and keep praying when i feel all hope is lost.
this song came into my mind today as i was brushing my teeth. and i need this, oh how i need this.
Come Away by Jesus Culture
Come away with me, Come away with me
It's never too late, it's not too late
It's not too late for you
I have a plan for you
I have a plan for you
It's gonna be wild
It's gonna be great
It's gonna be full of me
Open up your heart and let me in
and at the end of every day, i just have to remember that God loves me and He does it without holding any emotion, or any passion back. and it is a blessing to know and believe that, and for it, i know i am safe in the arms of my Father. come hell or high water, He is with me and i will never be alone.
"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] 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."
- Romans 8:38-39
love,
candice :)
Monday, July 4, 2011
whole-heartedly
"Give the world your best, and it may never be enough. Give the world your best anyways."
- Mother Teresa
- Mother Teresa
Friday, July 1, 2011
maybe
maybe i need more alone time, like the time i spent on the train and walking to school, or on the bus back. time to just breathe again, away from always being surrounded from people again, maybe i'm not used to the sudden change. today's train ride back to sri petaling felt nice, getting to stare outside at the moving scenery and people living their lives again. who knew THAT of all things would be one of the nice things about aus? maybe.
maybe i need like a super detox, relax holiday, to just have fun and be really crazy, like genting. maybe it really takes standing and dancing in public to weird rap songs and running on cool, deserted roads with other crazy people in the middle of the night. well i'm getting that next week, with even more people, for a longer time! :) maybe.
maybe i need a one on one talk with anybody, just to hear a voice replying to my whines, and know i don't have to rush the conversation but instead just take my time and let everything out. to have someone to hear all my crap patiently, and then be able to serve that person likewise. which i'm gonna get this saturday with sarah-ann, so i sure am looking forward to that! maybe.
maybe i need to just get over myself and all the weird emotions going on. to always be rational, keep doing what's right, always pick to be happy instead of grumpy, ALWAYS find the present joy in the present moment, even, especially if it's knowing people i love are happy. maybe it's fighting negativity 24/7, and eventually finding that that in itself will become a habit. maybe.
maybe i gotta let everything out. go jogging till i've used all the breath i have, scream, cry, laugh, or maybe just tell people what i really think when i think i should, while being careful and not just shouting like some crazy demented lady at people la. i wonder if i need to vent, and release, and just not hold so much in all the time anymore. maybe.
or maybe.. i just need God. i miss Him a lot, and i know, i KNOW that just spending some time with Him will make me feel so much better. He says, come to Me and I will give you rest, and i believe it cause it's in my Bible, and very much from past experience. but somehow, i just can't pull myself away from all the other temptations in my day-to-day to give Him even that, which makes me so, SO frustrated at myself.. sigh. God please help me. yea.. i think this is the one.
maybe i need like a super detox, relax holiday, to just have fun and be really crazy, like genting. maybe it really takes standing and dancing in public to weird rap songs and running on cool, deserted roads with other crazy people in the middle of the night. well i'm getting that next week, with even more people, for a longer time! :) maybe.
maybe i need a one on one talk with anybody, just to hear a voice replying to my whines, and know i don't have to rush the conversation but instead just take my time and let everything out. to have someone to hear all my crap patiently, and then be able to serve that person likewise. which i'm gonna get this saturday with sarah-ann, so i sure am looking forward to that! maybe.
maybe i need to just get over myself and all the weird emotions going on. to always be rational, keep doing what's right, always pick to be happy instead of grumpy, ALWAYS find the present joy in the present moment, even, especially if it's knowing people i love are happy. maybe it's fighting negativity 24/7, and eventually finding that that in itself will become a habit. maybe.
maybe i gotta let everything out. go jogging till i've used all the breath i have, scream, cry, laugh, or maybe just tell people what i really think when i think i should, while being careful and not just shouting like some crazy demented lady at people la. i wonder if i need to vent, and release, and just not hold so much in all the time anymore. maybe.
or maybe.. i just need God. i miss Him a lot, and i know, i KNOW that just spending some time with Him will make me feel so much better. He says, come to Me and I will give you rest, and i believe it cause it's in my Bible, and very much from past experience. but somehow, i just can't pull myself away from all the other temptations in my day-to-day to give Him even that, which makes me so, SO frustrated at myself.. sigh. God please help me. yea.. i think this is the one.
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