The Tilt Has Begun.

"I have a dream."

It is often said that a nation can be changed by just one man.

Abraham challenged God on Sodom and Gomorrah. Sounded like a numbers-game, if you followed the conversation. But he cared.

Moses' sincere intercession held off God's judgment on the Israelites. Selfless, plague-stopping intercession. More than once, too.

Hannah.

Gideon.

Deborah.

Esther.

Hezekiah.

Josiah.

Mary.

John the Baptist.

Then there was Jonah.

Ahab.

Judas.

And remember David and his 30 mighty men?

A 30-men band can build or topple a government/nation. Even just 1 man, for that matter. "Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!"

The destiny of nation(s) or a whole generation.

I remember those times when I played pinball, and each time that I had to play 'tilt' means I'd lose the game.

The tilt has begun.

Toward which side will Malaysia tilt, Lord? Will tilt lead to topple?

O Lord, have Your way.

National Anthem

Negaraku

(My country)

Tanah tumpahnya darahku

(My native land)

Rakyat hidup bersatu dan maju

(The people live united and progressive)

Rahmat bahagia, Tuhan kurniakan

(May God bestow mercy and blessing)

Raja kita selamat bertakhta

(May our ruler reign established on his throne)

May our Ruler reign established on His throne.

Contend for Malaysia

(excerpt from inquirer.net)

Malaysian bloggers, journalists brace for wider crackdown

AT least two bloggers, a journalist, and one opposition politician were arrested under Malaysia’s Internal Security Act (ISA) on September 12 in what media and activists are afraid may be the start of a wider crackdown ahead of an anticipated opposition push to gain control of parliament next week, the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) said.

more...

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I humbly ask that you guys stand with me in prayer for my nation. Regardless of your nationality. 

And to Eklektos, it's time to wedge your knees into the ground.

The Malaysian ruling party Barisan National appears threatened by the opposition which has now been given a stronger voice than ever before from recent controversies. There are now rising fears that more arrests are being planned by the ISA and that these 4 detainees are only part of a much wider crackdown campaign. The disturbing resemblance to the incidences that led up to Operasi Lalang back in 1987 when many politicians, activists, academics were detained does give ground to these fears. Following a threat by the government last week to suspend 3 Malaysian newspapers (one of which is published by the opposition), now the arrest of these 4 persons add to the political and racial tension building up in Malaysia since the March elections, and stirs an unrest amongst the people.

We need to pray for Malaysia.

For justice, righteousness, truth.

"...Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment?...Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?" says the LORD. --- Isa 66:8-9

To those of you interceding for Malaysia faithfully, do not doubt that the Lord hears, He will be true to His word and will not stop halfway through delivery.

Return to Him, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. Rend your hearts and not your garments

Contend for revival and transformation!

Contend for justice, righteousness, truth.

Contend for Malaysia.

Oh How He Loves Me

i was wondering how jesus felt when he was walking towards the river to get baptized by his cousin. his siblings didn't really get him, his parents wanted him to toe the line and couldn't understand why he didn't...he really didn't have much going for him. 

i can almost feel jesus' excitement walking to that river. mingled with calmness and peace. maybe a hint of humor as he thought of john's anticipated reaction. hundreds of people are gathering around as john baptizes them one by one with his disciples' help. imagine jesus' sandaled-feet nearing the water's edge and john looks up to see him approaching. jesus says, "hey john! my turn." john thinks, "ah! he's going to baptize me now." he begins to bend his knees and stoop low but jesus stops him. "no, i mean YOU baptize me." he smiles at john's shocked expression. there's a hush upon the crowd.

i'd love to have been there to see it with my own eyes. what joy it brings to my heart knowing that it was one of jesus' most significant moments with his heavenly dad, and that whole incident was recorded JUST for me to read. before he had done ANY miracles or given his 1st ever sermon, jesus' identity as beloved Son was permanently and publicly affixed. God's love for him was agape.

jesus while on earth walked in the fullness of grace and love. he was sinless and perfect. he was a man yet also deity, the FULL expression of God's glory! wouldn't that make him the most desirable person you could set your sights on? wouldn't that make him the most beloved of all, the most worthy? and God loved him. but he later took on the ugly cloak of our sin. instead of the Spirit descending on him in bodily form like a dove, in stark contrast he clothed himself with our shame and chose separation from the father for our sake. one who is my fiery love, so desirable and beautiful, became despised and unattractive, scorned on the cross in the most cruel way to die. for God so loved the world...

isaiah 53 says, "...he had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him...despised and rejected by men...we esteemed him not."

i wanna stop and ponder.

1) the most beautiful person who ever walked the earth, he's God's beloved son, in whom He is well pleased.

2) the brutalized, hated Jewish man on the cross between 2 criminals, screaming at the top of his collapsing lungs, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"

same man. and he tells me he loves me.

same God. he traded his beauty for me.

has it ever occured to you that JESUS the most beloved and beautiful made himself undesirable and weak so that the MOST undesirable and weak can become the most beloved and beautiful?