New books

I've just finished reading Jackie Pullinger's "Chasing the Dragon". It is her story of working in Hong Kong as a missionary the past 40 years. It's truly challenging to say the least. No comfort barrier was left standing for her as she went into the heart of the lawless walled city and spent years ministering to the Triad gangs, the Heroin addicts and prostitutes. This is definately a story that can show you how God can do the impossible through those who are open to Him and obedient to Jesus call.

I bought three new books on the weekend. The first, "Finding Life - reflections from a Bangkok slum", is written by Ashley Barker who I have mentioned on this blog before. He and his wife and children moved into the heart of Klong Toey slum in Bangkok to live with and minister to the poorest of the poor - the drug addicts, the diseased, the sex workers, those with no human hope.

The second book is called "The New Friars" and is written by Scott A. Bessenecker. It is a collection of stories about young Christians who have followed Christs calls to renounce the pursuit for material fulfillment and follow Christ among the poorest of the poor. The blurb reads

"Across the ages God has attracted a few in every crowd who would stick out, act
out and speak out. The New Friars profiles young Christians who have voluntarily
removed themselves from the status quo in order to seek justice and mercy with
the poorest of the world's poor. These new friars are carrying on the work of
the monastic tradition, in the spirit of Francis and Clare of Assisi, St.
Patrick and St. Brigid, the Jesuits and Nestorians and Moravians. The New Friars
will show you that with God all things - even the uncommon actos of courageous
faith - are possible."

The third book is titled "Eat this Book - the art of spiritual reading" and is written by Eugene Peterson. I have read good reviews, especially from my favourite theologian Scot McKnight. This book "encourages the art of reading the Bible so that it becomes a text for living and growing, not just thinking or behaving...".

I'm excited over these reads, but my prayer is that I don't just read these for informational purposes, but that God prompts me, and strengthens me, to act.

Reading Romans

Today as I was reading the Apostle Paul's letter to the Romans I was blessed by this -

As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to
shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is
Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:11-13)

After reading this again, I found that I could only respond in one way - "Thank you God. Thank you God. Thank you God".

UNOH with us on the weekend

Ash & Anji Barker, and Shobie Owen from Urban Neighbours of Hope (UNOH) were in Perth on the weekend. As always, they shared their heart for the marginalised and oppressed and called upon Christians to have a conversion to the poor.

Ash and Anji definately rank high on my hero list. They have given up the comforts of the West to move into one of the toughest places to live on earth (the largest slum in Bangkok - Klong Toey) where they live amongst the poverty stricken and share with them in there struggles.

A challenging weekend that resulted in Gayle and I sitting together and reexamining our priorities in life.

You can find out more about the ministry of UNOH at www.unoh.org or their blog at www.unoh.typepad.com.

Indonesia: Imprisoned Sunday School Teachers released

Good news from Indonesia... Dr. Rebekka Zakaria, Eti Pangesti and Ratna Bangun have been released from prison.

You can read the full article by clicking on the link of the title to this post.

These women have been a blessing to all they encounter. They have stood fast in their faith and worship of God. Truly an inspiration for us all.

Top 10 Signs You Work in Consulting

It's 11pm and I'm still in the office. I thought that it was kind of ironic that I laughed at this. (Yes, tonight I did eat Nine Marys for dinner, slurrrp).

10. You lecture the neighborhood kids selling lemonade on ways to improve their processes.
9. You get all excited it's Saturday so you can wear casual clothes to work.
8. You refer to the tomatoes in your garden as deliverables.
7. You find you really need PowerPoint to explain what you do for living.
6. You normally eat out of vending machines and at the most expensive restaurant in town within the same week.
5. You wear gray to work instead of navy blue to make a bold fashion statement.
4. You know the people at the airport and hotel better than your next door neighbors.
3. Ask your friends to "think out of box" when making Friday night plans.
2. You think Einstein would have been more effective had he put his ideas into a matrix.
1. You think a "half-day" means leaving at 5 o'clock.

Thought from Level 13

I'm in the office now looking from my 13th floor office window. The freeway is full of drivers going home to their family. I have a deadline for a report that is due tomorrow at 8am. I don't know how long I'll be here.

Like all of you I'm deeply saddened by the senseless killings that have occured at Virginia Tech. So much promise now lost. So many unfufilled dreams and shattered families. Such a loss.

May God comfort the mourning hearts of every family member and friend left behind.

An observation though, if I may. This incident has shown me something. We own the media. The messages we communicate are more powerful than the messages we see on 6pm news. Our cell phone cameras, our blogs, our myspaces and facebooks - this is the new age of media. The cell phone footage from V-Tech that captured the gun-shots going off in the background has to be one of the eariest things I've every seen. Then there are the victims myspace blogs. Family members posting messages of "I hope you're okay" only to be shortly realised that they were not okay. Now these blogs stand as a vivid portrait of heartbreak and loss.

May God bless you and your families always.

Our God is mighty to save.

Daniel.

More meanderings

I was talking to my career counsellor at work the other day about where I would like to use my consultancy skills in a few years - what path would I like to take? The options - strategy & operations consulting for big business or technical integration consulting for big business.

Where do I stand on this issue?

Indonesia, one of the biggest coal and oil deposits in the world is largely at the mercy of big business as they take their resources using their cheap labour. I think that if I were to continue along this path, I would use my services to help grow local national businesses within Indonesia and other South East Asian countries.

Anyway, it's late. I'm on coffee and just meandering. Writing whatever comes to mind. I'm going home now. Easter Sunday tomorrow.

Christ is risen. There is hope for better days.

Meanderings

God willing Gayle and I will move into South-East Asia within two years to embark on mission work among Gods beloved. God willing I won't be afraid to follow.

God willing I will not be burnt out from this crazy consultancy career.

God willing I will be granted the strength and courage to overcome my fear and walk in the purpose that God created me for.

We do not live for ourselves and of ourselves. We were created by God and for God.

I stand at a cross way now. I have two paths before me. I can choose to walk in this career where the opportunity for comfort and security seem real. Travel and financial opportunities. Just working for a tier-one consultancy opens up many doors that are not open to many. But my heart seems uneasy with this.

Is this all there is? Living to work? Living for comfort? No!

I was not called to believe in God for belief does not move to action. I was called to follow my Christ regardless of the consequence or risk.

Will I serve the persecuted church? Will I serve the beloved muslim brothers and sisters? To live amongst them and with them? Will I be a Christian? One who follows Christ? Or will I be afraid and retreat into selfishness and the world.

A scripture that's been on my heart lately:

"Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning it's shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who faced such opposition from sinful man so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." (Hebrews 12)

We are ambassadors.

We are servants.

We are beloved.

We are not forsaken.

We are cherished.

We are being renewed.

We are called for mission.

Jesus said: "Love God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Love your neighbour as yourself."

Live each day for Christ as though you know no other way to live.

just an update.

I am spazzing out now. My routine for so long has been to take every Sunday and use it to go to Church in the morning, have lunch with my wife at a South Perth cafe, spend some time alone, and then spend about 2 hours between 2 and 4pm in a cafe writing. It was a time when I could be in my own zone. My mind would be oriented on the important things. I would write anything that came to mind. Much of the poetry and creative essays about justice in this blog came from those cafe times.

However, a nearly two months ago our car was damaged in an accident and we have been car-less while it is in the panel beaters getting fixed. So, what has happened? Sundays are spend at home or in the city. I can't write creatively at home. I miss my church and I miss my cafe.

The good thing is, the car will be returned within two weeks. Our zhangziggy. Freedom will be restored. Creativity will flow.

Work is going great. I love the things I am learning. I am currently assigned to two clients. I am doing a Business Process Improvement at one, and a Gap Analysis at the other. One is a government company, the other is an engineering company. What one do you think I like most? The engineering of course. Government agencies were a shock to me. It almost seems as though work ethic is non-existent. Send me to the resources sector any day.

Anyway, time to work. Catch ya'll soon.

Cry for Indonesia. When will justice be served?

I am absolutely outraged. Some of you may be aware of the atrocities committed in Indonesia in 2005 where three school girls were beheaded by Muslim militants while walking to their private Christian school in Poso. Notes were left next to their head warning of more attacks against Christian children. One of the girls heads was left at the local church.

Some of you are also aware that three Christian men were executed last year in Indonesia for “atrocities” which evidence did not support. The international community was outraged by the incident, especially considering evidence that the three men were tortured before being executed by the Indonesian government.

Now I feel sick to my stomach as the man accused of killing three innocent school girls by chopping off their heads with a machete has only been sentenced to 20 years in prison – the same sentence handed down to a young Aussie girl for traffic of marijuana. As reported by the BBC here.

I feel sick that the country I love is so corrupted by it’s fanatical leaders intent on destroying people who do not adhere to their version of belief. I want to shout. I demand justice be served. But the Indon government will not listen.

What can the international community do? Well I have some proposals:
The United Nations should review the death penalties handed down in Indonesia and decide whether:

• The trial was fair and evidence submitted was conclusive;



• International conventions applying to human rights and death penalty were applied;



• Were the executions carried out humanely?
  
  If any of the above three points were in breach, then swift and harsh penalties should be brought upon the justice administration system in that country.

I am anti-death penalty. I believe that God’s grace is endless and no man holds the right to take the life of another man. But I hold that the men accused of executing the three school girls must be sentenced in proportion to their crimes. In my opinion, life in solitary confinement, and the international Islamic community should prohibit the term “martyr” from being applied to these murderers.

The only people in this situation who deserve the title “Martyr” are the three precious school girls brutally murdered for there innocence and defencelessness in the name of Christ.

And God bless the Noviana and her family for the constant reminder of the brutality that they have suffered. May Christ fill their hearts and lives with peace abundantly.