Year End Vision - Could be vs Should be

Do you ever think about the differences between ‘What Could Be’ and ‘What Should Be’? Most people only see ‘What could be’. They say things like, "If our church did ___________ then it could be ____________." We spend way too much time talking about what could be. "Our church could be bigger. Our staff could be larger. Our congregants could be more giving, loving, caring" and the list goes on.

Could. It's almost a useless word to most of us. How much of our energy is focused on ‘What could be’.

Should. Now there is a word that "Should" be in the churches vocabulary. When one has a vision for something, there is no Could. There is only Should. Could presents an Idea. Should casts a vision. Where Could presents an opinion, Should shows a way.

Should does not say "If" or "If only". Should says, "Let's do it. Let's find a way. Whatever it takes." Could sits on the sidelines and complains about what could be, while Should carries the ball through obstacles and hurdles that most people would never consider approaching.

Should is passionate. Should is on fire. Should makes comfortable people uneasy. Should messes with the status queue. Should is Vision.

There is a significant difference between the outcome of Could and Should. When you begin to focus on Should, Could gets lost. Could cannot operate in the same realm as Should. When Should is in operation, Could grows silent.

Should is not what could be. Should is what must be. One man said "Give me liberty or give me death." Now there is Should. Could would say, we could have liberty if only this and that and you get the picture. Should however, says there is no other option. There is no other recourse. No backup plan. Do or die. Liberty or death.

What Should be for your church in the coming New Year? Many churches are going to spend much time in planning session focusing on Could in the coming weeks. How many though will focus on Should. "We could do _________ this year, but we really Should do __________.

Thank you to all of my readers who have assisted and plodded me to post articles of interest in this blog. You have made it possible for me of what I Should do. The messages and comments you have contributed have blessed my own heart to ‘What I Should do’ the least while enjoying my hard earned retirement, by blogging.

Have a great and Blessed Christmas and exciting New Year 2010. – LINUNDUS.

Bung Moktar weds actress Zizie

Mkini

The truth on rumours of Kinabatangan member of parliament Bung Moktar Radin marrying actress Zizie Ezette is today when a close friend of the politician confirmed the marriage.

"It's settled. I pray that he will be happy. A friend's happiness is ours too," said Sri Gading MP Mohamad Aziz, adding that he had also advised Bung Moktar to not keep the marriage a secret anymore. The couple's wedding reception was said to be held at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday night. Bung Moktar, who is the Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club deputy chairman, has repeatedly denied he was marrying the actress.

However, contacted by reporters yesterday, he declined to confirm the marriage.

"This is not the best time. I have to consider the feelings of many people and I don't want to hurt anyone," he said.

Bung Moktar, 50, is married and has four children.

Zizie, 31, a popular actress in a number of television dramas, won the best aspiring actress award at the Malaysian Film Festival 2003.

Asked for his reason in not attending yesterday's Parliament sitting, Bung Moktar said he was in Kinabatangan, Sabah.

"I have obtained permission from the chief (Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz)," he added.

- Bernama

Failure of Nur Amalina Che Bakri status clarified

Linundus has received a letter through e-mail from Charis Wong who is currently a 3rd year Edinburgh medical student and a course-mate of Nur Amalina Che Bakri, clarifying the latter’s status as a 17A1 scorer which appeared in this blog.

"Dear all. I'm Charis, currently a 3rd year Edinburgh medical student.

I'm writing this as I'm absolutely saddened and disgusted by the rumours spread about my course mate Nur Amalina Che Bakri or more popular known on the net as the 17A1 scorer. To clarify, she is doing very well and is actually doing an intercalated honours degree in Pharmacology with Industrial Experience.

She did not fail her second year but actually did quite well. That intercalated degree is a very competitive one and she obtained it by her merit (with Bank Negara's funding). If I'm not mistaken, she has also obtained an ERASMUS transfer programme where she can do part of that course in a partner European university. She will be returning to 3rd year medicine in 2010, and if all things go well, graduate in 2013.

I understand that there is widespread dissatisfaction about the allocation of scholarships in Malaysia. However, whether it is just or not, I think that Nur Amalina or other scholars should never be victimised by false rumours. It is NOT their fault, whatever it is. Leave her alone, please.

If your anger or frustration is meant to be at the scholarship-givers, i.e. the government or other organisations giving out scholarships, let it be directed at them and them only, and voice out your concerns and frustrations in a manner worthy of a concern citizen.

There are flaws to the system, no doubt. There's the question on whether such a heavy cost of sending a scholar overseas is justified.

Then, there is the issue of scholars who 'disappear' after graduating. There are scholars who fail year after a year, costing taxpayers a huge sum of money. And there's always that talk about the unclear criteria of selection for scholarships.

But let's get our facts right before pointing our fingers, and perhaps check who we are pointing our fingers at, lest we wrongly defame and even character assassinate young scholars with great potential." Your fellow Malaysian,

Charis Wong

Wong can be reached at C.H.L.Wong@sms.ed.ac.uk

The Herald finally got its publishing permit.

The Herald finally got it publishing permit - by Aki Momogun

Malaysia’s only Catholic newspaper, Herald, finally got its publishing permit renewed for next year after several weeks of delay, its editor Father Lawrence Andrew confirmed in Kula Lumpur on Dec `5, 1009 .

Andrew disclosed that a newspaper representative collected the permit from the Home Affairs Ministry in Putrajaya yesterday as the editor was busy in court for the “Allah” hearing.

“We received a fax copy of the permit on Friday,” Andrew told The Malaysian Insider. “It would take two weeks for them to mail it to us,” he added.

Close aides to minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein had assured Andrew a month ago at a specially-arranged meeting in Putrajaya that the latter would likely receive the 2010 permit by end November.

The priest became worried when the permit was delayed.

While checking with ministry officials to find out the status of the permit, he was told it was being held back because the Treasury had yet to issue a receipt for the RM800 fee, which had already been paid in August. Andrew appeared unhappy with the delay, but is relieved that he got the permit at all.

The home affairs ministry governs the issuance of the permits, which is a must under the country’s publishing laws.

The Herald is currently embroiled in a suit against the home minister who has banned it from using the word “Allah” for God outside the Muslim context.

The High Court here was told that a federal government ban on using the word “Allah” to refer to the Christian God is unconstitutional.

The High Court will pronounce its judgment on Dec 30.

Lunar Eclipse on New Years Day, 2010

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians will be able to observe a partial lunar eclipse on Jan 1, between 1.17am and 5.28am, according to the National Space Agency (Angkasa).

It said in a statement today that the eclipse would start at 1.17am when the moon starts to pass the penumbral shadow of the Earth. However, it added, the eclipse could only be observed when the moon starts passing the umbra (the darkest part of a shadow) at 2.53am until the maximum phase at 3.24am. "The moon will totally leave the Earth's umbra shadow at 4.53am," the statement said, adding that the eclipse would last until 5.28am. A lunar eclipse generally occurs when the moon passes the Earth's shadow during full moon. Angkasa, with the cooperation of the National Mosque, will organise an eclipse observation session at the main entrance of the mosque from 1am to 6am on Jan 1, the statement said.

A live web cast of the partial lunar eclipse will be available on the Angkasa website at www.angkasa.gov.my. - Bernama

Sabah's Mountain Path Is World's Highest

Mt. Kinabalu.

KOTA KINABALU, Dec 15 (Bernama) -- Mountain Torq Sdn Bhd announced that its 'via ferrata' (iron road in Italian) on Mount Kinabalu at 3,776 metres above sea-level, has been certified by Guinness World Records (GWR) as the world's highest via ferrata.

A copy of this certification -- Sabah's first and only Guiness World Record -- was officially presented to Sabah Park deputy director Dr Jamili Nair, and witnessed by Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Tengku Zainal Adlin at a ceremony here on Tuesday.

A via ferrata is a mountain path which comprises a series of rungs, rails and cables embracing the rock face.

There are more than 300 via ferrata routes worldwide, predominantly in Italy, Germany, and France, among others.

"GWR took about six months to determine and access before deciding which via ferrata is the highest. We were notified about the results in July," said Mountain Torq's sales and marketing director Quek I-Gek.

The second highest via ferrata is found in the Italian Dolomites, called the Marmolada West ridge, at the highest point of 3,343 metres.

Mountain Torq's founder and executive director Wilfred Tok said they began operations on Dec 15, 2007 where it was then certified by the Malaysia Book of Records as the world's highest.

"Since its inception, about 5,000 people have completed the routes," he told reporters.

Quek said the youngest climber was an eight-year-old girl from Kuala Lumpur while the oldest was a 69-year-old man from Britain.

Gov't not ready to remove race from forms

Several factors and needs have to be considered before a proposal to remove the race column from government official forms can be implemented, Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Liew Vui Keong said this was because information like race and religion as contained in the MyKad chip was needed for statistics.

"Generally, we can identify the race from the name but this is not the case for some races in Sabah and Sarawak as the different is not clear and can be confusing," he said.

Liew was replying to Lim Lip Eng (DAP-Segambut) who asked whether the government was serious in removing the race and religion column from government official forms.

He said the information was also needed by poverty eradication programmes aimed at restructuring the society.

"Developed countries like Australia, the United Kingdom and United States need information on race in certain forms for equal opportunities monitoring.

"It is also important in the enforcement of laws involving religion."

He said the 1Malaysia concept was based on unity in diversity and as such the cultures had to be respected, conserved and celebrated to nurture unity.

"Information on race and religion can be used for this and is not a problem to unity. The problem arises from a racial attitude and approach," he added.

- Bernama

Seditious Book

Letter from Farouq Omaro

“Dear Sir,

I had on the 9th of December the opportunity to visit the MPH Bookstore at the Mid-Valley Megamall in Kuala Lumpur. While browsing at the books there, one particular book caught my attention.

The title of the book is "Gerakan Orientalisme dan Kristianisasi" and was authored by Haji Nik Azran Muhamed and Haji Mohd Mahadi Hj Isa. The book was published by Hijjaz Records Publishing in May 2009. After going through the book, I have come to the conclusion that it is downright offensive and seditious.

On pages 163-182 of the book is a chapter entitled "Pengakuan Bekas Paderi Besar Sabah, Thomas Laiden". I believe this chapter is entirely fictional and is meant to insult the Christian faith as well as to incite Muslim hatred towards the Christian church, particularly the Roman Catholic church.

In other chapters the authors had come up with wild theories about the intentions of Christian groups around the world in giving aid to the needy. The authors have also referred to certain Christian organizations in Malaysia as "pertubuhan Kristianisasi".

As a concerned citizen myself, I would like to urge Christian leaders to call for a ban on the book as the book might cause Muslims to be unnecessarily suspicious of Christians. I also believe the book is highly seditious in nature.”

Linundus says …

The above letter was e-mailed to several people, including me today, 12^th Dec. 2009, by Faroug Omaro and copied to: enquiries, editor, cchurch, jmositun, Joebingkasan, jeffreykitingan, sabahdap, and me at 1:21 PM.

I have not read the book myself but from the way Farouq has described the contents in pages 163-183 of the book wherein a chapter entitled "Pengakuan Bekas Paderi Besar Sabah, Thomas Laiden" which he believes is entirely fictional and is meant to insult the Christian faith as well as to incite Muslim hatred towards the Christian church, particularly the Roman Catholic church, is highly seditious enough and warrants the authorities concerned to take necessary action to ban the book from further circulation.

Send Christmas Card to Pope

Please take a moment to send a thoughtful holiday wish to Pope Benedict. In a time when the entire world is looking for truth and peace, and the demands on the church leadership is greater than ever, we must be mindful to support our bishops with our prayers and encouragement. Prepare your message, we will see that it is delivered before Christmas.

Send Christmas Card to Pope HERE