The Walk of Life

Some time back I did a post on the "Amah" and they are also known as the 'Women Of Silk River' in Guangzhou, China. These Amahs are very interesting characters and at one time a social status too because only the rich and the expats could afford to employ one.

My daughter dawn was so engrossed with this particular group of ladies that she really read-up and done research on them. I guess these women represent Women Freedom Group in the early 30's and 40's! They did not want to depend on men to support them and many of these women who hailed from Guangzhou started to breed silk worms and sell the cocoons for the silk industry, hence earning enough to support themselves. Later due to the Japanese Invasion of China many of them migrated or seek jobs in south-East-Asian Countries like Singapore and Malaya.

During that time women in China were mainly kept indoors to be wives, second-wives or even mistresses; their survival truly depended on men! Well, dawn and a group of friends produce a play titled "Women Of Silk River" which is going to be launched in early February 2010! As her dad, I just wanna give her debut theatre piece some broadcast! Details are as listed below:-

Date & Time: 4 - 6, 8 - 9 Feb @ 8.30pm; 7 Feb @ 3pm.

Venue: TAS @ Lot 10.

Ticket: Price RM35, RM28 (sr. citizens) & RM23 (students & disabled).

Promotion: Buy 7 tickets and get 1 free.

Directed by Kimmy Kiew.

Featuring Dawn Cheong, Prisca Florence Wong, Helena Foo, MienLy, Nicole Fuchs & Ben Tan.

Today I watched a video of RPK sharing his thoughts on The Price Of The Cause and what a coincidence that on Sunday in our Church Service, we too sang the song "I Have Decided" which is about following Jesus and there is no turning back. Years ago we were taught by our Church about the Counting The Cost of Discipleship which was drawn from Jesus own teaching.

Although the recent bombings of churches do not indicate severe persecution but I can sense that it may be the beginning of one if the dialogue on the use of 'Allah' by Christians is not resolved amicably. What more with the Home Ministry filing for a stay of judgment plus the case is going to a higher level just sort of indicate that the present ruling Government is already taking a stand against the Christian use of the God word. I hope the call by Datuk Zaid Ibrahim for inter-faith dialogue will really produces an amicable solution.

There is even a call by Capt. Iskandar Dzulkarnain for Christians to back-off this issue and bring it up when the next Government comes into power in the next General Election! It makes sense for the sake of peace but nobody can guarantee that the next GE will see the exit of BN! If they are so irresponsible as to let loose the current spade of violence through their fanning in their MSM writings, irresponsible statements etc, I am not sure that they will hand-over like a gentlmen when they loose in the next GE. Then what? Furthermore it is like giving in to the demands of Gangsters out of fear rather than standing for what is right and wrong in the light of our Constitution. Already many NGOs made a stand not to bow to Acts Of Violence.

No, I think the Church may not bow to such intimidation but stand firm for the right and wrong of the issue, for we have decided and there is no turning back. Like RPK said there is a cost for true liberty in the history of any nation under oppressive rule. Rather than hiding and running out of fear, we as Malaysians should stand firm but our approach is not by counter-violence but by the show of solidarity and support of the hundreds of thousands of fair minded people who still care and love this beloved Nation of ours. Yes! There is a Price to pay and I believe many are prepared to pay it!

What a timely message that came out on 1st January 2010 written by Dr. Muqtedar Khan, Director of Islamic Studies at the University of Delaware I am not sure of the accuracy of the contents but I am willing to take a bet on it to be reliable. The article is reproduced here so that Muslims in Malaysia can read this to enlighten their thinking in the recent Church bombings.

After reading the article I am convinced that the whole 'Allah' issue is politically motivated and those inhuman acts were done by illegitimate Muslims.In addition it is a responsibility of the Malaysian Government to offer Christians their rightful protection not only as Muslims bound by the Prophet's command or teaching but by virtue of the fact that these are also your citizens! So Government is POWERLESS is a sham!

The Promise to St. Catherine:

"This is a message from Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them.

Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them.

No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries. No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims' houses.

Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God's covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate.

No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The Muslims are to fight for them. If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray. Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants.

No one of the nation (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant till the Last Day (end of the world)."

Please go to this link to read the full article! "Prophet Muhammad’s promise to Christians."

I remembered many years ago when I was in primary school, some money in the family cookie jar went missing and my mom just stated out loud "Who stole the money?" I was quick to respond "I did not do it"!

Well. truth be told, it was I whole stole that money but there were many kids who move in and out of our house so it was easy to get away with the crime and my mom would never know the truth!

This story came back to me when a reporter asked our PM Najib whether the recent church bombing incidents had anything to do with statements made by certain politicians earlier.

Najib's replied was as shown below:-

“Don’t point the fingers at Umno or anyone else. We have always been very responsible. Don’t say this attack is motivated by Umno,” Najib snapped out at reporters."

Well nobody mentioned anything about UMNO is behind the church bombings!!!!!!! Is it due to what we normally call "Guilty Conscience"! I really don't know and my take is that none of the culprits will be caught and the whole affairs just died down. I sincerely hope that nothing more come out of this insanity.

It also reminded me of our ex-PM Mahathir who had always accused the West of irresponsible reporting that gave rise to doubts and discredit his actions. His recent disagreement to the decision by the High Court seems to me also gave boldness to these perpetrators grounds to protest and challenge the High Court's decision which flowed over to some violent actions like bombing a few churches! I wonder did he cautioned himself to be careful with what comes out of his mouth since he has wide influence in Malaysia!

Anyway to me, the most irresponsible statement that came out lately was the saying by our PM that the Government is Powerless to stop Muslims from protesting if they did it within Mosque's compound. Well, maybe he is right but again did he not realized the implications of what he said? It could give boldness to those who are bent on making trouble, or perhaps those who cannot control their emotions to flow over to violence after the protest? They make take it as it is OK go ahead!

Many people are asking Najib to take responsibility as a PM and step-down! If I am the PM, I would certainly step-down out of a sense of responsibility and shame! I would even suggest that the Home Minister, IGP and those who encourages the protest to do so! IGP said not enough manpower to protect the churches! haha!

The News of a few Churches under attack is all over the World by now over the use of 'Allah' by the Christian Herald Publication in Malaysia. It is good that no one is hurt except for one incident where a pastor of a church was manhandled before the 'demons' caused some damages to the church property.

Now I wonder how is GOD feeling? Is He glad that people who claimed to know Him are so zealous in defending His Name? Will He specially reward these people?

Perhaps He is SAD because those who claimed to know Him is tarnishing His Name! He is known to be Holy, Just and Loving but the deeds of these people prove otherwise! Who dare say such acts are holy, just or loving?

Perhaps He is ANGRY because His teachings are not followed! I know He hates hypocrisy, bully tactics, wrongful use of power to subdue the minorities just to name of few.

Why then did He allowed such things to happen in Malaysia and the timing of all these things? I think it is His way of showing the citizens the real truth behind a Hypocritical Government. All the insincerities, lies, corruption, evil intentions, injustices and scheming so that the Truth Shall Set Us Free!

Furthermore is His way of showing those in the Corridors of Power the consequences of all the malpractices and the SIN in their natural non-redempted character! The LOVE of money comes to my mind, which according to Him is the "root of all evil".

Finally, it is His way of giving the monkeys long enough rope to hang themselves! Continue to be hypocritical, living in denial, refused to live and face the Truth, Pride, Greed, Power Hungry, Unjust etc and YOU WILL REAP WHAT YOU SOW! AMEN!

All I can say is GOD is JUST and He will dish out to those behind evil deeds His Judgment!