What Would A Christian Court Do?

A Muslim marries a non-Muslim. The non-Muslim must convert. Or else, the marriage is considered null and void.

The Muslim is called an apostate for marrying a non-Muslim. She is put into a rehabilitation center to straighten out her beliefs.

Therefore, the Muslim wants to convert out of Islam. She contends that she did not choose to convert into Islam in the first place. She was merely called a Muslim just because she was born into a Muslim family. She did not consciously choose to convert into Islam, but she cannot consciously choose to convert out of it.

We see the Civil Law and the Syariah Law running concurrently in our country, with the Syariah Court taking precedence over the Civil Court.

See video clip here.

Question of the day: Do religious governments work, or is a secular government for the better good?

Let's examine the similar case according to the Bible. What will the outcome be if we had a Christian Court?

Can a Christian marry a non-Christian?

Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols?... Therefore, "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord" (2 Corinthians 6:14-17)

The answer is no. It is a clear case of disobedience against the Lord. It is a sin.

So, if a Christian chooses to marry a non-Christian, what is the church to do?

The church will not give its blessing. The church will not perform a wedding, or unite the couple before God under holy matrimony.

Can such a couple ever get to marry at all?

If that couple chooses to marry, they cannot have a Christian wedding. They must do it outside the church, i.e. register with the Civil Court.

Will the church recognize the couple as husband and wife?

Now to the married I command... A wife is not to depart from her husband. But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife (1 Corinthians 7:10-11).

Yes. Even though the church does not give the couple its blessings, the church still recognizes their marriage. The church upholds the sanctity of that marriage, with the hope that it works out for the better in due time.

A non-Christian man marries a non-Christian woman. After the marriage, what if one of them decides to become a Christian?

If any brother has a wife who does not believe, and she is willing to live with him, let him not divorce her. And a woman who has a husband who does not believe, if he is willing to live with her, let her not divorce him (1 Corinthians 7:12-13).

The Christian spouse is not to ask for a divorce. If the non-Christian does not mind living with a Christian spouse, the sanctity of marriage takes precedence over the freedom of religion.

What if the non-Christian cannot live with his/her spouse that has just become a Christian?

But if the unbeliever departs, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases (1 Corinthians 7:15a)

Under the worst case-scenario, the non-Christian can divorce the Christian spouse.

What happens after that? Who gets custody of the children? Who gets the property? Will the divorced spouse be compensated financially?

If the children are above the age of consent, they should be allowed to choose which parent they want to live with. If they are under the age of consent, custody of the children will go to whomever is better able to provide for the children and raise them. Custody of the children does not automatically go to the Christian parent just because he/she is the Christian partner in that marriage. Just as the children's religion is not pre-decided for them.

As for the rest of the arrangements, I believe that it will be done fairly. For "God has called us to peace" (1 Corinthians 7:15b).

The wonderful thing about Christianity is that its laws can withstand the test of time. It may have been written more than a millennium ago. But its laws are still applicable in today's context. And that, I should say, is a very strong test that swings in God's favour. His laws withstand the test of time. In His wisdom, He has given us laws that are not static, but dynamic. He shows us how to live, so we can find our way back to Him.

For these reasons, I dare to believe that a Christian government works.

Memoirs Of My Jalopies

Which is best:

A) Repair an 80's Ford Laser 1.3. The repair costs more than the car itself.
B) Buy a 2nd hand 1984 Honda Accord for RM4500.
C) Buy a 2nd hand 2003 Proton Iswara 1.5 for RM15,000.
D) Buy a brand new Proton Iswara 1.3 for RM26,999.

My Ford Laser overheated. Steam blew out from the bonnet. Fumes leak into the car ever since. Shortening my life span with each long drive I take in my car. Engine overheats whenever there is a traffic jam. It starts smoking when it stops for too long. Mechanic told me there is no band-aid solution. Repairing it requires an overhaul.

My mechanic landlord recommended me a 1984 Honda Accord. Meticulously polished, shiny, black body. Never left overnight under the sky. Sports rim. Brand new tyres. Carefully maintained interior. Everything in the interior works. Including central locking and power windows. Got power steering. Legs also can feel air cond. Got sun roof. Opens at the push of a button. Engine, steady and good. Can reach 80 km/hr on a 4th gear without straining the rpm. 2-digit number plate. Rarely used. Owner's wife asked to sell it. Because she is the one who has to clean it.

Tried to bargain for RM4000. Before I could put in a deposit, it was sold to another person that very same night. Some guy came along, wanted it, and paid RM4,500 cash on the spot. I only found out the next morning. How can that be? That car was mine! I feel robbed.

My friend is changing to a company car by the end of next month. He's selling his 4-year old Proton Iswara 1.5, with sports rim, for RM15,000. If compared to the current price of a Proton Iswara 1.3, it's a drop of RM12,000 in 4 years.

A brand new Proton Iswara 1.3 will cost a minimum downpayment of RM2,800. The longest period for installments is RM306 for 9 years. Is it worth to invest in a new car, when my pay hasn't kicked in for more than 2 months already? What about my rental, water bill, electric bill, Digi bill, internet bill, makan bill? Not counting the little luxuries of life yet, like catching a movie in the cinema. Or eating something else rather than home-made sandwiches or economy rice. Or driving anywhere further than Selayang to Kepong. Or Selayang to Sri Gombak.

Well, if I do get a brand new car, there will be things that I won't be used to:

1) A car that starts up when I want to go somewhere in my car (Wah, good morning, car!)
2) Seeing all the doors unlock when I open the driver's door (Oui, why together open wan?)
3) Seeing all the doors lock by itself when I lock my side of the door (Like that also can?)
4) A signal light that works without manually handling it with my right hand (Can blink by itself wan... And can turn off by itself after I turn!)
5) A back door that can open from the inside (no more child safety feature).
6) A steering wheel that is properly aligned (Wah... Straight...)
7) Not having to pour in water and buy engine oil frequently (No more oily hands).
8) Not being able to park it anywhere I like for days (How to travel outstation now?)
9) Having to lock the security lock whenever I park the car (Slow la...)
10) Having to unlock it again when I wanna go off (But if rushing, then?)
11)Having to wash it with something else rather than rain water and natural sulphuric acid cleaner (No time la...)
12) Hearing a beeping sound when I back up the car (Hahh? Not yet bang also got sound??)

Man, I miss my good ol' Datsun 120Y. The one I drove before my Ford Laser. I miss:

1) Driving without a right side mirror (Best training)
2) A hanger attached below the air-cond vent, to hang stuff like teh peng or hokkien mee (Easy to tapao).
3) A cluster of McDonald's straws, taped together and shoved into the air cond vent, to keep the shaft from closing (When hot, just put your face at the straw)
4) A left window that cannot close properly if you wind it up too fast. Once, it dropped all the way to the bottom, and cannot get back up (The one who did it, you know who)
5) Flicking the signal lights up and down to create a blinking light (Multi tasking, man...)
6) Hearing a F1 engine rev up underneath a Datsun casing (Can see the envy in their eyes)
7) How light the car feels, steering it with only one thumb (Country roooads... Take me hooome..)
8) How the brakes feel like it isn't there, and having to brake very early for a gradual and safe stop (Look before you leap, brake before it's late)

And, of course...

9) How things went slow motion, as the right tyre came off, drifted like a Jackie Chan movie, and flew over the divider one fateful night. And trying to see if I can see my body in the driver's seat from outside the car (Good thing I couldn't)

I guess I was brought up to believe that one doesn't need a new car to get through life. I always thought it best to drive old cars, and invest the money somewhere else. "We don't serve the car. The car serves us," my father would always say. I've never dreamt about cars. Hence, my lack of knowledge and interest on automobiles. The thought of buying a new car never really crossed my mind.

Until recent happenings...




You've served me well. A few more months is all I ask...

The Pursuit Of Happiness

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness - The Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776.

We've discussed the matter of "pursuit of happiness" before in Sungai Ara Youth Hour some time ago. Not in the legislative sense, though.

The pursuit of happiness is an unalienable right? A recent newspaper article made me ponder how far this can be true in our country.

The Education Ministry has highlighted that teachers are not allowed to give tuition classes for more than 4 hours a week. Other restrictions include:

• Giving tuition at tuition centres registered by the state education department.
• Application to give tuition has to be approved by the state education director two months beforehand.
• Applicants must achieve a minimum of 80% in their performance appraisals in the previous year.
• Tuition centres must not be more than 25km from a teacher's school.

Any normal tuition centre pays approximately RM30 per hour. 4 hours a week will be RM120. In a month, that will be RM480. So government school teachers are restricted to earning an extra income of RM480 a month. Any more than that, then you are breaking the law.

In Rule 5 Regulations on Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) 1993, teachers are not allowed to do outside work and be paid for it (see reference). So, if you are coaching, let's say, a swimming team for a professional club, then you are breaking the law. Even if many school swimmers are developed under that club, or even if you are "sedang memajukan sukan untuk negara", if you are getting paid for it, then you are breaking the law.

If you want to help develop sports among the youth of the nation, or if you want to give kids a healthy co-curricular purpose, or if you want to keep kids off the streets after school hours, you have to do it for free. Either that, or quit the government service. Then you can groom the nation's athletes legally.

In short, teachers are not allowed to earn money outside the government's payroll. If you do, make sure it's not over RM480. If it exceeds that amount, then you are a lawbreaker. If you are passionate about a sport, you can only develop that sport under the confines of a school. If the school has the facilities, then you can do it. (But only for the students of that school. Students from other schools are denied that privilege) If the school does not have the privilege at all, then your passion for the sport is limited to a couch in front of ESPN's Sports Channel.

You tell me how far is the pursuit of happiness an unalienable right in our country.

On the further restrictions:

1. On the tuition centre's registration. Which tuition centre wants to register itself with the state education department, if the employees under its payroll is going to be tabbed by the ministry? As Lawrence Law said, school teachers (at least, the good ones) should be the best people for the job. Ironically, you can't hire the best people for the job to work at your center for more than 4 hours. But you can let anyone else work for unlimited hours in your center. Does this make sense for any thriving tuition centre?

2. On the teacher's registration. What if you are already teaching tuition for many years already? Registering now will mean you have been ignoring the law for a long time. Also, after you have registered, you have to wait 2 months before you start teaching (if you get approved). So, at the meantime, you have to quit from your centre?

Also, with all the stipulated restrictions, what motivation is there for anyone to step up and be registered? It will make more sense to remain under the radar. How would the ministry find out about their involvement in tuition centers anyway? It's not practical to seek out every tuition center, and ask for the list of people under their payroll.

Another obvious point. We all know that teaching outside a tuition center pays way, much better. How are these stipulations going to apply for private home tutors? It doesn't solve the problem of teachers moonlighting as tuition teachers if they quit their centers and do home tutoring instead.

3. On performance appraisals. We all know that performance appraisals do not really reflect a teacher's performance in school. It is highly abritary. And it is also easily manipulated if you know the system.

4. On distance. Picture this. Let's say, your house, your school and your tuition centre are in a straight line. Your school is right in the middle, as the center of reference. The distance between your school and your house is 25km. The distance between your school and your tuition center is also 25km. Your house and your tuition center are at opposite ends, with your school right in the middle.

To go from your house to your tuition center, you are allowed to travel a total of 50 km. But if there is a tuition center which lies outside the 25 km radius from your school, then you cannot teach there. Even if that center is just right across the street from your house.

I don't know if Mei Mei (see reference) knows what she is talking about. She says the government wants to make sure that the teachers’ main priority is school-going students like herself. I can't help but wonder if she goes to tuition centres herself. What if she finds out her favourite tuition teacher is also a school teacher. What if that same school teacher is also the students' favourite in his own school. Does she realize that there are students who actually need tuition classes, either to excel, or to eke a passing grade?

Of course, there are some school teachers who misplace their priorities in school, and compromise them with their involvement in tuition centres. But is it so hard to believe that not all teachers are like that? Is it fair to legislate a blanket restriction on all teachers?

What about primary teachers who struggle to make ends meet? If the government cannot help them in that area, they are not allowed to help themselves?

A more pertinent question to ask is, how much is the tuition industry affecting the education system? Is the education system reliant on it, or is the education system suffering because of it? Does the tuition industry have a positive or negative impact to its students? What does that tell us of the current state of our education system? Is placing restrictions on teachers and tuition centres a move for the better, or for the worse? If, for some reason, tuition centres ever get abolished, will the education system survive without it?

It's an acceptable thing if a teacher's salary is a humble one. But the implication is a worrying one when people are denied the freedom to pursue happiness outside the government's payroll.

What's In A Name

Mei Yee thinks that getting anonymous comments is nothing to be agitated about. But I automatically get annoyed with deliberate anonymity. Here's why:

Firstly, going back to Public Speaking and Speech Writing 101. Why are introductory speeches important? In any decent seminar or conference, the chairperson takes great lengths to properly introduce the speaker before he speaks. He elaborates on the speaker's background, his status, his accomplishments, etc. Why is that necessary? Because a good and proper introduction validates the credibility of the speaker.

Granted, it's the content matter that counts. But the credibility of the speaker speaks volumes of what he is going to say even before he opens his mouth. If he is who he is reputed to be, you'll take in what he has to say with much more respect. If you know that the speaker is far from impressive in the field he is in, you'll take whatever he says with a pinch of salt. Would you take a person speaking on "Corporate Ethics" when he has been famous for harassing people in his workplace?

Yes, it will put either a bias or a prejudice on the speaker. But I say it's a good bias, and a wise prejudice.

So if you want more respect, do not shy away into anonymity. When your talk matches your walk, you have nothing to hide. People will give you respect.

Secondly, anonymity doesn't work. If Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses on the north door of Castle Church in Wittenberg and signs off as "An Unhappy Theology Professor", do you think anything would've happened? Nope. He put his name on it.

Anonymity doesn't work because people cannot identify with nameless, faceless entities. But if the writing comes with a name and a face, people will realize that "Hey, here's a real story! This is a real person! What he says is true!" The public will realize that the issue, and the propagator of the issue, is for real. People will either rally behind you, or directly oppose you. Things will happen.

But if you submit an anonymous letter, it's not hard at all to put it into the trash can.

Thirdly, the motive of anonymity doesn't work too. If indeed technology is so advanced and investigators are so efficient to tap into phone lines and put bugs on the internet, you don't even need a name to be found out.

Once, in a feedback form that my Christian Fellowship collected, an anonymous person focused his/her dissatisfactions directly on me. (The Exco Board of 2005/2006 would know what I'm talking about) It only took elementary deduction to make out who the writer was.

Firstly, it's obvious that the writer lied in his/her identity. He/she indicated that he/she was a postgraduate. But he/she couldn't tell the difference between an Exco member and a Cell Group Leader. So obviously, he/she is a freshie, not a postgraduate. Also, there are only so few postgraduates around. Ummm... Sadat? Nah, I don't think so :)

Secondly, it's not too hard to narrow down who talks like that. Usually, a person's sentence structure, choice of vocabulary, and maturity of thought is reflected in his/her writing.

Thirdly, all I had to do is dig up some old forms that the CF members have filled before. It doesn't take long to match people's handwriting.

However, although I cannot stop mental acrobatics from happening, I didn't allow myself to finish step 2. The Exco Board means it when we say that anonimity in feedback forms will be respected. Exco people are smart people. But we use it for good, not for evil. Cunning as serpents and harmless as doves, are we :)

The point here is, it's not difficult at all to narrow down the identity of anonymous writers. But I chose not to know. Anyway, if the writer is reading this, rest assured that although there was only a small pool of people to guess from, I still do not know specifically who you are, and I did not allow it to happen. And I don't hold anything against you. I believe in handling criticisms professionally, at work or at play.

So, if anonymous writers are going to be found out anyway, why not just be man about it.

Coming back to the issue...

Fourthly, being not anonymous works! Many people already know about how my story was featured on the first page of the Sun not too long ago. With name, face, quotations and all. But what not many people know is... I was the first KPM scholarship holder to get a posting before any other scholarship holder did. If NST's anonymous version was all the Education Ministry had to go by, I don't think even a feather would have been ruffled into action.

Fifthly, hiding behind anonymity is rude. Why is it that you don't like it when someone talks to you with his sunglasses on? Why do you feel reluctant to respond when someone talks to you while wearing a mask? It's because you do not know to whom you're speaking to. The man behind the mask knows to whom he is talking to, but he doesn't give you the privilege the other way around. That is rude.

Sixthly, anonymity is cowardly behaviour. Sometimes, you have something to say. You got a matter to deal with. But you don't want to confront the personality. So, you resort to ways of sending the message across without having to deal with the personality. Maybe it's because that personality is a force to be reckoned with. Maybe it's because you don't want to deal with the backlash after saying what you have to say. Maybe it's because you just want to say whatever you feel like saying, and you want to get away with it. Whichever way it is... That is cowardly.

Sometimes, don't you think it's improper when someone has something important to tell you, but he'd rather SMS than call? It makes you feel that the other person has something to deal with. But he doesn't want to talk to you.

So, in conclusion... If you got something to say, put your money where your mouth is. Or, in this case, put your name where your writing is.

And be responsible for what you write.

Peanuts Or Brownies

They're paying me peanuts.

My tuition center at Sri Gombak is paying me by a profit-sharing basis. 70-30 split. I keep 70% of the profit, the center keeps 30%. Sounds good, rite? If I have a class of, let's say, 10 students... That's great, right?

But not if your class has only 2 students.

The center told me that they have 9-10 students before I committed myself to the center. I feel conned.

Well, yesterday, 1 new student turned up in my Form 4 Add Maths class. It's safe to say that I have 50% growth in less than a month :)

The center told me yesterday that they're opening up two more classes for me. Add Maths Form 5, and Chemistry Form 5. How many students? 4 in the Add Maths class, and only 1 for Chemistry.

If I calculate how much they're paying me a month... It's peanuts. In fact, it's a loss to me.

But, stranglely enough, I actually feel kinda good inside after every tuition class at this center. Weird. I know at the back of my mind that what I'm doing here is akin to charity. But every time I end my class, I feel as though I've helped someone. Like I've given someone hope.

I decided to take up the 2 new classes. I figured, "Well, if they're giving me peanuts, I may as well earn brownie points here."

I didn't come into education for the money. If I was after the money, I wouldn't be looking for it in schools.

Melissa Ng asked me this question before: "Seriously, why are you into the tuition business? Is it purely for the money, or for some other purpose?"

Here's why... It's because I believe in giving people hope.

And I need another source of income too. If I can get that by doing something I believe in and love doing, then it's a win-win situation.

That's what I have to keep reminding myself. I'm here to give people hope.

Best Excuse Ever

"Mana buku?"

"Tak ada, sir..."

"Kenapa tak ada?"

"Sebab tertinggal di rumah... Rumah saya roboh..."

"Apa roboh??"

"Betui sir... MPS datang robohkan rumah saya... Saya tinggal rumah setinggan."

His friend came to his aid, "Sir, betui punya sir... You pergi jalan itu, kat *dunno what he was saying* ... You tengok rumah akhir sekali... Itu rumah dia, rumah kat tepi tu. Sekarang... Tak ada apa-apa lagi."

Have you heard this excuse before? My goodness. I never saw that coming. Not at all!

Not quite sure how to respond. You wanna teach them discipline, but on the other hand, you see them with compassion. You wanna show compassion, but on the other hand... *muffled giggle*... You gotta admit that it sounds very outlandish, rite?

Had to pull a poker face.

"Jadi, sekarang tinggal mana?"

"Tinggal rumah sewa."

I stood staring at the boy, thinking of what to say next.

"Hari itu... Balik balik main bola... Tengok rumah sudah tiada..."

Imagine coming home from playing footie in the field, only to discover that your house has been bulldozed to the ground. You're surely tired, sweaty and thirsty... Looking forward to that shower, cold water and food... How is it like to be greeted with nothing but rubble?

The boy looked strangely "amused" at his own predicament though. The way he was telling it. Maybe he doesn't know what kind of trouble he is in.

He wasn't finished yet. Just as I was walking away...

"Sir, rumah DIA PUN KENA!!"

He pointed to another girl at the next table. The girl wasn't too happy to be found out.

Now, this one almost got me. Cannot tahan... *muffled giggle*... Oops, I'm not supposed to laugh. So bad...

Welcome to Selayang. Where Selangor meets layang-layang.

PIBG rocks...

I attended the PIBG meeting in school last Saturday. I apparently was appointed to "mewakili kaun Cina" as the AJK Guru.

Usul yang dibahaskan:

Memandang masalah disiplin pelajar semakin tidak boleh dikawal... Menurut pemimpin kita dan Islam Hadari... Sekolah kerajaan harus dijadikan sekolah satu jantina.

If this motion gets through the school level, they're going to bring it to the kementerian.

I went right up to the microphone with an opening question:

"Selepas membaca usul ini, apa yang saya hendak tahu ialah... Apakah justifikasi kenyataan yang sedemikian? Apakah peratus masalah disiplin di sekolah yang berpunca daripada interaksi lelaki dengan perempuan?"

Tuan Pengerusi:

Ada kes di sekolah ini yang pernah berlaku... Saya tahu sejarah sekolah ini... Pelajar lelaki dan perempuan boleh bergaul dengan cara yang tidak sesuai... Kalau pelajar bukan Islam buat kepada pelajar Islam, itu sebenarnya haram.

Well... Just because a few historical cases have happened before, we want to push for single-sex schools? Kes buli and gangsterism are even more serious. Forget about Kempen Anti-Buli and Rakan Cop then. Why not abolish public schools and push for home schooling?

If Muslim students do not want to be touched, then they will not be touched! Is it an unavoidable, involuntary act of the will? Men should be taught to respect women. Women should be taught to say no. You can't teach them anything if you just put them in seclusion. The first chance of contact they get, they will... Unleash!

If you wanna ban co-ed schools, then to what end? The ban should not stop at secondary schools. It should be done in universities too! Youth at their twenties are even more ready, willing and able of immoral conduct, compared to curious teens. What's next... Single-sex office buildings to avoid sexual harassment?

I went up to the microphone again. The gist of what I said:

Izinkan saya berbahasa Inggeris, kerana saya kurang fasih dalam Bahasa Melayu. Saya akan bercakap dalam Bahasa Inggeris, kemudian saya akan terjemahkan sendiri kepada Bahasa Melayu.

*The following things are said bilingually*

Men cannot be men without women. Women cannot be women without men. Widening the divide is not the answer. If we separate them, how will the men learn responsiblity and chivalrous behaviour? How will the women learn to understand men? Men will become increasingly chauvinistic, and the women will become more and more inferior.

If they interact with one another in schools, teachers can teach them how to properly deal with the opposite sex. I'll give you one real example. Dalam kelas saya, 2 Krypton... Seorang pelajar lelaki memaki hamun seorang perempuan... Sampai perempuan itu menangis. Selepas lesson saya, saya deal with the problem. Saya panggil budak lelaki itu.

"Apasal you marah-marah kat dia?"

"Dia yang mula dulu, saya tambah saja..."

"Kamu budak lelaki. Kamu tidak boleh jerit macam itu kepada perempuan."

"Tapi dia yang mula dulu..."

"Kalau kamu lelaki, kamu tidak akan memaki hamun perempuan macam itu. Kalau dia tampar kamu pun, you tak boleh tampar balik. You jadi lelaki. Faham tak? Tak adil, kan? Ya, memang tak adil. Tapi syarat alam memang begini. You jadilah lelaki sejati. Jangan buat balik."

Dia terus diam.

We have to teach the men to be strong. Mengapa banyak rumah tangga sekarang porak perandah? Kerana lelaki dan perempuan tidak tahu differences mereka dan peranan mereka. We have to solve this at the school level. Kalau tidak, macam manalah mereka boleh selesaikan problem mereka sendiri nanti.

No voice from the proposing side of the house.

The Pengerusi called the house to a vote.
Those in favour of single-sex schools: 4 votes.
Those in opposition of the motion: The rest of the house.
Oposition leader wins by landslide victory.

It astonishes me what kind of ideas people have in their heads nowadays. I don't mean any disrespect for the religion of Islam. But I cannot allow unjustifiable statements to be passed like that. Such policies do not help, but they make the situation worse! Even religious groups are having problems trying to cope with divorces and broken families. How can anyone with a sane mind ever conceive the idea that separation and seclusion is the solution?

When something bad happens, is it reasonable to just blame it on male-female interactions? Such interactions are not the root of all evil.

I came into the AJK PIBG, kicking and screaming. Initially, I was not too happy with the idea. I felt like this was another case of exploitation of "new, young, single, Chinese teachers". Other teachers say it is a "penghormatan" to be in PIBG. When they themselves laugh at the "much coveted postion".

But whatever it is, after my first meeting, I've decided to stay. For as long as it is possible.

If my appointment into the PIBG was a case of exploitation, those who put me there have something new to think about. When you put a lion in the council, you do not expect it to mew.

He will roar.

Constipation

I'm currently teaching the chapter on human digestion for Form 2 Science. They like it when I talk about constipation.

That's right. I tell them why you get constipation, how to avoid constipation, what happens during constipation... Talk about the rectum, the anus, and how you bleed when the anus wall gets cut by hard, sharp faeces... Tell them how you can shove pills into a sick cow's anus with your hands because its size is so huge... They like it! They listen with rapt attention. I don't know if the cow part is even true. But it doesn't matter, does it.

You try to expound every organ in the human digestive system, its functions and the enzymes involved in every stage of digestion... They don't give 2 hoots about it. You talk to them about defecation. That one, they like.

I came to asking myself: Why do I bother to systematically break down content matter, justify every statement I make, rationalize every point to make it reasonable... When absolutely none of those are remotely necessary? I can just make senseless statements without checking the facts. And they love it even more.

Speaking of constipation. I think I'm getting verbal constipation. I practically have no one to speak English with, except on Sundays. The Streamyx guy is taking a short eternity to fix things, so I can't blog. When I meet a Chinese fellow, and I have to speak Malay. And they'll go glancing at my name tag. "Oh, I'm actually Portuguese," I should say.

No wonder missionaries have stress levels that are a hundred fold greater than ordinary, local people.

I miss my days in St. Xaviers Institution and Penang Free School... Where you make sense to people when you speak intelligent English. I glance down 10 years down the road... If I'm still teaching Science for Form 1 and 2... I dunno. It bothers me.

I look at my class of 30 Form 1 students and 60 Form 2 students. I can't imagine how they are ever gonna make it in the world out there. I ask myself, "Am I looking at 90 cases of hopeless failures every day? What can I do to help them?"

Yesterday, a group of chinese boys were showing a severe case of disinterest and disruptive behaviour. After several attempts at conventional class control, I gave them a dose of rebuke. I muttered softly under my voice. In monotone. In fluent, perfect English. I didn't mince my words nor stuttered. I spoke much softer than my ordinary voice. I directed it to the group of Chinese boys. I told them things they didn't want to hear. Nor do I think any teacher ever did. The whole class fell into a pin-fall silence.

No rotan needed.

How come the Chinese kids know I'm scolding them? I was speaking close to a whisper. Yet, they can hear. I think they know English. They just pretend not to, so they can have a license to simply not know things.

Yesterday, the Principal said she wanted me to join the AJK for PIBG. "Guru Cina kena masuk PIBG," she said. Yeah. I'm so gonna communicate with the parents of the students who can't speak English.

"How can I help them?" I ask myself over and over again. "These are kids from very poor families. From practically zero education background. What can I do?"

Well. Maybe what they need right now is a little charity.

Hmmm... I think I know what to do.

There Goes My Holiday

I thought I would be able to go back to Penang during the weekends. But I'm tied up with Pusat Tuisyen Akademik Maju on Saturdays. There goes my weekends.

I could've gone back during the 1-week school holidays. But I'm part-timing with D' Jungle People from Tuesday to Thursday. A sports camp at Rawang, Games X-plosion. There goes my school holidays.

SMK Selayang Bharu's Penolong Kanan is sending my name to be a Pengawas Peperiksaan during SPM. There's no escaping it. All new teachers are sent by the school to invigilate. There goes my November holidays.

But I'm not complaining. The one with D' Jungle People, I mean. I've part-timed with them twice before at Langkawi. Somehow, I actually feel proud to be identified with them in some way. Weird, but dunno why. Maybe it's because I kinda like the things that they do. And they are professional in their work :)

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I'm Diving In

Was informed today that I'm atually the Penyelaras Sains Tingkatan Dua... Not the Penolong Ketua Panitia. Yah, it makes more sense that way. But the job specification still comes with its necessary evils.

I'm now SMK Selayang Bharu's volleyball teacher. I have taken over Pn Noraini's place, the former Science teacher for form 1 and 2 before I came in. That also means I'm taking over all her responsibilities... Including being a co-teacher advisor for volleyball. On the bright side, my ko-kurikulum slot is now filled. So I don't have to think about starting a swimming club as long as I'm a volleyball teacher.

Oh, and Pn. Noraini is also a form teacher for 1 Radon. So that's gonna be my job too.

En. Mirashab, a colleague in the afternoon session, linked me up to another tuition job at Sri Gombak. Form 4 and 5 Add Maths. That's more in my league. 50-50 share of the profit. Apparently, the tuition center is losing its students because of incompetent teachers. But I guess it's a good place to start. I'll take up the 50-50 offer. And if I can build up a strong base at the center, I ain't turning back on the agreement :)

I've decided to commit myself to Kepong Gospel Chapel. The people there are very warm. Its members are very participative in worship. You don't get to count to 10 before someone stands up to contribute! It seems that Kepong Gospel Chapel has quite a reputation for that. Itinerant speakers seemed to have commented the same thing about them repeatedly. The young adults there are friendly people. My first Young Adults meeting will be on Thursday night.

I've got a phone line installed in my flat today. Along with a Motorola cordless phone that I won in a lucky draw to go with it! Once I can get my hands on a modem adaptor, I'll be connected to the internet from home.

I'm gonna print out my Science homework here at the cybercafe. Printing a black and white document here is 50 cents a piece! Internet charges are at RM3 per hour! Got no Queensbay Mall here to parasite free internet access :)

Just normal, shallow updates for now. Deeper stuff will be cooked up once I have internet at home.

Penang Boy, Checking In

Finally checked in to Selayang. Where Selangor meets layang-layang.

I'm now teaching at SMK Selayang Bharu. Science, form 1 and 2, afternoon session. After so many months of hopping from one school to another on temporary stints, it feels good to finally have a school to commit myself to. One that I can belong to.

The school's principal wanted me to start a swimming club. She wants to send the first team from Gombak to enter the state level competition. The Penyelia Petang wanted to appoint me to be the Penolong Ketua Panitia for Science. I think I know the difference between being a contributor, and being abused. "Hi, I'm new, naive, and altruistic?" No, I didn't say that. And I think I know enough to not enter with guns blazing. Yet.

I'm staying in a low cost flat. The whole place to myself, for RM350 a month. Thanks to Haji Tahir, the Penolong Kanan of a neighbouring school. He also happens to be the Penghulu of the area. I don't know what I'd do without him.

Found a job at Pusat Tuisyen Akademik Maju. Science form 2 and form 4, and Add Maths form 4. I'm earning an average of RM25 per hour there. Thanks to Hj Tahir again. His wife so happens to be the owner of the centre.

Made an acquaintance with En. Azahari at Kompleks Sukan Sri Siantan. He's granting me free access to the pool. They're at the brink of starting an official swimming club there. And I'm at the brink of joining the coaching staff.

I'll be paying a visit to Kepong Gospel Hall tomorrow. I haven't really decided on which church to commit myself to. But as a principle, I'd want to settle in a church nearby. Not so much because of convenience. But because I believe that by principle, one should build the local church from wherever he is. That is the correct concept of church planting. Churches should grow from bringing in new people from the vicinity. Not swell from bringing in Christians from other vicinities.

I've also changed my Digi prepaid number to a postpaid number. No, I'm not running away from debtors. And I don't lead a shady lifestyle. It's purely economical. Oh, and don't hesitate to contact me even if I'm not using a KL number. Because as far as Digi is concerned, all calls are at 1 flat rate nationwide. So the charges are the same, wherever you're calling from.

A new life, a new place, many new beginnings. This is Penang kia, checking in. With my PBF 9812.

Believe In Yourself

Can what you believe save you?

Belief is thought to be the underlying factor that determines the outcome of one’s endeavours. “You are what you believe!” Says a success coach. "The power of belief is the secret to greatness."

So, if you believe in something hard enough, it will become true. Right?

If so, then is it fair to say that if you believe in eternal life, you will live forever?

If we say yes, we are saying that eternal life is a result of the power of belief.

If we say no, that it is contrary to what the bible says.

Declaring oneself to be “saved” based solely on one's belief is an offensive idea to most people. If indeed there is a God, how can He commend or condemn someone, based on what a person believes, instead of what he does? Can’t human beings believe what they want to believe without getting condemned for it? It sounds really ironic if we have free will, but we cannot believe in anything we want without risking eternal damnation.

Yes, the irony is obvious. But why is there an irony? The apparent irony arises when God becomes a matter of belief.

When we relegate God into a matter of belief, everybody is none the better... Regardless of whether or not he subscribes to that belief. God is just a matter of philosophy. If we reduce God into a mere concept, we are the very cause of the people's unbelief of a true and living God.

The way we respond when we are challenged will reveal how we really see God.

If we see God as a concept, we will retreat into a non-trespass zone. “This is my belief, that is your belief, so let’s leave it as that.” There is no motivation. Fairly stated, nobody has the right to go any further than that. Because we can agree to disagree about concepts. When our gospel is rejected, we feel personally offended. Our philosophy, which reflects our own depth of character, is being ridiculed.

If we see God as a Person, we do not retreat into a non-trespass zone. “I hope you’ll get to know God. Because He already knows you.” There is motivation. Correctly stated, everyone has the right to interfere and challenge God's credibility, or defend it. Because we cannot agree to disagree about the existence of a Person. When our gospel is rejected, we do not take offense. God is being rejected, not our personal philosophy.

Coming back to our question. If you believe in eternal life, will you live forever?

Don't fool yourself. You don’t live a minute longer by sheer belief. You’re missing the point.

God is not a matter of belief. He appeared in human history. We are saved because He saved us. Not because of the power of our belief.

Believe it.

So kiss me and smile for me...

Go to this website: http://apps.emoe.gov.my/spg/

Enter 820916035603.

Now you know my date of birth. You know what to do :)

Now you know I wasn’t born in Penang. There’s nothing you can do.

Now you know where I’m going. What are you gonna do?

YeaaaaAAAHOOOOO!!!

Anyway, Just in case you're curious about why I wasn't born in Penang.

I was conceived during honeymoon night. My father was posted to Kelantan. My mother followed him. I exited the womb, and entered the world there.

Ok, coming back to the main story...

YeaaaaAAHOOOOO!!!

Finally, my 9-month wait is over!

I don't know how long it will take for the next batch of Education graduates to get their posting. So, if you're a fresh Education graduate, and you're already married...

No need to think so much lah. Just go ahead and have a kid! You will see your baby before you can say, "I've got my posting!" Hahahaha!

As It Wasn't Painful Enough

“When is the meeting going to finish…” grumbled Tan Bee Ling, as she flipped through the newspaper. It was Monday. We were having a meeting for co-curriculum teachers. It’s already bad enough that school ends at 2:40 p.m. from Mondays to Thursdays. To make things worse, there is a “cabinet” meeting every Wednesday that goes on until 3:30 p.m. Obviously, the teachers are not happy about it. The Monday meeting was an extra pain.

“Only in Free School mah! We’re the best!” I said gleefully.

“Why did you come back here?” Another teacher said. “You come here to suffer.”

“No mah… Once you get used to an iron rod, when you get hit by a wooden stick… It is nothing,” I replied with a grin.

“You positive thinking ah,” Tan Bee Ling said. “Good lah. You’re still young…”

Today, I read John chapter 19. It was about a man who absorbed pain and punishment. It was as though he came and asked for it.

The Jews pressured Pilate into crucifying Jesus. But in Pilate’s heart, he wanted to release Jesus. If only Jesus would give good answers Pilate’s questions, Pilate could justify his intention to release Him.

Instead, Jesus said, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above.” And, as though He knew Pilate’s worries for possibly killing the Son of God, He tried to give Pilate some sort of “consolation”. He said, “Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.” (John 19:10-11). Isn’t that asking for death, or what?

It can be further deliberated that Jesus' trial was unjust and illegal. But Jesus went on with it without objecting. It was as if He wanted to embrace death in the most terrible way. The way of the cross.

When Jesus was hung on the cross, He was offered wine mingled with myrrh to drink. But He didn’t take it, because that mixture would have drugged Him and made Him less conscious to the pain. (Mark 15:23)

Later, Jesus was offered sour wine to drink. This time, He took it. He did it because sour wine would make Him terribly thirsty, and increase the agony of the crucifixion. (John 19:29)

Why the extra pain?

The price of atonement would still paid if Jesus died less conscious to the pain. His sacrifice would still be counted if He didn’t die in thirst. But He chose to experience the fullest suffering of the crucifixion. He wanted to feel the complete pain for bearing our sin.

That is why Christianity is the “fullest religion”. It does not revel only in all the good things in life. It also embraces the reality pain and suffering, instead of turning a blind eye to it. Or pretending it doesn’t exist.

What was Jesus’ secret? No, it wasn’t positive thinking. It was submission to His Father’s will. In the face of all the bad things that happen in the world, God didn’t just watch comfortably from heaven. He came to absorb it.

Where is God when there is suffering?

He came.

Do Christian Evolutionists Exist?

When it comes to the origin of life, the world is divided into two camps – the creationists, and the evolutionists. You can be in one camp, or the other. You either believe that God created humankind, or Darwinian natural selection caused humankind to exist. There is no “in between” or “both also can”.

Some Christians believe that God created humankind through evolution. They call themselves Christian evolutionists… A so-called “third category”. They say they can believe in the Darwinian evolution theory, and remain unfazed in their faith as a Christian. “There is no contradiction. God made humankind through evolution.”

If an evolutionist says he is a Christian, he is either:
1. Not a Christian as he claims to be.
2. A Christian who does not fully understand the claims of Darwinism.

Christian evolutionists put themselves in an oxymoronic position.

The evolutionary process by definition is “undirected”.
If living organisms came into being by undirected, random chance, then the Creator is put out of His job.
If God did not direct the design of His creation, then He is no longer a Creator.
If He is not a Creator, then creation can exist without Him.
If creation can exist without Him, then He doesn’t need to exist.
If He doesn’t need to exist, then He is not God.
If there is no God, then who do you worship?

Hence the oxymoron. How can you direct something by random chance? How can you be a Christian if there is no God? Your position is the same as the atheist.

Are you a Christian evolutionist? Pick another side. Your category does not exist.

Evolution Redefined

Is it fair to blatantly state in textbooks that the world was created by God? I concede that it’s not “scientific” to make such a statement. But it is the people’s basic right to pursue knowledge without withholding crucial information from them.

From a purely educational point of view, 5 icons pop up when we touch on the topic of evolution: Stanley Miller. Darwin’s Tree Of Life. Haeckel’s embryos. The archaeopteryx. Java Man. What do these 5 icons really say about evolution? Are the complete facts presented in textbooks?

The concept behind Stanley Miller’s experiment to produce amino acids by artificial means to prove the origin of life has been abandoned by the mid-1970s. The wrong gas mixture had been used to simulate the primitive earth. Science magazine said in 1995 that “the early atmosphere looked nothing like the Miller-Urey simulation.” If the experiment is replayed using the correct gases, you will get formaldehyde and cyanide. They are toxic compounds, not precursors to life. Any organic chemist knows this.

Darwin’s Tree Of Life is not supported by fossil records. Fossil evidence up to today shows a Cambrian explosion – a rapid appearance of phylum-level differences in a sudden period of time, instead of a long history of gradual divergence from a common ancestor. The Cambrian explosion has uprooted Darwin’s tree. An overwhelming collection of fossil records shows this.

Haeckel’s embryos are an academic equivalent of murder on 3 counts. Firstly, Haeckel cherry-picked his examples to support his idea. Secondly, Haeckel used the same woodcut to print embryos from different classes because he was so confident of his theory that he figured he didn’t need to draw them separately. He was already accused of fraud by his colleagues since the 1860s. Thirdly, embryos look alike during the mid-point stage of development, not during the early stage as Haeckel claimed. Any embryologist knows this.

The archaeopteryx is not a missing link. It is a bird, not a half-bird, half-reptile. A branch of evolutionary theorists tried to find bird-like reptiles in fossil records to prove that birds came from reptiles by descent. The fossils found were dated tens of millions of years after, not before the archaeopteryx! If the archaeopteryx indeed is the missing link, it should be the other way around. The missing link is still missing. The archaeopteryx is not an ancestor of modern birds. Rather, it’s a member of a totally extinct group of birds. Paleontologists know this.

Dubois’ 1892 excavation of Java Man too, is not a missing link. Java Man consisted from nothing more than a skullcap, a femur, three teeth, and a great deal of imagination. Dubois’ shoddy excavation would have disqualified the fossil according to today’s standards. The femur apparently did not belong with the skull cap. The skull cap was distinctly human and reflected a brain capacity well within the range of humans living today. A 342-page scientific report from a team of 19 fact-finding evolutionists has demolished Dubois’ claims.

I am not talking religion here. I am talking science. In educating people, all evidence should be presented properly. Students should be at liberty to decide on their personal views after they are properly informed. Not before.

Strong And Faithful

Let us march on to fame, let the aisles proclaim
Till our anthem will dare us to do
Let us onwards to win and new laurels gain
Free School for the brave and for the true

It matters neither how straight the gate
Nor how charged with dangers the goal
Let the tempest rage and fell odds inflate
We’ll do it with heart and soul

I always thought the Penang Free School anthem is a really good one. It always brings a rush to my blood every time the school band plays it during the Sports Day. Amidst the trivial pursuits of winning the overall champions back then, the anthem evoked the fighter within. It evokes bravery and courage for greater battles today.

I was hanging out in the teacher’s eating room today. It is interesting to note how different male staff behave in an all-boys school, compared to female staff in an all-girls school.

Female staff will whip out their breakfast or lunch baskets, and take out their homemade food. They will talk about family or children or their students while they offer to share some food with you. They have a “gang” where people take turns to bring the food for the day. Someone will bring the bread. Someone will bring the filling for the bread. Someone will bring the vegetables. And they will rotate duties. Someone will bring a cheese cake that her husband bought to share with the whole gang. Someone will bring mooncakes for everyone to sample. If you ask for help on how to cook a certain dish, or where to buy a certain thing, they are more than happy to discuss over it and offer ample advice. The Principal and Senior Assistants can sit together with the staff in the eating room and have friendly moments together.

Male staff will whip out their wallets and buy the kind of food in the canteen that will eventually kill themselves. They don’t bring anything from home. They won’t talk about home. They will talk about the school’s government. They will talk about other colleagues. They will start pulling off wise cracks. They will offer to buy each other drinks. Even after treating each other to drinks, they still pull off wise cracks. No, they don’t have a “gang” that pools together their resources to share food. They have a secret gang that wants to topple the school government. The Principal and Senior Assistants will never step into the eating room alive. The eating room is a resting chamber for the opposition party.

I look forward to starting work in Penang Free School tomorrow. It’s good to breathe Free air again! Yes, I may be doing it for free. But there’s nothing like waking up to a day with purpose. Tomorrow, I am going to mould a nation.

Dare you be brave? Dare you be true? Free School is for the brave and for the true.

Armageddon

Joel calls it the "valley of decision". I think I’m deep in that valley.

Last week, I got a job with Fairview International School. I could’ve started as early as today. But I will ask them to hold on to their offer until my bond with the government officially expires.

This morning, the Senior Assistant from Penang Free School called. A teacher just went on maternity leave. She teaches Chemistry, Form 4 and 5. I may be starting by Thursday.

Today, I got an email from Dalat International School too. They will be confirming next year’s openings next week. The Director will be contacting me in the coming weeks.

What am I thinking now?

I want to work in Fairview. But I’ll have to relocate to KL, leave my church behind, and of course my girlfriend too. I’ll have to go without my father’s blessings. And I may have to jump into the corporate sector with no looking back.

I want to teach in PFS. But if my posting comes before I have taught there for 20 days, I will not get paid. It’s a temporary teaching policy.

Now Dalat is starting to bite. If I have to make the jump from the government sector into the corporate sector, I’d rather jump into a Christian mission school. If I go to Dalat, I won’t have to relocate. But they’re talking about next year’s openings, not this year’s! If I have to make the jump, will it be better to jump into Fairview, or into Dalat?

Or maybe I should just wait for the helicopter to take me to jurassic park.

I have a 10-year plan to own my own business. But to do that, first I have to enter the government service. Thanks to them, now my 10-year plan is turning into an 11-year plan.

Or maybe I should just pray more. And ask God deal with my sense of ambition and my lust for advancement. When you feel robbed of your purpose, it gets increasingly hard to live through each passing day.

“So Joshua, what are you doing now? What are your plans?”

“I’m planning to take over the world.”