31 August 2005

Today our country celebrates its 48th year of independence. Reading through my friend's blogs, no one has yet mentioned anything about "merdeka" (with the exception of Alvin), so I guess I'll add my two pennies worth.

Am I a patriotic person? Much as i would like to be, I hardly ever think about this issue, except at this particular time every year. Especially now, when all the patriotic songs are playing over the media, I can't help but get this warm fuzzy feeling thinking about the fact that I'm proud to be a Malaysian. Think about it. We are blessed indeed. We have been spared from wars, natural disasters and diseases which have taken the lives of so many people from neighbouring countries. Up until lately, that is. However, what we've experienced from the tsunami, haze, SARS, bird flu, the hike in fuel prices etc. is only a fraction of what others have suffered.

Above all, we're blessed to be able to worship God freely with no restrictions. Only today, the paper highlighted that the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) held prayers to remember our nation's independence. Others in countries such as China, Vietnam, Cambodia, and a host of others have suffered and even been martyred just to be able to tell others about Jesus.

We Malaysians have been too comfortable and complacent all this while. Looking at what others have gone through to share the good news of the gospel, we should really get off our rears and start doing something about it. With or without realising it, all the events that have hit our country in recent years can be likened to little electric jolts from God, telling us that it's time to wake up and realise that we are not really safe, even in our little piece of heaven here in Malaysia. As pastor put it, " No one is really safe till they are saved".

This Merdeka let us reflect on our lives thus far, and see how we can bless others the way God has blessed us and blessed our country. It's time to give back to others when we have received so much. It is our mission and our ministry as Malaysian Christians.