A moment ago - I happened to "bumped" into a very old "Jesus" movie (black & white version).
In this movie, as I watched the part where Jesus went to have meal with Matthew; the tax collector; Jesus received a lot of criticism and have angered many people.
We assumed that the criticism were from the religious priests but in the movie, it shown that the people whom have put their faith and believe on Jesus also felt angry and criticized Jesus.
We as believers may at times also react like the Pharisees or the Sadducee when we encounter such scenario.
We criticized when we see our fellow christian friends went into a casino, drink at pub, eat with "immoral" people, yelling at people, etc ...
Criticism is always number 1 in our list.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Been working thru' some working interviews and getting a feel of "work-for-ppl" in these couple of weeks .....
Sometimes, choosing a job is not easy as it may seems.
Encountered the following:
1) A fancy cafe, meals presentation are appealing, varieties of menu to choose from but the boss is stingy.
2) A "china man" cafe, meals presentation are just okay but the boss said, "Eat & drink whatever you want".
Both offered same salary, same area, but the 1st cafe work lesser by an hour.
Which one offer would you accept ?
Sometimes, choosing a job is not easy as it may seems.
Encountered the following:
1) A fancy cafe, meals presentation are appealing, varieties of menu to choose from but the boss is stingy.
2) A "china man" cafe, meals presentation are just okay but the boss said, "Eat & drink whatever you want".
Both offered same salary, same area, but the 1st cafe work lesser by an hour.
Which one offer would you accept ?
Thursday, November 25, 2010
If someone says something about you behind your back, it hurts. It's not fair, especially if what's said is untrue.
You have a couple of choices... you can get back at the person by spreading your own negative comments, confront the person, give the silent treatment, or simply let it go.
The choice you make says a lot about who you belong to: Christ or the world.
Jesus Himself was the victim of slander, injustice, and persecution. He knows what it's like to have friends and neighbors betray Him and say hurtful things. And yet, Jesus never struck out in anger or tried to get revenge.
Instead, He asked the Father to forgive them, and He taught His disciples to do the same.
The size of a mosquito .... 
Monday, November 22, 2010
shared an article:
Ask In Jesus’ Name And Receive
John 16:2323“… Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.
Do you always end your prayers with “in Jesus’ name”? Maybe your Sunday school teacher taught you to do this, or maybe you have heard church leaders and other believers utter it at the end of their prayers.
I used to say “in Jesus’ name” very quickly as if those were magic words that would get my prayers answered.
Then, one day, I heard the Lord asking me why I was doing that.
The Lord wanted me to realize that whenever I pray and say “in Jesus’ name”, I am putting my entire faith for my prayer to be answered not in who I am or what I have done, but in the person and name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and what He has done at the cross!
Whenever we ask God for anything in Jesus’ name, Jesus says to us, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.” This means that in your prayer for healing, when you say “in Jesus’ name”, healing comes over your sick body because it is by His stripes that you are healed. (1 Peter 2:24)
In your prayer for protection, when you say “in Jesus’ name”, you are kept safe because the blood of Jesus protects and delivers you from evil. (Exodus 12:13)
Beloved, the good name of your family cannot save you. Your pastor’s name cannot save you. Even the name of the latest medical breakthrough cannot save you. Only one name under heaven can save you — Jesus!
And the good news is that His name in Hebrew, Yeshua, means salvation — healing, preservation, wholeness, wellness, provision, prosperity, safety and deliverance for you and your family!
So these days, whenever I pray, I slow down at the end of my prayer and say, “Father, I ask all this not based on what I have or have not done, but based on Jesus and His finished work at the cross. I ask all this in Jesus’ name. Amen!”
Ask In Jesus’ Name And Receive
John 16:2323“… Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.
Do you always end your prayers with “in Jesus’ name”? Maybe your Sunday school teacher taught you to do this, or maybe you have heard church leaders and other believers utter it at the end of their prayers.
I used to say “in Jesus’ name” very quickly as if those were magic words that would get my prayers answered.
Then, one day, I heard the Lord asking me why I was doing that.
The Lord wanted me to realize that whenever I pray and say “in Jesus’ name”, I am putting my entire faith for my prayer to be answered not in who I am or what I have done, but in the person and name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and what He has done at the cross!
Whenever we ask God for anything in Jesus’ name, Jesus says to us, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.” This means that in your prayer for healing, when you say “in Jesus’ name”, healing comes over your sick body because it is by His stripes that you are healed. (1 Peter 2:24)
In your prayer for protection, when you say “in Jesus’ name”, you are kept safe because the blood of Jesus protects and delivers you from evil. (Exodus 12:13)
Beloved, the good name of your family cannot save you. Your pastor’s name cannot save you. Even the name of the latest medical breakthrough cannot save you. Only one name under heaven can save you — Jesus!
And the good news is that His name in Hebrew, Yeshua, means salvation — healing, preservation, wholeness, wellness, provision, prosperity, safety and deliverance for you and your family!
So these days, whenever I pray, I slow down at the end of my prayer and say, “Father, I ask all this not based on what I have or have not done, but based on Jesus and His finished work at the cross. I ask all this in Jesus’ name. Amen!”
一名成績優秀的青年去申請一個大公司的經理職位。
他通過了第一級的面試，董事長做最後的面試，做最 後的決定。
董事長從該青年的履歷上發現，該青年成績一 貫優秀，從中學到研究生從來沒有間斷過。
董事長問，你在學校裏拿到獎學金嗎？該青年回答，沒有。
董事長問，是你的父親 為 您付學費嗎？該青年回答，我父親在我一歲時就去世了，是我的母親給我付的學費。
董事長問，那你的母親是在那家公司高就？該 青年回答，我的母親是給人洗衣服的。 董事長要求該青年把手伸給他，該青年把一雙潔白的手伸給董事長。
董事長問，你幫你母 親 洗過衣服嗎？該青年回答，從來沒有，我媽總是要我多讀書，再說，母親洗衣服比我快得多。
董事長說，我有個要求，你今天回家，給你母 親洗一次雙手，明天上午你再來見我。
該青年覺得自己成功的可能很大，回到家後，高高興 興地要給母親洗手，母親受寵若驚地把手伸給孩子。
該 青年給母親洗著手，漸漸 地，眼淚掉下來了，因為他第一次發現，他母親的雙手都是老繭，有個傷口在碰到水時還疼得發抖。
青年第一次體會到，母親就是 每天用這雙有傷口的手洗衣服為他付學費，母親的這雙手就是他 今天畢業的代價。
該青年給母親洗完手後，一聲不響地把母親剩下要洗 的衣服都洗了。
當天晚上，母親和孩子聊了很久很久。
第二天早上，該青年去見董事長。
董事長望著該青年紅腫的眼睛，問到，可以告訴我你昨天回家做了些什麼嗎？
該青年回答說，我給母親洗完手之後， 我幫母親把剩下的衣服都洗了。
董事長說，請你告訴我你的感受。
該青年說，第一，我懂得了感恩，沒有我 母親，我不可能有今天。第二，我懂得了要去 和母親一起勞動，才會知道母親的辛苦。第三，我懂得了家庭親情的可貴
董事長說，我就是要錄取一個會 感恩，會體會別人辛苦，不是把金錢當作人生第一目標的人來當經理。你被錄取了。
這位青年後來果真工作努力，深得職工擁護，員工也 都努力工作，整個公司業績大幅成長。
假如一位孩子從小嬌生慣養，習 慣了被人圍著寵著，什麼都是“我”第一，父母的辛苦都不知道，上班後，以為同事都應該聽他的， 當了經理後，不知道員工的辛苦，還要怨天尤人。這樣的人，會有好的學校成績，會有得意風光的一時，但社會上的這 類人，都不能成大事，都不會感覺到幸福，都要跌跟鬥，那父母是愛孩子呢還是害孩子呢？
你可以讓你的孩子住 大房子，吃大餐，學鋼琴，看大屏電視，但你在割草時，也要讓 你的孩子在大太陽下拔拔野草，你在吃飯後，也要讓你的孩子洗洗碗，不是你沒有錢雇人，而是你真心愛孩子。你要讓 孩子知道，即使父母掙不少錢，但早早的白髮，和那位洗衣服的母親沒有本質的差別。但更重要的是，要讓你的孩子學 會感恩。
他通過了第一級的面試，董事長做最後的面試，做最 後的決定。
董事長從該青年的履歷上發現，該青年成績一 貫優秀，從中學到研究生從來沒有間斷過。
董事長問，你在學校裏拿到獎學金嗎？該青年回答，沒有。
董事長問，是你的父親 為 您付學費嗎？該青年回答，我父親在我一歲時就去世了，是我的母親給我付的學費。
董事長問，那你的母親是在那家公司高就？該 青年回答，我的母親是給人洗衣服的。 董事長要求該青年把手伸給他，該青年把一雙潔白的手伸給董事長。
董事長問，你幫你母 親 洗過衣服嗎？該青年回答，從來沒有，我媽總是要我多讀書，再說，母親洗衣服比我快得多。
董事長說，我有個要求，你今天回家，給你母 親洗一次雙手，明天上午你再來見我。
該青年覺得自己成功的可能很大，回到家後，高高興 興地要給母親洗手，母親受寵若驚地把手伸給孩子。
該 青年給母親洗著手，漸漸 地，眼淚掉下來了，因為他第一次發現，他母親的雙手都是老繭，有個傷口在碰到水時還疼得發抖。
青年第一次體會到，母親就是 每天用這雙有傷口的手洗衣服為他付學費，母親的這雙手就是他 今天畢業的代價。
該青年給母親洗完手後，一聲不響地把母親剩下要洗 的衣服都洗了。
當天晚上，母親和孩子聊了很久很久。
第二天早上，該青年去見董事長。
董事長望著該青年紅腫的眼睛，問到，可以告訴我你昨天回家做了些什麼嗎？
該青年回答說，我給母親洗完手之後， 我幫母親把剩下的衣服都洗了。
董事長說，請你告訴我你的感受。
該青年說，第一，我懂得了感恩，沒有我 母親，我不可能有今天。第二，我懂得了要去 和母親一起勞動，才會知道母親的辛苦。第三，我懂得了家庭親情的可貴
董事長說，我就是要錄取一個會 感恩，會體會別人辛苦，不是把金錢當作人生第一目標的人來當經理。你被錄取了。
這位青年後來果真工作努力，深得職工擁護，員工也 都努力工作，整個公司業績大幅成長。
假如一位孩子從小嬌生慣養，習 慣了被人圍著寵著，什麼都是“我”第一，父母的辛苦都不知道，上班後，以為同事都應該聽他的， 當了經理後，不知道員工的辛苦，還要怨天尤人。這樣的人，會有好的學校成績，會有得意風光的一時，但社會上的這 類人，都不能成大事，都不會感覺到幸福，都要跌跟鬥，那父母是愛孩子呢還是害孩子呢？
你可以讓你的孩子住 大房子，吃大餐，學鋼琴，看大屏電視，但你在割草時，也要讓 你的孩子在大太陽下拔拔野草，你在吃飯後，也要讓你的孩子洗洗碗，不是你沒有錢雇人，而是你真心愛孩子。你要讓 孩子知道，即使父母掙不少錢，但早早的白髮，和那位洗衣服的母親沒有本質的差別。但更重要的是，要讓你的孩子學 會感恩。
Please read and ponder:
One young academically excellent person went to apply for a managerial position in a big company.
He passed the first interview, the director did the last interview, made the last decision. The director discovered from the CV, that the youth's academic result is excellent all the way, from the secondary school until the postgraduate research, never has a year he did not score.
The director asked, "Did you obtain any scholarship in school?" and the youth answered "none".
The director asked, " Is it your father pay for your school fees?" the youth answered, my father passed away when I was one year old, it is my mother who paid for my school fees.
The director asked, " Where did your mother worked?" the youth answered, my mother worked as cloth cleaner.
The director requested the youth to show his hand, the youth showed a pair of hand that is smooth and perfect to the director.
The director asked, " Did you ever help your mother washed the cloth before?"
The youth answered, never, my mother always wanted me to study and read more books, furthermore, my mother can wash cloths faster than me.
The director said, I had a request, when you go back today, go and help to clean your mother's hand, and then see me tomorrow morning. T
he youth felt that its chance of landing the job is high, when he went back, he happily wanted to clean his mother's hand, his mother feel strange, happy but mixed with fear, she showed her hand to the kid.
The youth cleaned his mother's hand slowly, his tear drop down as he did that.
It is first time he found his mother's hand is so wrinkled, and there are so many bruises in her hand. Some bruises incites pains so strong that shiver her mother's body when cleaned with water.
This is the first time the youth realized and experienced that it is this pair of hand that washed the cloth everyday to earn him the school fees, the bruises in the mother's hand is the price that the mother paid for his graduation and academic excellence and probably his future.
After finishing the cleaning of his mother hand, the youth quietly cleaned all remaining clothes for his mother. That night, mother and sons talked for a very long time.
Next morning, the youth went to the director's office The director noticed the tear in the youth's eye, asked: " Can you tell you what have you done and learned yesterday in your house?" The youth answered, " I cleaned my mother's hand, and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes'
The director asked, " please tell me your feeling."
The youth said, Number 1, I knew what is appreciation, without my mother, there would not the successful me today.
Number 2, I knew how to work together with my mother, then only I can realize how difficult and tough to get something done.
Number 3, I knew the importance and value of family relationship.
The director said, " This is what I am asking, I want to recruit a person that can appreciate the help of other, a person that knew the suffering of others to get thing done, and a person that would not put money as his only goal in life to be my manager.
You are hired.
Later on, this young person worked very hard, and received the respect of his subordinates, every employees worked diligently and in a team, the company's result improved tremendously.
A child who has been protected and habitually given whatever he did, he developed "entitlement mentality" and always put himself first.
He is ignorance of his parent's effort.
When he started work, he assumed every people must listen to him, and when he became a manager, he would never know how suffering his employee and always blame others. For this kind of people, he can have good result, may be successful for a while, but eventually would not feel sense of achievement, he will grumble and full of hatred and fight for more.
If we are this kind of protective parent, did we love the kid or destroy the kid? You can let your kid lived in a big house, eat a good meal, learn piano, watch a big screen TV.
But when you are cutting grass, please let them experienced it.
After a meal, let them washed their plate and bowl together with their brothers and sisters. It is not because you do not have money to hire a maid, but it is because you want to love them in a right way.
You want them to understand, no matter how rich their parent are, one day their hair will grow gray, same as the mother of that young person.
The most important thing is your kid learn how to appreciate the effort and experience the difficulty and learn the ability to work with others to get thing done.
One young academically excellent person went to apply for a managerial position in a big company.
He passed the first interview, the director did the last interview, made the last decision. The director discovered from the CV, that the youth's academic result is excellent all the way, from the secondary school until the postgraduate research, never has a year he did not score.
The director asked, "Did you obtain any scholarship in school?" and the youth answered "none".
The director asked, " Is it your father pay for your school fees?" the youth answered, my father passed away when I was one year old, it is my mother who paid for my school fees.
The director asked, " Where did your mother worked?" the youth answered, my mother worked as cloth cleaner.
The director requested the youth to show his hand, the youth showed a pair of hand that is smooth and perfect to the director.
The director asked, " Did you ever help your mother washed the cloth before?"
The youth answered, never, my mother always wanted me to study and read more books, furthermore, my mother can wash cloths faster than me.
The director said, I had a request, when you go back today, go and help to clean your mother's hand, and then see me tomorrow morning. T
he youth felt that its chance of landing the job is high, when he went back, he happily wanted to clean his mother's hand, his mother feel strange, happy but mixed with fear, she showed her hand to the kid.
The youth cleaned his mother's hand slowly, his tear drop down as he did that.
It is first time he found his mother's hand is so wrinkled, and there are so many bruises in her hand. Some bruises incites pains so strong that shiver her mother's body when cleaned with water.
This is the first time the youth realized and experienced that it is this pair of hand that washed the cloth everyday to earn him the school fees, the bruises in the mother's hand is the price that the mother paid for his graduation and academic excellence and probably his future.
After finishing the cleaning of his mother hand, the youth quietly cleaned all remaining clothes for his mother. That night, mother and sons talked for a very long time.
Next morning, the youth went to the director's office The director noticed the tear in the youth's eye, asked: " Can you tell you what have you done and learned yesterday in your house?" The youth answered, " I cleaned my mother's hand, and also finished cleaning all the remaining clothes'
The director asked, " please tell me your feeling."
The youth said, Number 1, I knew what is appreciation, without my mother, there would not the successful me today.
Number 2, I knew how to work together with my mother, then only I can realize how difficult and tough to get something done.
Number 3, I knew the importance and value of family relationship.
The director said, " This is what I am asking, I want to recruit a person that can appreciate the help of other, a person that knew the suffering of others to get thing done, and a person that would not put money as his only goal in life to be my manager.
You are hired.
Later on, this young person worked very hard, and received the respect of his subordinates, every employees worked diligently and in a team, the company's result improved tremendously.
A child who has been protected and habitually given whatever he did, he developed "entitlement mentality" and always put himself first.
He is ignorance of his parent's effort.
When he started work, he assumed every people must listen to him, and when he became a manager, he would never know how suffering his employee and always blame others. For this kind of people, he can have good result, may be successful for a while, but eventually would not feel sense of achievement, he will grumble and full of hatred and fight for more.
If we are this kind of protective parent, did we love the kid or destroy the kid? You can let your kid lived in a big house, eat a good meal, learn piano, watch a big screen TV.
But when you are cutting grass, please let them experienced it.
After a meal, let them washed their plate and bowl together with their brothers and sisters. It is not because you do not have money to hire a maid, but it is because you want to love them in a right way.
You want them to understand, no matter how rich their parent are, one day their hair will grow gray, same as the mother of that young person.
The most important thing is your kid learn how to appreciate the effort and experience the difficulty and learn the ability to work with others to get thing done.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Yesterday, I go around our house 7 times praying in tongue.
I am not sure why but there was a prompting that I need to do it. Our new puppy Bishon followed me around.
The 1, 2, and 3rd round were okay, but when it came to the 4th round, I felt a bit lazy and tired, the 5th round was walking very slowly even the puppy is getting tired ... hahaha, at the 6th round I was feeling a bit silly but anyway I finished the 7th round.
As I recalled the moment, I imagined how the priests and the armies were feeling when Joshua commanded them to do so under God's instruction ?
The size of our house is nothing compared to the huge castle during Joshua's time. I am sure some of the people were tired, doubtful, felt silly, complaining, etc ...
God gave Joshua the victory and I received the victory yesterday too.
(The puppy .... resulted from walking with me for 7 rounds - dirty feets & tired .... hahaha)
I am not sure why but there was a prompting that I need to do it. Our new puppy Bishon followed me around.
The 1, 2, and 3rd round were okay, but when it came to the 4th round, I felt a bit lazy and tired, the 5th round was walking very slowly even the puppy is getting tired ... hahaha, at the 6th round I was feeling a bit silly but anyway I finished the 7th round.
As I recalled the moment, I imagined how the priests and the armies were feeling when Joshua commanded them to do so under God's instruction ?
The size of our house is nothing compared to the huge castle during Joshua's time. I am sure some of the people were tired, doubtful, felt silly, complaining, etc ...
God gave Joshua the victory and I received the victory yesterday too.
(The puppy .... resulted from walking with me for 7 rounds - dirty feets & tired .... hahaha)
One day, a woman received a phone call, "Hi, I am Jesus and I am coming to your house for dinner at 6 pm today".
So the woman busy preparing the dinner to welcome Jesus. As she is preparing the dinner, there is a knock at the door.
A poor woman with a child at the door, begging for food. The woman said that she is too busy preparing dinner for Jesus and has no time for this poor woman.
A few minutes later, a knock at the door, this time is an old man, he wore torn clothing and asked if she has any used clothing to give away.
The woman harshly chased the old man away as she is busy preparing dinner for Jesus.
Later, came at her door is her neighbour little boy. He accidentally locked himself outside and he asked whether he could use her phone to call his parent.
But the woman said that she is very busy preparing dinner for Jesus and asked him to wait outside his house until his parent come back.
Sometimes, we are so busy or too engulf with own things that we "forgot" how to care for others.
We forgot what matter most in life.
This could happen in our serving in church. We are too engrossed or taking "pride" with our leadership roles that we ignore and brush off peoples needs. We lost the caring heart.
May we have a heart to discern. Humble - Stop - Listen - Care.
So the woman busy preparing the dinner to welcome Jesus. As she is preparing the dinner, there is a knock at the door.
A poor woman with a child at the door, begging for food. The woman said that she is too busy preparing dinner for Jesus and has no time for this poor woman.
A few minutes later, a knock at the door, this time is an old man, he wore torn clothing and asked if she has any used clothing to give away.
The woman harshly chased the old man away as she is busy preparing dinner for Jesus.
Later, came at her door is her neighbour little boy. He accidentally locked himself outside and he asked whether he could use her phone to call his parent.
But the woman said that she is very busy preparing dinner for Jesus and asked him to wait outside his house until his parent come back.
Sometimes, we are so busy or too engulf with own things that we "forgot" how to care for others.
We forgot what matter most in life.
This could happen in our serving in church. We are too engrossed or taking "pride" with our leadership roles that we ignore and brush off peoples needs. We lost the caring heart.
May we have a heart to discern. Humble - Stop - Listen - Care.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
I am trying to catch my breathe cos time fly too fast. Every day passes by so fast and with a blink - it is another day !
I remembered a story that I read ... when we were very much younger, we wish that the time would pass faster so we could grow up faster to "conquer" the world. But when we have grown up, we wish that the time would slow down for us to take a short breathe.
I felt that the time passes by too fast that I don't have the time and energy for my Devotion Time.
Each day passes by and so does the Devotion Time with the Lord. It became "out of agenda".
It has becoming a norm not having a Devotion Time, which is dangerously hazardous in our walk.
I am so afraid that I lost "sensitivity".
I remembered a story that I read ... when we were very much younger, we wish that the time would pass faster so we could grow up faster to "conquer" the world. But when we have grown up, we wish that the time would slow down for us to take a short breathe.
I felt that the time passes by too fast that I don't have the time and energy for my Devotion Time.
Each day passes by and so does the Devotion Time with the Lord. It became "out of agenda".
It has becoming a norm not having a Devotion Time, which is dangerously hazardous in our walk.
I am so afraid that I lost "sensitivity".
Sunday, May 09, 2010
"You think the guest need a hot drink? What do you think ?" and later 5 minutes later "Think it is good to give him a hot drink" ... (waited for a respond, no one respond ... so walked away doing nothing).
Been thinking, is this how people responnd to someone's need? You see the need but unwillingly to extend your help but trying to "incites" other people to do it.
The Bible has a story for it .. "The good Samaritan".
I am not making a judgment but made an awareness to myself - should I see a need of someone or church ministry, do it without any complaining or murmuring or incites others to do it.
Been thinking, is this how people responnd to someone's need? You see the need but unwillingly to extend your help but trying to "incites" other people to do it.
The Bible has a story for it .. "The good Samaritan".
I am not making a judgment but made an awareness to myself - should I see a need of someone or church ministry, do it without any complaining or murmuring or incites others to do it.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Read this article:
Hackers have flooded the Internet with virus-tainted spam that targets Facebook's estimated 400 million users in an effort to steal banking passwords and gather other sensitive information.
Hackers have flooded the Internet with virus-tainted spam that targets Facebook's estimated 400 million users in an effort to steal banking passwords and gather other sensitive information.
The emails tell recipients that the passwords on their Facebook accounts have been reset, urging them to click on an attachment to obtain new login credentials, according to anti-virus software maker McAfee Inc.
If the attachment is opened, it downloads several types of malicious software, including a program that steals passwords, McAfee said on Wednesday.
Hackers have long targeted Facebook users, sending them tainted messages via the social networking company's own internal email system. With this new attack, they are using regular Internet email to spread their malicious software.
Facebook could not be immediately reached for comment.
McAfee estimates that hackers sent out tens of millions of spam across Europe, the United States and Asia since the campaign began on Tuesday.
Dave Marcus, McAfee's director of malware research and communications, said that he expects the hackers will succeed in infecting millions of computers.
"With Facebook as your lure, you potentially have 400 million people that can click on the attachment. If you get 10 percent success, that's 40 million," he said.
The email's subject line says "Facebook password reset confirmation customer support," according to Marcus.
-Agencies
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Read this article recently:
Our relationships are vital to our mental well-being. However, toxic relationships can really do a number on our happiness and outlook on life. As a result, it is important to look for individuals who possess qualities that allow for healthy relationships. Although, once again, not an exhaustive list, the qualities listed below are those that should be at the very heart of a healthy relationship. And, just as you would expect your friend, family member or loved one to display these qualities, it is just as important to reciprocate.
Our relationships are vital to our mental well-being. However, toxic relationships can really do a number on our happiness and outlook on life. As a result, it is important to look for individuals who possess qualities that allow for healthy relationships. Although, once again, not an exhaustive list, the qualities listed below are those that should be at the very heart of a healthy relationship. And, just as you would expect your friend, family member or loved one to display these qualities, it is just as important to reciprocate.
- Loyalty: Whether it's in friendships or in family, loyalty is truly important to maintain a healthy relationship. All of us are guilty, at one time or another, of making mistakes, having ups and downs, and even displaying some behavior that we may not always be proud of. When we find friends or loved ones who can forgive us and stand by us…even during our worst moments…we should be especially grateful. That said, loyalty should never be taken for granted and we should always be deeply appreciative when it comes our way.
- Respect: I once knew an individual who was very opinionated about political topics. She would talk down to people who disagreed with her and would be very disrespectful. Not only did she make people feel stomped on, but she left many disinterested in friendship. Treating others with kindness and the respect they deserve is important in gaining the respect that WE desire. It never feels good to be taken for granted, judged or used and it doesn’t feel good to be talked down to or treated rudely or inappropriately. There will be times that we may not always have full agreement with our friends or loved ones, but respecting them along the way is a must.
- Unconditionally There: There is nothing worse than having someone always resurface in your life when they are in need, are looking for something or need a favor. In a culture of “you scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours,” it is somewhat rare to find those “who just scratch your back,” period. Finding individuals who want you in their lives just because…and not because they want something in return is refreshing and worth holding on to. Those who are generous of heart are to be treasured!
- Trustworthy: I once worked with a woman who, within my first week on the job, felt the need to tell me all of the intimate details of the various extra-marital affairs that had occurred with the management of the firm. She was supposedly friends with these people and I have no doubt, was told this information in the most strictest of confidences. How she felt it was appropriate to divulge this information to a new-hire like me, I still have no idea. But, it was her nature to gossip about everyone and everything. If you share something in confidence, you should be able to trust that the information will remain that way.
- A Genuine Sounding Board: Taking a genuine interest in what others have to say and really listening to someone is important in developing solid relationships. Letting go of the “me, me, me” and focusing on the other person not only makes the other person feel valued and appreciated, but they feel that they can really talk to someone who cares. Those who take the time to really listen to our thoughts and feelings, and then help us work through difficult times and situations, share our lives at a much deeper level than those who don’t. These are individuals worth hanging on to.
- Dependability: I had a friend who frequently would RSVP to small gatherings and then would never show. They never explained…never brought it up…and never apologized. Although this example is somewhat trivial, it still makes the point. Obviously there are times when things come up that prevent individuals from following through on what they promise, but if a friend, co-worker or family member perpetually drops the ball, they may be sending you a message. If a friend says they are going to do something or be somewhere, you should be able to count on them. And, in reciprocation, they you.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Read this article:
" ...Same-sex prom dates and cross-dressing are new issues for many high schools around the country, said Daryl Presgraves, a spokesman for GLSEN: Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, a Washington-based advocacy group.
"A lot of schools actually react rather than do the research and find out what the rights of these students are," said Presgraves, who was preparing to facilitate a discussion about anti-gay bullying at a National Association of Secondary School Principals meeting.
U.S. Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., said a bill he's introduced in Congress would protect students such as McMillen. Polis said the measure would make it illegal to discriminate against gay and lesbian school students. He said his bill is modeled after similar laws in at least 10 states.
"This situation with the prom is a perfect example of why we need to protect students from discrimination. In this case it's a prom. It other cases, it's getting beaten up or killed," Polis said.
Polis said he was "dismayed" by the school board's action.
"They ruined the prom, not only for this young woman, but for all of the straight kids at the school," he said.
The school district had said it hoped a privately sponsored prom could be held. McMillen said if that happens, she's sure she'll be excluded.
"It's a small town in Mississippi, and it's run by an older generation with money. Most of them are more conservative and they don't agree with it," she said. ... "
Wow ... the "wrong" is right and the "right" is wrong.Thursday, February 18, 2010
While sitting "blur-blur" at the wifi petrol station cafe, two kids were running around and one of them was shouting annoyingly.
Yet the parents just sit there and do nothing to reprimand him for the misbehaviour.
As I observed, I get annoyed but at the same time having the attitude of "Don't care !!".
Irritating + don't care blended together and it really made me very confused.
Yet the parents just sit there and do nothing to reprimand him for the misbehaviour.
As I observed, I get annoyed but at the same time having the attitude of "Don't care !!".
Irritating + don't care blended together and it really made me very confused.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Read this article on the star online ...
Sin Chew Daily reported that the price of electricity is expected to increase in March. Quating Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui, the daily said the matter would be discussed in the weekly Cabinet meeting today. “The rise in price of natural gas and charcoal had affected the operating cost of TNB. “The tariff rate should be looked into if the price of these two items had changed,” he said.
Sin Chew Daily reported that the price of electricity is expected to increase in March. Quating Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui, the daily said the matter would be discussed in the weekly Cabinet meeting today. “The rise in price of natural gas and charcoal had affected the operating cost of TNB. “The tariff rate should be looked into if the price of these two items had changed,” he said.
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Love covers multitudes of sins.
How true is the verse.
Someone asked me whether I get angry when my girlfriend said or do things that really made you mad ?
My answer is "Yes" but at the same time or sometimes a day later - I would forget about it. I said that my love for her is too deep and great that it covers all the mistakes and shortcomings.
Recently I read a book "Christian Husband". It has brought godly insight.
How true is the verse.
Someone asked me whether I get angry when my girlfriend said or do things that really made you mad ?
My answer is "Yes" but at the same time or sometimes a day later - I would forget about it. I said that my love for her is too deep and great that it covers all the mistakes and shortcomings.
Recently I read a book "Christian Husband". It has brought godly insight.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Love Your Wife Sacrificially So She Blooms as God Planned
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; 26 that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless.
Eph 5:25-27
The lesson that every husband should learn ... especially for me ...
Introduction
Several years ago, the Saturday Evening Post published an article entitled “The Seven Ages of the Married Cold.” It revealed the reaction of a husband to his wife’s colds during their first seven years of marriage. It went something like this:
The first year: “Sugar dumpling, I’m really worried about my baby girl. You’ve got a bad sniffle, and there’s no telling about these things with all this strep throat going around. I’m putting you in the hospital this afternoon for a general checkup and a good rest. I know the food’s lousy, but I’ll be bringing your meals in from Rosini’s. I’ve already got it all arranged with the floor superintendent.”
The second year: “Listen, darling, I don’t like the sound of that cough. I called Doc Miller and asked him to rush over here. Now you go to bed like a good girl, please? Just for Papa.”
The third year: “Maybe you’d better lie down, honey: nothing like a little rest when you feel lousy. I’ll bring you something to eat. Have you got any canned soup?”
The fourth year: “Now look, dear, be sensible. After you’ve fed the kids, washed the dishes and finished the floor, you’d better lie down.”
The fifth year: “Why don’t you take a couple of aspirin?”
The sixth year: “I wish you’d just gargle or something, instead of sitting around all evening barking like a seal!”
The seventh year: “For Pete’s sake, stop sneezing! Are you trying to give me pneumonia?”
The decline of marriage as seen through the common cold. A funny look at a not-so-funny reality.
When I first heard that story, I laughed but at the same time it struck fear in me. We have this image of love that lasts a lifetime. But, I’ve been married eight years, and while I certainly haven’t accused Lori of barking like a seal, I have seen some changes in our marriage and not all of them for the better.
Are you still treating the woman you married the same way you did when you were dating or when you were first married? I hope so, but in case you aren’t, I want to share with you what I have discovered recently about love and marriage.
This is a hard lesson to share because it is so personal and it reveals my weaknesses. It shows where I fail. But I share it because I know others may be going through the same things. If you are, you are looking for answers. I think I’ve discovered one answer. So let’s look at it.
The answer comes in a rather cryptic picture of marriage—one that has puzzled many people and sent some down the wrong path, but it is a great model for building and growing a marriage. We will see that there is an exhortation, an example and an expectation for us to follow. Let’s take a look at Ephesians 5:25 to discover the model for genuine love that lasts a lifetime.
Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her; 26 that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless.
Love Your Wife Sacrificially So She Blooms as God Planned
Love your wife (25a)
Paul begins with the statement, “Husbands, love your wives.” It sounds like such a simple statement, but what does he mean? What does it mean to love?
I was asked this question the other day with reference to my wife, and my answer was that I wanted her to be happy. Imagine my surprise when a few days later I read the following quote from C. S. Lewis: “… by Love … most of us mean kindness—the desire to see others than the self happy; not happy in this way or in that, but just happy.” He goes on to say that God is not like that. “God does not govern the universe on such lines. And since God is Love, I conclude that my conception of love needs correction.” (The Problem of Pain, p. 40.)
My concept of love was wrong. I thought that loving your wife meant sacrificing yourself and your desires to make her happy. It’s true that true love involves kindness and sacrifice, but it doesn’t stop there.
Then how do we determine what love is? Let’s read on and see what Paul says. He has given us the exhortation to love, and now he gives us the example of love.
Paul says, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her.” From this example of Christ, we can draw our second point.
Love your wife sacrificially (25b)
When we think of Christ’s sacrifice for the church we immediately think about the cross. He died for us. If that is our example, how do we apply that? I doubt if any of us will ever be called to literally die for our wives, so how do we sacrifice?
I think the key is understanding what it means to sacrifice. First we see what sacrifice is not.
Sacrifice is not just acts of kindness
Too often we read verse 25 and immediately jump on the sacrificial part and come up with a list of things we can do for our wives. In fact, I went to a Family Life Conference this last year and that is exactly what they did. The speaker asked the audience for examples of sacrificial acts of kindness that we could do for our wives. One guy yelled out, “Do the ironing!” Another yelled, “Do the dishes!” Then some wise guy said, “Change the oil!” Anyway, the list can go on and on—wash the dishes, clean the bathroom, iron, give up Monday night football, etc. Most of us are challenged by such lists because there is usually something on the list that has been forgotten. People like lists. They like steps and procedures. Why? Because they feel like they are in control. If you do those things then you have fulfilled your obligation and your conscience is pacified. But is that what it means to give sacrificial love?
What happens if we follow these steps? The husband gives up golf or hunting or Monday night football. He does all the chores around the house. He says, “I’ve got an attitude of sacrifice.” But his attitude might be self-centered. Maybe it is nothing more than working up Brownie points. He expects to be paid back. If he doesn’t get paid back, he stops trying.
Maybe the question to ask is, “What is the motivation?” To put it in the terms Larry Crabb used in his book called The Marriage Builder—is the motivation manipulation or ministry? If it is manipulation, then the husband is doing it because he expects his wife will be happier and treat him better. Most people have the idea that marriage is a 50/50 relationship. That is manipulation. If he is doing it out of the idea of ministering to her then he isn’t doing it for his own benefit. He is doing it for hers.
I read The Marriage Builder before we were married, so I knew this stuff going in to the relationship. I used to struggle with these ideas and what my motivation was. I was always very helpful around the house. I don’t leave my clothes on the floor, don’t watch football, I do wash dishes, and iron regularly, etc. But things did not remain the same as when we were dating or first married. Lori did not respond to me the same way she used to. That’s not meant to be a criticism of Lori because as I’ll explain later, there was nothing to respond to. Anyway, I continually told myself that I was just supposed to minister to her and not manipulate her. So I sometimes felt like a martyr.
Does this mean that Larry Crabb is wrong? No. I just misunderstood what it meant to minister to your wife. I only had a vague and negative idea that ministering was performing acts of kindness and not expecting any results. Christ will fill up your void, etc. Do you know what my idea of ministering was lacking? My ministry lacked direction. I had no goal. But I think I’ve finally discovered what it means to minister to your wife, and it comes in the next two verses.
Sacrifice is risking emotional pain
You may not believe it but sacrifice really involves risking yourself.
When you look at Christ’s sacrifice you understand that His death was not just an act of kindness. It was the pain of rejection when He entered our world to call us to Himself. Before we can begin to understand this concept we must recognize the motivation. We can never comprehend why God did what He did, but I think we can get a glimpse of the motivation which will help us as husbands see what our goal is supposed to be.
What is our purpose as husbands? What do we expect to happen? What is the expectation of Love?
Love your wife sacrificially so she blooms as God planned (26-27)
The purpose of love is the perfecting of the one loved.
The next two verses have three clauses in them that show the purpose of Christ’s sacrifice and love. I think having the same goal as Christ is the key to loving. So what is His goal?
Christ’s first goal is that He might sanctify her
To sanctify means to set apart. When you marry someone you set them apart from the world. They are set apart for special protection, special care, for special attention, for a special purpose.
When you get married, that is what you have done. You have taken her out of the world and set her apart because you want to devote special attention to her. What is the goal of this special attention?
Christ’s second goal is to present her in glory having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing
Christ’s third goal is that she should be holy and blameless
Christ loves the church and is committed to removing all the blemishes so He can present her in all her glory and beauty to Himself. This is the purpose of love. To bring about the perfection of the beloved.
This is not a new idea. You might recall Ephesians 1:4 which says, “He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” This illustrates how God’s love is directed towards our improvement and making us beautiful.
If you remember earlier, I quoted C. S. Lewis as saying that love is not wanting someone else to be happy. He says later on in the same book when commenting on this same verse: “Love demands the perfecting of the beloved; that the mere ‘kindness’ which tolerates anything except suffering in its object is, in that respect, at the opposite pole from Love.” (Larry Crabb, Bold Love, page 184-85.)
So the goal of love is not just kindness motivated by a desire to make your wife happy. The goal is to build her up to bring about God’s purpose in her.
How do we know what God’s purpose for her is? 1 Peter 3:7 says “Live with your wives according to knowledge…” In other words know her. Know what she needs. Know what she is good at and what she is not so good at. Know her talents and help her develop them.
How do we get to know our wife? By involvement. Do things together, talk about significant things, etc. If our goal is the perfecting of our wife, there are going to be times when we need to confront them and deal with a problem. There’s the rub.
So, we now know the goal—to build up your wife and help her mature. So what is the problem? Fear of confrontation.
True Love involves confrontation. The purpose of speaking the truth in love in Eph 4:15 is maturity in the one spoken to. It often involves confrontation and correction, but that can only be done properly in love.
Confrontation has always been hard for me. I am not very quick on my feet in a debate or argument so I always feel like I lose. Over the years I have developed the attitude that I must have all the right answers before I dive into the fray. Whenever there is a disagreement with anyone, I usually back down.
I also feel like I have no place confronting someone else when I don’t have my act together and might be guilty of selfishness or something. But that can also become an excuse for never moving forward into someone else’s life. If we wait till we are perfect, we will never move forward. Those verses about judge not lest you be judged and take the log out of your own eye before you try to take the speck out of your brother’s eye need to be followed, but not used as excused to never do anything.
I think the biggest reason we don’t confront is self-protection. If I don’t have all the answers and I am not sinless, then my wife may become defensive and begin to lash out at me. It will hurt when she does that, and so we protect ourselves from that by retreating and never dealing with problems. That is where the sacrifice comes in. Sacrifice is risking life and limb to move into your wife’s life even though it means you are going to get hurt in the process.
Application: How Does That Work?
Sacrifice means I’m prepared to do those acts of kindness like watch the kids, clean the house on Tuesday and Thursday. That may free her to pursue things outside of our relationship like having her own business. That will help her grow in ways I couldn’t. She will encounter new challenges and encounter blind spots in her life that I don’t even see. She will have confrontation among her peers that will be different than what we experience within the marriage.
Sacrifice means I’m prepared to risk my feelings and the pain of rejection.
Sometimes it may mean vulnerably sharing your deepest concerns and feelings.
When problems come up I need to face them head on and not wait until I have all the answers or am blameless.
Can we put all of this together in a scenario?
Example: The other morning, I woke up late, went in and had a bowl of cereal for breakfast, and when I was finished I rinsed it and put it in the dishwasher. I noticed the kitchen was medium messy and thought I didn’t make the mess, so I headed back to the back of the house. Lori called out from the laundry room and said, “Where are you going?” I said, “To get ready for work.” She said, something like, “Aren’t you going to clean up the kitchen,” or “Why don’t you clean up the kitchen.” I don’t remember the exact words. They weren’t particularly nasty, but they were said with a demanding spirit. She was under a lot of stress to get some things done before some lady came over to the house. So what did I do? I went and cleaned up the kitchen.
Why did I do that? She shouldn’t have spoken with those words or that tone of voice. Why didn’t I confront her? I could have said something like, “It sure makes me feel like a little boy when you talk to me that way.” Why didn’t I do that?
1. Because the natural response from the person you confront is defensiveness and return accusations.
2. Because as I told you before I’m not quick on my feet. It took me two days to come up with that response.
3. Because I was wondering if perhaps I should have jumped right in there and cleaned the kitchen when I noticed the mess. I was not blameless in the situation, so I knew that any return accusation that she made would have some basis of truth. I knew I was going to get hurt if I entered into the fray. That scared me and so I didn’t venture forward.
When I finished the kitchen I went and got dressed and went to work. I never said anything about it to her until the next day when all of what I’m telling you today in this lesson came together in my mind. But there was no fellowship between us in the meantime. And she had noticed that I was out of sorts.
I share this example because it shows what happens when we retreat and don’t communicate with each other. Lori does not want to treat me disrespectfully. She didn’t recognize the way she said what she said. And even if she was defensive at first, she would want to know. When we discussed this situation later, she said “The truth is hard to take, but I’m glad you told me.”
It is better to make a 1000 little mistakes moving toward your wife than one big one retreating. I’ve been retreating for eight years. I made the comment earlier that Lori didn’t respond to me the way I wanted. The reason was there was nothing to respond to. I’m always retreating. I don’t take the lead and initiate the relationship like I should. I finally recognized it. It’s scary but I know what I’ve got to do.
Conclusion
The Exhortation Is to Love Our Wives
The example of love is Christ’s sacrificial love for the church. We saw that sacrifice doesn’t mean just acts of kindness that end in self-centered martyrdom. It involves giving up your patterns of self-protection.
The expectation of love is the perfecting of the beloved. We want to be God’s instrument for building up our wives. The only way we will be able to do that is if we sacrifice ourselves and are willing to be hurt in loving involvement in our wife’s life.
Wives can apply much of what I’ve said today because we husbands are not perfect and there are hurtful things that we do that need to be brought into the open and dealt with, but …
My dad once said to me that 85% of the time problems in marriage can be traced to the husband’s fault. I’m sure that was not a scientific measurement, but it made me realize that in the vast majority of cases that’s the truth. As we have gone through this passage, I have discovered that he is probably right. There is a great deal of responsibility placed on the husband for the maturity of the woman God has brought into our lives. So love your wife sacrificially so that she blooms as God planned.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
'I was punched, kicked and forced to strip'
2009/09/10 By Rita Jong and Jennifer Gomez (News Strait Times - Malaysia)
SHAH ALAM: A witness yesterday raised doubts over claims by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission that suspects were never beaten. To the contrary, he gave a blow-by-blow account of how he was tortured.
T. Sivanesan, 22, was a suspect in a graft probe last year and was detained for five days where he was allegedly beaten and stripped and even had an ice pack put in his underwear.Days after his release, Sivanesan lodged reports with the police and Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) and also took his complaints to non-governmental organisation Suaram and Public Complaints Bureau chief Senator Datuk T. Murugiah.In earlier proceedings, four MACC officers had denied that they had used force or threats when questioning witnesses or suspects.
But Sivanesan, an assistant manager with Puncak Rezeki Makmur, told the court yesterday how he was punched, kicked, blindfolded and forced to strip when he was called in for questioning for five days at the Selangor MACC office in Plaza Masalam in September last year.The witness also named four officers who he said took part in torturing him when he refused to sign a confession.
He named them as Khairul Nizam, Mohan, Raymond and Ashraf.Sivanesan, who was called to testify by counsel Gobind Singh Deo, said three plainclothes officers came to his house on Sept 4 last year and asked him to follow them to MACC office to facilitate investigations into a graft case.
"I knew one of them as Zulkifli. Later, I learnt that the other two were called Ashraf and 'J'."
When he arrived at the office, he was taken to a room. Another officer, identified as Mohan, came into the room and threatened him in Tamil."He said if I did not tell the truth, this place would be hell."Later, three officers brought a letter and tried to force me to sign it, but I refused."
Sivanesan said he was handcuffed from behind and left in the room for about four hours. He said he was taken to his house where MACC officers conducted a search. He was then taken back to the MACC office.
"I was taken to a room where I saw a tall bespectacled man wrapping an iron rod in newspapers. He slapped my cheeks five to six times."He told me to sign a confession letter but I refused. He said I was stubborn and forced me to strip down to my underwear."
Sivanesan said 10 to 15 people then slapped, kicked and punched him."The man who earlier slapped me came back and began beating my buttocks with the iron rod. They attacked me all at once."
Ashraf slapped me more than twice and shouted profanities at me."I tried to fight back but was overpowered. Ashraf cuffed my feet and when I was on the ground, he hit my private parts and the soles of my feet with a cane. I was also blindfolded with a white towel with the letters 'MACC' emblazoned on it."
He said during that time, he heard one of the officers, whom he identified as a "deputy director", instructing the other officers to continue what they were doing."There were about 15 people in the room. I know some of their names and I can identify the rest as I will never forget their faces."Sivanesan said he passed out after that.
When he regained consciousness, he was still in the room and there was an ice pack in his underwear.He said the "torture session" resumed the following day when the bespectacled officer slapped, punched and kicked him for about 20 minutes. He claimed there were three other officers who stood by and watched. He said the officers left him alone after the second day when, unable to endure the beatings, he signed the confession.Sivanesan said he was released on the fifth day and was warded at Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang for four days.
"I also took pictures of my injuries."Sivanesan's testimony went uninterrupted for more than two hours, during which he took out an underwear from his trouser pocket.He showed a tear in the white underwear which he claimed was due to the beatings he endured.
Sivanesan also produced photographs of his injuries which he took himself before he lodged the police report.Gobind tendered the photographs as evidence.
2009/09/10 By Rita Jong and Jennifer Gomez (News Strait Times - Malaysia)
SHAH ALAM: A witness yesterday raised doubts over claims by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission that suspects were never beaten. To the contrary, he gave a blow-by-blow account of how he was tortured.
T. Sivanesan, 22, was a suspect in a graft probe last year and was detained for five days where he was allegedly beaten and stripped and even had an ice pack put in his underwear.Days after his release, Sivanesan lodged reports with the police and Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) and also took his complaints to non-governmental organisation Suaram and Public Complaints Bureau chief Senator Datuk T. Murugiah.In earlier proceedings, four MACC officers had denied that they had used force or threats when questioning witnesses or suspects.
But Sivanesan, an assistant manager with Puncak Rezeki Makmur, told the court yesterday how he was punched, kicked, blindfolded and forced to strip when he was called in for questioning for five days at the Selangor MACC office in Plaza Masalam in September last year.The witness also named four officers who he said took part in torturing him when he refused to sign a confession.
He named them as Khairul Nizam, Mohan, Raymond and Ashraf.Sivanesan, who was called to testify by counsel Gobind Singh Deo, said three plainclothes officers came to his house on Sept 4 last year and asked him to follow them to MACC office to facilitate investigations into a graft case.
"I knew one of them as Zulkifli. Later, I learnt that the other two were called Ashraf and 'J'."
When he arrived at the office, he was taken to a room. Another officer, identified as Mohan, came into the room and threatened him in Tamil."He said if I did not tell the truth, this place would be hell."Later, three officers brought a letter and tried to force me to sign it, but I refused."
Sivanesan said he was handcuffed from behind and left in the room for about four hours. He said he was taken to his house where MACC officers conducted a search. He was then taken back to the MACC office.
"I was taken to a room where I saw a tall bespectacled man wrapping an iron rod in newspapers. He slapped my cheeks five to six times."He told me to sign a confession letter but I refused. He said I was stubborn and forced me to strip down to my underwear."
Sivanesan said 10 to 15 people then slapped, kicked and punched him."The man who earlier slapped me came back and began beating my buttocks with the iron rod. They attacked me all at once."
Ashraf slapped me more than twice and shouted profanities at me."I tried to fight back but was overpowered. Ashraf cuffed my feet and when I was on the ground, he hit my private parts and the soles of my feet with a cane. I was also blindfolded with a white towel with the letters 'MACC' emblazoned on it."
He said during that time, he heard one of the officers, whom he identified as a "deputy director", instructing the other officers to continue what they were doing."There were about 15 people in the room. I know some of their names and I can identify the rest as I will never forget their faces."Sivanesan said he passed out after that.
When he regained consciousness, he was still in the room and there was an ice pack in his underwear.He said the "torture session" resumed the following day when the bespectacled officer slapped, punched and kicked him for about 20 minutes. He claimed there were three other officers who stood by and watched. He said the officers left him alone after the second day when, unable to endure the beatings, he signed the confession.Sivanesan said he was released on the fifth day and was warded at Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital in Klang for four days.
"I also took pictures of my injuries."Sivanesan's testimony went uninterrupted for more than two hours, during which he took out an underwear from his trouser pocket.He showed a tear in the white underwear which he claimed was due to the beatings he endured.
Sivanesan also produced photographs of his injuries which he took himself before he lodged the police report.Gobind tendered the photographs as evidence.
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