I have just again have the same feeling; the feeling of disguise and hatred. Why? Its due to the incidence that happened at a luxurious restaurant of Ritz Charlton and at the left wing of the lobby of JW Marriot in Mega Kuningan Area, South Jakarta this morning.
The news is everywhere. From the web, TV live shows, radio, sms, facebook, twitter and all kinds of communications modes. Just two hours after the twin explosion that killed (at the moment I am writing this) 9 and wounded 50 others, my niece’s daughter sms-ed me whether or not her grand uncle is ok. Man, this sort of communication would never happen 5 years ago.
When I relate my feelings to what I read on the daily devotion this morning, now I realized why Anne Cetas was uniquely used by the Lord to deliver the devotion the way it is. The topic of the devotion was When the Ground Shaking, and it helps us to see with our clearest and pure heart that there’s a place to where we can always hold firmly when the ground is shaking. Jakarta is shaking this morning. It hits all corners of the city. It filled up the air and the feelings every Jakartans.
Shall you afraid? Are you creeping? Are you feeling unsure of your life amids this uncontrolled life on earth? Bambang Yulianto, one of the security of the hotels knows best what I am saying here. He was having his Friday off during the previous bomb at the same hotel 4 years ago. But today he is one of the wounded. Poor man.
Guys, here is what I hold from today’s devotion and news, “In my distress, I called upon the Lord”. —Psalm 18:6
When you fear of uncertainty, call upon HIM, the Lord of Abram, the Lord of Jacob and the Lord of David. I hold on to HIM as well. He is the only certain source of life’s security. None else does!
Jakarta, 17 July 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
My Cough and Me
Its been a week since I had this. I thought that I (I mean my antibody) can handle it without medicine, but I was wrong. I went to the doctor 4 days ago and was given enough antitussive as well as antihistamin, and they helped a bit, yet its 50% still there.
Just for your notification, Wikipedia describes cough as ‘a sign of respiratory tract infections such as the common cold, pneumonia, pertussis, and tuberculosis’. But please, the last two were certainly not the types of my cough, ok? What I have now is what it is called usually as (and I actually saw what the doctor wrote on her note about my cough) an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It does sound terrible when you know what this mean. I have to admit that such terminology really disturbing me days and nights.
This cough now cost me a bit of uneasy to meet with people, just the work I am doing right now. I meet people and clients every day and I need a full fit as well as ‘no cough please?’ kind of situation. To tell you, its so disturbing when you talk to someone and suddenly you have to ‘excuse’ yourself just to cough!
Anyway, when this morning I updated myself with information about swine flu, I was shocked by the fact that the very first swine flu patient is positively hospitalized in Singapore, up on arrival from a long distance trip from USA. The patient spent couple of days in Mexico.
I promised myself to keep me at home during the weekend so that I can heal well. Besides, I can’t let my kids have my cough due to my carelessness.
Guys, I do hope you are having your great days without having what I have now.
Jakarta, end of May 2009.
Just for your notification, Wikipedia describes cough as ‘a sign of respiratory tract infections such as the common cold, pneumonia, pertussis, and tuberculosis’. But please, the last two were certainly not the types of my cough, ok? What I have now is what it is called usually as (and I actually saw what the doctor wrote on her note about my cough) an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It does sound terrible when you know what this mean. I have to admit that such terminology really disturbing me days and nights.
This cough now cost me a bit of uneasy to meet with people, just the work I am doing right now. I meet people and clients every day and I need a full fit as well as ‘no cough please?’ kind of situation. To tell you, its so disturbing when you talk to someone and suddenly you have to ‘excuse’ yourself just to cough!
Anyway, when this morning I updated myself with information about swine flu, I was shocked by the fact that the very first swine flu patient is positively hospitalized in Singapore, up on arrival from a long distance trip from USA. The patient spent couple of days in Mexico.
I promised myself to keep me at home during the weekend so that I can heal well. Besides, I can’t let my kids have my cough due to my carelessness.
Guys, I do hope you are having your great days without having what I have now.
Jakarta, end of May 2009.
Monday, April 27, 2009
What you Need to Know about Swine Flu
Dear friends,
How are you? Have you had any flu lately? For sure, at the day when I write this article, you are not having what's today's most printed and spoken out world wide known as swine flu. I wonder why in Indonesian we call it flu babi while its scientific indentification name is H1N1. Well, it is true that it comes from pig, yet its not fair to call it such name.
I am writing just to share what I have just read today from yahoo's health news about the endemic swine flu. For those who are interested to know and take a closer look at the flu and some update as per today, feel free to visit http://health.yahoo.com/news/ap/med_healthbeat_swine_flu_q_a.html
Take a reasonable look at it and behave as logic as possible, as to avoid panic into our community.
Have a healthy life.
Jakarta, 28 April 2009
How are you? Have you had any flu lately? For sure, at the day when I write this article, you are not having what's today's most printed and spoken out world wide known as swine flu. I wonder why in Indonesian we call it flu babi while its scientific indentification name is H1N1. Well, it is true that it comes from pig, yet its not fair to call it such name.
I am writing just to share what I have just read today from yahoo's health news about the endemic swine flu. For those who are interested to know and take a closer look at the flu and some update as per today, feel free to visit http://health.yahoo.com/news/ap/med_healthbeat_swine_flu_q_a.html
Take a reasonable look at it and behave as logic as possible, as to avoid panic into our community.
Have a healthy life.
Jakarta, 28 April 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Touching a Life
I find that its mostly difficult to accept the truth that is not always easy to be a blessing to the people around me. When was the last time you had a chance to touch someone’s heart that make him/her rethinking again about the purposes her/is life?
It happened to me just a few days ago when I visited an old lady with a ventilator to assist her breathing. All of you who are in medical field could imagine what I mean here. The ventilator is needed whenever your throat and lungs cannot really cooperate to each other anymore and one is needed in order to let the other functioned at its present's stages.
I mean, this was a taught lady with all her brave to face her lonely life. Literally she's got all points that make us down. Having no more husband, left by her closest first daughter years before due to brain cancer. On the other hands, she's got 12 children, all are now grown ups with their own families. Amidst all her aging life she still keen to face it all by herself. For years she passes through the days with no one helping her at her house even just to the dishes. Not to mention doing the washing, mopping the floor, making up her bed, and cleaning up her house, she does it all by herself.
How do I know this? Its her youngest son telling me proudly about her strong mother yet now lying on the bed struggling with the diseases.
I am honoured by the chance to meet such a strong and hard-headed woman. She reminds me of how a person like me supposed to have a strong believe and life's principles. She lives with all her strong life's principles that she doesn't need any help to do all the possible things she can handle. She is proud to do all small things with her own hands and refuse any assistance from maids offered by her children. She is a person who believes that all your hands and feet are prepared to make you move and possible doing all things you can do.
How many of us, sorry to say, are too reluctant to move ourselves doing households and small things like the old lady does. Most of the time we tend to ask and offer all our simple things to be done by others.
I vividly remember years ago when I and my wife decided to rise our children by ourselves. We know that there will be risks following. The risk of having less time for social activities because we need to spend more time at home rather than joining many club's activities. The risk of being with them during the weekend without being easy to go to some places we like. Nevertheless, what surprises us today is (its now almost 6 years since we made the decision) that there were so many things we could learn and unlearnt during all those time.
At least both of us knew how difficult it was and that now some of our character is visible to each of our kids. Now we see what does it mean by the words that say 'like father like son' (and its elaboratable to 'like mother like daughter') both in positive and negative sides.
Today, days after visiting the woman I mentioned earlier, her life's principles as told by the son, has marked its own line into mine, that I need to stand strongly to what I believe as a good and Godly principles to live my life. She, in her bed, touches a memorable mark to me.
The question now is, have you ever think that whatever you are doing now, it will make a mark into someone's life. Good or bad marks, others will decide.
Despite all this, I remember what David De Haan, the Director of RBC Ministry and the son of RBC's founder says below:
We don’t live unto ourselves
We’re part of one another
For good or ill we touch a life
Of sister, friend, and brother.
Make sure that all we do touch people's life amazingly.
Jakarta, April 2009
It happened to me just a few days ago when I visited an old lady with a ventilator to assist her breathing. All of you who are in medical field could imagine what I mean here. The ventilator is needed whenever your throat and lungs cannot really cooperate to each other anymore and one is needed in order to let the other functioned at its present's stages.
I mean, this was a taught lady with all her brave to face her lonely life. Literally she's got all points that make us down. Having no more husband, left by her closest first daughter years before due to brain cancer. On the other hands, she's got 12 children, all are now grown ups with their own families. Amidst all her aging life she still keen to face it all by herself. For years she passes through the days with no one helping her at her house even just to the dishes. Not to mention doing the washing, mopping the floor, making up her bed, and cleaning up her house, she does it all by herself.
How do I know this? Its her youngest son telling me proudly about her strong mother yet now lying on the bed struggling with the diseases.
I am honoured by the chance to meet such a strong and hard-headed woman. She reminds me of how a person like me supposed to have a strong believe and life's principles. She lives with all her strong life's principles that she doesn't need any help to do all the possible things she can handle. She is proud to do all small things with her own hands and refuse any assistance from maids offered by her children. She is a person who believes that all your hands and feet are prepared to make you move and possible doing all things you can do.
How many of us, sorry to say, are too reluctant to move ourselves doing households and small things like the old lady does. Most of the time we tend to ask and offer all our simple things to be done by others.
I vividly remember years ago when I and my wife decided to rise our children by ourselves. We know that there will be risks following. The risk of having less time for social activities because we need to spend more time at home rather than joining many club's activities. The risk of being with them during the weekend without being easy to go to some places we like. Nevertheless, what surprises us today is (its now almost 6 years since we made the decision) that there were so many things we could learn and unlearnt during all those time.
At least both of us knew how difficult it was and that now some of our character is visible to each of our kids. Now we see what does it mean by the words that say 'like father like son' (and its elaboratable to 'like mother like daughter') both in positive and negative sides.
Today, days after visiting the woman I mentioned earlier, her life's principles as told by the son, has marked its own line into mine, that I need to stand strongly to what I believe as a good and Godly principles to live my life. She, in her bed, touches a memorable mark to me.
The question now is, have you ever think that whatever you are doing now, it will make a mark into someone's life. Good or bad marks, others will decide.
Despite all this, I remember what David De Haan, the Director of RBC Ministry and the son of RBC's founder says below:
We don’t live unto ourselves
We’re part of one another
For good or ill we touch a life
Of sister, friend, and brother.
Make sure that all we do touch people's life amazingly.
Jakarta, April 2009
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
In my Trembling Times
An old painting painted by a well known artist is picturing a man with three heads seeing at three directions. The first head seeing to the past, the second head seeing the present and the third head looking to the future. The tag above the heads saying that we ought to remember and wisely take a good reflection from the past, see the present in gratitude, and to the future in anticipation that life will not always been so easy.
I am writing this on the last day of 2008, in a short reflection to what has happened, is happening today, and what will happen tomorrow.
For those who know Joshua in the history of Israel, I remember what God said when Joshua was facing his first day alone after Moses died. In his ordinary person He was trembling, scared, left on his own, and facing a huge land to be conquered. Amid all the feelings, he prayed to God and God’s answer was “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
As a lay man, I am a person with abundant of lackings. If others scared of the future then I am even more scared. If my friends are trembling about the world’s crisis, then I am feeling the same. If my pals are doing false and far from perfect, then I have the same false and far beyond perfection. In my human nature I am not more than anyone else that no one will look at me. Just like Joshua, knowing not the tomorrows, I am hopeless as him. He to face tens of wars, conquering dozens of barbarian lands, and lead the stubborn nation of Israel to the promised land. I believe that in his very self, Joshua must be as coward as anyone else. If God promised then who can stop HIM from keeping HIS promises?
Friends, I had a short time to only shared with you that no matter what will happen tomorrow, I know for sure that God never fails to keep HIS promise. HIS strong and firm hands will be always be holding my hands wherever I step.
I am writing this on the last day of 2008, in a short reflection to what has happened, is happening today, and what will happen tomorrow.
For those who know Joshua in the history of Israel, I remember what God said when Joshua was facing his first day alone after Moses died. In his ordinary person He was trembling, scared, left on his own, and facing a huge land to be conquered. Amid all the feelings, he prayed to God and God’s answer was “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
As a lay man, I am a person with abundant of lackings. If others scared of the future then I am even more scared. If my friends are trembling about the world’s crisis, then I am feeling the same. If my pals are doing false and far from perfect, then I have the same false and far beyond perfection. In my human nature I am not more than anyone else that no one will look at me. Just like Joshua, knowing not the tomorrows, I am hopeless as him. He to face tens of wars, conquering dozens of barbarian lands, and lead the stubborn nation of Israel to the promised land. I believe that in his very self, Joshua must be as coward as anyone else. If God promised then who can stop HIM from keeping HIS promises?
Friends, I had a short time to only shared with you that no matter what will happen tomorrow, I know for sure that God never fails to keep HIS promise. HIS strong and firm hands will be always be holding my hands wherever I step.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
You were counted twice.
Dear friends,
There’s been ups and downs. Sadness and happiness. Bright and rainy days. Quiet and merry times. I have learnt so many new things and passed so abundantly bad times.
Sometimes I feel left alone. At another time I was so happy beyond compare. I do believe that you must have felt the same through the year.
Through this unique occasion, allow me to thank you for all that we have been through for the past days and months. I have been so blessed just to know and being one of your friends. When I look back at how I have been so blessed, then I count you twice as my blessings.
I have no better words to say but to humbly thank you for all that you have done to me, and I wish you all the best for the days to come in 2009.
“Do not pray for easy lives, pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers, pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be the miracle.”
-- Phillips Brooks
MERRY CHRISTMAS 2008 & HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009
Alexander Mutak and family
Monday, November 10, 2008
A Song of Apology
Feels like the sky to fall down on me.
Where shall I hide from Your presence, O Almighty.
Like a child I try to hide;
Like a loner I try to be alone;
Like a prisoner I leave myself locked in a dark and empty room;
Yet anywhere I see, I found Your face.
Now I am naked before You. I have nothing but shame.
How would this poor creature enter Your Holy presence without his filthy life;
How could I see Your shine without closing my face with my very dirty fingers.
I shout for the freedom from this agony and shame. But the freedom has no answer.
I screamed to my pillow cursing myself at nights. Though I know those all will never be enough to allow myself coming to You; You are too holy to be approached.
I am too small, even a shame to You, O my Creator. O You, the Saviour of my soul, You seemed too far away from me today. Will I ever come to You without Your hands reaching onto me?
Look at me, but don't look straight, peep my heart. Its filled with uselessness; I have lost all my pride. Have mercy on me! Have mercy on me!
I came to You now, with my shaky knees, covered with my shameful look.
I am calling to You, O my Shelter, to hide me behind Your rock.
Forgive me and let me sit still. I just want to feel You. I know I never deserve a good place at Your home. If I cannot come to your place, I beg You to allow me to just look at it for a while; then that shall be more than sufficient for me.
I shall lay my life and trust into You; grant me enough strength to stand always on your track. Now and forever, let this always be my songs, in rememberance of my weaknesses.
To You, God, I sing this song of Apology.
Where shall I hide from Your presence, O Almighty.
Like a child I try to hide;
Like a loner I try to be alone;
Like a prisoner I leave myself locked in a dark and empty room;
Yet anywhere I see, I found Your face.
Now I am naked before You. I have nothing but shame.
How would this poor creature enter Your Holy presence without his filthy life;
How could I see Your shine without closing my face with my very dirty fingers.
I shout for the freedom from this agony and shame. But the freedom has no answer.
I screamed to my pillow cursing myself at nights. Though I know those all will never be enough to allow myself coming to You; You are too holy to be approached.
I am too small, even a shame to You, O my Creator. O You, the Saviour of my soul, You seemed too far away from me today. Will I ever come to You without Your hands reaching onto me?
Look at me, but don't look straight, peep my heart. Its filled with uselessness; I have lost all my pride. Have mercy on me! Have mercy on me!
I came to You now, with my shaky knees, covered with my shameful look.
I am calling to You, O my Shelter, to hide me behind Your rock.
Forgive me and let me sit still. I just want to feel You. I know I never deserve a good place at Your home. If I cannot come to your place, I beg You to allow me to just look at it for a while; then that shall be more than sufficient for me.
I shall lay my life and trust into You; grant me enough strength to stand always on your track. Now and forever, let this always be my songs, in rememberance of my weaknesses.
To You, God, I sing this song of Apology.
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