Be proud of your country

I'd like to start my post by asking you this: what would you tell somebody if he or she asks you about what Indonesia is like? The natural inclination for many of us would be to tell him or her about how greatly corrupted our country is. Some of us might even choose to talk about the terrible poverty that our country is in. But in truth, there are many reasons for us to be proud of our country.

Now that America is in a crisis of its own, no thanks to the greed of executives, there is no reason why we should look down on our country and place great admiration for the Europeans and Americans. You may not realize it, but Indonesia has jumped by about 40 positions (for the better) in the Corruption Perception Index compiled by Transparency International. It's still not a very pleasant figure, but you have to admit that this jump is a huge step forward for the future of our country.Indonesia is still a developing country, but all it takes is for a willing individual to make a few choices to turn the country back to the right direction. It is no coincidence that these improvements came in a time when individuals like SBY and Sri Mulyani took office.

So I'd like to point out to you that nothing is impossible in Indonesia. Especially when we have a big God leading and backing us. Indonesia can be the next America, but only if we Indonesians choose to. And we will never make the right decision if we look down on our country all the time. Many of us are afraid in being disappointed that our hopes of change may never be realized. But hey, I believe that's the same way Sri Mulyati and SBY felt when they were about to embark on this journey of remedying the current situation in Indonesia.

So, let us keep in mind the following verse:

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

- Hebrews 11:1

Our hope is not in SBY. Our hope also lies not in Sri Mulyani. But our hope lies in our faith that our Father is able to do exceedingly and abundatly above all we can ask or think. Amen.

p.s.: I have a school blog on how America could get out of the financial mess it's in by learning from Indonesia if you'd like to check it out: http://myportfolio.usc.edu/robingun/

Cheers!

today

Hi people. I'm back in US. never thought I'll be back so fast, but here I am.
Been enjoying myself in my brother's new house in MOuntain View, Ca. His housemates are hospitable, funny and cute. hahaha.
cant wait to catch up with all of you in LA.

The past few months have been different; some became eye-opener, lots of learning, swallowing pride.
today is yet another significant day.
don't know it, but might be the Holy Spirit tugging at my heart.
So I was struck by the realization of how important family is.
not only my closest ones, but also my extended ones.
these past weeks, I've met with my extended family and looking at their lives, I feel that I'm much much more privileged than them. I say my life is so blessed and I feel I have to do something to bless them.
I feel that restoration needs to happen in my big, big family.
so, i wanna start praying for them, doing little things that hopefully will bring impact to their life.

Ps. Danny Tumiwa said a few weeks back in his sermon that God is looking closely on families now.
so, maybe it's time for your families and mine to experience RESTORATION and ABUDANCE.

amen-

the Pencil

A PENCIL MAKER TOLD THE PENCIL 5 IMPORTANT LESSONS :

1.) EVERYTHING YOU DO WILL ALWAYS LEAVE A MARK..

2.) YOU CAN ALWAYS CORRECT THE MISTAKES YOU MAKE.

3.) WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS WHAT IS INSIDE OF YOU.

4.) IN LIFE , YOU WILL UNDERGO PAINFUL SHARPENINGS,
WHICH WILL MAKE YOU A BETTER PERSON.

5.) TO BE THE BEST PENCIL, YOU MUST ALLOW YOURSELF
TO BE HELD AND GUIDED BY THE HAND THAT HOLDS YOU.

Gbu!

believing is a decision

Hi guys, I got this great message from Fanny Mandik's (aka Mrs Sammy Mandik) facebook msg.

It's something I need to be reminded of today =D and i wanna share it with you.

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How was you Monday??? Great? Smooth? Tough?
Well, no matter how tough your Monday was, give yourself a big smile!

God reminded me about something that I posted last week.

"Those who choose to believe in and cling to God and His grace,
shall prosper in everything they do. So, choose to believe."

I used the word 'choose', because TO BELIEVE IS A DECISION,
not based on feelings or situation or what we see right in front of us, and
THE PERFECT TIME TO BELIEVE IS WHEN THINGS ARE IMPOSSIBLE!!!

When we decide to believe, we decide to go against the current. We go against our own feeling, we go against the situation, we even go against the possibilities. But, BY THE TIME WE DECIDE TO BELIEVE, WE HAVE ACTUALLY ACTIVATED THE PROMISE OF GOD TO COME TO PASS in our lives! Hebrew 11:1 talks about what faith is. My interpretation of Hebrew 11:1 is simple: Faith is seeing the unseen =)

Don't miss God's best, just because of our unbelief.
We still have the rest of our lives to enjoy God's best, every step of the way. God has the best in store for us =)

Choose to believe!
Fanny
(Oh, by the way, if you say that it's hard to believe when everything seems impossible, I can only say: just enjoy the experience =))) I am enjoying that experience too at the moment! Everything I write in this group message is what I've been or I am going through. So it's real, and God (only God) gives us the ability =)))

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Ameennn :D

Oh, have fun for those of you who're going to big bear hehe