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The Gay Revival

I’m going to address some very controversial topics today. If you have trouble with God moving outside your comfort zone, you may not want to read this article. I’m serious: be careful! This may push your buttons.

We’re going to talk about homosexual Christians, LGBT [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender] Christians.

The Bible is clear, Old Testament and New: homosexual behavior is sinful behavior. Since we’re talking about Christians, we could go on about how there are loads of sins that we overlook in the church, while we call out certain others, but that hypocrisy is another topic for another day.

One day, years ago, I was with a small group, praying for some folks we knew that were stuck in homosexuality. It was one of those prayer gatherings where you just know that God is hearing your prayers, even as he’s helping to shape them and encourage us in them.

In the midst of that, I had a vision: tens of thousands of people in the homosexual community were encountering Jesus. It was a huge movement, and God was in their midst. They were worshiping powerfully, and God was delighting in their praise. There were signs and wonders. Many were in tears, some because of His love, some because of their sin, but it wasn’t always the sin I had my own eyes on that they were convicted of. It was a genuine revival.

I began to praise God for that revival, for the many sons and daughters that were coming back to their Father, and as I did, the vision became even more real: I was in their midst as they were worshiping God.

And then I realized: they weren’t – most of them weren’t – leaving their culture. Nearly all of them stayed in the homosexual community, and a very large number of them didn’t appear to repent of their homosexual ways.

I began to react to that: That’s not right, I said in my mind. Father began to gently instruct me in this vision:

1)         When he calls people to himself, he does not call them to leave their culture. American Church Culture is not our goal. Relationship with Jesus is the goal. Hmm. OK. That’s true enough.

2)         When he finally got ahold of my life (after a longer fight than it should have been), I was not sin-free. There were several sins that he took decades to put his finger on. In fact, He said, There are some things I haven’t pointed out to you even yet. Yikes.

But it’s true. If he didn’t point out– and by pointing out, give me grace to deal with – some of my sins for decades, why should I expect him to be less patient with other sons and daughters?

3)         And son, he said so very gently: these are my children, not yours. I am their Father, you are not. I am capable of raising My own children without your getting in their way.

Since that experience, I’ve received a few reports that it’s beginning to happen, that substantial numbers of people inside the LGBT community are discovering the Lover of their Souls!

I have received credible testimony from different people in different streams that tell me about the revival that is going on among the homosexual population. (At their request, and for their safety, I will not be releasing their identities. Some people do not respond well when God moves outside their box.)

These people have been among gatherings of gay believers – we might call them church meetings or conferences – where the worship is powerful, where the Holy Spirit is present, where signs and wonders are in abundance, where Jesus is lifted up high. They have recognized God’s favor on the gatherings, and experienced His delight in them.

I have met believers who are homosexuals. Some appear to be your basic, timid churchgoers, some flaming transsexuals proclaiming the gospel to their community. Some are content with their homosexuality; some want out but don’t know how; some are proud of their status, though these seem to be the ones who’ve taken the brunt of the church’s accusations.

I’ve said all this to arrive at this conclusion: God is moving powerfully in ways that we never expected. And hold on to your hats, because he has more than this that he’s going to do.

So how shall we respond to homosexuals that call themselves Christians? That’s simple: we love them. Just like we’re called to love self-righteous people who call themselves Christians.

We surely have no right to challenge the faith of either group, and nearly always, we lack the right to challenge either their behavior or their culture. But we have the right to love them.

Let’s love one another, as Jesus commanded us, shall we? And let’s trust our good Father to raise His children well.

Source: www.pilgrimgram.com

May 30, 2015
Andrew Loh: Calvin Cheng’s Behaviour Not Befitting Of Media Literacy Council Member

Calvin Cheng is an acquaintance of mine. I even had him on my Facebook “friends” list. But not anymore. I removed him after his latest Facebook posting which insinuated that the writings or work of playwright Alfian Sa’at were such a potential threat that “the Government should watch commentators” like Alfian “closely”.

He then accused Alfian of “irresponsible rhetoric”, and likened Alfian to “domestic agitators”.

Read in context, these unsubstantiated claims and their insinuations are obvious.

Many have taken Calvin Cheng to task, and I shall not go into arguing against the points in his posting.

They are clearly pure nonsense.

What I am more interested in is Calvin Cheng’s membership in the Media Literacy Council (MLC), a government-appointed outfit which advises the Government on “research, trends and developments pertaining to the Internet and media, and appropriate policy responses.”

The MLC also “[develops] public awareness and education programmes relating to media literacy and cyber wellness”, and it seeks “to promote an astute and responsible participatory culture.”

“Through our work, we aim to… encourage users to be more reflective about the ethical choices they make as participants and communicators and the impact they have on others,” the MLC website says.

The MLC consists of 26 members, headed by professor Tan Cheng Han of the Centre for Law and Business, Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore .

Calvin Cheng is a council member. (See here.)

On the council’s “Media Literacy Council Core Values” page, the council states several “key areas” which it “seeks to address”.

These include “uncivil behaviours online” which, the council says, “refers to behaviours that are anti-social, offensive, irresponsible or simply mean.”

Do note the last word – “mean” – which the council considers as undesirable “uncivil behaviour”.

The Media Literacy Core Values “encompasses a set of values and skills that … are indispensable to conducive and positive living especially in the digital age,” the MLC says.

“The Media Literacy Core Values will underpin the Council’s public education and outreach programmes.”

If you turn to the “Best Practices” page on the MLC website, you see a tab titled “Values and Social Norms”.

What are these?

They are four sets of advice which, the MLC says, will help you keep your friends and not make enemies.

One of the ways to achieve this is to “win people over with your objective arguments and logic” because “hysterics will not get you anywhere.”

“There is no need to make personal attacks as everyone is entitled to their own views,” the MLC says. “Make out your case politely and objectively. You might find that you will get a few converts instead of enemies.”

It also urges participants to reject and report “bad or bullying behaviour”, as this means “you are helping to create a better cyber space by propagating positive social norms.”

The MLC uses words such as “empathy and graciousness”, “respect”, “responsibility and integrity” as values and social norms it champions.

So there. The MLC has laid out, basically, what is good online behaviour which will foster a positive environment for everyone.

What then of those, especially those in positions of influence (no matter how limited), who behave in ways which run against what the MLC is promoting?

Indeed, what if the behaviour of MLC members themselves betrays the MLC’s very own core values and best practices?

Insinuating that someone is responsible for some misguided terrorist group’s potentially harmful actions in Singapore because one raises concerns about minority race issues is just plain irresponsible itself, no?

And accusing someone of being a “domestic agitator” in that context is not only devious, it is also highly dangerous, for it plays up the racial and religious faultlines here.

Additionally, if behaviours such as Calvin Cheng’s are allowed to propagate, they may have the effect of silencing those in the minority races from speaking up about genuine grievances.

So, one would not object if the Internal Security Department (ISD) invites Calvin Cheng for an interview about his posting.

It is also not unknown that Calvin Cheng also engages in online challenges, such as a recent one where he challenged a poster to meet him and slap him, and also engages in baiting others, such as calling them “ball-less” when challenges are not taken up.

Indeed, he is also known and seen as a troll in some quarters.

“Trolls want to create discord by purposely baiting people to react,” the MLC website says.

One just needs to peruse his Facebook postings to see the tone of his exchanges with others over any issue.

To be sure, Calvin Cheng is not alone in engaging in this less than desirable behaviour.

There is also the other pro-PAP cesspool Facebook page which spews non-stop bile online everyday.

And it seems that this cesspool is the only site which is supportive of Calvin Cheng’s behaviour – and that says a lot: if all you have is a cesspit to stand on or stand with, you should realise your credibility is in deep shit.

I wish Calvin Cheng, being a former Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) – which comes with a certain level of expected public responsibility and decorum – would not resort to such hateful behaviour towards others.

There are certainly better ways to get your points across than to resort to attempts in dragging someone’s name through the mud.

Ironically, in 2013, Calvin Cheng wrote – in a letter to the Straits Times Forum page:

“If there is a terrorist attack or a viral outbreak, and people turn to the Internet for conspiracy theories and advice instead of listening to and trusting the Government, the consequences could be unimaginable.”

Yes, ironic indeed that he is the one now spewing exactly such conspiracy theories.

So, I ask myself: what do the MLC members think of this sort of behaviour?

But personally, I have a deeper, more troubling question, and it is this:

What kind of person would cause another person more pain at a time when the latter is also grieving over the recent death of his mother?

I cannot fathom the depths of depravity which would make anyone do such a thing.

Alfian’s mother had just passed away last week, and Alfian is still in mourning.

The very fact that Calvin Cheng saw it fit to launch his baseless and unsubstantiated attacks on Alfian at this time speaks of his (Calvin Cheng’s) mental make-up and of how truly oblivious he is.

Pity, Calvin, that you find it apt to do this to Alfian at this time and betray everything that the MLC stands for.

I think the MLC, funded by public money, seriously needs to look into the online behaviour of its member.

Source: https://andrewlohhp.wordpress.com

May 30, 2015
Calvin Cheng: Arts Community Should Get Own Funds, Stop Producing Subversive Content

For too long, some quarters of the local arts community, especially those who produce English language content, have taken grants from the Government to subvert the very people who feed them.

This needs to stop.

If you have your own money, go ahead and produce whatever content you want, subject to regulations agreed on by the moral majority. But it is doubly hateful to be taking taxpayers money to produce socially subversive content in the name of ‘art’.

The arts community needs to wake up or be made to wake up. And the best way to wake them up is to starve them of the oxygen of government grants.

Source: Calvin Cheng

May 30, 2015
Asatizah Perlu Pertingkat Bimbingan Agar Belia Jauhi ISIS

Anak-anak muda Islam harus mengejar ‘jihad keamanan’ dengan mencari jalan terbaik untuk membentuk keamanan bagi manfaat masyarakat, negara dan penduduk Singapura amnya.

Jihad sebenar dalam konteks Singapura hari ini adalah membentuk suasana aman dan mempamerkan nilai-nilai murni Islam.

Mantan Mufti, yang kini Penasihat Pejabat Mufti, Shaikh Syed Isa Semai ketika diminta mengulas mengenai kes dua belia radikal sendiri – seorang diberkas dan seorang lagi ditahan – di bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) berkata:

“Anak-anak muda mempunyai kefahaman yang masih tipis terhadap agama. Apabila mereka bercakap tentang jihad, mereka terus memikirkan tentang perang. Mereka lupa sebenarnya Islam cintakan keamanan.”

Menurutnya remaja Islam di Singapura perlu memahami dengan lebih jelas konsep jihad dengan membuktikan kepada Singapura bahawa Islam bukan agama keganasan dan anak-anak Melayu sebenarnya juga menolak pengganasan, kata Shaikh Syed Isa.

Beliau berkata masyarakat Islam sendiri perlu berusaha keras untuk membanteras anak-anak muda meradikalkan diri sendiri menerusi Internet.

Beliau turut menyarankan agar pakar-pakar media sosial bergabung tenaga dengan ustazah bagi membolehkan setiap keraguan tentang Islam di kalangan anak dijawab di laman Internet.

“Kebanyakan ustaz mungkin tidak mendalam keupayaan tentang Internet. Kita boleh bergabung dengan pakar Internet di luar dengan tujuan mendidik anak-anak muda ke jalan Islam yang sebenar.

“Janganlah Islam dilihat selah-olah ia satu agama yang tiada keihsanan dan kebaikan. Kita mesti melawan arus kejahatan dan moga Unknown memberikan kita taufik dan hidayahnya dalam usaha kebaikan ini,” ujar Shaikh Syed Isa.

Seorang lagi pemimpin agama, Ustaz Sheik Hussain Sheik Ya’kub berkata usaha perlu dipertingkat untuk menyesuaikan pendidikan agama dengan keperluan golongan remaja.

Beliau yang juga presiden Persatuan Muhammadiyah berpendapat syarahan agama misalnya harus memberi perhatian khusus untuk remaja dan bukan diadakan secara umum.

“Berdasarkan maklum balas yang saya dengar, ada sebahagian anak muda yang tidak menghargai golongan asatizah dan sudah hilang rasa hormat.

“Saya juga rasa kurikulum agama kita perlu diubah. Teknik pengajaran juga kita perlu tukar. Kita tidak boleh lagi ikut pendekatan macam 50 tahun lalu. Yang penting, kita sendiri harus bersedia untuk berubah agar dapat lebih mendekati anak muda masa kini dengan isu semasa dan cabaran mereka,” kata beliau.

Naib Ketua Pusat Harmoni yang juga Pengerusi Masjid An-Nahdhah, Ustaz Muhammad Fazalee Ja’afar pula menambah: “Banyak usaha telah dilakukan oleh masyarakat Islam untuk mendidik masyarakat kita mengenai Islam yang sebenar iaitu Islam yang membawa kepada kesejahteraan dan keamanan buat semua.

“Bahkan di Pusat Harmoni, melalui program yang kami anjurkan telah dapat mendekati seramai 40,000 pengunjung ke pusat ini semenjak ia mula beroperasi pada tahun 2006.

“80 peratus dari pengunjung merupakan masyarakat bukan Islam yang mana melalui program ini, mereka diberikan pendedahan akan erti Islam yang sebenar.

“Melalui pendedahan ini juga mereka memahami bahawa pengganasan serta fahaman radikal sama sekali bukan merupakan sebahagian dari ajaran Islam.”

Menurutnya peristiwa penangkapan ini memberikan isyarat peri penting semua lapisan masyarakat berganding bahu untuk terus bersikap berwaspada dalam menangani isu pengganasan ini. Usaha mendekati dan mendidik lebih ramai anak serta belia mengenai Islam adalah penting dan harus dipergiatkan.

Sementara itu, Imam Masjid Ba’alwie, Habib Hassan Al-Attas, yang juga anggota majlis Pertubuhan Antara Agama (IRO), menambah:

“Sebuah pohon yang akarnya kuat jika tertiup angin kencang tetap tidak akan berganjak. Mereka yang ikhlas dan teguh imannya akan sentiasa di dalam jagaan Allah dan tidak akan terayun dengan tipu daya nafsu dan hasutan syaitan.”

Source: http://beritaharian.sg

May 29, 2015
Zulfikar Shariff: Jangan Bandingkan Lee kuan Yew Dengan Nabi Muhammad

I received a message from a Tipah who is trying hard to promote LKY. According to this Tipah (who claims to study at UIA)

“i done my homework…and sy dapati beberapa perkataan LKY yg sama dgn cara Nabi awak….yg paling ketara ketika Nabi masuki Madinah Baginda menukarkan sistem ekonomi Madinah dari pertanian dan penternakkan kpd perniagaan…tidakkah itu ucapan LKY di city hall tahun 1965??”

Dah kena tipu gila.

LKY pun tukar sistem ekonomi Singapura dari pertanian/ penternakan ke perniagaan juga?

Wahai Tipah. Singapura sejak zaman nenek moyang memang pusat perniagaan.

Singapura’s location and harbour made it an ideal centre for sea trade.

And when the British came, they did not develop an agriculture based economy. They focused on trade.

There were gambier and pepper plantations prior to British colonization and there were attempts to promote a rubber industry but none of these industries stood close to the entrepôt trade that Singapore conducted.

The British developed the trade system that is still applied in Singapura today. Not LKY.

Will you now claim the British colonization of Singapura is based on Islam?

These Tipah keep insulting Rasulullah by saying a man who is known for his zalim model his governance after Rasulullah.

Sayang LKY sangat sampai boleh hina Rasulullah?

Source: Zulfikar Shariff

May 29, 2015