:: JP Kurang Kerjaan ::

  We found and we lost. We smile and cry, we laugh it all the way. Nobody knows how you meant to me and me to you. At least that was what I know.  Now you have gone. I wish I can do things that you asked me to. But, to whom should I prove? You are already gone, graduated from this life. And I am the lost one here weeping. No one understands, no one care.  I don't blame them, they have their own pain and lost. The pain and misery is not exclusively mine. Not even the new person tried to understand. They jealous the memory of you. They want to override it. They want me to empty the space and put them there instead of you.  I am not alone. All of them also have that space that is reserved for their lost one. But why they insists on others?  Why can't they forgive me for they also don't let their space vacant? Yes, we all have that space in that little heart of us where we can't remove. Yeah, that's why trauma don't go away easily.  Can we delete it? Yes. We ca...

"A Virginia pastor who defied warnings about the danger of religious gatherings during the pandemic and vowed to keep preaching “unless I’m in jail or the hospital” died over the weekend after contracting Covid-19, his church said." -- New York Times, 14 April 2020, https://nyti.ms/3b6TDED It is sad that we often feel we disobeying God's word by not gathering together in this COVID-19 pandemic. It seems like we are that person that Paul describe as that other person in this passage: not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrew 10:25, NIV) Are we really afraid to die? Are we really disobeying God's word by not making physical communion? I remember that Jesus once said, "If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out?" (Matthew12:11, NIV ) In the same event, he told a cripp...

Photo by Luis Quintero from Pexels I'm interested in writing this post because of Adam Neely YouTube video about Contemporary Christian Music or CCM. Adam hated the CCM nowadays and he's not alone. Josh Keefe video already done that also and keep pointing the problem. First of all, I kind of reluctant writing this. I'm a Church musician and have certain disagreements with few people from other denomination in the past. I'm afraid to desecrated music that being served as sacrifice to God. These people condemns modern worship music. They said that Hymnal songs are the legit worship song and these modern fakes weren't. I'm afraid to write them off as my temper would draw me condemning the Hymns. Fortunately, I recently found that these guys are a part of extreme Calvinist reformed. They are anti-Armenian and took a hard stance in pro-predetermination. Not just that, they recently take it too far by condemning other Church denominations. Their...

As a Pentecost, I get a lot of critics from many preachers about how we sing our songs. These people, usually Lutheran people, criticising us for using contemporary band in our place of worship. They said, our worship is not legit. It is only for entertainment only, not worship. For background, in Christian Contemporary Music (CCM) music, we usually have bands and one singer as a Worship Leader. This singer have the most voice out of all. Plus, the lights, the environment and the big projector making the church looks like a concert. What's wrong with the concert look? What's so sacred about a liturgy? It isn't in the Bible. I mean, if you want to stick with the correct liturgy, then you should follow Didache . That's the authoritative source for the liturgy. It is a book straight from the Apostle's era. I don't see any of those protester using that. If we look into the Moses time, the Israelite worship God with dancing and singing. In that time, God didn...

PGI, Persekutuan Gereja-gereja di Indonesia, Communion of Churches in Indonesia, made a Pastoral statement about LGBT. In its statement, PGI recommended all Indonesian churches to accept LGBT as normal people. Families should embrace their family members that was LGBT. It recommended churches to accept people that came out. It also recommended to put LGBT away from being label as a sickness. Then, at last, it recommended LGBT as a part of Christian faith. What a bold move! There were many people voice their objections. Mangapul Sagala claimed that the leader of PGI had a moral deviation. He also assumed that was why they move the Grand Meeting sooner. DR. Andik made an open statement against that Pastoral message. What about me? There is a part of me calling for political correctness. To accept them as a member of family or society is a must. I also have gay friends and they are normal to me. But, when in church, that's where a line should be drawn. Romans 1:24-27 exp...

WARNING: This writing is the reflection of my knowledge and perception. It will absolutely contains my opinion. Some subjects may be uncomfortable for you to read as this writing explains things from many expert views which may not conform to your faith. You may disagree, but this is my honest opinion of what I've known so far.   Some people think "kumbayah" was a word lend from Africa. That's why there are people who would think twice to sing "Kumbayah, My Lord". They suspect "Kumbayah" is a name for an unknown African Idol. They don't want to call their God a name registered for other deity. As a Christian, I too asked myself, "what is the proper name of our God?" Christianity which derived from Judaism borrows many names for calling God. And from the Old Testament, we also know that even the Israelites call God with different name. Some name like Elohim was a name borrowed from a word of Canaanites for the Supr...

Jesus told his disciples that they are lambs sent into the midst of wolves. Therefore, they have to be shrewd like snakes and as innocent as doves. (Matthew 10:16 NIV). How could you put two clashing concepts together? Is this a passage to have a reason for Christians having white lies? Are Christians eligible to lie? We often associate shrewd with a derogatory meaning. We often deliberately think of it as taking treacherous acts, manipulative and poisonous. But, that's not what Jesus meant. As a clue also on Matthew, Jesus said this before, "All you need to say is simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." (Matthew 5:37 NIV) A white lie is a lie and it belongs to the evil, not God's! God not need a strategy of his arch-nemesis. He don't need our help. He loves our devotions as an offering and lie isn't one of it. What Jesus meant was what New King James Version (NKJV) used as a term to serve the mean...

Every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God. -- Ecclesiastes 5:19, KJV There are two parts of God's blessings about ownership: The blessing to have what you have. The blessing to enjoy what you have. Not everyone have the opportunity to have something. To some people, God gives them a grace to have such. And to others, God gives not. There are reasons why God gives them ownership of such; e.g. hard works, blessing inheritance and temptations. God blesses people who work hard. God also blesses people born from lineages of good people. God also let people be tempted to have what they desire. But, eventually the blessing to have something will not complete without the next blessing: To enjoy what we have. You can have all the richest of the world but still feel bitter about it. You can still feel empty in a house of glory. And, you can...

Biblical Beauty Workshop 2: Wonder Woman  Lighthouse Youth GPHI (@LYouthGPHI), my Church, open up a new workshop for empowering women, the second. Throughout the speakers, everyone will be blessed with knowledge of God, make up tips and self-esteems as beautiful God's ambassador. If you have time, please come at: Saturday, 27 September 2014 12.30 - 18.30 WIT (GMT+7) GPHI Pondok Kelapa Jalan Lembah Pinang Raya Blok I1/17 Pondok Kelapa  - Duren Sawit Jakarta Timur 13450 Speakers Citra Scholastika - Singer Khati Cai - International Make Up Artist Mara Badudu - JPCC Woman Pastor Michele E. Surjaputra - Owner of Bonchon Chicken Investment Student: Rp 20.000,00 Others: Rp 25.000,00 Contact Person Tintin (081314365838) Desi (081282999280)

As we grow older, we grow weary. Far away from the shore, we face the vast ocean and its uncertain weather. Anxiety intoxicated us more and more. I found this is normal. When we were little children, our parents took care of our necessity. They made sure our lives well. We got educations and well fed. As a bonus, we could get what we desire. As we grow older, responsibility comes. One by one, the newbie life support lines unplugged. In times, we are expected to be a pro, responsible for our own and maybe (if life permits) others. But, what are we? Just sheep with low field of sight. None can predict a future. Not a single thing can be told about it. Just a ferocious feeling that we want to keep exist. It grows despair, greed and self-conceited. Taking its toll on people. It takes dreams one by one from one's life. It clouds one mind into thinking oblivion. It's hard to think benevolence nowadays. This is a grave matter and many would come up with their solutions. Bu...

Mr. Rachmat made a good story. A student from my university (Universitas Indonesia) died while riding a motorcycle. He was run over by a train in Pondok Cina, Depok. Another notable man, an Imam from my country (Indonesia), Ustafz Jefri Al Buchori (UJE), also died on motorcycle. He crashed into a big tree. The student was supposed to do pilgrimage in the few days. He was supposed to be in the house, but he insisted to go to campus to meet his friend. When one train passed, he then crossed the rail without waiting the bar lifted up. He wasn't realize that it was a two way train rail because he was too conceited. A train from other side came and you know the rest. About Ustafz Jefri, you can read them on Indonesian newspaper. They were devoted, especially Ustafz. And I as a Christian minister also find Ustafz Jefri as a tough and honourable competitor. He brilliantly brought many new ways to bring people to Islam. Well, fair competition is fair competition, isn't? Even...

Some belief model involving God. Forbes made an interesting post about casting away negative attitude to think that someone will bail you out.  It made sense when it told you that you should go and prepare yourself. Nobody can be guaranteed to be a permanent helper. I have watched how a person sunk to bottom and his family (his own brothers) left him when he asked for financial support. He was the one that supported them when they were younger. But, because he made a failed financial decision, he was left alone. He was a senior manager in a certain multi-national corporate when he left his job. He sought an entrepreneur path and tried to pave his way. Unfortunately, his initial attempts was a failure. He was frowned upon and left without a job. And when he asked his brother to lend him money, he did not have it. Instead, he was getting lectured about bad decisions. He was insulted and labelled as a disgrace for his family. After all that, he was banned from his brot...

There were times in life you felt like deserted and you felt like the world caved in around you. Everything became nuisance and you f*cked up. Felt like the whole live that you journeyed had no end and you couldn't sought the light. Adding to the worst part where no friends were there when they were needed the most. Heavy. Wished that you didn't in the position you were... No way to run. Wished that you had wings to take you to another place, wished you were someone else. In the end. You surrendered and turned out that everything were alright. In an instant, everything were possible. Boom! Miracle happened! Welcome to God's candid camera. You've been pwnd. :P

As seen on TV, there are so many sexual intercourse in Indonesia right now that it is so alarming to many of us. For the religious, it is said to be what of the end of the world. For the liberalist, it is said that people who not properly know what they are doing are endangered themselves with deseases such as AIDS. No, not that sex is prohibited, but both have different approach on it. For Vaticans, it is a sinful act to endorse the use of condom and that made them sinister to the liberalist. But, it is also the liberalist that clouded their mind with freedom of life. Vatican, like other Abrahamaic religions, uses different approach. To them, marriage is the divine setting to have safe sexual intercourse, not condoms. If condom were endorsed, then it would like the religion permit sexual intercourse without marriage. So, it is on a good purpose. But, sex is so powerful that many seeks to its present. For religious, it is called temptation and for the liberalist seen as the human most ...

What is a hero? A hero is the one who keeps forward no matter how odd is the circumstance. Don't stop is a characteristic of being a hero.

Some recent events made have made my nasionality desecrated into some lowest level. Never I had doubt about this country that I used to love so much. There are two things that revolved in my head: Pornography Bill. This bill alter some province and many people objection. How arrogantly they take this bill and not take account many factions. Is this country a country of one religion, one race, nor one culture! DAMN IT! How could they so easy endangered this nation. Amrozy cs. was regarded as bunch of terorists. But, what I saw and heard in the media was different. They were regarded as heroes. WTF? What happened just made me thought that this country maybe had me not as a citizen but a stranger. These few years I'm living on fear that someday there would come a day where my church would be shutted and burnt to the ground. I'm not delutional, because they had the attempt few years ago but failed. You see, it is so hard to build a church here. We need some amount of documents that...

A man on a government agency was in charge of a long-term (about 20 years) contract to a vendor. He was in a pinch when he disagreed on a term in the contract that would create a potential damage to this country. The negotiators then tried to bribe him. He refused to accept any numbers they mentioned. Frustrated by his strong refusal, one of the negotiator came and asked him: Sir, tell me what is your price? The man angered to the max, he then answered: Dear, Sir, I would agree with you if you can give me higher price than the blood of Jesus that spilled on Calvary. --- Who/what is your God? ~theStoryIsReal

Koo Chung -- Better Be You [1] The dirt in this place has filled my eyes And I can't see, no I can't see a thing Perhaps this next step will take me home Or for all I know, lead me to certain death Pretty Sunday, wooden pews Word of God, healing for my soul Friday night, rusty park bench Laughter and addictions for my pain Cause I don't know who's winning this tug of war But it better be You, it better be You For heaven's sake, my heart's about to rip in two So it better be You, it better be You Sometimes I don't know why You would fight Take battle scars and waste Your angels on me Cause when you ask me if I love You In all I do, at best I say "I don't know"* Tonight I pray, tonight I cry For kindred souls, souls that have starved like mine And so I sing, and so I shout So we might give and sing our hearts out to You! Cause I don't know who's winning this tug of war So let it be You, let it be You For heaven's sake, my heart's ...