ARE WE THE SALT AND LIGHT TO THE WORLD?

This blog is not closed but we had taken a period to cool off to wait upon the PHOB dealing with BAV. In the past 1 month, we had restrained from commenting too much though we have been watching closely the development of the crisis.

Everyone is watching us locally and internationally how our Provincial House of Bishops (PHOB), the head of the Anglican Communion in the Province of South East Asia addresses this crisis and it is now in their most recent advent letter.

The hopes of many who waited for an assertive decision from the highest authority seem to be doomed with this latest Advent letter from the Archbishop of the Province.  This will further disintegrate the church. 

The truth has been revealed and putting a stop to our internet communications to cover up without justice will add more conspiracies. Does it mean cover up will bring us closure to this crisis and unity of the church to be restored again overnight? If it is according to God’s Will, this crisis should had been resolved.   Why had God allowed it to prolong?  Surely not God is allowing things to work through His people to cleanse the church?

We are gracious and forgiving people for the past many years as how BAV has been abusing God’s churches in many ways.  How can we continue to forgive him as there is no end to it?  BAV is the root cause of all problems and not the people! In any law of justice, there should be reprimands.  The trust of governance entrusted to him as the bishop had been broken.  We have a criminal who continues to abuse his position and power to gain his innocence by ways of delusion using dirty tactics and corruptibility to get his ways out.  We all had seen how he lied in the dialogue he had with his people.  Where is his heart of repentance? Have we not given him more grace than in any normal circumstances?  It should be an end to all these.

Do we take it as the PHOB does not have the expertise and experience to prosecute his own fellow colleague to the Ecclesiastical Court?  They had failed their duty to act according to the framework of their constitution in dealing with this matter. Is there any wrong in pursuing this to the Courts of Malaysia? We are calling all professionals to link up as a think tank group.  Please email us your name and contacts categorized with your professional experience so we can profile you to the work groups.

God is strengthening His people for the end times. Our Hope is Unity in Christ for those who seek Him righteously. His Righteousness shall prevail and we should be the salt and light to the world bringing Glory to His name. God’s plan for us has never changed and He is our reason for this season.

A DAY OF PRAYER IN ONE HEART & ONE VOICE

Ezekiel 34 :7 “Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: ⁸ As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock, 9 therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord: 10 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.”

Let’s commit corporately a day of prayer and fasting for our DOS and ASC on 15 November 2012 from 6am to 10pm.  We will conclude to pray together at STS chapel from 8pm to 9.30pm.

Our father in heaven, You know our sufferings, frustrations and many hurts of Your people. The Church of our Lord Jesus Christ has been betrayed from trusts, oppressed and persecuted in many ways by our leaders. We plead to You to bring an end to our long sufferings.

Lord, if our leaders have failed their duties as our chief shepherd, please deliver us through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ. Bring forth new hope, love and peace unto us.  Amen

Is That All We Have Been Hoping to Hear From the Bishops?

Having struggled for 6 years in wilderness under the leadership of Bishop Albert Vun, the Anglicans in the Diocese of Sabah have not seen any signs of going into the promise land yet.  The House of Bishop has to come here to experience and understand the suffering of the people and should not be easily persuaded by Bishop Vun’s heresy.

Reports of the investigating team must have concluded that Bishop Vun is guilty otherwise he would not be even asked to take leave, right?  Why instead of putting a stop to the extravagance of Bishop Vun, the Diocese has to spend more money just for this problematic person?  How much then is his undisclosed salary drawn by his own discretion?  It must be made known and put on par with other bishops in the other dioceses.  Will he ever come back spotless after his sabbatical leave?  This theory does not work unless only if it is a miracle from God. 

In all profit and non-profit organisations, people will not be asked to go on paid leave if they are problematic.  This will only happen if that person is seriously ill. Do we have a seriously ill (the mental aspect) and spiritually distorted Bishop?

Recommendations made in the Archbishop Pastoral Letter were merely the view of the House of Bishops for the spiritual aspects of Bishop Vun. 

What about the hurts caused to the churches and the people through lies and deceptions?

What about the lack of clarity and lost of confidence in the adherence of governance in decision making and finances resulted in mismanagement of Diocesan funds?

We have far greater mess to clear.  The financials for the past 6 years are in the mess and we must get them sorted and reviewed by independents professionals. Having the assurance from Bishop Vun that his new treasurer will look into them is just merely another delaying tactics to get away with things. Properties were bought everywhere under the Bishop’s personal name with the funds of the Diocese.  These will have to be identified further if any others have not been disclosed. 

The disunity of all the Anglican churches will need a new spiritual leader to take over for regaining that confidence we once lost.  All these will not happen so long Bishop Vun is the Bishop disregard he takes sabbatical leave or not.  We do not believe we still can be under his spiritual covering despite he is told to go on leave. Hurts caused by Bishop Vun to many people cannot be just covered up without proper closures by just getting him to go on leave.

If the House of Bishops is not effective in helping us through, we have to all stand high and tall as Anglicans, be united for the truth and righteousness.  Let all these not dismay us or affect our faith in God.  We should remain steadfast to reform a new beginning for our Diocese.