When The World Sees Grace In Action, It Falls Silent

Nelson Mandela, the famous African leader, taught the world a lesson in grace. Being released from prison after twenty-seven years and being elected president of South Africa, he asked his jailer to join him on the inauguration platform. No one would want to offer such an honorable position to a jailer who kept you in prison, Nelson did.

Seeing the natural and common pattern of hate, vengeance and revenge, he decided to set up an official government panel. This panel was headed by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the name was the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The panel was created to deal with people who oppressed one another because of their differences in race and tribe.

For the next two and a half years, the people of South Africa listened to reports of the unusual ways the TRC dealt with crimes and punishments. The rules of the TRC was simple: if a white policeman or army officer voluntarily faced his accusers, confessed his crime and fully acknowledged his guilt, he could not be tried and punished for that crime.

This is NONSENSE – according to many people who were affected by the criminal crimes committed by such offenders.

It is an OBVIOUS INJUSTICE.

But Nelson insisted that the country needed healing even more than it needed justice.

At one hearing, a policeman named Van de Broek recounted an incident where he and other officers shot an eighteen-year-old boy and burned the body to destroy evidence. Eight years later, Broek returned to the very same house and seized the boy’s father. The wife was forced to watch as the policeman bound her husband on a woodpile, poured gasoline over his body and ignited it.

The courtroom grew hushed as the elderly woman who had lost her son and husband was given a chance to respond. “What do you want from Mr Van de Broek?” the judge asked. She replied saying that she wanted Broek to go to the place where they burned her husband’s body and gather up the dust so she could give him a decent burial. Broek’s head was down, he nodded with agreement.

Then she added a further request, “Mr Van de Broek took all my family away from me and I still have a lot of love to give. Twice a month, I would like for him to come to the ghetto and spend a day with me so I can be a mother to him. And I would like Mr Van de Broek to know that he is forgiven by God, and that I forgive him too. I would like to embrace him so he can know my forgiveness is real.”

Spontaneously, some in the courtroom began to sing “Amazing Grace” as the elderly woman made her way to the witness stand, but Broek did not hear the singing. He had fainted, overwhelmed.

Justice was not done in South Africa that day, nor in the entire country during months of agonizing procedures of the TRC. Something beyond justice took place. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good,” said Paul.

Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu understood that evil can only be overcome by one response. Revenge gives birth to more evil. Justice punishes evil.

Only grace can overcome evil, absorbing it and not allowing it to go any further.

Jesus Christ showed this pattern of otherworldly grace in his life and death.

When the world sees grace in action, it falls silent.



*This post was inspired by one of Philip Yancey’s writings in his book, Rumours of Another World.

When Life Hands You Lemons, Make Lemonade.

I love the quote, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade." I do not know its origins though but it is so true don't you think so? Who in a right mind who like lemons? As in lemons, just lemons, without drinks, squeeze the juice out of the lemon into your mouth! How long would you be able to stand the sourly taste? Not for long. Talk about chilled lemonade.. Now that's a different story. Who wouldn't want one cup of icy cold lemonade with ice on a hot day?

When life hands you something that you do not like, turn it into something useful!

Many of the greatest Christian leaders in the world and those around you did not grow up in the church. Their lives revolves around sneaking out of their house on Sundays to attend service with risk. They risk their parents finding out and disciplining them for going to church. They were raised in homes where alcohol and abuse was everywhere.

Many great leaders and motivational speakers in the world did not grow up in a huge white mansion. They grew up in the slums and back alleys and under the bridges. Their childhood days were spent scavenging for food in rubbish bins. They played with discarded toys thrown away by rich children. They ate left overs and knew not what McDonald's taste like. They sleep on card boards.

But their disadvantage did not bring down many of them. Many were inspired instead to change their life and they grew up strong, having in mind to change the way they are living. And those who were successful in leading a good life did not just stopped there, they turned back and were determined to help those who were in need and those who were like them when they were young.

Their disadvantage did not take the upper hand. Their disadvantage gave them an advantage. Their disadvantage became the fuel that fire the engine of change. Their disadvantage was the gunpowder that provided them with the power to turn things around for themselves and those who were like them!

Their disadvantage became their advantage.

In the Bible we see that God do not care about the people's short coming or disadvantages. Because God is God, God can use your disadvantage and turn them into advantages!

Moses could not speak well and he stuttered. He complained to God saying that he is unworthy to carry out duties. Moses complained to God! Moses told God to choose another one to take his place! Moses was also a murderer! God used him to change the course of Israel's history.

Abraham had the hard time of trusting God to give him an offspring when science proofed that his wife is barren. Come on, who would be really able to believe that a BARREN woman can give birth? No way right? But Abraham stayed faithful. He then became the father of children as many as the stars.

Jonah was a coward! He was so scared of the people of Nineveh and he even FLED after hearing God commanding him. Who in their right senses would run away even after hearing an audible command from God? I mean, we yearn to hear God so much yet when we do, we do not really know whether is it real or not. But Jonah knew. He knew God spoke to him. Yet he FLED from God's command. What a coward! But God used him to change the hearts of EVERYONE in Nineveh. I do not know how many people were in Nineveh but I sure know that there were A LOT of people.

David was a normal and low class shepherd boy. He had nothing else to do except look after sheeps. But God had different plans for him. In the field, God trained David to trust in God for the ultimate protection from a shepherd. God trained him how to fight off wild animals and how to use the sling and stone. With that David defeated the enemies of Israel.

Peter was a normal fisherman with no other abilities other than to FISH! I am sure he knows how to bargain for good price and how to talk his way through to get a good deal for his catch. But I am sure he would not be able to be courageous enough to stand in front of thousands telling them that Jesus is God! I mean, he would be stoned for blasphemy! That coward Peter even denied knowing Jesus - thrice! His disadvantage was COWARDICE but God turned it into a GODLY COWARDICE. Peter FEARED God! Look what he did in the book of Acts!

These people used their disadvantages to become advantages.

So can you!

When life hands you lemons, make lemonade!

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Man in the Mirror

As the world mourns Michael Jackson's death, many of us are now beginning to appreciate him. Weird huh? Where were the world when Michael was faced with lawsuits after lawsuits? Ironic.


There's nothing much I can say of Michael that have not been said. This once in a lifetime legend will remain a legend - larger than life, his songs touching the whole world.

I am in no position to judge him for what he has done with his life. I leave that to the critics and the haters.

We have to admit that in the rubble of his life and songs, there are some pretty lyrics he shared with the world. Whether or not he lived his songs we do not know and I will not judge. But words of wisdom are still words of wisdom.

One of my favorite songs from Michael Jackson is Man in the Mirror. The lyrics goes:



Gotta make a change,
For once in my life,
It's gonna feel real good,
Gonna make a difference,
Gonna make it right.

As I turned up the collar on,
My favorite winter coat,
This wind is blowin' my mind,
I see the kids in the street,
With not enough to eat,
Who am I to be blind,
Pretending not to see their needs.

A summer's disregard,
A broken bottle top,
And a one man's soul,
They follow each other,
On the wind ya' know,
'Cause they got nowhere to go,
That's why I want you to know.

I'm starting with the man in the mirror,
I'm asking him to change his ways,
And no message could have been any clearer,
If you wanna make the world a better place,
Take a look at yourself and then make a change.


What thoughtful lyrics. "I'm starting at the man in the mirror. I'm asking him to change his ways. No message could have been any clearer. If you want to make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and make a change."

How true can Michael's lyrics be? To change the world we must first change ourself. We must first know what is wrong with ourself and change. We must learn to forgive. We must learn to be selfless. We must learn to care. We must learn to love.

Many of us are out there to judge Michael, saying that he never walk his talk, or walk his songs in this case. However let us not look at what he did or did not do. Let us look at the man in the mirror. Let us look at us.

What are we doing? Are we living each day selflessly, wanting only to satisfy our desire and wanting?

Here's to a better world. Even if I can't, I will try. I will start with myself.

I'm starting with the man in the mirror,
I'm asking him to change his ways,
And no message could have been any clearer,
If you wanna make the world a better place,
Take a look at yourself and then make a change.

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Storm's Too Violent, Abandon Ship Now.

On the night of August 3rd of 1991, the cruise ship “Oceanos” was attacked by rough seas off the South African coast. The engine room started to flood and all power was lost. When the passengers on board started to realize what was happening it was already too late. They saw the crew members of the ship and the captain abandoning the ship in lifeboats.

There was no announcement by the captain and there was no clear instruction on how to evacuate. What the captain and crew members did was to save their very own lives and leave the rest to fend for themselves. More than 200 passengers including children and elderly people were left behind.

The captain and crew members did not obey the commissioning papers. Their job was to first save the women and children by helping them to escape. The last people who are allowed to leave the ship would be the captain and the crew members after making sure that all passengers have left. However this was not the case on Oceanos.

"I don't care what people say about me,'' the captain later said. "When I give the order abandon ship, it doesn't matter what time I leave. If some people want to stay, they can stay."

He later told the press that he felt he could direct the rescue operations "better from the shore" than from his place on the bridge of his sinking ship.

In the book of Acts we witness almost the same event. Paul was sailing on the ship heading to Rome when the ship caught a huge storm. They were in the storm for many many days with no sunlight or shore at sight. Read Acts chapter 27 for the full detail. In the storm, an angel of the Lord appeared to Paul one night and told him that, “Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trail before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.” Paul then told this to everyone on board and they were relieved and encouraged. However the storm was still raging and it showed no sign on stopping.

What happen was one night the sailors or ship crew members was planning to abandon the ship. They were lowering down the lifeboats wanting to escape when Paul saw what happened and stopped them by reporting to one of the centurions on board.

In times of danger sometimes the best option is to abandon ship and to save ourselves, leaving the helpless to fend for themselves. Don’t we think so? Even though the prophecy was revealed to Paul and Paul told everyone on board, the crew members were still so afraid for their lives that they planned to abandon ship. What was clear is that they entertained fear and they invited fear to reside in their heart. And because of fear, they forgot what God told Paul and wanted to save their own lives themselves.

Too often we choose the easy way out instead of hanging on to God’s promises. We, like the captain of the Oceanos and many other ships with similar experiences tend to abandon our duty on board in times of trouble and choose to save our own lives.

I see us as captains of the many ships, if you may. And the passengers in our ship are those people who have not come to know Christ. When the going gets tough, many of us tend to just derelict our duty and abandon ship.

Let the ship sink. It doesn’t matter.

Does it?

It does.





*Picture used by permission of Poh Leong.

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