BOLD FIGHT!!!

It was a fight between Christianity and culture!!!!!!!

It was months ago that I was informed by a friend (christian) that she is getting married on 26.12.2005. Both families of the bride and bridgroom are not christian, but both of them are. Their families stood very firmly on certain issues, including getting married in church. Hence, they came out with the idea that, they will compromise of not having a marriage ceremony held in church, but on return, they will not burn any incense or knee or worship their families' gods. Everyone are happy ever since on it. (If possible, you shouldn't compromise on this at all).

There are many members in the cell disagree with what they did of course. Some said they should have insisted on getting married in church, etc. etc. And if you are a christian leader, I am sure you have more to say on this.

As cell group leader and members, we all nevertheless give our full support to both of them. We celebrate together with them and we even do practices to present a song to them on their wedding day. Besides that, we agree to wake up at early as 6am on 26.12.2005 to be their 'zhi mui' and 'heng dai'. When things reached this stage, we almost forgot about the 'compromise' they took. We almost forgot about the fight we are having. We almost forgot who our opponent is. And right at this time, yesterday... which I was having fun with my friends from Faith Christian Center, Kuala Lumpur at the Church Staff Quater, ... issue arised!!!!

The bride's grandmother and uncles and aunties arrived in Tawau. They were having nice and wonderful, delicious family gathering dinner. During that time, the grandmother said something about worshipping the gods and so on with everyone and besides worshipping, she said she is asking one of the uncle bring all the ancestors' spirits to the wedding and so on. Asking the bride's family to give a space to them, etc. According to her, this is one of the culture in their family. At first, the bride didn't say much except saying: "If you all want this to happen, you all do it, but do not includes me and my husband". However, the grandmother was angry and since she is a very respective person and served as a 'queen' in the family, when her anger arose, everyone started to panic and wonder what will happen next. To avoid all these, the bride went up stairs... God knows what she was doing there... PRAYING HARD!!! And when she return after an hour, she still heard the conversation on the same topic goes on and there and then, she spoke out and make her stand FIRMLY again. It was a bold fight and it needs lots of encouragement and boldness from the Lord. But we believe, she fought well last night!!!!

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To me, we fight almost every moment of our lives. I tend not to compromise with the Evil one at all. Although sometimes, it goes against my will and it might bring harm and 'unhappiness' to myself. But what are all these compare to the Lord? Who can lives without the Lord? Who can have happiness without the Lord? ...

Let me remind you that, my purpose of living is to serve the Lord and to glorify His name!!!

- SP, I am praying hard for you and AF. -