five hundredth

Some love from different perspectives for John Calvin (1509-1564), who was born 500 years ago in Noyon, a small town in France:

1. Jacobus Arminius (1560-1609), who became prominent for his opposition to the tenets of Calvinism, and left us a lasting legacy until today, might want to have a first say:

“After the Holy Scriptures, I exhort the students to read the Commentaries of Calvin. . . . I tell them that he is incomparable in the interpretation of Scripture; and that his Commentaries ought to be held in greater estimation than all that is delivered to us in the writings of the ancient Christian Fathers: so that, in a certain eminent spirit of prophecy, I give the pre-eminence to him beyond most others, indeed beyond them all. I add, that, with regard to what belongs to common places, his Institutes must be read after the Catechism, as a more ample interpretation. But to all this I subjoin the remark, that they must be perused with cautious choice, like all other human compositions.”

the day after the eighth

1. After what happened yesterday, it means that Mega has lost three times in presidential elections: ‘99 (at the People’s Consultative Assembly meeting), ‘04, ‘09. Admittedly, what happened in 1999 was cruel to her, when Amien Rais and his Poros Tengah somehow could propel Gus Dur to become the president, since she and the PDIP was the winner of ‘99 election. In some way, she was vindicated when the same Assembly brought Gus Dur down in 2001. Indeed, it was pretty fascinating how she kept nominating herself as a presidential candidate. If in 1963 the People’s Consultative Assembly declared his father to be President for Life, perhaps she could be said as a Presidential Candidate for Life. I will be very, very happy to be proven wrong in 2014. (i.e., that she won’t seek another candidacy)

2. A gentle reminder on our nation’s history would tell how much we have moved on from the debacle of 1998. In the span of six years (1998-2004), we had five presidents (Soeharto, Habibie, Gus Dur, Mega, SBY). And now we are going to have our first multiple-term president after Soeharto.

3. A glance at the reaction of losing candidates would reveal who could accept it gracefully and who could only whine and whine. Worryingly, the latter might seek another candidacy in 2014. I do hope all of us will remember who they are. I understand well that history remembers those who win, and that’s why we need to listen more to the voice of those who lose. Nevertheless, sometimes the losing party didn’t help their case either.

4. After Bush won the election in 2004 to proceed for his second term in the office, perhaps the only positive thing that the (US) Democrats could say to console themselves was, “Well, at least he won’t be eligible for 2008 election.” Perhaps Mega-Pro and JK-Win supporters can follow the same line: At least SBY won’t be eligible for 2014 presidential election. Indeed, it would be for the first time that an Indonesian president know that he will run his last term on the office.

5. If you could retain only one minister from previous cabinet, who will s/he be? I would go for Sri Mulyani.

6. Official national tabulation can be seen at the KPU’s website. So far, Mega won in Bali and East Nusa Tenggara, JK won in West Sulawesi, South East Sulawesi, and Gorontalo. You can click through the province name to get the results for each regency in the province, and through the regency name to get the results for each subdistrict in the regency. For example, in Kelapa Gading subdistrict the numbers are 19%-74%-7%, or in Klaten regency they are 41%-52%-7%.

the day before the eighth

A few reflections before tomorrow’s presidential election:

1. As Indonesians living in diaspora, our primary source of information would be the internet. Unfortunately, somehow even the mainstream media like kompas.com is often provocative/polemical in tone, lacking its usually elegant character found in its print edition. Quantity matters more than quality. That’s why I prefer to listen to the presidential/vice-presidential candidates themselves to evaluate them. For example, the debates. For those who missed out the debates, here are the summaries of the last three debates:

a. Debat II Capres — “Mengentaskan Kemiskinan dan Penggangguran”

b. Debat II Cawapres — “Meningkatkan Kualitas Hidup Manusia Indonesia”

c. Debat III Capres – “NKRI, Demokrasi, dan Otonomi Daerah”

And you can watch the debates at Youtube.

spot-on

I’m really amazed at how one could ask such a pinpoint question which really pierced your heart and opened up a huge reservoir of things that you have been keeping for yourself for a while. (and this is a deliberately long and vague statement)

Indeed, it is a gift of the Spirit.

PS: thank you.

job’s friends

At the end of the book of Job, YHWH’s anger burned against Eliphas, Bildad, and Zophar — three friends of Job. (42.9) What about Elihu? Does it mean that Elihu was right?

Indeed, Elihu was not mentioned at the beginning of the narrative. At first, it was only the trio of Eliphas, Bildad, and Zophar. (2.11) Then Elihu entered the story at chapter 32, where his monologue (chs. 32-37) bridged the dialogue between Job and his three friends (chs. 3-31) with YHWH’s monologue. (chs. 38-41)

harus bisa

‘Harus bisa!’ adalah kumpulan anekdot yang diinspirasikan dari berbagai kertas catatan sang penulis selama ia menjadi juru bicara Presiden dalam lima tahun terakhir ini. Dino Patti Djalal, juru bicara Presiden SBY bidang luar negeri, menemukan satu benang merah dari berbagai anekdot ini, yaitu, mengenai kepemimpinan. Dan jadilah buku tersebut, yaitu mengenai ’seni memimpin à la SBY’ (subjudul buku ini) yang terambil dari berbagai kisah yang dialami penulis bersama SBY selama ia menjadi juru bicaranya. Yang menarik tentunya adalah perspektif kisah-kisah ini diceritakan, yaitu perspektif seorang ‘insider’, seorang yang merasakan ‘first-hand experience’ dengan subyek buku ini. Karena Dino adalah jubir bidang luar negeri, isi buku ini lebih banyak memuat kisah-kisah yang berkaitan dengan urusan diplomasi luar negeri, walau tentunya juga ada pula kisah-kisah yang berkaitan dengan urusan dalam negeri. Buku ini pertama kali diterbitkan pada tahun 2008, dan pada tahun 2009 dipecah menjadi dua jilid buku saku sehingga lebih mudah dibawa kemana-mana; perhaps, related to the 2009 legislative and presidential election. And, undoubtedly, sometimes a biography can turn into a hagiography easily. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed all stories presented in this book. Ada beberapa cerita yang aku baru tahu setelah membaca buku ini, dan sangatlah menarik. It gives you an interesting perspective of the incumbent president of Indonesia.

finale

Highlights of yesterday’s debate: (more detailed transcript)

1. From the three presidential debates, I guess it is clear that Mega was the least comfortable with this kind of format. We have seen how Mega campaigned in front of a huge crowds, but she just can’t debate well.

When I chatted with Alison during the debate, we agreed that Mega is more well-suited to be ‘ibu bangsa’, not as president. And some academicians from UI said the very thing after the debate. She knows well our founding fathers values, and somehow she always answered any question with NKRI, Pancasila, UUD’45, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, etc. (an intriguing duo, indeed. Her partner, Prabowo, on the other hand, always answered any questions with Ekonomi Kerakyatan/people-oriented economics)

2. Mengenai NKRI, ketiganya berkomitmen bahwa NKRI, Pancasila, UUD’45, Bhinneka Tunggal Ika itu harga mati. Mega kembali kepada cita-cita proklamasi (salah satu keunikan Mega: ad fontes, kembali ke cita-cita asal), SBY menganggap itu bentuk yang paling baik bagi hakekat kemajukan bangsa kita, dan JK mengingatkan bagaimana jutaan orang telah berkorban demi NKRI. (so, at least there is a definitive will against Sharia or federal state or whatever, but, as JK would say later on, the will must be implemented on the practical level)

a rocha lecture

A Rocha is an international Christian nature conservation organisation working in 18 countries. The name A Rocha means “The Rock” in Portuguese as the first initiative was a field study centre in Portugal.

This year BGST is helding its annual lecture on contemporary issues in association with A Rocha, entitled “Why Creation is Writing for the Christians.” The details are as follow:

Why Creation is Waiting for the Christians
An Annual Lecture on Contemporary Issues by the Biblical Graduate School of Theology
in association with A Rocha

DATE: Friday, 10 July 2009
TIME: 8:00 – 9:30pm
SPEAKER: Peter Harris, Founder/Director of A Rocha
With Q&A PANEL:
Dr George Capaque (DTC), Dr Quek Swee Hwa (BGST) and Dr Paul Woods (SBC)
VENUE: Zion BP Church (Bishan) 4 Bishan St 13
ADMISSION: Free
REGISTER ONLINE: Click here

Christian thinking and action has only recently begun to follow the biblical calling to care for God’s creation. However, now that this calling has been taken up all over the world, many opportunities for demonstrating the relevance of the Christian gospel to the challenge of sustainability have begun to emerge. At the same time, it has also become clear that something more than environmental education will be needed to halt the rapid degradation of habitats and their species. So at this time of challenge, how can the Christian church respond to the challenges, to God our Creator, and Jesus the Lord of Creation?

*

In addition to the lecture, A Rocha will also held a seminar on Saturday.

Climate Change, Health & Faith:
The challenge to the healthcare community
An A Rocha seminar

DATE: Saturday, 11 July 2009
TIME: 2:30 – 6:30pm
SPEAKERS: Dr Graham McAll, MA, MB, FRCSEd, MRCGP
and Peter Harris, Founder/Director of A Rocha
VENUE: The Botany Centre, Function Hall (Level 1), Singapore Botanic Gardens
ADMISSION: Free
REGISTER ONLINE: Click here

Dr McAll will introduce the current understanding of anthropogenic climate change and how it is thought to affect human health. He aims to encourage those in healthcare to see themselves as uniquely placed to respond to these issues, and encourage the responsibility to care for the earth with hope, remembering the vocation’s respected place in the community. Using examples of good practice, with contributions from discussion, he will discuss how environmental initiatives may be supported in mitigation, adaptation, education and research.

BIODIVERSITY MATTERS – By Peter Harris
It has now become clear globally that something more than environmental education will be needed to halt the rapid degradation of habitats and their species. Considerable resources have been applied to the challenges of researching the global situation so we now understand quite well just how serious the threat to biodiversity really is. Yet relatively little attention has been given to the drivers of our environmental condition. In order to make progress towards some of the changes we all recognise are needed, the values and choices of human society are being understood as far more significant than previously realised. In our discussion we will examine those choices, and with particular reference to the faith community, consider how they could represent a sign of hope against an increasingly discouraging background.

iklan jk

I do think JK-Win team is the most ‘creative’ of all: JK channel in youtube. (some of them are really funny, with 2 parodies clearly poking fun at SBY) The following one is adapted to the tune of Tombo Ati, a traditional Javanese song:

Although, in retrospect, this ad perhaps had permeated almost all Indonesians better.

uangnya darimana?

“Masalah yang kita hadapi adalah: uangnya darimana?” — Prabowo

Apapun pertanyaannya, ini jawabannya.

Some interesting points:

1. Prabowo menyebutkan delapan hal dasar yang dibutuhkan demi kelangsungan kehidupan; which I think deliberatively echoing their 8 action programs.

2. Dalam visi-misi Boediono, kita menemukan bahwa beberapa program OrBa sebenarnya baik namun mungkin karena terlalu reaktif dalam era Reformasi menjadi ditinggalkan. Dan sekarang beberapa program tersebut akan direvitalisasi kembali, seperti pelayanan Puskesmas, Posyandu, imunisasi, dan program KB. Yang menarik adalah ternyata beberapa hal ini menjadi pertanyaan pendalaman yang ditanyakan oleh moderator (mengenai (1) pelayanan kesehatan preventif dan (2) revitalisasi KB).

3. I just knew yesterday that actually we have a national healthcare system. (at least, it has been mandated) Prabowo promised for a universal healthcare system by 2012. Wiranto turned into rhetoric, “faster, better”, without actually describing how he and JK would achieve it. Boediono didn’t want to promise a deadline for it.

4. Dan bahwa anggaran kesehatan dimandatkan sebesar 15% dari APBN, walau sekarang realisasinya baru 2.3%. (if you think about it, it means healthcare 15% + education 20% = 35%) Boediono dan Wiranto menjanjikan bisa menggandakan realisasi tersebut dalam lima tahun. Prabowo tidak terlalu peduli soal persentase, yang penting ‘uangnya darimana.’ Jika, menurutnya, kekayaan nasional tidak bocor seperti saat ini, uangnya pasti akan cukup untuk memenuhi anggaran tersebut. (though he did mention that 15 trillion rupiahs would be enough to insure all citizens under coverage)

5. To continue on that point, Prabowo (with Mega) claimed that with their economy system they can reclaim 200 trillion rupiahs/year (to put in perspective, our annual budget is at around 1000 trillion rupiahs) that they think we have lost each year for the past 12 years. Boediono replied that it was a dream and unrealistic. Prabowo replied back in his closing motion that it was realistic and has been accounted by his economic team.

6. Mengenai rokok, no significant difference between all candidates. (which shows how delicate the situation is on this matter in Indonesia)

7. On birth control legislation (like China), Prabowo & Boediono didn’t want to do it. Wiranto flip-flopped.

PS (not really related): When I was on the bus on the way home, I just knew from Channel News Asia that Prabowo was denied an American visa for life. So, does it mean that if he were to become vice president, our VP can’t visit the US? -_-

complete notes after the jump.

let not man separate

if it were not permissible to put asunder what God has joined together,
can we then join together what God has put asunder?

(never mind, only a random rant)

on the shoulders of giants

Yesterday we had our monthly New Graduates Meeting at NBC, which were followed by Bos Tjeli’s 37th birthday celebration. (happy birthday!) We finished around 1130pm or so, and I went home with Herry, Ka Pet, and Ko Tjel using the MRT. Ko Tjel went off at Jurong East, saying to Ka Pet that he will see him again on Monday morning. At the airport.

Then the rest of us dropped off at Boon Lay, and me and Ka Pet said a so-called ‘final’ goodbye before he leaves on Monday.

Man, it was a bit weird to have a birthday celebration and a farewell at almost the same time.

Thank God for Ka Pet and Ko Tjel.