Linkin Park and me....

My love for Linkin Park started instantly when I first heard their songs from their debut album Hybrid Theory. Since then, I have been following them silently until when I started using some of their songs for my youth programs and camps and sessions for students preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation. I sort of 'christianized' if I'm allowed to say that or rather 'adapted' the songs or maybe the best term would be 'inculturated' those songs for my sessions with the youths. Of course I do explain the connection of those songs when I use them for my sessions, that is why I used the term 'christianized'.

Some of the songs that I have used are 'Numb', 'Crawling', 'What I've done' and 'Somewhere I Belong'. My beloved youths from Selayang and Desa Jaya, Kepong would remember that I once used the title of a song as the main theme of a programme.

In the year 2007 when I was in the seminary in Singapore, I tried to go for their concert although knowing that the chances of getting a ticket is far better than getting the permission from the seminary fathers. Nevertheless I took part in a contest to get free tickets for the concert by asking a dear friend from a youth group to write a short essay for me after giving him some points. Unfortunately I did not win.

Just last week, August 13, 2013, I was blessed to have had the opportunity to watch my favorite rock band performing live from a VIP Suite with butlers serving to our needs at the Mall of Asia Arena at the Philippines. I was given 4 free tickets by a friend and may God continue to bless him and his family. There were moments that I would not be able to watch them. First it was the replacement class that was suppose to be held the next morning after the concert. When it was cancelled and was free to watch, I then had no confirmation on the ticket. When I then did receive the tickets 24hrs before the concert I had to worry about the typhoon 'Labuyo' that was hitting Luzon. By God's grace after much prayer the day of the concert was fine and I was able to go watch them perform live for me. They are indeed good entertainers. I also like the graphics on the screen very much. It was nice to see Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda surprise all of us by going to the crowds, giving them Hi-Five and encouraging the crowd to sing along.  

I was so excited when the day came, even updating my Facebook status a few times in a day which I seldom do. Since I had 4 tickets, I got 3 friends to come with me. We were an International team; a Brazilian, a Filipino, a Burmese and myself a Malaysian. We were surprised and excited that we had a VIP Suite but disappointed that we could not bring our DSLR camera in. After pleading many times with an officer, she herself suggested to take some pictures and send it to us via email. Very kind of her. I enjoyed the concert to the maximum, only realizing towards the end of the concert that I was losing my voice due to the screaming and singing along loudly. It was indeed a dream come true for me to watch Linkin Park live. This is my second live concert after 'Black Eyed Peas' live in Singapore on Oct 2007.   

Let us build a community in which people of different religions learn from one another and work together for the common good.

I am indeed very sad with the recent happenings in Malaysia especially on the double standard and bias treatment given to the various minority communities of this beloved country. Lately we have been reading a lot of news, and police reports are made regarding insensitivity to another religious practices and beliefs. Many are claiming to be 'insulted' or 'offended'. Our country was never like this. We used to be a model for a multi-cultural, multi-religious country where people live in harmony, happily caring for each other. What has happened to us now? What has happened to our country?

We have all become arrogant. We have all become 'faithless'. A perverse generation I must say!. At times it seems we have become bigger than God the Almighty! I am sure the Prophets, Saints and Sages are all feeling embarrassed for what we have become. Even God is sad I'm sure to see us all fighting in this way in His name, for this is not the purpose that He created us in this world of different peoples with different backgrounds and culture. We all need to be more 'human' and loving one another, and we are only able to do this sincerely is when we know and have a better understanding about the other's religion and beliefs. We need to be 'in(formed)' and educated. Inter-Religious Dialogue seems to be the best solution. Or maybe we can attend some classes on religion or better still ask a religious teacher.   

It was heart breaking to read a news report today that the latest 'issue' in Malaysia is about a surau within a resort is believed to have been used for another religious ceremony and people are being offended about this. Click 'here' and 'here' for a read about this issue. At this moment, As a Christian I'm thankful that we have had examples of churches opening their doors for Muslims to pray. For a read click on the links:-
Christian Church opens doors to Muslims. and Church opens its doors to Muslims in Ramadan.
I'm sure many other religion and even Muslims have been generous to open the doors of places of worship and even their homes for another religious person to pray and worship one's God.
 
In my interest about Islam, I remember reading about Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) granting protection and other privileges to the monks of Saint Catherine's Monastery, Mount Sinai.

The Prophet personally granted by the charter the rights and privileges to the monastery, including freedom of worship and movement, freedom to appoint their own judges and to own and maintain their property. Here is an English translation of the charter:-

"This is a message from Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them. Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them.

No compulsion is to be on them. Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries. No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims' houses. Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God's covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate. No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight. The Muslims are to fight for them.

If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray. Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants. No one of the nation (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant till the Last Day (end of the world)."
Click here for a read on the document and its history.

There is a Lebanese movie that all of us must watch. The title in French is 'Et maintenant, on va où'  & in English it would be  'Where do we go now?'. It is about A group of Lebanese women try to ease religious tensions between Christians and Muslims in their village together with the Imam and a Priest. We can all learn from them. Watch the trailer by clicking here.

As I end, I would like to ask all to pray for peace and mutual love for each other as we build our nation once again as a harmonious multi-cultural and multi-religious country. Here is a song of peace for reflection:-