Here's an interesting article written by a Malaysian living in the UK, which reflects on the country's 50th anniversary. In the article he asks "After 50 years of Malaysia's existence, where are we today?" The following mostly sad quotes caught my ear as I read them and it pushed me beyond crying to pray for this nation I have never visited ... "Yet, something is missing in the development of this nation. The erosion of the fundamental values that our founding members fought to institute has become this nation's bane."
*        PRAY: Lord raise up a compassionate and humble church in this nation that demonstrates true liberty and loves all people equally while also countering the opposing calls for a more secular or more Islamic nation. "Religious bigotry is on the rise - who can forget the arson attacks on churches and the defiling of suraus?"
*        PRAY: Lord give your church the ability to stand firm in these times, protect and grow them and may they respond with amazing acts of love despite it all. "Loving Malaysia is like loving a person who doesn't love you back. No matter how hard you try, she will continue rejecting you. But you continue trying."
*        PRAY: Pray for the foreign and nationals workers in this country to grow an ever greater love for this nation and its people then they already have, through walking closely with a God who Himself loves this nation deeply. May the church point people to the real hope of the country, because it demonstrates a true love for this culture and its people who were created in God's image and therefore uniquely reflect it. "The consequences of the absence of these values are devastating and debilitating. Malaysia faces a talent hemorrhage. We're losing our competitiveness. The best and the brightest leave the country to escape this oppressive condition"
*        PRAY: Bring the Malaysian diaspora around the world to Christ in amazing ways. "Why come back? Entahlah. It's a geographical accident that I was born Malaysian, I could have been born as a citizen of any another country. Maybe going back to Malaysia has more to do with emotional attachments than rationality."
*        PRAY: Bring many believing Malaysians back home to influence their country from the inside out. "Nevertheless, when I weigh the evidence, I cannot help but feel negative. My wish of a post-racial society seems like a fantasy - a long walk to a colour-free Malaysia."
*        PRAY: Give many in this country a hope and vision found only in Christ of a multitude of nations worshiping before a single throne and single God.     The original article was first posted on The Malay Mail Online. To follow this colleague's blog see: http://kiteline.wordpress.com/2013/09/17/cry-my-beloved-malaysia/ Email Address: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Valuable Website: www.apeopleloved.com