True Knowledge | Faith in Christ | Godly Character
15th Edition/2010
contents Editorial Team
15th Edition/2010
PUBLISHER Yayasan Pendidikan Pelita Harapan
3 Character By Brian Cox
ADVISOR Brian Cox, Aileen H. Riady MANAGING DIRECTOR Hana Herawati EDITOR & TRANSLATOR Budi Alto, Anita Purwanti, Maureen Cox GRAPHIC DESIGNER Iwan Werlin PHOTOGRAPHER Hariyanto, Clifford, Andreas, Jonathan Mauer
4 Traveling through Hardship to Hope By David Michel 5 “And Every Virtue We Possess” By Dan Fennell
6 Building Up Character By Richel Widjaja
7 Because Nothing is Ours By Andrew Darmawan 8 In His Image By Tiurida Hutabarat 9 Life Lessons from a Familiar Figure By Adeline Ika Sani 10 Successful Struggling By Adrian Budiman 11 Poetry Corner: A Diamond in God Eyes & Our Supporter God By Wisnu Sutandi 12 The Redemption that Transforms By Nathaniel Gray Sutanto
Address 2500 Bulevar Palem Raya, Lippo Village Tangerang 15811, Banten Phone: (021) 546 0232-33 Fax: (021) 546 9663 www.sph.edu
COVER
: School Activities
14 Winner of the Provoke! Art Wave T-Shirt Design Competition 15 Year 12 Retreat 18 Junior Unity Cup: January 16th, 2010 By Ian Sungkoro 22 Book Corner
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the only explanation for that good character is the grace of Jesus Christ powerfully working within a person’s life to bring about righteousness. Pretending to have good character simply translates into hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is the gap between who we say we are and who we really are. Our fallen world has twisted the desire for truly Godly character. We have a fascination for style and celebrities, image management and spin-doctoring. Worldliness equates to selfishness. We need to return to a deep appreciation for character and the realization that Christ is the only one who can supply all that is necessary to radically renovate our severely tainted character.
Brian Cox
Head of School SPH International Lippo Village Coordinator of SPH International Schools
CHARACTER Our Light Magazine content this year continues to focus upon our School Theme for 2010/2011, “Through Hardship to Hope”. This in turn arises from Paul’s letter to the Romans where he says, “ … we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Edition One addressed Sufferings and Hardship, Edition Two reflected on Perseverance and this edition has Character as its focus.
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AUL provides us with the context that Character is not something that can be developed without some trials.
We can all recognize and appreciate good character. Every one of us wants to see: integrity rather than deceit; courage winning out over fear; compassion triumphing over indifference; generosity squeezing out greed .… 2 Peter 1:3-4 Romans 8:28-30 3 Peter 1:5-8 1 2
We place a high value on justice and joy. We applaud diligence and decisiveness. We are drawn to beauty and excellence. We delight in love, forgiveness and grace. We yearn to see good character. However, Godly character is something more than a person simply being good; the person who exhibits Godly character, together with all those who observe it, must know that
As a disciple of Jesus, Peter needed radical character transformation. How appropriate it is then for Peter to tell us how that happens. He joyfully relates that the power of Jesus Christ brings everything we need for character transformation. He has given us precious and magnificent promises by which He conforms our character to His own.1 Godly character arises from the state of our redeemed heart. What a reassuring delight it is to know that God is at work, just as He was in Peter, developing in us the character of Jesus. We are …”predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.”2 Then Peter goes on to say, because we have received this great grace and blessing from God which will transform our hearts and character, we are to join with Him to continue to grow in Godly character.3 So we can conclude that we need to strive to have such character at the same time as we continue to depend upon the great grace of God. Blessings, Brian Cox
Why don’t we pray more often for a change in our character rather than a change in our circumstances ....
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examples
Traveling
By David Michel
through Hardship to Hope,
Builds Character The country of Haiti is located on a Caribbean island not far from the United States of America. This republic faces many challenges, including poverty, unemployment and illiteracy rates well above world averages. The world has been horrified by the images of human suffering when the Haitian people endured a 7.0 magnitude earthquake with an epicenter near the capital city of Port-au-Prince. Everywhere people wondered why such a disaster could befall a country that was already one of the poorest and most challenged in the world.
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NDONESIA has experienced many natural disasters over the years, most recently in September 2009, when an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 struck near the city of Padang in Sumatra. Thousands were killed and survivors faced damage and devastation all around them. Just a few years earlier, in 2004, an earthquake with a 9.0 magnitude and centered under the Indian Ocean off the coast of Sumatra created tsunami waves that flooded the island and killed tens of thousands of people. Arguably, one of the most destructive natural disasters to hit Indonesia was the eruption of the Krakatoa volcano in 1883. Krakatoa was located on a volcanic island in the Sunda Strait between the islands of Java and Sumatra. That explosion triggered a tsunami that killed nearly forty thousand people and impacted the whole world as a geological phenomenon. It is not unusual for both survivors and relatives of victims to seek meaning beyond physical explanations for these disasters. The experience or awareness of loss and suffering leads to questions such as, “How could this happen?” and “Why is God so angry?” It is not uncommon for some people to think that God is trying to punish people by bringing tragedy and devastation as a means of punishment for their disobedience. This was the same reaction that many people had during the days of Job when people wondered what he had done wrong to displease God. We read in the Bible that Job had every-
[1] Maxwell, John C., The Maxwell Leadership Bible, page 627
thing–good health, wealth, family, and above all, devotion to God (Job 1:1-5). The Lord had blessed Job as a blameless and upright man, one who feared God and turned away from evil (Job 1:6-12). A close reading of the first chapter of Job indicates that God brings Job to Satan’s attention and gives Satan permission to test him. While Job’s children were having a meal, they were assaulted and killed by one their enemies (Job 1:13-15). Just as a messenger was telling Job about the death of his children, two other messengers came and told him his animals were consumed by fire and some of his servants were attacked and killed by another group of enemies (Job 1:16,17). And then, finally, another messenger came and told him the rest of his servants were killed and his property was destroyed by a great wind (Job 1:8). If that wasn’t enough, Satan struck Job with painful boils that appeared from the bottom of his feet to the top of his head. Everything changed for Job. He lost his property, children, and even his health (Job 2:7). It is remarkable and inspiring that through it all, Job never blamed God for these terrible experiences (Job 1:22). However he grew enormously in his understanding of the sovereignty of God. God enabled Job through his devastating experiences to grow in trust and therefore in integrity. He was not only an honest person, but he preserved high moral standards, even when his whole world was falling apart. Those closest to Job challenged him to turn away from God, and yet he did just the opposite:
David Michel
Principal SPH Kemang Village
1. He renewed his perspective and clung to the justice and character of God. 2. He released his past and was willing to let go of what he had lost. 3. He remembered his purpose and realized that he existed only to glorify God. [1] It’s hard for us to understand why tragedies occur, particularly so in the face of horrifying events such as earthquakes or tsunamis. Yet even in our lives, we can be certain that there will be times when we, like Job, will be tested as we respond to personal loss and trials. How will our character grow and develop in response to these challenges? Will our faith be strengthened as we depend on God? Will we survive our trials and move forward, continuing to seek God’s will for our lives? Will we remember that we were created uniquely and intentionally and for the single purpose of glorifying God? Despite being an Old Testament character, Job’s hope is in Jesus (I know that my Redeemer lives … I shall see God Job 19:25-27). We need to be steadfast in our hope in Christ and our trust in God, and to continually demonstrate that we have a different perspective based upon our faith in the great Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. As we embrace the journey of hardship to hope, our character grows according to God’s plan. The story of Job is one of ultimate hope. In the end, Job was blessed by God in a more bountiful manner than he had experienced prior to the tragedies and loss that he endured during his period of suffering.
examples
By Dan Fennell
Biblical Foundations Coordinator SPH International Lippo Village
“And Every Virtue We Possess” “All my fresh springs shall be in Thee.” Psalm 87:7 (P.B.V.)
Our Lord never patches up our natural virtues, He re-makes the whole man on the inside. “Put on the new man”, i.e., see that your natural human life puts on the ‘clothing’ that is in keeping with the new life. The life God plants in us develops its own virtues, not the virtues of Adam but of Jesus Christ. Watch how God will wither up your confidence in natural virtues after sanctification, and in any power you have, until you learn to draw your life from the reservoir of the resurrection life of Jesus. Thank God if you are going through a drying-up experience!
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HE sign that God is at work in us is that He corrupts confidence in the natural virtues, because they are not promises of what we are going to be, but remnants of what God
created man to be. We will cling to the natural virtues, while all the time God is trying to get us into contact with the life of Jesus Christ which can never be described in terms of the natural virtues. It is the saddest thing to see people in the service of God depending on that which the grace of God never gave them, depending on what they have by the accident of heredity. God does not build up our natural virtues and transfigure them, because our natural virtues can never come anywhere near what Jesus Christ wants. No natural love, no natural patience, no natural purity can ever come up to His demands. But as we bring every bit of our bodily life into harmony with the new life which God has put in us, He will exhibit in us the virtues that were characteristic of the Lord Jesus. “And every virtue we possess Is His alone” http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/my-utmost-for-his-highest/
OSWALD CHAMBERS (1874-1917) was a Scottish minister and teacher whose teachings on the life of faith and abandonment to God have endured to this day. His devotional book My Utmost for His Highest is a Christian classic. Oswald lived what he taught. Converted while a teenager under the ministry of Charles Haddon Spurgeon, he founded and became principal of the Bible Training College in Clapham, London, where he lectured until the school was closed in 1915 because of World War I. In October 1915 he sailed for Zeitoun, Egypt (near Cairo), where he ministered to troops from Australia and New Zealand as a YMCA chaplain. He died there November 15, 1917, following surgery for a ruptured appendix.
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Each and every one of us will go through hardships in our life. Without going through hardship, we will not be able to grow in terms of our faith in God and we would be fond of leaning on our own understanding rather than leaning in Him.
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OR the past fourteen years of my life, I have gone through various hardships, for example in school, with friends and in my family. At times, the hardship I have encountered has been extremely hard to cope with and also it has been tough at times choosing the right pathway. Thankfully I sought wisdom from God, and it has been given. God has always given me tasks that are challenging and intolerable. I guess these types of challenges are given to be able to go through different types of experiences in life so that I will be able to grow to become a better person and have more faith in Him. I know there are times when God tries to challenge us to see the capability of our faith in Him and so hardship occurs for a purpose. To be truthfully honest, I myself have gone through hardships through which I have learned and grown. For instance, I had to sit a major test. For me, doing a test is the greatest fear I have in school because even though I have studied and prepared hard for the test, I rarely achieve a good score. I think that this is an issue called ‘anxiety’. I am really nervous just by looking at the test situation where everyone is separated and we can only concentrate on our own paper. I regret that this happens to me because all the information I have studied just totally vanishes. I continue to pray for help to overcome these fears. Second of all, my friends have various personalities and characteristics. They can be sporty, funny, academically smart, supportive, etc. At times, the group of friends I have also encounters difficulties. One of the problems can be backstabbing. I have experienced this when my friends talked about me behind my back. They pretended to be nice in front of me, but they actually said nasty things about me behind my back, which I think is disrespectful and is not showing tolerance. I
Building up
Character By Richel Widjaja (Grade 8.1, SPH International Lippo Village)
prayed to God, asking him to guide my path in life, and He answered my prayers. I was given the strength to confront that person and from then on we have had a smooth friendship. I really think that confronting a person is the right thing to do and I thank God that the path he led me was a right path that made me realize about the truth. Thirdly, I come from a big family, two elder brothers, three elder sisters and my parents. I know there is no such thing as a perfect family in this world and I am grateful that the problems that occur are not major ones. They are common problems which are encountered by most families such as agreeing on different things and having different points of view. For instance, when my sisters think that they are doing the right thing, my parents will disagree with them. Also, the hardship I have encountered in my family is that during the fall of 2008, my sister Christi had to go to Seattle to continue her studies. It really hit me hard to hear about her leaving and I was not able to get over the
fact for a few weeks. My sister Christi and I have been extremely close and the age gap between us is not that great therefore she understands me the most and we have a similar personality. Even though it was hard to accept the fact that she was leaving, I prayed to God and in the end I understood that she has a purpose in life and one of the purposes is to succeed in her studies. There were some tears when we took her to the airport, but then I realized that we will meet in a few months and she’s just a phone call away. I was also thankful that my parents gave me a Blackberry so that I would be able to stay in touch with her, sending pictures and chatting. So in conclusion, I have learned that God is a gracious God and that the hardships we encounter in life are just a test. For me, they have made me a stronger person. Advice I once received was to rejoice in the Lord through tough times, having more faith in Him and seeking wisdom from Him as He has promised to be with us always.
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Because Nothing is Ours
many other attempts at self-glorification, it failed. I ended up being more insecure than I started out. It all changed within the course of this last year.
By Andrew Darmawan (Grade 12, SPH International Lippo Village)
Recently, I had the opportunity to attend Harvard Model Congress Asia. It was a very worthwhile experience not because of some amazing recognition I received but because I learned two things about grace: it is not to be abused and that it should not be expected.
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T may seem like such an obvious concept, but I find it profound. Again and again, God has bestowed upon me grace. I can’t stop thinking about it! I believe that the way God intercedes in each and every one of our lives through grace is essential to building up character. That may seem a rather sweeping statement for an 18 year old to make, but I strongly believe it. I struggle with the sin of sloth. Every time I read Proverbs, the verses that stick out most are verses that read: “A sluggard does not plow in season ... Do not love sleep or you will grow
poor ... The sluggard’s craving will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work.” Harsh? I’d describe them more as being extremely accurate. It’s so funny how God intercedes in life. I am at the moment going through a cycle of depravity and desperation followed by grace and restoration; depravity and desperation followed by grace and restoration; etc. The best part about these verses are that they come at a time where laziness is at its pinnacle in my life. Yes, it may sound like bad publicity coming from the student council president but it is the truth. Going back to my story from HMCA. For a long time, I’ve been really insecure about my speaking ability. I tried many things to be able to prove to my peers that I indeed had some sort of talent in that area. Of course, like
Only now have I realized how many public speaking and liberal arts sorts of events I have participated in. For most, if not all of them, there was one factor that made those experiences similar–my blatant laziness followed by grace. At HMCA Singapore, I spent the nights playing computer games (Rise of Nations) on my friend’s laptop until 1 am instead of doing in depth research on income inequality or carbon taxes. I was ashamed of myself, but I did not let my past misgivings affect the task at hand. The grace I received was in the form of my ability to think critically on the spot. I’ve always liked editing things because I give reasonably good feedback. I realized that in debates, I always did best when I was 3rd speaker. I have this tendency of hating to miss out on things. Back at HMCA, I spoke several times, but it was only at several definitive moments when sparks of brilliance came out. Even I couldn’t believe what I was saying. The right words just came out at the right time sometimes. Honestly, I always feel bad after those moments simply because I cannot attribute that to myself. It could be nothing but grace. My human pride and ego resents that grace but ultimately, through reflecting and pondering on the many instances where grace has abounded, I can do nothing but accept the facts. I’ve been humbled by being in the presence of the almighty God and I’m not ashamed to say it. Go ahead and curse me for being too religious or too conservative. Trials and hardship are inevitable, but as I deal with this sluggard-ness and this egoistic mindset of mine, I can trust that He will be there to bring me back down on my knees at the very precise and perfectly timed moments where I need to be. Soli Deo Gloria.
“Man can glory in nothing, because nothing is ours” −St. Augustine
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In His Image By Tiurida Hutabarat
Oysters produce a kind of special substance called nacre. The substance will work if it comes into contact with things such as sand or a small parasite. The incoming object is then coated with a thin layer of nacre. Gradually layers form, until the foreign body is wrapped perfectly in a shell, that we call pearls.
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HE way that struggling and suffering comes into our lives to bring change, pressure or stress, is similar to how sand, or a small parasite, gets into the oyster. Hardships force us out of balance physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually. This can be an unpleasant time when we often ask and question whether God is caring and full of power. It is often a period when we feel very helpless.
Some people use these times to grow and this shows in their lives, just like the oyster produces nacre with beautiful colours to form a very precious pearl which is shiny and strong.
However, some allow difficulties to regulate and determine the rest of their lives. Some go
out of control and others retreat. Interestingly not all oysters produce pearls. Research shows only about twenty percent of oysters successfully produce beautiful, first class pearls. Pearl formation is similar to the formation of a strong character, a well-tested one, made in the image and the reflection of God, that makes God breath a sigh and say at the beginning of human creation, “What a beauty!” But the Fall, in the Garden of Eden, made men sin. The Fall brought pain, sweat and hard labor. Sin overwhelmed us then covered and trapped our initial beauty turning us into lonely creatures. The Creator turned His face away and they could not be reunited. Transforming us back to the initial image is the work of the Holy Spirit and desired by our Heavenly Father. This is the beginning of living for God rather than self. We are never going to feel comfortable again with our old image. The yearning of the Father in heaven, his invitation to return to the initial image of man, looks different in each individual, but is the same thread “to suffer for him”, to suffer for the sake of achieving his image and likeness (Philippians 1:29).
Paul, the apostle, who knew and experienced what it means to suffer for the sake of achieving the likeness of God, said in Romans 5:3-5: “... we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produced perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Just like the formation of pearls need the irritations so do we in order to form our character so we can rejoice in our sufferings. We can be glad knowing that His good plan will continue to process us. He has started a good work in us and He will continue and finish it until we go to heaven (Philippians 1:6). Our family suffered when our son Immanuel was born with cerebral palsy. He was called home to be with our Heavenly Father in June 2007. During his life, our beloved son could not see, walk and speak a single word but we all learned so much from him and this poem is dedicated to him.
Here in this House So many books read, songs sung so you could say, “Mama” The words you said were like the sound of angels Which we tried hard to understand So many prayers that your shoes would wear out faster Because it would mean you could walk Your shoes are still wrapped in their box Here in this house But in the Father’s house We will hear you sing and we will say “Melodious voice son” We will see you dancing with no need for shoes But I will ask if you need new shoes? Then you will answer, “No Mama, because now I can fly? Here in this house
examples
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Life Lessons from a Familiar Figure
By Adeline Ika Sani
Every individual who has been a part of my life has touched it and left a mark—be it a footprint, a handprint, or even a camouflaged thumbprint. Some marks are big, and others small; some marks are bright and new, while others are bleak and dull, lost in time. Some marks are permanent enough that they linger for years, watching the others gradually fade away. The remarkable ones though, are so deep that they have planted themselves within my mind, heart and soul.
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Y father’s marks are the biggest and deepest. Throughout my upbringing, his words and actions have shaped me into an individual with character, fighting spirit and a vision for life.
I can honestly say that my father is a man with a high degree of intellect. His accomplishments in his recent graduate studies deserve applause, yet he reminds me that I should not let academic achievements, classroom performance and marks on a diploma define who I am. To him, intelligence without character is more than just useless—it can be highly destructive. Therefore, he constantly tells me that I should not merely sharpen my intellectual capacity, but consciously strive to develop my emotional sensitivity and social skills. By being a truly sociable figure and smart speaker, he has demonstrated this principle throughout his own life, and triggered me to do the same. Although the International Baccalaureate program has been a truly demanding and time-consuming course, I have not let my life revolve solely around it. Remembering my father’s words, I have been involved in various community and extracurricular activities to balance out my social and academic life. Social interactions through my involvement in the Student Council, volleyball team, orchestra, choir and tutoring a fourth grader has developed my character more than a textbook ever can. My father’s constant reminder has driven me to discover that many of the most worthwhile lessons are attained outside the classroom, and that character is a fundamental element that should progressively be developed. I admire my father because he is an honest man who lives with integrity. He has the courage to stand up for what is right, even if it means going against the majority. He never tries to protect me from bitter truths by welcoming me into the land of fairytales, rather he trains me to deal with the unpleasant realities of everyday life. He gives me the confidence to be proud and grateful for who I am, and the bravery to live without a mask. His words are congruent with his actions, which sparks my admiration and triggers me to live in the same way. As a risk taker, my father’s principle is that, “You will never know until you try.” Coming to Jakarta, a metropolitan city he had never
Adeline Ika Sani
Grade 12 SPH Lippo Village
visited before from a suburban area in South Sumatera to pursue his undergraduate studies is a concrete example of his risktaking spirit. I adapted this mentality when I pursued a scholarship to Singapore over two years ago, and when I ran for positions in the Student Council. I trained myself to eliminate insecurities, utilize opportunities and give everything my best shot. His motivation drove me to try, and his support strengthened me as I persevered. Furthermore, my father’s hardworking personality has developed a fighting spirit within me. Exhaustion and perspiration are never absent from his daily life as he struggles to pursue only the best in his career, and ultimately, provide the best for his family. My father does not reward me with designer handbags or the latest gadgets, but he fights to provide me with the best formal education he can, coupled with priceless spiritual nurturing, good parenting and valuable life lessons—which are much more worthwhile than any other materialistic gift I could ever wish for. Consequently, I have been fighting to carry out my responsibilities the best I can, maximize my capabilities and optimally develop my potential—to show my father that he is not fighting aimlessly. Above all, my father is a man who lives with a vision, and he sees things far into the future. Consequently, he has taught me to always set “short-term goals for a long-term purpose.” “Every time you want to do something, ask yourself why you are doing it,” he said. My father has taught me to live with a purpose, and in congruence with my strengths, passion and interest, my dream is to heal people, either physically by becoming a biomedical scientist, or mentally by growing up to become a psychologist. My father is a wonderfully mature, humorous, determined and inspirational figure in my life. As his daughter, I can openly and proudly praise him for teaching and training me in ways that I believe he may never have imagined. I admire his spirit, love and fight for life—and that same spirit flames within me, right now.
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Successful Struggling I believe that struggling has great merit. A person rarely looks on hardship as a positive experience and usually perceives it as a very negative aspect in their life. I used to believe that struggling causes many individuals to stutter and fumble but I have come to realize that it in fact has the reverse effect. It usually leads to success.
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HEN I was six years old my parents were ecstatic that I was accepted into a prodigious Primary School. I felt very happy, but not for long. Pressure started to surface as I was expected to perform consistently well. I was forced to endure extra lessons which led me to believe that every day was sadistic torture as I watched my happiness and freedom disappear. Time came to enter High School. The advanced international curriculum equipped students to study overseas. Most of the coursework was in English and every academic year the workload increased. Teachers are trained to encourage student’s creativity through qualitative reasoning and critical thinking but with these high expectations, students often find themselves pressured and have difficulty in meeting the expectations. I learned to overcome difficulties and the coursework became relatively simple as the academic foundation was built up gradually. The high demands grew as the students moved up and as a consequence the burden seemed light although the achievement level is high. It remained a struggle though to balance time, energy and motivation.
Last fall, I was struggling from intense pressure as I adapted to my new life in the USA. I had a growing sense of uneasiness with the change in environment. I was not comfortable with the American grading system which was based on a fast paced quarterly foundation;. I was also very homesick. Deciding not to escape from this problem, I stuck to my belief. It was an opportunity for me to learn, to grow and develop and to gain experiences from living in a different culture. As time has gone by, I have started to cope with the pressure and my struggling has diminished. I am growing up. A few months ago I received a surprising phone call from my cousin who was depressed that he had failed his Physics course and it had to be retaken. He asked for my advice and I told him, “Think of struggling as an opportunity to mature and remember that there is always a positive end to every struggle.� He did what I suggested and made it through with that mindset. Now, he is neither afraid of failure nor traumatized by the incident. More importantly, he treated his pressure as a basis of achieving something greater in the future. As I step towards the next phase of life I realize that I am closer to my next struggle. But I am not afraid, because I have come to understand that it will eventually give me something new to learn, which will send me further down the path of success. Adrian Budiman SPH Lippo Village Graduate 2008
poetry corner
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A Diamond in God’s Eyes God does not take interest with what you have Or what you have done for Him Actually it’s all Him who is at work within you You want to boast – it does not come from your own strength Everything good comes from Him alone He who made you You are unable to do any good thing To Him is all the glory alone Who you are is the important thing to Him Who is His best friend on earth? What you do will not impress Him But the fruit of the spirit That He grows and produces in you Because you are in Him And He is in You With all the suffering He allows you to walk through You grow up and also have endurance from hardship Not growing old to be stubborn and antique God is not a collector of antiques Walking with Him is dynamic A whole life process Don’t stop growing up in faith
Our Supporter God
Let us do the best and give Him the rest All is because of His grace alone We can be perfect in His eyes And good character is the product While hardship and endurance is the process
There is a time in our life A test will come A challenging time We say, “God help me” God says, “Pass through it You can do it Don’t give up my friend Put these words in your heart”
In the end we can’t control ourselves We gladly let our lives be led by the spirit The song we sing is “I surrender all“ And still we do our part in humble obedience
What man is there, who if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to those that ask him?
That will make Him proud of you Because you understand His heart A diamond in God’s precious sight His best friends on earth In bad times carry His cross In good times we will inherit His kingdom And all His blessings
But when you think He is not there helping you He is still your best supporter With all His enthusiasm He will shout and say, “Come on my friend You can do it Your reward is waiting”
By: Wisnu Sutandi
SPH Lippo Village Teacher
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The Redemption that Transforms
By Nathaniel Gray Sutanto
I have only been a Christian for 17 months. As a young redeemed Christian, I find it always profitable to look back and see how God has transformed my life. A sound theology and anthropology, understood by not only the head but also, by God’s grace, the heart, will result in radical reformations in one’s character; I am eternally and unimaginably thankful that God has done exactly this in my life.
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was once self-sufficient. I was a Pharisee who did not see my need for grace. At the same time I did not have any kind of meaningful motivation that compelled me to excel in school or life in general. It was only when God opened my heart and caused me to understand and to see that I am a sin-sick, hell-bent, condemnation-deserving walking corpse, redeemed by grace through the death of Christ that I found the single all-sufficient purpose to live and flourish, thus transforming me. It was not long until I realized that I was not improved by God. No. I was changed entirely. I am not the same person as I was before. It now became clear to me why the Christian is called a “bornagain” person.
In terms of thinking, God has reformed my mind so that I now take pleasure in quality thinking and depth of conversations. He has made me see that to think well is not just to think critically about anything, but to think critically about what really matters. In a world where everything will perish, it is only logical that what truly matters is the eternal. Anything else is just a distraction. By God’s grace, He has caused me to love sound theology. If you would have told me two years ago that I would be reading and enjoying books by puritans and philosophers, I probably would have laughed in your face and asked you who puritans were. I hated reading. I hated studying. Now I spend my weekends in books. How did this happen? The only explanation I can think of is God. But let’s take this even further. Christianity has changed the way I view everything else around me. It is as if God has given me a new kind of a vision that I cannot shake away. I now see God in everything, and in every situation, I see Him at work everywhere. C.S. Lewis says that Christianity is like the sunrise; because of it we see everything else clearly. I believe there is profound truth to this statement. We were made for Him, through Him, and by Him. I no longer see the world as being made for me. I now see that I am not the main character but merely an extra. I now understand that I will not find meaning in serving me but in serving my Creator. I was made for that purpose. As the deer pants for the water, so does my soul long for the true water.
Nathaniel Gray Sutanto SPH Lippo Village Alumni
alumni
Insomnia is an old friend of mine, and occasionally, it still comes to visit me. However the reason for my sleeplessness is no longer the same. It is no longer despair or thoughts of suicide that keep me awake but instead a different kind of fear and dissatisfaction; a fear of despondency and presumption on the grace of God and a dissatisfaction with my own sanctification. I find myself abhorring my own heart. No longer is the question “Why do I live?” but “Why are my desires not aligned with Yours?” He’s shared with me His vision and is continually conditioning me to see and desire things His way. I find that I struggle the most when I follow my own desires and not His. I used to weep when my own selfishness wasn’t fulfilled. I now pray that God makes me weep for the things that make Him weep. My progress in the Faith has not been easy. Along the way God has graciously ripped away the things that I thought I loved more
than Him. I find myself too easily pleased with His creations that I forget to regard the best possible Good; the Creator Himself. Painful as it is, God knows that He is the only One who can give me true comfort and satisfaction, anything else is just an idol. The one prayer that I fear God would actually answer is that He takes away anything that I prize higher then Himself. But what an amazing gift this is! Think about how irrational it is for me to complain for God to take away my pride (or whatever it is that I prized higher than Him) and in return, to give me Himself; the all-powerful, all-wise, all knowing, all-loving Creator. However, it appalls me time and time again that I can so easily revert to my selfish ways. With all that God has done for me and knowing all of who He is, how can I not be transformed? However it is not me, but God who works in me. My faith is a gift from God, by grace, so that I may never ever boast. I
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realized that the phrase “a good Christian” is an oxymoron. If I am ever good, why would I ever need a Savior? He reforms me to become a whole new person. He is continually shedding away my sinful nature and renewing His Spirit in me every day. I rest assured in knowing that one day my sanctification will be completed, and until that day comes, to live IS Christ and to die is gain. Glory to Him, and only to Him, forever and ever. Nathaniel Gray Sutanto “I saw that God was at the bottom of it all, and that He was the Author of my faith, and so the whole doctrine of grace opened up to me, and from that doctrine I have not departed to this day, and I desire to make this my constant confession, I ascribe my change wholly to God.” −Charles Haddon Spurgeon
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special report
PROVOKE! ART WAVE: T-SHIRT DESIGN COMPETITION
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ELICIA began the competition by sending her design to the Provoke! Magazine where hers and hundreds of other designs were voted on-line by the viewers. Felicia’s design came up as one of the top thirty which brought her to the final round conducted at the Australian Embassy, Jakarta. In the final round juries that comprised of the Australian Education International (AEI) and Provoke! Magazine representatives selected ten best designs and each of the ten selected participants must deliver a short speech explaining his/her design. Felicia made up the number and when her turn arrived she confidently explained her design before the juri members and audience. Moreover, she convinced the juri by giving reasons of why her design should win the competition.
Felicia’s design (right) came out as one of the two winners of the competition
After about twenty minutes of waiting, the winners of the competition were ready to be announced starting from the runners up. When the time arrived for the winner to be called everyone waited anxiously. Praise the Lord that Felicia’s design came out as one of the two winners of the competition. The Australian ambassador for Indonesia, Bill Farmer, handed out the prize which was five weeks to live and study in Sydney, Australia with all expenses paid. Congratulation Felicia.
Felicia
SPH International Lippo Cikarang Grade 10
WINNER OF THE PROVOKE! ART WAVE T-SHIRT DESIGN COMPETITION
special report
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Taking a large group of senior students away for three days is usually asking for a few nervous moments but thankfully the Class of 2010 showed real strength of character in many areas.
Year 12 Retreat A
NYER is a beautiful coastal location where it is easy to reflect upon God’s magnificent Creation. However the place we stay in is a non luxurious facility because the focus in not on our comfort. It is a chance to focus on the important things in life, God, His wonderful creation and our relationships with each other. These are some of the comments that were written once we returned to school:
“The retreat was extraordinary ... I never expected it to be that moving and changing. I never thought that it would be a time of sharing and confession.”
“We laughed, cried and strengthened the bonds between us.”
“I believe God moved a lot of people, changed some, gave strength to others and blessed many.” “I learned to be honest with myself, my closest friends and my teachers.”
“There were times on the retreat that were very touching as doors were opened that were once closed.”
“The one-on-one conversation gave me time to think and share how I have been going in life.”
“By realizing my limitations and weaknesses, I was able to see how essential God is in my life. I need to be dependent on Him for everything.”
“The thoughtful discussion about profound things really made it.”
“We heard many stories that I will always remember.”
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special report “This retreat signified a real maturing in character as we questioned our beliefs, friends and philosophy of life.”
“Painting a stone was a really unique feature and I will come back in the future and remember.”
“The retreat was an eyeopener for most of us and hopefully a turning point.” “I really enjoyed the optional worship session as God’s presence was very strong.”
“Surrounded by God, love, friendship and nature ... What more could we ask for?” “I loved the theme of Living Stones and know that we must live out our faith in everyday life.”
“I especially enjoyed my one-on-one ... it was good to reflect with someone older in our community.”
“‘I realized that we must not allow our insecurities to hinder our potential.”
“I realized that I need to think more about things that are important long term, rather than what others think of me.”
“Mr. and Mrs. SPH Pageant was great fun.”
“I now feel a closer bond with friends and am really afraid of losing them.”
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“I will treasure the moments we had and they will become important memories.”
“I feel that I truly belong to the family of God.’” “I came to understand other people’s perspectives on life.” “There were lots of opportunities to express ourselves and to be honest and I learned to be more outspoken.”
‘’The water wasn’t cold, the sun was shining. Everyone was happy.” “The retreat enlightened me about the importance of relationship.”
As you can tell from the comments it was a significant experience for all of us. To see and hear the students worshipping in music was inspirational. To listen to the honest testimonies from young people who are trying to work out their worldview was very moving as they made themselves very vulnerable by talking about their struggles, doubts and fears. The one-onone conversations with adults were very beneficial and there was lots of time to relax with friends. The main theme was based on 1 Peter 2:5 which says, “ ... you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Our desire is that this may be true as these young people move out of the SPH community very soon.
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special report
JUNIOR UNITY CUP January 16th, 2010 By Ian Sungkoro (Grade 10, SPH International Lippo Village)
It was a bright shiny morning; 7 o’clock to be precise. All of the Social Outreach Committee members were gathered and started to get ready for the day. By around 7:30 everything was ready and everyone was ready to bring the schools in. Soon enough, the early birds came and registered, then went to one of the fields to start warming up. And then, after 8:00, 11 out of 12 schools came, and the Junior Unity Cup started, since Kusuma Bangsa forfeited the game.
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FTERWARDS, the briefing was about to start, so everyone gathered in front of the stands and Armando started to welcome and review the rules with the schools. Armando then read out the pool divisions one more time and sent them off to the fields to get ready for the first games to start. A few moments afterwards, the games started; and the cheering started. The games were exciting and fun, both for the schools, coaches and for the organizers. After three games were finished, Pool C scores were immediately counted, as Pool C only had three schools instead of four. Then, the teams were playing just for fun, and they seemed to really enjoy this; and then, they played penalties, and spent the rest of the time resting for the finals.
special report
After all six games were over, they all took a break, and everyone got something to eat. Everyone was eating well and resting just to get ready for the final three games and the relays afterwards. Soon, the finals started, and it was a blast. The schools were very competitive and the game was really tight. Soon enough though, it ended. And just before the second game started, a really heavy rain poured down. Some people went under the tent for cover, however, most people (mostly the players and coaches) preferred to stay outside in the rain. The second and third games were as tight as the first, and they played it under the rain, and it was epic. Afterwards, all the schools retired and took a rest; but soon, came the relays. The relays were played in teams, and they were very competitive. The runners weren’t that far from each other and they were straining their muscles to the point where they were gritting their teeth. But, it didn’t last so long, as soon, it ended, and the schools retired to take one final rest, before the closing ceremony.
The schools were very competitive and the game was really tight
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First Place to Kampung Bambu 2
The closing ceremony started just after the rain ended, and it started with thank you and applause. And then we announced the winners; First Place to Kampung Bambu 2; Second Place to Binong 3 and Third Place to Kampung Bambu 1. Then, came the MVP ‌ Jemas from Kampung Bambu 2! Afterwards, we gave out the gifts for each school and gave everyone a packet of bread and drinks.
I personally think that overall, this was a really good event. Although the rain was harsh, everyone had fun, and the rain most probably added to the fun. Other than the children, it seems that everyone also learnt at least a little something through this event. Everyone could definitely see, that these children were extremely happy, and that for them, it was a highlight of their year.
The Social Outreach Committee Members
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book corner WHO AM I REALLY Christian Character Development Series Group, ©2000. ISBN: 0764421328 Todays teenagers face more choices than any teenagers before them have. They are asked to interprete, evaluate and make moral decisions within a culture that ignores morality and changes rapidly. The choices your teenagers make today have eternal consequences, can they keep their faith? In this we can learn how we can begin by taking them on a journey−a journey toward stronger, more Christlike character, so they will discover the importance of living out their faith in everything they do. This book teach us how to being part of God’s family about using Gods gifts and about looking to God for your future.
CHARACTER IS DESTINY Inspiring Stories Every Young Person Should Know and Every Adult Should Remember By John McCain Random House, ©2005. ISBN: 1-4000-6412-0 God has given us our life, shown us how to use it, but left it to us to dispose of as we chose. Our Character will determine how well or how poorly we chose. It is your character, and your character alone that will make your life happy or unhappy. That is all that really passes for destiny. And you chose it. Our character is a lifelong project and perhaps the older we are, and the more fixed or shortcomings are, the more we can use inspiration to encourage our escape from the restraints of our deficiencies. Your best teachers, of course, are your parents. From their example, even more than their instruction, you will first learn to love virtue. Their responsibility to you is much more than to feed, clothe and house to you. In this book, John McCain, proves how courage can change lives and improve the world; i.e. Winston Churchill, who, in renowned eighteenth remark, counseled schoolboys to “never give up”; a nun formerly a comfortable Beverly Hills house work, who works with prisoners in Mexico worst jails.
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