to Heal the Nations

Abortions in Indonesia

paulpla — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 05:14:08 +0000

Recently, Jakarta police broke on an illegally run clinic on abortions in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta. They arrest dr. Ownie, after arresting a couple who asking for abortions on that clinic. Further investigations shows that the doctor own several clinics, that linked to illegal abortions operations. 3 fetuses have been found buried, so far. Abortions is outlawed for non-medical reason, said the head of Indonesian’s Doctor Ass. (IDI), and the council of ulema (MUI) also forbidden abortions, except for rape case.

One research concluded that “the problem of the illegal practice needs to be given serious attention by the government and society”. The report shows that:

Research done by WHO in 2008 had shown 20-60 percent of abortions in Indonesia were induced abortions and 50 percent of the cases were done in urban areas, he said on Saturday.
In urban areas, 70 percent of the cases were conducted in stealth by medical practitioners, and in rural areas 84 percent of the cases were performed by shaman.
Most of the women on which abortions were conducted were in the 20-29 age bracket.
The reasons women sought an abortion included rape-induced pregnancy, detected genetic defect in the fetus, unfavorable socio-economic conditions, ill health and failed contraception.

My experience in dealing with abortion-related healing cases shows that:

women who perform abortions have deep level trauma and negative emotions, such as guilty feeling and deep shame
persons who survice a failed abortion have deep scars on their spirit relating to identity and self image. More on this.

Related story on abortions in Indonesia:

“analysts say around 2 million Indonesian women each year get an abortion, accounting for around 70-percent of all terminations in South-East Asia”, Indonesia launch Abortions Law reform

10 Symptoms of neglected soul

paulpla — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 10:33:36 +0000

Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

The antonym of spiritual formation is soul neglect – that is the conditions that will arise when we fail to give proper care and regard to our deeper needs. I will use another terms – disorganized heart, disordered soul, heart (and eventually life!). So what is the symptoms of disordered heart? Doug Rumsford (SoulShaping) sums it well:

Low grade depression fever – that is, a heart that is in a state of “coldness and unresponsiveness to spiritual things”. Life is blue, blah and dull, and cannot find relief. There may be activity, but no fire.
Busy but bored – where the schedules are full, but deep in the heart there is withering, shringking feeling, and unable to care deeply or to experience life fully.
Loss control of life’s routine – overwhelmed by the quantity of our schedule
Loss of responsiveness to others – difficult to enjoy relationship with the important people in our lives – and others too.
Withdrawal from leadership and leadership – backing away, resist, refuse or renege responsibilities – that is the ability to respond to a need. Of course it has to be a real need that confirm with our vision and position.
Preoccupation with projects of lesser importance – keeping doing things that are less demanding, and at the same time occupied with unimportant things as a way to back away from the real responsibility
Restlessness and dissatisfaction – loss of contentment and satisfaction
Resurgence of unhealthy habits, diminished impulse control and diminished resistance to temptation – obvious!
Guilt and shame – the unhealthy pattern of false self-image
A hard heart – the habit of repressing and hardening of the heart

In my life experience and ministry experience, these symptoms shows a life that prioritizing the surface of one’s life, and at the price of neglecting the core of our hearts. My conviction is that God interested in our whole being, but He wants a transformation that comes out from the deep of our being, and instead of giving attention to our behaviour, we should give priority to behaviour that maximize our ordered heart.

Lord, give us a courage to change what is not important in our routines, but also to evaluate the beliefs and principles that motivates our attitude and behaviour. May we grow in grace and relationship with you. Amen.

Christians role in corruptions

paulpla — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 18:39:09 +0000

Your rulers are rebels, companions of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. (Isaiah 1:23 NIV)

A friend of mine recently send me a message: There are 27.000 cases of corruption that waiting to be processed by KPK (Indonesia’s anti corruptions enforcement commission). He is praying so that KPK will successful in their fight against corruptions.

That Indonesia is full of corruption is no secret. In fact, Indonesia was #2 most corrupt countries in Asia after Philippine, and #132 of 168 countries in the world, according to 2007 report. And as 2007, there are 967 legislatives and 61 executives that caught in corruption cases. But that is not the worst part for Christians.
The bad news is those who profess as Christian are the people who became the headlines because of the notoriety of their cases. Even now, an elder of a church who also heads a media company are caught in the act of bribing an anti-monopoly enforcement commission.

The same situation happens in Judah in Isaiah’s time. Their conditions are so bad that God said that He despises their offerings and their incense is an abomination, that He hates and weary of their rituals. He even rejected their prayers and supplications (Isa 1:11-15). And He promise to struck and punish them (Isa 1:5-8).

But in the midst of punishment, there is still way out. God still gives them solutions. He said:

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18). Through repentance, obedience and justice, there will be restoration in Judah. As it will in Indonesia, if we repent of our sins, willing and be obedient to Him.

Welcome!

paulpla — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 17:52:40 +0000

Hi, welcome to my blog to Heal the Nation!

This blog come as a response to prophetic words “You will heal the nation.. but for now I will heal you” uttered in a conference in 2006. This blog will focus on healing and spiritual growth issues. It will also serve as a commentary on Indonesia’s events from a Christian and healing ministry perspectives. I hope the discussions and devotionals could add a little
fire to Indonesia’s healing and renewal.