Christmas 2007 Web

E
editorial —————————————————————————————
Shalom, saudara-saudari yang dikasihi dalam Kristus. Hari Natal

sudah hampir tiba, dan tentunya kita akan menerima ban-
yak berkat natal ini. Bukan hanya di natal ini kita akan menerima berkat, tetapi
selama sepanjang tahun kita telah menerima banyak berkat dari Tuhan: berkat
dikaruniakan seorang anak, berkat diberikan pekerjaan baru, pasangan hidup,
dan sebagainya. Hal-hal ini tentu bagus adanya karena kita bisa menikmatinya
dan mensyukuri kebaikan Tuhan. Setelah menerima berkat-berkat daripada
Tuhan, kita juga harus ingat kalau kita tetap perlu besandar kepada Tuhan:
bersandar kepada Tuhan dalam membesarkan anak kita, dalam pekerjaan kita,
dan dalam membentuk keluarga yang baru dengan pasangan hidup kita. Kalau
kita tidak bersandar kepada Tuhan dalam berkat-berkat yang kita terima, ber-
kat kita akan menjadi beban kita; misalnya, sewaktu adanya kekacauan dalam
keluarga kita, sebenarnya yang se-maksimum bisa kita lakukan adalah berdoa.
Kalau kita bergantung pada kekuatan sendiri, kita tidak akan bisa memperbaiki
keadaan keluarga kita bahkan kita hanya bisa membuatnya lebih kacau. Berta-
bah kacaunya keaadaan itu akan menjadi beban yang berat untuk kita. Kalau
kita berdoa dan bersandar kepada kekuatan Tuhan, Tuhan sendiri yang akan
mengubah istri, suami, anak ataupun orang tua kita.
Hal berdoa pun dalam meminta haruslah dengan yang benar. Tuhan pasti men-
dengarkan doa orang benar karena orang benar tidak akan meminta yang salah,
“… doa orang benar didengar-Nya”(Amsal 15:29). Jadi sebelum meminta sesuatu
haruslah kita menintrospeksi diri kalau kita adalah orang yang benar dan layak
meminta daripada-Nya. Berhati-hatilah karena kalau kita salah meminta dan doa
kita tidak dijawab-jawab oleh Tuhan, kita sendiri yang akan merasakan lelah.
Kelelahan seperti ini kadang bisa membuat kita sangsi (doubt) sama Tuhan
didalam hati kita sehingga pertanyaan-pertanyaan yang tidak layak akan mun-
cul. Kita akan menanyakan kenapa doa kita tidak dijawab-jawab kalau Tuhan
benar-benar memperhatikan kita 24/7? Tidakah dia tahu apa saja kesusahan-
kesusahan yang kita alami?
Saudara-saudari yang dikasihi dalam Kristus. Kristus yaitu Tuhan sendiri telah
datang sekitar 2000 tahun yang lalu. Dia sangat menyayangi saudara dan sau-
AGAPE — Christmas 2007 1
dari sehingga Dia telah merelakan diri untuk
lahir kedalam dunia yang kelam ini untuk kita
semua. Janganlah kita tertangkap lagi doubt AGAPE
CHRISTMAS 2007
sama Tuhan ketika Dia datang yang kedua
kalinya. Kalau kita merasa doubt sudah ada
didepan pintu hati kita, hal yang pertama-tama
harus kita lakukan adalah berdoa minta Tuhan
tolong arahkan pikiran dan hati kita kejalan
yang benar. Doubt adalah salah satu tanda
adanya krisis diantara hubungan kita dengan
Tuhan. Maka dari itu hal kedua yang perlu kita
Penasehat
lakukan adalah membaca alkitab dan memper- Ev. Wilson Suwanto
baiki hubungan kita dengan Tuhan. Daniel Loe
Editor
Debbie Wang
Biarlah berkat-berkat yang akan kita terima Janice Atmadja
Jocelyn Tindage
natal ini ataupun yang sudah kita terima sepa- Linda Zheng
njang tahun ini bisa kita nikmati dan syukuri Merisa Halim
Pency Kinnard
tanpa berasa beban.
Ilustrator/Fotografer/Layout
Alvin Sugianto
Have a Merry Christmas!!! Buddy Yusuf
Eva Leony
Irma Prasetyo
Tjandra Afandi
Vincent Yobeanto
Kontributor
Redaksi Rev. Kristianto Hosea
Ev. Wilson Suwanto
Bina Kusnohadi
David Wangsa
Gamas Sugiarto
Maria Pramudito
Printing
Semiwaty Oei
E-mail Redaksi
agape_gii@yahoo.com
Produksi GII Azusa

539 N. Sunset Ave.
Azusa, CA 91702
Telp: (626) 812-0326
http://lax.gii-usa.org
2 AGAPE — Christmas 2007

C content —————————————————————————
atau memberikannya kepada redaksi.

Silahkan mengirimnya ke agape_gii@yahoo.com
berhubungan dengan Agape atau GII Azusa?
Anda punya usul, kritik, saran, atau apapun yang
focus: Overcoming
DOUBT
05 Book Review: The Search for Significance
07 Poem: Lord
08 Article: Doubt
11 Article: Sex or Lust
16 Article: Fakta Tentang Saksi Jehovah
19 Role Model: Ruth
30 Tips: 5 Ways - To Be Patient and Kind During Holiday Shopping
31 Cerpen: Winter
39 Parenting: Baby 1st Christmas
50 Christmas Wishlist
52 Children's Corner
54 Menu: Ayam Bakar Limau & Pumpkin Cheesecake
i n e !
56 Humor
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The Search
for
Significance
Author: Robert S. McGee
“An accurate, biblical self-concept contains both

strength and humility, both sorrow over sin and joy
about forgiveness, a deep sense of our need for God’s
grace and a deep sense of the reality of God’s grace.”
(McGee, “The Search for Significance”)
The Search for Significance by Robert S. McGee believer who is in much need of revival. It is easy to
is a book explaining the meaning of our lives in the understand and enlightening as well as comforting.
Christian point of view. The death of Jesus Christ Overall a great read! This book not only re-directs the
affirms our significance to God which gives meaning life and mind of the wandering non-believer or the
to our existence. McGee stresses that the meaning of weary Christian. It also helps them overcome the daily
life can only be found in Jesus Christ. Only God can struggles that come with living in this world of flesh.
replenish our empty spirits because after all, we are
His creation and He knows us best. I highly recom- For example, the issue of loneliness was discussed
mend this book for both the non-believer and the as a social epidemic that plagues the world today. Un-

like other worldly books that offer methods to relieve 1:10, Paul drew the line between seeking to please
that are only temporary, McGee asserts that only God God and please others. We can not please both. We
can provide everlasting comfort. please one or the other.”

This book’s strongest point is that it really is biblically- God’s answer to this is Justification and Reconcili-
based. Verses from the Bible are given under every ation. Both of these are Biblical doctrines which are
instruction to emphasize that the instruction was then discussed in depth by McGee. (If you want to
God-ordained. Every step-by-step to overcoming our know more about it, I highly recommend getting a
struggles are accompanied by verses which not only copy of the text).
encourage but reaffirm God’s involvement in every
area of our lives, even in our darkest hours. His hand McGee also discusses the human mechanisms that
extends to us through the power of His words reiter- we employ in effort to overcome these struggles
ated by McGee- without God. One of them is our belief in the Blame
Game- the myth that those who fail are unworthy
Hebrews.4:14-16 of love and deserve to be punished. McGee replies
Therefore since we have a great high priest who has that there is no condemnation in those who are in
gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, Christ Jesus. God’s answer to the blame game is
let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do the doctrine of propitiation: Jesus Himself, who has
not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize done nothing wrong has been punished in our stance.
with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been God’s answer to erasing our shame and our guilt lies
tempted in every way, just as we are- yet was without in what McGee summarizes in one word as regenera-
sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with tion. Again for further details I encourage you to get a
confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find printed copy of the text.
grace to help us in our time of need.
In reading McGee’s book, I became convicted of
In reading McGee’s book, not only did I find guidance, God’s involvement in every aspect of our lives. God
I also found comfort that can only be explained to really has written everything we need in the Word of
have come from Jesus Christ. God which we have now as a compilation called the
Bible. The book reminded me that God’s Word is a
McGee discusses many other struggles that inhibit living word, active and audible if only we open our
the Christian or the non-believer from coming to God hearts and minds to God.
and finding fulfillment in their lives. He discusses fear
of rejection that holds so many people captive- “Our To help us with the conforming of our mind to the Lord
fear of rejection will control us to the degree by which Jesus Christ, McGee provides in the book a study
we base our self-worth on the opinions of others guide for those of us who are repetition learners. With
rather than on our relationship with God. In Galatians a final note, McGee leaves us with this verse-
And do not be conformed to this world, but be trans-

formed by the renewing of your mind, that you may
“In reading McGee’s book, not only did I find prove what the will of God is, that which is good and
guidance, I also found comfort that can only be acceptable and perfect. – Romans 12:2
explained to have come from Jesus Christ.
May this book bring you blessings and comfort only
Jesus can give.
God bless,
Janice

LORD
by Daniel loe
Lord,
I pray You one thing
Please, don’t give me any love.
for,
When it comes to me
It’s turn to be wrong,
forbidden and sinful.
Lord,
I beg You
One last thing
Please, have mercy on me
and grant me Your Agape Love
for,
Your Agape Love
Ask nothing in return
So that my heart won’t create
any evil and tormented love.
yet,
I still feel the warmth of Thy Love
which is,
give me peace in my mind,
and beauty in my heart.

Doubt by Cheryl Stotesbery
Doubt is something all Christians experience. When

bad things happen to us, we wonder why God isn’t
there making it all better. When people ask us ques-
tions about God that we can’t answer, doubt rears its
ugly head. How do we overcome doubt and believe in
what we can’t see?
It’s first important to understand what causes a

Christian to doubt God. Perhaps the primary cause
is Satan. (Genesis 3:1-6) Just as God, Jesus and the
angels work in a spiritual realm to draw us heaven

ward, Satan and his demons work to drag us away. and the amazing bodies that we live in testify to a
One of their weapons is to plant the seeds of doubt. Creator everyday.
When we doubt the existence of God, the power of
God, the love of God, or the Sacrifice of Christ, we
give the enemy a foothold in our minds. The world will try to tell you that the notion of a Cre-
ator is foolishness. (1 Corinthians 1:18) Some people
Once Satan has a foothold, he has an invitation to will try to make you feel silly or even stupid for your
work away at our mind. We’ve given him permission faith. For all of us who are Christians, there was a
to do so by agreeing with him that there is cause for reason why we chose to follow Christ. When others
doubt. At this point, we have a choice, to go on agree- belittle us or avoid us because of our faith, it is impor-
ing and be pulled away from God or to seek help in tant to remember why we chose Christ over the things
pulling out the weeds of doubt. We don’t give up our of the world. James gives sound advice:
feelings of doubt right away; we withdraw the invita-
tion that we gave to Satan by our agreement with him. 2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face
Once we decide to seek the truth, we regain control trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the test-
of our minds and can pursue those things that would ing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Persever-
reassure us in our faith. ance must finish its work so that you may be mature
and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you
Related to doubt, but not quite the same is the lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives gener-
state of unbelief. Doubt says, “I don’t think that can ously to all without finding fault, and it will be given
happen.” Unbelief says, “There is no way that can to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not
happen.” Zacharias was an example of unbelief. doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the
The angel Gabriel appeared to him and told him sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should
that his wife would conceive, even though she was not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he
beyond childbearing years. (Luke 1:18-20) He refused is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
to believe even with an angel standing in front of him! (James 1:2-8)
Unbelief is what doubt grows into. Somewhere within
Zacharias was a preconceived notion that there are Spiritual instability will cause the seeds of doubt to
limits to what God can do. When confronted with a bloom. To combat this, we must be diligent students
miracle, the seeds of doubt bloomed in Zacharias’ of Christ. Just like the disciples, we must follow
mind. Christ, learning His teachings and learning His ways
if we are to ever become stable in our faith. How can
This point is important because we never know what anyone make a wise choice if he is uniformed? How
God has planned for us. What if He comes to you with can anyone make a decision about something she
a miracle someday and you lose out because your knows nothing about? Before you can doubt, you
seeds of doubt bloom into unbelief? We must always must first examine all the evidence. To do so, you
guard against doubt. All around us is testimony to the must know the Word of God and the claims of Christ.
power of God. The delicate world that is our habitat To know these things, you must study and discuss the

teachings, seeking clear interpretation from knowl- concerns to Him, He gives us answers and guides
edgeable teachers. Only when we have done this can us to help. Don’t try and hide your doubt from Him,
we fairly decide whether there is room for doubt. To question Him and seek answers. When the disciple,
do otherwise is to allow someone else to decide for Thomas, heard of the risen Christ, he refused to
you. believe until he touched the wounds of Christ himself.
(John 20:25-31) When we ask Christ to let us see His
The Bible gives us instruction on how to deal with wounds and prove His victory over death, He shows
doubt. In Judges 6:36-40, Gideon put God to a test us in amazing ways. Don’t withhold anything when
asking Him to show a sign. Gideon threw out a fleece you speak with the Lord, He answers our sincere
on the ground and asked God to surround it with the questions.
morning’s dew but let the fleece remain dry. Gideon’s
challenge was met and the fleece remained dry. The brilliant mathematician Blaise Pascal (1632-1662)
When Christians ask God for a sign now, it’s called addressed the issue of doubt in a work of Christian
throwing out a fleece. You should be cautioned, apologetics. He came to the conclusion that while
though, not to test God frequently. He demands God could not be proved or disproved conclusively,
faith and putting Him to the test on everything is not that it was safer to wager on God’s existence. If, after
evidence of faith. death, the believer is wrong, he has lost nothing.
However, if, after death, the non-believer discovers
Acts 17:11-12 encourages us to search the Scripture he is wrong, he pays for his error for eternity. This is
for answers. There is nothing new under the sun known as Pascal’s Wager and it addresses the issue
and God’s Word gives us instruction on everything. of doubt nicely. If all other attempts to overcome doubt
When you know the Word of God, then you have the fail, you are still safer to believe than to not believe.
knowledge to decide about its validity. The answer to
any question is in the Word, you only need to know
where to look. If you don’t know, a mature Christian
can help you. Seek the help of those that can guide
you to answers.
Prayer is the best way to get answers. When we

reach out to God in prayer and take our doubts and Edited By: David Wangsa

Sex or
Lust
1. DUKE RAYNALD III grew fatter. He stayed in the
There once lived a duke named room for ten years, till his brother
Raynald III, who lived during died in battle. But by then his
the fourteenth century. Raynald health was so ruined that he died
III had lived a life of indulgence within a year, a prisoner of his own
and was extremely overweight. appetite.
In fact, he was commonly called
“Crassus” which means “fat”. After Many men and women today are
a violent quarrel, Raynald’s younger prisoners to their appetite for
brother Edward led a successful lust. That’s right not only men,
revolt against him. Edward cap- women are not immune to the
tured Raynald but did not kill him. snare of lust. Like Raynald, they
Instead he built a room around look free, maybe even happy.
him in the Nieuwkerk Castle and They’re doing what they want and
promised him he could regain his what feels good. But the sad truth
freedom as soon as he was able to is when we indulge in a life of sin
leave the room. The room had a and do whatever feels good, we’re
near-normal size door and it was not free. We’ve slaves to our sin.
not locked or barred. The prob-
lem was Raynald’s size. To regain 2. IS SEX SAME AS LUST?
his freedom, he needed to lose Before we moved any further let
weight. But Edward knew his older us first get the biblical under-
brother, and each day he sent him standing of lust. Is lust a sin? Is
a variety of delicious foods. In- sex a sin? Is sex equal to lust?
stead of trying to lose weight so
he can leave the room, he instead Let us see the biblical verse that

is often used when a pastor marry fore marriage? Is it extra marital
a couple. Genesis 2: 24, “For this relationship? I think these two
reason a man will leave his fa- examples are pretty obvious. How
ther and mother and be united about Internet pornography or
to his wife, and they will become sexually involved & active with a
one flesh”. In addition, in Genesis boyfriend or girlfriend? Maybe
9:7 God commanded mankind as these examples are also still
follows, “Be fruitful and … mul- pretty clear. How about mastur-
tiply”. Based on these verses we bation? Joshua Harris, a pastor
can conclude that God is pro-sex! of a church outside Washington
Moreover, he invented sex. Song D.C., have a simple definition for
of Songs is an entire book in the lust: “Craving sexually what God
Bible dedicated to celebrating has forbidden”. Let me further
pure sex in marriage. quote his statement, “To lust is
God gave us sex drive. Based on to want what you don’t have and
these, here are few examples of weren’t meant to have. Lust goes
what lust is not: beyond attraction, an appreciation
• It’s not lust to be attracted to of beauty, or even a healthy desire
someone or notice that he or she for sex – it makes these desires
is good-looking. more important than God. Lust
• It’s not lust to anticipate and wants to go outside God’s guide-
be excited about having sex within lines to find satisfaction”. I think
marriage. according to this definition all of
• It’s not lust to experience the above examples can easily be
sexual temptation. included into the lust category.
The important thing is how do we 3. NOT EVEN A HINT

respond to the urges or desires What does the bible say about
mention above. A sexual thought lust? What is God’s standard when
that come out into your mind isn’t it comes to lust? How high is God
necessarily lust, but it can easily standard regarding our purity? Is
become lust if it’s entertained and it ok to lust just once in a while?
dwelled on. After all it is part of our biology
to have strong sex drive, God will
What is lust then? Is it sex be- probably allow us to lust occasion-

ally as long as no body got hurt, with a continual lust. You won’t be
right? able to fantasize enough to quench
lust. You won’t be able to sleep
Well let see what the bible has to with enough people. You won’t be
say about this in Ephesians 5:3: able to view enough pornography.
“But among you there must not be You can gorge yourself on lust, but
even a hint of sexual immorality you’re always going to be hungry.
or of any kind of impurity, or of You’ll be trapped in a never ending
greed.” pursuit of wrong desires --- always
That’s right God demand us not reaching for something that can-
to even have a hint of lust. Is God not be grasped.”
reasonable to have this demand?
Does He know what He was asking? Hopefully by now you are con-
vinced that Sex within marriage
God knows that lust never stays at is good, Lust is bad & can never
the level of “just a hint”. Once you be satisfied and God’s standard is
lust upon something or someone “Not even a hint”. Now the next
and you fulfill that lust, the next question is do you want to be
time you do it you won’t feel the freed from it?
same kind of excitement anymore.
You or the lust will always want 4. DO YOU WANT TO BE
more to satisfy its desire or ex- FREED FROM LUST?
citement. In Ephesians 4:19, Paul Most of us Christians after com-
describes this endless cycle of mitting sexual sin would feel down,
lust: “Having lost all sensitivity, unclean and guilty. Usually after
they have given themselves over that we would pray to God, ask
to sensuality so as to indulge in forgiveness and promised not to
every kind of impurity, with a con- do it again. Unfortunately, sev-
tinual lust for more.” eral days pass by, we forgot our
promised and we fall into sexual
I want to quote Joshua Harris’ sin again. And then this cycle con-
statement about this particular tinues to be the history of many
fact: Christians. Does this sound famil-
“Even when you indulge in every iar?
kind of impurity, you’re still filled

In one of C.S. Lewis book, he told cycle of falling into the same lust
us of a story of a ghost of a man sin over and over again? God has in
afflicted by lust. Lust is incarnat- stores far greater thing that what
ed in the form of a red lizard that lust can offer. Lust can offer fun
sits on his shoulder and whispers or excitement for a season, but
seductively in his ear. When the its consequences that follow are
man despairs about the lizard, an devastating. Lust can affect your
angle offers to kill it for him. But spiritual life, family life, financial
the fellow is torn between loving life. Even worse lust can affect
his lust and to be freed from it. negatively people around you. Job
He fears that the death of the 31:11-12 (NLT Version) said: “For
lust will kill him. He makes excuse lust is a shameful sin, a crime
after excuse to the angel, trying that should be punished. It is a
to keep the lizard he says he does devastating fire that destroys to
not want. hell. It would wipe out everything
I own.” God however offers us
Finally, the man agrees to let the peace, hope and eternal pleasures.
angel seize and kill the lizard. The Psalm 16:11 says: “You have made
angel grasps the reptile, breaks its known to me the path of life; you
neck, and throws it to the ground. will fill me with joy in your pres-
Once the spell of lust is broken, ence, with eternal pleasures at
the ghostly man is gloriously re- your right hand”. Are you ready
made into a real and solid being. to replace a life of guilt of shame
And the lizard, rather than dying, with a life of peace and eternal
is transformed into a breathtak- pleasure?
ing stallion. Weeping tears of joy
and gratitude, the man mounts the 5. WHAT SHOULD I DO?
horse and they soar into the heav- Just as we have discussed earlier,
ens. God’s standard for sexual immoral-
ity or impurity is “Not even a hint”.
Do you feel like you are torn be- Do you feel this is an overwhelm-
tween wanting to let go of lust ingly high standard? This quickly
desires, but at the same time feel brings our might and strength into
you cannot live without it? Are an end. Don’t feel bad if you are
you tired of living in this vicious thinking this way. We need God’s

strength and power and grace him about his own areas of temp-
to achieve this standard. This is tation.
clearly something only God can
A lot of Christians know that lust
bring about in our life. You will find
His strength in your weakness. is a constant temptation in their
If you are living victorious life in life and say they want to change.
this area remember that it is not However unlike Andrew, they have
because of your strength or might never taken the time to think
but it is because of God’s grace. through how the process tempta-
tion unfolds for them. Many Chris-
Let us now see some practical ways tians know that they are con-
on how to fight sexual immorali- stantly being tempted when they
ties: see certain cable channel after
midnight, but they never consider
5a. Where Am I Weakest and of cutting their cable subscription.
What Can I do? Many Christians know that when
One night two guys went to rent they are together with their girl-
a video. At the door to the video friend or boyfriend in the evening
store one of the guys, Andrew, without anyone else are constantly
stopped and said, “I’ll wait out tempted to get physical in their
here.” The other guy, Joshua, intimacy, but they never consider
asked why he did not want to go or not willing to avoid that kind of
in. “I don’t want to go in“, Andrew situation. Many Christians know
replied. He explained that God had when they watch MTV channel,
convicted him about looking at the they are constantly being fed
explicit covers of many videos. His with celebrities gossips, sex-filled
way of fighting back was not even life style and divorced-glorifying
to enter. Joshua knew Andrew story, but they refuse to move
felt a little silly standing outside their finger to switch to CNN or
the video store waiting for Joshua Fox News channel. Many Christian
to bring different videos to the Men know when they see lingerie
window to have him help make a ads in the newspaper their mind
selection. But that did not matter starts undressing those women in
to Andrew. He was seeking to be the ads, but they refuse to throw
obedient to what God was showing away those ads section. Instead
continued to page 26
FAKTA
TENTANG
SAKSI JEHOVAH
Pendiri:
Charles T. Russell
(1852-1916)
Percetakan:
Watchtower Bible and
Tract Society
(berdiri sejak 1896)
Alkitab:
New World Translation

Ajaran Saksi Jehovah: organisasi itu.4
1. Menolak adanya Allah Tritung- Fakta: Keselamatan terjadi ketika seseorang percaya
gal pada Yesus Kristus sebagai Tuhan dan Juruselamat
2. Menolak Yesus sebagai Tuhan (Rom. 10:9). Ini adalah hubungan antara setiap orang
3. Menolak adanya Roh Kudus dengan Tuhan Yesus, bukan dengan organisasi atau
4. Menolak keselamatan oleh gereja.
anugerah
5. Menolak kebangkitan Yesus 5. Menolak kebangkitan Yesus.
6. Menolak adanya Neraka Mereka percaya bahwa hanya roh Yesus yang bang-
7. Yang bisa diselamatkan hanya kit, bukan tubuhNya
144.000 orang Waktu Yesus menampakkan diri kepada murid-murid-
Nya, Ia hanya menggunakan tubuh bayangan!5
Fakta: Murid Yesus bernama Tomas pernah meragu-
kan fakta kebangkitan. Ia berkata kalau ia belum
Ajaran Saksi Jehovah: menyentuh bekas luka paku di tangan Yesus dan
di tulang rusukNya, ia tidak akan percaya. Yesus
1. Menolak adanya Allah Tritunggal mengundang dia untuk menyentuh bekas lukaNya
Mereka menganggap ajaran Tritunggal berasal dari (Yoh. 20:27). Yesus tidak pernah menggunakan tubuh
Iblis, bukan dari Alkitab. bayangan. Kalau Ia menggunakan tubuh bayangan,
Mereka percaya hanya ada satu pribadi Allah, na- tentu Ia tidak akan mengundang Tomas untuk meny-
manya: Yehovah.1 entuh!
Fakta: Alkitab dengan jelas mengajarkan keberadaan Selain itu, setelah Yesus bangkit, Ia makan bersama
Allah Tritunggal (baca Kej. 1:26, Mat. 3:16; 28:19, dengan murid-muridNya (Yoh. 21:12-15). Kalau tubuh
Yoh. 14:16; 15:26) Yesus hanya bayangan, bagaimana Ia bisa makan?
Tentu ini membuktikan bahwa tubuh kebangkitan
2. Menolak Yesus sebagai Tuhan Yesus adalah tubuh jasmani, bukan bayangan.
Bagi mereka, Yesus adalah ciptaan Allah, bukan Pen-
cipta.Yesus seperti seorang dewa yang lebih tinggi 6. Menolak adanya Neraka
dari manusia, namun lebih rendah daripada Allah.2 Bagi mereka, istilah “Neraka” hanya berarti: kuburan.6
Fakta: Alkitab (PL dan PB) menegaskan bahwa Ye- Fakta: Dalam Luk. 12:5 Yesus berkata bahwa Tuhan
sus adalah Tuhan (Yes. 9:6, Mik. 5:2, Yoh. 1:14, 8:58) sanggup melemparkan jiwa ke dalam neraka. Neraka
diciptakan Tuhan untuk menghukum Iblis dan malai-
3. Menolak adanya Roh Kudus kat-malaikatnya (Mat. 25:41). Namun orang-orang
Bagi mereka, Roh Kudus adalah seperti Aliran kuasa yang menolak Kristus juga mendapat hukuman kekal
dari Tuhan. Ini bisa digambarkan seperti Angin yang di tempat yang sama, yaitu: neraka.
punya kekuatan, tetapi tidak mempunyai kepriba-
dian.3 7. Yang bisa diselamatkan hanya 144.000 orang
Fakta: Alkitab menegaskan bahwa Roh Kudus adalah Hanya sekelompok 144.000 orang yang bisa ke sorga
Allah (Mat. 28:19), dan Ia mempunyai perasaan dan memerintah bersama Kristus. Hanya sekelompok
seperti Bapa dan Tuhan Yesus (Ef. 4:30). Roh Kudus orang itu yang benar-benar mengalami lahir-baru.7
adalah Pribadi Allah, bukan hanya aliran kuasa sep- Fakta: Mereka melakukan salah-tafsir terhadap
erti angin. Wahyu 14:1-3. Wahyu 7:4 menegaskan bahwa jumlah
144.000 datang dari 12 suku Israel yang masing-
4. Menolak keselamatan oleh anugerah masing berjumlah 12.000 orang. Tentu saja, maksud
Keselamatan datang dengan menjadi anggota Alkitab bukanlah hanya orang-orang suku Israel yang
organisasi Saksi Yehovah dan setia melayani dalam diselamatkan. Jumlah itu hanya melambangkan

bahwa orang-orang Perjanjian Lama juga beroleh kecil bagaimana Saksi Jehovah membelokkan terjema-
keselamatan dalam Kristus. Angka-angka demikian
han Alkitab untuk mendukung ajaran mereka sendiri.
melambangkan kegenapan, dan tidak boleh dilihat
secara harafiah. Kalau harafiah, tentu sangat sedikit Kiranya Tuhan mencurahkan anugerahNya bagi begitu
sekali orang yang diselamatkan. Dari 6-7 milyar ma-
nusia dari zaman dulu sampai sekarang sampai nanti, banyak pengikut ajaran ini. Kita berdoa biarlah Tuhan
hanya 144.000 orang yang diselamatkan?
boleh memimpin mereka kembali ke jalan yang benar;
ke dalam pengenalan yang benar akan Anak Allah,
yaitu: Yesus Kristus Tuhan kita. Amin.
Consulted Source: Walter Martin, The Kingdom of the
Catatan: Cults (Minneapolis, Bethany House Publishers, 1997).
Saksi Jehovah mempunyai terjemahan Alkitab sendiri,
yaitu: New World Translation (NWT). Terjemahan 1 Let God Be True, Brooklyn: Watchtower Bible and
NWT adalah terjemahan yang keliru, tidak didasarkan Tract Society, 1946 ed., 100)
pada pengetahuan bahasa asli yang benar. Terjema-
han mereka dibelokkan agar sesuai dengan ajaran 2 The Truth Shall Make You Free, Brooklyn: Watch-
mereka. Maka NWT tidak pernah diterima sebagai tower Bible and Tract Society, 1943, 47)
terjemahan objektif oleh kalangan manapun kecuali
oleh kalangan Saksi Jehovah. 3 Let God Be True, 108
Perhatikan perbedaan antara NIV dan NWT dalam
Yohanes 1:1 4 The Watchtower, February 15, 1983: 12
NIV: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was God 5 From Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained, 144
NWT: In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word
was with God, and the Word was a god 6 Let God Be True, 98-99
Saksi Jehovah (NWT) menganggap Yesus sebagai
“a god” atau dewa. Padahal semua terjemahan (NIV, 7 Let God Be True, 136.
King James, NRSV, NASB, dsb) menerjemahkan kata
itu sebagai “God” atau ALLAH. Ini hanyalah contoh

Ruth
Key Scriptures: Ruth 2-4; Matthew 1:5

Who was this lady?
Ruth was a daughter of Moabites tribe, who were descendants
of Lot, the nephew of Abraham. Her name means “Friendship” or
“Lovely Friend”. Ruth’s in-laws are Naomi and Elimelech, who had 2
sons: Mahlon and Kilion. Other than Ruth, Naomi had another daugh-
ter in-law, named Orpah. After the death of all males in her family,
Naomi plan to go back to the city of Bethlehem, which they left be-
fore due to famine. This city’s name means “House of Bread”.
Naomi told the 2 daughters in-law to go back to each family, how-
ever Ruth choose to stay with her mother in-law. (Ruth 1:16-17).
This is when the fairy tale began, to make it short: Ruth met and got
married with a great guy named Boaz, and has a son named Obed,
who is the father of Jesse, King David’s father.
What’s so special about her? as title of a book in the Holly
Bible.
1. She’s the great grandmother 4. Ruth 4:14-15 : _______________
of King David, the greatest king (so true.., breaking the Chinese
in Israel’s history, a man of God’s Philosophy ^___^)
own heart.
2. Her name was mentioned Can we be a lady just like her?
in genealogy of Jesus Christ in Five Qualities of a Godly woman:
Matthew 1:5. There are 4 other 1. Lady of Reckless Abandon-
women mentioned in Matthew ment
chapter 1, they are: a. Reckless Abandonment =
Tamar, Rahab, Uria’s Wife (Bat- totally surrender ourselves to
sheba), and Mary the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
3. Ruth and Esther are the only b. Ruth Reckless Abandon
two women, whose names used
ment: she was a stranger from Moab to
Ruth 1:16 But Ruth said, “Do cause her to fear while she was
not urge me to leave you gleaning in a strange field. Ruth
or turn back from following was the ‘new girl in town,’ an
you; for where you go, I will obvious newcomer, but she was
go, and where you stay, I will not afraid to walk into a totally
stay. Your people shall be my unfamiliar situation.
people, and your God, my
God.” Ruth was a widow, but she did
not use her time sponsoring pity
Ruth had just such a determined parties for all unhappy single
heart, and the Lord honored her women to gather and compare
faith to move away from all that the misery of datelessness. When
was familiar and take a journey she and Naomi moved back to
toward the completely unknown. Bethlehem, Ruth did not waste a
Ruth did not allow her friends, her moment feeling sorry for herself.
old surroundings, nor her culture’s She went right to work. Instead of
dead faith to keep her from run- being drained by her discourag-
ning hard after God. She did not ing circumstances, she took ad-
use the excuse of a dark past to vantage of them and diligently
keep her from a bright future that embraced each day.
began with her firs critical choice:
reckless abandonment to Jesus Life is satisfying only when you dili-
Christ. gently serve the Lord, whatever
your circumstances. (John 10:10)
2. Lady of Diligence
Understanding God’s promised 1 Corinthians 15:58: “Therefore,
provision for widows, Naomi sent my dear brothers, stand firm. Let
Ruth to gather grain in the field nothing move you. Always give
of a kinsman. Ruth was willing to yourselves fully to the work of the
use her life working diligently at Lord, because you know that
whatever her Lord called her to your labor in the Lord is not in
do. She would not be paralyzed vain.”
by her lack of a husband. She
also did not allow the fact that There’s no time in your life more

perfect than now. Single Christian to Bethlehem. Ruth chose to
women are not Sleeping Beauties trust God with her future. She
who wait for Prince Charming to looked not with sensual sight,
kiss her and wake her up. but through “eyes of faith.” Even
though Ruth was young in her
1 Corinthians 10:31: “Whether, faith in the God of Israel, she
then, you eat or drink or what- chose to trust with her heart for
ever you do, do all to the glory of the future her eyes could not yet
God.” see.
Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you Remember, God has already

do, work at it with all your heart, taken care of your greatest need
as working for the Lord, not men.” – your salvation – and as Romans
8:32 remind us, “ He who did not
3. Lady of Faith spare His own Son, but delivered
When Naomi told her 2 daugh- Him up for us all, how will he not
ters in-law to go back to their also with Him freely give us all
own families, Oprah finally fol- things?
lowed her advice after Naomi
gave reasons that she would not Whenever the “unanswered
have any other children to be question” captures your mind,
married to those 2 ladies. Oprah take a moment to commit that
thinks logically, since it’s more care where it belongs, I Peter 5:7
“market” available in Moab “Casting your anxiety on Him,
among her own people, rather because He cares for you.”
than be a stranger in Israel.
4. Lady of Virtue
However, Ruth remained with One of life’s most costly and
Naomi and her God. Ruth cer- beautiful objects is born out of
tainly must have considered the pain and irritation – the pearl. In
probability of remaining single fact, the greater the irritation, the
if she went with Naomi. Even more valuable is the pearl.
though it promised no prospects
of a husband, she chose to fol- Like the oyster, Ruth experienced
low Naomi and her God back many irritations of trials in

her young life. She grieved the one. But most important part is to
deaths of her father-in-law and wait for God’s perfect timing in
husband. She bravely faced the every aspect of our lives.
turmoil of change in the direc- Ruth was a wonderful example
tion of her life as well as move of a Lady of Patience. Ruth did
to a foreign land with a bitter not allow her circumstances or
mother in law. When she arrived lack of male companionship
in that strange land, the trials to cause her to be impatient.
did not end. She was immedi- Instead she concentrated on
ately thrown into a new working developing companionship with
situation among total strangers her heavenly Father and chose
with new customs. Through all to let Him bring a husband to her
this stress, her new faith began if He saw fit. Concern over the
to wrap itself around the painful ticking of her “biological clock”
situations. The by-product was did not make her fearful of the
a pearl from the washbasin of future. Instead she concentrated
Moab. on being a lady of character, not
on getting a man. She took one
Don’t view the trials as irritating day at a time, knowing that God
grains of sand to be discarded was not bound by circumstances
as quickly as possible. Realize nor her age. She used the wait to
that God has them there to cre- become the woman God want-
ate something beautiful in you. ed her to be. At the end of this
James 1:2-4. personal preparation God chose
to provide her with a husband. In
He’s developing pearls of char- Ruth 4:13, we see the end to their
acter in your life. love story, “So Boaz took Ruth,
and she became his wife…”
5. Lady of Patience
Waiting isn’t easy when we are God did not supply all my wants,
young, and it can be terribly hard instead through the waiting time,
as we get older. He changed my wants and sup-
plied all my needs, better than I
At certain point of our life, we are could have imagined.
waiting for something or some-

God would not leave us waiting may have made.
any longer than necessary. We
only need to patiently wait on Source:
God’s timing. You don’t know • Life Application Study Bible -
what tomorrow holds, but you do NIV
know who holds tomorrow. Put • Women of the Bible by Ann
your hope in God. Spangler & Jean E Syswerda
• Lady in Waiting by Debby
Conclusion: Jones & Jackie Kendall
To some people, the book of
Ruth may be just a nice story Women of the Bible – Ruth
about a girl who was fortunate, July 14, 2007 – IEC Azusa Youth
but in reality, the events re- Fellowship
corded in Ruth were part of
God’s preparations for the births
of David and of Jesus, the prom-
ised Messiah. Just as Ruth was
unaware of this larger purpose in
her life, we will not know the pur-
pose and importance of our lives
until we are able to look back
from the perspective of eternity.
We must make our choices with
God’s eternal values in mind.
Taking moral shortcuts and living
for short-range pleasures are not
good ways to move ahead. Be-
cause Ruth’s faithful obedience,
her life and legacy were signifi-
cant even though she could not
see all the results. Live in faithful-
ness to God, knowing the sig-
nificance of your life will extend
beyond your lifetime. The rewards
will outweigh any sacrifice you

Sex or Lust - continued from page 15
of anticipating and being on their you are tired?
guard, they’re surprised by the
same attack over and over. 2. Tempting locations. A friend’s
house where you know there’s por-
Do you know precisely where your nography? Video Rental place? In
weak points are? And more impor- the beach?
tant, do you have a specific plan
not only for defending yourself, 3. Television. Nowadays our TV
but also for actually taking proac- is filled with sex-themed com-
tive measures to protect yourself mercial. From lingerie all the way
from lust? to burger’s commercial, you could
find sex-themed commercial in
Your problem is unique and so is all these industries. Be alert to
your lust triggers. Just because these commercials. Immediately
your friend never gains any weight switch to some safe channel, such
when he or she eats a lot of meat, as CSPAN or CNN, when you start
it does not mean you won’t gain any noticing certain suggestive com-
weight when you eat a lot of meat. mercial. Some people have decided
Your weakness is different from not to watch TV at all if their wife
other people’s weakness. You have is not around. Even be more alert
to spend quite some time figuring when you have paid cable channels.
out specific situations and objects Some people even cancel their
in your life that can easily entrap cable subscription all together to
you in the sexual temptation. Once avoid seeing some porn movie in
you find out your specific trig- their cable channels.
gers, you can create a custom plan
specifically for you to avoid the 4. The Internet. Besides being
temptation. “window to the world”, the Inter-
net, unfortunately is also window
Let me list out some lust triggers
to many impurities. For many men
for you to consider:
and women, the Internet is a con-
stant battle ground. Internet por-
1. Time of day. Are you more
nography is a daily ensnarement of
susceptible to lust when you wake
sexual temptation. If this is your
up or go to bed, after work when
situation, don’t lose hope. Many

men and women have found victory literally have to look the other
over this specific temptation. Do way.” Remember a Chinese proverb
not allow sin to gain a foothold. that says, “You cannot prevent the
Be radical. Don’t go on-line alone birds from flying over your head,
late at night or at any time when but you can prevent them from
you’re feeling weak. Install paren- building nests in your hair.” You
tal control to your computer and cannot control which people that
have your spouse or trusted friend you are going to encounter in your
secure it with his/her password. daily life, but you can control your
Put your computer in the living eyes and mind from undressing
room. Position your computer moni- them and having sexual fantasy in
tor to face toward door so others your mind.
can see what they’re viewing when
they walk by. If all has failed, can- The list above of course not the
cel your Internet subscription. whole list of all the things or situ-
ation that can trigger lust. You
5. In public. When you are out have to spend time yourselves
in public, guard your eyes. Im- figuring out these things yourself.
modestly dressed men and women But whatever the trigger is, you
are always going to be around have to be willing to do some ac-
us. We have to choose to honor tion to avoid yourself from it. Can-
God with our eyes and not gaze celing cable subscription or can-
on others lustfully. A girl named celing the Internet seems like a
Tatiana told her story of how God bit extreme. However, sometimes
showed her that her “harmless” radical actions are needed to free
pastime of checking out guys was you from the grip of sexual sins.
really a dangerous hobby, fu- In Matthew 5:29-30 said, “If
eled by lust. Another girl named your right eye causes you to sin,
Lauren confessed, “I have never gouge it out and throw it away. It
been in a relationship in which my is better for you to lose one part
eyes haven’t wandered, looking for of your body than for your whole
something better. It truly scares body to be thrown into hell. And if
me, because I know if I don’t your right hand causes you to sin,
stop now I’ll do it even after God cut it off and throw it away. It is
blesses me with a godly husband. better for you to lose one part of
This is a real struggle for me. I your body than for your whole
body to go into hell”. These two find in the bible, cuts through the
verses are obviously not suggest- confusion and hazy half-truths
ing you to do body mutilation. that our sin generates. It reveals
These two verses, however, are our wrong desires, corrects our
suggesting you to do whatever selfish human thinking. It points us
things necessary to prevent your- to God’s goodness and faithfulness
self from doing evil. when we’re tempted to forget.
5b. The Sword of the Spirit Here are several scriptures that
After you learn the specific lust can help you in your battle against
triggers in your life and learn how lust:
to deal with it, your mind will no
longer be fed with new things or Lie: A little sinful fantasizing
objects to play around. However, won’t hurt
our mind can easily, pull out some- Truth:
thing which we’ve seen 20 years
ago. That’s why we have to learn 1. “To set the mind on the flesh is
how to combat the lies of lust with death, but to set the mind on the
the truth of God’s word. Spirit is life and peace” (Romans
8:6, ESV)
Ephesians 6:17 calls the Word of
God the “sword of the Spirit” Your 2. “Do not be deceived: God is not
Bible is no lifeless book. It has mocked, for whatever one sows,
power. When you read it, speak it, that will he also reap. For the one
and memorize it, the Holy Spirit who sows to his own flesh will from
uses it against sin like an offensive the flesh reap corruption, but the
weapon. Hebrews 4:12 says: one who sows to the Spirit will
“For the word of God is living and from the Spirit reap eternal life”
active. Sharper than any double- (Galatians 6:7-8, ESV)
edge sword, it penetrates even to
dividing soul and spirit, joints and 3. “But put on the Lord Jesus
marrow; it judges the thoughts Christ, and make no provision for
and attitudes of the heart.” the flesh, to gratify its desires”
(Romans 13:14, ESV).
The Word of God, which we can

Lie: Taking radical action against be even a hint of sexual immoral-
sin isn’t necessary ity, or of any kind of impurity,
Truth: or of greed, because these are
improper for God’s holy people”
1. “If your right eye causes you (Ephesians 5:3)
to sin, gouge it our and throw it
away. It is better for you to lose Lie: It’s my body. I can do what I
one part of your body than for want with it
your whole body to be thrown into Truth: “Flee from sexual immo-
hell. And if your right hand causes rality, All other sins a man com-
you to sin, cut it off and throw it mits are outside his body, but he
away. It is better for you to lose who sins sexually sins against his
one part of your body than for own body. Do you not know that
your whole body to go into hell” you body is a temple of the Holy
(Matthew 5:29-30). Spirit, who is in you, whom you
have received from God? You are
2. “Flee the evil desires of youth, not your own; you were bought at
and pursue righteousness, faith, a price. Therefore honor God with
love and peace, along with those your body” (1 Corinthians 6:18-20).
who call on the Lord out of a pure
heart” (2 Timothy 2:22) Lie: I can’t control my sex drive.
Truth: “It is God’s will that you
Lie: God won’t mind a little com- should be sanctified: that you
promise should avoid sexual immorality;
Truth: that each of you should learn to
control his body in a way that is
1. “Put to death, therefore, what- holy and honorable, not in pas-
ever belongs to your earthly na- sionate lust like the heathen, who
ture: sexual immorality, impurity, do not know God; and that in this
lust, evil desires and greed, which matter no one should wrong his
is idolatry. Because of these, the brother or take advantage of him.
wrath of God is coming” (Colos- The Lord will punish men for all
sians 3:5-6) such sins, as we have already told
you and warned you” (1 Thessalo-
2. “But among you there must not nians 4:3-6)

Lie: Looking at a few pornographic the tents of the wicked. For the
pictures won’t effect me. Lord God is a sun and shield; the
Truth: “Do not lust in your heart Lord bestows favor and honor; no
after her beauty or let her cap- good thing does he withhold from
tivate you with her eyes, for the those whose walk is blameless. O
prostitute reduces you to a loaf of Lord Almighty, blessed is the man
bread, and the adulteress preys who trusts in you” (Psalm 84:10-12)
upon your very life. Can a man
scoop fire into his lap without his 6. SOW TO THE SPIRIT
clothes being burned?” (Proverbs Winning sexual temptation is a
6:25-27) battle that you have to do ev-
eryday. Fill your mind with the
Lie: I won’t experience any conse- things of God. The more you read
quences for indulging in my lust. & meditate in the word of God,
Truth: the stronger your mind will be in
defending against the lie of sexual
1. “So then, each of us will give an desires. The more you gather with
account of himself to God” (Ro- fellow believers in the church, the
mans 14:12) more support you will get from
your fellow brother and sister.
2. “The Lord disciplines those he The more you serve in the church;
loves, and he punishes everyone he the chances of you to get tempted
accepts as a son” (Hebrews 12:6) will be much less. The more you
listen to Christian song, the stron-
3. “After desire has conceived, it ger your faith will be.
gives birth to sin; and sin, when it
is full-grown, gives birth to death” On the other hand, the more you
(James 1:15) feed your mind with unholy things
such as Internet pornography,
Lie: God is keeping something good looking at other people lustfully,
from me getting more physical with your
Truth: “Better is one day in your boyfriend or girlfriend, the stron-
courts than a thousand elsewhere; ger the devil’s foothold will be in
I would rather be a door keeper in your life.
the house of my God than dwell in

If you need more help about win-
ning sexual temptation, I suggest
you get a hold of book by Joshua
Harris titled, “Sex is not a prob-
lem (Lust Is)”. The content of this
article is a summary of this book.
This book will give you more ex-
amples and details on how to deal AGAPE Staff wishes you
with lust and sexual temptation.
As a closing verse I will quote the
following: Merry Christmas 2007
“Do not be deceived: God is not &
mocked, for whatever one sows, Happy New Year 2008
that will he also reap. For the one
who sows to his own flesh will from
the flesh reap corruption, but the
one who sows to the Spirit will
from the Spirit reap eternal life”
(Galatians 6:7-8, ESV)
Don’t be a fool. You will reap what

you sow. The choice is yours now,
what do you want to sow in your
life?
God Bless You All

5 Ways
To Be Patient and Kind During Holiday Shopping
It doesn’t have to be an unpleasant task to shop for gifts this year. Before you
go out and tackle the world of department stores, relax, take a deep breath,
and tell yourself, “I will not be in a hurry. I will be patient and kind to others.”
And it will happen! Don’t think of yourself as being “one” with the crowd of
other shoppers; be separate from the herd and make your shopping enjoyable.
1. Be Kind While Shopping garage at night.

As we all know, holiday shopping can be hectic and 4. Be Thoughtful While Shopping In The Malls
grueling. It tends to make some people frustrated
Malls are the busiest place during the holidays.
and short tempered. The best thing you can do is
Before leaving your house, remind yourself again
don’t get nasty back. Put your smile back on and
of the crowds and the long lines. Ask God to give
tell yourself, “I will be kind to others no matter how
you that extra needed patience you will need at this
they treat me.”
time. Keep your smile on and flash it on someone
2. Show Compassion While Waiting In Line who is having a bad day. By doing this, not only
You knew better before you went out shopping that will it make you feel good but it will also make the
there would be three times as many people shopping person who is having a bad day feel better too. They
this time of year. Some of holiday shoppers do not certainly won’t forget your smile.
have patience like you do. Let them go ahead and 5. Let The Mob Through First
cut in front of you. Put your smile back on and it
Remember you’re not part of the mob. You just
will help them to see their rude behavior. By slapping
happen to be out shopping on the same day as
back with rudeness you become just like the herd
the herd but you have more patience then they do.
and you don’t want that.
Instead of flying up the escalator, dashing into the
3. Be Patient While Driving! elevator, or running up those mall steps with the
This one is very important. It involves the safety of mob, just sit back and let the mob go first. Patience
yourself as will as others. During the Holidays more is by far the greatest virtue you can take with you
people are out driving and they become impatient this holiday shopping season. And compassion comes
and begin to drive erratically. The best thing you in a close second.
can do is don’t drive like them. Don’t cut in front of Love one another. And have a happy December
them like they are doing. Always drive defensively! Holiday and New Year!
Know ahead of time that people are in a hurry
and may cut right in front of you. By driving BY: ANGIE LEWIS-articles.faithwriters.com
defensively it will ensure a safe park back in your

Winter A Fiction by Daniel Loe
Musim dingin tahun ini datang lebih awal daripada tahun-tahun

sebelumnya. Thanksgiving days baru saja berlalu, dan bulan desember pun
belumlah tiba. Akan tetapi suhu udara akhir-akhir ini sudah turun sampai
39°F. Itu berarti hampir mendekati nol derajad Celcius. Salju-salju sudah
mulai menebal lagi di puncak-puncak gunung, dan salju-salju yang tebal
itulah yang membuat liburan datang lebih awal.
Kharisma, baru saja beranjak keluar pintu untuk menikmati sinar ma-
tahari yang pagi ini tiba-tiba bersinar setelah berhari-hari langit di payungi
oleh awan-awan hitam. Sinar mentari yang terang benderang itu ternyata
masih dikalahkan oleh hembusan angin dingin yang menerpa wajah Kha-
risma. Sehingga membuat seluruh badan Kharisma menggigil kedinginan.
Lalu dengan segera Kharisma berbalik kembali kedalam rumahnya untuk
mengambil sweater atau coat untuk membungkus badannya yang ramping
dan kecil yang tidak tahan angin dingin pagi itu.
Kharisma sangat jengkel sekali, karena berkali-kali dia mencoba
mengingatkan dirinya sendiri sebelum dia keluar rumah bahwa dia harus
paling sedikit berpakaian rangkap, dan dia harus tanamkan di dalam sel-sel
kelabunya untuk tidak lupa bahwa musim dingin datang lebih awal tahun
ini. Akan tetapi, lagi-lagi pagi ini dia lupa membawa baju hangatnya, keal-
paan-nya itu membuat dia harus membuang waktu paling sedikit setengah
jam. Dia kesal sekali terhadap dirinya yang kenapa tiba-tiba dia menjadi
pelupa seperti ini. Apa yang salah dengan dirinya?
Sebenarnya Kharisma sudah mempunyai jawabannya di hatinya
sendiri, akan tetapi dia tidak mau mengatakannya ataupun mengingatnya.
Dia berusaha mencari jawaban yang lain yang lebih memuaskan hatinya
daripada jawaban yang telah ada di pintu hatinya dan menunggu mulutnya
untuk berani mengatakannya. Kharisma berusaha memerangi perasaannya
sendiri, tapi lagi-lagi kealpaan-nya pagi ini membuat dia tidak berdaya untuk
mengakuinya bahwa dia sudah menjadi seorang pelupa. Bukan seorang
pelupa yang sekali-kali saja. Tapi hatinya dengan getaran yang luar biasa
mengakuinya bahwa dia sudah memasuki tahap “penuaan” atau “aging”.
Pada saat hatinya mengakui bahwa dia sudah lajut usia maka tanpa
terasa air mata yang hangat bergulir dari pelupuk matanya. Bibir nya pun
secara reflek tertutup rapat-rapat berusaha menahan isak tangisnya yang
hampir meledak. “yah..Tuhan.......aku takut sekali.... hu huhu..!”
Sambil menangis Kharisma lalu duduk di sofa di ruang tamu rumah-
nya. Dia menangis tersedu-sedu disana. Karena terlalu sedih maka tanpa
terasa Kharisma tertidur di sofanya. Kharisma menyesali waktu-waktu yang
cepat berlalu yang telah menyulapnya dari seorang gadis yang cantik men-
jadi seorang perempuan lanjut usia yang selalu lupa akan segala sesuatu
yang harus diingatnya. Dalam tidurnya pun Kharisma menitikkan air matan-
ya. Betapa ingin Kharisma kembali kemasa-masa ketika dia masih muda,
masih cantik jelita, menjadi pusat perhatian dari keluarganya ataupun dari
teman-temannya. Dan hal paling manis untuk diingatnya adalah ketika dia
menjadi rebutan para pria-pria ganteng, baik itu teman sekolahnya ataupun
laki-laki lain dari tempat-tempat pesta atau discotic yang selalu minta ke-
nalan atau merayunya untuk menjadi pacar mereka.
Tiga puluh tahun yang lalu, Kharisma menjadi sophomore di UCLA,
segera Kharisma menjadi pusat perhatian para senior-senior students di
Universitas tsb. Karena Kharisma bukan hanya cantik tapi dia juga cukup
berotak sehingga dia tidak mudah terayu oleh bujukan dan sanjungan dari
laki-laki iseng yang cuma mau me-macar-i dirinya. Dia pintar menjaga jarak
sehingga semua laki-laki yang cuma mau main-main doang itu tidak berani
macam-macam pada dirinya akan tetapi dilain pihak mereka tetap menjadi
teman Kharisma.
Ketika Kharisma sudah focus pada majornya, yaitu chemistry, ru-
ang lingkup Kharisma pun agak menyempit, karena hampir menjadi raha-
sia umum bahwa semua yang mengambil major science, physic, biology,
chemistry atau math adalah orang-orang yang termasuk kutu buku. Dan
biasanya siswa-siswa yang mengambil major-major menyeramkan seperti

ini adalah orang-orang yang serius. Mungkin karena keseriusan mereka
belajar dan berpikir membuat penampilan mereka menjadi tidak “komersil”
alias “tidak handsome” atau “tidak cantik” biasanya orang-orang seperti ini
di juluki “nerd” or “geek”.
Kharisma biar otaknya encer tetapi dia tetap cantik menawan, dan
yang membuat dia banyak disukai oleh orang adalah dia tidak termasuk
“nerd” or “ugly” tetapi dia tetap Kharisma yang baru lulus SMA dua tahun
yang lalu yang selalu cantik dan menawan. Dengan pikirannya yang terbu-
ka dan modern, maka Kharisma menjadi gersang dan gerah untuk tinggal di
dalam kelasnya dimana tidak ada orang yang bisa diajak bicara tidak juga
teman Lab-nya. Disiang yang panas, Kharisma terpaksa harus meninggal-
kan ceramah chemistry-nya ke cafe terdekat dengan hall lecture-nya. Ke-
tika dia mau memasuki pintu cafe tsb., dia bertabrakan dengan seseorang
yang tergesa-gesa hendak keluar. Benturan yang tidak disengaja itu telah
membuat Kharisma hampir terjerembab kebelakang. Orang yang menabrak
Kharisma dengan sigap memegang pundak dan tangan Kharisma sehingga
Kharisma tidak sampai terbanting ke lantai.
“ooh... maaf..... maaf sekali... aku dalam keadaan terburu-buru... kau

tidak kenapa-napa kan?”
“aku tidak kenapa-napa... kalau kau tidak terlalu sigap untuk menarik
badanku mungkin saat ini kau harus memanggil 911....”
“aku benar-benar minta maaf... karena hari ini aku ada midterm, aku
bangun terlambat.. aku belum sarapan pagi sama sekali.... dengan
perut kosong aku tidak bisa berpikir dengan benar... makanya aku
mampir kesini untuk membeli cookies ini...”
“yah aku mengerti makanya kau tidak bisa berpikir dengan jelas
sampai-sampai pintu cafetaria pun di anggap jalan tol.....sampai
menabrak orang... hampir kau kena tilang yah kalau aku jatuh terjer-
embab tadi... sudah dimakan sana cookies nya .. ntar bisa-bisa kau
salah masuk kelas lagi.... “

“haa haaa haaa.. kau sangat lucu yah.. jarang aku menemukan
cewe cantik seperti kamu pandai bergurau... walaupun kau baru saja
aku tabrak.. coba kalau cewe cantik yang model lain...mereka pasti
sudah seperti kucing lari-lari je jinkrakan sambil berteriak-teriak..
minta tolong.... ha haha.... ngomong2 siapa nama anda.. namaku...
Winston...!”
“Kharisma.. namaku Kharisma...., thanks atas pujiannya... , ayoo

aku mau beli minuman... dan kau juga bukankah kau ada midterm..
sudah pergi sana..!”
“ooh ceritanya ngusir nih..., aku heran apakah aku ini sekarang ada
di America negara yang merdeka atau di Asia?
“huss... sembarangan biar kalau kau berada di Asia pun mereka

sudah merdeka tahu.. kok kau menghina sekali sih dengan negara-
negara Asia..., kau tahu di beberapa tempat di Asia mereka jauh
lebih maju dari pada LA yang kau kira super modern ini tahu...!”
“Oh.. sorry... maaf deh major ku bukan Anthropology yang mempela-

jari bangsa- bangsa seperti engkau sehingga tahu negara-negara
Asia lebih maju dari LA..., maaf ibu guru.. jangan hukum saya...!”
Winston mencibir meledek Kharisma.
“Kau benar-benar anak nakal yang menjengkelkan... ayo segera

masuk kekelasmu.. dan ingat kamu hari ini ada midterm.. awas yah
kalau kau dapat D atau F kau harus memutari lapangan sepak bola
sepuluh kali....!”
“ Maaf ibu guru......Winston akan segera pergi sekarang.....” lalu Win-

ston dengan
gerakan cepat segera pergi kekelasnya.
Kharisma memandangi kepergian Winston dengan kecewa, sebe-

narnya Kharisma menyukai sifat Winston yang spontanitas dan ramah,

tambahan lagi menurut Kharisma laki-laki yang baru saja menabraknya itu
sangat menarik sekali...Kharisma senang dengan lesung pipit di kedua pipi
Winston, pipi Winston yang kemerah-merahan itu membuat Winston terlihat
semakin “Cute.”
Setelah berlari beberapa saat Winston tiba-tiba berbalik haluan
berlari menghampiri Kharisma lagi, pada saat Winston berbalik, mata Win-
ston bertemu dengan mata Kharisma yang sejak tadi menatap kepergian
Winston. Perpaduan mata mereka membuat Kharisma seperti tertangkap
basah, lalu dengan cepat-cepat dia memasuki cafetaria untuk menghindari
tatapan mata Winston.
Winston terus memburunya sampai kedalam Cafe. Lalu berdiri di-
belakang Kharisma yang sedang mengambil “Pepsi Cola” dari dalam refrig-
erator.
“Hallo nona manis.. aku tidak yakin kalau majormu adalah Anthro-
pology, aku bahkan sangat menyayangkan kalau majormu adalah
Anthropology.. gadis secantik kamu harusnya memilih major Fashion
atau Model, jadi kau tidak menyia-nyia kan kecantikan mu...”
“hmm mungkin kau akan kecewa kalau aku kasih tahu major ku
yang sebenarnya...” dengan muka yang merah merona, Kharisma
menjawab pertanyaan Winston. Kharisma sungguh jengkel terhadap
dirinya sendiri, yang tiba-tiba kok menjadi tidak tolerance. Biasanya
dia tidak pernah gugup menghadapi orang-orang asing. Tapi ini
dengan Winston, pipinya saat ini di rasakan sangat panas, karena
seolah-olah seluruh darah yang ada didalam tubuhnya mengalir ke-
pipinya sehingga membuat wajahnya terasa terbakar.
“aku rasa aku sudah mendengar jawaban yang paling mengece-

wakan... dan aku tidak akan pernah lebih kecewa daripada engkau
yang tidak mau menjawab pertanyaanku...”
“Chemistry... dan kau?”
sekarang giliran Winston yang melongo tanda tidak percaya dengan jawa

ban yang baru saja di dengarnya.... menurut dia Chemistry adalah lebih
“membosankan” daripada “Anthropology.”
“Wow...!!”
“Apa? Major mu “WOW” singkatan dari apa itu.? kalau “WWW” aku
tahu.. tapi “WOW” aku sungguh tidak tahu...!”
“Oh sorry.... maksudku major ku adalah Music....Classic khusus-

nya...!”
“OOOhh.. music Classic.. kau mau jadi Bethooven yah....!”
“Ah tidak... aku suka musik saja, semua keluarga ku menyukai mu-
sic....”
“Hmmm.. mudah-mudah-an suatu saat aku akan lihat kau di TV!”
“Aku tidak mengerti maksudmu.. melihat ku di TV?”
“yah.. mungkin suatu saat kau akan menjadi penyanyi ngetop yang
di gandrungi oleh ABG ABG.... di seluruh dunia...”
“Ohh kau salah.. major ku music bukan berarti aku harus menjadi pe-
nyanyi.. dan biasanya mereka yang ahli di bidang musik jarang seka-
li yang menjadi penyanyi.. mungkin mereka akan menjadi composer..
atau mereka menciptakan concert – concert. Lagipula seorang yang
bisa musik belum tentu mempunyai suara yang komersil yang bisa
di beli oleh orang.. sedangkan mereka yang menjadi penyanyi belum
tentu juga mempunyai title sarjana di bidang musik....”
“Oh aku tidak tahu akan hal ini... “
“Rasanya kita mempunyai Gap-Major yah...”

“iyaaa.. hii hiii.. kau allergi dengan major Chemistry ku yah?”
“Ah tidak juga.. Cuma rasanya aku hampir tidak percaya bahwa kau
di balik wajah yang cantik ternyata.. otakmu uuuullleeet sekali yah..
sampai-sampai kau menyukai kimia....”
“hei.. kau sudah benar-benar sangat terlambat loh... bisa-bisa kau

tidak di perbolehkan masuk nanti.. sama gurumu...”
“biarin.. nanti aku akan kasih tahu guruku bahwa kau yang harus
bertanggung jawab.. karena gara gara kau aku telah kehilangan
waktu ku hampir setengah jam!”
“oo..ooh!” am I a trouble maker to you?”
“No...you are a trouble maker to my heart.., Byeee!!!”
setelah mengatakan demikian, Winston berlari secepat kilat dan menghi-

lang dari pandangan Kharisma. Itulah saat pertama kali Kharisma mera-
sakan bahwa Winston telah mencuri separuh dari hatinya, membawanya
pergi dan meninggalkan dirinya dalam kehampaan.
Karena major yang berbeda maka hampir tidak mungkin mereka
akan bertemu lagi di kampus yang begitu besarnya. Lagipula hari itu entah
bagaimana ceramah khusus mengenai Chemistry mengambil tempat dekat
department Musik, sehingga hal itu menyebabkan mereka berdua bertemu
lagi. Quarter berikutnya Kharisma bertemu lagi dengan Winston, kali ini di
toko buku. Langsung saja mereka saling memberikan no telpon mereka
masing-masing. Pertemuan yang kedua ini membuka jalan buat perasaan
romantis mereka mengambil tempat di semua kegiatan mereka. Lagi lagi
karena major yang berbeda mereka cuma bisa kencan dalam waktu-waktu
tertentu saja seperti saat lagi quarter break setelah midterm.
Pertemuan-pertemuan atau dating-dating yang terbatas itu justru
membuat cinta mereka semakin kental, karena mereka masing-masing sal-
ing merindu. Karena itu setiap kali mereka mempunyai kesempatan ber-
temu, mereka akan menghabiskan waktu mereka dengan se-efisien

mungkin. Dan biasanya mereka mengisi waktu mereka dengan hal-hal
yang tidak mungkin mereka lupakan. Kharisma selalu men-support page-
laran musik atau konsert yang ingin didengar oleh Winston, begitu juga
sebaliknya Winston selalu berusaha mengimbangi MAJOR GAP yang ada
diantara mereka. Ketika hubungan sudah semakin intim mereka mulai mau
pergi kegereja bersama. Walaupun mereka masing-masing sudah mem-
punyai gereja sendiri-sendiri. tapi mereka selalu “Criss-Cross” dari kedua
belah pihak berusaha mengenal latar belakang keluarga masing-masing
dan teman-teman mereka masing-masing.
Pihak keluarga Kharisma, setelah mengetahui hubungan anaknya
dengan Winston yang majornya totally berbeda tidak menyetujui hubun-
gan ini. Alasan sebenarnya adalah orang tua Kharisma ingin menjodohkan
anaknya dengan anak teman baik mereka yang adalah seorang Dokter.
Sehingga pekerjaan yang serupa antara suami istri akan membuat rumah
tangga mereka berkurang masalahnya karena mereka masing-masing
mengerti pekerjaan pasangan hidup mereka. Ketika hal ini diberitahukan
kepada Kharisma, Kharisma jelas-jelas menentang akan hal ini dan meno-
lak turut campur orang tuanya terhadap masa depannya.
Malam itu Kharisma dan Winston sedang merayakan anniversary
mereka yang tidak terasa sudah berjalan dua tahun. Mereka sedang dinner
di restaurant yang fancy, dan Winston secara diam-diam meminta teman-
temanya men-surprisekan dinner mereka dengam mengiringi santap malam
mereka dengan ‘mini concert” mereka menyanyikan lagu ciptaan Winston
sendiri yang berjudul “You’ve Brought Love to My Heart.”
Kharisma menangis ketika mendegar lirik lagu yang diciptakan oleh Win-
ston untuknya.
Saat itu adalah saat yang paling tidak akan terlupakan oleh Kharisma; at-
mosphere romantic yang diciptakan melalui lagu, champagne, dan tatapan
mata. Winston telah menghanyutkan seluruh perasaan Kharisma yang me-
nyatu dengan perasaan Winston. Setelah dinner mereka sempat berjalan-
jalan di sepanjang Santa Monica 3rd Street Promenade. Sepanjang jalan
mereka bergandengan tangan dan saling mengikrarkan cinta sejati mereka.
Buat Kharisma tidak ada apapaun yang sanggup membelah tirai-tirai cinta
yang sudah di ciptakan oleh mereka berdua.
Hari telah larut malam, Winston mengantarkan Kharisma pulang
continued to page 46
Baby{s ‘
1st Christmas
Once again, IEC Azusa is crowded with the coming of new born babies
this year. We proudly present the eight new cute comers in the order
of their earliest birth. We also interviewed the parents to share their
impressions of their new born babies. Enjoy.
Audrey Josephine Tjandra

(June 26, 2007)
The day when Audrey was delivered was a big
miracle for us. My morning sickness was re-
ally bad. Thank God for our brothers and
sisters at IEC Azusa that always prayed for
me and supported our family. I never imag-
ined that for 2 months we really depended
on their love. They sent my lunch every
day, warm and tasty. Whenever I shared
this experience, everybody would say
that they were really incredible. When
I entered my fifth month of pregnancy, I
was diagnosed with an ovarian cyst. My OB (Obstetri-
cian) suggested me to have an operation right away. I was scared
to death. They did a lot of test to check if it was a cancer. We prayed
and tried to hold the operation until the baby was delivered safely. God
really blessed us. Audrey was delivered safely. However, two days later
she was sent to the NICU. They found her white blood cell was increas-
ing and her bilirubin level was high too. She had to stay for a week. We
had an emotional roller coaster when we dealt with this kind of stuff,
but God really loves us. She was discharged without any concern. When
we rely our live on God, He will take care of it. Our worry cannot do any-
thing good at all, but God can. AGAPE — Christmas 2007 39
Ethan Immanuel Hosea
(May 24, 2007)
Kami mengucapkan syukur karena bisa

merayakan natal tahun ini dengan baby
Ethan. Buat kami dikaruniakan seorang
anak adalah the best Christmas present
ever.
John Wilson Suwanto

(November 16, 2007)
Kita tidak merasakan secapek dan

setegang seperti waktu Joel dila-
hirkan. Sekarang bisa lebih tidur
karena tau what to expect. Baby
John lebih diem dan Joel lebih ak-
tive. Seneng karena bisa bikin Joel
seneng.
Chryssa Hope Adidjaja
(November 14, 2007)
We thank God for our new addition,

Chryssa (follower of Christ) Hope Adi-
djaja. Throughout the pregnancy, we
faced with many struggles, challeng-
es, concerns, and worries. All we can
do was just to practice our faith and
put our hope in Christ. God showed us
His promises with the smooth delivery,
Wilis’ quick recovery, and many other
blessings received. We also like to thank
our fellow brothers & sisters who have
been praying for us endlessly.
Abigail Yunice Chang
(August 17, 2007)
Sugi sang joyfully, “Tujuh belas agustus

tahun dua ribu tujuh …”
Bersyukur & berterima kasih sama Tuhan
dikasih Abigail dalam keluarga kita.
Walaupun cape bergadang tapi enjoy &
Happy dikasih kepercayaan sama Tuhan
buat jadi orangtua.
Sugi (again) said, “By the way, anaknya
mirip kaya gua loh. Kaga mirip Katherine.”
Abigail Phoebe Kusdono

(February 22, 2007)
Abigail is the only girl and the last

child in the family. It’s a blessing for
us. She brings joy and noise to our
family. As Hubert said, she’s a forever
best Christmas present for him.
Kenneth Moses Eddy

(April 07, 2007)
Praise the Lord for our first Christmas

baby present, the Merry Little Kenneth.
Thank you for all the love and care from
all of you.

Winter - continued from page 42
kerumahnya. Winston tetap memperhatikan Kharisma sampai dia masuk
kedalam rumahnya dan menutup pintunya. Akan tetapi sebelum Kharisma
menutup pintu rumahnya, Winston masih sempat melihat bahwa Papa Kha-
risma sedang menunggunya, dan juga Winston sempat mendengar suara
Ayah Kharisma yang kedengaran tidak ramah. Adegan yang tidak men-
genakkan hati membuat Winston ingin mengetahui apa yang terjadi. Ingin
Winston mengetuk pintu rumahnya, tetapi tiba- tiba dia juga mendengar
Kharisma menjawab teriakan ayahnya. Winston mengurungkan niatanya
untuk mengetuk pintu rumah. Di depan pintu itu Winston baru mengetahui
kalau ayah Kharisma memandang rendah Winston karena majornya. Rupa-
nya orang tua Kharisma adalah orang-orang yang menyandarkan hidupnya
pada materi yang berkelimpahan. Dan music adalah salah satu major untuk
orang-orang yang tidak akan menikmati kemewahan dunia ini.
Winston sangat sedih ketika mengetahui bahwa orang tua Kharisma
tidak merestui cinta mereka. Bersamaan dengan itu, baru beberapa lang-
kah Winston beranjak dari jendela rumah Kharisma, secara tiba-tiba Kharis-
ma berlari keluar, rupanya dia sangat jengkel dengan penghinaan ayahnya
terhadap laki-laki yang dicintainya. Ketika tiba di luar Kharisma juga kaget
ketika dia melihat Winston sedang berjalan menuju kemobilnya.
“Winston.....!”
mendengar suara seseorang yang dicintainya memanggilnya, secara reflek
Winston menoleh kebelakang dan berkata:
Kharisma.....!”
“Winston... apakah.....? apakah...?”
“Kharisma.....”
Winston berlari dan memeluk Kharisma, lalu mereka berpelukan sambil
menangis. Lalu Winston mengajak Kharisma ke rumahnya. Orang-orang di
rumah Winston sudah pada tidur karena hari sudah lewat midnight. Di ka-
mar Winston mereka dengan kepala yang dingin berembug, membicarakan
masalah yang tiba-tiba muncul di hadapan mereka.
Winston meminta kepada Kharisma untuk melarikan diri dan melupakan
orang tua mereka, membangun keluarga yang baru. Akan tetapi Kharisma
tidak mau hal itu terjadi karena dia ingin menyelesaikan study mereka ter-
lebih dahulu, dan Kharisma berjanji bahwa dia akan selalu mencintai Win-
ston dengan atau tanpa restu dari orang tuanya.

Itulah saat terakhir mereka bertemu...., malam yang paling manis
buat Kharisma sebelum dia bertengkar dengan ayahnya.. tapi.. siapa yang
akan menyangka bahwa malam itu juga merupakan malam yang paling
kelam buatnya. Pada mulanya Kharisma cuma berpikir mungkin Winston
masih marah atas perlakuan ayahnya terhadap karier yang dimiliki oleh
Winston. Kharisma menganggap setelah beberapa hari Winston pasti akan
menghubunginya lagi.... tetapi kini.. ternyata Winston pergi.. pergi dan
tanpa kembali.
Ketika Kharisma datang kerumah Winston. Orang tua Winston cuma
berkata bahwa Winston ingin transfer kelasnya keluar State. Dan ia ingin
mengadakan survey dahulu. Tapi ternyata Winston tidak pernah kembali
dan keluarganya pun tidak bisa memberi tahu Kharisma dimana Winston
berada. Bahkan beberapa bulan kemudian keluarga Winston pun semua
pindah entah kemana.
Kesetiaan cinta Kharisma telah membuat Kharisma menutup pintu
hatinya dari pria yang lain, juga termasuk pria yang ingin di jodohkan oleh
orang tuanya. Kini Kharisma tinggal seorang diri di rumah yang dibelinya
dari hasil jerih payahnya seorang diri. Kharisma sengaja juga mengambil
pensiunnyanya lebih awal dari sebelumnya. Padahal dengan pengalaman
dan pengetahuan nya tentang Chemistry dia bisa mengajar di universitas
atau terus bekerja sebagai general menager di suatu kantor yang ber-
hubungan langsung dengan Inspection of Industrial pollution. Tetapi Kharis-
ma ingin mendapatkan ketenangan buat jiwanya. Dia setuju dengan paham
kalau Winston berpendapat bahwa money can not win everything, yang
paling penting adalah ketenangan jiwa dan kebahagaiaan bathin. Lagipula
Kharisma berpikir untuk siapakah uang yang akan dicarinya nanti padahal
dia tidak mempunyai suami atau turunan. Karena dia sudah merasa cukup
untuk hari tuanya maka Kharisma mengambil masa pensiunannya lebih
dini.
Beberapa jam kemudian, Kharisma terbangun ketika dia merasakan
bahwa dadanya terasa sakit luar biasa, dan seketika itu juga dia merasakan
bahwa matanya terasa sangat gelap sekali. Rasanya ruangan kamarnya
menjadi sangat sesak bagai tiada udara sama sekali. Kharisma merasakan
bahwa ini adalah gejala yang tidak baik, mungkin ini serangan jantung men-
dadak. Karena itu sebisa mungkin dia mencari telpon dan memutar nomor

911. ketika dia selesai memberitahukan dimana lokasi rumahnya, dia mera-
sakan bahwa dia akan segera pass-out.
Ketika dia sadarkan diri, dia sudah dikelilingi oleh para juru–rawat
dan dokter.
“oh kau sudah sadar... bagus...sebaiknya kau tinggal di rumah sakit dulu
untuk sementara sampai kami mengetahui dengan jelas apa yang terjadi
dengan dirimu ok? Nah sekarang Suster akan membawa kau ke kamar
yang harus kau tinggal...”
Kharisma tidak menjawab hanya mengangguk saja karena dia masih

merasa tubuhnya sangat lemah. Dan bantuan oksigen yang ada di perna-
fasannya membuat dia segan untuk menjawab pertanyaan dokter. Ketika
tubuhnya yang terbaring di ranjang yang beroda empat didorong menuju
kamarnya, mereka meliwati beberapa shall baik itu ruang periksa, labora-
torium dan kamar untuk pasien laki-laki. Ketika mereka baru saja meliwati
ruangan pasien laki-laki dia sayup-sayup mendengar seseorang ber-
senandung suatu lagu... sebuah lagu yang tak akan pernah dilupakan-
nya “You’ve brought love to my heart.” Hati Kharisma seketika itu juga
melompat, dan dia secara otomatis bangkit duduk dari tidurnya. Lalu dia
berkata kepada para suster yang mendorong keretanya.
“berhenti sebentar .. please...!”
semua orang yang mendorong keretanya secara spontan langusng ber-
henti mendengar permintaan aneh dari pasien baru mereka. Ketika mereka
berhenti mendorong, Kharisma mencopot bantuan oksigen yang ada di
hidungnya, lalu dia turun dari kereta dan berjalan memasuki ruangan untuk
pasien laki-laki... ketika dia sampai di depan pintu kamar pasien untuk pria
tsb. Dia langsung memanggil nama laki-laki yang selama ini dirindukannya.
“Winston.....engkau kah itu.....yang bernyanyi....”

“tidak ada orang yang bernama Winston... disini..” terdengar jawa
ban dari salah seorang yang tinggal di kamar itu.
“lalu siapa yang menyanyikan lagu “you’ve brought love to my heart”
“aku.....” seorang yang lain menjawab pertanyaan Kharisma.
“Kau... kau bukan Winston.. kenapa kau bisa tahu lagu ini?”

“ooh... aku beli disc lagu ini sewaktu aku menonton Orchestranya di
Pantages Theatre.
“Apakah.. Conductor Orchestra nya bernama Winston?”
“Mana aku tahu.. aku cuma diajak oleh anakku yang sekolah mu-
sic...., yang aku tahu bahwa orchestra tsb. datang dari Eropa....”
“Hah....” Kharisma terkesima, betapa tolotnya dia selama ini, bahkan
baru tadi
pagi pun dia sempat berpikir bahwa negara-negara Eropa adalah
negara yang terkenal dengan negara musik. Dan betapa bodohnya
pula dirinya mengapa dia tidak pernah memperhatikan pagelaran-
pagelaran seperti orchestra.. bukankah...mencari jejaknya Winston?
“apakah... Orchestra tsb. masih berlangsung?” Kharisma bertanya
lagi kepada pria yang menonton orchestra tsb.
“sebentar... sekarang tgl. Berapa? Hmm tgl. 17? Rasanya masih ber-
langsung...dan weekend ini tgl 19 adalah pagelaran yang terakhir...
you’d better hurry up if you don’t want to miss him again!”
Kata-kata dari laki-laki itu bagaikan sebuah pecutan yang pedas buat hati
Kharisma, tapi tentu saja Kharisma sangat berterima kasih pada laki-laki
setengah tua yang telah memberikan kabar terbaik yang pernah didengar-
nya selama ini.
Sabtu malam Kharisma seorang diri datang ke Pantages Theatre di
Hollywood. Kharisma sudah berusaha melakukan yang terbaik. Dia sudah
bersitegang dengan dokter bahwa dia tidak mau tinggal di rumah sakit, dan
dia menyatakan kepada dokter bahwa dia tidak kenapa-napa. Setelah dia
diperbolehkan pulang dia langsung membooking bangku yang paling de-
pan, sedapat-dapatnya dekat ke conductornya. Kini dia duduk dengan ba-
hagia dan gelisah; bahagia karena dia akan bertemu lagi dengan Winston
setelah 30 tahun lenyap tanpa bekas. Di sisi yang lain dia gelisah karena
Winston mungkin akan kecewa kalau melihat dirinya yang sekarang bukan
lagi gadis yang berumur 20 tahun.... apakah dirinya telah menjadi seorang
nenek yang menyeramkan dimata Winston? Apakah Winston masih sama
seperti Winston yang dikenalnya 30 tahun yang lalu? Apakah Eropa te-
lah menyulap Winston menjadi seorang yang lain? Apakah Winston telah
menikah? Apakah Winston masih mencintai dirinya? Semakin Kharisma

berusaha menjawab semua pertanyaan-pertanyaan ini, semakin pusing
dia memikirkannya dan semakin bermunculan pula pertanyaan-pertanyaan
yang menyakitkan lainnya. Sekali lagi Kharisma berusaha menyakinkan
dirinya bahwa Winston yang memimpin orchestra ini adalah Winston yang
pernah dan masih tetap dicintainya? Di program booklet-nya, tercantum
nama “Winston Brighton” sebagai pemimpin orchestra.
Rupanya mimpi Winston telah menjadi kenyataan. Lalu apakah mak-
sud kedatangannya kembali ke USA? Apakah dia ingin membuktikan ke-
pada papanya Kharisma bahwa seorang seniman musik bisa menjadi kaya
dan terkenal seperti dirinya? Kalau benar Winston bermaksud demikian
maka semuanya akan sia-sia saja, karena pertama-tama ayahnya sudah
meninggal. Kedua, ayahnya sendiri telah berkata pada Kharisma bahwa
dia menyesal telah mengeluarkan kata-kata seperti itu yang mana telah
menyakiti hati banyak orang. Apalagi ketika ayahnya mengetahui bahwa
Kharisma tidak mau menikah, maka semakin hancurlah hati papanya akan
perbuatan bodoh yang pernah dilakukannya.
Lampu di ruangan theatre telah diredupkan tanda bahwa concert
akan segera dimulai. Pertama-tama, para musisi masuk terlebih dahulu,
mulai dari yang main drum, cello, violin, saxophone, trumpet, flute guitar,
melody, bass sampai alat-alat music yang terkecil pun ada orang yang
memainkannya. Setelah semua crew orchestra tampil kemuka, maka yang
terakhir tampil adalah Winston yang dicintainya. Ketika Winston melangkah
keluar, semua penonton bertepuk tangan dengan meriah sebagai tanda
penghormatan, kagum, dan rasa bangga karena hari ini semua orang bisa
menyaksikan seorang seniman besar yang telah begitu terkenal di selu-
ruh Eropa dan kini datang ke Amerika. Sewaktu Winston berjalan maju
kedepan, maka jantung Kharisma seolah-olah berhenti berdenyut. Hatinya
melompat-lompat dengan bahagianya. Winston seperti tidak berubah. Dia
masih tetap handsome dan dengan rambut nya yang agak gondrong se-
makin membuat dia terlihat lebih muda. Mata Kharisma sempat melihat
bahwa kedua jari manis Winston tidak diikat dengan cincin perkawinan. Hal
itu membuat harapan Kharisma menjadi semakin besar.
Selama concert berlangsung, beberapa kali Kharisma beradu pan-
dang dengan Winston. Dia berusaha tersenyum tapi dia tidak merasa
bahwa Winston membalas senyumannya. Hal itu membuat Kharisma men

jadi sedih, seolah-olah harapannya hancur berkeping-keping. Dan mungkin
pula Winston sudah lupa siapa dirinya.
Lagu terakhir yang dipagelarkan oleh Winston adalah sebuah lagu
contemporer yang telah diubah menjadi semi-classic,dan lagu itu adalah
“You’ve Brought Love to My Heart.” Air mata Kharisma menitik tatkala
dia mengingat dimana lagu itu pertama kali dikumandangkan. Apakah ini
lagu yang terakhir kalinya dia akan pernah dengar? Bersamaan dengan
berakhirnya lagu itu maka berakhir pula pagelaran ini setelah selama dua
weekend berturut-turut pentas di Pantages Theatre. Semua hadirin berdiri
sebagai tanda kekaguman mereka atas apa yang telah mereka dengar dan
saksikan. Lalu Winston lah yang pertama-tama masuk kedalam, diikuti den-
gan yang lain-lainnya. Semua tetap bertepuk tangan sampai semua crew
tampil kemuka sekali lagi sebagai tanda terima kasih.
Setelah itu mulailah para hadirin meninggalkan tempat duduk mer-
eka satu persatu. Kharisma sengaja duduk terus, dan dia mengharapkan
bahwa dia mempunyai kesempatan untuk menemui Winston. Tapi ternyata
Winston tidak juga muncul. Ahk mungkin dia terlalu sibuk untuk memberes-
kan semuanya karena ini adalah pagelarannya yang terakhir. Lagipula
pasti banyak pula orang-orang yang ingin minta tanda tangannya atau ingin
kenalan dengannya; berpikir sampai kesana maka hati Kharisma menjadi
kecil. Lalu dia mengambil keputusan untuk meninggalkan ruangan ini dan
untuk melupakan segala-galanya. Dia tidak tahu akan samakah keadaan
hatinya setelah dia melihat Winston dan ternyata tidak ada connection
sama sekali. Tampaknya bagi Winston semuanya telah terkubur lama dan
dia pun tidak ingat lagi akan sedkitpun kenang-kenangan tentang cinta mer-
eka.
Kharisma telah siap-siap untuk beranjak dari tempat duduknya, ketika itu
dia merasakan bahwa ada seseorang yang menghampir dirinya dan ber-
tanya padanya.
“Apakah anda yang bernama Kharisma?”

“Benar saya sendiri... ada yang bisa saya bantu?”
“Ada seseorang yang ingin bertemu dengan anda.. bisakah anda
mengikuti saya?”
“Hmm siapa anda... dan siapa yang ingin bertemu dengan saya?

Untuk apa saya mengikuti anda?”
“ooh... maaf... saya diutus oleh bapak Winston karena bapak Win-
ston tidak bisa menemui anda secara langsung karena mungkin
akan terlalu menarik perhatian pada hadirin yang lainnya, karena itu-
lah maka dia meminta saya untuk mengundang anda ketempatnya?
Bersediakah anda?”
sudah pasti Kharisma akan mengikuti orang utusan Winston tsb., kem-
anapun akan di turutinya. Dan orang itu membawa Kharisma ke ruangan
Winston.
Ketika pertama kali mereka bertemu, mereka berdua diam dan sal-
ing menatap. Bibir mereka tidak mengatakan apa-apa, akan tetapi sinar
mata mereka sudah berbicara lebih banyak dari apa yang dapat dikatakan
oleh bibir mereka. Setelah beberapa saat mereka akhirnya berpelukan,
Kharisma menangis dengan tersedu-sedu seolah-olah kerinduan selama 30
tahun ini telah tertumpah semua di ruangan itu.
Winston memang telah berimigrasi ke Vienna dan mempunyai villa
di Paris. Kini Winston mengajak Kharisma untuk pergi bersamanya. Alasan
Winston kembali dan mengadakan consert di Amerika adalah ingin men-
emui Kharisma. Kini setelah dia mengetahui bahwa Kharisma pun tidak
menikah demi Winston. Maka semakin bulatlah niat Winston untuk mem-
boyong Kharisma ke Eropa bersamanya.
Kharisma berkata bahwa bukankah dia sudah terlalu tua buat Win-
ston, lagipula Winston masih terlihat jauh lebih muda dari pada Kharisma
sendiri; ibaratnya Kharisma sudah memasuki musim Winter sedang Win-
ston bagaikan musim Semi dan Summer yang selalu terlihat muda dan
bergairah. Kharisma menangis di pelukan Winston, dia tidak menyangka
bahwa penantiannya adalah tidak sia-sia. Begitu juga dengan penantian
Winston. Kharisma merasa beruntung karena dirinyalah yang dipilih oleh
Winston bukan wanita-wanita yang lebih muda, cantik, dan kaya dibanding-
kan dengan dirinya. Kini dia tahu diantara tangisnya adalah bahwa dia akan
terus bersama dengan Winston, lelaki yang pernah mencuri hatinya dan
akan selalu memiliki hatinya. Meskipun dia tahu bahwa mengingat dirinya
yang bagaikan musim winter, tapi musim winter itu bukan berarti adalah
akhir musim tetapi itu adalah awal musim, yang akan diikuti dengan musim

semi dan musim panas. Kini selama dia di samping Winston dan Winston
selalu berada disisinya maka hatinya akan selalu cerah bagaikan musim
semi, dan cintanya akan selalu membara bagaikan matahari di musim pa-
nas.
Kharisma tidak menyangka bahwa musim dingin kali ini telah mem-
bawa kehangatkan yang tidak akan bisa dirasakan oleh siapapun kecuali
oleh dirinya sendiri, dan Winston, lelaki yang di kaguminya, seorang pemu-
da tampan yang telah mendominasi hidup dan hatinya, dan seorang yang
telah membawa cinta kedalam hatinya; dan, cinta itu tetap tumbuh sampai
kapanpun dan tidak akan pernah layu dalam musim apapun..... because
“You’ve Brought Love to My Heart” seperti apa yang telah di-declare-kan
oleh Winston kepadanya.
Selesai,
Early Winter,
Nov, 2007

Christmas Wishlist
Jesus has sacrificed himself by incarnating himself into a human being to be our Savior. That
is the ultimate Christmas present from God; but, what do we actually want for Christmas this
year? Let’s check out what some of the congregations want….
Ev. Wilson
Suwanto:
Yesaya uh…*thinking*, a Timothy Gozali:
Adidjaja: book, a Christian *playing with his
nothing… book. Nintendo DS* I
don’t know
Hannah
Wangsa:
*quiet*
Jason a story book
Kawilarang:
uh, that’s a good
question….I Tesia Trisnadi:
don’t know hm.. Christmas wish...
I’d like a nice dinner party
for church friends, then
school friends. So we can all
celebrate Christmas together.
And also... for my friends to
Janice Atmadja:
know Jesus and accept Him
uh… I don’t
as their savior.
know…oh, this
pair of shoes from
Nordstrom rack,
Cole Haan, size 8 _.
Pency Kinnard:
Rocky Tindage: I want world
for this Christmas, peace… no,
I would like to instead I want the
see growth in our second coming of
congregation. Christ.
Jennifer Tjong:
I want no homework,
so I can spend time
with my whole family...
now that’s a merry
Rev. Kristanto
Christmas ^^
Hosea: no Arnaldi
present, just Rustandi:
praise God. I want a longer
holiday.
Maria Cindy:
*thinking*…
same thing every
Albert Halim:
Jonathan Tjong: year. I want
I want a new guitar
world peace and vacation. I’m so
preferably a martin or
world suffering to tired.
Taylor. Umm maybe a
end… new bass, musicman
stingray.
Whatever we want for Christmas, never forget its true meaning.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
r Kindergarte
n Kids. s a winner.
This Quiz is fo h e lp a llo w e d to qualify a
and/or adult
No parental e ark?
th
nimal did M oses take on
1. How ma ny of each a
Zero
One
Two
Three faith?
water bec ause he had
b le to walk on
2. Who was a
Mark
Stephen
Peter
Judas
hat?
e Eve from w
3. God mad
Adam’s hair
Dust
an Apple
Adam’s rib
sa…?
4. Joseph wa
Tax collector
Fisherman
Carpenter
Preacher
ncense,
nted gifts o f Gold, Franki
5. The “Wis e Men” prese
and … ?
Jewels
m/kids
nitytoday.co
52 AGAPE — Christmas 2007 ww.christia
Credit to: w
Myrrh
Hyssop
Food on
id Jesus ha ve at the Serm
loav es of bread d
6. How many
t?
on the Moun
Five
Seven
Nine
Eleven
there?
disciples were
7. How many
Three
Six
Nine
Twelve
days?
the dead in how many
8. Je sus rose from
One
Three
Five
Seven
ny days?
d the wo rld in how ma
9. God create
Three
Four
Five
Six
on?
e seventh day of creati
God do on th
10. What did
Rested
as
Made the se
Created rain ments
ro te th e Te n Command
W
ner will get a cute
, 2008. The win
Sc ho ol Te ac her by Feb. 15 iti on .
Sunday Easter Ed
swers to your ed on AGAPE
Submit your an ca nd ie s an d will be notifi
with
easter egg filled
AYAM
BAKAR
LIMAU
Cara Mengolah :
1. Haluskan bawang merah.
2. Haluskan bawang putih.
3. Rendam ayam dalam air jeruk dan garam selama

30 menit. Sisihkan.
4. Tumis bawang merah dan putih yang telah dihalus-

kan bersama daun jeruk hingga harum.
5. Masukkan ayam, aduk sampai berubah warna.

Bahan-Bahan :
6. Tambahkan kecap manis dan santan. Aduk-aduk
1 ekor ayam, potong 6, memarkan hingga setengah matang.
1 sendok makan air jeruk limau
1 sendok makan garam 7. Bakar bersama potongan jeruk limau hingga
2 buah jeruk limau, belah dua matang.
3 sendok makan kecap manis
100 ml santan 8. Sajikan bersama nasi hangat.
4 lembar daun jeruk
2 sendok makan minyak untuk
menumis
5 buah bawang merah
3 siung bawang putih

Pumpkin
Cheesecake
with Walnut &
Rolled Oat Crust
Preparation Directions:
Crust:
1. Cream Crisco, water, cinnamon, nutmeg, and
brown sugar. Slowly add flour, oats, and walnuts.
Mix well. Lightly spray 9 inch spring form pan
with Crisco cooking spray.
2. Press mixture into the bottom and one inch up

the sides of pan. Bake at 325 for 10 minutes. Cool
Ingredients: on wire rack.
Crust:
1/2 cup Crisco® Butter Shortening
1/4 cup packed brown sugar Filling:
1/4 cup quick oats 1. Beat room temperature cream cheese and
1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts sugar until fully combined. Add flour, nutmeg, and
3 teaspoons water cinnamon. Mix. Add room temperature eggs one
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon at a time mixing just enough to incorporate each
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg egg. Do not over mix.
1 cup Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose
Flour 2. Fold in pumpkin pie filling. Pour mixture into
prepared crust and bake at 450°F for 10 minutes.
Filling: Lower temperature to 225°F and bake for 1 hour
2 pounds cream cheese (4 8-oz and 40 minutes.
pkgs)
8 ounces pumpkin pie filling 3. Turn oven off, slightly open oven door and
1 cup sugar allow to cool to room temperature. Refrigerate
5 eggs overnight (or at least 4 hours).
3 tablespoons Pillsbury BEST® All
Purpose Flour
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

H humor ————————————————————— These jokes are taken from www.gcfl.net
"A cheerful heart is good medicine..."
(Proverbs 17:22a)
Santa Funnies
What do you call Santa Clause after he’s fallen into a
fireplace?
Krisp Kringle
Where do Santa’s reindeers like to stop for lunch?
Deery Queen
Which of Santa’s reindeers needs to mind his manners

the most?
“Rude”olph
If athletes get athlete’s foot, what do astronauts get?

Missile toe
What is the cow’s holiday greeting?

Mooooory Christmas
What does Santa like to eat?

A jolly roll
What reindeer has the cleanest antlers?
Comet

Christmas 2007 Web

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Shalom, saudara-saudari yang dikasihi dalam Kristus. Hari Natal

Produksi GII Azusa

2 AGAPE — Christmas 2007

atau memberikannya kepada redaksi.

11 Article: Sex or Lust

16 Article: Fakta Tentang Saksi Jehovah

19 Role Model: Ruth

30 Tips: 5 Ways - To Be Patient and Kind During Holiday Shopping

39 Parenting: Baby 1st Christmas

54 Menu: Ayam Bakar Limau & Pumpkin Cheesecake

Author: Robert S. McGee

“An accurate, biblical self-concept contains both

AGAPE — Christmas 2007 5

And do not be conformed to this world, but be trans-

6 AGAPE — Christmas 2007

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Doubt is something all Christians experience. When

It’s first important to understand what causes a

8 AGAPE — Christmas 2007

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Prayer is the best way to get answers. When we

10 AGAPE — Christmas 2007

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The important thing is how do we 3. NOT EVEN A HINT

12 AGAPE — Christmas 2007

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16 AGAPE — Christmas 2007

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ke dalam pengenalan yang benar akan Anak Allah,

yaitu: Yesus Kristus Tuhan kita. Amin.

Consulted Source: Walter Martin, The Kingdom of the

Catatan: Cults (Minneapolis, Bethany House Publishers, 1997).

Saksi Jehovah mempunyai terjemahan Alkitab sendiri,

pada pengetahuan bahasa asli yang benar. Terjema-

terjemahan objektif oleh kalangan manapun kecuali

oleh kalangan Saksi Jehovah. 3 Let God Be True, 108

Perhatikan perbedaan antara NIV dan NWT dalam

Yohanes 1:1 4 The Watchtower, February 15, 1983: 12

NIV: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word

NWT: In [the] beginning the Word was, and the Word

Saksi Jehovah (NWT) menganggap Yesus sebagai

King James, NRSV, NASB, dsb) menerjemahkan kata

itu sebagai “God” atau ALLAH. Ini hanyalah contoh

18 AGAPE — Christmas 2007

Key Scriptures: Ruth 2-4; Matthew 1:5

20 AGAPE — Christmas 2007

Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you Remember, God has already

AGAPE — Christmas 2007 21

22 AGAPE — Christmas 2007

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24 AGAPE — Christmas 2007

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28 AGAPE — Christmas 2007

Don’t be a fool. You will reap what

God Bless You All

AGAPE — Christmas 2007 29

1. Be Kind While Shopping garage at night.

30 AGAPE — Christmas 2007

Musim dingin tahun ini datang lebih awal daripada tahun-tahun