The reflecting theologian

I think I'm a bit too anti-opposition for my own good, but then, people want balancing voice, so I have decided to take on the task of the balancing voice amidst all the pro-opposition voice. Or should I say pro-WP and pro-Chiam voice? Today I want to comment on this particular issue of snap election. I have heard comments that the PAP had been relatively unfair to the opposition, sometimes only allowing the campaigning period to be the bare minimum and not allowing the opposition to prepare for the election enough. Indeed, that has been the charge in 1963, and I dun think that had ever diminished over time. The main issue is that the PAP knows when's the election, and therefore will be prepared way beforehand to run the GE. My disgust at such an argument is that people who make this argument dun understand the politics in Singapore. I would argue that politics in Singapore, or elections in Singapore, are won primarily by excellent grassroot relationship with the people. This h...

Fearing the battle was over And I'd already lost the war, I was tired of trying and failing. I just couldn't fight anymore. So, dragging my battle-scarred body, I crawled to the foot of the cross. And I sobbed. 'Oh please, Father forgive me. But I tried...I tried.. and still lost.' Then the air grew silent around me. I heard his voice just as clear as the dawn: 'Oh, My child, though you are tired and weary, You can't stop, you have to go on.' At the foot of the Cross , where I met Him, At the foot of the Cross, where He died, I felt love, as I knelt in His presence . I felt hope, as I looked in His eyes. Then He gathered me lovingly to Him, As around us God's light clearly shone. And together we walked though my lifetime To heal every wound I had known. I found bits of my dreams, long forgotten , And pieces of my life on the floor. But I watched as He tenderly blessed them, And my life was worth living once more. I knew then why I had been losing. I knew...

The usher certificate of commendation reads: You have been serving as a wonderful leader in the ushering team. You are capable of handling pastoral and team ministry well.Being able to balance and being available to serve, you are indeed a role model for all the usher to follow after! It's a blessing to have you in the team Quite a far cry from what I was a year ago when I was struggling to balance between leadership in the cg and leadership in the usher team. I guess over the year, I have matured to be able to balance between these two. I sometimes look at ushers who have to leave the ministry and wonder why. Of course, they have their own valid reasons. Some, due to the specific needs of the cg, have to leave, some can't balance, others need to move on to other ministries. In any case, I have been asked frequently why I have not left the ministry. My answer is simple, that it does not contribute to me building the cg in a significant way other than allowing me to be with the ...

First thing first... Finally a full cg photo. I have been thinking a fair bit on certain aspects of a Christian life. The stuff that I will be discussing might offend people but I hope that it will provoke and shake our thoughts and allow these strains of consciousness to challenge our comfort zone. 1. The theory of sensitivity Imagine this scenario. A friend is undergoing some tough time in his studies, and probably in some of his relationships with people as well. You come along, and start talking about the recent assignment you have gotten back which scored an A and the fun time you had last night in a class outing. Your friend listened, was a bit affected, but chose not to say anything and just listen. Another bugger, who knows what is going on, come along and rebuked you for the lack of sensitivity to your friend. I tell you, I will get pissed off. I asked myself, why would I get pissed off? Is it because of the age old claim that if you get angry, you are confronting yourself or ...

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty." Then the second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull." Finally the third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me." After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, ...

Here is an example of miscommunication in a company, the boss of the company initiates a mail to invite his staff to witness an eclipse and how his message is passed by employees at different levels in the hierarchy and finally how it reaches to the staff... Mail from CEO to Manager: Today at 11 o’clock there will be a total eclipse of the sun. This is when the sun disappears behind the moon for two minutes. As this is something that cannot be seen every day, time will be allowed for employees to view the eclipse in the parking lot. Staff should meet in the lot at ten to eleven, when I will deliver a short speech introducing the eclipse, and giving some background information. Safety goggles will be made available at a small cost. Mail from Manager to Department Head: Today at ten to eleven, all staff should meet in the car park. This will be followed by a total eclipse of the sun, which will appear for two minutes. For a moderate cost, this will be made safe with goggles. The CEO will...

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?” “It was great, Dad.” “Did you see how poor people live?” the father asked. “Oh yeah,” said the son. “So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father. The son answered: “I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. “We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. “We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. “We have walls around ou...

The highlight of October is certainly not the 2 essays that will be due this coming 21 Oct but it was certainly an interesting experience with Hope Ipoh and Petaling Jaya at Redang over the weekend. Before I proceed further, below is some sceneries of Redang island: Yes, I included a squirrel as part of the scenery cos it is as such. It was part and parcel of the daily view at the cookhouse... Anyway, the group of us from Hope Singapore went to this retreat with the people from Hope Ipoh and Hope PJ. It was quite an exciting trip for me as it's the first time I'm attending a retreat with Hope people from different Hope churches. Not that I have not interacted with other Hope churches. Indeed, I do have friends in Hope HK also, but this is the first time I spent quite some intimate time with the brothers and sisters from the sister churches in a prolonged period of time staying together. Below are some footages of the trip itself: We arrived at Kuala Trengganu at about 6am on Sa...