The reflecting theologian

This GE made me rethink a lot of issues, not only about the opposition and PAP, but also about the voters. I'm pretty impressed by the lineup of the opposition this time round, yet I think the sentiment can be a bit misleading or even confusing at times. There are several terms which I think the world is sprouting that are not immediately obvious and necessarily true. The first is the term 'First World Parliament', as sprouted by the WP. It may be true that having a 'co-driver' will help to slap the driver when the driver falls asleep, but what makes them so sure that the 'co-driver' will not fall asleep together with the driver? I take issue with this because from what I have sensed in the new media, it seems that the generally accepted definition of a FWP is that with a strong opposition. But is it immediately obvious? This is a democracy. People vote with their pens and signal with their votes. I asked the question, if the PAP wins all 87 seats, is it s...

New Atheists (NA) = a new breed of atheists who volitionally believe that there is no God and there is no need for God and do not accommodate the role of religion in establishments, volitionally believe that science has reached the stage that God can be explained away. Anti-establishment voters (AEV) = a breed of voters in a democracy who are volitionally against the incumbent government and believe that the sentiments on the ground warrant a voting out of the incumbent government, and do not care which party gets voted in. The difference between the two group - nil. My observation online has shown me that cries for alternative voices by AEVare coupled with emotions and volitional intentions. My readings of NA stuff showed me that the cries that science has explained everything are coupled with emotions and volitional intentions. Both groups love not the truth but what they advocate. There is no difference between the two groups... well... other than the religious factor.

I had a discussion with a sister last week on this topic and thought I would like to expand the thought a little further. We were on this topic on different styles of preaching and services across different churches, after attending a devotion session at SAC. From what I know, there are generally two types of preaching that a church can adopt: expository and topical. Hope adopts the expository style mainly, which is preaching from a passage, instead of a topical one, which mainly scans the bible for relevant verses for a particular topic. The advantage of expository preaching is such that it forces the listeners and the preacher to look at what the bible says about a particular issue, given the content and the context of a particular passage. The danger of a topical preaching (though it can be mitigated by more vigilant bible study into the topic) is that people can quote verses out of context. However, even within the genre of expository preaching, different preachers and churches c...

I was listening to this song, which happens to be one of my favourite songs among all the Chinese PnW. Then comes the bridge: 耶穌感謝你 賜我新生命 This Good Friday and Easter, perhaps it is a good time to remember that Jesus died for us on the cross, to give us the new life, that is free of sin. In Him, we are clean and free. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. - John 17:3

Recently I got into a discussion, which seems to be appear more often since I started working, with my mum on giving to the church and family. My mum commented that she brought me up and took care of me and yet I give the same amount to her as to the church, which she said had not done anything. Normally getting into such discussion, most of us will tend not to know how to respond, especially when the discussion pricks into the emotional aspect of the person. The question remains for us as believers, how do we justify our giving to church to our parents in a sensitive and sensible manner? I think before going into my answers, which I derived after reflecting and praying, we will need to establish certain groundings with respect to the schism between our family and the church. Firstly, as a Christ follower, honoring our family is part of our worship to God, and this is explicitly stated in the bible: “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD y...

爸：「你看廿四孝的故事多感人，你做得到嗎？」 小明：「至少我能做到一樣，賣身葬父 媽：「電動玩具和100分，你選那一樣？」 小明：「100分」 媽：「你還是挺上進的嘛」 小明：「爸說如果我考100分，就送我電動玩具」 媽：「小明，男生要有骨氣，怎麼可以為了借電動玩具就跪下來求人。」 小明：「這有什麼關係？到時候他就會跪下來求我還他了」

Phil and Jill had been married for many years but now were in divorce court. The judge asked, ’Phil, is it true that the last three years of your marriage, you did not speak to Jill?’ Phil replies, ’Yes Judge, that is correct.’ ’And how do you explain this unusual conduct?’ the judge inquires. Phil replies, ’I didn’t want to interrupt her Your Honor.’

Powerful song.

The book on 'Notes towards the complete work of Shakespeare' is one of the funniest books I have ever read. It 'proves' how monkeys can produce Shakespearean work. Here's the epilogue of the book: naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaasssssssssssssssssfssssfhgggggggsssassfssssssgggggggaaavmlvvs- sajjjlssssssssssssssssajjjajaajjsssssaaaaaaaaaaaaavvjjjjlajjjjjaaaaaajjjjjjja- jjjjjjjdjjajjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjaajjjjjjjjjjjjjjaaaaaaaaaajjjjjjjajajjjjjjjaajjjjjjjjjjjjjb- jmmslllggmmlljjmmmmmmnjjjnvvvnbvvmmllnknnbmmmmlllllllllllllllll- lllllllllllblbbbbnnfllmnnmjfgmnmmmassssssjjkbhnmnn Well done, monkeys. I'm quite sure Richard Dawkins will be proud of your achievements.  And Richard Dawkins might well be on his way to produce the next Shakespearean hits. I look forward to it. If only the opposition party in Singapore is as intelligent as this. P.S: I didn't make this up. This book really exists and it's downloadable at ...

I believe it was either C.S Lewis or G.K Chesterton who made the comment that human beings are like fish out of water. We are in an environment which doesn't seem fit for us, and we are trying to make it fit. This may well be a sign that we don't really belong here on Earth but somewhere else, right at the feet of God's throne. Take my work for example, I can fully justify that my work is going to have impact on the long term care in Singapore, since my portfolio is essentially in this area. But justify as I can, I will never be able to fully justify how eternity can play a part in the whole overall picture. It is totally out of place and I can feel it. It's the kind of 'out of water' feeling where I will never feel 'in place'. Maybe the answer comes from the Scripture. I have come to be convinced that the world we are living in is a world that is reigned by SA Tan, rather than God. In essence, this is the devil's kingdom. Take a look at some of th...

Some thoughts on my recent trip to Batam. This is one trip that essentially epitomised the journey of Joshua and Caleb into Canaan. It was one which was made with faith. It was a continuation of the first trip there when we first visited the place to recee for YG camp venue. Just felt that the trip is a divine experience. The pastor whom we spoke to and the other people around confirmed that university students are the unreached group in Batam, which is our exact target group. We established some links with the churches there that allowed us to send people down to learn. Establishing a presence there and meeting the need is a possibility, albeit the language problem. Of course not to mention the food. We ate like kings there while serving the King. Next trip coming up in June!

The 'chairs for souls' campaign is definitely one of most foolish ideas I have ever heard on fund raising but certainly also one of those which made the most sense for me... Today while Ps Jeff was sharing with us on the chairs for souls, he mentioned this testimony that he has heard about this sister who, in a video testimony, was sitting on the exact same chair in Nexus which she received Christ. And she thanked those who have sponsored the chairs in Nexus for the sacrificial giving... I could almost give the exact same testimony. I received Christ sitting on one of those blue chairs in Nexus in 2005. The chair was one of those sponsored by my predecessors. That's why I firmly believed and am convicted on this 'chairs for souls' campaign. Foolish idea in the eyes of the world, wisest choice in the kingdom of God.

Master, they say that when I seem To be in speech with you, Since you make no replies, it’s all a dream --One talker aping two. They are half right, but not as they Imagine; rather, I Seek in myself the things I meant to say, And lo! The wells are dry. Then, seeing me empty, you forsake The Listener’s role, and through My dead lips breath and into utterance wake The thoughts I never knew. And thus you neither need reply Nor can; thus, while we seem Two talking, thou art One forever, and I No dreamer, but thy dream.

I want my breakfast served at eight With ham and eggs upon the plate A well-broiled steak I'll eat at one And dine again when day is done. I want an ultramodern home And in each room a telephone; Soft carpets, too, upon the floors And pretty drapes to grace the doors. A cozy place of lovely things, Like easy chairs with inner springs, And then, I'll get a nice T.V. - Of course, I'm careful what I see. I want my wardrobe, too, to be Of neatest, finest quality, With latest style in suit and vest Why should not Christians have the best? But then the Master I can hear In no uncertain voice, so clear: "I bid you come and follow Me, The lowly Man of Galilee." "Birds of the air have made their nest And foxes in their holes find rest, But I can offer you no bed; No place have I to lay my head." In shame I hung my head and cried, How could I spurn the Crucified? Could I forget the way He went, The sleepless nights in prayer He spent? F...

He was the meekest and lowliest of all the sons of men, yet he spoke of coming on the clouds of heaven with the glory of God. He was so austere that evil spirits and demons cried out in terror at his coming, yet he was so genial and winsome and approachable that the children loved to play with him, and the little ones nestled in his arms. His presence at the innocent gaiety of a village wedding was like the presence of sunshine. No one was half so compassionate to sinners, yet no one ever spoke such red hot scorching words about sin. A bruised reed he would not break, his whole life was love, yet on one occasion he demanded of the Pharisees how they ever expected to escape the damnation of hell. He was a dreamer of dreams and a seer of visions, yet for sheer stark realism He has all of our stark realists soundly beaten. He was a servant of all, washing the disciples feet, yet masterfully He strode into the temple, and the hucksters and moneychangers fell over one another to get away ...

My first foray with my Macbook Pro is not a very pleasant one, not because of the laptop itself but because of my mobile broadband, which almost tore my hair off. You see, I have this M1 mobile broadband which is supposedly compatible with Mac, or at least the internal software should be compatible. But when I installed the firmware, things never happen... even after I downloaded the supposedly latest software from the M1 website... woe no. 1. Then I borrowed my father's mobile broadband from Starhub (woe no. 2) and it worked fine upon installation of the device... until it started giving me problems by connecting to the GPRS instead of the 3G network (woe no. 3). So I decided to switch to my wireless which wasn't that reliable since I can't seem to connect onto the network sometimes and in fact, the first few times I tried, I never seem to connect (woe no. 4). Finally, I think God provided a way out and I just went straight into the Vodafone website to download the lat...