Archive for February, 2007
My son Matthew has finished Poly and is now waiting for his two year stint of national service in the armed forces in June. It was good that he was willing to work in a local company for a few months. I remember working part-time screwing bolts into army truck benches for $4 a day in order to buy new clothes. Now it is ten times or more per day. There were some arguments that it is bad for students to work part-time because it puts too much money in their hands, and they may mix with wrong company, give up on studies altogether or they become too independent or …….. For me I think that such work can cultivate in them some discipline, responsibility, some clarification of what they want to do in future, and an appreciation of the value of money.
February 28th, 2007
Matthew and I was at Lewis and Cavelyn’s, home of Arsenal fans, and enjoyed a bittersweet evening watching the finals of the Carling Cup over Chinese tea. It was an exciting and absorbing match, not just for the silky skills and movement of the Arsenal young gunners, but also the crucial one-sided decisions of a referee who blew the whistle in the direction of the Russian rouble, the kick in Terry’s head that knocked him unconscious and delayed play for eight minutes, and the shocking fist fight and scuffles and outbursts among the shirt-pulling, delay-making, unsporting millionaire Chelsea players and the young Arsenal punks who lost their cool. Maybe one day we’ll have to grade soccer games too- PG or R(A) for foul language, cheating and violence. Typical British soccer final where you often feel the referee decided the match, not the players skill and teamwork.
I told my wife I’d be back after the first half, but time easily flew and we watched through the whole game.
February 26th, 2007
While preparing a message a fortnight ago, I had this idea impressed on me to challenge people who heard the message on “Keeping Your Shape” to commit to 21 days of fasting from media(TV, newspapers, internet, computer games, radio, etc) and use that time to feast on Christ. And that was that, and two persons said that challenge was for them. But now it has come to me and I am thinking of a fasting from TV, newspapers, internet and blogging, and spending more time in prayer, and some fasting, and feasting on His love for 21 days before Easter. I certainly need to humble myself, pray and seek His face, and turn from my wicked ways. This man is pondering the cost, and praying about it.
February 23rd, 2007
Can I be single and contented and at peace during the Chinese New Year? Of course there are those who really are! However there are those with struggles of coping. We marrieds sometimes don’t realize the pain, loneliness, worry, regrets that older singles feel during this very family oriented festive season. The pain is amplified by teasing or insensitive remarks like, “When are you gonna get hitched up so we don’t have to keep giving you ang pows?” I wonder how can singles enjoy the festive season more? One good idea is to get out with other single friends, I mean, out of the country! Any other suggestions?
February 21st, 2007
Lent season begins today. 40 days of reflection and consecration, in imitation of Jesus and his time in the wilderness, culminating on Easter Sunday, and not counting all the Sundays in the period. In countries like Brazil and Bolivia, Lent is preceded by a carnival, which actually means “farewell to meat” as Catholics are encouraged to fast from meat during the Lent season. How can we Christians use this season for the church’s spiritual growth? How can Lent be a season that renews our love for our Lord? What are some practical things we can do during this season?
February 21st, 2007
It was with sympathy that I watched you comfort your countrymen after the 9/11 tragedy. I was shocked at the incredible loss of innocent lives and I could identify with the anger of your countrymen.
As you galvanized your country and other nations to support a war on terrorism I can’t help but feel fresh hope that the oppression in some nations would be lifted at last. First, it was Afghanistan that was freed from a tyranny of fear. Then it was Iraq. But then there were no weapons of mass destruction as you claimed, only evidence of mass oppression.
Now Iraq is a quagmire and political minefield for your party and Tony Blair’s. A nightmare you wished had never begun. I admit an admiration for the courage and the steadfastness of purpose with which you kept your goals in sight and never wavered from them.
However I have now come to feel that perhaps the divine teachings of Jesus could have been heeded to yield a better outcome. Indeed, it would take even greater moral courage and steadfastness for you to lead your nation at that time to take the high road of forgiveness, reconciliation and doing good to your enemies that Jesus prescribed: “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you”(Matthew 5.43,44). Imagine with me that the U.S. took this path, and instead of war, chose dialogue, diplomacy and gave development aid and mercy. What would the outcomes of resolute steadfastness to this path have been after a decade, two decades?
However, now you cannot but continue to commit resources to limit the damage already done. It looks like Iraq will define the legacy of your stewardship of your two terms in the office of the greatest power in the world. I hope your recent decisions will result in some measure of security in Bagdad and that you will then initiate a phased withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country.
My prayer is that with strong and wise hands you will skillfully steer your country from the threatening rocks and guide it to the safe harbours of peace and prosperity. Forget the oil!
God bless America and Iraq,
Kenny Chee
February 20th, 2007
At last, a family photo, taken at the Garden of Remembrance, after paying respects to my late dad. It was a vibrant worship service in the morning, then rush home for lunch, and then this annual ritual of remembrance and prayer. My mum could not remember her husband. Sad.
I have done up the “About” pages above. Do take a look.
February 19th, 2007
I have just joined the fan club of “Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam for Prime Minister”. If there is none, I will start one. I must admit I was riveted not to the goodies being generously distributed during the Budget Speech but to the man, the Minister presenting it. It just struck me that this articulate, brilliant and decisive political leader could make a solid
Prime Minister. He winged it at the minefield-laden Education Ministry and his excellent background in the Monetary Authority of Singapore showed in his speech. Furthermore, the majority of Singaporeans can relate to this down-to-earth man as he had stumbled but made good like one raised from the dead (remember how he was charged under the Official Secrets Act in 1994 and was fined $1000 ). In this unforgiving society, only top capabilities and political expediency could make his entry into top dog politics happen. So maybe down the road, perhaps a decade from now, we may see such a thing happen: an Indian Prime Minister leading a nation with a Chinese majority. On the other hand, no lah, not with the 2 million mostly Chinese nationals the government is planning to assimilate into the population! I think lets forget about the fan club idea……..it would be a waste of time.
February 16th, 2007
Over lunch at Old Airport Rd, I asked Stephen and the other staff members: “So how much will we get, after all that has been said and after all the newsprint used up?”
Thomas answered: “At most $200, to offset the GST 2% increase, that’s all.”
Stephen’s answer, “If you earn more than $1,500 there is nothing to talk about.”
So this is what it means to be sandwiched, and if you don’t have a maid or a car.
Pastor Kenny, ask not what the country can do for you, but what you can do for the country!
At least the government considered the needs of the poor. God would be pleased with the steps that they are taking to alleviate the needs of the poorly-skilled poor.
February 16th, 2007
“…..one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven…..”(Lk 11.1,2)
When such a clear and direct answer is given to a disciple’s request, “Lord, teach us to pray” then we must seriously take heed to the Lord’s teaching about prayer. More so today as all kinds of prayer technology is being taught in Christendom, from strenuous strategic spiritual warfare to suspect mantras.
So struck were the disciples by the link between prayer and the “more” in Jesus’ life and ministry that they wished he had taught them how to pray just as all other rabbis had taught their disciples. They wanted very much to have the same ability to inspire faith and hope and love in others. The rabbis taught their own disciples prayers that encapsulated the essence of what they
wanted to form in their disciples, namely devotion to God, with their particular slant. The disciples hoped Jesus would do the same for them. So Jesus gave them a prayer that would hold the essence of kingdom living, which when faithfully said and prayed by his disciples day after day after day, would nurture the values and spirit of the kingdom in them.
The word that struck me most is “say”. Jesus told them to say the prayer day after day after day. Not that the repetition is necessary for God to hear, but the meaningful saying of these very words of prayer, by force of habitual muttering, would actually inform and shape our desires and align our values to those of Jesus’ kingdom. The prayer would over time and through meditation become a pattern of putting God first, a framework of theme-hooks for us to hang our own personal petitions.
Let us take Jesus’ teaching more seriously and obey him with childlike faith. Let us simply say “the Lord’s prayer” from memory. Slowly. Meditatively. Meaningfully. Hanging our own personally hued petitions on the themed hooks. Daily: for the prayer itself prescribes a daily offering, “Give us today our daily bread”. It will then be seen that “the Lord’s prayer” is actually “the Disciple’s prayer” for whoever prays it and lives it, is gradually formed into an authentic disciple.
Father, thank you for teaching me a simple way to pray. I want to please You and I believe I can develop a new habit of praying this pattern prayer. I believe that more and more You will make me like Jesus in his intimacy and obedience to You. Amen.
February 16th, 2007
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