B L O G P A S T O R

fine move

I observed a new move by park authorities to curb the feeding of monkeys by members of the public at Bukit Timah Hill. Nothing like a fine to deter Singaporeans; words aren’t forceful enough. So a fine of $250 was added to the warning sign. And suddenly there are hardly any monkeys around- except one, trying its luck.

2 comments May 18th, 2007

very ‘exciting’ family vacation ahead

That’s just great! A month ago it was bombs. So keep away from telephone booths. And today’s news is of a 6 richter earthquake. So keep away from buildings? So what do you do for seven days in Bangkok? avoid MBK and Siam Square?

My teenage kids are excited, but not for the above reasons. Its vacationing as a family. Its the shopping, eating and movie-going without blowing a hole in your pockets. Its having great fun with the cousins. Its “pontanging” lectures (Elaine).

“Be anxious for nothing…….make your requests known to God ……and the peace that transcends all comprehension will guard your mind and emotions in Christ Jesus”

2 comments May 17th, 2007

coughing

I began coughing since last Friday, and during the night, when the coughing usually acts up, I remembered an idea from on-line friend Daphne Hong, that you could use a generous supply of Vicks vaporub and rub it onto the sole of both feet, put on a pair of socks, and it will stop the cough. This was discovered by the Canadian Research Council as it investigated the dangers posed by strong drugs in cough mixtures for children. They cannot explain why it works but it does: 100% of the time. So I tried it, and it worked. For four nights. Problem was I also took some cough mixture and my cough was  not a hacking, persistent cough. Anyway you might want to remember this when you or your children have a cough.

11 comments May 16th, 2007

a sunday for mothers

I am proud of these youths: Adriel, Jared, and Zephaniah. How did they manage to persuade these Sec Ones to sing a dedication to mothers in the main service?

The children as usual were just adorable and drew great applause.
And we lunched out with the Chua family to catch up. Their palm oil farm is doing well. James their son who is hearing impaired has been working for 4 months now as a sub-editor for an European company that publishes professional journals. Grace the daughter will be heading for the University of Tasmania to complete her law degree. Chua was talking about over 50 Singaporean youths led by a blind pastor Paul Yeung, reaching out to the orang asli in Gua Musang, Kelantan, and asked if the church would like to send a team.

5 comments May 15th, 2007

law: unusual do nots

“Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.”(Deut 14:21) “Do not mate different kinds of animals.”"Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed.” “Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material.”(Lev 19.19).

These strange commands are puzzling. Most shirts today on the shelves in menswear section are of cotton and polyester mix. In organic farms planting the field with two kinds of seed for natural pest prevention is a given. As to cooking a young goat in its mother’s milk: exotic but cruel. However these Old Testament commands are commands to Israel of that time, but not commands to us, since they were not renewed in the New Covenant. Nevertheless, they are the word of God for us, for they do reveal God’s character and intention, in this case, his holiness, love and wisdom.

I found out that the “do nots” were designed for Israel’s good. It was to forbid them from getting involved in the Canaanite fertility cults and superstition. The Canaanites believed that symbolic actions can influence the gods, goddesses, and nature itself. The flock would be fertile and abundant if a goat kid is boiled in its mother’ milk. Mixing materials like seeds and fibres, and even animals is akin to “marrying” them so that there will be fertility and bounty in the herds and in the crops. God did not want his holy people practicing such superstitious magic and putting their faith in idols. He knew Israel’s welfare and blessing laid in trusting and obeying Him.

Today we put our trust in things other than God too: a fat bank account; the security of working in a stable company; a good education under our belt, all in themselves good things, but when they displace our trust in God and make us self-sufficient and proud, we will be disappointed and in danger. God wants us to look to Him and Him alone as the Source of our security and bounty.

Father, whose laws are always laws of love, thank you for showing me the “do nots” in your laws are to protect us your children from evil influences. You love us and want us to learn to depend and trust you completely, the way a little child trusts its father, because there is where the blessed life is. Help us to do that today. Amen.

3 comments May 14th, 2007

mother’s day

It was a turning point. On May Day my brothers and I discussed the future care of mum. She’s getting worse. When will her degeneration hit rock bottom? When will it become unmanageable for us and a source of family tensions? We discussed the possibility of a future where she would be cared for in an old folks’ home with dementia care. Or maybe get another maid to exclusively care and watch over her. In the meanwhile, she goes to day care on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Never thought a day like that would come.

I give tribute to my mum for being an example of love and sacrifice, economy and wisdom, patience and perseverence. She was the one who kept the family afloat in the storm. My brothers, sister and I owe her a great deal. God bless and keep her!

6 comments May 11th, 2007

church camp in Chiangmai?

A church camp in Chiangmai, Thailand in 2008? Once it was bandied about as a probability. Now the dream is mirage. Barny confirmed with me last night its just not viable.

Add comment May 10th, 2007

just visiting

Jimmy Teo and I in a self-portrait at IKEA having coffee. I have known Jimmy since the late 70’s and he was led to Christ by the late Rev Gerald Khoo, an Anglican priest. Jimmy has many interesting and humourous stories drawn from varied life experiences. Even used to train under then captain Teo Chee Hian(now Cabinet Minister). I asked Jimmy, “You should visit him in his ‘meet the people’ session and just sit in front of him and smile. Think he will recognize you from your days as a regular in the navy?”

I think he should. After all their ancestors were Teos.

Jimmy is now with Century 21. Need to buy or sell a home?

2 comments May 9th, 2007

NUS or NTU business school: which is better?

I asked an on-line friend, Darryl Chen, his opinion on which business school is better: the National University of Singapore or the Nanyang Technological University? This is his comprehensive and well written reply. If you have any opinions to add, feel free to add your 2 cents worth…

“Hi Pastor Kenny,

Anyhow, yes I did go to NUS Business School. Here’s my personal & unbiased(as much as possible) opinion about both schools….My feel about NTU is that it offers a more technical(because they start specialising in the 2nd year) grounded type of approach toward business education, whilst NUS tends to offer a more generic strategic(because they only start specialising in the 3rd year) type of approach. The good thing about NTU is that it offers direct honours to those who qualify, i.e. they don’t have to spend an extra year just to get their honours, whilst NUS has its students(those that qualify) spend one year on academic research to come out with a thesis to be awarded honours. Qualification is based on attainment of a certain GPA(grade point average, maximum 4) or CAP(cumulative average points, maximum 5). NTU uses the former whilst NUS uses the latter. However, I’m not sure if there has been changes in the systems in either schools since I have left NUS for about 4 years coming already. (Whoa! I didn’t know it was THAT long ago!)

I do not think that employers in Singapore today favour NUS over NTU, or vice versa. I verified this with a couple of my HR colleagues as well. From personal experience, when I was hiring 2 graduate interns in my job 2 years ago, I did meet with some NUS and NTU business graduates. My opinion from the employer side of the table, based on those interviews, was that the NUS students were more able to handle themselves in a professional manner and their responses to my questions tended to be slanted more “big-picture”. The NTU students, on the other hand, tended to be more reserved and did not leave as strong an impression as the NUS students. I’d like to think that this is an unbiased opinion, because my manager agreed with my assessment as well, and she’s from NTU. (Hahaha….)

But having said that, I don’t think either school is stronger than the other….they just offer different approaches to business studies. Your son should go with his heart and he’ll be fine. But just out of curiosity, did your son also consider SMU? I understand they offer a very good business program as well and based on the few SMU graduates I know, I’ve been quite impressed and I also heard good feedback about the program being offered there, although they do tend to be slightly pricier than NUS/NTU.

As for becoming CFA, I don’t think going to either school would aid or hinder him from getting that qualification. It shouldn’t, since CFA is a professional qualification and it is strictly based on a seperate set of coursework to be done, and I believe either NUS or NTU would give him the appropriate grounding. I always think that its most important to enjoy yourself while studying because that’s when you won’t drag your feet to school and you’d avail yourself to be receive whatever your professor has to impart. So, go with the heart….that’s what I say….

Thanks for writing. Hear from you again and see you around soon…

Cheers,
Darryl

p.s. your son should do well in Uni….i have very high esteem for people who go from the poly into university because they’re very hardworking people yet humble and capable. I always enjoy working with them in my uni days.”

10 comments May 9th, 2007

looking for stillness

I went to St Mary of the Angels, a beautiful award-winning Catholic church in Bukit Batok, done by RSP ArchitectsWOHA. The central feature in all Catholic churches is the altar from which the Eucharist is conducted. The pulpits and other lecterns are typically at the sides from which the Word is read in public and proclaimed. But in this sanctuary, the pulpit is behind the altar on higher ground and the baptismal fount is in front of the altar. The symbolism spoke volumes of what the church leaders believed. And above all these, suspended in air is the human suffering Christ, not on the cross as in most of their churches, but in the air, as if in resurrection or ascension.
Wanted a quiet place to still and quieten my soul. “I have stilled and quieted myself, like a weaned child with its mother, so is my soul within me.”The sanctuary was not empty as the vacuum cleaners were humming and some folks were conversing at the back. So I went to look for a chapel, but not before meeting Edward, a deaf member who left the deaf church months ago. He was one of the cleaners.

I found a lovely Adoration Chapel. It was air-conditioned and spired up to the electronic church bell. I saw a plaque which listed the donors: Daisy Khoo……hmm, late wife of the late Khoo Teck Puat, richest man in Singapore just years back. I had time to be still and quiet. I needed it as my thoughts were rushing to and fro like MRT trains searching for a station to stop. After some time of waiting in silence, my lovely space was intruded by the deaf brother, who showed me a message, a humorous one I think, which he typed on his mobile for me: “Have you converted to Catholic?” “Have you left World Revival Prayer Fellowship?”

12 comments May 7th, 2007