Its teachers day and I want to thank God for all teachers, those who work in schools and those who work and serve in the church. I don’t fully appreciate the load of responsibilities a schoolteacher handles. I did a stint of teaching in primary and secondary school during my teaching cadet days, but never under the full weight of pressures that today’s teachers carry. During my time, Dr Goh Keng Swee and his system engineers just finished their complete revamp of the education system. I parachuted out before it was implemented. Not that I was smart enough to anticipate what was to come; the call of God was just too strong. It was to be the beginning of sorrows for teachers. Yes their pay got increased; but so did their pressures. So I am very thankful to God for the teachers of our schools. They are heroes and should be treated as such, because our only resource is our brain power, and they are the ones that multiply that “one talent” that God has given Singapore.
Needless to say I salute our children’s church teachers as well. The children’s church is the nursery from which the trees planted by the Lord will blossom and bear fruit in abundance when they get to the youth and adulthood stage. In fact, they even bear fruit and are a witness even while their faith is being strengthened as little children, learning the ways of the Lord.
I myself once attended Sunday School in this church called Bukit Timah Evangelical Free Church, when it met near Binjai Park and later at the Singapore Bible College premises. They even had a van that came and fetched me from my home in Hillview. My parents sent my brothers and I to church, perhaps like owners sent their dogs to obedience school, to learn some good morals, or something. I went to play table tennis. I attended in spurts. I didn’t memorize the verses, though I did hear the Bible stories told with flannelboards, and did the coloring that followed, and collected cross-shaped bookmarks. I wonder how the teacher felt then about me. She must have prayed quite a bit. I remember an occasion when some teachers came to visit our family when we had been absent for a stretch.
My wife and I visited this church one day about eight years back, and we had a chat with the senior pastor Twie Khim, whose wife was my sunday school teacher. I had hoped that when she saw that I had become a pastor, she had said to herself, “It was worth it”, or “Lord, great is Thy faithfulness”, or “How on earth did that boy become a pastor?”
Anyway I was so grateful to the GNK teachers, I did a video to convey my thanks(and that of all the parents and children), for their dedication, untiring love, faith and hope. If you are a children’s church teacher serving another church, take it as a thanks to you too. Shaping the Children for an Eternity from Blogpastor on Vimeo.
I was deeply disappointed with the waves of news I have been hearing. Not that there is anything new under the sun. But first I read that Paul Cain, a greatly gifted modern-day prophet, had admitted to alcoholism and homosexual liaisons, and is now under restoration, though he resisted it initially. That was hard to digest. It was old news but I only got drift of it two months back. Then next I heard Todd Bentley, the main preacher in the current Lakeland Revival in Florida, had separated from his wife. Worse of all, now out of the blue, this incredible news broke in south Australia. Russell Evans, Planetshakers Church pastor, made a statement a few days ago about Michael Guglielmucci, renowned Aussie pastor and songwriter, whose struggle with cancer has been widely publicised, and whose song Healer is featured on the latest Hillsong DVD & CD.
“Michael Guglielmucci has informed us that he does not suffer from cancer, was never diagnosed with cancer, and has never suffered from the disease. This admission has come as a great shock to everyone including his wife and family who had no knowledge of the matter.”
I am concerned because a lot of young people look up to Michael, the pastor, the worship leader, the singer, the composer, the musician. This will be a big test of faith for many. In addition, in Australia, Christianity will be ripped apart by a cynical Australian press and I would feel embarrassed to be a Christian in the hearing of folks conversing about this over beer. As a pastor, I feel sad, bad, frustrated, angry. My job is tough enough as it is - I don’t need more cynicism, disillusionment, scepticism, and disrespect.
Yet why should the church be shocked? Christians, pastors included, are fallen beings. We are people saved by the sheer grace of God and are works in progress. We do fall into temptation and the more public a figure you are, the greater shame the fall causes. Have we all not stretched our statistics and stories, covered up our tracks by witholding information, and told lies intentionally and inadvertently. We hold the stones in our hands, but our own sins keep us from throwing them at Michael Guglielmucci.
Yet discernment, repentance, restitution and discipline is the order of the day for to whom much has been given, much is required. Just this afternoon, someone mentioned to me a verse in Matthew 18 where Jesus warned about not stumbling children for it is better to put a millstone around the neck and throw it into the sea. The same chapter talks about discipline and restoration. We forgive; we pray but we also love through restorative measures.
Sure each man is responsible for his own sin, but I do think the problem is also systemic. The Pentecostal and Charismatic movement have always valued the gifts of the Spirit, especially the spectacular and the glittering. The gifts that astound and the gifts that attract the thousands. We do not celebrate the gifts of mercy and helps but if you have great faith, healing or leadership gifts, or musical-worship talent, you are highly valued and put on a pedestal next to the Godhead. We value gifts over character; the spectacular over substance; and glitter over solid gold. We are so often blinded temporarily by the glitter and shine of great abilities, charisma and anointings that we just simply cannot discern that its just gold plated and what’s inside a man could be just plastic, made in China.
Maybe we are getting what we deserve for we all worship and dance around the Golden Calf of Success. We have baptized Fu Lu Shu and now worship an unholy trinity of Health, Wealth and Success. And it is a success as the world defines it: big budgets, bombastic buildings; great excitement and crowds; stratospheric worship. All this while the Cinderella of holiness, godliness and integrity sits somewhere in the grimy world of day by day living and working and serving, dishevelled and forgotten in a dark attic, waiting for the fairy godmother to restore her centrality in the royal ball. Such a worship inevitably cause leaders to turn a blind eye, rationalized with grace, and partner with highly gifted ministers in huge events, because they can bring the SUCCESS that God’s people crave. Like Aaron of old, we give in to what the people want, even when we know it is not the REAL THING.
Like the people living in Samuel’s time, we plead with God to give us a king when God would rather we bow and look to and depend on the ONLY TRUE KING: LORD JESUS. So we have made our own human kings, put them on pedestals, and when they fall from the giddiness of the heights we have lifted them to, and they fall with a great fall, we fail to see that we had set him up for the fall. We know we have raised another king when instead of saying the Bible says this, or Jesus says this, we say, Pastor so and so says this, or Prophet or Apostle So and so says this……therefore it is true.
Churches must be taking off Michael’s songs off the worship list for Sunday, and will ponder whether to use the other Planetshakers’ songs, at least as a temporary measure. We need to get behind him and pray for him and the thousands of young people whose faith will be tested. Satan is working overtime. We hope he has truly repented, and will go through counselling and restoration. We trust the money raised as a result of his illness will be returned to the givers where possible and those impossible to trace could be donated to charity, which was what the church had announced it would do. But whatever else is done, the church must fix her eyes on JESUS the author and finisher of our faith, and like the cherubim above the ark of the covenant, fix her gaze down towards the atonement cover where she sees nothing but the Blood of Jesus, the crimson love.
More information about this can be read, and his bestselling song Healer heard HERE:
Based on a survey done in Singapore by the Straits Times with almost 1000 respondents recently, the following observations were made:
1. Young people are turning up to look for a way to let go of pressure from work.
2. Buddhist centres are conducting programmes in English attracting younger people. Buddhism used to be seen as a religion for the Mandarin- or dialect-speaking.
3. They have gotten organized and have publicity drives, seminars, camps, publications and websites.
4. Fads like yoga and meditation and the focus on calmness, plus having adherents among Hollywood stars, have made it hip to be a Buddhist. Even the Dalai Lama’s charisma is winning followers among the younger ones.
5. Attempts to be more relevant: a lot of meditation classes are held in many temples: 14 of the 20 top temples and centres have meditation classes; and there are even stess and career management courses.
6. Nearly six out of ten Buddhist converts say the religion gives them purpose and meaning, or has seen them through a crisis.
CHAMPIONS: CHELSEA, because of the “Phil-good” factor and balanced, experienced squad.
RUNNERS UP: ARSENAL, because they now have more experience and an even deeper hunger than last year.
THIRD PLACE: MANCHESTER UNITED, because their two key people, the Portuguese, are out: one, to coach Portugal; the other, a modern slave, injured in ankle and spirit.
FOURTH PLACE: LIVERPOOL, because they still don’t get it: not enough black players in their team. You can’t win the league without them. Maybe in the good old days, but not any more.
Last year, someone named Jas gave the correct prediction:
My predictions:
1.Man U(depth of squad and quality of players) 2.Chelsea(quality of players and their resilience -yea, all those late min strikes) 3.Arsenal(i still feel they need 1-2 highly experienced and quality players. Current squad have lots of speed and technical skills) 4.Liverpool(Benitez is still pretty much a master tactician in European games. New big signings unproven in EPL)
What’s yours? Have some fun and give us your predictions.
The East Coast Park is a great outdoor place for quiet prayer and reflection. Stay away from the weekends and take leave for a day. A Bible, a journal, water, a nice bench and a full day to spare in leisurely wastefulness just enjoying the breeze, the blue green horizon with its ships, and the company of God. Words are superfluous. Just be present for Him. Let the joining of the charismatic and evangelical be accompanied by the contemplative in a holy dance of three!
“….He dismissed the crowd. After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.” (Mark 6:46).
We used to have mountains, when Malaysia was a part of Singapore . Its too bad the past cannot be reversed. At least we still have seafronts, rivers and reservoirs and ………Pedra Branca .
He is 21 and his name is “Choby”. He is a MK (missionaries’ kid).His father: Singapore Chinese; his mother: American. Home: several, wherever the dedicated missionary couple served. (I remember visiting them in Penang in their worse of times). Is “Choby” the Nicky Cruz of Malaysia? Listen to how God turned him around and how he answered God’s call.
I wish for Singapore, a revival of the lost art of enjoying friends and family. We are too caught up with achieving things that will be “So what?” in eternity. We are too absorbed about productivity, to be free to craft and create a beautiful life.
I wish for Singapore, liberation from the insecurities that were originally brought to these shores by our forefathers who left their homelands in China and India. This same insecurity have been fed by circumstances and state and ingrained into our minds by a thousand voices. Such a freedom from fear and anxiety can be found only in the peace and contentment that Jesus gives.
I wish for schoolchildren more sleep, more sleep, and more sleep, and less stress. That school may become an experience that they can look forward to with anticipation, and not dread with fear. May schools become fear free discovery zones. May school ranking be chucked out, and teachers empowered to inculcate a love of learning in their charges. May a new meritocracy arise, one that looks beyond academics, and tempered with compassion for the have-nots.
I thank God for Singapore’s political leaders and wish for them to be guided by God’s wisdom, compassion and justice.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has definite conclusions about homosexuality and they diverge from the traditional view. It is believed he still hold these convictions but tow the traditional conservative line to prevent the embattled Anglican Communion from schism. From his letters of old:
“The Bible does not address the matter of appropriate behaviour for those who are, for whatever reason, homosexual by instinct or nature.”
“By the end of the 80s I had definitely come to the conclusion that scripture was not dealing with the predicament of persons whom we should recognise as homosexual by nature.
“I concluded that an active sexual relationship between two people of the same sex might therefore reflect the love of God in a way comparable to marriage, if and only if it had the about it the same character of absolute covenanted faithfulness.”
This is serious stuff. A shepherd outwardly, for the sake of organizational order and unity, but a distorter of truth in his personal convictions. I feel disappointed and flabberghasted. What are Anglican priests and members around the world feeling?
Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.(Acts 20: 28-30)
CRM? It’s not customer relationship management, but Church Resource Ministry. This ministry has to do with developing leaders who will in turn strengthen and plant churches. In Singapore, its headed by James Creasman. I signed on for one of their Focusing Leaders Network and now I had not only completed the training but also facilitated one of the networks, together with the experienced hand of Seng Chor (second from left in pic).
This group was unique as it comprised a mix of both senior pastors and marketplace leaders. Two senior pastors were absent for this final meeting where each person shared the fruit of several months of crystallized reflections on one’s personal calling up to that point in time. The materials we used were based on Dr Robert Clinton’s research on leadership in Fuller and the founder of CRM was a mentee of Bobby. It was a rich time together as over the meetings we have gotten to know and respect and trust each other.
We had lunch there. Seng Chor, a baba, cooked us one of his signature dishes: his ‘congee porridge’, which brought us to the entrance of food’s third heaven. Together with this heavenly broth was his mother’s homely panfried bread with topping of mashed luncheon meat, chopped onion, pepper and egg. He said he upgraded his mum’s recipe (like a good Singaporean) with a dash of oregano. We were blessed by his hospitality. He looked a happy man with four women in his home: his wife and three daughters.
Photo: from left, Rev Richard Loh (Snr Pastor of Queenstown Baptist Church); Seng Chor (lead facilitator); Shirley (retired EDB high-flyer); and Jiak Cher (executive at BP); missing from pic: lead pastors Rev Dr Kenny Fam of Woodlands EFC; and Rev Irene from Zion Gospel Mission.
I was deeply disappointed with the waves of news I have been hearing. Not that there is anything new under the sun. But first I read that Paul Cain, a greatly gifted modern-day prophet, had admitted to alcoholism and homosexual liaisons, and is now under restoration, though he resisted it initially. That was hard to digest. It was old news but I only got drift of it two months back. Then next I heard Todd Bentley, the main preacher in the current Lakeland Revival in Florida, had separated from his wife. Worse of all, now out of the blue, this incredible news broke in south Australia. Russell Evans, Planetshakers Church pastor, made a statement a few days ago about Michael Guglielmucci, renowned Aussie pastor and songwriter, whose struggle with cancer has been widely publicised, and whose song Healer is featured on the latest Hillsong DVD & CD.
and the thousands of young people whose faith will be tested. Satan is working overtime. We hope he has truly repented, and will go through counselling and restoration. We trust the money raised as a result of his illness will be returned to the givers where possible and those impossible to trace could be donated to charity, which was what the church had announced it would do. But whatever else is done, the church must fix her eyes on JESUS the author and finisher of our faith, and like the cherubim above the ark of the covenant, fix her gaze down towards the atonement cover where she sees nothing but the Blood of Jesus, the crimson love.
I wish for Singapore, liberation from the insecurities that were originally brought to these shores by our forefathers who left their homelands in China and India. This same insecurity have been fed by circumstances and state and ingrained into our minds by a thousand voices. Such a freedom from fear and anxiety can be found only in the peace and contentment that Jesus gives.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has definite conclusions about homosexuality and they diverge from the traditional view. It is believed he still hold these convictions but tow the traditional conservative line to prevent the embattled Anglican Communion from schism. From his letters of old:
