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Here are some interesting stuff I have been reading as I scan my Google reader of all the blogs and websites I have subscribed:

There is still this persistent perception that Trinity Theological College is a liberal institution and Sze Zeng, unfazed by controversy,  argues against Benjamin Chew’s conclusion.  His argument is laid out here: Baseless gossip: “Trinity Theological College is liberal and filled with apostate lecturers”. The liberal as well as the fundamentalist label have been used by different parties to demonise groups they usually strongly disagree with. Some who hold that the King James Version is the only accurate, God-given one, categorize those who use other versions as “neo-orthodox” or even “liberals”, while they in return have been labelled “ultra fundamentalist”. Meanwhile, New Creation Church folks are “antinomian”, while those who hurl these accusations are in return called “legalists”. Isn’t it time to stop labelling and start understanding each other in true love and learn to agree to disagree.

What happens when you marry the contemplative habit of “mindfulness” with “Cognitive Behavioral Therapy(CBT)”? Dr Alex Tang explains these two practices:

Mindfulness is a discipline that trains a person to be aware of the present moment and his or her place in that moment. It has a focus on the awareness which processes the mental and emotional responses of that person’s consciousness. Mindfulness is often associated with Buddhist meditation.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy that undertakes to change behaviour by understanding and modifying the thinking behind that particular behaviour.

Read his blogpost “Mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy” to further grasp the usefulness of  MB-CBT.

Is New Creation Church a Cult? is an old topic but still bugs some people. Stanley Wong, a member of the church, answers this question logically.

I know this is a bit late but some of our best reflections do come long after a catastrophic event, like the earthquake and tsunami in north east Japan. Alwyn gives us three criteria by which to judge if any disaster is a judgement of God. Firstly, “The judgments were explicitly declared on very ‘public’ crimes”. Secondly, “There was a lengthy period of time for people to repent (and a fair amount of ‘bargaining’ allowed)”. Lastly, “There is always a righteous remnant (rescued at the 11th hour)”. Read this enlightening post, “Was the March Tsunami God’s Judgment on the Japanese?” .

Why isn’t the Kingdom of God, so prominent in the Synoptic Gospels, virtually low key in the rest of the New Testament? Let me introduce you to Dr. C. Baxter Kruger of whom I first heard in a YWAM conference (yes, this is a big surprise, isn’t it). In this post titled simply “The Kingdom” you will find a stunning insight about how eternal life is also Trinitarian life. Enjoy.

In Kuala Lumpur I met this lawyer who researched for evidence in the writings and sermons of theologians and pastors of another era that show they hold to the message of the gospel of grace or radical grace. Included in his archives are writings which show that  Martin Luther, Augustine, DL Moody, Charles Spurgeon, Watchman Nee, Major Ian Thomas, Martyn Lloyd Jones and even John Nelson Darby (Brethrenism) held to different extent similar beliefs on some of the distinct teachings associated with the message of radical grace that New Creation Church espouses. His blog is “His grace is enough”.

It was helpful that Steve McVey has written something on how “Stillness Speaks Volumes” particularly as I read it at this point in time before I make a trip to the Seven Fountains Retreat Center in Chiang Mai for a lengthy stillness. Going to take it a day at a time. Be mindful and fully present and rest in His love. My agape spa.

Talking about stillness, here is someone who practises stillness, contemplation, and centering prayer using photos and meditation to fill his blog, HearUout with insights and meditation. Have a look at this simple but interesting video.

A great idea comes from a personal blog of a church member Wei Yang. He will blog about how 300 people blessed and influenced his life. After all the political mud-throwing, its good to have some honest to goodness positive encouragement. 300 reminds me of Gideon’s 3oo and the 300 Greeks that stopped the whole Persian army from invading Greece. His blog is Be still and know. More people should do this. Wah….but 300. I am tired just thinking of it. May he succeed.

Finally something for Arsenal fans. Which players should Arsene Wenger buy this summer to give Arsenal FC the booster it needs to become English Premier League Champions in the new season? Read Jason’s idea of  “A ‘dream team’ for Arsenal’s next season” , and start dreaming.

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Took a stroll down my blogroll and read blogposts others have written and noted a few that struck me.

My friend James Creasman, President of CRMS, has great respect for Amy Chua and wrote about how he and his wife wished they weren’t too soft on their kids in Why Chinese Mothers are Better, but makes a fair and insightful conclusion on the matter that matters to every Chinese home.

Then there is Lilian’s post on her recent visit to Singapore’s spanking casino, contrasted alongside her encounter with the elderly and handicapped selling tissue paper packets in “Images of Singapore”.

Maria Ling, who once pastored a rural church in USA, and is now back there writes an honest heart searching piece about herself in “Discussing My Funeral”.

Dr Alex Tang, a voracious book connosieur, posted a penetrating review of John Piper’s book, “Think”. He wrote, “While I agree with his emphasis on reading and understanding the Bible (which he equate to thinking) and his asserting that thinking is loving God, I find it difficult to apply his conclusion to the rest of the world who……” Read Alex’s whole review.

For those who enjoy thinking about what the Bible says about the gospel of grace, it will pay you dividends, even if you are new to the debate, to patiently follow all the threads carefully woven in this post by my friend Jonathan Koh in  “Grace and Accusations of Antinominanism.”

To have an idea of the main thing that pastors caught at the Love Singapore Summit, read this post in the Christian Post Singapore, “Seeking God not Success”.

To all Chinese friends out there, have a very prosperous new year. This is the only time of the year when culture transcends doctrine, and you can wish people great prosperity without being accused of peddling the prosperity doctrine! 🙂

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For us who have little exposure to poetry its not to late to savour and appreciate it. Take a look at Gweek Culture and read this poem “Jurassic Gardens” with the comments to help, if needed.

If poetry does not interest you, perhaps sex does. So read the script of a sermon of Siow Hwee, a Presbyterian minister who keeps the blog Latria. His sermon was titled “On Sex”.

Ramblings and revelations is a blog of a teenager An Sen, who has done the Discipleship Training School conducted by Perth YWAM. He then went on a missions exposure to Mexico City for several months. He intends to write out the notes of what he learned at school. If you are thinking whats YWAM DTS you can have a closer look by following this blog. This is a participant’s view, not those official brochures.

“Freedom and Spiritual Formation” is a good read and I heartily agree with what Dr Tony Siew, of Revelation is Real, says here.

Sherman Kuek, of Sherman on the Mount, explains why the Roman Catholics do not allow liturgical dance in the worship service.

Terence Yeo, a practising lawyer, has this blog(TYCM’S blog”  where he uploads his personal notes of Joseph Prince’s most recent sermons. He is diligent and now you can have a have a two minute look at JP’s sermons regularly in a digested form without having to pay for a CD. The latest is: “We ain’t heavy, He’s our elder brother”. You have to learn how to navigate around his blog to locate sermons. Manna from heaven is another source of Joseph Prince’s older messages in outline notes taken by Lindsay Lim.

You may also enjoy the thoughtful piece about “Living and Enjoying the Present” by Father Luke Fong whose blog is Reflections and Ruminations.

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My Gen Y friend Stillhaventfound shares his experience of his attempt to raise the dead. He is open and vulnerable in his sharing; he’s taking a risk at being called crazy, so please suspend judgment. Here are his Thoughts on raising the dead.

Dr Alex Tang reviews a book on the Jesuits (Society of Jesus) who view themselves as contemplatives in action. These are the commandos of the Roman Catholic Church, and Dr Tang adds his own twist by pluralizing the word “action” and explains why in Contemplative in actions.

Of course I welcome the idea of a liberal arts education and my friend Dr Tony Siew exults in the idea of a Yale-NUS Liberal Arts College. This idea is as late in coming to our shores, as church members who stroll into church just as the sermon begins.  Too many of our influential ministers and policymakers have an engineering background, and we have suffered some in our education system, social fabric and compassion for the needy as a result.

When it comes to social justice and involvement in public life, the Singapore church(or should I say the Protestant branch) is way behind in catching up with the Malaysian counterpart. The Malaysian church openly tells the government to Stop bullying the Orang Asli. By doing so they become a voice for the voiceless.

On a lighter note there are Gen Y who are have been meeting across denominational lines.  What do they get here that they do not get from their own church. Wonder what The weekly Tuesday group is all about?

On Malaysians staying overseas ( or will be) is a look at the shame hanging over the heads of “unpatriotic” Malaysians who move overseas instead of hanging in to fight the good fight. Sounds like the “stayers and quitters” issue raised during a national day rally speech by then PM Goh Chok Tong has raised its head across the Causeway. This problem would be solved, Alwyn, if Singapore just rejoin the Federation, in a land swap deal: you take our land and we take yours or maybe in a “one nation two systems”  deal for 99 years.

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1. Is there a way to integrate the claims of the “new perspective of Paul” with the Reformed teaching of personal justification by faith? Bolivian Beat discusses this briefly in “New Perspective of Paul”.

2. Rev David Burke gives advice on “Choosing a Church”. He points out 9 things to look for. My list has only 1 point: choose wrpf.

3. Rev Jenni Huan has some helpful insights that will make for happier pastors and churches. Look at her post on “Criticise, Critique or Creative Construction.”

4. Alwyn Lau writes an ode to Clark Pinnock an open theist, a creative daring systematic theologian, who recently passed away. It is simply titled “Clark Pinnock“ and he sincerely gushes out this theologian’s influence on his own theologising.

5. Father Luke Pong shares his disappointment at the apathy of many a church member with “The Quest for God and Transformation.”

6. Steve McVey writes eloquently about the danger of eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil in “You should strive to do right and avoid wrong – wrong”.

7. Eavesdrop on a converstion between Steven Sim and his acquaintance on “Pitting Spirituality against Religion”. Stimulating.

8. Stillhaventfound has found something in his “First Healing on the Streets Meeting”. Read his honest but encouraging report of an embarassing healing encounter.

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