Monday, November 25, 2013

Colour of November 2013 is PURPLE!

http://www.loveatsg.com/events/478/The-Purple-Parade-2013

The Purple Parade is a movement that supports the inclusion & celebrates the abilities of persons with special needs.

Starting in November, we are making a movement towards a more inclusive society, opening our eyes to the special needs people around us.

The logo for The Purple Parade is simply, a square; which represents equality thanks to its all equal sides. The nature of the shape also depicts the inclusiveness of any given society with special needs' people. The Square is also a strong building block, on which when many are placed together, there can be limitless structures.

Support the movement and create awareness!

Philippians 2:1-4; Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Sadly the focus of this colour was diverted to a Military song, Purple Light. AWARE has successfully made a ban on this song, change its lyrics due to the "rape", "kill" words ("Purple Light" because the lyrics are degrading towards women). Quite frankly throughout my NS years, I have never sing or heard this song until this news surface. National Service is about protecting the Nation, Defence, so if one is unable to hold on to their loved ones what is the point of performing this defence? NS is more than creating lean mean killing machines, Soldiers. It give Male Singaporeans a focus point, the purpose of serving! AWARE what next? Ban Vulgarities, Hokkien dialect and stop labeling the rifle as "Wife"...

http://www.aware.org.sg/2013/11/the-perplexing-case-of-purple-light/

November 18th, 2013
The perplexing case of Purple Light

Image courtesy of Justin See(Thanks to all who have come out in support of the move against the problematic Purple Light lyrics. Please take the time to read Fikri’s post and Nicholas Liu’s letter on this subject.)

Note: the post below contains examples of abusive language.

“Booking out, see my girlfriend
Saw her with another man
Kill the man, rape my girlfriend
With my rifle and my buddy and me.”

It started simply. Several men at a workshop on violence against women told us of these lyrics in an NS marching song. They were disturbed by the attitude expressed toward sexual violence. In their view, such lyrics should not be part of the National Service experience.

We agreed and raised the matter in a letter to MINDEF and SAF.

MINDEF and SAF agreed and said that they would take steps to “immediately halt” the singing of these lyrics.

So far, so agreed. Yet our brief Facebook update on this generated an explosive reaction and spawned a thread of more than 700 comments.

Criticism of us quickly spiralled into extremely abusive language. We (and others who welcome MINDEF’s move) are, among other things, “sensitive little bitches” and a “useless bunch of morons” who run a “feminazi group” which is “pushing for female supremacy” through “nitpicking”. We should “get fucked”.

All because we think Singapore is better off without soldiers singing about their buddies and rifles standing by as they rape women, and we said so publicly.

We have also seen many positive and supportive messages from people of all genders, including men who were uncomfortable with singing the lyrics in NS. But the strength of the negative response is noteworthy. Why does this bother some people (mostly men) so much? This important question goes to the heart of why the lyrics are so problematic to begin with.

John 19:1-6
Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2 The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe 3 and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face. 4 Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” 5 When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”

6 As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”

Friday, November 22, 2013

Israel's ‘David’s Sling’ vs Goliath

Israel successfully tested its newest missile defence system on Wednesday, a key step toward making the third and final leg of the country’s three-part defence system operational by next year, the defence ministry said.

“David’s Sling,” also known as “Magic Wand,” is designed to intercept projectiles with ranges between 70 kilometres and 300 kilometres, and is aimed primarily at countering the large arsenal of Hezbollah rockets in Lebanon and those of President Bashar Assad’s government in Syria.

The defence ministry said the system, developed by Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and U.S.-based Raytheon Co, detected and destroyed a test ballistic missile over Israel on Wednesday morning and marked a “step forward” toward its scheduled deployment next year.

Israel has also deployed the Iron Dome system against short-range rockets from the Gaza Strip and the Arrow system for longer-range threats from Iran. Together, the three components will complete what Israel calls its “multilayer missile defence.”

Iran has developed missiles that can travel 2,000 kilometres, putting Israel and parts of Europe well within its range. Israeli concerns have been compounded by Iran’s controversial nuclear program, which Israel believes is geared toward making nuclear weapons — a charge Tehran denies.

Israel considers a nuclear-armed Iran to be an existential threat, citing Iranian calls for Israel’s destruction, its support for anti-Israel militant groups and its missile and nuclear technology.

The test came as world powers and Iran open a new round of nuclear negotiations in Geneva later on Wednesday, talks that could result in a landmark deal that would force Iran to make concessions on its nuclear program in exchange for the easing of Western sanctions that have crippled its economy.

Iran seeks a rollback in U.S.-led economic sanctions, while the West is pressing it to curb its uranium enrichment — the process to make nuclear fuel, which is a potential pathway to atomic weapons. Israel has voiced grave concern that a deal with Iran now may ease pressure on the Islamic Republic while allowing it to continue to strive toward acquiring a bomb.

Uzi Rubin, a former head of Israel’s missile defence program, said the timing of the test was unrelated and merely a planned step in Israel’s long-term plan to complete a defence umbrella against the myriad of rocket threats the country faces.

He said the test, only the second of its kind, was a “milestone” but refused to provide operational details.

The Iron Dome protects against short-range rockets fired by militants in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon. It shot down hundreds of rockets from Gaza in last year’s round of fighting.

The next generation of the Arrow, now in the development stage, is set to be deployed in 2016. Called Arrow 3, it is designed to strike missiles when they are outside the earth’s atmosphere, before they are on their downward path toward their target. Together, the two Arrow systems would provide two chances to strike down incoming missiles.

Israel also uses U.S.-made Patriot missile defence batteries against mid-range missiles, though these failed to hit any of the 39 Scud missiles fired at Israel from Iraq in the 1991 Gulf War. Manufacturers say the Patriot system has been improved since then.

It isn't the physical strength or sling skills of David, that killed Goliath but his Faith in God.

1 Samuel 17:1-58
But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the
hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Singapore Draft Master Plan 2013

By 2030, there might be 6.9 million people in Singapore, thus planning ahead for an eventual result provides a road map to follow with pre-designated milestones.

If you don’t have a plan, how will you know when you are successful? Without a predetermined road map, how do you know where you are going? Without a target in your crosshair, how will you know if you are pointed in the right direction? It is your responsibility to have a written plan that continually measures your debt-reduction progress.

Planning for the future is biblical. Joseph told the people of Egypt to prepare for the coming famine. During the years of surplus, Joseph was wise enough to gather the excess and store it for later use. He was a great model of advance preparation in process. The preparation done by the Egyptians cared for their needs during the years of lack.

Genesis 41:48,49
“Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it. Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure.”

There is a biblical story about a man about to lose his job, planning ahead for his future well being, even though he does so in an unscrupulous way. Sensible people look ahead and plan for the future. They manage money to provide benefit for the present, as well as the future. Christ is suggesting that in doing good works we should consider our future with just as much ingenuity as the dishonest steward considered his future. As stewards of Jesus Christ, we are mandated with responsibility to use every means at our disposal to spread the Good News to all. In doing so, our gains will have great affect in eternal matters. The shrewdness with which the unjust servant negated his responsibility to his lord was commended. He promoted his cause with the utmost care and effort. With an unprincipled passion he sought to use his master’s money in securing advantage after his inevitable dismissal. Christ was simply asking those to whom he spoke to be just as inventive, but for a better cause. This can happen only when we look down the line a bit and seek to plan ahead. The message is clear. In our stewardship responsibility to God, we should be at least as wholehearted and energetic as the misguided steward was in prosecuting his own interests.

Luke 14:28-30
Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

Wisely setting goals leads to better results: “The plans of the diligent lead to profit” (Proverbs 21:5).

Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself” (Matthew 6:33-34). Our goal-setting need not be accompanied by fear. If our plans focus on Christ and honor Him, He will see to it that the best results are ours.

Proverbs 27:23; Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds;

Our Future, Our Home.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

What is the 'Underboob' fuss about

In my mind, is this child trying to live her dream, dress up as a anime character? Mind your own business some would say... Why is Christian imposing their set of "RULES" on others?!

I believe the person who call in the police is concern about the "Safety" of the young girl, protecting the vulnerable. Does she know what she is doing? Exposing herself to basically the "World". Will she ever live to regret it?

Deuteronomy 32:11; As an eagle stirs up its nest, Hovers over its young, Spreading out its wings, taking them up, Carrying them on its wings.


Woman (Christian) calls police over cosplayer’s ‘underboob’ at anime festival

What is an "underboob"? Well, a woman probably found out what it is after calling the police on a female cosplayer recently.

HardwareZone commenters say that the older woman was apparently attending a church service (or event) in the same convention center and was offended by the revealing costume worn by the cosplayed at the Anime Festival Asia, which was held at Suntec International Convention and Exhibition Centre from 8-10 November. According to video game blog Kotaku.com, the woman had called the police after seeing the female cosplayer wearing an outfit that had exposed the bottom part of her breasts — it is an area known as the "underboob".

The female cosplayer, wearing a body-fitting blue and red costume, was in character as  Ryuko Matoi, the main protagonist from popular anime Kill la Kill.

Another blogger wrote about the incident on anime blog,  One Pixel Jump, which reported that the woman was coming from a church service held in the same building and that the two had gotten into a fight over the outfit and made a big scene before calling the police. There was no arrest, the blogger said.

A commenter, who said he 35 years old, responded to the post saying, “This incident happened in the space outside the event hall where a lot of cosplayers had set up impromptu photography areas…The police did not arrest anyone, and the cosplayer in question is not in trouble, although she was rather traumatised.”


It’s perfectly acceptable to legislate morality. When you think about it, morals are the only thing you can legislate. For example, we have laws against stealing for one reason: it’s immoral to take someone’s property. So, we take that moral rule and establish it in law.

The same is true for laws against murder. The reason they exist is because we think it’s immoral to kill an innocent human being. So, we take that moral rule and make it against the law to break it. By legislating that rule, we are legislating morality.

In fact, it’s the moral rule that legitimizes the law’s power to limit freedom. Without a moral grounding, laws would be unjust.

Ephesians 4:28; Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Hacker group Anonymous is no Messiah

Hacker 'The Messiah' claims attack on Singapore govt sites, repeats ‘Anonymous’ cyber threat

Two wrongs do not make a right. There is no higher moral ground in terms of damaging, threatening and hacking activities; They are wrong! Many are misled by one of them, "The Messiah", that what He does is for the people, by the people - In the Name of "FREEDOM". There is a price to pay for Freedom, just ask Adam... Worst many youths idolized the group - Anonymous.

Guy Fawkes mask made famous by the movie, V for Vendetta.

8 Things That Anonymous, The Hacker 'Terrorist' Group, Has Done For Good

Conformity and Following rules; Paying Taxes to Caesar (Matthew 22:15-22)
Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his words. 16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone's opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius.20 And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” 21 They said, “Caesar's.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” 22 When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.

Paul reminded us to be respect the Authority (Titus 3:1-7)
Remind the people to respect the government and be law-abiding, always ready to lend a helping hand 2 No insults, no fights. God's people should be bighearted and courteous. 3 It wasn't so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. 4 But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, 5 he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. 6 Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. 7 God's gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there's more life to come - an eternity of life!

If Change is what they seek, start by praying! The Holy Spirit will work wonders in the hearts of those they prayed for, to do what is truly the right decision.

Lastly, "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain." Exodus 20:7

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Forces of nature - heavy rain and high tide

Heavy rain falls for days and days, building up too much water for groundwater systems to handle. Slowly, the water level begins to rise, creeping higher and flood the surface. Sadly this has become a common sight in Singapore, Flooding! Although our flood haven't reach a critical stage of life threatening but majority felt that it is unacceptable in a highly efficient Singapore.


Major drainage works in pipeline - Give Him Time!!!

Heavy rain on Thursday morning pelted the island and caused flooding in parts of Singapore.



Flash floods were reported at the junction of Commonwealth Drive and Commonwealth Avenue, Alexandra Road at the junction of Delta Road, Lorong Kismis, the junction of South Bridge Road and Maxwell Road, the junction of Cuscaden Road and Tomlinson Road, and along the Ayer Rajah Expressway towards Clementi.

The National Parks Board reported four cases of fallen trees at Bukit Timah, Outram and Bukit Batok. No injuries were reported.

One fallen tree at Dunearn Road damaged three cars and obstructed three lanes. The obstructions were subsequently cleared.

One of the places worst hit by floods was the Ayer Rajah Expressway which was closed to traffic as drains overflowed due to intense rainfall and rising tide.

Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said on his Facebook page that plans are in place to expand the Sungai Pandan Kechil canal along the expressway and added that these plans have to be expedited.

In the longer term, a barrage may even be built to control water levels.

Dr Balakrishnan said: "We're bringing new technology to bear on getting accurate topographic maps. We can also then use that to model future events under greater climate or weather stress and that will also help us plan, in a more refined way, our future infrastructure that will be necessary to deal with these events.

"We will need some time but I'm confident that we can make an improvement to the situation. I think it's not acceptable to have a major expressway shut down because of a flood."

National water agency PUB said construction work to upgrade a section of the Sungai Pandan Kechil canal will commence in the first half of 2015.

And to increase flood protection for the area, PUB will expand the culvert openings that drain into Sungei Pandan Kechil to improve the flow. The work will be completed by end of this year.

The PUB said in a statement issued on Thursday afternoon that the downpour over the central and western parts of Singapore began at 8.15am and ended around 9.30am.

The heaviest rainfall was recorded at Kent Ridge with a rainfall of 102.8mm from 8.10am to 9.40am. It peaked between 8.15am to 8.50am, with a rainfall of 82.2mm.

At Kent Ridge, a mini-waterfall was spotted as undergraduates reported ankle-deep waters within and around the National University of Singapore (NUS).

At the university’s science faculty bookshop, damage control was underway.

Staff said while this is not the first time a flood has occurred, it was definitely the worst, with an estimated S$20,000 worth of books damaged.

Patricia Foo, assistant manager at NUS' Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society Limited, said: "The water level rose to above the drain level and we tried our best to put in a lot of cardboards to actually stem the water from flowing into the shop but it was too late. The water just came in, rush in and we couldn't even salvage any books."

The shop is looking at investing in sandbags to prevent similar occurrences.

NUS said classes and daily operations on campus were not affected by the flash floods.

The university has enhanced the drainage system to mitigate flooding due to heavy downpours and will continue to look for solutions to reduce the incidence of flash flooding.

Over at Fairfield Methodist School in Dover, students had to clamber around fences to avoid wet ground.

The National Environment Agency said a convergence of winds over the region led to heavy rainfall on Thursday.

It added that for the next few days, thundery showers are expected mainly in the morning and early afternoon.

However, we can draw comfort from God's covenant with Noah
Genesis 9:11; "I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

For now its back to the drawing board - to build deeper, wider drainage systems and more underground water detention tanks.

Monday, October 21, 2013

Singaporeans need Anger Management

Recent fights, stabbing and quarrels in the streets of Singapore is a major concern. We have an old aunt being beaten up by her neighbor, we have uncles quarreling in the MRT trains over priority seat, we have Kung Fu display in Bus interchange...

Maybe its time MOE introduce Anger Management module. Start young, allow them to have better self-control.


In the Ten commandments; "Thou shalt do no murder" but many a times anger gets the better of us and wishes someone is dead! We have committed murder in our minds.

Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

There is nothing wrong being angry, even Lord Jesus Christ got angry when they turn his Temple, a place of worship, into a Market place. The point is if you get angry - exercise Self-control and do not Sin!

Ephesians 4:26-27 "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold."


Broken family, broken hearts - We have family (father and mother) screaming at one another, causing unmeasurable amount of hurt to their children.

http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/family-justice-system-poised-paradigm-shift

Family justice system poised for paradigm shift

Growing strains on family life, as evidenced by a spiking divorce rate, mean that a re-tooling of the justice system to deal with such disputes will be needed soon.

This could include Family Court judges who are empowered to stop hearings from descending into acrimonious barb-trading by estranged lovers, and boosting the skills of police officers, teachers and others so they can help prevent family disputes from escalating into bitter splits.

These are among the broad shifts in the shake-up in store for the family justice system, said Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon yesterday, as he noted the “need” for a fresh look at the Family Court’s “mandate, purview and approach” as it approaches its 20th anniversary.

Speaking at the inaugural Family Justice Practice Forum yesterday, he said the rethink is directed at better protecting the best interests of children ensnared by their parents’ fall-out, and focusing court processes and outcomes for sparring couples on appropriate resolutions. The changes can also help families better handle the “trauma of familial dysfunction” by shifting the focus from acrimony and recrimination towards resolution and closure, he added.

The specific recommendations to achieve these broad goals will be presented for consultation “soon” by the committee tasked with the rethink.

Co-chaired by Senior Minister of State (Law and Education) Indranee Rajah and Judge of Appeal V K Rajah, the committee was mooted by CJ Menon when he opened the legal year in January.

The committee is also looking into ways to strengthen support for couples who opt not to divorce despite domestic violence or maintenance issues — from child access and counselling to advice on housing, education and financial needs.

Noting that longer working hours and shifting perceptions of marriage and the community have led to “signs of growing strains on family life” in the last 20 years, CJ Menon said the “erosion of the family as we know it” has made the Family Court’s role more important than ever.

“Where the Court was once a last resort, now, within the family and juvenile justice system, we face more disputes, more crimes, have more families to assist and more children to protect,” he said.

For example, he pointed out that divorce rates — one in four marriages — are probably at their highest level here and there are also more reported incidents of family violence, going by the near doubling of applications for Personal Protection and Domestic Exclusion orders since 1996.

Thus, there must be a fundamental change in the role of Family Court judges, CJ Menon said. Instead of being just “passive umpires”, judges will take an inquisitorial approach and help address key issues in cases. They can also direct that only the relevant evidence and witnesses be produced.

In tandem, lawyers could be prodded to acquire a new Family Law Practitioner accreditation, where prerequisites would likely include training in aspects of social work, counselling and mediation, as well as a deeper knowledge of family law.

The rationale for the paradigm shift stems from the ill consequences of the current adversarial approach in familial litigations, explained CJ Menon.

Because of the protracted and complex process, litigants are constantly left “bewildered and vexed”, he said. “Instead of being equipped for all that lies ahead, parties often leave the courtroom feeling that they have been victimised and adjudged failures and morally unsuitable as parents or spouses.”

And with husband and wife engaged in a “morass of hurtful attacks” against each other, the child’s welfare risks getting buried.

“What we must ultimately aim for is an eco-system in which we will hear clearly the voice of the child so that the child’s best interests are appropriately addressed; and where disputes and differences are resolved in a sensible and non-technical manner with a measure of heart, compassion and sympathy.”

The “point of entry” into the family justice system is also important, he noted.

Those manning the various “touch-points” will be armed with the right skills and information so that they can provide “real and meaningful help to distressed families”. They will also channel cases to “specialist family care agencies” who will have social workers with “deep expertise” in dealing with family disputes.


Sometimes, Delay is Good
James 1:19-20 "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires."


Proverbs 16:32 "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city." Head on when both sides are angry, is like holding shotgun firing at each other... consequences is everyone around gets hurt!


Anger management issues among Singapore children on the rise

Getting calls from teachers complaining about her 10-year-old son's behaviour is something that Madam Toh is used to.

The 48-year-old factory worker, who declined to give her full name, said her son has had problems relating to his classmates.

But the calls stopped after he attended an anger management programme run by the Singapore Children's Society in March.

The society aims to promote the well-being of children, mainly those from abusive and dysfunctional families.

It said there is a rising number of youngsters needing help to manage anger problems and in 2010, it set up a programme called Storm Riders to combat this.

Offering interactive activities and counselling, it has since helped 94 kids aged eight to 12 - mostly boys. "Because of the pace of our society and exposure to instant messaging, we expect more children to face such issues. The younger generation expects instant gratification," executive director Alfred Tan said.

"Many families are small now, so there will be higher expectations on the child in terms of performance. Children who don't meet expectations - that's where the stress levels go up and one outcome will be the issue of anger."

Ms Jenny Giam, a senior counsellor at the society, said that other reasons include family background, parenting style and exposure to violence from TV and computer games. A child may also express anger to seek attention.

Mr Tan noted: "Social workers have seen younger children exhibit such behaviour so we came up with the programme to address the issue early. We will need more early intervention programmes."

The Institute of Mental Health said it treated 74 children aged eight to 13 for anger management issues from 2007 to 2011. Dr Bernardine Woo, senior consultant at its Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, said common signs of anger in children include physical violence, verbal abuse and being sullen or withdrawn.

Professionals said it is important to seek help early and parents should not dismiss the behaviour as a "growing-up phase".

Dr Adrian Wang, a consultant psychiatrist at Gleneagles Medical Centre, said: "Childhood is an important phase of life where future values, behaviours and mindsets are being moulded."

Said Madam Toh, whose son was referred to the society by his school: "I was very frustrated, but now I see a change and it works."

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Allah is God

How can an Arabic word for God becomes an exclusive word only for the few (Muslims)? If Muslims acknowledge that there is only one God, then all the more they should allow 'Others' to use the word as other believers will be honoring the same God as theirs. Yahweh or Jehovah?!

Genesis 1; 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.



Malaysian court rules use of 'Allah' exclusive to Muslims

The unanimous decision by three Muslim judges in Malaysia's appeals court overturned a 2009 ruling by a lower court that allowed the

Malay-language version of the newspaper, The Herald, to use the word Allah - as many Christians in Malaysia say has been the case for centuries.

"The usage of the word Allah is not an integral part of the faith in Christianity," chief judge Mohamed Apandi Ali said in the ruling.

"The usage of the word will cause confusion in the community."

The decision coincides with heightened ethnic and religious tension in Malaysia after a polarizing May election, in which the long-ruling coalition was deserted by urban voters that included a large section of minority ethnic Chinese.

In recent months, Prime Minister Najib Razak has sought to consolidate his support among majority ethnic Malays, who are Muslim by law, and secure the backing of traditionalists ahead of a crucial ruling party assembly this month.

His new government - dominated by his Malay-based United Malays National Organization - has toughened security laws and introduced steps

to boost a decades-old affirmative action policy for ethnic Malays, reversing liberal reforms aimed at appealing to a broader section of the multi-ethnic country.

In its case, the government argued that the word Allah is specific to Muslims and that the then-home minister's decision in 2008 to deny the newspaper permission to print it was justified on the basis of public order.

About 200 Muslims outside the court in the administrative capital Putrajaya, greeted the decision with shouts of "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest).

"As a Muslim, defending the usage of the term Allah qualifies as jihad. It is my duty to defend it," said Jefrizal Ahmad Jaafar, 39.

Jihad is Islamic holy war or struggle.

RIGHTS OF THE MINORITY

Lawyers for the Catholic paper had argued that the word Allah predated Islam and had been used extensively by Malay-speaking Christians in Malaysia's part of Borneo island for centuries.

They say they will appeal against Monday's decision to Malaysia's highest court.

"The nation must protect and support the rights of the minority," said Father Lawrence Andrew, the founding editor of the Herald. "God is an integral part of every religion."

Christians in Indonesia and much of the Arab world continue to use the word without opposition from Islamic authorities. Churches in the Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak have said they will continue to use the word regardless of the ruling.

The paper won a judicial review of the home minister's decision in 2009, triggering an appeal from the federal government. The court ruled on Monday that the constitutional rights of the publisher had not been infringed.

Ethnic Malays make up 60 percent of Malaysia's 28 million people, with Chinese accounting for more than a quarter and ethnic Indians also forming a substantial minority. Christians account for about 9 percent.

Inclusive not Exclusive

MM Lee Stand Corrected
Lee Kuan Yew urges Muslims to 'be less strict'
Jan 23, 2011

Singapore's founding father Lee Kuan Yew has urged local Muslims to "be less strict on Islamic observances" to aid integration and the city-state's nation-building process.

Singapore has a predominantly Chinese population, with minority races including Muslim Malays and Indians, and Lee has always stressed the importance of racial harmony.

"I would say today, we can integrate all religions and races except Islam," he said in "Lee Kuan Yew: Hard Truths to Keep Singapore Going," a new book containing his typically frank views on the city-state and its future.

"I think we were progressing very nicely until the surge of Islam came and if you asked me for my observations, the other communities have easier integration -- friends, intermarriages and so on..." he stated.

"I think the Muslims socially do not cause any trouble, but they are distinct and separate," Lee added, calling on the community to "be less strict on Islamic observances."

During the book's launch on Friday, the self-described "pragmatist" warned Singaporeans against complacency, saying the largely ethnic Chinese republic was still a nation in the making.

Describing Singapore in the book as an "80-storey building on marshy land," Lee said it must contend with hostility from larger Muslim neighbours.

"We've got friendly neighbours? Grow up... There is this drive to put us down because we are interlopers," he said, citing alleged Malaysian and Indonesian efforts to undermine Singapore's crucial port business.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Assistant pastor sentenced to jail for sex with underage girl




An assistant pastor who had oral sex with a 15-year-old church-goer has been sentenced to 16 months jail.

The 46-year-old, who cannot be named to protect the girl's identity, admitted to having the girl -- who was 15-years old at the time of the acts -- perform oral sex on him on two occasions.

The first was at a park along Bartley Road between end-September and early-October 2011. Then again in mid-October 2011 at the fourth level of the church, located in central Singapore. A third charge was taken into consideration.

At the time of the offences, the father-of-three was planning programmes for church members, among other administrative duties.

He met the girl in 2010 in the course of organising activities for the church's youth members. They got closer after an overseas mission to Myanmar.

The pastor started contacting the girl via calls, explicit emails and mobile texts -- where he would ask her for sex and said he loved her.

The court heard how he initiated the oral sex at the park and the victim pushed him away after a few seconds.

Court documents showed that the accused asked the girl to help him out at the church with some chores. He brought the girl to the fourth level to have oral sex, while the other pastors were on the ground floor.

The victim only made a report after realising what he had done was wrong.

In its submissions, the prosecution said the accused was 29 years older than the girl.

Prosecutor Ng Yiwen said the pastor not only abused his authority and the trust placed in him, but his actions also undermined the public's trust in the church. Mr Ng pointed out that the girl was "nothing more than a sexual plaything" to the accused, and that there was a certain degree of "moral corruption" involved.

The fact that the act was performed within the church is also an aggravating factor. Thus, Mr Ng urged for a range of 12 to 20 months jail per charge.

However, the Defence argued that the pastor's judgement was impaired because of his work and personal environment. Lawyer Wee Pan Lee said circumstances led to him being in a depressed mood and addicted to sex. These conditions, he said, were untreated.

Mr Wee asked for a jail term of between 10 and 15 months per charge, since his client was a first offender.

The accused, who last worked as a hourly-paid dishwasher, could have been jailed up to 10 years, fined, and caned on each count.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

FCBC Judicial Review: Losing the basic building blocks of our society

Reading the news that FCBC pastor Lawrence Khong is seeking a High Court judicial review of MOM's decision to penalise the Church for its unfair dismissal of a pregnant employee, it once again brought to my mind the tumultuous relationship between the Church and the State.

As a Christian in Singapore, I belong to both the civil and ecclesiastical polity. Being a citizen of both polities not only means that I am accorded legal and spiritual protection, but more importantly, that I have the civic and moral responsibility to discuss, negotiate and maintain what is good for all human beings. Unfortunately, there are times when the political identity of being a Christian and the political expectations of the secular state collide.

For this case, I thought it should be settled privately between the 2 parties. Both the government and the pastor need to set aside their differences and egos! Like the wise Chinese saying, 大事化小,小事化无!



While I appreciate that the Church would want to uphold the moral integrity of its staff, it could have just compensated the employee and asked her to leave. From what I know, the clerical staff was sacked because she refused to repent and break off her extra-marital relationship. Just as love cannot be forced, one cannot simply forced someone to stop loving another. Similarly, we cannot forcibly convert a homosexual to heterosexual, these processes need time, understanding and reconciliation.

Most importantly, the ugly and drawn-out confrontation with MOM is unnecessary and puts the Christian faith in a bad light. First, non-Christians might have the wrong impression of Christianity as one that is intolerant, confrontational and dogmatic. Second, pursuing a judicial review is a waste of money and it might breed politics of mistrust and sour State-Church relations.

It would seem as if Lawrence Khong is leveraging on this issue to create publicity for himself and his LoveSingapore community, opting to bask in the limelight of the media instead of working towards an agreeable middle ground with the MOM.

Furthermore, this is not the first time he has attracted public attention. Early in January this year, on behalf of the FCBC and LoveSingapore, Khong caught Minister Goh Chok Tong off-guard with an appeal against the "looming threat" of LGBT activists to the family unit and for Section 377A to be retained. A month later, LoveSingapore decided that they should also be given the opportunity to meet with Minister K Shanmugam after the latter met up with LGBT activist group Sayoni.

Would it be too far-fetched to think that Khong is orchestrating these events as he wants to be seen as the spiritual leader of Christian activism through LoveSingapore?

Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom

This is also not the first time that Khong has turned to courts to exercise his right to legal protection. Just a couple of months ago, Khong filed a suit against the Singapore Polo Club after he was suspended from the club. This penchant for hostile confrontation goes against the Christian doctrine of peacemaking and harmony.

Ecclesiastes 4:6 Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit

Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord

Perhaps Khong's confrontational approach stems from the often misguided view that the Church has to pit itself as a rival state with a rival government and a rival system of law, against the secular State. Yet, according to St Augustine in his work on the City of God, he says that it is not about systems of institutions but about the way humans visibly live together.

We can choose to bear one another's cross and burdens, or to live at each other's expense. If we choose the former, we will gradually move in the direction of the City of God. But if we choose the latter, we will eventually slide into chaos and the best we can hope for is controlled selfishness.

Here, it is important to recognise the ideal of the human citizenship, where everyone works towards a common good, a good that belongs to everyone, and not confined to just an individual or group. To quote the former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, he said that human citizenship is "a way of living out your human dignity in which the capacity to make decisions is real and central and the responsibility for sustaining your human environment is real but is never going to be reduced to one system of management or government".

It will not be an easy task to manage our moral and religious decisions in a secular and multi-religious State like Singapore. Maybe God is challenging us to find our own light as we constantly juggle between the demands of Church and State. I'm not sure what good we can gain the judicial review will do for Singapore and Christians, but if we go down this path, I am sure we will lose some of the basic building blocks of our society, i.e. peace and mutual trust.

Thursday, September 12, 2013

To serve is to cut down red tapes




Pope Francis, 'Cold-Call Pope,' Offers Comfort And Baptism To Anna Romano, Pregnant Woman In Need
Of all the novelties that Pope Francis has brought to the Vatican, few have endeared him to the public — and unsettled his aides — as much as his penchant for picking up the phone and calling someone out of the blue.

The pontiff with the pastor’s touch has phoned his cobbler in Argentina to inquire about a shoe repair, called to cancel his newspaper subscription and phoned a woman who was raped by a local police officer to counsel her. Just this week, Francis phoned a pregnant Italian woman whose fiance had pushed her to have an abortion.

Anna Romano instead dumped the guy, wrote to the pope about her problems, and on Tuesday (Sept. 3) received a surprise call from the Holy Father, who offered encouragement and even said he would baptize the baby if she couldn’t find a willing priest.

“Hello, Anna,” the voice on the other end of the line said, “this is Pope Francis.”

“I was petrified,” the 35-year-old told Il Messaggero, a Rome daily. “I recognized his voice and I knew right away that it really was the pope.”

On the other hand, two days in a row this week the Vatican also had to deny reports of papal phone calls that were either hoaxes or rumors.

On Thursday, the Argentinian daily Clarín – usually well-informed on all things relating to Francis, the former archbishop of Buenos Aires – wrote that the pontiff had spoken by phone with Syrian President Bashar Assad as part of the Vatican’s diplomatic effort to avoid a U.S. military strike against the country.

But, according to the Rev. Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, the news was was “absolutely unfounded.”

Then on Friday, Lombardi had to refute a newspaper report that Francis had called a young gay man in France who had confessed his troubles as a gay Catholic in a letter to the pope.

“I can deny with certainty that the pope has called a young man in France,” Lombardi said.

Speaking to Religion News Service, Lombardi said that as a matter of course he would not comment – nor confirm or deny the authenticity – about every person claiming to have heard the words “Hello, this is Pope Francis” when they answered the phone.

He said that instead he would intervene only when the alleged Francis calls touched on matters of “international relevance,” as in the case of Assad, or seemed to go against Catholic doctrine, as in the case of the French youth who asserted the pope had told him: “Your homosexuality doesn’t matter.”

“There is always the risk that people pretend to be the pope over the phone,” Lombardi told the French daily Le Figaro when asked about the story.

But that danger doesn’t seem to have dissuaded Francis — whose dialing habits have earned him the nickname “the cold-call pope” — from continuing to use his cell phone to reach beyond the walls of a Vatican that he feels can isolate him from his global flock.

This summer Francis called an Italian man who has struggled to forgive God after the murder of his brother, and the pope also phoned an Italian engineering student who wrote to him about his fears of not finding work even with his degree. The two “laughed and joked” for eight minutes, the teen said, and Francis told the young man to use the informal “tu” with him.

In late August, the pontiff called an Argentine woman who had been raped.

This week’s episode with Romano was typical: When she found out in June that she was pregnant, her fiance urged her to have an abortion. Then she learned that he was in fact married and already had a family of his own.

In July, Romano wrote in desperation to Francis, knowing that he sometimes responds personally to the thousands of people who write to him. On the envelope she put: “Holy Father Pope Francis, Vatican City, Rome.” No ZIP code, nothing else. It was enough, apparently. When her phone rang Tuesday, it was a local number that Romano did not recognize, but she answered anyway.

Recovering from the shock of hearing the pope’s voice, Romano again told him how she felt “betrayed, humiliated.” The pope, she said, spoke to her as informally as “a dear, old friend” would, and in their conversation Francis “reassured me, telling me that the baby was a gift from God, a sign of Providence. He told me I would not be left alone.”

When Romano told the pope that she wanted to have the child baptized but was afraid she could not because she is divorced and on her own, the pope told her he was sure that she could find a willing pastor.

“But if not,” Francis reportedly added, “you know there’s always me.”

Though she doesn’t know whether she will have a girl or a boy, Romano told the newspaper she thinks it’s a boy, and it’s clear what she will name him: “Francis.”

Mark 10:43-45 "Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

God saves when you (action) save yourself

http://www.singapolitics.sg/supperclub/lawrence-khong-'i-told-minister-send-me-jail'



Lawrence Khong: ‘I told the Minister to send me to jail’

Pastor Lawrence Khong of Faith Community Baptist Church talks about why he was prepared to go to jail over the church's dismissal of a pregnant employee, which made the news last month.

Q: Was it the right thing to do, firing that employee?


The issue is whether there is sufficient cause. We were a little surprised when we were told that it is not sufficient cause because in a church context, adultery and immorality is held with different view. In fact, I talk to many pastors in the city. It is very common in a church that when someone commits adultery, they are told to resign. There was another case just a couple of years ago in my church - a staff who had done the same thing. He knew it was wrong. We tried to find other opportunities of employment for him. But he knew he had to step down.

Q: But in this case it was a dismissal, not a resignation.


When I first heard of this case, my immediate response was, "Oh dear, she will need a job more than ever before." This became especially so since I came to know from other sources that the father of the child was not prepared to marry her. Our condition was that this employee must acknowledge that she was wrong. You see, in a church, we work with sinners, so to speak. We work with broken people. That's our job. So we cannot throw people out just because they have done something wrong. But if they are sorry and are willing to make things right, then to a great extent, we would want to keep that person. We wanted to help her deal with some issues in her life, so that she would go on to stronger relationships in the future.

She said she was going to break off the relationship but she continued to see him on a regular basis. Finally, the day came when she saw the highest level of leadership in our operations, that is, me and my wife, who are the two senior pastors, the two team pastors overseeing her, the COO (chief operating officer), as well as the employee's brother-in-law, who used to be a pastor with us but who is now a pastor in Malaysia.

Before the meeting, her brother-in-law asked me if I could try my best to keep the job for her. I told him that that was our aim. But during the meeting, she said: "No, I'm not going to break it off with the man. I want to be with him." So finally I told her that I would like to give her five days to consider resigning. I also said I knew she would need finances and we had a LoveSingapore fund for those with financial difficulties. If she applied, we would help her. After that meeting, the brother-in-law said to me: "I wanted to appeal for you to retain her. But at the end of the conversation, I don't even have the grounds to do that."

Two weeks later, it became clear that she had no intention to resign, so we had no choice but to let her go.

Q: Apart from adultery, what other issues in an employee's life could also cause someone to be dismissed - issues that other employers may not have a problem with?


We are not nitpicking here. We're not saying, your skirt is two inches too short, or, there is an occasional burst of temper or a vulgar word. We're talking about bigger issues of morality. I would think that if someone is going around cheating other people, which we have dealt with too, or if they go around borrowing money and telling all sorts of stories, that would be not acceptable. Smoking is also not acceptable.

Q: Just to be clear, it's not just that they can't smoke in the office. They can't smoke even outside or at home.

Yes. If we know that that's your reputation, it is not acceptable.

Q: Are you saying effectively that you have to be a Christian in order to be a full-time employee of the church?

Not necessarily. We do have non -Christians working in our administration staff. If we offer you a job, and you're not a Christian, obviously you cannot subscribe to our theology. But you have to keep to the moral standard. But there are various organisations we run.

One of them is Touch Community Services, which we started but now it's arm's length and is run by its own board. However, even there, there is a set of moral standards, though perhaps not as high as the church. Then there is Gateway Entertainment, which is a purely church-owned entertainment company which I use to do my magic shows. There, again it's different. Just before this interview, I was rehearsing for my show and some of my dancers are smokers. So I just said, "Please don't do it on my premises. If you have to take a puff, do it outside." So we do understand the different contexts.

Q: Have you considered writing these standards into your employment contracts?

I think they are implied. I met with the Manpower Minister (Tan Chuan-Jin), who said: "You should write this down." And I said I'm not sure I want to. Because if I write a list down, then there's always something I might miss. Then you say: "There you are, I'm free." I believe when it comes to morality, it's clear enough. There are industry standards. And church is one of the industry standards. So I have no problem paying the amount for compensation. But we find it difficult to accept that the Minister ruled that there was insufficient cause. I do not, I cannot, accept that. In fact, we have sent them a cheque with a letter that says this is sent to you without prejudice, and we reserve our rights on this.

Q: Why did you decide in the end to comply with the Minister's order?

Because it's the law. The Minister has made a judgment, and I want to be law abiding. But we have the right to say we disagree with the ruling.

Q: Some people would say that you can't have it both ways. It's either you pay the compensation, in which case you're accepting his ruling of insufficient cause. And if you want to disagree with the ruling, you should refuse to pay and face the consequences for that.

I actually told the Minister: "Send me to jail." But I was told by my lawyers that going to jail doesn't solve the problem, because when you come out of jail, you still have to pay. And there were other avenues. It is possible to pay ex gratia, without prejudice, and make my statement.

Q: Why were you prepared to go to jail?

If you know anything about me, I stand on principles. I cannot allow a ruling that is passed that I feel is unjust to the church, that restricts the way we run a religious organisation. To me, that is standing up for my religious convictions. And my religious convictions have been violated. That's how strongly I feel about it.

Q: Many years ago, your daughter bore a child out of wedlock. Did that experience change the way you looked at this case?

Absolutely. That's why my first reaction was: How can I help this employee? I understand it's not easy to be a single mother. However, I want to make the point that my daughter's case was different. My daughter was a single girl who made a mistake and was pregnant. In this case, she was a married woman who was in an adulterous relationship. I think the context is different. However, even for my daughter, I expect her to come to a place of repentance. We assigned leaders of the church to hold her accountable, to check on her. I took her off from any leadership role in the church until many years later. I hold the same standard for my own daughter.

Q: How is she doing right now?

I think she's doing very well. My grandson is 10 years old and is very well-loved. In fact, he pulls my whole family together. And you're aware that I've never been quiet about this. I've gone on national television to share my story, so that every person knows that there are no perfect people. Even as a pastor, I struggle with family issues like everyone else. In fact, it has opened up more doors for me to speak to many people. People come to me for help because they say: "You're real, pastor. You have not been hiding some of your own struggles."

Q: Tell me more about the magic show that you and your daughter do.

Just over 10 years ago, the church leadership began to sense God telling us that we should get involved in the arts and entertainment arena. Sometimes we just criticise and say there is so much garbage coming out and it affects our young people. But we believe that instead of talking about how bad other products are, why don't we come out and offer an alternative? So we decided to do a magic show that would live out positive values. We want to hit a high standard of production and to be world class, so we have influence. So that's our concept for Gateway Entertainment.

Q: I've read reports that 3,000 people left your church in the early 2000s because they did not agree with your foray into magic. Is that number accurate?

There were some who left, but not as many as 3,000. So there are people who choose to differ, some who feel I've spent too much time on it. I respect that. Actually, over the years, there are thousands of people who have left us on various issues. Our church is very committed to expecting a lot from our members in terms of discipleship, in terms of commitment, and some people feel like it is too much. I respect that.


Do I Have to Give Up My Sins to be Saved?

"And they went out, and preached that men should repent." —Mark 6:12

The answer is No!  You do NOT have to stop sinning to be saved.  No one can stop sinning (Romans 3:23)!  No one can live above sin—no one (Isaiah 64:6).  Jesus Christ came into this world to save sinners.  You do NOT have to give up anything to be saved except your UNBELIEF.

 However, you DO need to realize your sinful condition and "confess" (or admit) to God that you are a sinner, deserving of hell.  This is Biblical repentance, i.e., "a change of mind."

To be saved, a sinner simply needs to become "guilty" before God (Romans 3:19).  Repentance is NOT forsaking one's actual sins, for that would be self-righteousness?  Repentance is acknowledging that I am guilty of violating God's holy Law, and that I deserve to be punished in Hellfire for my own sins. Thus, realizing one's need for a Saviour. This is exactly what Galatians 3:24 teaches, "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith."

A person who is convicted about their sin won't have the joyous attitude that they can continue living in sin and still go to Heaven.  I would greatly doubt the salvation of anyone who rejoices that they can continue living in sin.  This is one of the favorite arguments of Lordship Salvationists.  The truth is that God holds believers accountable for their words and actions (Romans 14:12; 1 Peter 4:17; 2 Corinthians 5:10).

Repentance is a turn of mind.  When you turn to Christ for forgiveness, you have just turned your back on sin.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

FCBC told by MOM to compensate sinful woman

Compensate woman fired for adultery, church told

One of Singapore's biggest independent churches has been ordered by the Government to compensate a female church worker fired because of her alleged adulterous relationship.

The female employee at Faith Community Baptist Church (FCBC) had gone to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) after she was sacked last

September when the church found out she was pregnant with the child of another church employee.

The ministry said that it looked into the complaint and found that the woman was "dismissed without sufficient cause within six months of her delivery date".

The church did not give her the salary and maternity benefits she was entitled to under the Employment Act.

The Ten Commandments
Exodus 20:1-17
1 And God spoke all these words: 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before[a] me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. 8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. 12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. 13 “You shall not murder. 14 “You shall not commit adultery. 15 “You shall not steal. 16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

We are living in a secular world but governed by our religious belief.

FCBC senior pastor Lawrence Khong on...
  • THE PREGNANT EMPLOYEE- When we asked her, she admitted to having an affair with another colleague even before her divorce proceedings were final.
  • THE DISMISSAL- We are a church. If we concede that the dismissal was unjust, it means we are condoning adultery and it will weaken our moral and spiritual authority in the organization.
Romans 5:8 But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

Reconciliation is an effort right from the Top

We pray to God for World Peace, to love thye Neighbour but every time a bomb goes off... the tension resurfaced. The problem is self preservation, everyone wants to out live the other; But can we coexist? Of course!

Pope Francis Adds a Personal Touch to Eid Al-Fitr Greetings

Pope Francis is pressing ahead with his efforts to strengthen ties between Muslims and Catholics. In his personal message for Eid al-Fitr, the holiday that comes at the end of Ramadan, the Pope touched upon the theme of “Promoting Mutual Respect Through Education.” I find this particularly exciting because it speaks to the effort that I and other Muslims have been involved in the Twin Cities through the Islamic Resource Group (IRG) and other organizations. The IRG’s mission is to build bridges of understanding through education, one very similar to the Pope's call.

The Pope’s renewed call for dialogue is another opportunity for the Catholic community to take the dialogue with Muslims to the next level and I am confident that the Catholic leadership will find the IRG and several other Muslim organizations willing partners in this effort to promote mutual respect through education.

Eid Mubarak to all who are celebrating.

Below is the text of Pope Francis’s message to Muslims worldwide:
To Muslims throughout the World

It gives me great pleasure to greet you as you celebrate ‘Id al-Fitr, so concluding the month of Ramadan, dedicated mainly to fasting, prayer and almsgiving.

It is a tradition by now that, on this occasion, the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue sends you a message of good wishes, together with a proposed theme for common reflection. This year, the first of my Pontificate, I have decided to sign this traditional message myself and to send it to you, dear friends, as an expression of esteem and friendship for all Muslims, especially those who are religious leaders.

As you all know, when the Cardinals elected me as Bishop of Rome and Universal Pastor of the Catholic Church, I chose the name of  “Francis”, a very famous saint who loved God and every human being deeply, to the point of being called “universal brother”. He loved, helped and served the needy, the sick and the poor; he also cared greatly for creation.

I am aware that family and social dimensions enjoy a particular prominence for Muslims during this period, and it is worth noting that there are certain parallels in each of these areas with Christian faith and practice.

This year, the theme on which I would like to reflect with you and with all who will read this message is one that concerns both Muslims and Christians: Promoting Mutual Respect through Education.

This year’s theme is intended to underline the importance of education in the way we understand each other, built upon the foundation of mutual respect. “Respect” means an attitude of kindness towards people for whom we have consideration and esteem. “Mutual” means that this is not a one-way process, but something shared by both sides.

What we are called to respect in each person is first of all his life, his physical integrity, his dignity and the rights deriving from that dignity, his reputation, his property, his ethnic and cultural identity, his ideas and his political choices. We are therefore called to think, speak and write respectfully of the other, not only in his presence, but always and everywhere, avoiding unfair criticism or defamation. Families, schools, religious teaching and all forms of media have a role to play in achieving this goal.

Turning to mutual respect in interreligious relations, especially between Christians and Muslims, we are called to respect the religion of the other, its teachings, its symbols, its values. Particular respect is due to religious leaders and to places of worship. How painful are attacks on one or other of these!

It is clear that, when we show respect for the religion of our neighbours or when we offer them our good wishes on the occasion of a religious celebration, we simply seek to share their joy, without making reference to the content of their religious convictions.

Regarding the education of Muslim and Christian youth, we have to bring up our young people to think and speak respectfully of other religions and their followers, and to avoid ridiculing or denigrating their convictions and practices.

We all know that mutual respect is fundamental in any human relationship, especially among people who profess religious belief. In this way, sincere and lasting friendship can grow.

When I received the Diplomatic Corps accredited to the Holy See on 22 March 2013, I said: “It is not possible to establish true links with God, while ignoring other people. Hence it is important to intensify dialogue among the various religions, and I am thinking particularly of dialogue with Islam. At the Mass marking the beginning of my ministry, I greatly appreciated the presence of so many civil and religious leaders from the Islamic world.” With these words, I wished to emphasize once more the great importance of dialogue and cooperation among believers, in particular Christians and Muslims, and the need for it to be enhanced.

With these sentiments, I reiterate my hope that all Christians and Muslims may be true promoters of mutual respect and friendship, in particular through education.

Finally, I send you my prayerful good wishes, that your lives may glorify the Almighty and give joy to those around you.

Happy Feast to you all!
From the Vatican, 10 July 2013

Sunday, June 23, 2013

The Great Singapore Sale 2013

It's a season of panic buying! How True... Not because of fantastic discounts but pure pressure and fear.

  • Singaporeans are queuing up to purchase their N95 protective mask to battle Haze. Some concerned parents purchased air puritfiers too.

  •  Stocking up their insect repellent, mosquito net to battle against dengue.

  • Aunties prepares herbal drinks to keep their loved ones "cool" and healthy.

  • Rushing to get hold of their favorite Hello Kitty.



Where is the Discount since its GSS? Sadly high demand for such products have push  up their prices.

Why no one look up into the Heavens, seek God's protection? It's FREE! Like my neighbor joked, "I tried praying but its too Hazy!"

Real life is like that, it cannot be simulated, there is no risk-free environment in which we can experience life's ups and downs unharmed. The risk and dangers of living in a broken world are inescapable. That is why the words of Jesus are so assuring. He said," These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" John 16:33

No life is more secure than a life surrendered to God.

Get real protection now:- https://www.facebook.com/alphasingapore

Sunday, June 9, 2013

Pink Dot SG

The question is, are we an inclusive or exclusive society? Freedom to Love. Once again reminded me to accept and be part of their lives because it is those who are sick in need the Doctor!

Philip witness to the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40)

26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian[a] eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading:

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
    and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
    so he did not open his mouth.
33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.
    Who can speak of his descendants?
    For his life was taken from the earth.”

34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

The episode ends as it began, with divinely guided and empowered outreach. Miraculously transported over thirty miles to the seacoast town of Azotus, Philip continues his witness on non-Jewish soil until he comes to Caesarea.

The conversion of the Ethiopian eunuch graphically demonstrates the inclusiveness of the gospel. No apparent obstacle--whether physical defect, race or geographical remoteness - can place a person beyond the saving call of the good news.

Pink Dot 2013 happens on June 29, 5pm at Hong Lim Park, Singapore.



Turning off the main tap to a leaking pipe may temporary stop the leaking but not the problem; Others still can't use the tap. So mend the crack, allow the water to flow so that everyone can use it!

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

The Magic amount of $60

How did the National Wage Council come up with such an amount of $60 for our low wage workers? Is $60 a magic amount? No! Let's see the reason why...

The National Wages Council (NWC) has proposed that employers give low-wage workers a built-in wage increase of at least S$60. This applies to workers earning up to S$1,000 a month.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/nwc-proposes-wage-increase-of-at-least-s/693816.html

The magic amount started when Minister of State for Community Development, Health and Sports legislated a weekly day off for domestic helpers. If not given a day off a week, maids are normally compensated either in cash or kind. Many employers prefer to compensate their helpers with the additional $60 a month or $15 per week off day, so as to keep "trouble" to the minimum.

http://maid-employer.blogspot.sg/2013/04/domestic-maids-off-day.html

Several months later, MinDef also signaled an increase of $60 to all NSFs.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/ns-men-pay-raise-april-134607125.html

From April 2012, the allowance for all servicemen in the Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force will be increased by S$60 across all ranks.

A typical NSF officer holding the rank of second lieutenant (2LT) will receive S$1, 150 per month.


http://unbrandedbreadnbutter.com/2012/03/13/putting-a-price-on-human-rights-60-per-month/

The domino effect is a chain reaction that occurs when a small change causes a similar change nearby, which then causes another similar change, and so on... $60 for maids---> $60 NSFs---> $60 to low wage workers...

However, if one look at the percentage increase, $60 out of $1000 is really peanuts compared to both Domestic Helpers and NSFs.

The National Employers Federation said it endorses the NWC guidelines, and added that the guidelines will help companies manage rising costs as they restructure to raise productivity in the midst of the tighter manpower policies.

The government has accepted the recommendations.

But all talks and no ACTIONS!!! Unions really need to work harder for its members.

http://yawningbread.wordpress.com/2013/06/04/town-councils-should-write-minimum-wage-into-cleaning-contracts/

1 Timothy 5:18; For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”

At the end of the day, we must be fruitful that we are still employed and living in a wealthy country, Singapore.

Colosians 4:1; Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.

The apostle James warned people who did not pay their workers:

“Now, you rich people, weep and cry aloud. There are terrible troubles that will soon be coming to you. Your riches have lost their value. Your beautiful clothes are as if moths had eaten them. Your gold and your silver have become dirty and stained. The dirt and stains will be evidence against you in the judgement. They are like poison that will eat up your bodies as with fire. That is because you have heaped up a lot of riches in these last days. Listen! You have not paid the wages of those who worked in your fields. The money you kept from them cries out to God against you. The Lord of all power has heard the cries of the workers. You have lived on earth in luxury. And you have had all that you wanted. You lived to please yourselves. You have made yourself fat, like animals ready for men to kill. You have accused. And you have caused the death of those who were innocent.” James 5:1-6

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Dads for life 2013

Dads for Life conference is back for the 4th year with a strong line up of speakers including Joe Augustin from Gold 90.5FM and Suhaimi Yusof . Do watch the video as fathers share their thoughts on fatherhood. “We are the leaders of our families, we have to make the decisions necessary in our life to make sure that our family has enough of our time,” said by Mr Slayton, chairman of non-profit Fellowship of Fathers Foundation.
"The guys who fear becoming fathers don't understand that fathering is not something perfect men do, but something that perfects the man. The end product of child raising is not the child, but the parent." - Frank Pittman



Get support and tips - https://www.facebook.com/DadsforLife

Saturday, May 25, 2013

I Don't know You!

I don't know = Less Wrong? His frankness about being a foolish, flawed and biased...


Xtron company director Koh Siow Ngea holds directorships in at least five companies related to City Harvest Church (CHC).

On top of that, he is the brother-in-law of its investment manager, Chew Eng Han.

But the company he now runs, Xtron Productions, is independent of the church, said Mr Koh Siow Ngea.

This is despite the fact that in 2008, Mr Koh was asked by CHC's senior pastor Tan Ye Peng to be a director at Xtron.

That is because CHC was one of Xtron's biggest customers so they could choose the company's directors, Mr Koh said on the witness stand on Tuesday.

He was the prosecution's third witness in the trial of six CHC leaders - which include Tan and Chew - accused of cooking the books.

When Mr Koh was appointed a director in July 2008, Xtron had $2.4 million of losses from 2007.

By the end of the 2008 financial year, it lost another $9.04 million.

When questioned about this, Mr Koh said he could not comment on that despite signing off on the company's yearly financial report. "Even though I sign, the content (of the financial report) I'm not sure."

He said more than once that despite its losses, Xtron was still a viable company.

This was because it could depend on business from the church, which provided "more than 95 per cent" of its income.

Moreover, Xtron shares the same vision as the church, he said, and staff were committed and would not mind working late nights or weekends.

"Our staff are good characters. People who don't swear or smoke. They're good people," he said.

Xtron also produced events for "big companies, multinational companies, beer companies", said Mr Koh, but he could not name any other clients when pressed by the prosecutor.

Unclear about details

There were also other documents that Mr Koh had signed despite being unclear about the details.

For instance, Mr Koh terminated Xtron's agreement to manage pop singer Sun Ho though "it was not my decision" to do so.

He said he was not sure who had decided to end the contract with Ms Ho even though his signature was on the termination document.

And then there was the July 2008 contract for a $17 million Riverwalk property that Xtron bought.

This was part of the advanced rental licensing agreement where CHC paid Xtron to buy land and rent space at the Singapore Expo to accommodate its congregation.

Mr Koh said it was a collective decision by the church to buy the property and he was informed of it by Tan.

He was not aware if Xtron repaid the entire sum to CHC after the agreement ended in 2010 when the church bought a stake in Suntec City.

Neither was he sure why it was necessary to pay back $40.5 million after the agreement ended.

"I don't know (what the money) was used for because I'm not the accountant," he said.

"But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!'", Luke 13:27

Luke 12:54-59

54 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?
57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Casting out Demons

Vatican denies that Pope Francis performed exorcism


Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

The Vatican is adamantly denying that Pope Francis performed an exorcism on a man in St. Peter's Square, saying Wednesday that the claim is "absolutely false."

Suspicions arose that the pope had performed an exorcism after video surfaced of Francis laying his hands on a man's head and reciting a prayer, upon which the man heaved deeply a half-dozen times, shook, then slumped in his wheelchair.

"The Pope had no intention of doing an exorcism, so it is absolutely false that this has been done," Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi told Catholic News Agency. "He simply prayed for the sick person."

The man, who uses a wheelchair, was identified by the Associated Press as a 43-year-old husband and father who traveled to Rome from Mexico to attend Francis' Mass on Sunday in St. Peter's Square. According to the Rev. Juan Rivas, the priest who brought him, the man was possessed by the devil.

But Rivas maintains no exorcism was performed, saying Francis merely said a prayer to free the man from the devil.

"Since no one heard what he said, including me who was right there, you can say he did a prayer for liberation but nothing more," Rivas wrote on his Facebook page, which was confirmed by his religious order, the Legionaries of Christ.

The Rev. Gabriele Amorth, a leading exorcist for the diocese of Rome, said he performed a lengthy exorcism of his own on the man Tuesday morning and ascertained he was possessed by four separate demons. The case was related to the legalization of abortion in Mexico City, he said.

But Amorth told RAI state radio that even a short prayer, without the full rite of exorcism being performed, is in itself a type of exorcism.

"That was a true exorcism," he said of Francis' prayer. "Exorcisms aren't just done according to the rules of the ritual."

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/05/22/vatican-denies-that-pope-francis-performed-exorcism

The Authority to drive out Demons
Mark 3:13-15; And He went up on the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him. And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, and to have authority to cast out the demons.