Why can't we pray for a strong government?

A reponse to pray for a strong government

http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2015/09/a-reponse-to-pray-for-a-strong-government/

Senior Pastor Lawrence Khong of FCBC has urged his fellow church members to pray for those in governmental authority as the Bible commands 1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NKJV). As a fellow Christian myself, I can’t agree more to the word and guidance of the Bible.

In his note he mentioned “There is no need to use your vote to play ‘checks and balances’ as this is not how we shop. You don’t use a portion of your hard-earned income to pay for something that keeps ‘in check’ what you really want, do you?”

It is puzzling as of why did Pastor Khong choose to use the word “play”, isn’t external ‘checks and balances’ a must in every organisation? Had we not witnessed how accounting problems surfaced from Governments to religious to charitable organisations due to lack of rigorous external checks and balances?

“You don’t use a portion of your hard-earned income”, opposition MPs get the same pay are ruling party MP, how does it cost taxpayers more money for checks and balances?

If the ruling party did not lose Aljunied GRC in the last election, would we have gotten to know that million dollar town council software was sold to a $2 company owned by the People’s Action Party (PAP) with the agreement signed under terms that will compromise the interests of the public? Will the housing minister admit that the housing prices are too high after a great loss of his the vote share despite claiming that they are affordable before the last election?

“It is one thing to have candidates in political parties holding fringe views on morality. It is another when a party inscribes in its manifesto, moral values that are detrimental to the social health of the nation and contrary to God’s moral standard.” writes Lawrence Khong

While it is perfectly fine for a religious leader to champion, without imposing, for the rights and the standpoint of the segment of society that he represents. Just like a Hindu leader will champion for the rights to play religious music in Thaipusam. But if Pastor Khong have read through all the manifestos of each party he will have known that none of the party has any fringe views on morality inscribed in their manifestos.

As the saying goes “action speaks louder than words”, the only way for the electorate to access the morals standing of the party is to review what had the leaders of the parties had done while they are in office. For those who were never elected, there are practically no way to judge on what they had done in office.

Since abortion and adultery are currently legal, I will like ask Pastor Khong on his opinion of the ruling party’s moral standpoint on areas like abortion, adultery, prostitution and gambling, are they considered moral or immoral?

Believe in the power of Prayer

Remember that stubborn widow-a character Jesus used to illustrate our stubborn devotion and trust to God. A dogged determination to appeal to our Father will be rewarded. Jesus knows us better than anyone, and His prescription is more prayer. Don't lose heart! Don't quit praying! 

Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, saying, "In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. "There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me legal protection from my opponent.'"For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, 'Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.'" And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? "I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:1-9) 

Pray for a Strong Government

Let us all pray for a strong government, elect a leader who has the wisdom to create policies that honor our Lord!

https://m.facebook.com/lawrence.khong.fcbc/posts/993885623988885

Future of Singapore after Sep 11 2015

Singapore's Future...

“I am wondering about predestination. Are some people predestined to be saved and the rest predestined not to be saved?”

Predestination is sometimes referred to as “election,” in the sense that God chooses people for his own purposes. For example, Abraham was chosen, or elected, by God, as were his son and grandson, Isaac and Jacob. Other chosen ones included Moses, Joshua, David, the prophets, and of course, the Israelites were the “chosen people.”

The apostle Paul wrote about predestination, or election, in several passages. In Romans 8:28-30 and Ephesians 1:3-6, he emphasized that election is “in Christ,” and that it is a matter of God’s own choice for God’s own purposes.

What does our future holds? In this GE50, I see lots of political parties emphasizing the importance of "What is next", future. However, I am very sure of my future, my faith, in trusting God, meeting God in Heaven through Christ one day.

http://www.straitstimes.com/politics/election-about-singapores-future-and-delivering-on-plans-pm
"The General Election is about Singapore's future, choosing the Government and setting the direction for the country" Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said.

There is no guaranty in man, as even the most faithful man - sin.

Ephesians 1:4-12 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love, he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. In him we were also chosen,having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 

Predestined, hand pick by God to lead this Nation. So Who, What party should I support?

Calling this "a landmark election" Mr Low told the crowd they can collectively decide on the future direction of Singapore.

All good things is from the Lord.

Singapore facing more attempting suicide

More people were arrested for attempting suicide last year, according to latest police figures as of June 8. Last year, 901 people were arrested for trying to kill themselves, compared with 862 in 2013.

The 4.5 per cent increase in arrests, however, may not necessarily be a cause for alarm. Experts said the rise could be due to better intervention by third parties, such as family, friends and the police.

Under Section 309 of the Penal Code, those who attempt suicide can be punished with jail for up to a year, or with a fine, or both.

People's attitude towards suicide has changed, said Dr Lim Boon Leng, a psychiatrist in private practice. "Now they are more willing to look for help or approach the police to intervene, or (take) suicidal people to the hospital where, sometimes, police reports are lodged."

Dr Lim added that while suicide might be more taboo in the past and usually hushed up, increased awareness of intervention methods available may have helped to nudge the shift in attitudes.

Women, in general, have twice the attempted suicide rate as men, said Dr Adrian Wang, a psychiatrist at Gleneagles Medical Centre, citing global studies. Experts said no similar study for Singapore has been done. Those who attempt suicide are also more likely to be younger women, while cases that result in definite death tend to involve older men, according to Dr Chia Boon Hock, a psychiatrist who specialises in suicide.

The number of suicide deaths in 2013 was 422, down from 467 the year before. Statistics for last year have yet to be released. While some attempt suicide on impulse, the state of a person's mental health is a major factor. Aggravating factors include substance abuse or excessive alcohol consumption.

Said Dr Wang: "People who attempt suicide normally have psychiatric issues, the most common of which would be depression." Citing a 2011 study by the Institute of Mental Health, Ms Jolene Tan, senior manager for programmes and communications at the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware), said: "Women in Singapore are almost twice as likely to have major depressive disorder as men."

There is, however, a silver lining: People are increasingly aware of when and where to seek help.

Samaritans of Singapore (SOS) reported a 260 per cent rise in the number of people who have sought emotional support via e-mail from 2009 to last year.

SOS executive director Christine Wong said that while some who approach the non-profit group are on the verge of taking their life, the majority seek emotional support at "earlier stages of their crisis".

While suicide is illegal, those arrested are often referred to professionals. Some are let off with a stern warning, said experts.

Statistics from the State Courts show only five cases filed, with at least one charge under Section 309 of the Penal Code, last year. This figure is also the lowest in a steady decline from 16 such cases in 2010.

Lawyer Peter Ong of Templars Law believes the suicide law should be abolished as it does not serve as a deterrent.

"Knowing they may be arrested if their attempt fails may push them to complete it," said Mr Ong.

Others, such as consultant psychiatrist Joshua Kua from Raffles Medical Group, pointed out that most developed countries have decriminalised suicide.

"The resources used towards its criminalisation can be better used towards its prevention," he added.

Aware's Ms Tan said those who are vulnerable need support instead of the threat of arrest and criminal proceedings, which may further traumatise them.

Still, some believe the law helps to deter suicide. Said Dr Lim: "Singaporeans are mostly law-abiding people, and some may be less likely to attempt suicide if it is illegal."

What to look out for

Family and friends play an important role in saving their loved ones from suicidal thoughts or actions.

Here are tips on what they should look out for and how they can help.

TELL TALE SIGNS

• Sudden change in behaviour, dramatic shifts in mood, deep anxiety and agitation, abusive consumption of drugs and alcohol.

• Repeated mentions of ending one's life, or expressions such as "Life is too painful for me".

• Behaviour that suggests preparation for suicide, such as writing suicide notes or tidying up affairs.

• Self-harm (Call the police immediately).

HOW YOU CAN HELP

• Be a friend; find out what is on their mind.

• Listen with sympathy, reassure them that they are not alone.

• Remind the person that his life is important to you.

• Help him to focus his thoughts on positive aspects of his life.

• Advise the person to seek help, such as calling helplines or seeing a doctor, and assist him in doing so.

• Keep in touch with the person.

IF SOMEONE IS ABOUT TO ATTEMPT SUICIDE...

• If the person phones you, remain on the line for as long as possible. Find out where he is and try to call an ambulance from another phone. Check if there is anyone near the person who can help.

• If the person has not harmed himself yet, ensure that he has no access to suicide methods by locking the windows and putting away sharp objects, among other things.

• Do not put yourself at risk, such as wrestling for a potential suicide weapon.

• Encourage the person to speak to a counsellor, accompany him to the hospital, or call an ambulance.

SOURCES: INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH, SAMARITANS OF SINGAPORE

HELPLINES

SOS: 1800-221-4444 (24-hour)

Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019

Mental Health Helpline: 6389-2222 (24-hour)

Care Corner Counselling Centre (Mandarin): 1800-353-5800

Aware: 1800-774-5935

Minister Tan says he is trying OK!

Students' research on cardboard collectors draws flak

They embarked on a six-month project to try to understand the needs of old folk who collect cardboard for a living, in an attempt to help them. Instead, the group of students faced a torrent of criticisms online as if they had "committed atrocities and transgressions of the worst nature", said team leader Koh Cheng Jun yesterday.

The attacks started after Social and Family Development Minister Tan Chuan-Jin posted on Facebook on Saturday that he had visited cardboard collectors in Jalan Besar with some of the team members.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.944031585639617.1073741971.182928775083239&type=3

In his post, Mr Tan said that the findings of the project showed that not all elderly folk do it for a living.

"Some prefer to earn extra monies, treat it as a form of exercise and activity rather than being cooped up at home," he said.

For his comments, Mr Tan was soon criticised by people telling him to get out of his "ivory tower" and to talk to the old folk on the ground. Mr Tan said it was "not unexpected" that the post drummed up so much discussion and noted there were some thoughtful comments as well.

"The main message that I wanted to convey is that we should not generalise the things that we see, and we should always speak to the people involved," he said.

The online criticism was also targeted at Mr Koh, 21, a Ngee Ann Polytechnic graduate, and his team from the Youth Corps Singapore. But Mr Koh said the project was done with good intentions. "We are not political pawns that can be manipulated for reasons other than the genuine desire to serve the community," he said on Facebook.

The group spoke to close to 45 people over two months, and conducted in-depth interviews with 13 of them. Mr Koh noted that while there were extreme cases, such as one cardboard collector who lives in landed property and others who are in need of help, most are "somewhere in the middle".

Workers' Party member Daniel Goh, a sociologist at the National University of Singapore, said on Facebook that he did not think the the minister and the Youth Corps volunteers are trying to "whitewash the poverty issue".

"They committed the basic error sociologists would warn our students against in social research: accepting what people say in surveys or interviews as representing the truth without contextual and deeper interpretation," he wrote.

The Jubilee Day of Prayer; PM Lee thanks community for helping build S'pore

A record 51,000 Christians from churches across Singapore gathered to mark SG50 and pray for the country at the Singapore Sports Hub on Sunday.

The Jubilee Day of Prayer event is the largest multi-denominational Christian event in Singapore's history, and is part of a series of events to mark its 50th year of independence.

Joining them as guest-of-honour was Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who got a warm welcome from those present as they waved national flags and cheered his arrival.

In a short speech, Mr Lee acknowledged that a jubilee year is a significant one of great celebration for Christians. He added that in the Old Testament in the Bible, a jubilee year is the 50th year at the end of seven sabbatical cycles.

"This is the spirit of the jubilee: togetherness, thankfulness and generosity that we must nurture and that will see us into the future. A future in which all our communities, including our Protestant community, will have full roles to play," said PM Lee.

He paid tribute to the Protestant community's contributions to nation building, particularly in education, where schools started by missionaries moulded young men and women of character, and in the social services, where the less privileged are served.

PM Lee also thanked the community for understanding Singapore's multi-racial and multi-religious context.

"I thank you for building trust and mutual confidence with other religious groups, between the groups as well as between the leaders, so that we can live harmoniously together and solve problems amicably and cooperatively together," he said.

"For this 50th jubilee year, let us make Singapore an enduring home, an endearing home, a home for all regardless of race, of language, of religion," he added.

The event was co-organised by the National Council of Churches in Singapore and the Evangelical Fellowship of Singapore. It was supported by the Singapore Baptist Convention, the Indian Christian Network, the Festival of Praise Fellowship, the LoveSingapore church network and the National Prayer Alliance.

https://www.facebook.com/TanChuanJin1/videos/940665302642912

A prayer, and song, for our Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

May the Lord may the Lord bless and keep You
May His grace and His face shine upon You
May the Lord lift up His countenance upon You
And give you peace and give you peace

This is the way You shall be bless
From day to day He'll be your rest

Amen!

#JDOP2015

We spent time praying for PM Lee and he seems very happy!

JubiLee Day Of Prayer

As we gather; May Your glory fall in this place
May it go forth from here to all Nations
May Your fragrance rest in this place
Many will seek and know You...

I heard VVIP, PM Lee Hsien Loong will be attending this event.

You will need a ticket to enter the stadium. http://www.jdop.sg/

Freedom to Love

Pink Dot SG, the annual rally to support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights, had its annual light-up on Saturday night (Jun 13).

It was a sea of pink as supporters turn out in full force at the event's seventh year at Hong Lim Park, and organisers said they had the largest turnout ever with some 28,000 people.

In a news conference earlier in the day, organisers said the growing numbers point to a more accepting Singapore. Plans to expand the event are also in the works, but only if they are able to find a larger venue.

Organisers say this year also marked a record number of sponsors but declined to reveal the event's total sponsorship. They say that with local entertainment giant Cathay Organistation coming on board, they are hopeful more local companies will declare their support next year.

Pink Dot has also travelled beyond Singapore's shores. Last week, Taipei held its first ever Pink Dot. Others holding their versions of Pink Dot annually are Hong Kong, and Okinawa in Japan.

Varsity in Singapore launch independent LBGT network

The first-ever independent support network for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in major Singapore universities is to be launched next month – and it’s receiving a lot of support.

Next month’s Pink Dot event – which, according to TODAY, has attracted a record number of sponsors including Bloomberg, Twitter and Cathay Organisation – will mark the opening of the Inter-University LGBT Network.

It is comprised of representatives from five independent student groups - The G Spot from Yale-NUS College, tFreedom from Tembusu College at the National University of Singapore (NUS), Gender Collective from the University Scholars Programme at NUS, Kaleidoscope from the Nanyang Technological University, and Out To Care from the Singapore Management University (SMU).

It shows the gay community is still standing strong, despite a Supreme Court ruling in October last year to uphold the country’s ban on same-sex relations between consenting adult men under section 377A of Singapore’ penal code.

And it’s a community garnering more and more public support.

Last month IKEA Singapore was slammed on social media for promoting a show by a magician who previously publicly said he viewed homosexuals as having "a shorter lifespan, more sexually transmitted infections and more health problems than the general population".

The international furniture giant went ahead with the magic show by Pastor Lawrence Khong

“As a company, IKEA Singapore respects the diversity and equality of all people living in our community,” IKEA Singapore’s assistant marketing manager Sandra Keasberry said in a statement.

“We also respect that all individuals have a right to their opinions and personal choices, including the freedom to choose their preferred entertainment.”

Speaking to TODAY on the sidelines of a Pink Dot press conference, Kaleidoscope’s Jessica Goh said she hoped the new network will help the groups collaborate with one another to provide greater support for the LGBT community and “foster a better environment within the schools”.

The launch of the network provides a timely reminder to Singapore employers that it is important to LGBT-friendly, something which – according to founder and CEO of Achieve Group Joshua Yim – can actually increase employee engagement.

Many companies prize integrity as a virtue and desire this from their employees, Yim told Singapore Business Review.

“It is usually part of the organisations mission statement and core values.

“If an employee is gay and tries to hide his or her sexual orientation for fear of being penalised or discriminated against, then this person is not being authentic. In fact, we can even say that the person is being fake or is a phony, and that would literally run against the codes of a company that values integrity.

But when an individual is empowered to be himself, he will definitely feel a sense of belonging and acceptance, resulting in a more engaged employee, Yim said.

“At the same time, other teammates within the organisation will also feel a sense of engagement as they witness the organisation upholding the over-arching principle of having integrity and being embracing of individual differences.”

Loving homosexuals does not mean accepting homosexual practices.
http://www.thebiblepage.org/biblesays/homosexuality.shtml

You are privileged, remember that!

People in Singapore are truly privileged as we are able to listen to the Gospel and have freedom to accept Jesus Christ.

1 John 3:18-24;Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

Take ACTION now before it is too late.

The Muslim and Christian populations could be nearly equal by 2050, with Islam expected to be the fastest-growing faith on the planet, according to projections released Thursday.

The Pew Research Center's religious profile predictions assessed data from around the world on fertility rates, trends in youth population growth and religious conversion statistics.

"Over the next four decades, Christians will remain the largest religious group, but Islam will grow faster than any other major religion," according to the report.

The authors predicted there will be 2.76 billion Muslims on the planet by then, and 2.92 billion Christians. Those figures would correspond to about 29.7 and 31.4 percent of the world population, respectively.

There were 1.6 billion Muslims on the planet in 2010, compared to 2.17 billion Christians.

"The number of Muslims will nearly equal the number of Christians around the world," it added.

Hindus will be third, making up 14.9 percent of the world's total population, followed by people who do not affiliate with any religion, accounting for 13.2 percent.

The Asia-Pacific region will remain the most popular for Muslims, bolstered by a youthful population with high fertility rates.

The study predicts that India will have the largest Muslim population -- though it will retain a Hindu majority -- surpassing Indonesia.

Muslims are expected to account for 10 percent of Europe's overall population, Pew added.

If the trend continues, Islam will be the most popular faith in the world after 2070, it said.

Authors said the projections, compiled over the past six years, are merely "what will occur if the current data are accurate and the trends play out as expected."

"Many events -- scientific discoveries, armed conflicts, social movements, political upheavals, natural disasters and changing economic conditions, to name just a few -- can shift demographic trends in unforeseen ways."

The authors said religious conversion data came from only 70 countries, not including the world's most populous countries, India and China.

- Atheism on the rise -

The report predicts the number of people with no religious affiliation will make up a declining share of the world's total population, though in some countries -- such as the United States and France -- the number of atheists and agnostics is expected to rise.

Buddhism is the only faith that is not expected to increase its followers, due to an ageing population and stable fertility rates in Buddhist countries, such as China, Japan and Thailand.

In Europe, the only region where the overall population is expected to shrink, the Christian population will drop from 553 million to 454 million.

Similarly, in the United States, Christians will decline from more than three quarters to two thirds in 2050.

Islam is expected to surpass Judaism as the most popular non-Christian faith in the United States.

The researchers gathered data from more than 2,500 censuses, surveys and population registers from 175 countries, covering 95 percent of the world's population.

The projections considered the size and geographic distribution of the world's major religions, age differences, fertility and mortality rates, international migration and patterns in conversion.

Lee Kuan Yew remains critically ill

Sharing a lovely prayer 4 Mr Lee Kuan Yew.
Please Pray 4 him:-

Heavenly Father,
We know dat Mr Lee Kuan Yew is sedated & lying in hospital.

We pray 4 a spiritual experience 4 him, dat in his stillness,
he will discover dat the Lord is our God (Psalm 46:10)

We pray dat U will give LKY a divine Visitation,
dat he will experience a bedside conversion;
even if it's only through his last minute intent & repentence,
just like the thief on Jesus's right at the Calvary.

We do not know what's going through his head right now
but we pray 4 peace & inner healing 4 LKY.
Dat he be reconciled with U,
4 all his past deeds, good or bad.

4 a peaceful journey towards his eternal home
in accordance to Ur divine Will for him.

This is as much as we can do 4 a man who has dedicated his entire
life to our beloved country, Singapore.

For all these, we commit LKY to U.

May U hear our prayers.

In Jesus wonderful name we pray. Amen!

Pray for Mr Lee Kuan Yew

Lee Kuan Yew's condition 'worsened due to infection'

Pray meeting first prayer item - Mr Lee Kuan Yew!

Singapore's first Prime Minister is on antibiotics and doctors are closely monitoring his condition, says the Prime Minister's Office. He has been in hospital since Feb 5, when he was admitted for severe pneumonia.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew's condition has "worsened due to an infection" and he is on antibiotics, according to a statement by the Prime Minister's Office on Tuesday (Mar 17).

Doctors are closely monitoring his condition, the PMO added.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's first Prime Minister, has been in hospital since Feb 5, when he was admitted for severe pneumonia.

In a Feb 28 statement, the PMO said: "He remains sedated and on mechanical ventilation in the ICU at Singapore General Hospital. He is continuing with his antibiotics."

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!”

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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

What is more Dangerous? A Fake Profile or False Teachings?

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!

Beware of fake Joseph Princes out to con you

By Naqiyah Shapudin
The New Paper
Monday, May 20, 2013

The Facebook page has the same cover photo and profile picture. The posts on the timeline are also identical, with frequent updates of inspirational verses from the Bible.

The difference?

One is the real Facebook page of Pastor Joseph Prince of New Creation Church, with close to a million "likes", while the other is a replica of his page, made to con people into thinking it is the real thing.

This impostor is not alone.

Others use some of the photos and posts on Mr Prince's page and post them on their profiles.

Some take it even further, meticulously copying and pasting posts from Mr Prince's real page onto their own timeline, hours after the original posts are made.

But all of them seem to lead to the same thing: Asking the follower to give money to a cause. The most common cause appears to be African orphanages that they say are in need of funds.

The impostor then gives details of how to carry out an online transfer of money to these "causes".

More than 20 'Joseph Princes'

It is not known how many people have been conned by these fake profiles, or how many there are out there, although a quick search on Facebook for "Joseph Prince" turned up more than 20 initial results.

Earlier this week, Mr Prince himself issued a warning to his followers regarding the matter, through a post on his official page.

The post read: "It has come to our attention, that there are people using fake Joseph Prince Facebook accounts to send friend requests and private messages to individuals to ask for their personal details or to raise money for their own causes, like orphanages."

It went on to say that Team Joseph Prince "do not use Facebook to raise any funds for other organisations... and we do not send private messages or friend requests to individuals".

The popular pastor's post comes in the wake of a rise in the number of people posing as high-profile pastors and soliciting money from innocent followers.

This scam is even more common overseas, with notable American pastors such as Adam Hamilton and John Hagee also being impersonated on Facebook.

How can I recognize a false teacher

Jesus warned us that “false Christs and false prophets” will come and will attempt to deceive even God’s elect (Matthew 24:23-27; see also 2 Peter 3:3 and Jude 17-18). The best way to guard yourself against falsehood and false teachers is to know the truth. To spot a counterfeit, study the real thing. Any believer who “correctly handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15) and who makes a careful study of the Bible can identify false doctrine. For example, a believer who has read the activities of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in Matthew 3:16-17 will immediately question any doctrine that denies the Trinity. Therefore, step one is to study the Bible and judge all teaching by what the Scripture says.

Jesus said “a tree is recognized by its fruit” (Matthew 12:33). When looking for “fruit,” here are three specific tests to apply to any teacher to determine the accuracy of his or her teaching:

1) What does this teacher say about Jesus? In Matthew 16:15-16, Jesus asks, “Who do you say I am?” Peter answers, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” and for this answer Peter is called “blessed.” In 2 John 9, we read, “Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.” In other words, Jesus Christ and His work of redemption is of utmost importance; beware of anyone who denies that Jesus is equal with God, who downplays Jesus’ sacrificial death, or who rejects Jesus’ humanity. First John 2:22 says, “Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son.”

2) Does this teacher preach the gospel? The gospel is defined as the good news concerning Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). As nice as they sound, the statements “God loves you,” “God wants us to feed the hungry,” and “God wants you to be wealthy” are not the complete message of the gospel. As Paul warns in Galatians 1:7, “Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.” No one, not even a great preacher, has the right to change the message that God gave us. “If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!” (Galatians 1:9).

3) Does this teacher exhibit character qualities that glorify the Lord? Speaking of false teachers, Jude 11 says, “They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.” In other words, a false teacher can be known by his pride (Cain’s rejection of God’s plan), greed (Balaam’s prophesying for money), and rebellion (Korah’s promotion of himself over Moses). Jesus said to beware of such people and that we would know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:15-20).