National Day Sermon 2012

Prime Minister Lee's version of "Love thy neighbor"!

“Singaporeans must show a generosity of spirit to one another, including new arrivals.”
On the theme of “Heart”, PM Lee urged Singaporeans to treat each other better, highlighting the need for more social enterprises and day-to-day interaction before the country loses its “kampong spirit”.

Raising examples of an increasing number of neighbours quarrelling over common spaces, parking lots – or worse, rallying together to oppose nursing homes and studio apartments in their district, PM Lee said that Singaporeans seemed to be getting “less patient, less tolerant, less willing to compromise in order to get along”. 

Matthew 22:37-39, Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

Diversity

Unlike more homogeneous Japan, long held up as a gracious society, Singapore is more diverse. Norms and expectations vary. This will be a challenge as Singapore becomes more cosmopolitan.

Urban living

Unlike in the kampung, urban living is a lot less personal. People do not know their neighbours well. Because of the country's urban density, people feel the need to claim their own space.

The 'kiasu', me-first mentality

Singaporeans tend to be calculating, driven by tangible rewards rather than intrinsic ones.

'We use our grades, jobs and salaries to affirm who we are in the world, except for inner qualities like compassion. We're so focused on pushing forward and always being ahead, and one way of doing that is to ensure that someone else is behind or below us.'

Changing technology

New technologies may mean new forms of ungraciousness. People need to acquire cellphone courtesy and cyber-courtesy.

I remember having a neighbour who used to smoke along the common corridor. His action irriated my family as his cigarette smoke expose us to second-hand smoke and not to mention his LITTERing too. I choose not to confront him but approach this issue through prayer and wisdom. (I nearly scolded him...)

I came across the "I Quit" smoking campaign and decided to drop a phampet at his door. After several weeks later, I spotted him holding a smokeless nicotine cigarette (I am thinking is he trying to QUIT?) I regretted not being more friendly (Hi & Bye type of Neighbour), he has since shift out but I am really glad and thank God for his action (change) and solving my problem.
 
http://www.facebook.com/IQUITClub

Philipians 2:4, 'Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.'

Our love for Christ is only as real as our love for our neighbor.
Leviticus 19:18, 'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.'

Double whammy of Christian women

Due to the fall of Man. Man has to work hard for the money whereas woman has to bear the pain of labor.

The Fall of Man (Genesis 3:16-19)
16 To the woman he said,
“I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing;
with pain you will give birth to children.
Your desire will be for your husband,
and he will rule over you.”
17 To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat of it,’
“Cursed is the ground because of you;
through painful toil you will eat of it
all the days of your life.
18 It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
and you will eat the plants of the field.
19 By the sweat of your brow
you will eat your food
until you return to the ground,
since from it you were taken;
for dust you are
and to dust you will return.”

As the nation progress, woman becomes more educated and many head out into the workforce, earning a salary to help keep ends meet. Minister Chan mentioned about his new Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), Chun Sing: New ministry to focus on family http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20120803-363070.html

Family has a structure - head of the family is the Man, looking after wife & his children. As both working parents, the one that brings in the most $$$ tends to do more of the talking (decisions) the role of the "Man of the House" has changed significantly over the years.

When Mom Earns More Than Dad
From - http://dadsforlife.sg/fatherhood101/when-mom-earns-more-than-dad

Impact on Family Dynamics

Where a mom becomes the primary breadwinner, a dad can find himself facing big challenges. He will frequently feel like a pioneer, with no guideposts or references to look to among established social support structures – family members, friends, or even colleagues. This effectively leaves him on his own, to find his place and role in contributing to the welfare of his family.

Not knowing how he creates value for his family can cause significant stress for a dad. While the feeling is normal, the discomfort is very real. This discomfort can have some undesirable effects, such as resentment towards the situation (or worse, his wife), a sense of helplessness and isolation, and even unhealthy habits.

Dads, moms and the community at large need to understand this. Dads who are not the main breadwinners in their families can do with some help in appreciating and understanding their immense value as fathers, quite apart from what society recognises as the all-important criteria of provider.

The great mindset change

Contentment
Living within your family means (Can we live on only one pay?)

Sacrifices
Highly educated wife can forgo their career ambition to be a house wife?
Husband who can't command a higher salary, turns to be a house husband? The Pride and Prejudice that follows...

Lastly the focus on family (http://www.family.org.sg) helps the couple to set objectives on their life long directions. Support one another, Cell groups and Grand parents. Help is within reaching distance.

Life is worth the smile but if Man cannot even accept his new role within the family structure how successful can the Focus on Family movement be?

"Do not overwork to be rich" Proverbs 23:4, Our greatest riches are the riches we have in Christ through our family.

NTUC: Making it easy to gamble?

Near my house, on the top floor of AMK Hub, there is a very popular leisure outlet and I am not talking about the cinema. It is a NTUC Club or what is actually a very large jackpot room in the middle of a bustling town centre and very accessible to nearby residents.

It is packed with middle aged men and women as well senior citizens whiling away their leisure time at slots machines in the nice cool aircon comfort.

The doors are almost always close and to enter you need to show your member's card to the security personnel. A membership cost no more than  ten dollars a month and they open late into the night to cater to their customers.

Admittedly, most of them are just there for fun and will lose some as well as win some. but invariably, there will be that few who cannot control their impulsions and gamble more than they should. Gambling destroys lives and families, like as if the casinos and hundreds of Singapore Pools outlets are not enough.

NTUC provides cheap food and drinks through their various outlets. In fact, at the NTUC food court at AMK Hub, you can get a hot drink, two eggs and bread for less than $2. It operates a profitable yet reasonably priced supermarket chain.

It is a pillar of social service in Singapore, as an amalgamation of workers' unions and as a responsible business operator. But does it need to generate profit through jackpot machines? Is it not already profitable?

I always thought fruit machines are for country clubs and S League football clubs who cannot survive financially and need these machines to generate revenue. Even that I am somewhat opposed sometimes. Imagine all the fruit machines room in various stadium all around the island. Has the whole island of Singapore become one big casino? It is rather worrying.

Jackpot Room at Hougang Stadium/Hougang United Football Club

How not to get drunk on China Wine

In my previous post, I wrote about how Flyervision Eentertainment, an events company linked to the City Harvest Church, was mixing its religious mission and secular business. This resulted in Eric Moo being criticised for preaching at a secular concert organised by Flyervision. In the long term, this would actually make non-Christians more suspicious of Christianity. The next time they hear anything remotely related to Christ, they would instinctively think, "IS THIS GUY TRYING TO SNEAKILY PUSH ME THE BIBLE?"

The holy work of spreading the Glad Tidings should be based on open communications, correct speech, charity and volunteer work and constant involvement in the community to better our society. When others see our good work, they can also see the positive influence that the Bible bring. Let's leave it up to them to decide.

As the CHC financial scandal hits the headlines, it is worthwhile to look at how they have conceived Project Crossover. Click here to read more. Crossover is the vehicle used to promote Sun Ho secular singing career even though I don't understand how sometimes dance hits like China Wine can further the Christian way of life. Maybe I am too old-fashioned? CHC leaders including her husband, Kong Hee, have been charged with misappropriating money amounting to $50m and channeling this money to Crossover illegally.

Reading carefully, the Eric Moo case is not the first time that such offshoots of traditional Christianity tries to sneak in proselytizing during a secular event. CHC seems to be quite prone to such tactics. Using pop songs, lights, dance and fashion, it is convenient to mask over this very important decision of converting to Christianity at the altar. It is such a serious change in lifestyle, the outlook, the habits, the psychology even...I think the Bible should be spread the good old way through Biblical lessons and preaching by an old school pastor. Song and dance is good but not too much of it.

Excerpt from CHC Project Crossover: 

In 2002, Sun recorded her first Chinese pop album, Sun With Love. She held her first pop concert in the biggest indoor arena in downtown Taipei, the National Taipei Sports Complex. The team worked with a small Taipei church, New Life Church, which had about 200 members then. “Nobody was sure if anybody was even going to turn up,” said Kong. On the first night, the 4,200-seater stadium was jam-packed, with thousands more watching on big screen projectors outside. It was estimated that 80 percent of the audience had never been to church. 

After Sun finished singing, she gave her testimony about the abuse she endured in her childhood and how Jesus saved her from her years of depression and brokenness. “The love and presence of God hit the entire arena; practically everybody was crying.” Kong then gave a simple altar call, and thousands upon thousands responded. “We didn’t expect that at all. When we went back to our rooms, we were wondering what exactly happened. We were in a daze.” Over the next two days, a total of 21,500 people attended the concerts, and 8,000 decision slips for Christ were collected.

Don't mistake me, I am not anti-CHC or mega-churches and I do recognise the good work that they have done in bringing Jesus to so many Singaporeans. But they should learn how to be circumspect during this period when their church leaders are being charged and let the law run its course. Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's. Remember Catholic Priest Father Joachim Kang who did jail time for his financial misdemeanor? When he was released, the late Archbishop still found a meaningful role for him.

Excerpt from Christian Post Sg in reaction to Kong Hee's arrest: 

The Rev. Dr. Koh went on to prescribe a Christian response: "Apart from praying, what Christians should do at this distressing time is to allow the law of the state to take its course."
In an email response sent Tuesday to this paper, the Regional Pastor of Hope International Ministries Benjamin Lee highlighted a need for Christians to "watch out for negative and sinful dynamics in our own life" and to "avoid the judgmental spirit and self-righteousness."

My prayers go out to worshipers at CHC and I believe they will emerge stronger after this episode. Their faith in Christ will be ever strong as it is build around the Church and not one single person. The actions of the few have run foul of the law...but the reaction of every single Christian in this episode will reflect upon us all.