Some will hate and despise me for saying this, but what's gotta be said, gotta be said. If you decide to hate me after reading this, at least do something - open your ears & start listening to God. I don't care if my name is not found in your address book but I do care if your name is not found in the Book of Life.
It's no secret that many Christians have come under attack - the attack of complacency and spiritual stagnation. These are the go-through-motion Christians who come Sunday after Sunday (and then again, not all Sundays), sign off an invisible attendance sheet and then go about merrily with their after-church routine. They are the ones who excuse themselves at the slightest trouble (eg. migraine, feeling tired, etc), who find all kinds of reasons to avoid going to the altar to soak in God's presence (lest God has something to tell them that they would rather not hear), who have given up the habit of meeting together for real fellowship, preferring breakfast chitchat, coffeeshop talk and murmuring over God's Word.
Their blessings have become a curse unto them. They make all decisions surrounding the precious little children they have asked for once upon a time, and whom God has blessed them with. They make sure their kids attend Sunday School as if it's part of our compulsory national education system, but are themselves not found in any Bible Study classes or home fellowship groups. Or they pour their life into the wonderful job that God has blessed them with, to the extent that they have little energy and serious time left with God. They have every God-given talent and gift to serve but just as many reasons not to. They may attend the annual church camp and other Christian events, but hardly spend more than 30 minutes in the sanctuary each Sunday, and of those precious 30 minutes, how many were spent intently drinking in God's Word and gazing into God's eyes, only God knows.
Years ago, a sister attended our Sunday Service week after week, mustering all the strength she could find, to bring her cancer-ravaged body into the sanctuary. When alter calls were made, she would limp on her walking cane all the way to the front to soak in God's presence. She was always cheerful despite the pain her body was apparently afflicted with. Her strength & joy was obviously supernatural with God as the sole source. Life was a struggle for her, but she was in the front-seat with God, and is today happily reunited with God where He is. Another sister, polio-stricken, weak in her legs, not only attends church faithfully Sunday after Sunday. She also teaches in Sunday School and hosts the home cell fellowship meetings. And I have seen elderly ladies taking down notes during Sunday Service, responding to altar calls, and well, just being what a Christian should be.
No one takes a nap and wakes up in heaven. If your sense of self-sufficiency has lulled you into complacency and brought you into an all-time low point in your love affair with God, confront and confess it, and ask God to rekindle that flame you once had when you first encountered God intimately. God is meant for us to experience everyday. He isn't a trophy for display or a baptism certificate to frame. We need an acute sense of dependency. When Jesus says in John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches", He wasn't kidding. Put plainly, we are designed to depend on Him or die.
Time to wake up.
May God bless you,
Thomas
Showing posts with label Hot Potatoes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hot Potatoes. Show all posts
Friday, March 03, 2006
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Sex & the City (of Singapore)
Lately, local newspapers have seen screaming headlines of local teenagers filming themselves having sex. Whether you like it or not, the video capabilities of today's 3G phones merely help bring to surface a problem which many have known for years. Teens today are a lot more sexually active than those of yesteryears, and a more sexually permissive society that does not openly discourage pre-marital sex, extra-marital affairs, and homosexuality, can only help escalate this problem.
No matter how progressive a society is, the state of social issues is a true measure of the real progress that society has made, and very often, a highly "progressed" society is really worse off than before. Somewhere in the world, researchers are engaged in highly publicised and financed efforts trying to determine if homosexuality is natural. Closer home, we have seen reports of all-night beach parties where sex, drugs, booze (and oh yes, music) are the order of the day; sex orgies where the participants range from students to mature adults; and young people offering a glimpse into what they look like & do in the raw through webcams.
Sex and sleaze, they all sell, and the media knows that well. That's why we see almost nude pictures of women and men these days in the print and moving media (by that, I mean bus ads, MRT ads AND TV ads). That's why we see shows enticing women to lose weight so that they can share the same jacuzzi as a handsome hunk. That's why we see shows featuring women putting on a sleazy front, bragging about their escapades in a light-hearted manner. That's why we see more and more sex-oriented magazine titles on the racks showing women in a compulsory low-cut frontal shot with headlines encouraging people to explore sex outside the realms of marriage. It's ok to be naughty, bad is good, or so, it seems.
Without undue respect to our national pledge writer, the late Mr Rajaratnam, if we are really honest about the state of affairs, perhaps we should amend the last line of our national pledge to read "so as to achieve happiness, prosperity, and progress for our nation, but not at the expense of our core values and moral foundation, please."
All this is a sad sign of people wanting attention and love, and seeking it the wrong way. Nobody gets real love from anyone by offering him/her our body. It just doesn't work out that way, and countless tales of people who walk down the path of 5-minute fame and notoriety by trading their flesh, only to find emptiness and shame at the end of it, are enough to prove that point. I am not condemning those who have chosen to do it, but just speaking the truth in love. Love doesn't come this way. If you are caught in such a lifestyle, get out immediately. Like drugs, addicts of the flesh often doesn't know it hurts until it's too late.
So tell, me, what is love?
No matter how progressive a society is, the state of social issues is a true measure of the real progress that society has made, and very often, a highly "progressed" society is really worse off than before. Somewhere in the world, researchers are engaged in highly publicised and financed efforts trying to determine if homosexuality is natural. Closer home, we have seen reports of all-night beach parties where sex, drugs, booze (and oh yes, music) are the order of the day; sex orgies where the participants range from students to mature adults; and young people offering a glimpse into what they look like & do in the raw through webcams.
Sex and sleaze, they all sell, and the media knows that well. That's why we see almost nude pictures of women and men these days in the print and moving media (by that, I mean bus ads, MRT ads AND TV ads). That's why we see shows enticing women to lose weight so that they can share the same jacuzzi as a handsome hunk. That's why we see shows featuring women putting on a sleazy front, bragging about their escapades in a light-hearted manner. That's why we see more and more sex-oriented magazine titles on the racks showing women in a compulsory low-cut frontal shot with headlines encouraging people to explore sex outside the realms of marriage. It's ok to be naughty, bad is good, or so, it seems.
Without undue respect to our national pledge writer, the late Mr Rajaratnam, if we are really honest about the state of affairs, perhaps we should amend the last line of our national pledge to read "so as to achieve happiness, prosperity, and progress for our nation, but not at the expense of our core values and moral foundation, please."
All this is a sad sign of people wanting attention and love, and seeking it the wrong way. Nobody gets real love from anyone by offering him/her our body. It just doesn't work out that way, and countless tales of people who walk down the path of 5-minute fame and notoriety by trading their flesh, only to find emptiness and shame at the end of it, are enough to prove that point. I am not condemning those who have chosen to do it, but just speaking the truth in love. Love doesn't come this way. If you are caught in such a lifestyle, get out immediately. Like drugs, addicts of the flesh often doesn't know it hurts until it's too late.
So tell, me, what is love?
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end. (The Message, 1 Cor 13:4-7)
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end. (The Message, 1 Cor 13:4-7)
May God bless you readers,
Thomas
Thursday, December 22, 2005
NKF - The KPMG Sequel
If you are looking for constructive criticism of TT Durai, Raymond Yong and the gang who ran NKF aground, you are at the right place. But don't expect me to use harsh words, as I am trying to be sensitive to the children and spouses of these now notoriously famous professionals who will no doubt have a place in Singapore's history; to the staff, partners, clients of NKF who have worked, lived, and believed wholeheartedly in the mission of NKF; and to the donors who have given from their heart for the very same mission. These must have felt a level of betrayal & humiliation beyond description, much more than the pain and anger we outsiders feel.
Like a mighty ship, NKF was a fine organization that was unfortunate to be led by a captain and sidekicks who are incompetent at best, and manipulative at worst. What do you think of an able-bodied person leading a blind beggar around to beg, then takes a big cut of the day's taking, leaving the beggar still blind and poor? That's precisely the case with Durai and gang. But, before you start splashing paint on Durai's house and shout "Cruxify him! Mummify him!"(whatever), have you wondered for a moment, did the man do anything illegal?
Thanks to the grossly imperfect man-made laws, he has done nothing illegal, it seems. Every approval & authorization was made above-board. He did not misappropriate funds, unlike Chia Teck Leng the casino man or Teo Cheng Kiat the SIA man. Well, he may have exaggerated some numbers & there may have been some conflict of interest, but looks like no one can really put him in jail for that. Whatever punishment that may be meted out to him will probably be as a slap on the wrist with a stack of Chennai-bought unused first-class airtickets. Thankfully, he doesn't have to do nude squats in front of his gold-plated tap because we are not Malaysia.
Instead of wasting our energy thinking about how to deal with him, let's think of the patients & other VWOs. Life goes on, and probably will never be the same again. Stiffer governance legislations & standards are surely in the pipeline. But before we become overzealous and push out all manners of codes of conduct and laws, think again.
1. Fund-raising: The problem is not with fund-raising per se, but with how funds are spent. No point having the 30/70 rule, when only a paltry part of the 70 percent reaches the patients, while the rest end up as first class airtickets, executive bonuses, payment for goods not delivered, etc. Make it mandatory for every company (charitable or not) to have a CGO - Chief Governance Officer who reports to an external regulatory body. It's not enough to rely on the CFO and CEO, or worst, the not-so-independent Board. Throw in a CQO - Chief Quality Officer as well, to ensure that the quality of services delivered can only improve.
2. Audit: Most of the Board of Directors at the former NKF was clearly in cahoots with TT Durai. Here's where internal and external audits have failed, big time. Well, you will think that a slack CEO and board will not be so stupid as to institute a no-nonsense internal audit squad. But surely the independent external auditors can do more?
3. Remuneration: Have clear standards on pay and perks of VWO executives, like we have for civil servants. If the presence of such restrictions will scare away potential candidates, let them be. VWOs are not for ex-corporate whims. If they cannot do without the perks and pay of the corporate world, they should stay put. VWOs are for people committed to the cause of the VWOs, who are not afraid of taking a pay cut AND making real sacrifices to render their professional services to help the underpriviliged.
4. What the CEO is made of: Know who are we hiring. As mentioned in point 3, not any whim can lead a VWO. Basic requirements for a VWO should include integrity, righteousness, and a functional moral compass. Those without such qualities need not apply. Surely a better-informed board AND a regulatory body can decide who is a choice candidate.
In closing, let's not forget to thank Mr Durai for helping us end the insanity.
Category: cf_hs
Like a mighty ship, NKF was a fine organization that was unfortunate to be led by a captain and sidekicks who are incompetent at best, and manipulative at worst. What do you think of an able-bodied person leading a blind beggar around to beg, then takes a big cut of the day's taking, leaving the beggar still blind and poor? That's precisely the case with Durai and gang. But, before you start splashing paint on Durai's house and shout "Cruxify him! Mummify him!"(whatever), have you wondered for a moment, did the man do anything illegal?
Thanks to the grossly imperfect man-made laws, he has done nothing illegal, it seems. Every approval & authorization was made above-board. He did not misappropriate funds, unlike Chia Teck Leng the casino man or Teo Cheng Kiat the SIA man. Well, he may have exaggerated some numbers & there may have been some conflict of interest, but looks like no one can really put him in jail for that. Whatever punishment that may be meted out to him will probably be as a slap on the wrist with a stack of Chennai-bought unused first-class airtickets. Thankfully, he doesn't have to do nude squats in front of his gold-plated tap because we are not Malaysia.
Instead of wasting our energy thinking about how to deal with him, let's think of the patients & other VWOs. Life goes on, and probably will never be the same again. Stiffer governance legislations & standards are surely in the pipeline. But before we become overzealous and push out all manners of codes of conduct and laws, think again.
1. Fund-raising: The problem is not with fund-raising per se, but with how funds are spent. No point having the 30/70 rule, when only a paltry part of the 70 percent reaches the patients, while the rest end up as first class airtickets, executive bonuses, payment for goods not delivered, etc. Make it mandatory for every company (charitable or not) to have a CGO - Chief Governance Officer who reports to an external regulatory body. It's not enough to rely on the CFO and CEO, or worst, the not-so-independent Board. Throw in a CQO - Chief Quality Officer as well, to ensure that the quality of services delivered can only improve.
2. Audit: Most of the Board of Directors at the former NKF was clearly in cahoots with TT Durai. Here's where internal and external audits have failed, big time. Well, you will think that a slack CEO and board will not be so stupid as to institute a no-nonsense internal audit squad. But surely the independent external auditors can do more?
3. Remuneration: Have clear standards on pay and perks of VWO executives, like we have for civil servants. If the presence of such restrictions will scare away potential candidates, let them be. VWOs are not for ex-corporate whims. If they cannot do without the perks and pay of the corporate world, they should stay put. VWOs are for people committed to the cause of the VWOs, who are not afraid of taking a pay cut AND making real sacrifices to render their professional services to help the underpriviliged.
4. What the CEO is made of: Know who are we hiring. As mentioned in point 3, not any whim can lead a VWO. Basic requirements for a VWO should include integrity, righteousness, and a functional moral compass. Those without such qualities need not apply. Surely a better-informed board AND a regulatory body can decide who is a choice candidate.
In closing, let's not forget to thank Mr Durai for helping us end the insanity.
Category: cf_hs
Saturday, November 19, 2005
The Shepherds on trial (Part One)
It's funny when AGMs in church are run like AGMs for business enterprises. Instead of bringing more of the church into the world, we are bringing more of the world into the church & expect it to work like a breeze.
God's business cannot be governed by the business model of man. God's business is in winning souls, not deals; in loving our neighbours, not beggaring them; in giving, not hoarding. The world and even governments are inherently in the business of creating & accumulating wealth, and in racing ahead of others, What's the difference? Behind the capitalism, elitism, and all the 'isms of today's world is something called "covetedness". It is what drives the economy, it is what makes people & companies perform, it is what makes the world goes round. When covetedness is at the centre of the entire system, there is little wonder that we need all the complex checks & balances put in place because without them, the natural impulse to covet will almost always lead to selfish abuse and exploitation at the expense of others. AGMs, like the law, are probably given because this world is fallen and needs to function within this framework.
Think about this:
- In companies, shareholders are "stakeholders" who "invest" in the companies in expectation of monetary returns. They are entitled/empowered to appoint only the best people out there to run the businesses well so as to achieve what they want.
- In churches, the pastors & elders are the executives and board members in God Inc whose corporate mission is to win souls and touch lives. God is always the CEO of His business. He cannot be removed by voting. If members are not satisfied with God's performance, God stays, members leave. If members do not have faith in God's appointed executives and board, the executives and board stay, members leave.
- God's business is governed by faith. Faith is being sure of what we hope for & being certain of what we do not see. Can the world accept this?
- If Moses, David and other God's appointed & anointed servants are subject to people power in deciding whether they keep their jobs & titles or not, just imagine... Moses would have been sacked long time ago for being too soft with the Pharoah, too imcompetent, too un-leaderlike. David would have faced the audit committee for spending too much to prepare for the temple of God, or impeached on immoral grounds. Others would have been shot for misleading people about the blessings of God when they died without a single cent. Or how about those lying apostles who said Jesus is coming "soon" when 2000 years have passed and Jesus still hasn't come back?
- And Jesus himself would have lost his job. Think about His response to the people who criticised the woman for wasting resources equivalent to a year's wages by pouring them on Jesus' feet. By saying that it was to prepare for His burial, what kind of an answer is that? Or when he says to feed the 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fishes. What kind of a budget is that? Certainly not answers that AGMs can swallow. This guy doesn't know maths, does He?
- Sheep, by the way don't appoint shepherds; shepherds are appointed by higher-ups. Sheep just follow. Sheep don't secretly wish that shepherds are kept impoverished while they gobble fresh grass and drink pure water everyday in the safe custody of their shepherds.
I can go on, but just mull over for now. The church needs to be governed by a different system, certainly not something lifted up lock, stock & barrel from the pages of The World for Dummies . It's about time someone asks why the church is attempting to fit herself into the framework of a system that's designed for a completely different mission.
God bless you readers,
Thomas
___________________________________________________________________
Online Primary School Essay Competition with a difference - check out http://www.choiceessays.com/ today!
Category: Sounding Board, cf_
God's business cannot be governed by the business model of man. God's business is in winning souls, not deals; in loving our neighbours, not beggaring them; in giving, not hoarding. The world and even governments are inherently in the business of creating & accumulating wealth, and in racing ahead of others, What's the difference? Behind the capitalism, elitism, and all the 'isms of today's world is something called "covetedness". It is what drives the economy, it is what makes people & companies perform, it is what makes the world goes round. When covetedness is at the centre of the entire system, there is little wonder that we need all the complex checks & balances put in place because without them, the natural impulse to covet will almost always lead to selfish abuse and exploitation at the expense of others. AGMs, like the law, are probably given because this world is fallen and needs to function within this framework.
Think about this:
- In companies, shareholders are "stakeholders" who "invest" in the companies in expectation of monetary returns. They are entitled/empowered to appoint only the best people out there to run the businesses well so as to achieve what they want.
- In churches, the pastors & elders are the executives and board members in God Inc whose corporate mission is to win souls and touch lives. God is always the CEO of His business. He cannot be removed by voting. If members are not satisfied with God's performance, God stays, members leave. If members do not have faith in God's appointed executives and board, the executives and board stay, members leave.
- God's business is governed by faith. Faith is being sure of what we hope for & being certain of what we do not see. Can the world accept this?
- If Moses, David and other God's appointed & anointed servants are subject to people power in deciding whether they keep their jobs & titles or not, just imagine... Moses would have been sacked long time ago for being too soft with the Pharoah, too imcompetent, too un-leaderlike. David would have faced the audit committee for spending too much to prepare for the temple of God, or impeached on immoral grounds. Others would have been shot for misleading people about the blessings of God when they died without a single cent. Or how about those lying apostles who said Jesus is coming "soon" when 2000 years have passed and Jesus still hasn't come back?
- And Jesus himself would have lost his job. Think about His response to the people who criticised the woman for wasting resources equivalent to a year's wages by pouring them on Jesus' feet. By saying that it was to prepare for His burial, what kind of an answer is that? Or when he says to feed the 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fishes. What kind of a budget is that? Certainly not answers that AGMs can swallow. This guy doesn't know maths, does He?
- Sheep, by the way don't appoint shepherds; shepherds are appointed by higher-ups. Sheep just follow. Sheep don't secretly wish that shepherds are kept impoverished while they gobble fresh grass and drink pure water everyday in the safe custody of their shepherds.
I can go on, but just mull over for now. The church needs to be governed by a different system, certainly not something lifted up lock, stock & barrel from the pages of The World for Dummies . It's about time someone asks why the church is attempting to fit herself into the framework of a system that's designed for a completely different mission.
God bless you readers,
Thomas
___________________________________________________________________
Online Primary School Essay Competition with a difference - check out http://www.choiceessays.com/ today!
Category: Sounding Board, cf_
The Shepherds on trial (Part Two)
I think the sheep needs to be reminded that they are not the jury. There is only one Judge and He is God. AGM & other governance frameworks are good and essential to uphold integrity in a corrupt world, but these must be done with wisdom and the right spirit.
How can we do it right?
1. Jesus can afford to feed 5000 people EVERYDAY if He wants but he did not do it. Needs are all around us. People of different agendas, priorities and pet projects. Look at Jesus. He & his disciples alone are entrusted to carry out the mission of God. They did not consult with the people to see what they like; populist culture is not for the church. Instead, they diligently seek God and strive to do God's will. The rest of us is to support them and trust in God's plan & provision. Trust is difficult in this world without control, but when our trust is in God and the control rests with the Holy Spirit, it is possible. The church should plan her budget according to the will of God, not the needs of the people. This is a subtle difference but it's important.
2. Returns should not be measured by a fund or asset manager's standards. Everyone will have a different opinion of how money should be spent, but think about it: shouldn't God be even more concerned since everything we have & are given are HIS in the first place? What's needed again is prayer, wisdom and trust. The focus should not be on whether spending is optimised in monetary terms but on whether it is in line with God's will. Pouring one year's salary away is something most people cannot accept but it happens to be in line with God's will in the case of the woman in the Bible.
3. The fact that the congregation tithes doesn't give it the right to decide how the money should be spent. Tithes and offering, if we look at the bible, are an expression of gratitude to God for His provisions. We don't give back to God what He has given us, and then TELL Him how He should spend it; He might as well not have blessed us with so much in the first place.
4. Checks and balances should be done with the aim of preventing or uncovering fraud & abuse, not to question priorities of spending. As I said, everyone has a different set of priorities, and not all priorities are in line with God's. We need to have faith in God's appointed servants to spend God's money wisely.
5. If we ask for a very transparent financial reporting from the church so as to scrutinize it, are we prepared to let the church scrutinize every aspect of our life, especially the financial aspects? Wisdom sometimes means moderation, not transparency. Financial reporting is for accountability. The congregation doesn't run the church; the Pastor does. He has the authority & responsibility to account for God's resources & use them wisely. In fact, the Pastor has authority to help enforce tithing but he doesn't because he is trusting God to provide the necessary; shouldn't the congregation learn to trust more?
6. A good governance system is in on-going control and execution, not judgmental questioning one year after. Professional members of the church should provide on-going services as part of their tithing to advise or be
consulted on in certain transactions & projects. I believe that if we do it this way, AGMs will be less stressful, more productive, and forward-looking.
Thomas Tan
Online Primary School Essay Competition with a difference - check out www.choiceessays.com today!
Category: Sounding Board, cf_
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Cohabitation Contract
I almost fell off my chair when I saw an article in TODAY a few days back advocating a cohabitation contract. Well, I know cohabitation is not a new phenomenon, but to see someone trying to give it more legal support while at the same time deriding the values of marriage feels like another beep in your ERP reader (a taxi driver once told me, 'every time my ERP reader beeps, my heart also beat a few times faster').
Give us a break. Give people who believe in the institution of marriage (by the way, marriage between man & woman) a BIG break. What's wrong with marriage? Absolutely nothing. It's the self-centredness of people that causes marriages to breakdown. Just look at the commonly cited reasons for divorces:
a) Irreconciliable differences
b) Adultery
c) Marital Abuse
d) Extramarital Affairs
e) All of the above
No prize for the right answer ('cos I have given myself away earlier, dude).
Look at the big picture. Marriage is not a "Touch N Go" thingy (for those who drive up to Malaysia, you know what's Touch N Go). It's a "Touch N Stay" thingy. You agree to partner each other for life in the road ahead. Why is this partnership more than a casual meeting of persons? For one, this is for life. How many of us faithfully meet long-time friends regularly to keep up on each other's lives, to listen, to encourage, to help? Marriage is an agreement to team up for life, for better or for worse. You get a lifetime membership with no annual fees and no expiry date with a friend who lives with you. Can you beat that?
Marriage is certainly not like a game of soccer, where you team up with some kakis, kick a ball around for 30 minutes, then say goodbye till the next game. Marriage is for people serious about doing something worthwhile in life for others, everyday of our life. I do not need to articulate the rewards of marriage here because my detractors who are only concerned about the physical shape of the women they date or in fulfilling their sexual lusts will not be able to take it. But, like the too-bad-it-didn't-happen Presidential Election this month, not everyone qualifies for marriage.
Then you ask, what qualifies me for marriage?
Like the days following SARS, I have devised the following detection kit after the alarming increase in divorce cases, and now, the advocation of a cohabitation contract, all in the name of public service. What does the kit detect? It detects if you are a marriage disaster waiting to happen.
Check off those that applies, giving a score of 1 to each statement checked, then go to the scoring table below
a) I am a career-minded or ambitious type
b) I like myself or my car best
c) I go for money, fame and power
d) I don't have time or patience for kids, no matter how cute they are, or how much they resemble me
e) I don't have time for anyone who will grow old, slow, naggy, and saggy
e) I enjoy all things external, material, cosmetic and instant
f) I don't believe in inner beauty
g) I like to be served, but hate to serve others
What does your score say about you?
0 - Hooray, you don't have any of the serious traits of a potential marriage failure. You should qualify for marriage, but read my pointers below for what makes a marriage successful.
1 - 3: You are a potential marriage disaster. Go for that silly cohabitation contract.
4 - 6: You are a potential marriage and cohabitation contract disaster. Sign a cohabitation contract with your pet.
7 - 8: You are a potential marriage and cohabitation contract disaster, and your pet will sue you. Head for Mars when the shuttle service is ready.
Now that you have qualified, remember one thing. In marriage, you seek to serve & love the other half. Likewise, you receive the love the other half is giving you, because he or she also seeks to serve and love you. This is the secret of a successful marriage.
Ephesians 5: 22-28
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
God bless you, readers:)
Category: cf_hs
Give us a break. Give people who believe in the institution of marriage (by the way, marriage between man & woman) a BIG break. What's wrong with marriage? Absolutely nothing. It's the self-centredness of people that causes marriages to breakdown. Just look at the commonly cited reasons for divorces:
- Irreconciliable differences
- Adultery
- Marital Abuse
- Extramarital Affairs
a) Irreconciliable differences
b) Adultery
c) Marital Abuse
d) Extramarital Affairs
e) All of the above
No prize for the right answer ('cos I have given myself away earlier, dude).
Look at the big picture. Marriage is not a "Touch N Go" thingy (for those who drive up to Malaysia, you know what's Touch N Go). It's a "Touch N Stay" thingy. You agree to partner each other for life in the road ahead. Why is this partnership more than a casual meeting of persons? For one, this is for life. How many of us faithfully meet long-time friends regularly to keep up on each other's lives, to listen, to encourage, to help? Marriage is an agreement to team up for life, for better or for worse. You get a lifetime membership with no annual fees and no expiry date with a friend who lives with you. Can you beat that?
Marriage is certainly not like a game of soccer, where you team up with some kakis, kick a ball around for 30 minutes, then say goodbye till the next game. Marriage is for people serious about doing something worthwhile in life for others, everyday of our life. I do not need to articulate the rewards of marriage here because my detractors who are only concerned about the physical shape of the women they date or in fulfilling their sexual lusts will not be able to take it. But, like the too-bad-it-didn't-happen Presidential Election this month, not everyone qualifies for marriage.
Then you ask, what qualifies me for marriage?
Like the days following SARS, I have devised the following detection kit after the alarming increase in divorce cases, and now, the advocation of a cohabitation contract, all in the name of public service. What does the kit detect? It detects if you are a marriage disaster waiting to happen.
Check off those that applies, giving a score of 1 to each statement checked, then go to the scoring table below
a) I am a career-minded or ambitious type
b) I like myself or my car best
c) I go for money, fame and power
d) I don't have time or patience for kids, no matter how cute they are, or how much they resemble me
e) I don't have time for anyone who will grow old, slow, naggy, and saggy
e) I enjoy all things external, material, cosmetic and instant
f) I don't believe in inner beauty
g) I like to be served, but hate to serve others
What does your score say about you?
0 - Hooray, you don't have any of the serious traits of a potential marriage failure. You should qualify for marriage, but read my pointers below for what makes a marriage successful.
1 - 3: You are a potential marriage disaster. Go for that silly cohabitation contract.
4 - 6: You are a potential marriage and cohabitation contract disaster. Sign a cohabitation contract with your pet.
7 - 8: You are a potential marriage and cohabitation contract disaster, and your pet will sue you. Head for Mars when the shuttle service is ready.
Now that you have qualified, remember one thing. In marriage, you seek to serve & love the other half. Likewise, you receive the love the other half is giving you, because he or she also seeks to serve and love you. This is the secret of a successful marriage.
Ephesians 5: 22-28
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
God bless you, readers:)
Category: cf_hs
Saturday, July 16, 2005
NKF - A lesson for all
This has been an ultra eventful week, since the countdown to the casino announcement some months ago. For those who have not been following the news, well, the NKF & her CEO sued SPH for defamation, and by a strange turn of events, shot themselves badly in the foot, dropped the suit, lost thousands of donor pledge, and had her CEO & Board of Directors replaced. And oh yes, the Patron stepped down as well.
What went wrong?
NKF has been one of the most successful charities in terms of absolute funds raised, if not the most, in recent times. The richest charity in Singapore, NKF has been hogging the limelight where fund-raising is concerned. By intuition, I would guess that most donations have gone to NKF as compared to her poorer less well-known cousins.
The reason for her success in fund-raising? They run it like a BUSINESS.
What went wrong?
NKF has been one of the most successful charities in terms of absolute funds raised, if not the most, in recent times. The richest charity in Singapore, NKF has been hogging the limelight where fund-raising is concerned. By intuition, I would guess that most donations have gone to NKF as compared to her poorer less well-known cousins.
The reason for her success in fund-raising? They run it like a BUSINESS.
It has been said that a little dose of the entrepreneurial drive won't hurt in fund-raising. Which is why in recent times, several commercial fund-raising businesses have been set up to run fund-raising activities for charities. You can easily identify them from the charity ticket sellers stationed outside MRT stations & bus interchanges. There's no denying that they contribute to our economy in several ways. First, the ticket sellers get a job. Secondly, the fund-raisers get a business. Thirdly, the charities get more coverage and hence raise more in absolute terms.
As a business professional, I say this makes sense as an economic activity. However, as a volunteer and a charity worker, I see a potential problem here. Charity is not a commercial transaction. Charity comes from a desire to help a specific group of persons. Here's where the problem begins in the ways funds are raised today. By commercialising fund-raising, the donors' gift is now filtered down the chain of economic workers (fund-raising company, service providers such as telco or media organizations, ticket sellers, etc) before it reaches the intended party. The $10 you give is probably only a fraction when it reaches the party you intend to help. The genuine donor will not be happy. Why? Because he/she never intended his money to be given to anyone else besides the intended party. $10 has to be $10 when it reaches the intended party, not $2.
But you may ask, if the fund-raising is so effective in the number of donors reached, that the absolute amount reaching the intended party is now many times more than if commercial fund-raising was not employed, what's the problem?
The problem is that: commercial fund-raising is not charity. We might as well be shopping for groceries and the supermarket says for every $10 you spent, they are giving $2 to a certain charity. Or the Govt might as well say for every 5% of GST collected, 1% will go to NCSS for all charities under her governance. It's even worse when fund-raising is linked to winning prizes. Singapore Pools is already doing her part in sponsoring some worthwhile causes from the monies punters throw in week after week. Which brings us to another point: Gambling is not charity.
The bottomline is this: go back to the basics.
Spend more on educating people on the merits of helping one another, not by playing to their sense of greed. Do away with all the glitz and glamour. Charity is never about winning $250,000 cash or a car. People in this society need to understand the merits of helping the less privileged, not for personal gain, just plainly out of love.
Charity is about love.
Love is the reason why most volunteers do what they do. They are not paid, they sacrifice their family & non-work time, they are rarely in the limelight. Yet, they volunteer because they believe in their cause.
Which is another reason why charitable organizations need to re-examine their values & practices. If the organization officers truly believe in their cause, they will do their best to ensure that most of the donations go towards the people they are supposed to help, not to commercial entities or themselves.
To Mr Durai, outgoing CEO of NKF, I have this to say:
You have done an excellent job serving the kidney patients. Your role as a volunteer certainly reflected your belief in the cause. No one is perfect; we all make mistakes. In running NKF like a business, you seem to have forgotten the basics of charity & volunteerism. It's still not too late to re-connect with your past. Let this be a lesson learnt. Let's tap on the excellence of business & leadership, but without forgetting what charity is all about. I'm sure this is possible. The late Pope John Paul & Mother Teresa were excellent leaders who successfully promoted the cause of charity, without resorting to fund-raising gimmicks.
God bless,
Thomas
Category: cf_hs
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Not one but TWO casinos
A real disappointment and a date to mark in the history of our nation. Singapore has decided that she should go ahead with the idea of integrated resort with casino, but what's surprising is that she has decided to go with TWO such resorts on this small island nation. Kiasuism? One-upmanship? Desperation? It's hard to say. But with the ambitious tourism targets she has set for herself, Singapore really needs something new, hence this "instant" ticket to make Singapore "less boring", not unlike buying a big sweep ticket to hope for that big strike.
I think some dollars will roll in, more high net worth tourists will drop by and spend more time (not to mention more money), but I question the quality of tourism or quality of life for Singaporeans.
Firstly, the quality of tourism. Singapore is a city state. She is a fine city (no pun intended) for savoring the rich diversity of the Asian cultures and cuisine. She may not have scenic lakes or snow-capped mountains, but for her size, the beauty of Singapore is that she can be seen and tasted in a few days. Tourists like the well-developed infrastructure and the fact that you can be a first time visitor and still find it hard to get lost. Well-linked transportation, well located accomodation, the unique Little India, Chinatown, Geylang Serai, Boat Quay, shopping malls with lots of eateries, and helpful signs and directories which are everywhere. The real tourist who is here for a tour will find Singapore attractive, and possibly more so than other countries. They will find Singapore meaningful. Yes, they may not spend more than the spending tourist whose aim is to spend money, yet these are the ones who will remember Singapore as a country, not as a shopping centre or a casino, and these are the ones who will promote Singapore in a healthy way over the years.
Secondly, the quality of life for Singaporeans. Who in the right frame of mind is proud to say that his son or daughter works in the casino? Would the leaders' encourage their children to work in the gaming industry? When a family patronizes the integrated resort, are the parents interacting with the children at the amusement park or are they doing their own things? Will children not be set thinking that the things their parents do in the adults-only area must be really exciting? Will families not be worse off when parents finish the day with big losses, and take it out on the rest of the family? Or when parents become addicted to casino gambling?
An integrated resort is only integrated from the facilities perspective. Family interaction and objectives can hardly be said to be integrated.
Theme parks in other countries have been known to draw in the crowds, and I don't see why we cannot focus on building upon the Sentosa brand which is the one & only in this world. Let's face it. If Singapore is boring, Sentosa is one reason. We have not been innovative in turning this designated plot of land into something really outstanding over the years, and we are perhaps now hoping for a miracle in the form of a free casino ticket (we got two tickets, remember?)
Take one step back and look at Singapore. Our unique diversity is now giving way to crass rojak. There is a fine line between the two, but alas, I think we have crossed or at least are crossing the line. We put in 2 MRT players only to find that we are too small for that. We encourage more taxi operators only to find that taxi drivers are tripping over each other for the commuter. We ignore the original beauty of Sentosa to squeeze in landmarks and parks of all manner into the small island, making it a big-time turn-off. Face it, the Merlion statue doesn't exude an air of majesty as compared with the Statue of Liberty or The Eiffel Tower. We built the Esplanade but it doesn't seem to be going anywhere. What next? Car-racing? Cock-fighting? How about mimicking the hugely profitable wrestling industry, along with all the skimpily-dressed women?
Go back to the basics. The unique diversity, not the rojak, is what makes Singapore special. The world will not pass us by simply because our neighbours have casinos and we do not, and we cannot afford to follow the crowd all the time. The arts, the sports, & the music industries all have tremendous potential for further development & will certainly benefit from having more focus and support.
The character of Singapore must be amply seen in her brand, and by that, I am referring to the positive aspects of her character, not kiasuism. The fact that others have one casino BUT we have two is not going to make Singapore less boring. Sure, the dollars will roll in, the business community will be happy, the banks will be happy, some people will be happy because there are more jobs, but these are short-term feel-good stuff and in the process, Singapore is losing her soul and character which has successfully steered her through the thick and thin in the last 40 years.
Category: cf_hs
Monday, March 28, 2005
An open letter to Michael Schiavo
Dear Michael
I am not sure if I should congratulate you on winning on most legal fronts concerning the battle to end your dear wife's life. I am a married man, just like you. I married a woman I love, presumably just like you too. As I promised to love my wife in sickness and in health, I believe you promised the same too.
I understand it's more painful to be alive in some cases of afflictions. Perhaps that's why you think it's better to end Terri's suffering now and let her go to heaven and take on a glorious form soon than remain in this afflicted body.
I think it's very noble of you to think this way. But I ask if Terri thought the same, before her feeding tube was removed. She may not have, for she believes in a God who works miracles, who raised Lazarus from the dead, who caused Sarah to give birth to Isaac in her old age when Abraham was as good as dead, a God who is God.
You are not Terri. No one, not even medical experts, can understand how Terri feels. Put aside all your legal merrymen and so-called expert opinions. Just pause to think for a moment. Think, Michael. If you truly love Terri, why wouldn't you have sought experts who believe in healing her, and instead align yourselves with those who curse her with all manner of pronouncements? How would such experts have known better if they haven't died along with the patients from whom they drew their conclusions?
"But I tried!" I hear you say. You tried for 3 years. 3 years, hmm.... but I am sorry to say this doesn't seem much. I have seen parents who spent a whole lifetime raising children afflicted with all manners of handicap & illness, Down's Syndrome and all, simply because they love them too much to even think of killing them although it seems like an easy way out.
You see, Michael, love in God's dictionary is not defined this way. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 says
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not selfseeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails.
To the courts, you are just another case with a reference number.
To your attorneys, you are just another client with money to spend.
To your professional experts, you are just another avenue for them to assert their opinions, play God, and hopefully strengthen the case for mercy killing.
The courts, judges, attorneys, and experts don't have to live with this decision to end Terri's life. To them, Terri is nothing. They can just as easily sleep when night falls after a long day at court. I am not sure if this can be said of you. I am not sure if your girlfriend and children understand the standard of love you are practising in your treatment of Terri and her family members.
It's still not too late to do something genuine & sensible for Terri and for yourself, Michael. Put back the tube. Let Terri live as long as God is prepared to give her life. Let her indicate her choice when she is capable of choosing, in the presence of her loved ones, and that includes you, of course. Terri loves you. The last thing you need to do is to get her blessing to have her life terminated, should she choose so.
Then you can truly walk down your remaining years with honour, and more importantly, face God eventually without your legal merrymen, judges and experts, with a clean conscience.
Sincerely yours,
Thomas (another husband, another father, another child of God)
Category: cf_hs, cf_ltr
The Ugly side of humanity in Terri Schiavo's case
It's been very distressing since I started following the happenings in the Terri Schiavo's case a couple of weeks ago. More distressing than the Sep 11 attack on the twin towers of WTC in New York, more incomprehensible than the terrorists' beheading of Nick Berg, more difficult to swallow than the physical humiliation of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib prision in Baghdad.
My heartfelt prayers go out to Terri's family members and their loved ones, who must have felt helpless being bullied from one corner to another by the actions or inactions of the parties involved. As a father of daughters, I can understand how Mr Bob Schindler feels.
To Mr & Mrs Bob Schindler, family members & loved ones who have stood by Terri:
It's difficult to understand the basis of justice that has been applied to the court decisions. I would have been very disappointed if not for the fact that I have known long ago that any hope for a fair and just system in this fallen world remains just a hope at best. Justice in this world can be biased & but God's justice can never be. Be assured that God's ultimate justice will prevail. Be strong in this time, seeking the Lord and renewing your strength through Him. Let not what has happened result in any bitterness or hatred which will, in no uncertain terms, rob you of the peace, joy and abundant life that God has intended for you, his children.
God has given you and the world Terri. You have no doubt seen Terri grow from a little baby to a beautiful woman. There must have been many moments of joy shared with this woman who is now an icon of strength and hope for many of us. Think of these moments and cherish them. They are yours to keep and can never be taken away from you by any court order.
Terri, meek, gentle and incapable of fending for herself, has effectively put her persecutors to an indescribable level of shame & guilt by just being herself. Jesus did not condemn the world when crucified by his accusors, but instead asked God to forgive them. I am sure Terri knows what is in store for her in heaven, and would have asked God to do the same.
Be thankful that Terri has lived a life thus far that you can be proud of. Any sensible parent would have been proud to have a daughter like Terri.
I know your anguish & emotions cannot be expressed in words. In closing, I have the following verses for you, which are quoted from New International Version of the Bible:
Romans 12: 14-21
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
My heartfelt prayers go out to Terri's family members and their loved ones, who must have felt helpless being bullied from one corner to another by the actions or inactions of the parties involved. As a father of daughters, I can understand how Mr Bob Schindler feels.
To Mr & Mrs Bob Schindler, family members & loved ones who have stood by Terri:
It's difficult to understand the basis of justice that has been applied to the court decisions. I would have been very disappointed if not for the fact that I have known long ago that any hope for a fair and just system in this fallen world remains just a hope at best. Justice in this world can be biased & but God's justice can never be. Be assured that God's ultimate justice will prevail. Be strong in this time, seeking the Lord and renewing your strength through Him. Let not what has happened result in any bitterness or hatred which will, in no uncertain terms, rob you of the peace, joy and abundant life that God has intended for you, his children.
God has given you and the world Terri. You have no doubt seen Terri grow from a little baby to a beautiful woman. There must have been many moments of joy shared with this woman who is now an icon of strength and hope for many of us. Think of these moments and cherish them. They are yours to keep and can never be taken away from you by any court order.
Terri, meek, gentle and incapable of fending for herself, has effectively put her persecutors to an indescribable level of shame & guilt by just being herself. Jesus did not condemn the world when crucified by his accusors, but instead asked God to forgive them. I am sure Terri knows what is in store for her in heaven, and would have asked God to do the same.
Be thankful that Terri has lived a life thus far that you can be proud of. Any sensible parent would have been proud to have a daughter like Terri.
I know your anguish & emotions cannot be expressed in words. In closing, I have the following verses for you, which are quoted from New International Version of the Bible:
Romans 12: 14-21
14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord. 20On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Let the above verses be true, not only of Terri, but all of you who love her.
May God bless you all now and hereafter,
Thomas
Category: cf_hs
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Are we gambling with the CASINO idea?
For those who don't live in Singapore, one of the hottest topics now is: what will the Government's decision be on the plan to build a casino in this place we call "home"? We will know by Apr 18, 2005 (mark this date anyway, it will be significant for historians down the years), but the informal and formal debates on the pros & cons of having a casino here have started some time back, since the idea was first mooted publicly.
Many a great articles have been written to urge the Government to exercise greater caution in matters like this, not to over-emphasize the supposed monetary & economic benefits at the expense of social costs. Everyone who has lived in Singapore long enough will know that this is a nation built upon solid core values that deals very much with the individual - such as integrity, honesty, accountability, diligence, excellence, meritocracy, etc; values that essentially don't gel well with the notion of a society that promotes gambling as a livelihood. That is perhaps why a greater part of this society has voiced strong reservations about bringing a casino into our soils.
No nation has reached a "developed" status because of short cuts like promoting gambling, adult entertainment, prostitution or other vices. Likewise, no nation should feel compelled, or that it can afford, to promote such vices simply because it has become developed. It is strange that we have chosen to even think about introducing a casino here in the very first place.
Singapore has always been a maverick of sorts, choosing unconventional approaches to achieve excellence in what she does. We do not merely follow what others have done, but we observe, study, adapt, and invent. As a result, we have produced world-class achievements in many areas, notably our political stability, our infocomm & business infrastructure, our education system, our efficiency, and our people, among others. The Singapore we see today is the result of much heralded foresight in policies and decisions made much earlier. Take the example of the "notorious" & now world-famous chewing gum ban. Decades later, other developed nations are still struggling with the cost of cleaning up after gums, and gum manufacturers haven't found a better way, despite innovation and technological advances, to make gum that requires less maintenance costs. So we eradicated millions of dollars of unproductive costs with that single decision which probably would be unthinkable (still) among leading nations.
In recent years we loosened up on various areas in the name of progress. Pornography (in the form of artistic work) has found its way into cinemas; gays have found a stronger backing on various fronts; pre-marital & casual sex don't attract any more attention. Gambling, while never glamourized, is gradually becoming more acceptable as a way of life. Recently, our newspapers reported a new craze in the form of scratch-and-win cards which saw whole families scratching away for a chance to win some money. We have newspapers dedicated to reporting soccer news that are a regular stable for soccer bettors. Lottery news and tips are available easily through SMS from all major telco providers. The consequences for these changes in our society may not be easily seen or felt till years down the road, by which time, damage, possibly irreparable, would have been done, and any talk about accountability wouldn't make things easier to swallow.
Accountability, by the way, starts with the decision-making process, not in taking responsibility when the decision turns out bad. For a decision on a matter which many Singaporeans have spoken up voluntarily without much persuasion (and for the record, this is rare in Singapore), it's a matter which merits a more unconventional decision-making process. It's time we summon the Singapore hallmark of thinking & acting unconventionally.
Put aside the fact that no other referendum has been called in Singapore other than the independence matter. Put aside the glossy reports from consultants who have not lived with us in the nation-building years and who do not truly have a stake in our national well-being. Put aside the challenging goal we have set for ourselves for the tourism business.
Just do one thing. Listen to our conscience. Is this something we would proudly declare to our loved ones and next generation of nation-builders, that the Singapore casino is open for business?
May God bless you.
Many a great articles have been written to urge the Government to exercise greater caution in matters like this, not to over-emphasize the supposed monetary & economic benefits at the expense of social costs. Everyone who has lived in Singapore long enough will know that this is a nation built upon solid core values that deals very much with the individual - such as integrity, honesty, accountability, diligence, excellence, meritocracy, etc; values that essentially don't gel well with the notion of a society that promotes gambling as a livelihood. That is perhaps why a greater part of this society has voiced strong reservations about bringing a casino into our soils.
No nation has reached a "developed" status because of short cuts like promoting gambling, adult entertainment, prostitution or other vices. Likewise, no nation should feel compelled, or that it can afford, to promote such vices simply because it has become developed. It is strange that we have chosen to even think about introducing a casino here in the very first place.
Singapore has always been a maverick of sorts, choosing unconventional approaches to achieve excellence in what she does. We do not merely follow what others have done, but we observe, study, adapt, and invent. As a result, we have produced world-class achievements in many areas, notably our political stability, our infocomm & business infrastructure, our education system, our efficiency, and our people, among others. The Singapore we see today is the result of much heralded foresight in policies and decisions made much earlier. Take the example of the "notorious" & now world-famous chewing gum ban. Decades later, other developed nations are still struggling with the cost of cleaning up after gums, and gum manufacturers haven't found a better way, despite innovation and technological advances, to make gum that requires less maintenance costs. So we eradicated millions of dollars of unproductive costs with that single decision which probably would be unthinkable (still) among leading nations.
In recent years we loosened up on various areas in the name of progress. Pornography (in the form of artistic work) has found its way into cinemas; gays have found a stronger backing on various fronts; pre-marital & casual sex don't attract any more attention. Gambling, while never glamourized, is gradually becoming more acceptable as a way of life. Recently, our newspapers reported a new craze in the form of scratch-and-win cards which saw whole families scratching away for a chance to win some money. We have newspapers dedicated to reporting soccer news that are a regular stable for soccer bettors. Lottery news and tips are available easily through SMS from all major telco providers. The consequences for these changes in our society may not be easily seen or felt till years down the road, by which time, damage, possibly irreparable, would have been done, and any talk about accountability wouldn't make things easier to swallow.
Accountability, by the way, starts with the decision-making process, not in taking responsibility when the decision turns out bad. For a decision on a matter which many Singaporeans have spoken up voluntarily without much persuasion (and for the record, this is rare in Singapore), it's a matter which merits a more unconventional decision-making process. It's time we summon the Singapore hallmark of thinking & acting unconventionally.
Put aside the fact that no other referendum has been called in Singapore other than the independence matter. Put aside the glossy reports from consultants who have not lived with us in the nation-building years and who do not truly have a stake in our national well-being. Put aside the challenging goal we have set for ourselves for the tourism business.
Just do one thing. Listen to our conscience. Is this something we would proudly declare to our loved ones and next generation of nation-builders, that the Singapore casino is open for business?
May God bless you.
Category: cf_hs
Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Reflections: Beheading of Kim Sun-Il
Last week, when I read about our Korean brother Kim Sun-Il being threatened with death by the terrorists, I prayed for a miracle, for him to be released from the captives. When news broke subsequently that he has been beheaded, my heart felt heavy. I asked God if he heard my prayers, and that of many others whom I believe must have also prayed for him. Could God not have saved him, as He did for Daniel in the furnace of fire and the lions' den?
That evening, I thought about this again. I realized that God could have allowed this to happen for the greater good of those who lived in the darkness. Think about our Lord Jesus. God allowed him to go through the crucifixion when He could have easily prevented it, but it was for the greater good of all of us, who would have no hope if Jesus had not been executed.
I pray that our brother's death will not be in vain. That his executors will come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. That they will ask why this man chose to come and work in a place like Iraq, if it wasn't for the desire, in part, to tell others, including them, about Jesus. Yes, as a human being, he thought of going home as soon as he could, when he could bear it no longer; there is nothing wrong with this. Even Jesus prayed to the Father if the cup could be removed from him. Ultimately, it was the love for those unsaved, that called for obedience to go to a place like Iraq, and eventually giving up his life on earth.
May God bless brother Kim's household.
Category: cf_tht, sounding board
That evening, I thought about this again. I realized that God could have allowed this to happen for the greater good of those who lived in the darkness. Think about our Lord Jesus. God allowed him to go through the crucifixion when He could have easily prevented it, but it was for the greater good of all of us, who would have no hope if Jesus had not been executed.
I pray that our brother's death will not be in vain. That his executors will come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. That they will ask why this man chose to come and work in a place like Iraq, if it wasn't for the desire, in part, to tell others, including them, about Jesus. Yes, as a human being, he thought of going home as soon as he could, when he could bear it no longer; there is nothing wrong with this. Even Jesus prayed to the Father if the cup could be removed from him. Ultimately, it was the love for those unsaved, that called for obedience to go to a place like Iraq, and eventually giving up his life on earth.
May God bless brother Kim's household.
Category: cf_tht, sounding board
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