Till Dreams Come True

Once again, it's Oscar night. When movie making and storytelling are celebrated, when dreams come true.

Contrary to the boundaries and limitations we encounter in life; art and storytelling know no boundaries. Hence the irony that art celebrates life.

Reality is harsh and marriages don't always last. While every baby is created to be unique, they are quickly raised to conform to society and submit to bureaucracy.

Colours may separate, power may corrupt, and wealth may divide; but LOVE rises above ALL and paves the way for unity in the midst of diversity.

Technology may offer humanity connectivity but it will take more than technology and connectivity to draw the heart and mind of one person closer to another.

At 35, I feel closer to 70 in terms of dreams, hopes and direction in life. I wake up everyday praying for change, for God to show up.

May He hear my prayer, give us strength to love, renew our hopes and heal our land. "The challenges in life are part of life. It's how we learn."

I lift up my eyes to the hills - where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip - he who watches over you will not slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you - the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalms 121 NIV.

Amen.

Sv+

The Christian in Singapore

Singapore must be the envy of many a nation. A nation where people of different faith and race live in harmony. There is freedom of religion in that one is free to practise any faith that doesn't run afoul of the law. Christians do not need to meet secretly, unlike the house church Christians in China, and many church buildings easily stand out in the community where they are planted, as large, modern facilities, usually fully air-conditioned, except perhaps for the carpark. As churches grow to epic proportions and compete for members, some even running businesses, many may be forgiven for thinking that they have a mandate to establish Heaven on Earth here on this little red dot. Without the creature comfort and the status accorded for being associated with these churches, would many remain to be counted as believers? Have "blessings", prestige and comfort lulled the Christian into a false faith that's built on sand, instead of the rock named Jesus Christ, whose life on Earth was anything but comfortable, who was scorned for His belief in God, despised and forsaken even by His closest friends? Would the church in Singapore recognise Jesus if He came to Sunday Service as a pauper, instead of being driven in a big car? Didn't Jesus ride the donkey during His days, instead of the horse as one would expect of a royalty?

The greatest challenge to Christians in Singapore is not persecution or oppression but temptation and deception, and all that comes with the progress that's synonymous with Singapore. Counter that by looking deep into the Word of God. Repent and seek Him as you have never done before. Today. He longs for believers who surrender fully to Him and He has said few walk the narrow path that leads to life. With millions of church-goers worldwide, is it possible that some are headed the wrong way, especially those who knew Christ first but have since grown comfortable with heaven on earth? Don't fall by the wayside. Understand what it means to take up His cross daily and follow Him. Then do a reality check on our walk with God. Be unafraid to change if the Word of God says we need to, before it's too late.

Thomas

A personal journey of faith

November 10, 2008.

It was a beautiful rainy day. As I watched thin sheets of rain danced across the river, my heart resonated to its gentle rhythm.

I turned 35 over the weekend. For the last 35 years, I have shared the same birthday with one fella, my twin brother.

Conceived together, we evolved separately. Unique in our journey of faith and life.

Sometimes we tend to forget that even as laws are stated in the Bible, each person's journey of faith is unique.

Only the Creator knows and only He can understand and accommodate our fears and courage to live as who we are, and as one made in His image.

Not solely based on doctrines and codes of conduct erected as the bastion of society and religion that may unwittingly destroy the spiritual paths of others.

Just as different organs make up the body, so do different flora make up the forest. Is a flower lesser a flora than a tree? No, they are just different.

But the time is coming - it has, in fact, come - when what you're called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter. "It's who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That's the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in worship. God is sheer being itself - Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration." John 4:23-24 The Message.

On the anvil,

Sv ".+