A Most Engaging Meeting

Last night, I had a meeting with some of the leaders in the Adults Ministry. We had only one agenda: to work on the new proposed BGR guideline. We met very intensely for over 3 hours.

To begin with, this was not an easy walk-in-the-park kind of proposal to work on. There were many considerations and principles to consider. Moreover, most of the people were also very passionate of their views on this matter as well.

As I reflected, there were few learnings points for me on why the meeting was possibly engaging and enjoyable.

Firstly, it was a level playing field where everyone was a stakeholder of the discussion. Every one was participative. There was no “hierarchal” kind of sentiments; be it real or perceived. Everyone in the meeting could and should contribute to the discussion. Every view and comment was welcome.

Secondly, no discussion, question or comment on the topic was off limits. There was nothing that we could not talk about openly. In meetings, we sometimes avoid certain issues that every one knows about but no one wants to talk about. It could be due to the fear of rocking the status quo too much, making some people uncomfortable, offending some people or being "blacklisted". The drawbacks would be the lack of progress and that real issues that needed to be discussed never get to be touched on.

Thirdly, the atmosphere was respectful and kind. Although the discussion were animated and pointed at times, the spirit was kind. It was issue-focused and not personal. There was a distinction between the ideas and views of the person versus the person. No one should feel devalued when their ideas and views were scrutinized or “attacked upon”. In fact, there was a healthy atmosphere where we laughed at ourselves too.

I am sure if I would to put my thoughts to it, there should be more learning points for me to glean.

Meeting is such a large part of many of our working and ministry life. The honest truth is that most of the meetings that we lead or sit in are less than engaging. I would be the first to plead guilty to leading many disengaging and unfruitful meetings. I want to do better in this department of my life.

At this moment, I am spending some time to learn from the book “Death By Meeting”. If you have read or learn from it, I would appreciate you sharing your ideas with me.

















By the way, the guideline is still in the works. We want to be comprehensive in our coverage and rigorous in our guiding principles.

Back To The Pulpit

Since Christmas at Kallang Theatre, I had not been back to pulpit except once during the Bangkok Business Life Conference. This weekend, I will be back to continue on the Micah “Walking Right With God” series.

There is both a sense of privilege and nervousness. Privilege in that I get to share the eternal life transforming Word of God. A mortal man being used by an immortal God to change eternal destinies is really an awesome thing!

Nervousness in that it’s rather daunting to be speaking to so many people. Since it’s been a while since I last preached, there is this feeling of being unfamiliar with it all.

By the way, do you know that public speaking is rated as the greatest fear by most people; even ahead of death! That means that they would rather die than to speak in public.

For this whole week, there were many challenges to be tackled, meetings to prepare and people to meet. But I had managed to find quite a fair bit of time to pray and get connected with God. And it is in these moments that I can find the ultimate solace for myself.

Just this morning at around 5am, I was woken up suddenly. I knew that God must have something to tell me as I had been rather busy during the day. God gave me some insight into an issue that I had been pondering about. It was just so timely!

During the last combine team rally, I believe it was my old friend Wilson that had brought this verse to mind. One of the version of Daniel 11:32 tells us that the enemy will come like a flood but those who know their God shall stand strong and do great exploits! How macho is this verse!!

Let’s all stand firm and be counted for in the Kingdom.

Ng Ah Sio Pork Ribs Soup Eating House

I have always enjoyed food and one of my favorite television programs have also been food programs.

I figured that it would be hard for me to ever appear on television. Thus I had decided a couple of weeks ago to do a “blog food program”. It may not win me any awards but it would fulfill two of my enjoyments in life.

Firstly, I get to enjoy and try out all sorts of food (which I am already doing). Next, I get to introduce all these food to you as well.

The first stall (hopefully not the last one) that I am blogging is a famous one. Just recently, the ex-Thai premier dropped by our island and had a little meal with his friends at this place. This is also the famous (or infamous) stall that turned away a top Hong Kong politician because of her short opening hours.

Some have highly recommended me on this stall while Joshua Ng told me that the stall at his house in Ang Mo Kio tastes much better.

Anyhow, the testing of the pudding is in the eating. So Claudia and I decided to travel all the way to 208 Rangoon Road to find out for ourselves.














The soup is the peppery type. For Pork Ribs soup, there are basically two types: the peppery type and the herbal type.

This one is really peppery. The meat is tender and the soup is thick. I like it pretty much.

We also ordered some Braised Pork Knuckles (the stall calls it Pig Leg - literal translation from dialect). We asked for leaner ones and it tastes really good. I like this more than the Pork Ribs soup.

The fried fritters were only okay. It wasn’t that crispy and it was way overpriced. It costs $2 for a small bowl.














What I also enjoyed was the tea. The tea leaves came in a small packet and you are supposed to prepare it on your own. There is a kettle of hot water placed on top of a stove beside every table in typical Pork Ribs Tea (literal translation) Style.














Overall, the meal is good. It is definitely better than normal store but it is a bit too pricey. This whole meal cost us $19 which is more than what other stores would charge.

Do try it and if you had already tried it before, let us know your comments on this stall.

I think the store owner should pay me for this free publicity!

Powerful & Godly Business People

What an experience!

I was totally bowed over by the great learning time in Bangkok. We started our conference with a trip to the top brokerage company in Thailand. The CEO is one of our church members and he gave an insightful tour of his company. He talked to us about the Thai economy.

It was fantastic to hear him talk to our church with the background of the stock indices display. This sure is different from the usual backdrop that we have during our church conferences. It was way beyond cool!
















After the office tour, we were invited into the board room (no Donald Trump style) as we asked him heart-to-heart questions about being a believer holding such a high post in the financial world. Many probing questions were raised and our brother answered with all honesty and sincerity.














The other highlight during the conference sessions were the testimonies. It was awesome to hear how God had blessed our business people as they continued to give all that they do and have to the Kingdom.

The brother whose family owned a chain of malls in Thailand also shared about his journey with God. We had the opportunity to visit one of the malls and it was at least 2 times larger than Plaza Singapura.

I had the privilege of having lunch with him and his wife. They kept serving me food and fuss over my drinks and other minor details. I have never had a multi-millionaire served me like that before. Like what Pastor PN had mentioned, our business people have a different spirit. They are real servants of God; humble in heart and gentle in spirit.

The mall owner shared about how he made the biblical decision to call off the year end countdown party 2006 that cost over S$1million dollars in view of the safety of the people in the midst of the bomb scare.

Although he had to pour the many months of hardwork with the television network and the tremendous publicity opportunity for his mall down the drain, he gladly did it simply because it was the right thing to do. This is a living example of loving people and using things instead of using people and loving things. And because of his decision, many lives were spared as two bombs went off near his mall later in the night.

Thank you Jesus for all these powerful and godly people in your Kingdom.





Praise and Worship During the Conference

Business Life Meeting In Bangkok

I will be flying off to Bangkok soon. For this time round, we are there to attend the Hope Business Life Ministry. There are over 50 people from outside Thailand while there should be more than 50 people from Hope Thailand.

I met some of our business people on Sunday and they were all rather geared up and excited about this meeting. It would be a good time for learning (mostly learning from Hope Bangkok business people), fellowshipping, networking and cross-fertilization of ideas.

According to the plan, there will be a time for business visitation. We will be visiting some businesses of our Hope Bangkok people. So there should be factory tours and plenty of Q&A.

The Hope Bangkok business people were really kind to be sponsoring a large part of the international delegates’ expenditure. They are covering all our meals and transportation within Thailand.

In our last meeting in Johor, Pastor PN had shared the idea of planting the Kingdom. We are not only to plant a church but to plant the Kingdom i.e. plant the businesses that will help the church alongside the church. He also created the term apostolic business people that envisioned many among the business community.

May God rise up more strong and biblical people with powerful business acumen in His Kingdom.

Blood Diamond

Last night was my first movie after sleeping through the whole of “Open Season”. It was a highly recommended movie from some friends. I was not a big fan of Leonardo Dicaprio from the days of Titanic. But I must say that this movie really change my view about Leonardo. I just loved his white African accent.

The movie is around 2 ½ hours long but it was worth every minute of it.


















I am not sure why this is so but most African-setting movies seem to always do it for me. The scenes of injustice and lawlessness would cause me to want to stand up and fight alongside them. This is of course easier said than done.

The movie exposed how people were fighting and exploited because of greed. It shows how our world is so linked. The butterfly effect is indeed so true here in an economic sense.

The thing that struck me most was the child-soldier part. Children are indeed so malleable; for good and for evil. They are indeed like wet cement: whatever imprints you leave, it will last forever.

Anyway, this is a good movie. Please watch it if you have not done so. I am quite sure that you would enjoy it as well.

Perhaps missions department should consider using this as missions awareness to the continent of Africa…

10th Anniversary

Wow… today, Claudia and I celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. Incredible! I can still vividly recall our wedding day on the 11 January 1997 and that was already 10 years ago. In fact, one of the well wishers even told us that she could still remember what she wore on our wedding day.

A picture from our wedding album...












One of the most asked question during this period is what we will be doing on our anniversary. The truth is that we are not doing anything on this day. We will probably do something special next week when we are in Bangkok for the Business Life Meeting.

If that was considered as anything special at all, we did have a little talk last night. We shared about what we would like to do when we grow older and how we wish to include some of our friends in it as well. We went through the few options that we have and counted the cost and effect it would have on the Kingdom.

I also took some time to read some of the cards and letters that we had written to one another over the past ten years. How romantic I am! I discovered that Claudia wrote on more occasions while I wrote longer cards and letters. Noted that it was past tense; wrote… those were the days before msn and emails! Perhaps we should resume some of these writings soon.

I would not describe these 10 years as “blue skies and everything nice”. Being both rather strong headed people, there was a fair share of “black skies and cold as ice”. But the truth is this, I am thankful for every moment of it. It is through these ups and downs that our relationship matures. We fight less and we forgive faster. We also share deeper and synergize better.

I also recalled that the theme of our wedding day (and marriage) is “For His Glory”. We chose this theme because we desired that our union would be used to manifest His glory and extend His reign. We also chose this theme to remind ourselves that our union was but a poor imitation of the ultimate wedding between Jesus and His glorious church. We want to be dedicated to the building and preparation of His bride, the church.

So now, ten years on, we would need to do a stock-take based on our original focus. It has not always been easy but we want to stay the course until the very end.

Back To Exercise Again

Since after Christmas, I have only went running once or twice. Throughout this period of time, I have also not denied any food that my eyes desire. To make matters even more challenging, I have received many chocolates as Christmas and New Year gifts.

So today, I had to literally force myself out of bed and to the gym. Even while I was in the gym, there were thoughts of turning back and going home. Anyhow, I managed to get myself up onto the running track and ran for slightly more 35 minutes. It certainly does feel good after the exercise.

One of my motivations for running is to prepare myself for greater things ahead for 2007. Rick Warren’s article had challenged me a lot to take care of my body. It may be hard to have a body that appeared on the cover page of Muscles and Fitness but I should at least have one that is healthy and one that keeps me alert and sharp.

I hope the article below would encourage you as it had to me. May we all be more prepared to fulfill God’s best for us in 2007.


To fulfill your life mission, get in shape in 2007
by Rick Warren

Did you know your body is a tool? God can use it to fulfill his purposes in the world. But you must cooperate first.

You see, for God to use you in 2007 like he wants to, you’ve got to take care of your body. “Don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.” (1 Cor. 6:19-20 NLT)

How do you honor God with your body? It’s simple. You take care of it. This is a good time for a confession. In January 2005, I started asking God what he wanted to do with me for the next 25 years. I started thinking about the P.E.A.C.E. Plan and what God wanted to do through the global Church in the coming years. It didn’t take long for me to realize I was going to need a lot more energy. I needed to get in shape. So I confessed to God that I hadn’t been in the kind of shape he needed me to be in the past. Then I told him that I wanted to honor him with my body and consciously take better care of it from now on.

Psalm 119:73 (TLB) says, “You made my body, Lord. Now give me the sense to heed your laws.” God set up the principles of good health. He says there’s a balance between sleeping, eating, and exercising. He says you need all three.

My guess is that everyone reading this article needs to work on at least one of these three issues. Some of you aren’t getting enough sleep. You’re tired all of the time. And often it’s because you’re staying up and doing something that isn’t all that important. By having just one extra hour of sleep on most nights, you’d be surprised at how much more effective you’d be in ministry. God can’t use somebody who’s tired all the time.

Psalms 127:2 (NLT) says, “It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones.” For some of you the most spiritual thing you could do is go to bed. You need to get your rest.

Some of you need to control your eating. I don’t know why God made food taste so good. He could have made it all taste like oatmeal, but he didn’t. So we need to practice self-control. Just because it tastes good doesn’t mean it does good things to our bodies. What you put in your stomach – and what you don’t – matters.

And of course, you need exercise. We all do. Many of us will start a whole new exercise regiment this month – hoping to start the new year off right. Stick to it. Put it on your schedule. Don’t let it become just a whim that you forget about by February. This is the year to get this right.

You can have a wrong attitude or a right attitude toward your body. What’s the wrong attitude? You can neglect it – just not pay attention to what you are doing to it. Reject it – tell God you want someone else’s body. And you can perfect it. Worshiping your body is just as wrong as worshiping anything else.

But the right attitude is to respect it and protect it. That’s what God wants you to do with your body. Why? Because God created it, Jesus paid for it, and the Holy Spirit lives in it.

1 Corinthians 9:25 (NLT) says, “Athletes practice discipline and self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.” We take care of our bodies because we want to please God. We’ll be rewarded for that in eternity.

So go get in shape – and watch God use you in ministry more effectively in 2007!

We All Need Loving Critics

I was reading this leadership book that said it well: we all need loving critics.

Leadership or even life in general, is a learning process. It is lifelong process where we discover more about ourselves and about the people around us. Thus we all need people who care deeply enough to give us honest feedback about how we are doing. We need loving truth tellers in our lives.

John Gardner, leadership scholar and presidential advisor, once remarked, “Pity the leader caught between unloving critics and uncritical lovers.”

It struck me once again that I need more of this sort of people in my life. Claudia has indeed fitted this role to a T. She has been my greatest fan as well as my greatest critic. Beside my wife, I have other such friends as well.

Off hand, I can think of a few of these people in my life and I am thankful for them. These are precious folks that help me grow and develop. I need them to continue to love me enough to want the best for me.

When I was young, my mum would punish me when I misbehaved (I was caned on a very regular basis for a large part of my growing up days). And often after she punished me, she would say these words, "if you are not my child, I would not even care".

I used to think to myself after she said this statement, "What bad luck is it that I am your child! Can you please care less then?" But as I grow older, I understand fully what my mum meant when she said that.

God is like that too, isn’t He? He loves us so much that He will never allow our wrong doings to go unlearnt. Some call it tough love.

May we all actively seek out for more loving critics in our lives! We need them.

New Year At The Esplanade

I am really thankful for the time of rest over this long weekend. It was very refreshing to me. I spent the first day of 2007 buying some household stuff, browsing at Borders, watching movies and then having supper with some friends.

One of the highlights for yesterday was when we were at the Esplanade. There was a very good Filipino band playing at the open space at around 10pm plus. They played some familiar songs from The Police and The Beatles. I must say that the standard of the singing and playing were quite outstanding. They were a four-piece band and they were playing in the outdoor but they sounded really great. Talent really does count!

Just as we were about to leave for supper after listening to around 4 songs, they sang a song that was strangely familiar and I found myself instantaneously singing along. The band was singing “Give Thanks”!

Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart
Give Thanks To The Holy One
Give Thanks Because He Has Given Jesus Christ, His Son…

Amazing, the band was outright preaching the gospel without the people even realizing it. Some of the band's regular friends (or rather brothers and sisters in Christ) were invited to sing along as the mic was being passed around. The audience were listening and clapping along because they were firstly impressed with their skills.

If they had chosen to sing “Give Thanks” as their very first song, I doubted the mostly pre-believing audience would have been as accepting and attentive given that they sang outright about Jesus.

What I took away here is that in order to reach more of our world, we have to “impress” the world more and more in order to gain a greater audience. Yes, God does indeed look at the heart but the pre-believing world is not God!

That’s what part of being Salt & Light is about…In the world, Not of the world, Influencing the world.