Friday, March 28, 2008

Taking A Walk...

Took a little walk some time ago and discovered this new wonderful getaway. This is still in Singapore!

It is only a 7-10 mins slow walk from my place. It is good place to steal away and take a moment to just rest and recollect thoughts about things and the Creator!

At the meantime, I hope to become our national hero if I can spot and even catch Mas Selamat Kastari as well.

Monday, March 24, 2008

Easter Weekend

Thank God for the many highlights during the Easter weekend. I was personally involved in 7 services but I had heard many good reports from every services!

First, let me highlight the high points for me in the Youth Services on Saturday. The high point was the youth animation and song entitled “If Only…” The music, lyrics and animation were completely produced by our very own youth creative team. It was most relevant and touching to the many youths.

Next, the highlight in the Tertiary Service must surely be the drama. I must say that some of the actors were fantastic. They acted really well and it was a truly a class act for Jesus. It was captivating. I am envisioning a academy award cruising down this stream of our church!

For the Adults Services, I enjoyed the pantomime very much. I like the fact that it was taken straight off the pages of the bible. It was the whole Easter story seen through the eyes of Peter. In my opinion, the praise and testimony were really good too. It was great to see the fist service people so excited!

On Sunday evening, I was completely wow-ed by the testimonies and singing for the Filipino group. It was indeed singing at a high level with heart touching life transforming testimonies.

I was supposed to preach after the 4 testimonies and song presentation. But instead, I simply came up to just give the altar call. I do not think that I can say anymore that hasn’t already been said through all the life stories and songs.

Some of friends attended the Mandarin Service and told me that they were amazed at the warmth of our people. Our Mandarin people were really “hungry” and eager to meet pre-believers.

Claudia also told me about the wonderful drama in our Hope Kids Live Service. You know that it is good when kids continue to talk about them after the service!

Most of all, the highest high must be the fact that we had witnessed many people crossed the line of faith during the weekend. Easter has indeed arrived into many hearts and frankly, nothing beats that!

Let’s continue to pray and follow up on these new people that have just entered the Kingdom.

On the sideline, thanks to all those that sms-ed me beforehand; another wonderful thing that took place this weekend is…

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Fancy Delight

I don’t know about you, but I usually like to have some sweet stuff after I finish my meal. It could be as simple as a small of after-dinner mint or as elaborate as high class un-pronounceable and un-spellable dessert.

Recently, I tried some tarts that I really enjoy. There are nice to see, better to feel and best eaten. The price is also very reasonable @ S$1.20 each.

Thus far, I have tried the traditional Taiwanese and Orange Chocolate flavors. They are quite out of this world for a sweet-tooth person like me! They really complete your meal.

Other flavors include Kaya, Chocolate, Blueberry, Curry Chicken, Corn, Strawberry (for girls and girly people) etc etc.

There are 3 outlets altogether. They are located at Tanjong Pagar Plaza, IMM & Suntec City Mall.

Do check the website below for more info. These are health food too (for your souls!)

http://www.fancydelight.com.sg/


Monday, March 17, 2008

Romans 8

As I was sharing in the services on the weekend, I am doing “bible passage saturation” on Romans 8. I had learnt this from Bill Hybels in one of his teachings.

The book of Romans has often been touted as one of the most influential books in the bible.

John Calvin had this to say about the book of Romans; "If a man understands Romans he has a sure road open to help him understand the entire Bible.”

This book has influenced hundreds of thousands, millions of people. It's changed history. Martin Luther started the Reformation because of the book of Romans. John Wesley started the Wesleyan revivals -- Methodism began out of that. Augustine became a Christian because of the book of Romans. All throughout history, God has used the book of Romans to influence people's lives in ways you cannot imagine.

And in my opinion, chapter 8 is the highpoint in this book. So Romans 8 would be like the best of the best!

That is why I want to spend a lot of intense time reading this chapter in the bible (while doing my regular bible reading from other parts of the bible).

If you had also been reading this chapter or any other passages for that matter, do share your learning with me as well. It does not have to be an earth-shaking revolutionary insight, but it would be any insight that spoke into your heart.

Do share it with me such that I can learn together with you as well.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Promoting Constructive "Insubordination"

I had been scrolling through a leadership book recently. One of the sections was quite refreshing to me.

It began with the well said statement that “if both of us are always agreeing, then one of us is redundant.” When everyone agrees, especially just for the sake of getting along, we’re unlikely to achieve the best outcomes.

Researchers asked fifty groups of students to solve a murder mystery. They found that groups of people who had the most diverse social backgrounds and experiences were the most likely to solve the case. Not only were the homogenous groups more likely to be wrong, they were also more likely to express greater confidence in their answers despite being wrong!

Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin tells the story of how Abraham Lincoln consciously and willfully assembled a cabinet made up of the very men that he had defeated in the election. She stated that it spoke of Lincoln’s political genius revealed through his extraordinary array of personal qualities that enabled him to form friendships with men who had previously opposed him.

If Abraham Lincoln could manage to lead a team of rivals (former rivals) under the challenges of the Civil War, we should certainly find it within ourselves to manage the conflicts we face, modest as they are by comparison to his.

The section concluded that leaders have to make it possible for people to argue with each other – up, down, in, out and sideways – if we are to realize the best from our very diverse and talented team!

I hope that this would help all of us to be even better leaders in every arena of our lives.

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

An Easy Going Hair Affair

Because I had bought a package for my wife, we went back to the same hair salon chain (but different outlet) for my hair cut today. I have my hair cut once every month or less. That is why I don’t go for those expensive hair highlight or dye as my hair-cut shelf life is not very long and it is not worth it.

Today’s experience was a much better one. A totally non-pushy female hairstylist did my hair. My wife told the hairstylist that was doing her hair of the bad experience that we had the last time round. Perhaps after her sharing, there was no hard sell at all! I have a very wise wife indeed.

While this hairstylist was not pushy in selling me products for my either real or imaginary scalp problem, she did ask me a lot of questions on how I want my hair to be styled.

“Do you want the side to be short or long? Do you want your scalp to be seen?” “Do you want slope or no slope for your back?” “Do you want to make the top less bushy and thinner?” “Do you want your sideburns to be long or short or medium?”

I tell you… I have very few answers to these very tough questions. I like it when I just tell them that I want it to be shorter (how to be longer??) and follow the same style and they would know completely what to do. That’s my type of hairstylist.

After she asked me those questions, I would just anyhow answer and then whatever she suggested, I would agree with her readily. Then why she even needed to ask me in the first place! Perhaps she was testing me out… to see how fussy I am.

I am obviously a no fuss, no opinion, easy going hair salon customer.

In fact, I remembered that I got into trouble once while still studying in JC when the hairstylist asked me if it was ok for him to give me a hair style that needed minimum maintenance and virtually no fuss at all. That was like my hair style fantasy! Little or even no fuss was best-est!

I, of course, said yes. Then he began to put curlers on my hair (I did not know what was going on at this point but I began to be a bit nervous). Then he began to pour some pungent solutions onto my hair. Then came the big machine that surrounded my head.

I also did not know why I did not say anything. Perhaps I was too macho to go back on my decision to have this minimum maintenance and no fuss hair style. It may reveal my lack of knowledge in the hair world.

It was until almost the end that I learnt that he had just given me a “body perm” (will remember these words from his mouth for the rest of my life). It was horrifying!

But my hairstylist was right, absolutely no fuss at all with the new look. Even if I wanted to change anything, it would always be the same! I had this hairstyle when I went for OBS (Outward Bound School) and I did not have to bring any gel or hair cream at all.

My hair made me looked like a albino Michael Jackson (the king of pop was very hot then). Some of my college friends called me Michael Jackfruit!


















Anyway, until today, my hair philosophy remains the same. I am still a no fuss, no opinion, easy going customer. Unless I see those curlers and smell that familiar pungent solution again… I would mostly say yes to most suggestions (that I do not have to pay extra for!)

Saturday, March 01, 2008

The Great Escape

Claudia and I had a great time with the NG14 CLs and ULs tonight. We had a great time knowing one another as well as connecting them to Michael, Lean Choo, Choon Yam & Jian Ming. One of the hot topics in our conversations is the whole Mas Selamat Kastari escape story.












It is indeed difficult to imagine such a thing happening here in Singapore. Theories like insider’s job and black magic were enthusiastically discussed.

After the meeting and while driving home, we were surprised to see many Special Operations vehicles parked just outside my house. Searches were conducted all around the area that I lived in. POlicemen and army personnels were everywhere.

I am not sure whether to feel secure or nervous that Mas Selamat Kastari may be hiding around my house.

I am just continuing to pray that he will be apprehended really soon and be brought back to justice.