Merry Christmas!

Found this wonderful cartoon clip at Joyful 'Toons...

May the love of Christ fill our hearts with passion for the lost and may He use us as the light and salt of this world in telling the world His wondrous love for mankind.

Merry Christmas, every one!

God is like the wind...

Reading Paul Arden's "God Explained In A Taxi Ride" (2007, Penguin Books) is like reading the "Laughter" page off the Reader's Digest --- always a pleasure to read and at times tinted with a bitter after-taste.

Take this example in one of Paul's topics, "The Answer Is Blowing In the Wind":

A young child asked his father if he could prove there is no God.
'I can't prove it,' he said.
'It's like the wind. You can feel it, but you can't see it.'

How abstract, yet such simple truth! Now this is what I call faith! As Paul puts it, "are you brave enough not to believe in God", if you can't prove that He doesn't exist?

Light Up This Christmas With Hope

Yesterday, we had the privilege of watching the performance of Chinese oldie songs and self-penned Chinese worship songs by Pastor Henry Chong (张汉林牧师) & Raymond Lei Sheng Xiong (雷圣雄) at the Mandarin service, FCBC.

Pastor Chong has been a gospel singer for over 20 years and have travelled the world in bringing hope to the lost with his songs and preaching. Before this, he was the winner of the Chinese Talentime on national TV many years ago! Pastor Chan Hon Shek likened Pastor Chong to the equivalent of Cliff Richard of the east. I thank God for Pastor Chong's dedication to reach out to the lost through his voice and songs.

Matthew and Rebecca's Church Wedding

Ma SK and Kah Wee at the wedding lunch reception

Still feeling a bit lethargic from the past 4 days' overseas business trip, I was glad to be able to make it to the church wedding of John Seow's daughter, Rebecca at Foochow Methodist Church. The exhortation was incredibly light-hearted, with snippets of humour relieving much of my sluggishness.

It was also great to catch up with Ma SK and Kah Wee at the lunch reception.

May the Lord bless Matthew and Rebecca's marriage and fill their household with His love and peace.

His Grace is Beautiful (Cantonese Worship)

I love this beautiful cantonese worship song, which speaks of God's love and His commission for us to respond to Him.

Manga Bible - a great evangelistic tool for the youth

Not many pre-believers, especially the youth, would sit through bible study classes or read through the New Testament with vigor and zest.

NEXT, Inc. has published a series of manga biblical books to target today's youth, who are greatly influenced by worldly views and cultures. Introduced by a church friend, we bought a copy of "Manga Messiah" out of curiosity. I compared it with my comics bible which I bought many years ago and found the manga version much more interesting and compelling to read.

Indeed, the Lord has begun to work among the youth to redeem our younger generations from the works of the devil within the media and entertainment industry. My prayer goes to the youth, that God's wisdom and discernment be planted in their hearts, so that any ungodly strongholds and bondages be broken in their lives. Lord, fill my children's hearts with Your love, peace and joy. I pray that they will proclaim their desire to be pure and holy before You, so that they will not be clouded by the desires of this world. In Jesus' most precious name I commit this prayer, amen.

What is FAITH?

Faith is "Full Assurance In The High", according to Nick Vujicic. In close to an hour's special message for FCBC and pre-believers last Sunday, Nick underscored the importance of putting our faith and hope in the Lord Jesus Christ despite all the circumstances around us.

The opposite of faith is fear, where the latter is "false evidence appearing real" and for us not knowing the future (uncertainty). Satan has put fear in us but we need to defeat the devil by arming ourselves with the sword of truth by hearing the Word of God on a daily basis. No matter how many times the devil tries to belittle us in things that we have done sinfully or not up to others' expectations, Nick advised us to get a second opinion (from God). "When we go disable, God is able!". Well said.

And Nick is right, nothing beats knowing our Lord and Saviour when we are still breathing on earth. We are thankful for the miracle of knowing Him!

Amen to that!

Nick Vujicic at FCBC this Sunday, 9 Nov 08

Nick Vujicic will be back to share his personal victory and testimony at FCBC this coming Sunday! Geraldine has been talking about his testimony to our kids and they are enthused about meeting him this Sunday (well, I guess they will skip Sunday School this week with our blessings!).

For those who doesn't know Nick, Nick is born limbless. Instead of blaming God and others, he chooses to overcome life's obstacles with the power of God's love.

Go share this date with your friends who will definitely see lives differently after listening to Nick's powerful personal testimony!

Euthanasia or mercy killing

I am following the debate on euthanasia in Singapore with keen interest. Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan has recently touched on this sensitive topic and it could mean that the Singapore government may consider amending the Advance Medical Directive or living will. (This is an age-old debate: I remember writing an essay on Euthanasia during my JC1 General Paper class almost 20 years ago!)

It is very heartening to know that just last week, the Catholic Church in Singapore had openly condemned euthanasia, citing the violation of medical ethics from such practices (see Straits Times article). The National Council of Churches later issued a public statement through TODAY (see article). It cautions against "euthanasia mentality", where euthanasia may be perceived as a solution to pain and suffering.

God is in control of every one of our lives and we are called to be stewards of our own lives and others under our charge. Call it "peace dying" or "personal freedom of choice", but it clearly runs contrary to what God has intended us to live out our fruitful and meaningful lives. I pray that the day will not come when Singapore goes down the slippery road of euthanasia.

Discover Ur

Just this morning while I was flipping through an old edition of TIME magazine before rushing off to church service, I was fascinated by the article "The Royal Game of Ur" (William Green, TIME, June 30-July 7, 2008, pp. 74-75).

It was discovered that the Royal Game of Ur dated about 4,600 years ago and was perhaps the oldest board gaming equipment ever found. The author alleged that the Royal Game of Ur would have matched in its popularity and glamour, the likes of PlayStation of modern civilisation. Its origin traces back to ancient Mesopotamia, an ancient city of Sumeria called Ur.

Ur? Doesn't it sound familiar to some of us? Of course! The city of Ur, as mentioned in the bible, was the birthplace of Abraham (Gen 11:31)! The bible says that Abraham came from "Ur of the Chaldeans", whom some biblical scholars refer to as northern Mesopotamia and not the famous Ur (southern Mesopotamia). Nevertheless, it would be interesting to know that just may be, Abraham and his generations would have an occasional Royal Game of Ur.

Wedding Banquet

Congratulations, Xavier and Annabelle on your wedding day (27 Oct 08). May the Lord Jesus bless you with His kindness and joy and that your household be filled with great faith and trust.

Pan Ying's Personal Testimony

FCBC is privileged to have popular xinyao singer Pan Ying at the Hokkien/Cantonese church service last Saturday (11 Oct 2008) evening, to share her personal testimony of faith and victory over depression.

Both my wife and I are fans of xinyao and her songs brought back many fond memories of our schooling days.

I was deeply touched by her conviction in sharing God's message of love and salvation to the inmates at the Changi Prison. Her unwaivering servanthood for others has been inspiring for many church-goers who are merely seat-warmers and not servants for those outside the saving knowledge of Christ. Let this message be a reminder for all of us, that we will be used by God to fulfill His purposes for us.

Do Singaporeans in general have patience and a humble attitude?

Many of us had watched or read Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's National Day Rally 2008 speech on 17 August 08. PM Lee talked about gracious living and measures the government had taken, such as service excellence and courtesy campaigns, to "make people aware of their behaviour and conscious of the impact on others". I wonder if the majority of fellow Singaporeans resonate my sentiment that Singaporeans are not getting any more gracious towards one another, especially towards foreign workers amongst us.

Take a very recent observation. My wife lamented to me that on one of her shopping trips to Parkway Parade, while trying on a pair of Charles & Keith shoes, a lady was shouting and humiliating a native mainland Chinese sales girl because of the latter's poor grapse of the English language (or Singlish). Surely better understanding and empathy could be extended to the poor sales girl, instead of openly calling her names and challenging her to return to her motherland.

Lord, I pray that Singaporeans can be more gracious towards foreign workers and accept them openly. Because they are also created by You, we are to respect and love them regardless of their backgrounds. Give us a heart of humbleness and patience in our daily encounters with one another. In Jesus' name I pray and give thanks, amen.

Let your kids fail sometimes

Let's face it. Who doesn't want our kids to be successful or have a headstart in life? When the kids are in their pre-teens, we tend to fix their problems and attend to their needs every step of their ways. I've seen parents doing that even when their kids reach adolescence!

Dr James Dobson reminded us that teens desperately want to be thought of and treated as adults ("The New Dare to Discipline", Dr James Dobson, OMF Literature Inc., reprinted 2004, pp. 72-73). Chip Ingram emphasized the importance of letting our teenage and adolescent kids face up to their own consequences in order to foster responsibility, confidence and success ("Let Your Kids Fail", Chip Ingram, Focus on the Family with Dr. James Dobson, April 2007, pp. 18-20). In other words, let our kids fail sometimes. We could try to give advice or opinions but ultimately we need to let them make their own decisions and grow up to be responsible adults. I like what Ingram said about the parent's role: "A parent's job is not to make sure a child has a smooth or comfortable life. Our role is to put safeguards around them when they're young to keep them from ultimate harm; to gradually widen those safeguards as they mature; and to help them to grow into the person God wants them to be."

Dear heavenly Father, I know each child is unique as they are wonderfully made by Your hands. I pray that I would be able to let my kids flourish in their own ways and not hamper their maturing process. May You guide me in the nurturing of my children according to Your ways instead of overly protective of them when they reach adolescence. Teach me to be a good listener and counsellor to my children when they need advice and guidance. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Making personal prayers through scriptures

Do you have a prayer for some one but do not know which scripture you could draw upon to bless this person? It happens to me quite often!

I was reading the past issue of "Discipleship Journal" (Issue 120 Nov/Dec 2000) and stumbled upon an article "Making Scripture Personal", contributed by a reader, Sue Skalicky. Instead of ruminating on scriptures , Sue's advise was to find a scripture and apply a personal touch to it in our prayer for the person we wish to pray for. This could be done by inserting blanks where we could write the person's name into the appropriate place in the verse. She gave Jeremiah 29:11-13 as an example:

"Father, You know the plans You have for ___________. Your perfect plan is to give ________ hope and a future. If _________ will call upon You and come and pray, You promise to listen and hear. I pray God that ____________ will seek You. For You will be found when ___________ seeks You with all his/her heart."

Thanks, Sue for the wonderful tip.

Unconditional Love

Yesterday's baptism service at Touch Centre was a very touching moment for me. Pastor Paul Lee delivered the sermon on God's unconditional love, with verses from 1 John 4:7-12.

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."

It brought back memories of how I came to know Christ and faced parental objections when I wanted to be baptised in church about 12 years ago. My baptism was postponed twice as a result of that. I thank God that I made it through after finally obtaining my parents' blessings, even though they did not attend my baptism service then.

Satan will never be able to dislodge us from God's plan and blessing unless we ourselves gave them up. It is the right given to us by God that we need to lay claim to. We are the justified children of God when we exercise our right to the sonship of God.

Nonchalance and inhospitality towards the underprivileged and foreigners

I was shakened by God's revelation of what caused the destruction of the ancient city of Sodom. Cast a vote and many of us would guess that it was the wickedness and immoral act of homosexuality amongst its inhabitants. Wrong!

God judged and destroyed Sodom because the inhabitants of Sodom were "arrogant, overfed and unconcerned" and they "did not help the poor and needy" ("40-Day 08: Beyond Words", LoveSingapore, 28 Jul 08). This is found in Ezekiel 16:49-50, and Rabbinic sources also claimed that the city was extremely inhospitable to foreigners.

In today's overwhelming pressures to be the best in everything that we do, we may inevitably become arrogant and oblivious of people around us, especially the poor and needy. Figures from the Department of Statistics put the number of foreign workers in Singapore to be more than 500,000 in the year 2006. As at Jan 2008, it was reported that foreigners accounted for one-third of Singapore's workforce ("Foreigners One-third of Singapore Workforce", 31 Jan 08, Agence France-Presse). Very often we read of complaints from Singaporeans, on the increasing competition brought about by the influx of foreign talents. Are we too, becoming inhospitable to foreigners amongst our midst?

Let the lesson on Sodom be a stark reminder for us to be sensitive and compassionate to the people around us, even to the foreigners who are using Singapore as a stepping stone to advance their career elsewhere. Here's my suggested checklist to bullet-proof our discerning hearts:

(i) Recognise God's heart for the poor and needy
Pray for compassion in us and to pray for those in physical and spiritual needs on a regular basis.

(ii) Stay accountable to one another
Be accountable to other God-fearing family members and friends in our actions towards the poor and needy, and foreigners amongst us.

(iii) Look inward and examine our hearts
Thank God daily for His protection and blessings for our nation and to take actions in serving the underprivileged in our society.

Singapore Garden Festival

My family had a wonderful time at The Singapore Garden Festival 2008, a biennial garden and floral extravaganza featuring floral creations from all over the world. We were all mesmerised by the beauty and enchanting designs of the displays. I had the feeling of being in the Garden of Eden!

Even though we may not have paid attention to the exotic names of the flower and plant species, the kids enjoyed themselves very much.

Here are some of the pictures taken at the fiesta and of course, God's wonderful creations.

Biblical Context of "Spare the Rod and Spoil the Child"

Just the night before, we had our family movie night. It was "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" DVD which we bought some months ago. Well, both Geraldine and I thought we could take the opportunity to explain the reasons on the different outcomes of the children characters at the end of the factory tour. We talked about humility, pride and arrogance, disobedience, tantrums and compassion to our children. It was to me, a great time of sharing of how there are unfortunate people around us, and how God has been blessing our family with our physical needs.

While the methods of discipline in the movie seem apalling, yet humorous, I can't help but wonder of the true biblical context of "discipline". What exactly is the definition of "discipline"? We've heard of "positive discipline" in parenting classes and literature, yet how is it different in our guiding principle for raising disciplined children?

What comes immediately to mind is Prov 13:24:

"He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him".

Dr James Dobson advocates appropriate spanking for a child's attitude adjustment in the shortest and most effective route and that there are no scientific bearings that allure to spanking by a loving parent breeding violence in children ("Solid Answers", James Dobson, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois, 1997). Dr Dobson also stresses the importance of embracing our child in love after punishment as an assurance that it is the misbehaviour that brought disapproval and not our dislike for the child personally.

Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo underscore the importance of "heart-training", that is the need for parents to reach out to the hearts of the children in shaping their hearts and characters. ("Growing Kids God's Way", Gary & Anne Marie Ezzo, Growing Families International, 2007). The scripture never refers to a child as a fool but that the untrained heart of a child contains foolishness. This is true biblical discipline.

From here, I learn that disciplining our children is to love them. Appropriate use of the cane corrects the heart conditions of misbehaviour. Encouragement and constant reassurance of our love for them is the best medicine in the whole disciplinary process!

My First G12 Meeting at Pastor Joe's Cell

Yesterday was my first visitation to Pastor Joe's cell meeting as I was covering Patrick during his vacation back in the USA.

Even though I had been warned by Patrick of the friendly nature of Pastor's dog, Buddy, I was totally unprepared when I was "mobbed" by Buddy during our first encounter (You see, Buddy is a huge and affectionate 2-year-old Labrador Retriever).

I had a wonderful time of fellowship with Pastor's other 11 disciples, fully blessed by Pastor's sharing and prayers for me in my area of needs.

Faith's First Birthday

Birthday celebration at KFC, Playground (formerly Big Splash) @ East Coast


Cell group photo, together with the birthday girl

The cell group had a wonderful time at KFC@Playground, celebrating Andy's daughter Faith's first birthday. And yes, Chicky was there to hug the kids!

Launch of New Book: "Give Me The Multitudes!"

Senior Pastor Lawrence Khong autographing his new book for the mothers in the church at the end of the church service.

There was a new buzz last Sunday 11th May 08 in church. Senior Pastor Lawrence Khong has released his new book entitled "Give Me The Multitudes!: Obeying God's Call into the Media World". The memoir recounts Senior Pastor's venture into the entertainment world --- from God's relevation for him to use the entertainment arena as the real pulpit to share His truth to the millions, to the inner struggles and misunderstandings he faced inside and outside the church. I was deeply moved by pastor's conviction to continue with his quest even when the odds of failure besieged him along the difficult journey.

I pray for great success for the coming "MagicBox" performance at Esplanade in July 08 and that the church will redeem the entertainment platform for Christ.

Psalm 127

Today's headline news: "Oil rises to US$122 on fresh supply fears" (The Straits Times, 7 May 08). The past weeks' sombre reports -- rising food and housing prices, sky-high inflation rate, staple food shortages, tight job market due to the impact of the United States going through a recession cycle, among others -- drive home a compendium of complaints from friends and colleagues. Just last week, one of my church friends was lamenting the unaffordability of raising a family, especially having children.

I read Psalm 127 with comfort and conviction that God's intention for us is that children are "a heritage from the Lord" and that they are "a reward from Him". As Christians, we should not think of raising children as a liability. We are guardians of our children and our duty is to raise godly children in accordance to His will and purposes. It is myopic to avoid such a God-given responsibility by choosing to remain childless after marriage. After all, when we have God's blessings, we will lack nothing. Parenting comes with many responsibilities and challenges along the way. We just need to have faith that God will strengthen us along the way in dealing with those unforeseen challenges ahead of us.

Let us lay claim to Psalm 127:1: "Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.". And in verse 3: "Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him.".

Thank God for the relevation and assurance at such times of uncertainty.

Psalm 125

Psalm 125 was alleged to be written during a time where the people of God were under the oppression of wicked leadership.

Taking reference to verses 1 and 2 ("Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures for ever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and for evermore."), I searched the Internet for the ancient map of Jerusalem and discovered that the City of David was built on Mount Zion. The whole ancient city was also surrounded by mountains, which acted as natural line of defence for the city. It conjures a sense of security (spiritual protection) for the people of God, that God's protection is like the surrounding mountains for Jerusalem, shielding us from our enemies. Those who trust in the Lord can also stand secured on the grounds of Mount Zion where it symbolises the spiritual stronghold of the Almighty God.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for being my protector. I can stand tall in bad times by putting my trust in You and knowing that You will do good to those who are righteous. Search my heart daily so that I will do what is righteous in Your eyes. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Psalm 118

Psalm 118 has a sentimental meaning to me as Psalm 118:24 was chosen by both my wife and I as our wedding verse for our church wedding almost 10 years ago: "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. ".

A general search on this psalm reveals some very interesting facts:

- Psalm 118 is at the centre of the Bible
- There are 594 chapters in the Bible before Psalm 118
- There are 594 chapters in the Bible after Psalm 118
- There are therefore 1188 chapters altogether (... "118-8", "Psalm 118:8")

If there is a central theme for the Bible, Psalm 118:8 fits in nicely with God as the centrepiece: "It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. "!

Verses 6 and 7 that prelude it assure us that God is in control and that with Him, we will lack no fear for any adverse circumstances that come before us: "The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies. ".

Thank you, Lord for the revelation of Your Word. Let Psalm 118:8 be our steadfast prayer for those who seek You. May You manifest Your presence to them and bless them and their loved ones with Your gift of salvation. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Psalm 110

This psalm segues from being a great testimony of Jesus Christ as the Messiah to Christ's mighty authority over the rulers of the earth.

What a powerful manifestation of God's truth that Christ is indeed the Messiah when nothing can be more blatant than verse 1 in revealing Christ's lordship:

"The LORD says to my Lord:
'Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.'" (Psalm 110:1)

And in verse 5-7:

"The Lord is at your right hand;
he will crush kings on the day of his wrath.
He will judge nations, heaping up the dead
and crushing the rulers of the whole earth.
He will drink from a brook beside the way;
therefore he will lift up his head." (Psalm 110:5-7)

Psalm 95

"... Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah,

as you did that day at Messah in the desert,

where your fathers tested and tried me,

though they had seen what I did.

For forty years I was angry with that generation;

I said, 'they are a people whose hearts go astray,

and they have not known my ways.'

So I declared on oath in my anger,

'They shall never enter my rest.'" -- Psalm 95:7-11

Psalm 95 is an open invitation to unbelievers and even Christians who "harden" their hearts toward God when they experience hardships in life.

Perhaps it is straight-forward as we talk about the "hardening" of hearts when we do not heed God's guidance and commandments. What about incidents where we have sinned against the Lord but refuse to acknowledge it by finding excuses to justify our actions? What about our self-righteousness and pride that cause us to accuse others of their wrongs in our hearts, even though we do not act it out?

Those are outright evidence of what God terms as the "hardening" of our heart. We may not be conscious of it, but gradually we may not be able to hear from God one day and slip into the danger of complacency with God. The latter may lead to the condition of our hearts turning lukewarm towards God and ultimately rejecting His blessings totally! It can happen to the most faithful of God's people at some stage of their walk with God (eg. King David, who was described as "a man after God's heart", committed adultery and murder during his reign).

Let's make an effort to thank God despite our difficult circumstances before us lest we become complacent in our relationship with Christ. God will surely rest His favour upon us when we remain thankful and faithful to Him.

Psalm 84

George Orwell wrote in one of his satirical novels "Animal Farm", "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others". This reflected men's value system in treating one another, especially in today's self-centred society.

Psalm 84 gives relief from our struggles in being mistreated by others among us, especially by our colleagues and superiors at work. We are guilty of pleasing men in order to stay in favour with others. At times, in the guise of our work and family, we even strayed from God's presence and His ultimate blessings by not having a close fellowship with Him!

Let's us be like the sons of Korah (the author of Psalm 84), that we may seek after God's dwelling place, even to the extent of being contented to be a "doorkeeper in the house of the Lord" rather than staying comfortably in the "tents of the wicked" (verse 10). Only when our soul yearns for God's presence may we experience God's peace and protection, favour and honour ("For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favour and honour; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless" -- Psalm 84:11).

Resurrection Sunday

Maurice Sklar ministering to the Lord and the church.

Today is Resurrection Sunday! FCBC celebrated this day with pomps and having Maurice Sklar to minister to the Lord and the church with his rendition of "Holy Holy Holy, the Lord God Almighty" on his voilin.

Senior Pastor's message on "Death is So Ugly It Has to Go" carried dollops of God's grace and personality when he talked of Jesus crying for the living (not the dead) in John 11:32-36 ("Jesus wept" in John 11:35), Jesus' dying on the cross for mankind, and Jesus' victory and authority over death. Many came forward to give their lives to Jesus that day. Hallelujah!

The kids had a great time at Sunday School too. Besides having chocolate easter eggs to bring home with, Nathan did a Easter Sunday craft which I thought was very meaningful, especially this day where we seek to remember our Saviour.

Nathan's Sunday School craft work

What's God's Phone Number?

I was browsing through a magazine which I bought last week at "Trumpet Praise" (Parkway Parade) when I stumbled upon this awesome quote from a kid:

"I told my pre-school class that God is always with us and we can call upon him any time. One boy quickly raised his hand and asked, 'What's God's phone number?'" -- Kate Wicker (Children's Ministry, January/February 2008 Issue, Group Publishing, Inc., p. 141)

Isn't it wonderful for us adults to sometimes behave like a child when it comes to fully believing in Jesus Christ without caving in to our self-imposed doubts? As parents, we are accountable to God for our children's salvation, and teaching them the ways of the Lord. It is thus my prayer that my children will truly rely on God's "phone number" whenever they face difficult circumstances in life --- for God is never too busy to answer our calls!

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them,

for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." -- Matthew 19:14

Psalm 82

Psalm 82 (A psalm of Asaph)

"God presides in the great assembly;

he gives judgement among the "gods";

How long will you defend the unjust

and show partiality to the wicked?

Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless;

maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.

Rescue the weak and needy;

deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

They know nothing, they understand nothing.

They walk about in darkness;

all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

"I said, 'You are "gods";

you are all sons of the Most High.'

But you will die like mere men;

you will fall like every other ruler."

Rise up, O God, judge the earth,

for all the nations are your inheritance.

This psalm reminds us of God's sovereignty and that even though He has ordained selected kings and judges to represent Him in executing judgement on the people, He has the ultimate judgement over us and the earth.

The psalmist termed the earthly rulers and judges "gods" where at that time, they showed partiality to the unjust and wicked, and oppressed the poor.

Throughout history, many unjust kings and rulers were overthrown by the people as the latter revolt against them through violence. Let us be still before God and like the psalmist, present any injustice and wrongdoings unto Him and not take things unto our own hands. For the "gods" are mere mortals and surely God will deliver His people out of darkness.

Touchpoints of Love

Biblical love forms the foundation of a child's perspective and comprehension of giving and receiving of love (Gary & Anne Marie Ezzo, "Growing Kids God's Way", Growing Families International, 2007, pp. 47 & 53). When biblical love is in the life of a child, he or she will not be held back by the shackles of self-love, self-interest, and self-protection --- for "biblical love looks outward, not inward; yet at the same time, it satisfies all the inner needs".

I agree with the Ezzos that it is important for parents to know each family member's love languages. People express love in different ways. For example, some children's primary love language is gift-giving, that is, they affirms love from others when they receive little gifts. Failure to recognise this form of love language often lead parents to interpret children's requests for buying things at shops and stores as a sign of abnormal materalism. My elder daughter often has such requests when we are out shopping, which on hind sight, could be her affirmation of our love when her requests are granted. It's not the things that she yearns for, but our "I-love-you"s!

Other children may interpret love through the spending of quality time with their parents, their parents' words of encourage, or simply an exchange of hugs and kisses. The Ezzos have this advice for all parents: "Knowing a child's language of love is critical to the developmental process and pave the way for understanding and communication in the teen years".

Jesus Himself had demonstrated love with different love languages. He showed His disciples love through the pouring out of His life to them --- coaching and praying for them. More significantly was His agape love for mankind, when He gave His life at the cross as a ransom to redeem us of our sins so as for us to receive God's blessing of eternal lives when we believe in Him.

Dear Jesus, thank you for this valuable lesson on the touchpoints of love. Love languages is God-given and can be learned. Teach us not only to speak the language of love to our loved ones and those around us, but also to receive graciously all the expressions of love from others. Amen.

Agon: The Spirit of Competition

I had a very interesting lesson on ancient Greek culture last weekend. I brought Naomi and Nathan to the National Museum to visit the gallery and exhibition on Greek civilisation --- the "Greek Masterpieces From the Louvre". The exhibit ends its tour in Singapore on 16 Mar 08.

The museum guide explained that Greek civilisation was "agonistic", that is, founded on the spirit of competition. Rivalry is one of the driving forces of existence, and hence the emphasis on sports. Even the gods worshiped by the Greeks competed among themselves! Greek religion was polytheistic and there were more than 200 deities in Attica itself. Half of the Athenian calendar was devoted to the gods.

What does the Bible tell us? In Acts 17, Paul was greatly distressed to see that the city of Athens was full of idols, subtlely referring to the polytheistic religious practices of the Greek civilisation. Paul even mentioned in Acts 17:23 that the Athenians had even built an altar worshiping literally "an unknown god"!

As the world marvelled at the political and artistic achievements of ancient Greek civilisation, let us not forget God's reminder that it is He "who made the world and everything in it" (Acts 17:24). Images made by man's design and skill are worth nothing in God's eyes, no matter how magnificient they look. Our God desires true worship from His people.

Psalm 65

Recently, I read an interesting metaphor in an article published in a blog: "Even in his last years, grand pappy had a mind like a steel trap, only one that had been left out so long, it had rusted shut". The writer painted a vivid image with a touch of humour.

In Psalm 65:12-13, I am equally amazed at the metaphors used:

"The grasslands of the desert overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness. The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing".

It's heartening to know that despite our sins, God wants to bless us if we believe in Him:

"... We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple" (Psalm 65:4).

"You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance" (Psalm 65:11).

Let us come before God with a heart of thanksgiving --- that we will never face financial difficulty when we set our sights unto our provider.

Psalm 61

David was probably forced to be far away from home when he wrote this psalm: "From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe" (Psalm 61:2-3).

It was not known if David was escaping from King Saul. If that was the case, it would be heart-warming to know that despite the king's attempt on his life, David was praying for God to bless Saul: "Increase the days of the king's life, his years for many generations. May he be enthroned in God's presence for ever; appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him" (Psalm 61:6-7).

As God has appointed our country's leaders, we need to submit to their authority and pray for good governance among them. That goes to our superiors at work too.

Psalm 60

David was leading Israel in battling Aram in the north and learnt that Edom had invaded Judah from the south. It seemed strange to David that since God had promised victory for the northern expedition, He had allowed the Edomites the opportunity to assault Judah at the same time. It was perhaps a moment of confusion and mixed feelings for David, so much so that he began to think that God had rejected Israel.

David understood very well that God's presence meant triumph --- whenever God was with him in battle, victory was assured. The news of Edom's attack cast a doubt on God's favour on David. However, the Edomites' victory was only temporary. The enemy may appear to have the upper hand, but the final victory belongs to our God!

Believing and trusting in God's promise and favour, David proclaimed his possession of the enemy territories surrounding Israel (Moab, Edom and Philistia). We need to take charge of our difficult situations and pray in Jesus' name, that they be turned around so that we can have victory over them. Nothing is impossible for God when we trust in His name.

Psalm 59

I was asking God for a verse one day and Romans 12:9 appeared in my mind. Then I searched for the verse and this was what I found: "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good".

Psalm 59 delineates God's desire for us to treat others with sincere love, knowing good from evil and seeking God's goodness in times of trouble. Saul's jealousy with David's popularity among the people led to David's escape when Saul sent men over to David's house to kill him. Serving the nation and people brought David fame but now this fame turned him into a refugee from his own nation!

David's fate reminds me of Jesus Christ's, who sacrificed His life because of His unfailing love for us, even though we sinned against Him. His constant love is indeed our fortress in trying times. Cling on to God!

Psalm 58

How many of us ever heard of others saying "life's not fair"?

Psalm 58 is David's prayer for God's justice. David firmly understood God's heart of complete fairness and justice upon His creations. Be like David and know that even when the world is not fair to us, God is!

It's interesting that David had likened the wicked's lies as that of venom of a cobra, which would not even respond to the tune of the most skillful snake charmer (Psalm 58:4-5). It seems that their hardened hearts would not be able to listen to God's call for repentence.

We are all mortals and sinners. Every of us is capable of becoming the venom to some one, whether deliberately or unknowingly, no matter how innocent our words may appear to be. We may be facing injustice in our workplace or other circumstances that almost cause us to seek vengence against some one who wronged us, but God's advice is to wait upon Him and not seek devices to warrant "pay back time" for those wrong-doers. It takes great humility to do that. And the source of strength comes from knowing that we will be vindicated by God in due time.

Nothing beats a good prayer guide to commit our circumstances to the Lord:

You Are Our Help in Times of Trouble
(Stormie Omartian, "My Book of Prayer", 2004, Christian Art Publishers, p 53)

"Lord, help us to not be afraid when bad things happen,
knowing You are our refuge and our strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Even if the world falls apart,
even though the mountains are carried into the midst of the sea,
we don't have to fear.
Raise us up to be Your powerful praying church."

A story of courage from Afghanistan

Many of us living in our comfortable lifestyle in a cosmopolitan city like Singapore, would have thought little of the anguish and sufferings from refugees of many third-world countries.

I was reading an article from Reader's Digest (November 2007 Edition), "The Other Side of the Sky", and was truly touched by the true-life story related by the author Farah Ahmedi. She told of a heart-rending story of how she lost one of her legs in a land-mine accident in Afghanistan when she is only seven, and how she came to America with her mother as a refugee after losing her father, sisters and brothers. This was in the 1990s and the country had been devasted by wars with the then Soviet Union and the mujahideen.

My tears swelled when I read of her encounter with a kind German lady, Christina, while she was being fitted with a prosthetic leg at a German hospital, courtesy of a German humanitarian organisation. Christina had been consoling her, encouraging her every day by her bedside, visiting and bringing her toys, flowers, cards and candy --- something which Farah had never imagined to possess. Christina even brought her home for dinner when she was stronger. This lady was an angel to Farah. Such acts of kindness gave some one the strength to live on.

This is a great lesson of God's grace for me. Despite the odds against Farah, surely God was watching over her. The Greek orginal meaning of "grace" is "to help on one's way" (Jedidiah Tham, "The Apple of His Eye", 2004, Living Lillies, p. 63). When the going gets touch, we need to pause and listen to God's comforting words, even when the waiting for God's intervention seems years away. I guess the application for me is believing in God's favour and be reminded that He is always by my side despite the odds against me. By knowing that "help is on the way", I can seek to become a champion in the battles of life with God as my guide.

By the way, in case you are wondering Farah's fate, it was a happy ending for both Farah and her mother. They now live in Chicago in a comfortable apartment. Farah is now studying in a local university and contemplating a design course on prostheses --- giving life back to those affected by the loss of a limb.

Psalm 57

Psalm 57 depicts David's plight of fleeing from Saul into the cave of Adullam (2 Samuel 22:1) with about 400 men. I would imagine that in the darkness surrounding David's army in the cave, they would have refrained from building camp fires so as not to arouse the attention of Saul's pursuing army. It could be just a flicker of light from a burning torch that lent sight to the people. The light probably illuminated the fear in their hearts instead!

However, David's trust in God's protection was unwavering despite the looming danger and distress among his people, when he sung of him taking refuge in the shadow of God's wings (Psalm 57:1). David chose to focus on the source of help and not the seemingly hopeless situation before him.

What is our response when we are faced with life's difficult situations, or even threats on our lives? We can choose to live in fear or look unto Jesus, who is our redeemer and hope, for His divine intervention. In God we trust!

Psalm 56

Despite being persecuted by Saul, David was declaring God's protection unto his life. David firmly stood tall and calm in the raging tempest, walking in the light of the Lord despite the darkness surrounding him.

I am impressed by David's steadfast trust in the Lord. As Romans 8:31 says "... if God is for us, who can be against us?". This is echoed by David in Psalm 56:9 -- "Then my enemies will turn back when I call for help. By this I will know that God is for me".

We all have a purpose in life. Whether we view it through God's perspective of eternity in mind, or the world's short-term values which offer instant gratification, that depends on our foundation in God's Word. I like the following quotation:

"Let temporal things serve your use,

but the eternal be the object of your desire."

-- Thomas à Kempis

Our motivation in staying on God's path of light, and not be sidetracked by life's intimidations, comes from the understanding of our eternity destiny. So, amidst the din around us, listen to our Shepherd's call so that we will not be lured away from God's embrace. And when our eyes are fixed upon Christ, we will not fear men but God alone.

Psalm 55

Psalm 55 is saturated with David's anguish and fear from the betrayal of his own son (Absalom) and his counsellor (Ahithophel). David was once again on the run for his life. Note that this is the same David who fought Goliath without any protective armour or weapon, except now, he was in his old age.

Nevertheless, David demonstrated his faith and reliance on his Saviour to rescue him. Aptly said: "The fear of the Lord produces confidence and boldness" (John Bevere, "Breaking Intimidation: How to Overcome Fear and Release the Gifts of God in Your Life", 1995, Creation House). Indeed, David's reverence and trust in the Lord is captivating.

John Bevere in his book, expounded the scene with Jesus coming to Gethsemane to pray before He was betrayed. Gethsemane literally means "oil press", where oil is extracted from the olive. The olive will only yield oil when pressure is applied. John compared the pressure source at Gethsemane with the conditions of our hearts. Only during trials will men expose their motives and their true selves. When we are faced with the true revelation of the motives of those whom we trusted, that's when we face great pain and anguish. But thanks to Christ's everlasting grace of bearing of our sins that we can truly count on our Lord to deliver us from every trying circumstance of our lives.

What a great way to end the psalm with a firm declaration such as this: "... But as for me, I trust in you" (Psalm 55:23).

Psalm 54

David was fleeing from Saul and landed in the wilderness of Ziph. The Ziphites belonged to the same tribe as David but the Ziphites negotiated with Saul and betrayed David. Imagine Jesus Christ's own encounter with the betrayal of His close disciple Judas! Reading Psalm 54 is never the same again when we read it with Christ as the centrepiece of the event unfolded before us.

As we face similar situations of betrayal and persecution, or situations where we are being wrongly accused by others, may we remember Psalm 54:7: "For he (God) has delivered me from all my troubles, and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes".

Psalm 53

Psalm 53, along with Psalm 14, tells of God's plea to all mankind that we ought to believe in Him wholeheartedly. There are no 2 ways about it; either we are with God or foolishly deny His existence ("The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God'. They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no-one who does good." -- Psalm 53:1).

John Avanzini minces: "Jesus makes it plain and simple. The man who loses his soul has lost everything. He has suffered loss beyond measure, for you cannot place a price on an eternal soul. There isn't enough money in the world to equal its value" (John Avanzini, 1995, "Things That Are Better Than Money", Harrison House).

What is more valuable than God's gift of salvation? Is it the world's riches and fame? What's the point of winning the world but losing one's soul?

Psalm 52

"But I am like an olive tree

flourishing in the house of God;

I trust in God's unfailing love

for ever and ever." -- Psalm 52:8

David prefaced Psalm 52 with an episode of betrayal and persecution --- Doeg, the Edomite, had exposed the whereabouts of Ahimelech and David to Saul. In that context, David effusively pleaded God to vindicate him of all the sufferings and hurt he had gone through. I could almost feel the fear and helplessness of David and his followers in situations like that.

David's faith in God was unwavering. He knew that God was on his side and that he would outlast all his enemies because God's judgement upon the unrighteous would be done. Such faith in a life and death circumstance!

Let me share with you a poem "Faith and Sight" by Mary Gardiner Brainard ("Footprints and Other Inspirational Poems and Prayers", 1998, Antioch Publishing) which inpired me:

"Faith and Sight"

(Mary Gardiner Brainard)

So I go on, not knowing,

--- I would not, if I might ---

I would rather walk in the dark with God

Than go alone in the light;

I would rather walk with Him by faith

Than walk alone by sight.

Psalm 51

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart,

O God, you will not despise." -- Psalm 51:17

It is God's grace that brought King David to his knees, seeking God's forgiveness and mercy. Psalm 51 not only reveals David's humility, it shows God's marvellous grace in restoring any broken spirits if they are willing subjects under His molding hands.

The burden of sins is real. We have to face up to the consequences of our own sins as they catch up with us in due course. David had no inner peace until he opened his mouth to confess to the Lord his hidden sins of murder and adultery.

Satan's grand plan is to accuse us of our wrong-doings and rob us of our sense of praise for our Lord. Each day, we have unknowingly deposited a fair bit of perceivedly "small sins" in our lives. If we don't come before the Lord with a broken and contrite heart, confessing them and asking Him to forgive us, we may end up one day like David, guilt-ladened and running away from God. Psalm 51 is a great prayer prompter and powerful weapon to dispel Satan's guilt-trap!

Psalm 50

In many Chinese folk beliefs, especially ancestral worship, there is a need for animal sacrifices and burnt offerings. What has God got to say about this?

"I have no need of a bull from your stall

or of goats from your pens,

for every animal of the forest is mine,

and the cattle on a thousand hills.

I know every bird in the mountains,

and the creatures of the field are mine.

If I were hungry I would not tell you,

for the world is mine, and all that is in it.

Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats?

Sacrifice thank-offerings to God,

fulfil your vows to the Most High,

and call upon me in the day of trouble;

I will deliver you, and you will honour me." -- Psalm 50: 9-15

The above passages are also meant for Christians. We need to examine our hearts and honour God with our act of worship, and not treating church as an conduit to God's blessings. The Lord delights more in our obedience rather than sacrifice!

Psalm 49

God's message couldn't be clearer, that His judgement on either the rich or poor, the strong or weak, is the same --- that all will have to face death one day. We will "take nothing with us when we die" (Psalm 49:17).

We must recognise that every good thing we experience in life is due to God's goodness (Jedidiah Tham, 2004, "The Apple of His Eye", p 19). Because of this truth, we are fruitful and we lack nothing in life. God wants us to know that we should not envy the rich as we lack nothing when we know that God has blessed us with favour and eternal lives.

As William Shakespeare put it simply: "Poor and content is rich, and rich enough". As believers of Jesus Christ, we know spiritual wealth is far better than material wealth. Store up treasures in heaven instead!

Psalm 48

This psalm reminded me of God's sovereignty and power over all the nations at the last days. Nations that revolt against the people of God would be destroyed by God's judgement and that we would be made secured within the temple of the Lord.

"Walk about Zion, go around her,
count her towers,
consider well her ramparts,
view her citadels,
that you may tell of them to the next generation.
For this God is our God for ever and ever;
he will be our guide even to the end." -- Psalm 48:12-14

Let us be vigilant to take stock of God's weapons and shields that the Lord has given us, and not let down our defence against our enemy lest we may lost our faith during our current and next generations. Make Jesus our guide so that we may become fruitful in our lives.

"In the Garden"

I was deeply touched by yesterday's worship and sermon by Senior Pastor Lawrence Khong, as he shared his longing for the Lord in the old hymn known as "In the Garden". As a Christian who is used to contemporary worship songs, it comes as a pleasant surprise to me that actually traditional hymns are both meaningful and catchy.

"In the Garden"

(Words and Music by C. Austin Miles, 1868-1946)

I come to the garden alone,

While the dew is still on the roses;

And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,

The Son of God discloses.

Chorus
And He walks with me, And He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own;

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice

Is so sweet, The birds hush their singing,

And the melody that He gave to me,

Within my heart is ringing.

I'd stay in the garden with Him,

Though the night around me be falling,

But He bids me go; Through the voice of woe,

His voice to me is calling.

A search on the Internet revealed that the composer was asked by Dr Adam Geibel to write a hymn text that would be "sympathetic in tone, breathing tenderness in every line" and that it would be "one that would bring hope to the hopeless, rest for the weary, and downy pillows to dying beds". I will cling on to the promise as written in the hymn text that, indeed I am called to be God's very own. Amen and amen!

Psalm 47

In this psalm, the temple assistants, who were known as the sons of Korah, rallied the people of Israel to praise the Almighty God with any free form of worship postures --- clapping, joyful shouting, sounding of trumpets and singing.

Many times during our praise and worship sessions, we sing and clap along to worship songs without realising that it is a privilege to worship the Lord. The Lord is worthy of our praise! So let us renew our hearts to come before God at every worship opportunity in church, giving our all to freely exalt His Name. I am sure God will honour our sacrifice of praise when we first enter into His presence in spirit and in truth.

Psalm 46

Psalm 46:10 is one of my favourite memory verses: "Be still, and know that I am God...". I had also done this memory verse with my children which I thought it was by far the easiest verse for children below 5 years old to memorise and understand. It's also a great reminder of God's power and authority over the odds of our lives.

God assures us that He is with us, He is our refuge, fortress and strength in times of troubles. Men may have caused Mother nature's global warming phenomenon, but God's authority over His works such as the mountains, seas and sky, is higher than men's claimed control of the earth. All God wants us to do is to come before Him and let His inner peace come upon our hearts, for the spirit of fear is not from Him.

Don Moen's song "Still" is a wonderful interpretation of Psalm 46:

Hide me now
Under Your wings
Cover me
Within Your mighty hand

CHORUS:
When the oceans rise
And the thunders roar
I will soar with You
Above the storm
Father You are King
Over the flood
And I will be still
And know You are God

Find rest my soul
In Christ alone
Know His power
In quietness and trust
Be still and know
That I am God
I am the God
That healeth thee

Thank you O Lord, for Your wonderful message of love and protection in Psalm 46. I can react to my inner fear with God's authority and find peace and rest under Your wings. Indeed, "nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37). I claim every victory in every circumstances, that by Your name, all troubles will flee and peace restored. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Psalm 45

My first reaction after reading Psalm 45 was one of awe and thanksgiving. Imagine the psalmist's words of praise to commemorate King Solomon's wedding to Egyptian Pharaoh's daughter being used as an analogy to Jesus Christ's wedding to His bride, the Church.

"Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear:

Forget your people and your father's house.

The king is enthralled by your beauty;

honour him, for he is your lord." -- Psalm 45:10-11

Jesus is welcoming His church and people into His holy presence at the end of days. When it comes, the glory of God will be marvellously displayed to its fullest grandor beyond our imagination. The heavenly beings will be rejoicing and leading His people to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The New Jerusalem will celebrate just as in a grand wedding bash. Picture it!

Brothers and sisters in-Christ, let us encourage one another to finish the race that the Lord has given us. Do not look at the road blocks and long windy paths immediately ahead of us, but focus on the end-point where God has prepared for us. As one of my pastors, Angela Chan once told me: "When we are faced with any uphill situation ahead of our path, PUSH on".

P RAY
U NTIL
S OMETHING
H APPENS

Amen!

First Combined Cantonese and Hokkien Service@FCBC

9 Feb 08 marked a very special day for FCBC. It was the first combined Cantonese and Hokkien worship service in the history of the church. Even though it was the 3rd day of the Chinese New Year which usually see a slight drop in attendance, the church (Touch Centre@Marine Parade) was fully packed. The service opened with a touching testimony by a Mediacorp artiste before Senior Pastor Lawrence Khong delivered his sermon on Psalm 37.

I had gathered alot of insight of what it means to be "delighting in the Lord" in the Year of the Sabbath. The sermon reminded me to do things which are close to God's heart, which we would be granted His favour in doing the "right things" (the true meaning of "万事如意" in the context of Chinese New Year).

Psalms 43 and 44

These 2 psalms are said to be authored by Hezekiah, king of Judah, referring to his darkest moments in defending Jerusalem when faced with the imminent attack by Sennacherib, king of Assyria (Marilyn Hickey, 1997, "Psalms: Classic Library Edition", pp. 113 & 115). Hezekiah talked about his discouragement in the face of uncertainty in the battlefield and unanswered prayers. When there was no victory in sight, or sense of inner peace, he poured out his heart to God in prayers.

Do we cringed when we are faced with imminent death or threat? I remembered during the SARS epidemic in 2003 that many foreigners shunned Singapore for business and leisure. Within Singapore, many of us were skeptical of meeting people around us. The economy was affected and it was all gloom and doom throughout the nation in those fateful months. Psalms 43 and 44 could be our national prayer for divine intervention and deliverance!

When I received news from my dad this afternoon that mom's brain tumour has been diagnosed as benign, I know deep in our soul that my prayer for God's healing upon her has been answered.
Indeed God is our stronghold and we can trust in His deliverance in our personal lives and even our nation in times of crisis. When we have no one to fully lean on, stick to our faithful God for supernatural help!

Psalm 42

The psalmist's thirst for intimacy with God, from the depth of his soul, is manifested throughout the passage. I especially like verse 1: "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God". It showed us that the longing for God's presence is a natural instinct, just as it is natural for the deer in searching for water for its survival. Men are wired to have a close fellowship with his Creator!

God listens to all our prayers and requests. He is our confidant. We can even tell him about our sadness and seek His comfort and directions. My pastor once told me that habitual feeling of dejection, downcast or dwelling in self-pitiness is in itself a sin. Modern sciences confirm that frequent or habitual emotional upheavals could affect our health and well-being, so much so that it may develop into mental illness or even cancer. Causing grief to our body is a sin because our body is a representation of the temple of God and that we are not to defile it. So God is saying, put all your sorrows and hurts at the foot of the cross. Only Christ can redeem them and shoulder our burdens.

Thank you, Lord, for Your assurance of love in this psalm. Despite circumstances beyond my control, I will seek You first and not rely on my own strength and emotions to handle those situations. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Psalm 41

King David's humility was portrayed in this psalm, reflecting on his past sins and troubles, and seeking God's forgiveness and deliverance. Commentary notes in my bible suggest that it contains prophetic verses (Psalm 41:5-9) about the accusations and curses upon Christ and the betrayal of Judas, His close friend.

But thanks be to God, who "always lead us in triumph in Christ and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place" (2 Cor 2:14). When we delight in the Lord and walk according to His will, we are assured of His protection (Psalm 41:11-12).

I praise God for the revelation of His everlasting love for me and family in this psalm. As I reflect upon the many blessings He has bestowed upon me in the past year (new job, new house, a beautiful and healthy third child, my wife's part-time career and new preschool for my 2 elder children), I can't help but marvelled at His wonderful grace and plan for me. Even right now when my mother has been diagnosed with a brain tumour a week ago, I know that the Lord has heard my prayer of healing and salvation upon her. The final victory belongs to Jesus Christ! And I can proclaim, just like David in Psalm 41:13, that "praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and Amen".

Child-centred Parenting

I learnt a beautiful lesson on parenting from Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo today.

The Ezzos described of many parents focusing their attention extensively on their children, so much so that they have forsaken their first love of each other (Gary and Anne Ezzo, 2007, "Growing Kids God's Way: Reaching the Heart of Your Child With a God-centered Purpose", pp. 35-38). This not only lead to the break-up of family relationships (especially between the parents), it gives rise to children who will develop self-centredness because of a false sense of self-reliance.

I reflected on this and on hindsight, I may have placed my children's interests above my spouse's. Child-centred parenting means not spending quality time with my wife in the name of good parenting. God has meant for the husband-wife relationship to be a priority in the family. Children are God's gifts and are meant to integrate into the family structure with the installation of parental authority.

I pray that as the head of the household, I will seek to provide a balanced timetable for spending time with my spouse and children. By giving space for just my wife and I alone, I am respecting God's desire for the "one-flesh union". Thank you Lord, for such an insight and Your gentle reminder for me.

Psalm 40

As I read this psalm, I was filled with mixed feelings --- in remembrance of God's blessings in my life and family, and in anticipation of Christ's return. Psalm 40 not only depicts King David's trust in the Lord's deliverance when he was undergoing tough situations, it also shows the promise of God's salvation plan for those who believe and trust in Him.

God does not desire our offering and sacrifice but our hearts to be close to His. In fact, God sacrificed His Son Jesus Christ to die on the Cross so that we could be redeemed from the curse of death and eternal separation from God.

"... You are my help and my deliverer;

O my God, do not delay." -- Psalm 40:17

I pondered upon the above last verse for while a quite. If David were to prophetically mean of the Messiah's second return, I am not sure if I am ready for that. Not because I do not desire for Christ's glorious return, but if my prayer for my parents and friends to receive Christ as their personal saviour can be fulfilled before that.

Psalm 39

This psalm depicts David pleading for God's mercy for his brief life on earth.

He mentioned of watching his ways and keeping his tongue from sin at the beginning of the psalm, underscoring the power of a wilful and idle tongue, and his understanding of the power of spoken words. I like Charles Capps' interpretation of the latter: "Words are containers. They carry faith or fear, and they produce after their kind" (Charles Capps, 2004, "God's Creative Power", Harrison House Publishers). By confessing his sins to God, David was able to solicit God's forgiveness and His deliverance.

Psalm 39 is also a stark reminder to us that life is short. To God's perspective, our lives on earth is but a speck of existence compared to eternity in heaven. We need to treasure our time with our loved ones and bear witness of Christ's love to others! For what is the meaning of amassing wealth on earth without hope for eternality and richness in heaven? Count on King David to know that!

Psalm 38

It was perhaps 5 years ago when I attended my first "Encounter Weekend" training under Pastor Joe Kum's network at a hotel in Johor Bahru, Pastor Joe illustrated how sins brought about consequences in our lives and our next generations. When we sin against God, Satan places a curse on us and if we do not confess it before God and seek His forgiveness and protection, the sin will eventually "catch up" with us and we will have to deal with the consequences of it. The consequence may appear in many forms, and one of them is sickness.

In Psalm 38, King David suffered tremendous setback in his physical health and psychological well-being, possibly from the consequence of committing adultery with Bathsheba and committing murder to Uriah, Bathsheba's husband. Perhaps David was straying too far away from the Lord or perhaps he had lost the fear of the Lord, that prevented him from seeking God's forgiveness before he was rebuked by prophet Nathan to repent of his sins.

Let us wait upon our Saviour and ask Him to break any curses spoken upon us and our loved ones in the mighty name of Jesus.

Psalm 37

Psalm 36 and 37 share many commonalities. Evil will not overcome good. The Word of God says that we should wait upon the Lord and commit our ways to Him, and that we should not envy others who do wrong. How then can we stand firm and not be influenced?

The answer is to "delight yourself in the Lord" (Psalm 37:4), which requires us to commit our lives totally to God so that we can truly enjoy a God-centred lifestyle. In delighting the Lord, God promises us that He will uphold us when we stumble in our ways. Now this is a risk-free lifetime investment which we know will yield much fruit in time to come.

Psalm 36

The righteous will always triumph over evil! This is the gist of Psalm 36 and is God's unfailing truth for all of us.

When one is devoid of the fear of the Lord, he will naturally be deceitful and manipulative towards his fellow men. That's where the fear of the Lord is important in guarding our hearts, which leads us to see others in the eyes and perspective of God. I remember my cell leader (Patrick Gallo) telling me that we should treat others with respect and kindness because all men are creations of God. That really blew my mind. Many times when I was faced with a situation where I leaped to my own conclusion of some one else's fault and misgivings, I have sinned against God because I was not treating that person with respect and understanding. And that is an act of not respecting God's wonderful creations!

Dear Lord, with You is the fountain of life and only in Your light can we see light. So Lord, bless me with humility when I am emotionally charged in situations which I could potentially mistreat others due to self-righteousness. The fear of the God be with me, always. Thank you Jesus, for blessing me and my family with Your unfailing love. Amen.

Psalm 35

This psalm seems to be to be one imprecatory prayer of David, asking the Lord to avenge the injustice and sufferings he had borne. It seems to me that it's so unlike David, who had a close intimacy with God, to seek God's approval to punish those who return evil for good.

Consider the moments of desperation when David was at his wits' end, when even his prayers to God seemed to be unanswered. Do we blame David for doing it? Alas, we can be guilty as such.

I pray that I will not be subject to what David had to go through, for it is my desire to bless and not curse, even at those who wronged me. May the Holy Spirit guard my heart so that I will not sin with negative thoughts and words. God is good all the time! Amen!

Psalm 34

At this morning's church service, Pastor Eugene Seow highlighted the characteristics of a man whose heart is after God's heart, with reference to Psalm 34. King David was such a man who we could emulate in our quest to have intimacy with God.

He talked about the following 4 characteristics of the ability to:-

1. --> Reflect the presence of God;
2. --> Experience the provision and protection of God;
3. --> Advance the purposes of God; and
4. --> Live out God's promises

God wants to bless His people. However, we need to take the first step to fulfill His purposes in our lives, in order for us to claim such blessings. The foundational truth is based on our fear of the Lord. When we exalt Him and obey His laws, blessings will flow into our lives and we will lack nothing (Psalm 34:9).

How wonderful it is to claim God's evergreen promise of protection and deliverance when all we need to do is to simply love and revere Him.

Psalm 33

"Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;

it is fitting for the upright to praise him". -- Psalm 33:1

David's honest repentence of his sins before the Lord (Psalm 32) had liberated him of his guilt and condemnation. Indeed, relief of such mental torture must have brought him inner peace and joy! Thank God for the deliverance!

Psalm 33 is a song of hope. We can put our past hurts and problems behind us when we look toward our future by fixing our eyes on Jesus Christ. We can choose to live in the shadow of our past, or choose to live joyfully and trusting in God's grace.

Dear Lord Jesus, I choose today to live righteously according to Your plans and purpose for me. No matter how hard and unbearable life is going to be in such uncertain times, I shall put my hope in You and You alone. Your help and shield delivers me from my troubled past. In Jesus' mighty name I pray and give thanks, amen.

"Potluck Morality" versus Biblical Ethics

The reading of the first 30 chapters from the book of Psalm revealed many touching moments of King David, his trust and unwavering faith in God, and also nuggets of biblical ethics. The latter is what governs the core of God's call for holiness. It is on such basis that men can be reconciled with God in eternity.

In their parenting book "Growing Kids God's Way: Reaching the Heart of Your Child With a God-Centered Purpose", Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo touched on the importance of seeking the path of biblical morality because it serves to establish a standard of God's acceptable behaviour and reveal sin. In today's society, Gary and Anne lament the tendency of parents (even Christians) teaching our children based on a potluck of morality --- inconsistent teachings from sources such as old folks, bible teachers, book writers and other subtle influence (the "television"?).

My takeaway from reading the first chapter of the parenting literature is that I need to constantly remind myself of putting God's standard of morality in my own behaviour as a role model for my children. It's not easy, but I know I can rely on the Holy Spirit to teach me to be a better parent.

Psalm 32

How many times when we harbour sinful thoughts and try to cover up our sins, ending up feeling guilty and spiritually defeated? The good news is that God understands our weaknesses and wants to restore our self-esteem and our relationship with Him!

Take a look at the account of King David's adultery sin with Bathsheba and even the murder of her husband Uriah. The Bible says that David was trying to cover up his sins and was overwhelmed by intense guilt and self-condemnation for many years. God then sent the prophet Nathan to jostle him into repentence before the Lord. Honest confession of our sins and repentence to God is the only way to attain inner peace. God promises us that He will forgive our sins when we turn our hearts back to Him.

Holy Spirit, search my heart and reveal to me vividly the areas of sins where I may have sinned against God unknowingly. May the precious and healing blood of Christ purify my heart so that my guilt and self-esteem can be restored wholesomely. Bless me, my spouse and our next generations with Your favour and protection so that no calamity may befall us. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Psalm 31

When I was done reading Psalm 31, I can't help but to relate it to the final moments of Jesus' life on earth.

My thoughts were jostled by the scenes of people scorning and jeering at Jesus during His crucification on the cross at Calvary. The whole psalm depicts the Lord's emotional pain and rejection by both men and heavening Father at the cross. David might have gone through the whole episode of sufferings and injustice during his rein as King, though at a much lesser degree as compared to Jesus. Nevertheless, I believe this prophetic psalm is important in portraying the inner feelings of Christ in the face of death and despair.

God's terse message for those who hope in the Lord, is to be strong and take heart, for He will preserve the faithful. He will not let any of our sufferings and injustice be in vain. Even when I may not be viewed favourably by others around me, I can still hold my head high because God's favour is with me.

Psalm 30

"Sing to the LORD, you saints of his;
praise his holy name.
For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning." -- Psalm 30:4-5

This is such a beautiful illustration of how much our Almighty God loves us. As a parent to three young kids, I have to discipline them when they misbehave or throw tantrums. I know sometimes I could express my anger and displeasure so as to get them to "sit up and listen". But after a while, my anger would have subsided and couldn't help but try to assure them of my love for them.

Likewise, our heavenly Father will never forsake His children and because He loves us, His favour will last us a lifetime! Weeping and sorrow is but temporary. Our lives on earth is only a transition phase, in God's perspective. So let us rejoice and look toward our future dwelling place in heaven, where there is weeping no more.

Theology of Sabbath

Last Sunday's sermon delivered by Pastor Eugene Seow touched on the theology of Sabbath. FCBC has set apart 2008 as the "Year of the Sabbath" for the church congregation. Pastor felt that it is important for church members to realise the significance of sabbath and not having the wrong impression that it is a year of "rest and doing nothing".

"Our God is our sufficiency.
He is the only one sufficient."

Pastor Eugene felt that the Psalm 24 revealed the Rhema Word for the church, that is for us to make time and space for God. This year is a time to draw near to God (time to rest in His sufficiency), a time to get right with God (return to His saving grace), and a time to stand up for God (recognise His sovereignty).

How true it is when very often we regarded work and family time as the most precious and neglected our communion with our maker!

Heavenly Father, forgive me for placing other things above spending time with You. This year being the year of sabbath for the church, I pray for a deeper walk with You through the daily reading of the Holy Bible. As You promise your children of Your blessings when we choose to seek You first, I pray for true contention and rest in You. Thank you Lord, for showing us that You and You alone are sufficient for me and my family. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.

Psalm 29

God's sovereignty is outwardly proclaimed by King David in this beautiful psalm. It talks of the glory of the Lord who reigns over the heavens and the earth with examples of the Lord speaking with flashes of lightning and shaking of the desert and breaking of cedars in pieces. Surely the same God who created the earth and universe (including all of His creations on earth) has the right to judge the earth!

Recently, there have been copious reports on the potential economic recession in the west, especially the United States, which could derail Singapore's booming economy at the second half of this year. In fact, talks among friends and colleagues are now mostly centred on the fear of the revisit of the 1998 Asian economic downturn. How could we weather our inner fears, be they the fear of retrenchment or fear of escalating inflation?

We can hold on to God's peace despite the storms surrounding us!

I remember Senior Pastor spoke in one of his sermons that the eye of the hurricane is the calmest. As we ascribe to God's guidance and control over all our circumstances, we will have peace amidst the cacophonous cries of insecurity among others. Let's proclaim this aloud: "The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace." (Psalm 29:11).

Psalm 28

David's unwavering faith in the Lord is amazing, even when there seemed no way out for him when he was surrounded by menace and evil-doers. God's Word is that we shall not curse but bless with our mouths. David did not choose the earlier. He chose to let God vindicate him and let Him be the judge to those who did harm to him. We need to apply David's trust in the Lord and not inflict our own judgement upon others. After all, we are all God's wonderful creations and only He has the right to judge us. So why waste so much of our energy trying to "set the records right"?

"The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.
My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

The LORD is the strength of his people,
a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.

Save your people and bless your inheritance;
be their shepherd and carry them forever." -- Psalm 28:7-9

Let's lay claim of God's protection and blessings in any situations of our lives, knowing that He will stand up for us even though we may be outnumbered or misunderstood by others.

Psalm 27

Psalm 27 reminds me of Romans 8:31, which reads "... If God is for us, who can be against us?". God is our stronghold and so we should not be afraid of any fears or insurmountable circumstances in our lives. Our only fear is when God rejects or forsake us due to our unrepentful ways.

O God, do not hide Your face from me whenever I pray to You. Psalm 27:14 teaches us to "be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord". Lord, I pray that I will always walk beside You and not go before or behind You. As David prayed, the one thing that I ask of the Lord is that I and my loved ones may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of our lives. Thank You Lord. Amen.

Psalm 26

David's determination in seeking God's approval is manifested in this psalm of praise. He was unshaken in the light of his confidence in declaring his personal integrity, innocence and purity before the Lord.

Of course that doesn't mean David is blameless at all times. He was after all, like all of us, human and capable of sinning from time to time. He "walked continually" in God's truth (verse 3). Interestingly, the word "continual" (different from the meaning of "continuous") from a language's point of view, indicates duration that continues over a long period of time, but with intervals of interruption; whereas the word "continuous" indicates duration without interruption (There is a subtle difference between the 2 words!). So even though David might have sinned against the Lord from time to time ("interruptions" from his walking in God's truth), he was unshamed of his pleas to our merciful God, of his sufferings under the accusations of others.

Instead of relying on our own strength to take justice into our own hands, let's quieten our hearts to reflect on all the things that burden us. Seek the Lord and tell Him. Lay upon Him our burdens of our hearts, for the Lord cares. Let the Lord vindicate us, on our behalf...