Like David
The deepest longing in our hearts, the “Abba!” cry of our spirits and our constant prayer, should be to be transformed – or, to be more precise, to be conformed into God’s likeness. That’s why Zechariah’s prophetic prescription in Zechariah 12:8 is so stirring: ‘(The weakest among us) in that day shall be like David…’ (my paraphrase). He speaks of a day when we’ll display the dignified qualities of royal heirs of the King of Heaven. It’s the culmination of […]
<strong>Why Can</strong>’<strong>t Life Be Perfect?</strong>
Life can at times be tiring and draining. It places obstacles in the paths to climb over to reach where we want to go. How many times have you been asked about your day, only to reply, “I’m so tired,” “It was a rough day,” or “Today was so stressful?” Public holidays are no better. Your extended family comes over for a gathering. You’ve to set the place for more people than available chairs. Just thinking about the amount of […]
Love vs Duty
I met a lovely Christian couple in my neighbourhood and, in our friendly banter, they shared with me intentions to bless the residents with gifts and organising a block Christmas party at the year-end. With all eagerness, they asked, “What do you think? Will it work?” I was encouraged by their zeal and initiative but wondered if they were missing something. Without sounding like a party pooper, I asked, “What’s your goal in having a Christmas party for your block […]
A Homeless God?
“Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, He said, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Luke 9:58 How ironic when Jesus Christ, the Creator of the Universe who entered this world in flesh – and who not only made all things, but for whom all things were made – Himself said He had nowhere on earth to lay His head. From Genesis to Revelations, God has wanted a ‘house’ – a place […]
Adrift
‘Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away…’ Hebrews 2:1 When I was a teenager, our family rented a camp (our version of a chalet) on a lake for a week. I took the rowboat out fishing one afternoon and, when I came back, I nonchalantly tied a knot, mooring it to the dock. A violent storm ensued that night while we slept, and in the morning the boat was […]
Building Fences
There are special moments in your life when Jesus beckons you to come away with Him to be refreshed and refilled in His Presence. I was blessed with just such an opportunity at a recent conference by joining a band of Burning Hearts infused with one magnificent obsession – to worship and exalt Jesus alone. During one worship session, a line from a song by Caleb Andrews captivated me and began swirling in my spirit. ‘I’m building fences around the precious, […]
What’s In Your Kindness Box?
While fetching my boy from school, a big colourful box with the words ‘Our Kindness Box’ in his classroom caught my attention. It brought back memories of Singa the Kindness Lion that was launched as our National Courtesy Campaign’s mascot back in 1982. Its slogan went ‘Courtesy is part of our tradition, it’s so nice to be courteous.’ The campaign later became part of the Singapore Kindness Movement as a call for Singaporeans to become a more gracious society. In […]
The Ideal Community
One great myth of church life is that community is something we stumble upon. In an ideal world, community is simply out there somewhere, waiting to be discovered like lost treasure on a map, or the elusive ‘somewhere over the rainbow’ pot of gold. All you have to do is find the right people, join the right group, or become involved with the right ministry. That’s why so many go from relationship to relationship, cell group to cell group, or […]
God’s Friend
‘And he was called the friend of God.’ James 2:23 Only two people were given the distinguished title ’Friend of God’ in Scripture. What an honour! What a privilege! What a legacy! I can think of no greater elite class to be a part of than this space occupied by Moses and Abraham. Exodus 33:11 says, ‘The Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.’ Lest we forget, Exodus was written by Moses. Over […]
<strong>Who</strong>’<strong>s Calling?</strong>
I was in a delightful dinner conversation with a young and gifted worship leader from Nashville last week when I decided to steer the topic towards her dating history. As she was recounting her reasons for breaking up with the last guy, she casually quoted something her pastor had mentioned in church – and I was immediately arrested. This is what he said, “Your calling is a Person, and He will give you your assignments.” The profundity of this simple […]
