A Christmas meditation – fleeting happiness, lasting joy

After two years of COVID restrictions, things are finally beginning to ease up and many of us got to travel this year end for our holidays. I’m very thankful that I was able to bring my family to Japan for a short vacation, and all things considered, it was a wonderful trip. We enjoyed ourselves. …

COVID.iot & the Gospel

Urban dictionary word of the day: Covidiot. Covid-idiot. Covidiot. Borne out of this season of the coronavirus and defined as someone who ignores the warnings regarding public health or safety. Ostensibly applicable to some people whom we read about in the news: for example, those who bulk buy stuff like toilet paper in sheer ‘kia-su-ness’. …

Living in God’s Will through COVID-19

It wouldn’t surprise me if you are sick of hearing about COVID-19… pun intended. I promise I won’t belabour the point, suffice to say, our current climate is one of great uncertainty. Our neighbours up north (Malaysia) are coming to terms with an abrupt and unexpected political change. It was not too long ago that …

Our Lives in God’s Hands

I suppose the talk of the town is the 2019-nCoV situation … perhaps more popularly termed ‘Wuhan’ virus. Some smart aleck made a word play and joked that the Chinese words roughly translates ‘no sweat’ in English. But it is human to feel nervous or anxious, to sweat over this development. Recently my wife, kids …

福 – A Chinese New Year devotion

Story was told of a missing dog poster that read… “3 legs, blind in one eye, missing right ear, tail broken, recently castrated… answers to the name of 'Lucky'.”  In a couple of days time, Chinese New Year will be upon us and let me take the opportunity to wish all of you a very …

Omakase our year to God!

Speaking of Japan, you may have heard of the phrase ‘omakase’, or you’ve dined at an ‘omakase’ restaurant before. Omakase is a Japanese word that translates, “I will leave it up to you,” which means customers at such restaurants let the chef choose their meal. In fact, the word originates from the Japanese phrase ‘makaseru’, …

The Greatest Gift Exchange

Question: What’s a sheep’s favourite Christmas song? Answer: Fleece Navidad! I apologise for the lame joke. However, I wonder what comes to your mind when I mention Christmas. Santa? Gifts? Turkey? Christmas trees? In a very short while, our malls will be decorated with Christmas ornaments. And strains of Christmas carols and hymns will start …

Perspective

The setting is World War II. As American planes returned from the battlefields in Europe, they were riddled with bullet holes. The Navy sent the data of the distribution of the bullet holes to the SRG (Statistical Research Group) in hopes that they would give advice on how to better armour their planes. The data …

Happy Teachers’ Day!

ACS retired teachers dinner 2019 Last Sunday evening, I attended the ACS retired teachers dinner. Initiated by our past principal, Mr. Wan Fook Weng, this year my batch of ACS class of 1990 decided that we would sponsor the teachers' dinner and we would play chauffeur to teachers who needed transportation.  The evening was a …

“Regardless of race, language or religion” & the gospel

“Regardless of race, language, or religion…” we repeat this phrase at every assembly and perhaps for some of us familiarity breeds if not contempt, then perhaps merely indifference. But as we approach Singapore’s 54th birthday, it is as good a time as any to reflect on the value of this kind of equality. We can …