Singapore: Let us use phrases and words that work

Yesterday during dinner, I told the kids, “Do you know that research says that an average child under 4 years old laugh around 400 times a day but an adult only laugh 15 times?”

Chern Han frowned and said “Not fair, we have to laugh so many times”

Later in the evening when I saw Chern Han playing with the lamp, I warned him sternly “Don’t play with the lightswitch or you may get electrocuted”

Chern Han replied: “Will I be cute?”

(From Rags Studio)

Singapore: Love for a Prostitute

Although I had visited the clinic and knew the ministry there since abt 4 mths back, I had not mustered enough courage to "walk the streets" as they call it. To befriend, talk to and pray for the people.

The house church is located at Geylang Road, where they pray and meet daily. On Wednesdays, they have a worship time and then they walk the streets. After worshipping for abt an hr odd, we went to the street in 2 grps.

I went with a grp of about 8 to the "Indian" streets, unsure of what was to happen. We squeezed past crowds of migrant workers, walked past a street of gambling tables ( I swear I only saw those in HK TV dramas). Along the streets were rows of women standing/ sitting down. We came to a grp of ladies, and someone asked if they wanted prayer. They said yes, and another embraced one of them, and another held another's hand. And before long, we were all standing in the circle, in the middle of the dark dinky alley- Praying.

Jesus was there though. I felt like He was walking with us in the streets. He wasn't just there when we walked. He was there, walking with them daily.

I asked S if she wanted prayer. She hugged me and laid her head on my shoulders. I thought she didn't understand, and asked again. Again, she hugged me. I prayed for her- for healing, for God's love. And at the end of the prayer, I asked her to call to Jesus, to tell Jesus what is in her heart. Soon after she said she gotto go, as there was business coming. It stirred my heart with a mixture of feelings.

But I knew Jesus loved each one of these. The bible came alive as I read Isaiah that night when I got home- of healing broken hearts, of setting the captives free, of bringing light into the darkness. There it was, in the dark alleys, incarnate love. Jesus walked and fellowshipped with the tax collectors and the prostitutes on earth. Jesus came to die for these ones. God wants to redeem these lives, each woman created uniquely and beautifully in His image.

I have a feeling that this is how christianity is meant to be. Christianity, according to the bible, is radical.

(From "A story of incarnate love", My Spiritual Journey)

Singapore: Andrew Ong

My growing up took an adverse turn when my family broke up and leaving me to sought solace, support and a sense of belonging in a gang. Gradually I lost interest in studies and dropped out from secondary school.

I got involved in smoking, alcohol, drugs and fights. And one of those fights (a gang clash) led me to prison where I was sentenced for 30 months and 5 strokes of the cane. I was 18 years old then.

But what was to be my lowest point was to be my turning point. [read more...]

(From Andrew: Inside & Insights)