Opinion

In the dark recesses of the soul, Questions emerged to haunt the restless mind. Fickle companions, The comforts of familiar religion; Their words unable to touch the deepest part of the heart. Habits of devotion Practised fervently In company, and in Solitude; The drive to be perfect, To win love and to receive assurance, Put […]

In 2008, Khaw Boon Wan, who was then Minister for Health, made a number of cryptic statements to the local press about the possible legalisation of euthanasia in Singapore.1 Responding to the minister’s veiled suggestion with enthusiasm, the Straits Times editorial ludicrously equated the legalisation of euthanasia with “social progress”. Its author audaciously predicted that […]

Before I die, I want to travel the world. Learn to play the piano. Race down the Autobahn at 200km/h. I could go on and on. And then it hits me. I’m running out of time. I’m at the point in my life where the years before me are fewer than the years behind me. […]

The Tika Taka boys. ETAC Thanksgiving Service 2019 “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord.” What a privilege it was to sing our Lord’s praises as a family and as a conference at the annual ETAC Thanksgiving Service on 26 Jan at Tamil Methodist Church. With “praise” as the theme of the service, and led […]

The Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) of The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS) entered a new chapter of her history with the adoption of Central Pooling. Apart from the structural changes, how can CAC churches work together in this transformational journey? 2 Corinthians 8:8–15 (NIV) describes an appeal to help other churches, where Paul exhorted the […]

Late last year, an MWS family service centre conducted a groupwork session for mothers and children whose families struggle with violence and abuse, poverty and unemployment. Their social workers and counsellors had referred them in the hope that they would benefit from the groupwork curriculum and be equipped to overcome their adversities. I was invited […]

“The focus of worship is God.” Bishop Emeritus Robert M. Solomon, the author of In Spirit and in Truth, takes pains to remind his readers, again and again, what the focus of worship should be, and what the modern worshipper has often forgotten— that “we should be careful that we do not sacrifice faithfulness to […]

Many years ago, I met a group of Chinese Christians who do not believe in celebrating the Lunar New Year. The festival, in their view, has its roots in a pagan (Chinese) culture and is inextricably bound to the superstitions associated with it. But does being a Christian mean that one should abandon one’s culture […]

The Lunar New Year (LNY) brings with it family gatherings, delicious goodies and the excuse to indulge, as well as questions about how Christians may celebrate without compromising our faith commitment to Jesus. In considering such questions, let us Chinese Christians remember that God birthed us as Chinese, so there is nothing wrong with appreciating […]

“Tradition is the living faith of the dead, traditionalism is the dead faith of the living.”1 This statement by Jaroslav Pelikan Jnr. is often quoted, and with good reason. Pelikan makes three pleasing but provocative contrasts: a contrast between “tradition” and “traditionalism”, between people in the past who are dead and those in the present who […]

The heavens Lord, declare your glory; The earth proclaims your majesty! We marvel at your wondrous grace, For an insignificant human race. You form us from dust of earth, You give us life, you give us breath, You make us your children, Little lower than beings in heaven. You protect infants from danger, You silence […]

The dawn of a brand new year does different things to different people. To some, it may bring a sense of excitement and anticipation. To others, it may infuse a sense of foreboding, dread and trepidation. But many, I dare say, step into the new year with the hope that what lies ahead will be […]