Social Action

Demand Al Jazeera in Thailand

2011-05-29T21:40:00.000+08:00

The Story of Zimbabwe

2010-03-30T21:43:00.002+08:00

The story of Zimbabwe is one that will always be contentious no matter which way we look at it. The events leading to its current state are complex and difficult to document in one article. My hope in writing this article is that you may gain an understanding of my country as well as get an idea of how great a God we serve and how He can use anyone to achieve His purposes. Any sentiments expressed here are based on discussions with fellow Zimbabweans, observation and research done by others who are too numerous for me to mention. To these unsung heroes I say thank you. Above all, may the Lord help you to realise your purpose in this world through reading this.

Zimbabwe is a land locked country located in the southern part of Africa. It, like Singapore is a former British colony. Zimbabwe gained its independence from Britain on 18 April 1980, a day that is forever ingrained in its history as the dawn of a new era and the birth of what was thought to be a model African state. From the scars of war, a spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation was ushered in by the former guerilla leader now turned Prime Minister, Robert Mugabe. The former "terrorist" was now loved by the West, adored by fellow Africans and revered by his people as the man who had set Zimbabwe "free"... or so we thought...

The period 1980 to 1995 is filled with rapid development and growth with Zimbabwe's literacy level rising to 97% and its health care system being rated the best in Africa. A vibrant democracy (on paper), religious freedom (Christians make up more than 85% of population though), sporting success and a vibrant economy were only but icing on the cake. It was like a fairytale...the utopian African state at last! Or so we thought...

The situation on the ground was different though. The economy though resilient was beginning to feel the effects of the unplanned opening up of markets, as prescribed by the Bretton Woods Institutions. Inflation was rearing its ugly head and as a consequence, social tension. Multi-party democracy was on paper but not very apparent as one party had won nearly all parliamentary seats since independence. More importantly, the actual practicing Christians were less than those who professed to be (about 60%). As the 20th century came to an end, disgruntled and disillusioned former freedom fighters as well as the general populace began to voice their concerns. Food riots and demonstrations broke out and for the first time since independence, the government was facing opposition from the masses. The people were galvanised under the leadership of a trade unionist called Morgan Tsvangirai, a man whose future was forever to be entwined with Zimbabwe's politics.

In order to stop the violence damaging the image of a utopia, the nation's armed forces were called in. Unfortunately this had the opposite effect as pictures of tanks on the streets of the capital city, Harare, were beamed all over the world. As part of measures to pacify the disgruntled war veterans (and as some would say - a means of guaranteeing votes for the next election) it was agreed to make a one-off lump sum payment to all ex-combatants. This unbudgeted expense of close to US$1 billion in local currency caused a massive hole in the country's coffers. The day this decision was made, 13 November 1997, "Black Thursday" as most call it, was the beginning of the end as it were. The following day the Zimbabwe dollar lost value from ZW$14 for US$1 to ZW$26 for US$1 overnight. The stock market lost 40% of its value and the nation awoke to a new reality they unfortunately had little idea of.

From 1997 things went from bad to worse. Most analysts agree that the problem facing Zimbabwe from that time onwards is not a purely economic one but rather a political one. In year 2000 it was agreed that land be expropriated (taken) from white commercial farmers and handed over to landless blacks in order to right colonial wrongs once and for all. At the time about 4000 whites owned 70% of productive land while the 13 million strong black majority was squashed into the remaining 30%; a situation that President Mugabe said had to be corrected then in order to totally emancipate the masses. Admirable some may say, but it would also be wise to listen to other views that encourage us to consider the political landscape at the time. At this time, the ruling party had lost its first election to the opposition in the form of a national referendum on constitutional reform. Presidential elections were due in 2 years and the masses were feeling the pinch of the economic downturn. What better way to ensure victory and regain support than shifting blame to your predecessor (ie the colonialists) and providing FREE land to all those who need it, in this case some 13 odd million voters? (For those who do not understand the value of land, visit a country/city called Singapore and try to buy some!)

The period from 2000 to 2006 when the land invasions officially stopped is full of sordid tales of violence, abuse, corruption and economic upheaval last seen in post Soviet states. The transfer of land to the landless masses though admirable was economic suicide. Agriculture was/is the backbone of Zimbabwe's economy. With the death of commercial farming due to highly productive farm land being given to mostly subsistence farmers and politically well connected individuals, the economy went into tail spin. To use the value of the currency as an indicator, the Zimbabwe dollar had been eroded to the point that as of July 2006, US$1 was now equivalent to ZW$1,000,000 (one million). Thus the term hyperinflation. Hyperinflation does not mean that when you have reached the millions you have hit the ceiling of inflation, it simply means that the rate of inflation is out of control, literally. Several attempts were made to reign in inflation at this time such as debasing (removing zeros) the currency several times. This was all to no avail. The final nail in the coffin came with the controversial June 2008 Presidential elections in which President Mugabe won another 6 year term in office following a disputed re-run. From then on, hyperinflation hit overdrive to use a motoring term. From inflation in the millions of percentages in 2006 by November 2008 it had hit a world record of month on month inflation of 79 million%. Simply said, the price of goods changed by 100% everyday. A loaf of bread was now costing billions of Zimbabwe dollars and the amount of cash required to do a simple transaction was staggering in weight and in bulk. In terms of cumulative inflation, Zimbabwe hit a world record of 89.7 Sextillion% (twenty one zeros) over the 10yrs. By this time US$1 was equivalent to a mind boggling ZW$4Quintillion (eighteen zeros) and as you might expect the country finally shut down. Everything came to a standstill; hospitals closed, schools closed, industry ground to a halt and to add insult to injury, cholera broke loose. Just like the biblical Job, Zimbabwe had lost everything and was well and truly the scum of the earth. Or so we thought....

At this time Zimbabwe and its people were truly alone. Who could help at such a time as this? The Lord says that He causes all things to work together for the good. What good was there when the nation's teaching hospitals were closed? What good is there when starvation is rife? Students from all Universities were just sitted at home worried at what the future held. It is at such times that your faith is tested and your beliefs are questioned - Whose report will you believe? God or the news reporters? God never changes, age to age He stands - He said young people shall dream visions. Where were the visions (and visionaries) in all this mess? There were no visions and no dreams... Or so we thought....

Along came a visionary in the form a local church, Celebration Ministries International (CMI) and a local student dominated fellowship, the Christian Medical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (CMFZ).

Realizing the desperate situation Zimbabweans found themselves in, it was agreed to set up an independent local Christian organisation to work side by side with multinationals such as the United Nations (UN). From humble beginnings students within the CMFZ rallied to the call to help their fellow countrymen. CMI through its global networks sourced for funding while students within CMFZ provided the manpower and structure to build what was to become Celebration Health, one of the largest aid distributors in Zimbabwe at present. Students were drawn in from various faculties not just the Health Sciences. Engineers and lawyers found themselves working side to side with dentists, pharmacists and medical doctors. Though coming from different churches, fields of study and backgrounds all were galvanized under the banner of love for their fellow countrymen. The global nature of our Lord was also seen as other Christian Medical Fellowships around the globe (including CMF Singapore) rallied to the call to help Zimbabwe. Though they could not be there in person they provided financial support to CMFZ and CMI to enable the work of God to progress.For this,the people of Zimbabwe will forever be grateful.

Through the work of students and qualified staff, Celebration Health was able to treat 20% of the 100 000 Cholera cases reported. During this time students were put face to face with life's difficult situations such as the sudden death of an otherwise healthy child as cholera wrecked havoc in the nation. Through such experiences however, a new breed of Christian students arose. Students who are faithful to do what God has called them to do, students who do not look back once their hands are on the plough, students who have developed in their leadership and interpersonal skills such that they press on to the prize always. These students are but a tiny fraction of the total student population but God uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise. Six months into the fight against cholera,victory came as cases diminished as rapidly as they had come. As if by divine appointment, the hospitals re-opened,the university re-opened and the students went back to school.

Since the end of cholera, these same students have turned their focus to alleviating poverty in Zimbabwe through the provision of free health care to the poorest of the poor. In the last 3 months alone, 3000 Zimbabweans have received free medical care, 1500 school children have received biblically based career guidance and above all 500 people from all over Zimbabwe have given their lives to Christ. Amazingly, all of this has been done by students just like you in partnership with their qualified seniors. The interdenominational Christian Medical Fellowship of Zimbabwe has provided an avenue for them to utilise the talents that God has built up in them against all odds and at times in spite of the odds.

Can students be a force for good? I say a resounding YES! Why? Look at Zimbabwe... look at Singapore... Singapore sends out thousands of missions mostly comprising of young people to South-east Asia and beyond each year. Fellowships such as the Varsity Christian Fellowship (VCF) and the Christian Medical Fellowship of Singapore provide a platform for dialogue and interaction for all students from various nationalities. That can only be the Lord bringing young men's visions to pass in our generation. Do not get left out! The Jesus who is at work in Zimbabwe, Africa, is the same Jesus at work in Singapore. The question is... are we willing to be used of God? To be put in uncomfortable situations for the sake of His name? If so, like the sons of Issachar who understood the times, (1 Chronicles 12:40) we too must realise that the time to work for the Lord is now! How then can it be done? Talk to your VCF and/or CMF Singapore leadership and find out how YOU can be part of the change.

In closing, please remember Zimbabwe in your prayers. In His word the Lord says that He calls things that are not as if they were. What then should He call Zimbabwe? A present day Job? Well, God says Zimbabwe is the Switzerland of Africa! Yes, Switzerland. A prophesy was said over Zimbabwe in 1997 by Prophetess Cindy Jacobs that Zimbabwe shall suffer terribly for a long time but God has declared that it shall rise up again and be the Switzerland of Africa. It is difficult to believe looking at things now, but this word has been our hope in the many years of distress. It shall come to pass provided you and I become the change that we want to see in Zimbabwe. It has already started with the use of multiple currencies (US dollar, Pound, Euro, Rand etc) to do business transactions in Zimbabwe and the setting up of a vast informal network of Zimbabwe's economic refugees all over the world. On the political front, Zimbabwe's two most divergent politicians President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai are now working together for the betterment of the nation through an all inclusive Government of National Unity. The economy is still very much in distress, the people are still poor, the roads are still bad and the sanctions are still on, BUT can you see the cloud the size of a man's fist? Can it be that the rain is coming for Zimbabwe and Africa? Well.... I leave you with these verses, read it then decide... Psalms 102: 1-17.

By Tafadzwa Shuro
University of Zimbabwe Dental Surgery Student
Christian Medical Fellowship of Zimbabwe member

Chile earthquake

2010-03-05T01:17:00.002+08:00

Another earthquake has shaken the American continent. Chile fell victim to an earthquake that measure 8.8 on the Richter scale last week. Although Chile has a stronger economy, it is struggling to recover from its recent experience with natural disaster as its government had initially refused international aid and seemed to have underestimated the scale of damage. Political leadership aside, the country will face food and water shortages. Looting will be a problem. While looting is illegal, many looters take food items illegally owing to a genuine need to basic necessities. International aid has been slow as well.

As Haiti and Chile remain at the forefront of recovery efforts, Taiwan has just been hit with an earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale. Expert claim that nothing is amiss, with Taiwan susceptible to earthquakes. There were 16 earthquakes last year with magnitude 7 or higher. There have been just 3 this year.

Indeed it is difficult to determine if the recent spate of earthquakes will become an anomaly. One is also reminded of Jesus’ predictions about the last days, when there will be more earthquakes. As we are reminded of how this world will not last, let us be driven by this truth to pray for the countries of Haiti, Chile and Taiwan as they recover from these natural disasters. Pray for swift relief efforts and that their governments will be wise in dealing with recovery efforts. Much political will is needed, especially in Haiti and Chile. In the midst of suffering and unanswerable questions, let us also be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks of the reason we have for the hope we hold onto.

by Jonas Hong

Responding

2010-02-10T18:18:00.002+08:00

On the recent saga...

With the advent and proliferation of media, what was presumed to be a closed or private affair, when broadcast, quickly becomes a concern of the public. I saw the video when it first came out. I can imagine it as a normal occasion in church when we talk about other faiths and we laugh about it. People in the congregation understand the context. But the moment you start to podcast or upload the video, it is going to be read or interpreted very differently. It is a painful lesson to learn that digital technology is a double edged sword. We should be very careful with how it is used.

That is what I told my mum. Something seemingly so innocuous, with the media sensationalising, is easily blown of our proportion. On-lookers are not going to sit down and wait patiently for answers. They will demand apologises or explanations. And the government has to act to give credit to its promise of preserving ethnic-religious harmony. Fortunately or unfortunately, this is the rhetoric of today's plural society (the opposite example will be French secular zeal). Call the animal by any name; the recent tensions demonstrate that our 'harmony' is a gracious expression of sweeping aside or downplaying disagreements or latent tensions.

To achieve real harmony, we need to go beyond the superficial exchange. That is only the first level (which Malaysia is struggling to find). The second level is integration at the societal level- schools, public space and iterative interaction at all strata of society. The third level is critical dialogue where points of difference are debated, discussed freely among participants, leaders and intellectuals. They walk away not necessarily with a consensus but with respect. Organising school visits to places of worship or sitting down to affirm difference/similarities of faith are only the first step although they do nothing to address the differences (which ironically can accentuate it).

I have been telling many Christians that once they approach the domain of evangelism in modern society, we must be reminded of our broader mission- the mission of God. We must be concern for the whole person and for whole of creation. We cannot just be concern about converting people. This attitude disregards people as a living sanctity. It only offends people. We should be concern about every action, conduct, testimony and words. We must be prepared to talk respectfully but intelligently with the force of argument enabled by the Holy Spirit- and that means it is presented with love and genuine concern. By force or argument, it does not mean we are arrogant and aggressive; on the contrary I insist that humility and gentleness is the way to go.

More importantly, we must be prepared to run that extra mile, to venture outside our comfort zone, to engage people in their own questions and views, and learning to listen to relate and understand. Besides sharing the gospel, we must go beyond talking- we must endeavour to touch with our hands, listen with our ears and see with our own eyes the realities of the ground: the real issues, the inter & intra -cultural/generational perspective. How can we hope to be relevant if we ourselves are so out of touch with contemporary issues facing society and everyone?

If we are so content with just our MP3, Ipod, Wii or Xbox, staying happy and ignorant inside our selfish empty bottle, then maybe it is time we question our own convictions. And then we will discover it wasn't a conviction but a legacy held together by only familial tradition and heritage.

We must (to borrow from a title of the book) live the faith we defend by embodying the promise of truth and hope in our everyday life.

Video: Medical Attention Scarce in Haiti

2010-01-15T21:09:00.006+08:00

Do pray for Republic of Haiti as they try to piece back their country and their lives.

Pray for the families of the deceased, that they will find comfort and peace from God in such times.

Pray for the countless homeless people and all who are living on the streets strewn with bodies of the dead, that they will be protected from further harm and illness (due to great lack of hygiene and presence of bacteria in decomposed bodies), and that proper procedures will be set in place soon for the bodies to be removed.

Pray that violence in the country will not escalate as angry gang members roam the country with machetes in hand and as looting takes place.

And amidst all this chaos, it is just amazing to know that the children still find strength to sing a song of praise to God. So pray that God will continue to use the children of this nation to remind all of His sovereignty and might in such dark times.

Pray also for the Haitian government, that it will get its act together in these times and improve the efficiency of operations in the country, so that the country can recover sooner from this disaster.

Pray too that this disaster will be a wake-up call to the people in power in Haiti, that energies will be placed in the building of the country and for the good of the people, rather than practicing corruption and apathy to the poor.

"Allah-gate" and Faith

2010-01-15T20:48:00.001+08:00

Most of us have heard of the church burning incident by now, I believe.

Last January, the Malaysian government banned the use of the word 'Allah' for non-Muslims.

In February, The Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur, Reverend Murphy Pakiam, filed for a jucidiary review of the ban. He asserted that the use of 'Allah' to refer to God is onto exclusive to Islam. Some Malaysian Muslims maintain otherwise.

On the 31st of December 2009, the Malaysian High Court ruled that the government order was unconstitutional. Last week, however, the ruling was suspended pending appeal.

Since then, 9 churches have been attacked by molotov cocktails, splashed with paint or had their windows broken. A Malaysian youth has also been arrested for threatening to vandalize a Hindu shrine.

What can we possibly do, as Christians living in a neighbouring country?

First, we have to put things into perspective. Many Malaysian Muslims have renounced the attacks, calling them the work of extremists.
Some Malaysians even rallied together to spread a message of hope for the future. The 9 Jan gathering included people of various faiths, from all walks of life, proclaiming that "Everything's gonna be alright".

This persecution of Christians is based on either ignorance or willful disobedience to the non-violent tenets of the Muslim faith. For us as Christians, it is then intellectually bankrupt to proclaim that "Islam" or "Malaysia" is the enemy. Keeping these in mind will help us shape our attitude as we pray and reflect over this incident.

How then should we pray? I myself am often tempted to ask God to remove myself from situations that shake my faith. But God works in more subtle ways.

As I was praying over what to write about, God directed me to Isaiah 51. Do read the whole chapter, as it is a great comfort to those who are persecuted for their faith. The heart of the chapter is encapsulated in verse 7: "Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have my law in your hearts: Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults."

Amen!

God in these verses does not promise to make present suffering disappear. He promises His righteousness and salvation, which is everlasting! Thus pray for the Christians in Malaysia to be strengthened in faith even in the midst of their fear. Pray too for the authorities in Malaysia, that they be motivated by the desire to serve their people, and not by any other interests. And lastly, let us pray for ourselves, that we may learn see our own troubles as God's way of strengthening our own faith in Him.

by Tse Hao Guang

2010-01-15T13:28:00.002+08:00

The Name of God has become a divisive issue in Malaysia. If one includes the Sikh temple that had been hit by pebbles, a total of 9 places of worship thus far have been the unfortunate recipients of home made bombs and vandalism. UMNO has been swift to react, condemning the attacks and members of the parliament have visited some of the affected churches. Many Muslims have expressed their disapproval and some have taken their own initiative to reach out to the affected, including Dr Mohamed Rafick Khan Abdul Rahman, a blogger who collected donations for repairs.

Malaysia’s delicate balance of religious tolerance is under threat and there seems to be no simple resolution to the situation. Perpetrators have not been apprehended. While UMNO has condemned the attacks, it has suspended the ruling that allowed Christians to use “Allah”. Sentiments on the ground also remain unknown. There is a Facebook group against the ruling that has drawn 200, 000 members amidst public condemnations of the rashness of the actions. The attacks threaten the fragile religious tolerance of Malaysia and no one knows how the issue will be resolved.

Pray that not only restraint but love will be shown by both sides. Thankfully, Christians and Catholics alike have not retaliated. Pray too for reconciliation for all parties. Lastly, may the light of Christ shine ever more brightly through His church in this dark hour for Malaysia.

by Jonas Hong

Climate Change

2010-01-02T10:52:00.001+08:00

“If the climate was a bank, they would have already saved it.” - Hugo Chavez, Venezuelan’s President addressing the UN climate change summit in Copenhagen.

The various bailouts that have been made over the year have paled in comparison to the decisions made at Copenhagen. Indeed, Chavez might be right: we have the power to make a positive difference for our planet but we do not seem willing to exercise it. Mankind has the habit to focus on the more immediate gains, especially with regards to anything economical. Will it take a catastrophe to cause governments to actively pursue climate change?

The cost for climate change is high. New technologies seldom come cheap and old habits do die hard. Yet, as bank bailouts have shown, governments do have the spending power.

Continue to pray that governments and peoples would recognize the importance of climate change over economic gains; the having the latter amidst a dying planet is not worth it. Pray too, that amidst the considerations over climate changes, that people would come to the realization that this world cannot last.

by Jonas Hong

Prayer Pointers!

2009-12-17T00:34:00.002+08:00

Please pray for the following
1) Pray that with Christmas nearing that more will hear about the Good News, that they will believe in the faith which we profess.

2) Pray for the people around us that have yet to hear about the Gospel, for divine intervention to be sending people to be befriending, ministering and caring for this group of people.

3) Pray for the “aliens” and those not of our nationality, as festive seasons are the prime time which pangs of homesickness will be the strongest.

4) Pray for the SM3 students that have just arrived in Singapore, that we will be warm hosts and be the crucial link in integrating them into the school and community.

5) Thanksgiving for Anntic ’09 that all have safely returned. Pray that the messages will continue to minister and serve to remind and build us up in our points of need.

Unity for our King

2009-12-09T12:35:00.002+08:00

Unity for (our) King

Thais Unite for the King
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/161893/thais-unite-for-his-majesty

Uniting to Wish King a Happy Birthday
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/12/05/national/national_30118005.php

The King of Thailand celebrates his 82nd birthday today (5 Dec) and it appears that all Thais, regardless of their political affiliations are going to place their disputes and disagreement aside for this occasion. Just a year ago, this every same occasion served as a platform for the intense face-off between the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD),an anti-People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) political pressure group in Thailand and the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD), each aiming to further their own political agenda.

On one level, it seems to serve as a reminder for us Christians. Despite differences between the various denominations, we too serve the same King. While conflicts between Christians are a lot less prominent in Singapore, the fact remains that in this world, Christianity continues to exist as one of the most divided religion in the entire world.

A parallel between the situation in Thailand and the state of (dis)unity among Christians, in general, can be drawn. One reason for the intense Thai political conflict lies in each party wanting to establish their own beliefs and views (this is of course, a highly reductionist way of understanding the situation but aims to establish a common ground on this issue). In the same way, Christians with different agenda, backed by their convictions, result in disunity in the body of Christ.

A simple but pertinent case is the dichotomy between those who are termed “fundamentalists” and, by virtue of definition, the “liberals”. While we are not here to debate over which is better or correct, the point to be made here is that both camps have their own ideals that they hold onto. Both sides aim to glorify God – one choosing to remain as true to His Word as possible, the other often tries to ‘apply’ the Word into our context and circumstances. Yet, in our attempt to advocate one or the other, what results is disunity that stems from disagreement. Granted that there may be no, or little, explicit conflict, we have to acknowledge that these differences do drive a wedge between Christians as a whole.

Perhaps we ought to look towards the Thais and be reminded that despite the differences that may exist, the truth remains that we serve the same King. That, fundamentalists or not, we are all a part of the same body. And even as we approach Christmas – the ‘birthday’ of our King – perhaps we should learn to grow closer as one body even more. Just as the Thais are determined to show the world their reverence for their King, we should strive towards, as Jesus prayed in John 17: 20-26, being “brought to complete unity”.

Pray that
-The Thais will not simply ‘unite’ only for this day but learn to put aside their individual political differences

-For the Thai King’s health and wisdom as he remains the pillar of the country

-Christians will be brought into complete unity for Him and through Him

Written By Allan Lee

Christians In The Public Square

2009-11-01T20:04:00.000+08:00

3rd November 2009 (Tues, 8 pm - 9.30 pm @ Cathedral New Sanctuary)
Speaker: Prof. Roland Chia

Recently, the role of religion in the public square has received some attention by the media. Should Christians be involved in public debates and discourse for the common good of society? Most Christians in Singapore would emphasize the importance of evangelism, but is Christian engagement in social and political issues part of Christian witness.

This talk will attempt to answer some of these questions by looking at the Bible and Christian tradition. The talk will develop a theology of Christian witness in an ideologically and religiously plural society like Singapore. It will also see to delineate the 'rules' of such engagement in the context of a profound Christian theological realism. The following questions will be discussed:

What is the scope of the Christian's witness?
Is Christian witness itself a political activity?
What is the role of the Church (and Christians) in society?
Is there a place for compromise in Christian social engagement?

About the Speaker:
Prof. Roland Chia is Chew Hock Hin Professor of Christian Doctrine and Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies at Trinity Theological College. He is author of numerous articles and books including, Hope for the World: A Christian Vision of the Last Things (2005) and The Right to Die? A Response to Euthanasia (2009).

To register, please email sacce@livingstreams.org.sg with your name, contact number, email address, and the Cathedral service you are currently attending.

Prayer points for the week #4

2009-11-01T19:59:00.001+08:00

Matthew 5
⁹ This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,¹⁰ your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

As we pray for the nations around us and even as we become affected by the turmoil and conflicts that go on, let us remember God's purposes for mankind: that they be prepared for God's kingdom.

Please pray for the following:

1) Pakistan - The nation is struggling with the Taleban. Pray for peace to be restored, above all, that more people from this war-torn nation will come to know the Lord.

2) Palestine and the Gaza strip - Israel continues to be overbearing upon the Palestinians. The latter are now dealing with water shortages, on top of a continually poor economy. Pray that God's message will still be believed in and preached, despite Israel's actions. Pray too that Israel will be compassionate and show the love of God to even their enemies.

3) Pray for the Islamic nations in our region. They struggle with balancing Islam and secular governance. Pray that despite the Islamic overtones, God's word will continue to make inroads in the hearts of every Muslim. It is not easy to believe in Christ in a Muslim context.

4) Pray for the Rohingya of Myanmar. They are still not recognised people of Myanmar. Many of them have been pushed into Bangladesh, where they are severely ill-treated. Some Rohingya are pushed back into Myanmar. Pray that the hearts of the junta wil be softened. Pray too, for the Rohingya.

5) i)Pray for Singapore citizenship matters, especially with regards to PRs. Consider the Christian response towards PRs, who do not have all citizenship rights but are able to buy houses and hold jobs here. Pray too for the foreign workers (maids, construction workers) in our midst, some of whom are ill treated, even in a country like Singapore.

ii) The economy is recovering. Thank God for it. Pray that the recovery may be sustained. Pray too that we, as Christians will continue to reach out to those around us, especially the poor and to those who may have lost their jobs.

Romans 8
²⁶In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. ²⁷And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

Prayer points for the week #3

2009-10-25T04:01:00.000+08:00

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as he has just been sworn in again as President of Indonesia. Pray for wisdom for President Yudhoyono and his cabinet as he will have to take Indonesia through challenging times; the economy, rescue and restoration efforts for the spate of natural disasters and balancing the views of Islamic conservatives. Pray too, that the gospel will continue to be shared.

Pray too for disaster relief efforts that are still ongoing in the Philippines and Padang, Indonesia. Pray for not only God’s peace but that the victims can come to know Christ.

Pray for the troubled waters around the African nation of Somalia. Somali pirates have hijacked a Chinese ship and threaten to execute all its crew if the pirate demands are not met. Pray for a resolution of the problem of piracy, which will take strong political will and a lot of help from outside nations, as piracy is tied to Somalia’s poverty. Pray for the pirates, that they and their people will come to know the Lord.

Pray for the ASEAN summit that will be held this weekend. ASEAN looks to establish stronger connections with India and China. Pray for safety for Thailand, the host country. Pray too for wisdom and unity for the ASEAN leaders, that they will make decisions that are best for their people. Pray that the leaders of ASEAN will know better.

Social Activism for the Young

2009-10-24T23:30:00.002+08:00

Just 2 months ago, there was a 3-part report that covered the issue of social activism in Singapore among the younger generation. It showed of how proactive and passionate some young people of today are, engaging and taking practical action in issues that they might or might not have first-hand experience in, including that of Youths At Risk, Law, Social Issues, Education and the Environment. Even though evidence from polls show that only 45% feeling that active volunteering was important, and this seemingly bleak statistics is pointing towards the existence of a nonchalant and idle young population, this small group of passionate individuals are still determined to rise above the crowd.

Many adults would, more often than not, label young people of today as being “socially and politically apathetic”. Clueless about the current affairs of today, young people seem to live in their own dimension, one of entertainment, play and decadence. But how does a young person react to such a comment? As one who has spent all my life in the Singaporean education system, I would say that the State encourages, but does not promote, social activism. Students have to go through mandatory primary and secondary school education, which encompasses a 16-hour Community Involvement Programme (CIP), whereby community projects are randomly allotted to us. Indeed, this exposes young persons to the gratifying feeling of cleaning up a beach, or altruistic fulfillment after spending an afternoon talking with a widowed, childless old lady. But it stops there. Period. Chalk up the hours and end the mission. Love and personal conviction are missing from the equation.

As believers of Christ, how are we then supposed to respond in such a society that prides itself in economic status, rather than altruistic accomplishments? And what attitude should we have with regards to helping others?

34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
- Matt 25:34-40

Jesus not only asks of us to do good unto others, but also asks of us to serve others as if we are serving Him directly. When one understands the implications of this, one would realize that we are not to merely serve through habit, but that God would desire for a genuine heart of service as well. This can also be seen through the verse, Philippians 2:3 – “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

In addition, something else to take note from this verse would be the fact that service must also never be self-seeking. This can often be the case when one steers away from a God-centred passion and begin running on a “purely altruistic” sense of fufillment.

Hence, as Christians, it is important to centre our convictions in God, and at the same time, desire to serve God by serving the least of His people.

Prayer Pointers
1) Pray that God will stir up personal convictions within us, to be proactive in social issues
2) Pray that our efforts will be sincere and overflowing with love, and not one out of obligation
3) Pray for encouragement and strength for those already involved heavily in social activism, that their passion in making a difference will continue to burn and remain God-centred

Written by Diana Kang and Ho Kah Yoke

Prayer points for the week #2

2009-10-18T20:12:00.003+08:00

1) Thank God that Singapore is gradually recovering from the economic recession. Pray especially for those who have lost their jobs and the working poor, that they will benefit from this. Pray that the effects of economic recovery will trickle down soon.

2) Pray also for the Singapore government. There has been a spate of news reports reflecting people's disgruntled feelings with regards to various policies; housing and giving out of PR statuses amongst others. Pray for wise governance that does not go after pragmatic economic gains at the expense social and moral issues.

3) Continue to pray for foreign students on campus. It can be challenging to study in a country whose peoples are struggling with acceptance of foreigners.

4) Pray for Myanmar and Bangladesh. There are new border tensions as Myanmar builds up troop levels at the border. Pray that this will not develop into any skirmishes or conflicts.

5) Pray for Thailand, which has yet to resolve its political issues. Protests by the Red Shirts are scheduled to occur this Saturday and the Thai government will invoke its internal security act to prevent disruptive protests as leaders of ASEAN meet.

6) Pray for relief efforts in Philippines, Padang and Samoa as these countries struggle in the aftermath of typhoons and earthquakes. Pray for better preventive measures against future earthquakes, especially for the implementation of better building policies.

Prayer points for the week

2009-10-10T22:30:00.002+08:00

Praise God that Sheng Shiong has come to an agreement with HDB that it will run the markets it has bought over as they are now and not turn them into supermarkets or install air-conditioning, ie, the stallholders do not need to move out. Pray that the rent will not increase.

Pray for Northern Luzon, Philippines, where it has continued to rain because of typhoon Parma, the second typhoon to hit Luzon since Ketsana earlier. Floods have begun to subside but the area has been hit by landslides. Pray for resuce efforts, pray that the rains will stop and pray for the survivors, as they face grief, from the loss of homes and loved ones, disease and food and water shortages.

Pray too for Laos, as there are thousands homeless in the wake of typhoon Ketsana. Pray also for villagers displaced in Cambodia by Ketsana. Pray for Vietnam as well, which was not spared Ketsana's fury.

Democratic Party of Japan. Yukio Hatoyama

2009-10-06T01:57:00.006+08:00

Time for change, but how much?
http://www.siiaonline.org/?q=programmes/commentary/time-change-how-much
(Singapore Institute of International Affairs)

Synopsis
The electoral victory of Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) broke 50 years near continuous rule by the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). However, the newly elected Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama knows that he and his party came to power mainly on the back of huge disillusionment of the people with the LDP rather than for their policies. Till now, we have seen PM Hatoyama engaged in a series of reforms that promises to shake up Japan a little faster than usual.

Commentary
A nation famous for its projection of soft power through the consumer goods and other forms of Japanese culture that is exported all over the world from Brazil in Latin America to Laos in South-east Asia, the innovations from Japan cannot obscure the fact that it is a big power on the decline.

One problem domestically is huge unemployment and an increasing debt-to-GDP ratio. A large number of youths, including university graduates, are hired on contract basis – meaning that they have to pay taxes while not being eligible for healthcare, pension, and other forms of benefits associated with full employment. Young adults, normally in the period where they will marry and settle down, put off huge expenditure like buying a house, compounding the situation of a stagnant economy.

On the international front, Japan exists in a relatively volatile region without a regional identity. Despite its pacifist nature, Japan’s military spending is the third or fourth highest in the world, with an air force and navy that rivals only the Americans in sophistication. Its anti-militarist (pacifist) culture is facing threats amidst a declining American influence in the region, the rise of Japan, a belligerent North Korea neighbour and a resurgent economic competitor in South Korea.

The Japanese system is thus not sustainable. The manner in which DPJ is voted in gives it huge leverage and moral authority to abolish the patron-ties relations which consolidated power in the bureaucrats rather than the ministries, make changes that prevents the businesses from the exploitation of young Japanese and foreign workers and improve its standing on the world stage with regards to taking a more active leadership role between North Korea, China and US relations amongst other pertinent issues.

However, the many flaws of the Japanese system are institutionalised through bad management in the preceding years under the LDP. The traditional Japanese attitude of non-intervention (or politeness) runs through the day to day life of both the individual and of politics (evident in the bystander position on issues related to its biggest ally in the region). This attitude of non-intervention should change to allow the necessary reforms Japan needs.

Prayer Pointers:

Pray for wisdom for the DPJ and the fortitude to make good decisions for the people of Japan.

Pray that the people in Japan will shake off the non-interventionist attitude that they have towards their private and public lives and ask our God to replace that with one of love and grace through living in a community.

Pray for an improving regional situation in Northeast-Asia, and that Japan, China, USA, Nth Korea and Sth Korea will learn to act responsibly towards each other while placing issues of human security at the paramount.

Written by Tan Shen Kiat

The view(s) expressed strictly belongs to the writer and in no way reflects the official position of the Varsity Christian Fellowship (VCF).

SOCIAL ACTION WELCOME TEA

2009-08-07T03:20:00.000+08:00

Hello all! (:

Social Action Welcome Tea is coming soon!!!

27th August 2009 THURSDAY.

Venue TO BE CONFIRMED.

Watch this space.

E-newsletter 23

2009-07-29T11:38:00.001+08:00

Kampong Lorong Buangkok (Part 1 of 3)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvgfjtuGu7Q&feature=related

Kampong Lorong Buangkok (Part 2 of 3)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl4Hv3cXoYE&feature=related

Kampong Lorong Buangkok (Part 3 of 3)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAMKrBGX-Yk&feature=related

Singapore Prepares to Gobble Up Its Last Village

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/world/asia/04village.html

Hope4Stayers.com

http://www.hope4stayers.com/text_archivesmain.htm

Synopsis:

Despite being surrounded by concrete housing all around in modern-day Singapore, Kampong Lorong Buangkok fiercely retains its traditional roots, evident in the rustic wooden huts and strong 'kampong spirit' reflected by the older residents. Three generations of a typical kampong family voice their thoughts, providing a rare glimpse of kampong life in the 21st century of Singapore vis-a-vis the impacts of modernisation.

Commentary:

Thoughts of my childhood memories in Chinatown drifted in and out as the Kampong Lorong Buangkok documentary streamed on. On one hand I am surprised at how well hidden this remnant piece of Old Singapore is, on the other hand a sense of disappointment when it was reported that the last kampong of Singapore would possibly be designated by the government for demolition and redevelopment in the near future. What makes Kampong Buangkok unique lies not in the rare sight of a rural habitat surrounded by urbanised landscape. Rather it is the authenticity of the kampong dwellers inheriting cultures and identities specific to the place and space of its time.

The eventual demise of Kampong Buangkok would complete "the world's most extreme national makeover". How far do you agree with the remark by The New York Times? Sure, concerns of land scarcity in Singapore is valid and therefore justifies optimising land use for national growth and development. Though should that always precede all things even at the cost of displacing homes and communities?

Recalling fond memories of the old Chinatown, I now grief at the sight of multi-coloured Chinatown Shophouses. The juxtaposing colours of the conserved buildings pale in comparison to the once vibrant life and soul of old Chinatown which had since dissipated when native residents, shop owners, and street sellers were evicted. A more recent debate and controversy is the en bloc euphoria of residential properties. Some saw it as an opportunity to instant wealth having benefited from the huge compensated payout. While there were others who petitioned to keep their homes intact as the sense of attachment and identity to the place and community far outweighed monetary gains. Undoubtedly the en bloc enterprise spawned multitudes of dissent including legal challenges and untold bitterness among minority owners forced to sell their properties. To this, I echo the words of HOPE4Stayers, "homes should not be a commodity for barter."

Prayer Pointers:

1. Pray that governments will consider the impacts of national land development on local communities and make wise decisions to the people's interests.

2. Pray for God's shelter and comfort upon displaced people and families.

Written by Chan Hsiao Fen

(B) Death of the King of Pop

Synopsis

Michael Joseph Jackson, the self proclaimed King of Pop, was a definitive entertainer of the 80s and 90s. His album sales broke records and his dance moves set him apart as an icon. He was the writer and performer of many iconic songs and dances which have influenced many contemporary musicians. Despite his fame, his life was dogged by allegations of child molestations, as well as poor portrayals by the media in the recent decade. His death on 26 June 2009 shocked millions around the world, and sparked resurgence in the interest of his music, reflected in the marked increases in CD and DVD sales online downloads of his music. Jackson’s widely telecasted memorial service was held on 7 July 2009 in Staples Center, Los Angeles, California.

The man who was once painted as disturbed and eccentric by the media is now hailed as a legend; a turn around that occurred upon the musician’s death.

Commentary

It is unfortunate that Jackson’s interest in various charities, including those that dealt with HIV/AIDs and alcoholism, were overlooked towards the end of his career, which was marred by bad press as well as Jackson’s lack of public actions in charities. Towards the end of Jackson’s life, the latter’s eccentricities, as well as accusations of child molestations took center stage and were taken to prove that he was becoming increasingly irrelevant.

Michael Jackson’s death is a stark reminder of the extra effort that must be taken to cherish people when they are alive. It is unfortunately, much easier to speak well of a person upon his death but not while he is alive. Being very much a part of this fallen world, the media has often been guilty of poor portrayals of people; bad news sells, as well as the latest gossip. It will always be a challenge to search for truth, especially in times when the controversial and the bad sell much better than the good.

Some of us have been affected by Jackson’s death. Indeed, he was “Gone Too Soon” (track 13 of the Dangerous album from 1992). For those who have been fans, it has been too sudden. For others, a tinge of sadness is unavoidable as one ponders the immense talent that Jackson was blessed with but yet he passed away sooner than expected, before his talents could be further realized.

Prayer Pointers

1) Pray for Michael Jackson’s children as they cope in the wake of their father’s death. Pray too for their well-being as their custody is yet unresolved.

2) Pray for the Jackson family, that God will bring about reconciliation within the family, between parents, between parents and children and between the children.

3) Pray for the media industry, that a stand will be taken against excesses and falsehood.

Written by Jonas Hong

(C) Ethnic Clashes in Urumqi, Xinjiang (China)

Uneasy Calm in Urumqi

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Asia/Story/STIStory_401229.html

Troops Swarm Urumqi; China Vows Executions for Rioters Behind Killings

http://chinadigitaltimes.net/2009/07/troops-swarm-urumqi-china-vows-executions-for-rioters-behind-killings/

Synopsis:
On 5 July 2009, violence broke out between the Han Chinese and the Uighurs (a Turkish-speaking, mainly Muslim, ethnic minority) in Xinjiang's capital, Urumqi, in the country's worst ethnic riots in decades. It left 197 people dead and over 1700 injured. A Han attack on Uighur workers in a Guangdong factory (because of a rumour about Uighur workers raping Han girls) sparked the ethnic clashes in Urumqi, as the Uighurs began assulting the Hans. Two days later, thousands of Han Chinese retaliated, charging into Uighur-dominated areas, looking for Uighurs to beat up. An atmosphere of fear descended upon the province of Xinjiang, as people from each side dared not venture anywhere near the other group's territory. The government promptly sent paramilitary police in, which might have worsened the situation, as they opened fire and killed two Uighur men, injuring one, when they ignored warnings given.

Xinjiang is an autonomous region in China and historically, the Uighurs have been the main ethnicity populating the province. In the past decade, attracted by the economic opportunities in Xinjiang, millions of Han Chinese have been migrating into the province, leaving the Uighurs feeling swamped and threatened by the increased Han presence among them.

Commentary:
The clashes were an eruption of years of bottled-up resentment the Uighurs had against the Hans (who constitute the main ethnic group in China). Although the Chinese government has been pouring in vast amounts of financial resources to develop the region of Xinjiang, and the standard of living has improved, most of the benefits are perceived by the Uighurs as landing in Han hands. The Hans, mandarin-speaking and being better-educated, are preferred by employers and are thus given more jobs. There is a rising economic inequality between the two groups, leaving the Uighurs feeling marginalised in their own land. The economic development also means higher prices of goods, which makes daily living even harder for the Uighurs. Government policies are thus seen as inadequate, neither dealing with the root of the issue nor being sensitive enough to the Uighurs.

The Han Chinese, on the other hand, cannot understand why the Uighurs are unhappy, feeling that they should be satisfied, given that they have better housing and a higher standard of living now as compared to the past.

The Uighurs and the Hans live very separate lives. They do not understand each other's culture and have no desire to learn either. A greater understanding of the other's habits, values, beliefs and ways of thinking could pave the way to a greater respect for each other and a greater willingness to sympathize with the other's position.

In the midst of such unrest, one may view this period as the beginning of more frequent and vicious acts of violence. However, this can definitely also be seen as an opportunity and a call for believers to stand in the gap, in efforts to bring peace to the region once again.

Prayer Pointers:
1. Pray for peaceful relationships within Xinjiang to be restored. And thank God for the stable ethnic relations we have in Singapore.
2. Pray for the safety of overseas Chinese, as terror network Al-Qaeda had vowed to avenge the deaths of the Muslim Uighurs by targetting Chinese in other parts of the world.
3. Pray for the believers in Xinjiang, that they will be good examples to their countrymen, reflecting God's love in the midst of the bitterness.

Written by Sheryl Tan

Thank You

On Behalf of the team,

Ho Kah Yoke

kyho_6@hotmail.com

To subscribe please email to: vcf.socialaction@gmail.com

About Social Action Committee

------------------------------------------

The Social Actions Committee (SAC) is a standing committee of the Varsity Christian Fellowship (VCF) and it aims to inculcate an attitude of social awareness and social responsibility in the society of each VCFer. It is about making our Christian faith practical and relevant in the community that God has placed us in reaching out to the less fortunate and speaking up on injustices for God's people and creation.

[1] The view(s) expressed in the E-newsletter strictly belongs to the writer and in no way reflects the official position of the Varsity Christian Fellowship (VCF).

E-newsletter 22

2009-07-11T14:00:00.005+08:00

(A) Political Instability In Iran

Synopsis:

Recent presidential elections have exposed deep rifts in Iranian society, split between the conservative government led by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the moderate reformers of ex-Premier Mir-Hossein Mousavi Khameneh. In elections held last week, incumbent President won a 62% of the vote in a landslide victory. The theocratic government, ruled by the religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his clerics, have acknowledged elections as free and fair and the result legitimate. However, several supposed irregularities in the vote has led to Mousavi and his supporters claiming electoral fraud and a rigged outcome. Consequently, Iran faced almost one-week of violent street protests last week. The religious authority, sticking by its previous decision, has responded in kind by banning local and foreign media from covering the protests, arrested opposition leaders and blocked pro- Mousavi websites.

Commentary:

Accused by the United States and the European Union (EU) of operating a nuclear weapons developing programme, Iran has been in the international eye for the past few years for the hardline stance of President Ahmadinejad. His reelection, the subsequent protests and the controversy over information coming out from Iran over the Internet has been portrayed, subtly, as a “battle for freedom.”

However, potential instability (short-term or long-term) in Iran is both a problem for both the USA and the EU, and the Iran’s Middle Eastern neighbours. A failed state with possible nuclear weapons is an international threat and the staunchly Sunni Muslim Gulf states are aware that should Iran – a Shiite Muslim republic – continue to experience political troubles, problems might spill over to minority Shiite communities within their own borders.

Prayer Requests:
- Pray for that both opposing sides will come to a peaceful, if compromising, solution that avoids the use of force to suppress protesters, which are mainly youth.

- Pray for Persian Christians, a small but ancient community dating back the Time of the Apostles, that they will use this political instability to be good witnesses in society

- Pray for the many Iranian exchange students, who are troubled about events back home. Pray the local Christians will be able to reach out to them & befriend them, being at least good friends to talk to.

By Yap Xiong

(B) Caught Flu Lately?

H1N1 Flu Outbreak: Schools Taking Precautions

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_392665.html

H1N1 Flu and You

http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/qa.htm

E-Learning if H1N1 Worsens

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_392402.html

Synopsis:

Schools have been contacting students who traveled to flu-affected countries during the June break to remind them not to attend holiday classes and activities within a week of returning home. A check with 17 primary and secondary schools, and junior colleges found them busy phoning, emailing or sending text messages to staff and students who have been to countries with sustained community transmissions, such as Thailand, Canada and the United States. With just over a week before the June holidays end, schools are making preparations for students to attend lessons from home if the Influenza A (H1N1) outbreak worsens.

Commentary:

While some of us have some background knowledge of the influenza strain, others (like myself) are relatively oblivious to its details (apart from knowing that infection cases are rising and cringing at the fact that my friends who just returned from infected areas want to meet up within 7 days of their arrival!). H1N1 was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. Other countries, including Mexico and Canada, have reported people sick with this new virus. This virus is spreading from person-to-person, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread. It’s not known at this time how severe H1N1 will be in the general population.

So far, with H1N1 flu, the largest number of confirmed and probable cases has occurred in people between the ages of 5 and 24-years-old. At this time, there are few cases and no deaths reported in people older than 64 years old, which is unusual when compared with seasonal flu. However, pregnancy and other previously recognized high-risk medical conditions from seasonal influenza appear to be associated with increased risk of complications from this virus. Spread of H1N1 virus is thought to be happening in the same way that seasonal flu spreads. People with influenza spread flu viruses mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing. Touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose may also infect people.

In reflecting the recent unfolding of events regarding this issue, there is a lot of anxiety and uncertainty that one can meet with. As our governments respond to the pandemic by setting up better medical response facilities and measures such as adjusting school curriculums, how are we as Christians to respond? At the heart of social action is a choice to see the world not in dualistic terms but in a single totality where the love of Christ and the power of his resurrection are consciously woven into the tapestry of everyday life. It is agreed that there is not much we can tangibly do about the H1N1 virus but as a start, we can begin by being more aware of its developments and remind others of the need to be socially responsible in quarantining themselves. As a group, we can also pray for breakthroughs in the discovery of a vaccine, acknowledging that God is our perfect healer. So, how will you respond?

Prayer Pointers:

Thank God for good health. We often take this for granted!
For institutions in both international and domestic fronts, like the World Health Organization and our Ministry of Health, as they strive to deal with the pandemic.
Invite God into our conversations with friends on this issue, and thank Him for the assurance of salvation amidst the uncertainty of this matter.

By Darryl Chew

(C) Young Mums

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_393687.html

Retrieved 22 June 09

Also found in the 22 June 09, Monday edition of the Straits Times, page B5

Synopsis:

Most young single mothers find motherhood a challenge. Having a pregnancy out of the wedlock presents many issues which often affect child rearing. Apart from facing social stigma, such mothers also do not have psychological nor financial readiness to handle their new roles.

The pressures of being a single mom have placed some of the latter in the news. As mentioned by the article, some single mothers have run-ins with the law as they struggle to cope with being a mother at a young age. Such mothers may also have problems at home, compounding the difficulties they face raising a child.

Commentary:

In a society where pregnancies are expected and supposed to be post-marital, young single mothers thus tend to be marginalized. Policies aimed at encouraging heterosexual marriages and subsequently children; tend to marginalize other arrangements, such as young single mothers. We seldom hear about them and not many of us personally know of such single mothers.

Single mothers make the news now and then; unfortunately, most are about those who have run-ins with the law. On occasion, features such as the mentioned are published. Enough attention can never be paid to young single mothers by the media, especially with the constant availability of newer news.

Young mums need all the help they can get. Further penalizations, be it stigma or economic burdens, do not help alleviate the issue. Institutions that assist such mothers must be supported. For those of us who personally know such people, we can make time to listen and provide the necessary support. It is not easy being a mother, much less a young single mother.

Prayer Pointers

- Pray for these mothers and their children, that they will receive the support they need, economic or emotional.

- Pray for institutions such as Andrew & Grace Home and Babes Teens as they do their utmost to help such mothers.

- Above all, pray that these mothers will know the love of Christ; that Christians around them would share with them the love of Christ.

By Jonas Hong

Thank You

On Behalf of the team,
Ho Kah Yoke
kyho_6@hotmail.com

To subscribe please email to: vcf.socialaction@gmail.com

About Social Action Committee

------------------------------------------

[1] The view(s) expressed in the E-newsletter strictly belongs to the writer and in no way reflects the official position of the Varsity Christian Fellowship (VCF).

e-Newsletter 21

2009-05-25T17:36:00.003+08:00

Editor's Note:

It has been almost two years since the birth of this E-newsletter. As this academic year in NUS comes to an end, it also sees the graduation of three of our members - Darryl Chew, Eugene Chew, and myself. It has been with great pleasure that we work together, growing and spurring one another on all these years. Though we may be leaving the comforts of university life, we shall never forget the lessons and experiences learnt through the time serving in the committee, especially while reflecting upon issues as presented in the E-newsletters. Give us your well wishes, but even more so, may you also give your blessings to the new committee headed by Ho Kah Yoke for the upcoming year. We look forward to your continued companionship with the committee next year. It has been an enriching experience contributing articles, and I hope you have had a pleasurable experience reading them too.

Thank you, and I wish you well.

Elaine Tan
Chairperson, Social Actions Committee (08/09)

_____________________________________________

The Social Action E-newsletter strives to cultivate a godly Christian interest in events around the world. Driven by a small team of Christian students, each monthly issue will cover an array of issues that is of Christian concern. This is our attempt to reconcile the secular-sacred divide and hopefully encourage greater social action, towards a cause that reflects the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ [1].

(A) The Hmong's Plight in Phetchabun

Disgruntled medics to quit Hmong refugee camp
http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/143883/disgruntled-medics-to-quit-hmong-refugee-camp

Thailand 'gets tough' with Hmong
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8062058.stm

Synopsis:

The ethnic group of Hmong, with thousands of them having fled from Laos into Thailand, are facing extreme pressure by the Thailand and Laos government to be repatriated back to Laos. The only welfare organization that was granted permission to aid this group of people - Paris-based Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), or Doctors Without Borders - has recently decided to quit because of unnecessary pressure and obstruction from the Thai military. Over four thousand refugees remain in the camps, which are heavily guarded by the military, and often face the danger of being deported back to Laos. The fears of returning back are great, as many who returned are known to have been cruelly tortured, or have disappeared. Activists are currently urging the United States President Obama's administration to send urgent aid to this group of people.

Commentary:
The Laos' communist government is hunting down this group of people because of their participation with the US army during the Vietnam War. But right now, political and historical issues aside, the main concern for human life is simply disregarded. These people have fled because of their past association, and they are now in a precarious situation that does not allow them a second chance at leading a free life. The MSF is no longer aiding, leaving the refugees to fend for themselves without food or medicine, and risk being sent back to Laos, where they would be hunted down nonetheless. Many lobbyists have negotiated for third party nations to be involved. In this case, the refugees could regain freedom in the United States, but the Thai government, who is assured that the Laos government would act appropriately, has crudely put down such suggestions. The short-term solution would be for emergency aid to be sent in to relieve the dire situation, but the fates of the Hmong would still rest on the Thai-Laos government arrangement, as well as the Thai military in the long run. Only with the right intervention will they be treated more humanely. These people are not affluent, cannot contribute to society in any way, yet they are the ones whom we should reach out to and accept into our societies, not round them up and await to dispose of them. Hence the need for the love of the least of people has to be pivotal in the decisions leading to the arrangement of the Hmong people.

Prayer Pointers:

1. Pray for peace and comfort to be with the Hmong people, as they face each new day with struggles and fears.
2. Wisdom upon the authorities and organizations whose decisions directly affecting the lives of these people.
3. Pray for God's favour to be upon the Hmong, as they are the minority and despised, and having no place to call their own.

Written By Elaine Tan

(B) Politics of Reality Television

Kris Allen wins 'American Idol': Results Show Crowns New Winner
http://www.nj.com/entertainment/tv/index.ssf/2009/05/kris_allen_wins_american_idol.html
No Idol Chat: Lambert's the Winner
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Sunday/You/20090523110838/Article/index_html

Synopsis:
Season 8 of the reality show 'American Idol' is history and after a record 100 million votes were cast, Kris Allen was named the winner of the wildly popular singing competition. Judges favourite Adam Lambert, 27, was touted to take the crown but in the end, it was the 23 year old married college student from Arkansas with the 'guy next door' persona who garnered the most votes and was named champion.

Commentary:
I tuned in to this season's American Idol (AI) because of Alexis Grace and Megan Joy Cockrey. Unfortunately they were booted out earlier than I expected. For me, the only thing left of any attention was Adam Lambert. The finale results only reinforced the fact that it is never a singing competition to begin with. It was definitely not about crowning the best vocalist in each season. Neither was it an election of which contestant had the most well-rounded 'Idol Package', whatever that means. The reality of all was in the politics of voting.

People didn't vote for Adam Lambert or Kris Allen merely based on who they liked or which musical genres they preferred. Perhaps most thought they did. I suspect what goes beneath the facades of voting are influences from ideological representations constructed and framed in part by the media (which would range from television broadcast to internet forum discussions). It could be intentional or unintentional.

What was explicit in the countdown to the finale was how Adam and Kris were portrayed. It was the 'Glamorous Rocker' versus the 'Talented Artist'. The 'Flamboyant performer' versus the 'Laid-back Gig Singer'. The 'Confident Frontrunner' versus the 'Likeable Dark Horse'. The 'Favorite' versus the 'Underdog'. We know whom the AI judges and producers have chosen. It was the Glamorous Rocker who is flamboyant, confident and pet-favourite of the judges who simply adored him throughout the season. We also witnessed how the judges shamelessly pleaded for the voters to make the 'right' choice in crowning Adam Lambert. The judges' opinions probably had a significant impact on voting decisions in the early rounds of the competition. But when opinions culminated into outright favouritism, the judges' unabashed worship of Adam backfired. On the internet forum, many had expressed their distaste at the AI judges and producers' attempts to sway peoples' votes. In the battle between the AI Judges and AI Voters*, if Adam represented the ideology of the AI Judges, unwittingly Kris became the mascot of the AI Voters that stood for anything except 'pro-AI Judges'. Likewise, Kris also benefited and amassed votes out of the embroilment between Adam fanatics and Anti-Adam fanatics. (On a side note, this reminded me of a similar saga of the Asian Idol where Hady Mirza from Singapore won the competition.)

* By 'AI Voters', I do not mean all voters but rather to a group of people who opposed the notion of public votes being dictated by the preferences of the judges on the American Idol show.

Sometimes I wonder if it is a contest amongst the voters or the contestants? So much for American individuals who genuinely want to sing and an opportunity to be a recording artiste.

Prayer Pointers:
1. To pray for responsible voting in matters of politics and governance that stems from a Christian obligation promoting Godly values, ethics and justice.

Written By Xiao Fern

(C) How AWARE Are You?

Nothing "Sneaky" About Elections
http://www.aware.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/press-release-sunday-times-26th-apr-20091.pdf

Women's advocacy group AWARE picks new president
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/specialreport/news/422671_95/1/.html

Controversial content in AWARE's sex education programme sparks debate
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/426252/1/.html

Synopsis:
The chain of events surrounding AWARE from January to May 2009 started since their Annual General Meeting on 28 March when the new Exco was voted in under dubious circumstances. It was found that the majority of the new Exco were new members, and that 6 of these members are from the same church. Existing members and leaders of AWARE who did not agree with the way the new Exco was proposing to go about certain things, resigned from the committee. The "new Exco", headed by ex-President Josie Lau, then went on to change the locks of the AWARE office and sacked the AWARE centre manager for not complying with standard procedures. They also allegedly disallowed AWARE's advisor, Constance Singam, to sit in for their first meeting. All these moves were seen as unreasonable by many of the members of public and the old guard. The old guard thus tabled a vote of no confidence against the "new Exco" through conducting an extraordinary general meeting (EGM), having these issues against them: 1) that they had not acted and were not acting in the best interest of the Society; and/or 2) did not appreciate or share the values of the Society; and/or 3) did not have the requisite experience of carrying out the Society's work or is otherwise inadequate to further the Society's objectives.

During the EGM on 2 May, the old guards prevailed, the vote of no confidence was passed, and the "new Exco" decided to step down, but not before revealing that their reason for being in the Exco was because they felt AWARE had become an organisation overly concerned with lesbianism. They were encouraged by their "feminist mentor", Dr. Thio Su Mien, to take action to bring the organisation back to its original aims.

The consequence of this saga is that AWARE's comprehensive sex education programme has been brought under fire, and MOE has put a stop to schools engaging external vendors to conduct sexual education programmes while they evaluate suitable programmes.

Commentary:
Just to clarify, this is not an attempt for me to state my stand on this issue, but rather to point out certain things which I've noticed throughout this whole saga. Firstly, I observed that there were many Christians who actively spoke up amidst the saga about how they disapprove of the way the "new Exco" acted and how what they did was "unchristian-like". I have to admit, I was thinking like them initially. However, I was reminded of how Christians have been exhorted to act with love, and even when facing a Christian brother or sister who has done wrong, one is never to shame. Matt 18:15-17 writes of how one is to approach a brother or sister who has sinned against him, and it is clear that this approach is done in a way that avoids shaming, since it starts on a one-on-one basis. Also, one might note that the verses before and after these verses speak of love and forgiveness. It is therefore, in this context, which we should view verses 15-17, and it should be in this way which we act towards our fellow brothers- and sisters-in-Christ as well.

Also, this saga reminded me "to always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15). Many say that religion was never meant to be the main issue in this saga, and that it has been grossly sensationalised to seem the case. Nevertheless, Christianity did receive a bad name because of this issue, and I was surprised to see that some are not prepared to explain about the Christian stand on homosexuality, which is definitely not anti-homosexual. Hence, I feel that even though this saga has blown out of proportions, perhaps it is a good lesson learnt regarding being "aware" of the times we are in and what people are thinking about Christianity, and then knowing how to respond appropriately. It would be unwise to expect the world to understand Christianity, while Christians do not attempt to understand the world.

Prayer points:

For the Christian community to be willing to learn more about the world
For us to be equipped to engage society in issues beyond the religious; bridge the sacro-secular divide
For us to learn to defend our faith without being defensive
For Singapore's government to remain wise and discerning in such times
For more to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and for none to judge

Written By Ho Kah Yoke

Thank You

On Behalf of the team,
Elaine Tan
elainetanpy1003@yahoo.com.sg

To subscribe please email to: vcf.socialaction@gmail.com

About Social Action Committee
------------------------------------------
The Social Actions Committee (SAC) is a standing committee of the Varsity Christian Fellowship (VCF) and it aims to inculcate an attitude of social awareness and social responsibility in the society of each VCFer. It is about making our Christian faith practical and relevant in the community that God has placed us in reaching out to the less fortunate and speaking up on injustices for God's people and creation.

[1] The view(s) expressed in the E-newsletter strictly belongs to the writer and in no way reflects the official position of the Varsity Christian Fellowship (VCF)

e-Newsletter 20

2009-04-28T13:58:00.000+08:00

The Social Action E-newsletter strives to cultivate a godly Christian interest in events around the world. Driven by a small team of Christian students, each monthly issue will cover an array of issues that is of Christian concern. This is our attempt to reconcile the secular-sacred divide and hopefully encourage greater social action, towards a cause that reflects the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ [1].

A) The Tigers’ Last Stand
Srilanka will not have the need to use the letter LTTE in the near future ‐ Gothabaya Rajapakse
http://english.globaltamilnews.net/english_news.php?nid=8388&cat=1

International Crisis Group Media Release on the Crisis in Sri Lanka
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=6063&l=1&m=1

Fears grow for Sri Lanka trapped
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8015405.stm

Synopsis:
As the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) dug into their last line of defence in the North, the Sri Lankan military has vowed to put an end to the civil war at all cost. Since 1987, the LTTE has fought against the Sri Lankan government for more than two decade for separate homeland for the ethnic Tamil minority. Late last year, the central government launched a fresh offensive. This year, it mounted an extremely successful operation to push the LTTE into a narrow 8km strip of land in the North. The success, however, has come at a severe humanitarian cost. Two decades of civil war has come at the price of 40,000 casualties, impoverishment of the previous Third Worlds’ most promising state. More important, the recent offensive has seen more than a 100,000 ethnic Tamils fleeing their homeland, creating a humanitarian catastrophe.

Commentary:
The Tamil Tigers have held thousands of civilians as human shields- the very people they claim to be representing and fighting for. The government, on the other hand, has refused to allow aid agencies near the zone of conflicts and have not shied away from the massive use of force to achieve their objective. Neither side is keen to protect its own citizens. In modern war, civilians almost always bear the brunt of fighting. At this stage of the conflict, I would hope the conflict to come to an end soon. In a rather ‘perverse’ way, I really hope the government would just ignore international pressure and finish up the conflict since there is no turning back. What is of greater concern is the history of discrimination and prejudice against the Tamil minority by the majority Sinhalese dominated government. In the 1970s and 80s, the government fanned the flames of ethnic conflicts by marginalising the moderate Tamils; pushing the Tamils support to back the militant LTTE. Political wisdom and tact is a prerequisite for conflict resolution. If the government fails to learn from past mistakes, even if the LTTE is crushed, some other individual or groups will again play on the seething grievances to revolt.

Prayer Pointers:
For Christians to play an active role in supporting humanitarian mission and giving generously to those in need.
Pray for hope and comfort to those caught in the conflict zones North of Sri Lanka. Pray that adequate food and supplies will reach the flee Tamils.
Pray for the LTTE to stop using civilians as human shields.
Pray the Sri Lankan military will not resort to excessive force but properly calibrate their response in lieu of heavy civilian casualties.
Pray for God and Jesus to be introduced into their lives to give hope and assurance.
Pray for lasting peace and reconciliation after the war.
- Written by Eugene Chew

B) Brushing Up Our Cleanliness
Geylang Serai hawkers told off by NEA
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/421436/1/.html
MP Denise Phua says food sellers have moral duty to sell clean, safe food
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/cna/cgi-bin/search/search_7days.pl?status=&search=indian%2520rojak&id=423425

Synopsis:
Mention “Indian Rojak”, and you can almost feel a shudder. Ever since the recent tragic mass food poisoning incident that was tracked to the stall at Geylang Serai temporary market, everyone has become more vigilant and cautious against patronizing stalls with a cleanliness grade “C” and below. The food poisoning which has caused 2 dead and almost a hundred ill, has led NEA (National Environment Agency) to urge stallholders throughout the island to be more responsible with their food preparation. Hawker centres are increasingly taking part in large-scale spring-cleaning, as well as upgrading projects, in order to provide a clean and safe environment for stallholders and diners. The labels issued to the stalls based on their cleanliness standards, ranging from A to D, are still a relevant and effective way on keeping the stalls in check. While patrons make a conscious effort to only patronize clean stalls, it serves as an incentive for stallholders to want to improve on their cleanliness so as to assure customers to buy food from them.

Commentary:
It is indeed very tragic and regretful that a case of negligent mishandling of food has led to the deaths and illness of customers. We have seen how a matter of filth leads to such drastic consequences. I liken a case of food poisoning to the ‘poisoning’ of our hearts and mind. The world that we live in is filled with moral corruption, as well as unclean mentalities. As we go about our daily activities, do we taint ourselves with filth, or do we persevere in preserving ourselves in Christ Jesus? In addition, as the stalls are checked by the NEA on a regular basis, we too likewise should have people to hold us accountable for. May they be our fellow Christian siblings, or mentors in church, they serve as a good stronghold for us to stay true in God’s word and way. We are in the midst of fellow Christians so that we can support one another, and uphold one another in God’s truth. As Jesus prayed in John 17:15-19, he has us sanctified in God’s truth, and that we may be protected from the evil one.

Prayer Pointers:
Pray that stallholders in Singapore will have the moral responsibility to prepare food in a safe manner.
Pray also for strong healthy bodies in this time when so many people are taking their exams.

C) Personal Reflections for Easter
The Easter season has come and gone once again. Each year, churches all over our sunny island organised special programmes - Musicals, skits and songs - to celebrate this very significant occasion. It never fails to get me excited and waiting in eagerness for something refreshing and new, or at least, not until this year. This year I find myself walking into church on Sunday morning thinking that Easter feels just… normal. For that moment, I lost sight of the whole meaning of Easter.

During service, God slowly began to re-teach me about why Easter is just anything BUT normal. Easter was when God’s power was made known to all. It was a day when bondages were broken and His people are made free. Jesus rose from the dead, so we may be victorious over sin. If He did not return from the dead, all would be meaningless and salvation will not belong to us. So, Easter is truly anything BUT normal. It is extraordinary! And it came at a great cost, which we should never take for granted!

This Easter, those who are facing persecution for the sake of Christ and those who are suffering in war- or disaster-torn areas, such as Iraq, Africa, and Italy, are filled with renewed hope in the promises and goodness of God. And this is indeed an apt reminder in this time of great uncertainty.

I was also reminded about how we so often take for granted the privilege of meeting and celebrating such joyous occasions, while some Christians such as those in China do so in secret and fear So my prayer for all Christians is that we never see Easter as just NORMAL, but consistently reminded of his grace and love showered on us. To conclude, I quote a verse from John 15: 13 (NKJV)

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

Related link:
Pope leads prayers as world celebrates Easter
http://news.sg.msn.com/topstories/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3146882

Prayer points:
1) That the war- and disaster-torn countries will experience healing and reconciliation
2) That oppressed or suffering Christians will not give up in meeting in fellowship and persevering in the faith
3) That each Christian will not forget the price at which each was redeemed at, and to live lives abundant in God’s love
- Written By Ho Kah Yoke

Thank You

To subscribe please email to: vcf.socialaction@gmail.com

About Social Action Committee
------------------------------------------
The Social Actions Committee (SAC) is a standing committee of the Varsity Christian Fellowship (VCF) and it aims to inculcate an attitude of social awareness and social responsibility in the society of each VCFer. It is about making our Christian faith practical and relevant in the community that God has placed us in reaching out to the less fortunate and speaking up on injustices for God's people and creation.

[1] The view(s) expressed in the E-newsletter strictly belongs to the writer and in no way reflects the official position of the Varsity Christian Fellowship (VCF)

"Inmates win NYAA Gold"

2009-04-21T12:25:00.003+08:00

It always encourages me to know the little ways in which lives of prison inmates can be changed while they're serving their time. I've heard of Alpha courses being held in the premises, and school lessons to aid them in getting an O's or A's certification in the Kaki Bukit Centre. This time round, it reports of 2 inmates who work together to achieve the NYAA Gold award! Having done the bronze and silver one before, I know that it is not easy to actually attain the Gold. And sure enough, they must have gone through quite a bit especially since they're confined within the walls of the centre. While doing the NYAA, they must also engage and benefit the community which I find is really encouraging.

Some may find that these actions are but paying back for the crimes they did, but I beg to differ. I see it as a step towards the change in heart which matters so much more. God works in little ways. Through serving the community, may they also see the love God has for them. Let's pray that more initiatives can be provided in prisons to facilitate life-changing experiences amongst the inmates, rather than the rote punishment of isolation and condemnation..

Here's a link to the article:
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_366147.html

Discussion on Creation Care

2009-04-03T20:07:00.000+08:00

Dear all,

The Social Action Committee will be organizing its final event for this year on the issue of Creation Care. We are honoured to have two speakers from A Rocha to come share with us their perspective on caring for the environment. They have worked with the Canadian A Rocha team and will be sharing their thoughts and later address any qustions on its relevance to fellow Christians. There will be a film on A Rocha, and why Christians should care, followed by an informal Q&A discussion. We would be delighted to have you join us! Details are as below:

Date: 6 April 09, Monday
Time: 7 - 9 pm
Venue: YIH Function Room 3

Looking forward to a fruitful discussion with you!

Elaine Tan,

On behalf of the Social Action Committee

e-Newsletter 19

2009-04-03T20:05:00.000+08:00

A) Earth Hour

Singapore Earth Hour Website

http://www.earthhour.org/news/sg:en

Earth Hour 2009 Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CRs-7lRlPo

St. Alban's Green Church

http://www.st-albans.dk/green-church/

Synopsis
For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background got the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off their lights at 8:30pm for one hour as a vote for Earth, or leaving them on as a vote for global warming. The World Wildlife Foundation has urged the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009. This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against global warming, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol.

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome's Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness. Local supporters who have committed to this cause include campuses like NUS and SIM, companies such as Singtel and BP, and buildings like Republic Plaza and Wheelock Place.

Commentary
Have you ever wondered what the Church has to say about environment and the Christian faith? Where can one go to find out more about what God has to say about looking after the environment? What is the place of a Christian in being an advocate for issues like climate change and pollution? These have been the perplexing questions that come to mind whenever I start thinking "green".

There seems to be a tension in the local church and environmental care in Singapore (I admit, this is my personal point of view). While our pastors teach us the importance of caring for others, awareness about looking after our planet appears to be out of the church's purview. This can be explained perhaps, because pastors may not possess the know-how in teaching congregations to be involved in this cause. Nonetheless, the teaching of God's word does reveal some insight to the need for responsibility towards His creation. In Genesis 1 and 2, God created Man to "rule" over the animals and plants (Gen 1:26), putting Adam in the Garden of Eden to "work" and "take care" of it. Thus, God does intend for his children to be good stewards of the Earth.

How have you been tending the "Garden of Eden" God has given us? Though efforts in the local church are limited, there are ways that you can respond to environmental issues by starting to be aware of them today. The Social Action Committee will be having a sharing by Arocha, a Christian international environmental group on 6 April. You could come down to learn about the work and challenges of these Christians in the field. Other churches like St. Albans in Copenhagen are encouraging testimonies of how the Church can be involved in the environment (See link above).

Prayer Pointers:

For Christian Singaporeans to arise to understand the need for action in the environment.
For the global initiative Earth Hour in their cause to replace the Kyoto Protocol.
Thank God for creating this Earth that we may live in. Appreciate the wonders of his creation around you, the trees, the sky and nature if you have the time.

- Written by Darryl Chew

B) Reimbursement for living kidney donors

Kidney payment gets nod

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_354333.html

Sue-Ann Chia. Kidney payment law gets OK

March 25, 2009. The Straits Times p.1

Sue-Ann Chia. Donor Payment: Debate over lack of detail

March 25, 2009. The Straits Times p.B9

Synopsis
Singapore has passed the controversial law that allows reimbursement of living kidney donors. The new law, however, is not particular clear on some grounds. For one, the law allows for payment to defray the costs of travel, accommodation, cost of child-care, loss of income and long-term medical care. But it thus leaves the amount for reimbursement to the donor and the recipient. Some MPs have voiced their fears regarding possible abuse as the law could potentially accommodate organ trading. However, the law also stated that reimbursement is subject to approval which prevents possible abuse. The approval process will be reviewed and tightened.

Health Minister Khaw Boon Wah assured MPs that safeguards against organ trading were already in place, which thus allowed for the lack of details that the new law has. Donors are selected based on international guidelines, along with assessment by the hospital transplant ethics committees. Donors are also informed of the risks involved. Finally, the Health ministry monitors the processes of the transplant ethics committees and enforces legal action if need be.

Commentary
The reimbursement of kidney donation is a hotly debated issue. In the past, it was less controversial as the issue has only surfaced in the recent years. For a Christian, the issue on organ transplants can be a tricky one as there is no specific mention in the bible on the subject (as with many other contemporary problems we face today).

Personally, I disagree with the means of compensation or reimbursement for kidney donors. Why? The bible tells us that we are to love our neighbours as ourselves (Matt 22:38-39). We are thus commanded to act in love towards one another, whether believer or otherwise. Jesus set the standard for love, when he lay down his life for us (John 15:13; 1 John 3:16). Organ transplant extends and improves the quality of life, which is something Jesus aimed to do. Organ transplant is something that we can do if the need arises. However, compensation makes the issue complicated, especially since the new law does not have any specific guidelines to the amount paid. Allowing payments would subject the law to abuse. Poorer recipients may be marginalized as they cannot afford much payment. Donors may thus look out for richer patients. Organ trades could still happen, which would lead to people selling their organs without considering the risks.

Prayer pointers

1) That all patients would still be able to receive transplants regardless of wealth and class.
2) Wisdom for the Health Ministry to set proper guidelines and to ensure that the law is not abused.

- Written By Jonas Hong

C) Eye On Indonesian Election
Indonesian election campaign season begins
http://chinapost.com.tw/asia/indonesia/2009/03/16/200357/Indonesian-election.htm

SURVEY: ECONOMIC ISSUE TOPS INDONESIAN ELECTION AGENDA IN 2009
http://www.indonesia-ottawa.org/information/details.php?type=news_copy&id=5196

Indonesia: Deep Distrust in Aceh as Elections Approach
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=6014&l=1

Synopsis
The country with the world largest Muslim population goes to the poll next week for their 3^rd general election on 9^th April. Several issues are on the agenda. Firstly, economic issues are on top of the agenda. Most average Indonesians are very concern about its impact. Second, it is the quality of governance. Third is the stability and continuity of the nation. The 1999 and 2004 elections, despite the problems, have been relatively peaceful. There are 38 parties contesting for 560 seats in parliament, the 132 seats in the regional assembly and their local legislature. Most importantly, the votes are an indicator for the ultimate political prize come July, the Presidential election.

Commentary
To most Singaporeans, what happens in Indonesia is of little significance. At best it is a messy affair. At worse it is just another case of failed governance. But we easily forget how the chaos of 1998 with the fall of authoritarian regime had severe repercussions. Today, many of the bilateral issues such as the extradition treaty, border delineation, and the sale of essential resources such as sand, supply of natural gas and businesses are subject to the vicissitudes of Indonesian national and local politics. If you are tempted to put Singapore in a league of its own, just consider how we are dwarfed by the sheer size of neighbour in the south- the biggest in Southeast Asia. Not relevant? No(?)

On Friday, I attended a seminar in the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. Two things struck me. Jusuf Wanadi, a renowned Indonesian commentator, commented how the Election Commission was remarkably incompetent and inefficient. More importantly, he also lamented how incredulous President Yudhoyono's government and several politicians have reacted in the face of the global financial crisis. Exports are down 30% and automobile sales dropped by 50%. Yet there is still no stimulus package. Many Indonesian politicians seem more concern about getting elected taking - the route to power and of cause money – then tackling the problems ahead. There are also worries that the recent announced electoral reforms would only increased personalized politics- meaning now you vote because of a personal obligation for favours owed to your patron. Finally, the result of the April election would affect the Presidential election in July. Who gets elected as President will determine the degree of tolerance for diversity, level of acceptable use of coercion and social stability- all with implications for the minority non-Muslim and Christian population as well as other missionary works.

Prayer Pointers

Pray for the peaceful and unfettered conduct of the 2009 elections
Pray for election of good, competent and moderate leaders.
Pray that elected politicians will take their responsibility seriously and prize integrity in a country where corruption is endemic.

- Written By Eugene Chew

Note from the Editorial
Social Action Committee will be hosting our last event on April 6th, Monday at YIH from 7-9pm. We have invited A Rocha, a Christian conservation group, to share their prespective on Creation Care. The two speakers are Singaporeans. They have worked with the Canadian A Rocha team and will be sharing their thoughts and later address any qustions on its relevance to fellow Christians. All are welcome.

Thank You

On Behalf of the team,

Eugene Chew

ec_tomahawk@...

To subscribe please email to: vcf.socialaction@gmail.com

About Social Action Committee

------------------------------------------

[1] The view(s) expressed in the E-newsletter strictly belongs to the writer and in no way reflects the official position of the Varsity Christian Fellowship (VCF).

Social Action E-newsletter 18

2009-02-25T01:08:00.001+08:00

A) Love is in the air- V-Day

Commentary

Year after year, no matter how bad the economy is, many still hold Valentine’s Day to be one full of the giving and receiving of roses, chocolates and romantic but extravagant dinners. Society and the media have also taught us that love is merely an inexplicable feeling that leaves us warm and fuzzy. The essence of Valentine’s Day, is thus, slowly reduced year after year into an increasingly commercialised affair. Much expectations but little meaning attached. Many Christians know that this is against the very notion of love, but we still tend to forget ever so often, and get caught up in this chase of “love”.

Nevertheless, the recent ‘Love Movement’, which came about as a collaboration between VCF, Campus Crusade for Christ and Navigators, has been a testament and timely reminder to all in NUS about what a more holistic picture of love should entail. It was a reminder that love is not merely a feeling. Instead, it can also manifest itself in actions and speech, namely the 5 love languages, as written in Dr. Gary Chapman’s book ‘The 5 Love Languages’ - words of affirmation, physical touch, acts of service, gift giving, and quality time.

Many in campus and even in society are in need of love today, but so many are seeking for love in the wrong places. Lust is increasingly being passed off as love, and love being passed off as a difficult and almost impossible thing to possess for good. People are beginning to settle for less, and living for the moment.

As Christians, it is our duty and ought to be our passion, to share about this love we possess which is unconditional and withstands the test of time and tide. So that lost souls can find redemption and a way out from the human condition of needing love, and so that people will no longer invest their time and energies into a bottomless pit of self-gratification, but instead, to see and personally know of God’s love which quenches and provides. After all, God is love and showed his love though his Son Jesus. He first loved us that we might be able to love. As such, it is our calling to be a reflection of God’s love, as in 1 Corinthians 13:1-8a and 13.

Prayer points:

1. For the lost and unsaved in NUS to eventually find God

2. For greater unity and more chances of fellowship amongst the body of Christ on campus (3 ministries – Navigators, VCF, Campus Crusade)

3. For Christians on campus to:

a. speak in love – with sensitivity towards non-christians/Christians alike, who may hold different beliefs

b. act in love – to have courage in stepping out of comfort zone for someone in need

-Written By Ho Kah Yoke

B) Mata Jeli: Masters of Terror Running for Election

Parties draw near to Kalla as presidential race opens up

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/02/23/parties-draw-near-kalla-presidential-race-opens.html-0

PDI-P mull Prabowo as Megawati's running mate

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2008/12/16/pdip-mull-prabowo-megawati039s-running-mate.html

PDI-P to select VP candidate

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/01/06/pdip-select-vp-candidate.html

Synopsis

Impending elections in April and July in Indonesia are throwing old faces with a new mix. Since the advent of democratisation in 1998, the political scene has witnessed its own twist and turns with many former military generals offering to partner with civilian politicians in the contest. Two former army generals, General (ret) Wiranto and Lt.Gen (ret) Prabowo Subrianto are potential vice-presidential candidates of former President Megawati Sukarnoputri of the PDI-P (Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle). Jusuf Kalla from Golkar is also looking for such a partner too. Even current President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is a former general. Meanwhile, in the recent years, parties set up by former retired military officers (e. Hanura & Gerindra) have grown more prominent.

Commentary:

Each electoral outcome has implications for Singapore but this is not the place for me to discuss. Rather I want to talk about leadership. Wiranto and Subrianto are no ordinary candidates. Wiranto is a former military chief whose hand in brutal crackdowns are dubious. After all, in 1999 following the unexpected East Timorese overwhelming vote for independence, it was widely thought that he had acquiescence to the violence unleashed onto the province by pro-Jakarta militias by simply doing nothing. If Wiranto is ‘bad’, Subrianto is notorious. His brutality is renowned and human rights abuses committed under his command well-reported. Remarkably, he has escaped prosecution. Nonetheless, because former military generals are widely influential and have powerful links, they are difficult to challenge and attractive as candidates to help civilian politicians pull in the votes. So the question is, what can we do? To be fair I don’t know. My honour thesis concerns such a similar issue and as I run through these details in my dissertation, I cannot help but be troubled at what lengths people, especially politicians, will go to ensure they succeed. It is indeed a food for thought for those assuming leadership in VCF. How far will we go to do what is right over what is expedient? In any case, I can only pray for good leadership and Indonesians to exercise discretion when they vote.

Prayer Pointers:

Pray for wisdom as each Indonesia voter decides his/her choice at the ballot box.
Pray for good and competence governance.
Pray for people ‘working’ in Indonesia as they face obstacles reaching out to the locals.
Pray for the upcoming VCF members being approach to serve in exco.

- Written by Eugene Chew

C) Love for the Wild

Australian Wildlife Pushed to Extinction

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/peter_wedderburn/blog/2009/02/13/australian_wildlife_pushed_to_extinction_by_bushfires

Australia Wildfire Death Toll

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,494204,00.html

A Rocha

http://www.arocha.org

Synopsis

In lieu of the recent tragedies arising in Australia, we see the folly of human mischief (as those arsonists did in Australia). We also we see the impacts of human behavior on our environment. The climate is warming up to the extreme over at Southern Australia, and this could only be the result of a sustained accumulation of ozone depletion. To top it further, wildfires have broken out to cause massive destruction and loss of lives and human property. The human death toll and the loss of homes of people are definitely issues we are concerned with. But what we fail to observe at times is how the surrounding environment is affected as well. Forests are destroyed; wildlife killed; biodiversity reduced; and many plants and animals have difficulty surviving through this aftermath.

Commentary

When we live as self-gratifying human beings, it results in exploitation of resources on earth and greatly affects the ecological factors. In scientific terms, living organisms are related to one another in what is known as a web of life. That is to say, whatever happens at one point leads to huge changes thereafter. The previous irresponsible acts of mankind shall only begin to see the consequences soon. Yet it is only through such times that we are awakened to realize the need for action. In Genesis 1:26, it is said that God’s intention was for man to care for all His creation. And we, created in His image, are but stewards tending to what is so graciously provided for us. As Christians, we care for the planet not because we want to save the world like a superhero, nor because it’s trendy. It is the acknowledgement that this world belongs to our King, and it is through caring for the environment that we live our lives as worship to Him. With that note, A Rocha - a Christian nature conservation organization - is committed to spread this message around the world. Its work involves environmental research and conservation, as well as community-related aspects such as sustainability and education. May we also do our little portion by having a lifestyle that is responsible, and responsive to Him.

Prayer Pointers

Those affected in Australia to find solace
People in general to be more aware about how their actions will affect the environment
A Rocha and its members to persevere on in their work, and that God may guide them through wisdom and strength as they strive towards their goal

- Written by Elaine Tan

'Green Revolution' with A Rocha

2009-02-19T10:49:00.001+08:00

Ben Lowe, an activist and secondary school friend of mine, just published a book "Green Revolution" with A Rocha, a Christian Conservation group. A Singaporean couple working with them will be speaking to Social Action come this May. Meanwhile, here is the clip A Rocha made during his book launch.

CHECK THIS OUT!

2009-02-18T14:12:00.002+08:00

Topic: Understanding Hinduism: A Christian Perspective
Date: 5 March 2009, Thursday
Venue: YIH Function Room
Time: 7-9pm (please be punctual)

Synopsis: Christianity in Singapore has a largely sino-centric focus in its evangelism and outreach efforts; with a greater emphasis of an awareness of Buddhism, Confucianism or Taoism and their corollary syncretic forms in comparison to other religions. And while Islam is approached with mix reaction, Hinduism, a global religion with a billion adherents (or one sixth of the global populations) is often treated like a mystic cult or fringe faith either reduced to frustrating simplifications or with studied distance at its apparently unfathomable complexities. With globalization increasing unabated and India emerging as a key economic player, more and more of us would become working colleagues and friends with Indians of whom a large portion would be Hindu.

My 80-minute seminar will focus on how to use Hinduism as a platform to open dialogue, sharing and preaching of the gospel. After which the next 40 minutes would open the floor for dialogue, questions and discussion. For the first 90-minutes I will focus on these following topics in view of underlining the differences between these beliefs and the Christian faith; so that the Christian is equipped with an effective grasp of the central tenets of the Hindu faith..

- Kumuthan

Reflection on "Redeeming Creation: Why Missions Matter to Mangroves" A Talk by Peter Harris, Founder & Director of A Rocha

2009-02-15T15:54:00.002+08:00

I have just returned from a talk held in Zion BP Church and it's given me much to think about. I am saddened by the fact that many churches around the world have chosen to disregard this issue as anything essential, but I take heart that God is working, and will complete, the work of conviction of the many hearts everywhere.

Prior to this, Melissa and Daniel from A Rocha have so kindly made the trip down to NUS one afternoon to have a chat with a group of us. They shared with us what the organization believes in, and the areas they work in. And I have been further drawn into a world where care for the environment truly comes from a Christ-centred heart. I have been thanking God ever since then for an organization like A Rocha, and I am glad too to have learned about them. I truly believe the Christian community in NUS can gain more insights and benefit in learning from them.

And so we've been invited to attend the sharing by Peter Harris this afternoon. To sum it up, the speaker was actively encouraging us Christians to no longer distinguish care for the environment as something social and secular, but to treat it all as a mission of the Church. For so long now, people have failed to regard the environment as anything Christians should worry about. Have we then failed to acknowledge all of it as God's creation? God's holy creation. And I like the way Melissa and Daniel have put it - caring for His creation is a form of worship to Him, recognizing His majesty and holiness. So caring for the environment (His creation) should be an integral part of being a God-loving, God-fearing disciple of Christ. As mentioned in Genesis 1:26, God's intention was for man to care for all things on earth.

Is there then a distinction between preaching the gospel, and caring for the environment? Definitely not. As we've often emphasized in VCF, during Jesus's ministry on earth, He did not only spread the good news, but He also ministered to the physical needs of the people there. So likewise, as we do His work in the ecological and environmental areas, we are proclaiming about Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God. We will then be living an integrated Christ-led life.

Peter Harris gave a few interesting illustrations of some of the 'reasons' why there are those who choose not to do anything about the issue of climate change and the environment. One such analogy of a misconception is: The world is a sinking ship. We should just save the people from the deck, and let the ship sink. One of the people Peter Harris spoke to before also mentioned that the world can rot for all he cares, God will eventually make a new world again. To which he was retorted that if a person should fall ill, does he not make a trip to the hospital to get cured? Or would he choose to let his body rot too, and wait for a new one. And so with all these mentality in people all around, the key to conservation really lies in the hearts of people. And that's what makes this whole issue a spiritual one. Because it touches on the transformation and the change of people's hearts.

A Rocha's work involves reaching out to communities and assisting them to make changes in their immediate surroundings. It often includes education, a reliable livelihood, and many more. This is definitely quintessential of what integral missions would mean. Through reaching out to them, it is a proclamation of Christ's love for His people.

Having said all these, I believe there is much room to explore and work in the context of Singapore. And I really really look forward to all of us working in this area in campus, at home, at work, and everywhere else :)

So let's pray together for the transformation and conviction of the hearts of Christians.. and also for the people around us to recognize all creation as God's own handiwork, to praise and worship Him :)

Of Guns, Spies and Mafias..

2009-01-25T19:19:00.003+08:00

This was a reflection sent by email from a friend.

----------

Dear friends,

First before I share with you guys something, Blessed Chinese New Year to everyone (&families) !! =) Hope that wherever you guys are, that you are enjoying the company of family and friends for reunion and feasting! If you find yourself alone, go out and treat another lone person to a meal and share some love with them! hehe

For most of you, you know I like to watch movies that have some action, some thrill, some adventure, you know, some great fight to 'save the world' or 'someone' or 'something' from 'some evil person/monster/catastrophic event' or just a good fight for a good cause.. Well, last evening, I was invited to attend a screening of a documentary on sharks - Sharkwater. The last documentary I watched was probably "March of the penguins'. Anyway, I expected something resembling a scene from 'Jaws' to greet me. You know, the usual ominous background music, coupled with a jawful of razor sharp teeth of the 'vicious' carnivorous king of the ocean lunging at you.

Instead, I plunged headfirst into a world that unveiled the true nature of these gentle beasts, and the alarming fact that 90% of the world's shark population have already been decimated and the figure is only climbing. I watched as a young man cuddled a shark, fed it by hand in the open ocean. I also watched as some workers sliced up a shark while it was still alive and throw it back into the ocean, still writhing in pain. I saw the young man and his group chased by gun men, pursued by speedboats, hunted by the taiwanese mafia, hospitalised. And the horrifying part is - its all real.

Did you know that one of the reasons God made sharks was to control the population of predatory fish that hunted other fish that ate phyto plankton which absorb carbon dioxide and convert it to oxygen for living things on earth(which includes us)? Phytoplanktons produce 70% of the oxygen we breathe!! In short, if shark population decreases, phyto plankton population decreases and oxygen 'production' decreases..and with less oxygen, guess which other population decreases in the end.. Wanna make a guess as to why the shark population suddenly plunged to a terrifying low?

This documentary, to my knowledge, is the most honest and true account of sharks. And it has only whet my desire to go diving with them even more. I too wanna play with sharks and cuddle them! Am I crazy? No! hehe =D Sharks are a vital part of our ecosystem..find out more about how we can save the earth God put us in charge of, and also, its a good conversation topic with absolutely anybody - so everyone who has been complaining they don't know what to talk to people about, well watch this film, if not for the cause, for the fighting spirit and passion this young man has in his belief, that we can adopt in our own fight to win the world for Christ. And don't say you don't know where to find the film trailer, cos the link is right here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggtxA4wuXzY.

They have the whole movie on Youtube in parts too. Or just email me! How easy is that!?

One thing you can start doing right away - stop supporting the sharks fin industry. Stop eating sharks fin.. I want my little cousins to grow up and go diving and be able to see a real shark in the open waters for themselves..not some pin up poster of a shark or one thats kept behind a glasswall.

=) Thanks for reading,

Have a good weekend!

-Adeline

Israel & Hamas- the Trilogy continues

2009-01-09T01:09:00.001+08:00

The use of force can be wielded peacefully or forcefully. Yet it is when force is wielded forcefully is it most tangibly felt. It is the exercise of pure naked violence to compel the victim to capitulate. And it is in the province of war that force discovers its reserve domaine. Early this week, Israel launched a full scale assault on the Hamas controlled Gaza.

[Read More]

I will leave the facts to the newspapers and give my few cents worth of opinion for those patient enought to read on.

Yesterday, innocent children and fleeing refugees were killed when an Israeli plane hit a school designated as a humanitarian shelter. While the Arab world burned with rage, the Israeli government harden its resolve to accomplish what it has set out to do- to emasculate or eliminate the Hamas backed fighters from firing rockets (something they do daily and the media so apt to forget or ignore) into the Eastern settlements of Israel. Unlike the escalation into Lebanon 2 years ago, the political objective is clear, and the army well prepared (with mobilisation and build-up over the past two weeks) and is not beset by any limited time-frame. Unless Hamas is forced into the negotiating table, the full scale ground assault will take some time.

Any flagrant use of force ought to be condemned. However limited and restrained, any life lost is one too many. Israel is all too known for its excessive use of force (however restrained it claims to have exercised) including the use of bull-dozers to flatten any build-up resistance. Israel has consistently and blatantly ignored all UNSC resolutions (no thanks to American backing and veto). But lest anyone should pity the other party, i want to state in no uncertain terms that Hamas is no angel. It once was and still is a radical organisation that resorts to terrorism to further its objective and as seen by its violent wrestling of Gaza from Fatah (naturally to seize political power you better have the force to back it up). I am suspiciuous of the Iranian-Hamas nexus because the former is Shitte the latter Sunni. I am also sceptical that the Hamas are real humanitarians when they set up their bases beneath and hide among innocent people. More importantly, as the Israeli Ambassador in his letter to the Straits Time asked: how do you negotiate with someone who questions the very legitimacy of your existence?

Each time the nationhood of Israel is challenged and the plight of the Palestinians raised, remember that the Palestinians themselves were responsible for forsaking the very chance to declare its own statehood. Today Hamas can do it unilaterally but why has it not done so?

Finally, the whole host of accusation that the West practices double standard is true. But who isn't bias? If the Islamic community is only prepared to protest concerning atrocities committed on its own but not against others (as in Mumbai), it is no surprise that the West is equally guilty of such hyprocrisy. You are only concern when something affects you. Unless we live up to the standards we set for others, the case is yet another pot calling a kettle black.

On a broader significance, i think there is little we can do in tangible terms. For those who can, i pray they do so impartially and humanely. Why do i say so? Well the Christian Right & Jewish lobby groups have almost blinded Amercia of its moral conscience in the Middle East. So i pray each of us wil exercise the due wisdom and sound judgement God has endowed each of us with.

Be angry and indignant where suffering persists. Be outraged when all injustices go unaddressed. Sympathise with all- literally with all-regardless of ethnicity and religion and reach out to anyone whom you can help. Otherwise at least pray. If you cant do any of these, either you're so ignorant and non-chalant or else you don have a heart.

e-Newsletter #16

2009-01-03T23:18:00.000+08:00

Social Action E-newsletter 16

A) Christmas-A Time to celebrate Life in Christ

Baghdad celebrates first public Christmas amid hope, memories

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/12/21/iraq.christmas/index.html

In Mosul, Iraqi Christians Brave the Violence to Celebrate Christmas

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/26/world/middleeast/26mosul.html?ref=middleeast

Synopsis:

As nations around the world celebrated what was deemed the usual event of Christmas this month, the country of Iraq held its first ever Christmas celebrations in a public park of Eastern Baghdad on Saturday, sponsored by the Iraqi Interior Ministry. Though there were Christmas trees and a Santa Claus present, the military band played stirring martial music, not Christmas carols. Moreover, an art exhibit in the middle of the park depicted the everyday life of people, police and soldiers in Baghdad. These artifacts employed the use of nail polish to paint the blood of a scene from a terrorist bomb attack, which has been recognized as part of daily life in the country. In the northern city of Mosul, Iraqi Christians braved the violence and biting cold and rain to attend Christmas Masses and pray for safety. It is one of the most dangerous places in Iraq and a stubborn holdout for insurgencies. Since the American-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, Christians have been hit hard, particularly in parts of Baghdad and Mosul. Numerous churches and the buildings in Mosul were bombed, and many priests and parishioners were killed or kidnapped for ransom.

Commentary:

Initially, I had wanted to write an article that would cover a whole range of ways in which various cultures and cities celebrated Christmas this year. However, while doing my research, the account of Iraq had re-awakened the meaning of Christmas to me. Here is a story of a nation with a history that identifies most with violence but yet, is celebrating an event that symbolizes all that is contrary to its very nature. The inaugural festivities that we read about in Baghdad bear similarities to the very sights that we experience along Orchard Road, but such parallels end there. Looking further, one reads of how the issues of safety and security still take center stage, with security guards deployed on the rooftops to protect people and bloodshed being represented in the artworks of the displays in the exhibits. All these reveal the fragility of a people that have made a choice to celebrate their social union and more importantly, their faith in Christ. Personally, I am moved by the Christians in Mosul who have made a commitment to their belief in God despite the persecution they face from other ethnic and religious groupings. Philippians 1:21 reminds us that “to live is Christ, and to die is gain”. Christmas has become a time of family reunions and gatherings with friends, but let us not forget about our brothers and sisters in distant lands who are fighting to live for Christ. Let us remember that Christmas is a time of life, and our Christian brethren in Iraq have shown us the tangibility of living for Christ and proclaiming his coming to Earth to die for our sins, that we might gain eternal life.

Prayer Pointers:

For the people of Iraq, as they seek to restore peace and order in their country.
For the Christians who are seeking to stand up for their identity in Christ in Mosul.
Thank God for the Christmas season, and remember the love of God in sending His Son to come to atone for our sins.

- Written by Darryl Chew

B) Perseverance and Faith
Chew Chor Meng has muscular atrophy

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_317020.html

Facebook Group for Actor

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=53481128936

Synopsis

A well-loved Mediacorp artiste, Chew Chor Meng, was recently diagnosed with an incurable disease known as muscular atrophy. The public response was that of shock and sympathy and wondered why such a tragedy would happen to a young and good man like him. On the contrary, the actor himself was initially depressed and helpless when he discovered about his illness. Yet he has made the reassurance to persevere from now on for the sake of his family. To quote him, he will try his best, and leave the rest to God.

Commentary

In times like these when the world's economy doesn't bide very well for our future, no one has to face with another dire situation as Chew Chor Meng's. Considering the majority of us who are University students soon to graduate into the working world, we are naturally more concerned of the future that lies ahead of us. But in comparison, the actor has come to terms with the fact that in the next 5 - 20 years, he would probably lose all control of his body, and be totally reliant on his family for survival. Wouldn't such knowledge of your future be more daunting? Yet oftentimes we are the ones who possess less faith despite having smaller-scale problems. The crux of the issue is not so much who has a bigger issue on his plate, but rather who is able to stand tall and still have at least the slightest faith in the One who holds tomorrow. Though easier said than done, we should definitely continue to strive towards helping the people around us stand strong in their faith. Prayer changes things. And finally, as the hymn reminds:

Many things about tomorrow

I don't seem to understand

But I know who holds tomorrow

And I know who holds my hand.

Prayer Pointers

1. Many other people whom we have chanced upon may be suffering from similar or worse problems. Pray for their perseverance and strength in the comfort of Jesus Christ.

2. Pray also for Chew Chor Meng and his family as they walk together in this tough journey ahead. Pray that their example will be a beacon of hope for the many other families who are going through the same problems.

- Written by Elaine Tan

C) A) Virtual Reality

Second Life pair now really married

http://digital.asiaone.com/Digital/Features/Story/A1Story20081222-109691.html

Teens fall prey to online predators

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_319400.html

(Full article can be found in the 29 December 2008, Monday edition of The Straits Times, page A4)

Youth had sex with girl, 11

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_313083.html?vgnmr=1

How it Happened

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_315782.html

Synopsis

The recent spate of news articles remind us once again of the pervasive influence of the internet in this day and age. The effects of the internet on real world social interactions can be both positive and negative but it appears to be the latter most of the time. Whether receiving sexual propositions or participating in sexual intercourse with strangers that teens meet online, the internet has become a source of sexual predation. A number of teens who had sexual intercourse with strangers they met online were from intact families and studied in top schools. The youth who had sex with an 11-year-old-girl was described by his mother as a “traditional boy” who was not comfortable around images of scantily clad women.

Commentary

The internet has provided for the increase in the availability of information on many levels. It has also allowed for interactions on levels unimaginable just 20 years ago. The recent cases that have received media attention will not be the last, nor are they accurate indicators of the prevalence of internet-related sex as many cases go unreported. It will be difficult to keep tabs on this issue given the widespread use of the internet and how anyone can either be a predator or a victim. Perpetrators can come from any background and have a varied range of reasons and motives. The term “victim” seems subjective as well. The youth claimed that the 11-year-old initiated sexual intercourse. Some, who are in their late teens, willingly accept online sexual propositions from older men out of curiosity, boredom or financial reasons. In a world where we are called to be salt and light, we must do our part to reach out to those around us, especially the impressionable young and the lonely, to befriend and love them, to send to them a message that they are loved for who they are. Yet, human friendships can only accomplish so much, limited by the finite amount of time we can spend on the physical plane. Only the eternal, infinite Jesus Christ would fully satisfy the longing for fellowship and love.

Prayer Pointers

Parents of youth and young children need our prayers for wisdom, patience and love. In this day and age, it is becoming increasingly difficult for parents to monitor their children. Coupled with long hours at work, it has become harder to be available for teens and children.
Pray for our youth today, who are constantly bombarded with media messages of who they ought to be and how relationships are supposed to be. May the gospel be the yardstick by which values are set against.

- Written By Jonas Hong

Thank You

On Behalf of the team,

Eugene Chew

ec_tomahawk@yahoo.com.sg

To subscribe please email to: vcf.socialaction@gmail.com

About Social Action Committee

------------------------------------------

[1] The view(s) expressed in the E-newsletter strictly belongs to the writer and in no way reflects the official position of the Varsity Christian Fellowship (VCF).

Remember to consider

2008-12-29T18:52:00.000+08:00

When celebrating Christmas and the New Year, remember to consider those who're less fortunate.

Children taking a bath in waste water at a slum in Jakarta. Piped water coverage reaches only 45% of households in urban areas in Indonesia, barely 10% in rural areas. Even when accessible, it is not drinkable[1].

[1]"Jakarta plagued by water woes", taken from the Straits Times, Dec 27th 2008.

Stand Up, Speak Out

2008-12-23T11:13:00.003+08:00

What does SOSU (Stand Up, Speak Out) mean to you in your specific ministry you are serving in VCF. How do you "stand up & speak out" in Social Action, as a VCFer, among your non-Christian friends?

In the early months of 1933, Hitler’s rose to power stirred an enormous euphoria among the German people. Amidst the streams of nationalist pride flowing across the country, a little known pastor of the Protestant Church, Dietrich Bonhoeffer spoke out against what he saw were the dangers of excessive nationalism, glorification of war and anti-Semitism. The slew of Nazi rhetoric before and the gradual implementation soon after it took office had a beguiling effect on the conscience and conviction of the average German. Even the Catholics and Christians in their silence were complicit to the numerous misdoings of the totalitarian regime.

This ‘story’ is not particularly new especially when we situate it alongside the biographies of the known Christian giants. However, the narrative presents a startling point of consideration for the Christian conscience and the role of social action. It demonstrates that to stand up or speak out is not an intuitive moment of necessity because the human mind is so prone to complacency. The natural instinct for self-preservation will most certainly stimulate a continuous dis-incentive to detract from the politically correct especially when the stakes are too high. We assume a peculiar path-dependence for specific behaviour and more so among our peers and community. Unless there exist a principle that has been persistently held up as the barometer of right or wrong, it would be almost absurd to believe that any man will suddenly or logically respond in a manner contrary to the normative standards. As Friedrich Nietzche aptly put: “rationality is the rule of the individual but madness is the norm for the group”.

So what are the implications? To privilege the importance of standing up and speaking up is noble. A mild order if we are to join in the contemporary vogue, a convenient expression for the baser self in a ‘liberal’ society. Yet if we are compelled to ponder deeply on what it can possibly entail, it is indeed a tall order. It stretches beyond sharing the gospel to our friends. That is important. But it also means exercising the Christian conscience and exorcising our human trepidation and diffidence when the cost of doing is discomforting. We must believe that just as Paul and Stephen suffered for articulating the unpopular truth; it would be foolhardy to presume that the world is any different today. We ought to insist that in all circumstances that “we want to know Christ, the power of his resurrection and to share in the fellowship of his suffering”. And by that it means a conviction to stand up for what is right and to speak out against what is wrong and engaging those who differ in intellectual, social and political terms- all for the purpose of pointing people to Jesus.

Therefore, Christian action begins the very moment a servant of Christ invites Jesus into his life. If we are careful not to quench the Holy Spirit, the counselor will be our definitive voice of conscience. It is in Him we depend upon and it is for Him that we ‘Stand Up’ and ‘Speak Out’.

Suvarnabhumi Airport under Siege

2008-11-26T23:00:00.006+08:00

Thai army chief tells PM to call elections to end crisis
26 November 2008 1822 hrs

BANGKOK - Thailand's army chief stepped in Wednesday to end a spiralling political crisis, telling the prime minister to call new elections and ordering protesters to end their siege of Bangkok's main airport.

You can watch a video http://www.channelnewsasia.com/video
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This is getting ridiculous. There is no rule of law. Seizing the airport? What next? Radio stations and broadcast stations? (Oh they are already in control of the government house) Military coups are now replaced by uncivil coups. Now the Army Chief is asking PM Somchai to step down. What the heck!

"Where was he when they seized Suvarnabhumi? And then the next evening he comes out and tells the prime minister to dissolve the House, although in his position he could have prevented (the airport siege)," a PM spokesman said

This is a peak season and with a looming economic crisis, the government can only be distracted and so many people derived of income. The police cannot use force to stop the protesters and risk a coup, the government is in 'charge' but with no power and the PAD just wants to provoke a violent showdown to elicit a military coup.

The land of a thousand smiles doesn't seem to be smiling anymore.

Blessed exams everyone

2008-11-14T19:41:00.000+08:00

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo

Euthanasia

2008-10-28T00:46:00.002+08:00

Euthanasia has been in the news recently, thanks to Minster for Health, Khaw Boon Wah, who raised the issue slightly over 2 weeks ago. Euthanasia is defined as “the deliberate, intentional termination of a person’s life for the benefit of that person” by the Special Report on the Sunday Times, 26 October, 2008. It is not, however, the same as the Advance Medical Directive (AMD). When a person takes up the AMD, he is stating that he does not want his life to be artificially prolonged, unlike euthanasia, which is the premature ending of a person’s life.

Singapore faces an aging population, where 1 in 5 will be over the age of 65 by 2030. 1 in 12 is currently over the age of 65. It is never too early to deal with an issue of the very near future. As Christians, what should our response be? Let us begin by examining some of the arguments for euthanasia.

The arguments for euthanasia seem strong enough. Sustaining a patient who is terminally ill is costly. The amount of medical care that is required is tremendous. Furthermore, the spending comes to naught as the patient’s death is inevitable and soon, in a matter of months or weeks. Multiplied by the large aging population, the resources needed for such care will tax the economy, in a literal sense as well. Such resources can be diverted to research and improvements for health care for those who upon recovery, have years to live on independently. The large amounts of resources needed for prolonging the life of the terminally ill will have to come from taxes. Singapore’s population is already unable to replace itself. Today’s students will face higher taxes in the future if they enter the workforce without euthanasia.

The pain that terminal illness brings is more than skin deep. The physical pain is exacerbated by the gradual loss of independence. The terminally ill often face a loss of dignity as they have to depend on others for the most basic tasks. They are also unable to participate in social activities. The purpose of life is lost and dying is a much better option. It seems beneficial to society and to their families for them to leave earlier.

The arguments for euthanasia are compelling. Few would want to pay higher taxes. Many would consider ending their lives earlier if they are stricken with terminal illness. But despite the seemingly altruistic reasons for the premature ending of a life, euthanasia is still euphemism for murder. The Hebrew word for murder in Exodus 20:13 refers to a premeditated and deliberate act. A human life can never be determined properly in monetary or utilitarian terms. Christ’s sacrifice for every person makes every life worthy as well.

Euthanasia is not the way to go. Its legalization can lead to involuntary euthanasia for some who may not be in a proper state of mind to make such a decision. The terminally ill can be coerced or made to think it is their duty to end their lives.

The Bible tells us also that God cares about the poor and defenseless. Jesus made time to minister to the sick while he was here.

What is needed is not the ending of lives but better and more extensive palliative care. Patients who want to end their lives on one occasion may change their minds once they feel better. It is unfortunate that in our pragmatic society we have learnt to put a monetary cost on everything. Palliative care will be more expensive but more rewarding. More needs to be done in terms of research and training. More doctors and nurses will be needed in this soon to be crucial medical area. Palliative care is the most trying and difficult area for medicine; one’s patients never recover and most will leave the physical plane in less than a year.

Pray for those who work in such areas. Try to step in their shoes. Care for them the best you can. Contribute when you can, to organizations and research areas.

It is a struggle for terminally ill patients. Death seems so near yet so far away. Pain is a constant companion and some are too weak to even cry. It’s a challenge to spend time with them, to listen even when we do not understand their words. Pray for these patients, for those around you that are under such care.

Pray that euthanasia will not be legalized in Singapore. Murder by any other name is still murder.

Finally, may the parable of the sheep and the goats remind us Who we ultimately serve.

- Written by Jonas-

All I Need by Radiohead

2008-10-27T01:57:00.003+08:00

As I was watching this MTV, I couldn't help but think of how fortunate we are, living our comfortable lives and carelessly treating the things we have. At times we even forget the value of money, and all this happens while the poor in the developing countries are suffering a fate million times worse than us.

Another thing we ought to think about is also, who is paying the price for our luxurious lifestyle?

So from today onwards, whenever you do not finish your food, I think it's ok if you can't really imagine the starving children in Africa, but I do hope you'll remember this video, and give thanks to God for all He has blessed you with. (:

Linkin Park - What I've Done

2008-10-26T00:25:00.008+08:00

What I've Done"
In this farewell
There’s no blood
There’s no alibi
‘Cause I’ve drawn regret
From the truthOf a thousand lies

[Pre-Chorus:]
So let mercy come
And wash away
What I’ve done

[Chorus:]
I'll face myself
To cross out what i’ve become
Erase myself
And let go of what i’ve done

Put to rest
What you thought of me
While I clean this slate
With the hands of uncertainty

[Pre-Chorus]

[Chorus]
For what I’ve done
I start again
And whatever pain may come
Today this ends
I’m forgiving what I’ve done!!!

[Chorus]
What I’ve done
Forgiving what I’ve done
-------------

I listened to this song over and over again. Always quite enjoy the songs written by Linkin Park not to mention how they sing their songs with such intensity. It is like as if they mean it inside out, screaming out for our attention.

This song got me thinking real hard. If you take a glance at the music video, you will find very familiar images. Some of our most destructive faces were flashed on screen as the song made a pleading cry for man to save himself, as if begging that he commits no more sins and put an end to all that suffering by erasing his pains as well as that stench of blood from his hands. As the Chorus suggest, everyone wants to start anew, afresh on a clean page, with no guilt of past memories to haunt us. So those grim images were nicely juxtaposed with a living cell, fresh newborn and vibrancy of natures' first breath and living existence. Beautiful.

But can we really cross out our own sin? Can we really forgive ourselves. How do we forgive ourselves? Who will show mercy to all of us? Every one of us? To clean this slate- with what

Why do we need to do all that if we can do it ourselves? If we're really able to do all that, why then do we still try so hard only to fail? Mercy? If we were all so rational and self-dependent, then to whom must we pay and for whom must we make amends if not ourselves? But then hey how then do we seek forgiveness if there is no one to forgive and restore? Why do we even seek amends when all we need is our lives and self?

Questions.. Questions... questions. *Tick Tock*

The debtor haunts but there is no one to receive. Indeed truth is self-indicting of the thousand lies.

Perhaps we're mistaken. It may be that many of us have been able to rightly point out the source of depravity but our answers... they are simply too disappointing. It maybe... maybe.. that we all need our own forms of saviour. But where can this saviour be found?

Could it plausibly have been found only in Jesus? *tick tock*

Maybe when we should rightly discover our answers, then the green grass of life will once again start to blossom from our once barren life.

Eugenics

2008-10-25T01:46:00.000+08:00

MM Lee says world economy will be restored in 3 to 5 years
"On a lighter note, the Minister Mentor touched on what he calls assortative mating, that is, finding a spouse at your level - something he strongly believes in.

He said: "I have explained this. I think I lost votes after I explained the awful truth. Nobody believed it, but slowly it dawned on them, especially the graduates, that yes, you marry a non-graduate, then you worry about whether or not your son or daughter is going to make it to the university."
-----

Political hubris. Period.

Make Poverty History!

2008-10-17T23:26:00.001+08:00

STAND UP, SPEAK OUT
AGAINST
POVERTY AND INJUSTICE
(http://www.onesingapore.org)

To the leaders of the wealthy countries:
Be great. Fight to keep your promises – debt cancellation, more and better aid, and trade rules that help fight poverty.
You know what needs to be done.
Do it.

We also stand before the leaders of poorer countries to say:
Be great. Make it your first responsibility to save the lives of your poorest citizens. We ask you to achieve real transparency and accountability in how money is spent, to tackle inequality, to root out corruption.
You know what needs to be done.
Do it.

The above was taken from a Powerpoint slide put up on the website about the Pledge to fight poverty. Basically it is a call to us, ordinary people, to take a stand against injustice in this world. I wouldn't say we are against poverty, because poverty was merely a consequence of the action of men. It was through the corruption, the unscrupulous decisions, all of which stems from human selfishness and greed, that led to so much poverty we see. So what we need to stand against is essentially the injustices that befall them everyday.

Let us pray together that He will enable the good reliable leaders to rise up to help ease the situation in time to come. Yea, let us not sit back and do nothing about the many situations of unfairness in this world. Instead, we can add a voice! Be it writing about it, or sharing your thoughts with others. These are little, but powerful ways of spreading the awareness as well as allowing others to realize the severity of these issues. And of course, prayer changes things. So don't forget this weapon of ours, and we must use it well =)

Well, I wouldn't say I'm good at writing or speaking about such things, so I can admit I'm still learning. It's like learning to walk, ya? So, do what you can! =) Feel free to email us any of your opinions/thoughts that you'd like posted, to vcf.socialaction@gmail.com. I'd love to hear from you =)

- Elaine

Photos from the Welcome Carnival

2008-10-09T14:03:00.007+08:00

Here are some photos taken during the afternoon shift at the Welcome Carnival. Unfortunately, the photographer was preoccupied with the areas where the befriending, foodie bag collection and performance were taking place and missed out the medical section! Yea, so the photographer was me, and I apologize! But hope you're about to see a clearer picture of what the welcome carnival was like through these photos =)

Kian Teck Dormitory

Comics on the topic of AIDs for distribution (available in different languages!)

Exhibition on AIDs in Chinese

The 3 emcees to cater to the various speaking groups of the workers
(There was singing performances put up after this)

A Befriender explaing about the Quiz

Diligently looking for answers to the Quiz

A Befriender explaining the Quiz

Kah Yoke, a Befriender, with the female workers
(hee, sorry KY, for this unglam (slightly only!) shot!)

The workers getting to claim foodie bags with their food coupons

Patiently explaining the Quiz

Mingling

This is the place they call Home while they're in Singapore

Well, how do you feel? As I look through the pictures again, I start recalling the emotions and thoughts that rushed through my mind that afternoon. Honestly, I wasn't in my comfort zone, but isn't that what it's all about? It was difficult at times, no doubt, but Christ's love for the people has always transcended the barriers of language, race, or the social culture. I was definitely deeply enriched through the experience that I've had.

I thank God for this experience that some of us can join Healthserve in being part of this carnival to serve the foreign workers - a group of people we often neglect. Makes you reconsider the thoughts that we should have, and the actions we should take.

Last but not least, I'll leave you with some happy faces! =)
I'd like to also thank those who came down to help, as well as those who wanted to but couldn't. We will have another chance I'm sure! =)

Pam & Andrew

Yiwen

Pam, Elaine, Eugene

Hope you had fun reading, like we had fun being down =) Do join us when there's another chance!

Till then, God bless, and keep visiting our blog! =)

break my heart for what breaks Yours

2008-10-06T21:05:00.004+08:00

written on sunday, 5th october 2008

yesterday, i had a very humbling experience when i was among the foreign workers. as a girl, i often raise my defences against male foreign workers whom i meet along the streets and around the neighbourhood. in my mind, i would always have a paranoid idea that these people are up to no good and that they might do something to harm me (maybe some girls can identify with me here:P). but yesterday while i was in the midst of hundreds of male foreign workers, God taught me to throw down my defences and to really surrender my fears and prejudices to Him.

As i was helping out at the medical screening station, i had to come into contact with the male foreign workers as i took their blood pressure and body temperature. I learnt that sometimes, it is necessary for us to make ourselves vulnerable in order that Christ's love can be expressed freely within and through us. From the briefing to the carnival itself, my eyes and heart were opened to this group of people; a group of people who has left their families in search for a "better life", a group of people so often stigmatised and neglected by Singaporeans that makes me wonder as Christians, are we convicted that God first loves us and therefore we love and so we choose the hard and narrow road to lay down our pride and prejudices before the Lord to be a salt and light among this nation for Him?

- pam

One Formula of Sin

2008-10-03T14:50:00.001+08:00

So the Singapore leg of the Formula One Grand Prix has come and gone, and despite the lacklustre build up to last weekend, the post Grand Prix buzz has been about how the event has been Singapore's coming out party, the showcase of a world class city to the world, not unlike Beijing's Olympic moment of glory just last month.

More images here.

And as a (in all likelihood) swansong to my student usher career, I was thrilled to be roped in to usher for the inaugural night race.

By the end of the three days, however, what I witnessed was less the glamour and celebration of a world class city's largest ever sporting event, but more pride and pretence of a sinful humanity boasting in himself.

Being assigned the Club and Sky Corporate Suites, I witnessed a stark manifestation of the rich-poor divide of society. Here were the elite of society, patrons of the richest banks and the companies in the world. Here were the people who 'made it', and were eager to flaunt and look like they 'made it'. 'Look at me. Do YOU know who I am?'

I watched on as they flaunted their wealth and made excessive demands for comfort, almost to the point of abusing the service staff that were assigned to them.

On the other end of the spectrum, I was also disturbed at how the entire hierarchy F1 organization subjugated themselves under these rich elite. From the lowly waiter being abused to the top management of the Grand Prix, everyone pandered about in service of the elite.

'Let them have what they want, after all they are the rich, the very people who brought the GP F1 to Singapore. This event is about them.' everyone seemed to say. I could not help but notice the tone of resignation, that we common folk would never be like them the elite.

Ironically, in all the resignation of their fate, the common folk, have perhaps lead to an idolatry of the rich. They have 'made it'. And deserve to be where the are today.

And sure enough, I guess if enough people think you are God, you begin to act like you are God.

What further attenuated the rich-poor contrast and fueled my indignation was the lack of attention given to the welfare of the majority of the staff, volunteers and lay guests at F1. To name a few:

With insufficient ushers hired, some of my colleagues had to work ridiculous lower limb breaking 10 hour shifts, with 15 minutes allocated for dinner. The late shift changers even had to arrive at the canteen area, only to find that proper food was being thrown into waste bins, while being chased away by a 'sorry, Dinner time is over.' The Friday shift was made to drench the morning rain, just because no one took charge of the ponchos and survival kits that were meant to be distributed.

On the guest side, no provision was made for facilities where Muslims could break their ramadan fast, hold their prayers and find quick access to food and drink. And even worse, there was a lack of handicapped facilities that catered to the wheelchair patrons.

While I concede that it would be too much to expect of the organizers to cater to every single detail, especially since it's our first GP, the hypocrisy behind the differential treatments of patrons, according the price of their Grand Prix passes could not be more apparent.

What is the F1 really about? Is it a celebration of a world class event in a city for ALL Singaporeans, regardless of socio-economic status? Or is it a hypocritical display of pride, an indulgence of the rich elite at the expense of the poor?

Perhaps as a stark reminder of the depravity of human nature, Beijing has fallen from its single moment of Olympic glory with the SanLu milk scandal.

I am reminded, that in God's eye, the benchmark of a truly World Class City and society is not in a single point showcase of its capabilities, but rather in its consistent and equal and just treatment of all its citizens, including the poor and marginalized.

e-Newsletter #13

2008-10-01T17:18:00.004+08:00

A) Market in Depression

Collapse of Lehman Brothers, sale of Merrill Lynch shakes stock market

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/nation/stories/091508dnnatwallstreet.7aecb503.html

Bank Bailout Architects To Face Senate

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/23/national/main4470574.shtml

AIA loses 2,000 policies

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_279943.html

Asian stocks mostly down on delay to US rescue plan

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific_business/view/378318/1/.html

Synopsis:

The collapse of Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch last weekend triggered a massive panic that nearly shook the foundations of Wall Street, with nerve-wrenching ramifications across the globe. Fears of a repeat of the 1929 Great Depression spooked investors and analysts as the market watched anxiously for a response. The Federal Reserve and US Treasury, in a matter of hours, swung into action with a massive bailout plan for American International Groups (AIG) and other financial institutions that have been hamstrung from the exposure to the sub-prime mortgage crisis. At present, financial markets are waiting in eager anticipation as Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson await the Senate Banking Committee to approve of their comprehensive $700 billion programme to stem the tide of collapse.

Commentary:

Last Monday was like the start of every other week except that this time it was greeted by the collapse of two major financial institutions. The world would have operated like any other day just that on the other side of the globe, thousands of American (and plausibly European and British banks) employees faced the prospect of retrenchment and unemployment. In Singapore, it was only the potential fall-out affecting the AIA insurance policies were we given a glimpse of its repercussions. For most of us preoccupied with our deadlines and assignments, it would most certainly have past without a hint of regret. But it should not have been so. For one it affects your peers who are about to graduate. More importantly, I think as Christians we can ill-afford to disassociate from what surround us and that which can severely affect society. Imagine if only as students, we’re to remain insulated from the anxieties of others, what more could we expect of ourselves when we venture out into the working world. It may be, by virtue of our academic qualification and high paying job, find ourselves inadvertently more out-of-touch and aloof of realities. Should that day happen, how are we to then claim to be in the world but not of the world? The irony would be that in our self professed knowledge of the truth, we could end living a myth of being in the world but never really apart from the world. When that day happens, we have ceased to be that beacon of light for Christ.

Prayer Pointers:

Pray for those directly or indirectly affected by the crisis. For the unemployed pray for hope and opportunity. After all work is what God has intended for us to find fulfillment and pleasure.
Pray that you and your Christian friends will be a firm witness to society and be meaningful service and support for the underprivileged and needy.
Pray that as Christians we would never grow to be lukewarm believers like the Church of Laodicea (Rev 3: 14) but remain connected, relevant and practical in our outreach and service to society.

- Written by Eugene Chew

B) Getting hitched?

Singaporean Singles would rather focus on career ahead of marriage

http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/STIStory_257919.html?vgnmr=1

PM Lee’s National Day Rally Speech 2008

http://app.sprinter.gov.sg/data/pr/20080819982.htm

2008 Marriage and Parenthood Package -MCYS

http://fcd.ecitizen.gov.sg/MarriageNParenthoodPackage

Synopsis:

At the National Day Rally Speech this year, one of the important themes that PM Lee Hsien Loong highlighted was the need for more marriages and encouraging couples to start families in a bid to fight our ailing fertility rates. Some of the measures introduced include the merger of the Social Development Unit and Social Development Services, improving work-life balance by increasing maternity leave and providing better childcare facilities. At the heart of these policies is a push to battle the lack of marriages, which have contributed to falling fertility numbers.

Commentary:

When I was a teenager, marriage always seemed like a faraway and dreamy affair; an occasion that was more a family gathering where my relatives played the protagonists in richly ornamented costumes to celebrate their love for one another. As I entered into my twenties, and saw a growing number of my friends walk down the aisle in a commitment of their lives to being in holy matrimony with another person, I begin to shudder at the thought of ever finding “the one” for my life. It also really didn’t help that PM Lee’s speech was covered by the strong emphasis for singles to be more proactive in getting attached. With insecurity slowly creeping into my life, I sought the word of God for assurance. What does the Bible say about singlehood?

Paul concedes, “Concerning virgins: I have no commandment from the Lord” (1 Cor 7:25). Singlehood is not a “gift” in the same way the Holy Spirit is a gift. It should not be seen as something “predestined” by God. Therefore, the reason one ends up single or not is usually the result of a variety of factors rather than just one’s choices and his circumstances. Whatever the exigencies that make us remain single, we should not see singlehood as a “desert” in life, where no joy can be felt. It can be a chance for drawing closer to God and appreciating the many wonders that God has granted His creation to experience. Being single can also mean being spared of some of the burdens associated with marriage. Both seasons in life have their own beauty, and individuals should not be too quick in jumping from one to the other without being sure that it is in accordance with our Father’s will. Whether you are married or not, as children of God, we will be blessed as long as we keep His Word. Seek God and His righteousness as the priority of our lives, and while you trust God to be the only standard in your life, you never know when your Adam or Eve may come into your life.

Prayer Pointers:

For single young adults in Singapore, as they struggle to manage the pressures of work and family, and finding love.
For our non-Christian single friends, to find the love of Christ, not only physical love.
Thank God whether you’re single or married, and for the goodness that this phase of your life has brought you.

- Written by Darryl Chew

C) He Created Adam and Eve

Walking a Fine Line
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/february/26.56.html

Ravi Zacharias Answers Questions on Homosexuality
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkCkXU0e75k

To find out more about Sy Rogers, who turned away from his homosexual way of living:
http://www.syrogers.com

Synopsis
Early this month, the Straits Times featured several interviews with transvestites and homosexuals. Covering six full pages, the voices of a minority group of people were heard – in a bid to seek acceptance and understanding from society. In particular, it featured an article of a father who in his later life underwent surgery to become a woman. This group that consists of “transgenders” and homosexuals are often being shunned and despised upon. They are those who have undergone a sex change due to a gender/identity ‘disorder’. Soon after the articles were featured, a debate ensued in the Today and Straits Time forum on the relevance of retaining Article 377A (that criminalises homosexuality). The persistent complains coming from the group remains- that society views homosexuality as a taboo, and they lead a low profile to prevent further discrimination.

Commentary
Homosexuality has always been a highly debated issue amongst many, even more so between Christians. With various schools of thoughts in society these days, it has been difficult to come to reconciliation on how Christians should be responding to the issue of homosexuality and “transgenderism”. Beyond just establishing the Christian truism that we ought to condemn the act but not the person, the whole debate challenges us to review the Christian position and ability to reach out and engage this group in society. Undoubtedly, the media is common parlance where homosexuality receives its greatest sympathy owing to the high level of participation, representation and interaction from this community. For one, we must be prepared to make a stand and not shy from it. Increasing the space for debate has been narrowed with those arguing against it defined as ‘intolerant’. However, insofar as “tolerance for diversity is necessary… genuine tolerance must encompass the freedom to discuss whether homosexuality is good or right? This freedom must be available to all” (Article published by Church of our Saviour). Understandably, there are some who suffer from a disposition that attracts them to people of the same sex. We should not dismiss or neglect their real struggle and be a genuine source of support and fellowship. Nonetheless the question remains – can our disposition justify our actions? It is a choice to be made whether we should live a life submitting to our worldly desires, or to recognize and remind ourselves the purpose that God has made us for. Regardless of our contending viewpoint, the truth be told the bible is clear: homosexuality is a sin. Truth is inherently narrow and we should never be afraid to take a stand.

Prayer Pointers:

Pray for wisdom and unity in the Christian community on the perspective to be taken with regards to the issue of homosexuality.
Pray that as Christians, we approach the homosexuals and those who have changed their gender with love and not with judgment.

- Co-written by Elaine Tan & Eugene Chew

A note from the Editorial,

It is with great joy and humility that this ministry is please to share that the E-newsletter has reached a critical milestone- its full 1 year in circulation. We are grateful for your support and appreciation through numerous feedbacks and encouragement. Thanks be to our God Almighty who has given us the privilege to write and share our perspectives. We also would like to thank the Varsity Christian Fellowship (VCF) for providing the resources, insights and support to the team. Finally, we would like to extend our warmest appreciation to the Social Action Committee (SAC) members and our ad-hoc writers for their contributions.

On a related note, the Editorial is currently searching for a new pool of writers to sustain and continue this important ministry. Most of the current team of writers is in their final year of studies and so it is our duty to oversee that this ministry remains in good hands in the years to come. Therefore we pray and sincerely hope that God would provide and move people to take up this important and meaningful ministry. Should you be interested or curious to find out more, please do not hesitate to contact us at the email below.

Finally, SAC is organising two events this month. The first is a volunteer project with HealthServe at the Kian Teck foreign workers dormitory (4^th October). The second is a student forum titled “When Jesus Meets the Other Religions” at the end of the October. Should you be interested, please feel free to contact us at the email address below.

Thank You

On Behalf of the team,

Eugene Chew

ec_tomahawk@yahoo.com.sg

To subscribe please refer to http://groups.yahoo.com/subscribe/Social-Action-E-newsletter

About Social Action Committee

------------------------------------------

[1] The view(s) expressed in the E-newsletter strictly belongs to the writer and in no way reflects the official position of the Varsity Christian Fellowship.

To him who seeks to overcome

2008-09-23T03:52:00.003+08:00

A friend who was struggle so hard to keep the faith was pouring out his pains.

Here is a concluding portion i had for him...

Life is a decision we make for God. No one else decides it for us. Nothing, absolutely nothing, regardless of its density, intensity or severity, should compel to make a decision that works against our conscience and our very existence.

So keep the faith and believe. When Jesus in Revelation makes the promise, it was to "him who is able to overcome"- a staggering total of 7 times, it was really a firm exhortation to believers to endure and perserve because we're reminded repeatedly that "the just shall live by faith" not once, not twice but thrice.

Amen.

Wicked - and thoughts on relativism

2008-09-13T23:47:00.004+08:00

The following was taken from the blog of Tang Shangjun;

--------------
I just watched the musical Wicked and boy was it Wicked! It was an excellent musical. The music was certainly inferior to Les Miserable but the props, the story and the cast were amazing. The symbology and metaphors used in the play also left much food for thought.

But one thing caught my attention, just one line in the whole musical that i wish to comment on now.

"The truth is not a thing of fact or reason; the truth is just what everyone agrees on." - The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

I think one of the most relevant questions in the Bible was proposed by Pontius Pilate when he asked: "what is truth?" what then, exactly, is truth?

One of my friends best expressed the issue when he told me a few weeks ago that he was a "moral relativist." This is one of many strands of post-modern reasoning today that is "in vogue." Truth, in essence, is compromised and subverted. This world is slowly losing its cognizance of what truth is.

That this was going to happen was illustrated very well by the late atheist, Bertrand Russell. when Russell was asked how he differentiated between bad and good, he replied "the same way i differentiate between blue and yellow - by feeling" (paraphrased). Today we see an increasing number of people who differentiate bad or good, truth or untruth based on mere feeling alone, with no framework of truth in mind.

I told that friend of mine that the phrase "moral relativism" in itself is a problematic term. if morality is relative, in the sense that everyone can choose to decide for himself what is right and wrong, then what is the point of even according meaning to the word "morality" in itself? Words do not exist in a vacuum. If there is morality, there must be immorality. If there is no immorality, morality would cease to be definable because then everything would be moral. If one knows no concept of immorality, instead choosing to define immorality relatively, then one can know no firm concept of morality as well. and if one knows no firm concept of morality, then how can "morality" as a word even be a meaningful one?

My firm belief is that moral relativism and post-modernism should bear a lot of blame for the state of society and the world today. when we see anti-abortionists torching abortion clinics, richard dawkins stating that teaching a child religion is equivalent to child abuse, the religious fundamentalist killing others, all in the name of morality, we wonder, i wonder: what hath moral relativism and post-modernism wrought? Is this to be a world that will see a few generations growing up with the understanding that good and bad is all relative?

it does not take much to realise by now that i disagree with what the Wizard of Oz said. the truth is not what everyone agrees on. the truth is a thing of fact. and now we are back to the question again of what truth is. To me, a Christian, truth is embodied in God and in God's Word. anti-theists often charge that Christians are xenophobic because they make an absolute claim to the truth. they miss one simple grammatical point - truth by definition is absolute and exclusive. 99% truth still falls short. If we qualify our definition of truth, it runs the risk of what Antony Flew described as "dying the death of a thousand qualifications."

We can know what is right and wrong. we do not differentiate between right and wrong based on mere feelings or desires. To a world that disagrees and sees the Christian view as archaic and outdated, i fear that they know not the consequences of their beliefs. If this world becomes overwhelmingly atheistic, all notions of morality and a moral framework would collapse. The possibility of global anarchy ensues because atheism as a philosophy allows for anarchy. Christianity on the other hand does not. True, violence and wars have been attributed to Christianity in the past and it is an embarassing history. But as Ravi Zacharias would say, the difference between the crusades and the holocaust is the Jesus would never have smiled upon the crusades. As for the holocaust, there was no moral framework in place to stop it. If we look past the broken vessels that are us to see the person of Christ, we see the true picture of what Christianity is about.

What is truth? moral relativism and post-modernism they are not.

The North's Tale of Two Democracies

2008-09-10T02:51:00.005+08:00

The Olympics is over. National Day has passed and aside from the looming economic uncertainty, the sky remains clear for most Singaporeans (except for students with the dreaded exams and assignments ahead) The PAP led government is confident as attested by PM Lee's decision to loosen up certain political restrictions.

But things further up north are not looking so bright. In Malaysia, the BN (Barisan Nasional) led government is facing its biggest challenge since independence. Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has promised to institute change. Abandoned by the ethnic Indian and Chinese minorities in the recent election, fissures within the ranks of BN's component parties have emerged. PM Abdullah Badawi's political future is very uncertain and he is facing a bold challenge from the rank-and-file. The weakening social contract has therefore raised the spectre of old-ethnic conflicts as they surface to the fore.

In Thailand, PM Samak is in a hot-soup. He has no office to work in and his house is surrounded by protesters. Last week, the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) took over the government house and disrupted operations in the 3 major Thai airports in Bangkok, Krabi and Phuket. Not surprisingly, these places are opposition strongholds. They are demanding that the PPP (People's Power Party) government quit. A state of emergency in Bangkok has been declared and the Army is now in charge of order in the streets. Far from the rhetoric splashed on the main papers, the dispute is quintessentially an elite competition; a divide between the rural mass-based party and the Bangkok-conservative establishment.

Basically, there are three things which we as Christians can draw out as lessons for us.

1) Give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s
It is cliché but these two cases provide a very good example. In democracies, disorder within an ordered framework is acceptable. In Malaysia, the process is in moderation and non-violent. In Thailand however, there is hardly any respect for the rule of law and authority. The point of proper submission to authority is as we learn in Titus (Chpt 3) and through Jesus, is so that we honour God and do not give others a reason to dispute our testimony and malign the faith. Legitimate channels should be used for feedback and disagreement should be measured.

2) To whom much is given, much more is expected.
In all societies, there will always be elites and the subaltern class. It is the duty of the elites, inasmuch to govern, is to care for the poor and less fortunate. In Thailand, the Bangkok elites seem to cherish the assumption they know what is best and that the opinions of the countryside should not matter. We only have to read the Old Testament and we will realize that a consistent charge leveled on Israel by the prophets like Jeremiah (Chpt 5), Amos (Chpt 2) and Habakkuk (Chpt 1) is the failure of the religious leaders and elites to care for the poor and set a good example.

3) Christ died for all- Jew, Greek or Gentile
Christ is Lord of all. No group, class or ethnicity should have the right to claim primacy or dominance over others. We should not tolerate discrimination and inequality. Affirmative actions should be directed specifically to those in need, not enrich a select group or the elites. In Malaysia, a huge cause for grievances among the ethnic Indian minority is this sense of marginalization. Of late, an UMNO leader from Penang has also questioned the legality of Chinese citizenship because of the community's questioning of the Malay special rights. We do not live in an ideal world. But we do believe that we should strive for a more egalitarian society that does not discriminate. Help is rendered to all in need and not based on religion or ethnicity. Such an example can be seen from Paul's exhortation to both Jews and Gentiles that all have sin and fallen short and are in desperate need for the salvation that comes only from Jesus (Chpt 1-3).

Terminological Chaos: Mission is mission, is evangelism, is social action, is sharing the gospel, is...

2008-09-07T20:08:00.002+08:00

This weekend I attended the inaugural FES (Fellowship of Evangelical Students) National Conference, which was themed 'Integrated Life, Integral Mission'. I am not sure if I will do the Conference speakers justice, but here is my unrefined and unpolished reflection.

The Conference attempted to drive home the message that for far too long, Christians and the church have narrowly construed 'sharing the gospel' as the verbal expression of salvation doctrine, and as consequences we have built up an entire plethora of terminologies, beliefs and practices that we hold unswervingly to, whether explicitly, or implicitly. To name a few:

Evangelism: Telling friends information of our faith.

Mission: Cross cultural Christian work, usually in the form of church planting.

Salvation: Something achieved at the uttering of the sinner's prayer.

Social involvement/action: Community engagement of the less well off, as a means to an end of 'proclaiming the spiritual good news'.

Such terminologies, while practically helpful in defining our church ministries and programmes, have perhaps compartmentalized our understanding of what the gospel really is, and has reduced 'mission' to a mere 'doing' of formulaic prescribed methods and programmes. Instead, the call to share the gospel is perhaps a call to embody and to 'be', rather than to do.

It is therefore little wonder that Christianity today is accused of being hegemonic and hypocritical, a religion that arrogantly insists on its possession of absolute truth, but whose actions do not live up to such a claim.

There is a need therefore, to dismantle our inherited and taken for granted notions and concepts of 'salvation', 'evangelism', 'cross cultural mission', 'social involvement' and most of all 'the gospel'. Ironically, such misunderstood terminologies have perhaps limited God and His work in the world.

To 'Share the gospel' is not the isolated and exclusive few minutes that happen only when we impose the doctrines of Jesus' divinity, humanity, death and resurrection' on others.

It is perhaps critical to expand our view of Jesus' mission as not only dying on the cross and rising from the dead for the sins of humanity, to save us from hell. The gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John contain more than just the final Holy week of Jesus dying on the cross, and to define the gospel only around the final week of his life would perhaps be to do the gospel injustice. Apart from the events of holy week, the gospel accounts also narrate extensively on Jesus meeting the needs of the poor, healing the sick and dining with the outcasts. He taught on practical issues of daily living, most notably in the sermon on the mount. He was also engaged in political action, often confronting the hypocrisy and legalism of the ruling Pharisees.

The mission of Jesus is therefore not merely the proclamation of a salvation to come in the new heaven and new earth. He also brought salvation and the Kingdom of God into his immediate context, and met the needs of people practically. He restored the dignity of the poor, he healed the sick, he fought injustices of society, at the same time proclaiming the forgiveness of sins and offering a spiritual salvation.

Realistically, what this means is that we must, as individuals, and as a church, 'share the gospel' through who we are, not merely what we say. 'Sharing the gospel' cannot be an legalistic external event that we do, but it is in the lntegrity of our lives, consistent with who we are and what we believe in.

When manifested, we 'share the gospel' when we give to the needy. We 'share the gospel' when we fellowship in church. We 'share the gospel' when we 'challenge unjust practices by authorities'. We 'share the gospel' when we challenge the academic worldviews in University, and we share the gospel when we point people to eternal hope in Jesus Christ.

It is perhaps important to note that these activities cannot be a means to greater end of imparting doctrines and 'winning souls for Christ', because ultimately our hidden motivations will expose our hypocrisy and insincerity. Instead these actions must be the end of the gospel itself.

In short, we share the gospel in all we do, in the living out of our faith with integrity, consistent to what we believe in.

I have come away from the conference challenged, not just in being semantically more precise, not just intellectually coming to see what the gospel is from a broader global perspective, but also humbled spiritually by the sheer call to harmonise my words and my life, not just for display to the world, but for the integrity of my faith.

--
(I apologise for the long post. this is a good point to stop, but if you have the time to indulge me, read on!)

Challenged as I was, I was also disappointed at how the important message of the conference was consumed by us participants. It is a shame that people emerged from the conference 'having been reminded that 'Lifestyle Evangelism' is the way to go,' or thinking 'Social involvement is an entry point for gospel conversation.' Ironically, it only served to show how deeply ingrained our pre-conceived notions of 'Mission' is, and how much we have taken in these notions as gospel truth (pun intended). As such, many of us are unable to comprehend the need to take apart these constructions and see the gospel from new lenses.

Also evident was the betrayal of our discomfort and fears of Integral Mission in our QnA sessions. The message of Integrity in our lives discomforts us, because it exposes the hypocrisy of our faith. As a result, we meet the message with strong resistance, preferring to hide in the shelter and ivory pillars of 'evangelism' and 'mission'.

After all, it would be easier to invite friends to an evangelistic event and let the pastor do the work than to expose our lives and share the gospel in a real sense with others.

Integral mission has been an overdue message, and it really is my prayer that individual Christians, we begin to understand more of what the gospel truly is, and begin to dare to challenge our faith and live out our understanding of that gospel with integrity, and that by being so radically different in the world, we may truly be salt and light.

Troubles in Thailand

2008-09-05T00:49:00.006+08:00

Troubles in Thailad got me thinking. In the elite struggle for power, where does the average man in the street figure in the whole equation?

I wonder when the People's Alliance for Democracy gave themselves the name, did they stopped to think what those words meant? When millionaire and protest leader Sondhi Limthongkul says that some voters should be worth less than others, he makes me ask if he seriously understand what democracy, which he claims to purport, really mean.

The elites can play their musical chairs. Just don make life for the average man in the street difficult. People in Krabi and Phuket still need tourists to support their livlihood. Bus and rail workers should not get carried away by the strikes and protests lest they forget that the dudes in Bangkok without the four wheels still need to commute from home to work and back.

Poor farmers and rural countryside folks. Their interests are always marginalized by the Bangkok elite.

Pray for reprieve. I think the 5mths of protest will just get worse. Doesn't help that rumours are spreading that the King has hinted for Samak to resign.

Cell phone vs. Bible

2008-09-02T16:24:00.004+08:00

Just a little snippet that I got from an email to share with you all :)

Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat

our cell phone?

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?

What if we flipped through it several time a day?

What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?

What if we used it to receive messages from the text?

What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?

What if we gave it to Kids as gifts?

What if we used it when we traveled?

What if we used it in case of emergency?

This is something to make you go....hmm... where is my Bible?

Oh, and one more thing...
Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being
disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill.

Makes you stop and think 'where are my priorities?
And no missed calls!

Elaine & Sam Project

2008-08-29T00:25:00.006+08:00

Found this comic strip to be an interesting piece.

e-Newsletter #12

2008-08-27T01:25:00.000+08:00

A) Scholarships - What is our identity?

President Scholar follows in dad’s footsteps

http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20070818-22381.html

Lawyer and Soldier awarded LKY scholarship

http://www.straitstimes.com/Singapore/Story/STIStory_267824.html

All government scholarships are awarded strictly on merit, not family background

http://www.straitstimes.com/Singapore/Story/STIStory_267824.html

Synopsis:

It’s that time of the year again when the newspapers are filled with reports introducing the young and promising future talents of our country, being awarded the highest accolades of prestigious government scholarships like the President’s Scholar Award and those rendered by the Public Service Commission (PSC). Alumni of RJC, student council presidents, those active in a particular sport and being able to play a musical instrument are increasingly becoming part of what is seen as “standard” criteria of such an illustrious group of elites. Yet for the vast majority, the stellar academic threshold is an insurmountable task. Despite this observation about scholars in Singaporesociety, government bodies such as the PSC have reiterated the point that its scholarships are given based on merit, and not on which institution you come from or family background.

Commentary:

To many of us, scholarships seem to be a distant ideal as they are associated with the “cream” of each cohort of students every year. For those who are not enrolled in the top five junior colleges (JCs) of Singapore, emphasis on attaining scholarships is a degree removed from students as school administrators prefer to focus on helping students in examinations rather than offering them resources to apply for such awards. Therefore, they do not get a sense of what it is like to be in a world that views scholarships as a coveted prize. In such an environment (like that of the top five JCs), there is often much pressure for achievement in the manifestation of awards, whether they are academic results or extra-curricular recognition in the form of sports and the performing arts. As such, scholarships for an undergraduate study sponsored by the public or private sector are seen to be the culmination of these honors. Thus, the amount of stress that students undergo by way of competition and meeting expectations can be overwhelming, and we often question the true motivation for such individuals. Is it worth the effort? Perhaps, there is a multitude of reasons for why people hanker after scholarships. To some, a scholarship is a practical resource that will enable students to ease their financial burdens. To others, being chosen as a scholar involves great prestige and signifies that you have “made” it in life. In Ephesians 3:4-5, we are reminded that God has “chosen” us for another purpose too, which is to be “holy and blameless”. He has also predestined us to be adopted as his sons (and daughters) through Jesus Christ. This is admittedly rather different from being selected by the PSC or Glaxo Smith-Kline pharmaceutical company. Yet, it brings me great assurance and comfort knowing that my identity is based on something eternal rather than temporal. What about you? How do you see your identity in Christ today?

Prayer Pointers:

For Singapore students who are undergoing examinations in this season of the year. Pray for their A Level/O Level preparations that they will be able to cope with the stress of academic life.
For Christian students to find opportunities to share the love of Christ with their peers during this time.
For scholars in Singapore to have wisdom in undertaking their studies and fulfilling the bonds thereafter. Pray for Christian scholars to be guided by Godly zeal, not to be enamored by the glitter of scholarships.
Thank God for our identity in Christ, and for calling us his own despite our failings.

- Written by Darryl Chew

B) The Liberal Truth?

Bishops ask Archbishop of Canterbury for an 'orderly separation’

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/2490833/Bishops-ask--Archbishop-of-Canterbury-for-an-orderly-separation.html

Gay relationships 'comparable to marriage', Anglican leader says: reports

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080806/lf_afp/britainreligionanglicangay

Anglican Church and sexual ethics

http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Story/STIStory_268569.html

Bishop of Singapore slams other provinces for 'departing from the faith'

http://www.anglicanjournal.com/world/asia-pacific/028/article/bishop-of-singapore-slams-other-provinces-for-departing-from-the-faith/

Synopsis:

The Anglican Communion is on the verge of a major schism. Early this month, the decennial Lambeth Conference was scheduled to be attended by representatives of the Anglican Church around the world. It has, however, been beset by differences stemming from liberals insisting to press ahead with their pro-gay agenda. As a result, “250 bishops have boycotted the conference and undermined the authority of the Archbishop of Canterbury” who they believe is willing to sacrifice orthodoxy in the name of unity. Officially, Archbishop Dr Rowan William accepts the “view that homosexuality practices are incompatible with scriptures” although there has been reports dating back to 2001 that suggest a different perspective. Nonetheless, the Anglican Church in Singapore, in a letter written last week to the Straits Time reitered its position that “all forms of sexual promiscuity, including homosexual practices… as well as heterosexual relationships outside marriage, are incompatible with the divine vision and design of human life”.

Commentary:

The division within the Anglican Communion centers on an issue that has before and till today remains one of the most serious challenge to evangelical Christians: the persistence of liberal theology. In simplicity it is the belief that scripture is not divinely inspired but rather only an expression of God’s intent or significance. Such a position opens the possibility for values to contradict the general acceptance of the correctness of the Christian dogma and precepts. One such consequence of this liberal interpretation is the acceptance of homosexual practices. I am consistently baffled by Christians who assert that the bible “does not address the matter of appropriate behaviour for those who are, for whatever reason, homosexual by instinct or nature”. Clearly, the bible in Romans 1: 26-27 leaves no room for uncertainty. As a matter of necessity, reading the bible as a whole in a sincere and non-partisan fashion will in no way leave any doubt on the subject. Indeed, it sure make things a whole lot easier that inconvenient truths are brushed aside in the name of unity. Yet if Christians are not prepared to make a stand for their conviction, how are we to boldly testify the Word of God which we claim to be true. Undeniably, tact and care is necessary because it not only concern something that affects others personally (in this case homosexuals), but our reaction and means through which we handle or engage the issue demonstrates our real intention. If we vehemently assert merely to validate ourselves, then we’ve missed the point. The Bishop of Singapore, Dr John Chew, was right when he pointed out that we cannot ‘condone inhuman and unsocial acts…nor we do discriminate… against homosexuals”. That said, the challenge for every evangelical Christian is to be prepared to stand firm on the truth yet with grace show our unwavering love. Our differences should not imply a definite contradiction in our friendships. Nonetheless, standing by the truth can only be possible if we hold the Word of God with reverence by devoting time to read, understand and study the scriptures.

Prayer Pointers:

Pray that the Christian leadership will always bear a firm and convicted testimony that stands true to the Word of God.
Pray for the community of believers, that as God’s elect, we will learn to discern truth from falsehoods and are prepared to examine, search and proclaim the gospel.
Pray for those around who have yet to know, experience and accept the salvation of Jesus Christ that they will come to acknowledge his saving grace in full and find complete rest in him.

- Written by Eugene Chew

C) Not “cute” enough to appear on stage

China had “cute” girl mime opening ceremony after singer banned for crooked teeth

http://www.huffingt onpost.com/2008/08/12/cute-girl-mimed-opening-c_n_118349.html

I’m Singin’ in Beijing

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/14/opinion/14collins.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

Olympic Opening uses girl’s voice, not face

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gvdGdbFHvF8M_eJh8CSMEIbZ8tFAD92H7U480

Synopsis:

At the opening ceremony of the Bejing Olympics 2008, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) successfully pulled off a spectacular opening performance that awed more than four billion TV viewers worldwide. Chiefly, the little girl Lin Miaoke, 9 years old, won the hearts of her viewers with her beautiful voice. The next day however, it was discovered that she was only miming. The original singer of the song “Ode to the Motherland” Yang Peiyi, 7 years old, was thought to be “not cute enough” to appear on stage. Apparently, Miaoke did not know that the world was not hearing her voice until her father broke the news to her. In an interview, Peiyi was noted saying, “Just having my voice used for the opening ceremony is an honour.” Andrew Nathan, an expert on Chinese politics and human rights in Columbia, seemed puzzled by why anybody would be surprised by this kind of switcheroo in a country where help-wanted ads make it clear that job candidates must be good-looking, and the 380 hostesses to the Olympics were all required to be the same height and weight. The message China sent out was simple: good looks constitute flawlessness, and no matter how well you sing, you cannot be on stage if you are not good looking enough because you are going to spoil our show.

Commentary:

This incident reflects the extent to which image-obsessed China is willing to go in their quest to create a perfect Summer Games. Two things to note are 1) the CCP’s eagerness for perfection and 2) the perception that a little girl’s crooked baby teeth would blemish the otherwise flawless performance despite her exceptionally angelic voice. I suppose that there is no right or wrong to the issue of choosing a “cuter” girl to appear on stage. But the main crux of the issue here is really how the government has accorded the highest premium to image and perfection. It indeed saddens me that the original singer, Yang Peiyi, was hidden because of her crooked teeth, and not praised for her beautiful voice before the organizers confessed to the lip-sync incident. Considering the 1.3 billion population of China, I would have no qualms about the organizers selecting a “cute” and talented girl. But choosing a girl and then using her voice to captivate her audience yet not allowing her to appear on stage because of her looks? Silly isn’t it how far people will go to preserve the veneer of perfection. Looking at the world’s take on the importance of image and looks, I can’t help but ask myself if many of us place too much worth on these too. How then can we really be “in this world and not of this world”, to be like Christ who identified with the people but never losing His identity? Firstly, have we ever done something wrong but chose to keep mum about it for fear of “losing face”? Do we often put on our best behaviour and do good deeds in front of people we are trying to impress so that they will see us as a holy and good person, only to let our bad habits of spouting vulgarities and unkind words about our fellow colleagues on another occasion. Are we in fact faking a ‘perfect image’ for the world instead of making it an everyday commitment to be the best steward we can be for Christ? Have we also been too quick ourselves to judge? Remember that the Lord takes joy in the unfading beauty of the spirit and a heart that yearns after Him (1Samuel 16:7, 1Peter 3:6).

Prayer Pointers:

Pray for the world, that we will have the wisdom to prioritize and discern the things in life which are important
Pray that even as beauty becomes increasingly commercialized, that people will realize that good outward appearances are a gift from God, and that ultimately the Lord looks at the condition of our heart.
Pray for both Peiyi and Miaoke. For Peiyi, pray that she will grow in confidence and for those around to cherish her for who she is. Pray for Miaoke that the incident will not hurt her self–esteem because the revelation by her father may have given her the impression that her voice was not good enough. God loves every little children of this world.

- Written by Pamela Tock

Thank You

On Behalf of the team,

Eugene Chew

ec_tomahawk@yahoo.com.sg

To subscribe please refer to http://groups.yahoo.com/subscribe/Social-Action-E-newsletter

[1] The view(s) expressed in the E-newsletter strictly belongs to the writer and in no way reflects the official position of the Varsity Christian Fellowship.

e-Newsletter #11

2008-08-27T01:22:00.000+08:00

A) Pointing guns at home and abroad

Cambodian and Thai forces nearly exchange fire amid temple standoff

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0719/p99s01-duts.html

Why Thai-Cambodian temple dispute lingers

http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0722/p06s02-wosc.html

ASEAN ministers confront Thai-Cambodia crisis

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080722/wl_afp/asean_080722122532;_ylt=Avm7CCxJ0f2loizYDqDqWKOQOrgF

Synopsis:

The old 'rivals' are at it again. Five years ago when a Thai actress remarked that Angkor Wat ought belonged to Thailand, Cambodians rioted and ransacked the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh. This time Cambodia's application to have the Preah Vihear temple listed on the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) World Heritage List have drew flak from Thai nationalists who fear the lost of territories surrounding the temple. Officially, the dispute is one of national sovereignty. The reality, however, suggest that the crisis is fueled by domestic conflicts within Thailand and Cambodia. Early this week, the crisis threatened to spiral out of control, reaching a low point with a stand-of when soldiers from both sides pointed their rifles at each other. Currently, ASEAN is doing its best to ease tension and prevent the internationalization of the conflict.

Commentary:

No serious or direct conflict has occurred between members of Southeast Asia since the end of the Indonesian Konfrontasi (1963-65). In general peace has prevailed, enabling most of the region to strive towards development and prosper. The crisis, however, reminds us in Singapore of the fragility of peace. For something as innocuous as an application into the World Heritage List, the process has become hijacked by domestic forces with vested interest. In Thailand, opposition to the presently elected People's Power Party (PPP) government is trying to exploit every single opportunity to discredit it. In Cambodia, it is the opposite. The Cambodians People's Party (CPP) led government is trying to shore up its credentials in the upcoming elections by sensationalizing the crisis. Personally I enjoy the study of politics but often the pursuit of power and selfish personal interest irks me. It reminded me of the depravity of man and the ineluctable desire to put oneself first above the interest of others. In many ways, many of the politicians or parties involved are sensationalizing the crisis to score cheap political points, often at the expense of the public interest and societal good. Rather than focusing on issues of competence, integrity and public service, the issue has become one of picking fights and unseating one's political opponents. As Christians individuals, we must continue to emphasize and demand that our leaders preserve the good order of their own conduct, humility and sacrifice. Even as the world tells us that power and prestige is important, the humility and servant leadership of Christ reminds that we are called to act otherwise because we're not of the world.

Prayer Pointers:

Pray for the de-escalation of the crisis at the border.
Pray that political sanity prevails and that political leaders will command discipline among their soldiers and not allow narrow political forces to hijack the process.
Pray that ASEAN will be a constructive mediator to ease the tension so that the villagers forced to evacuate the surroundings of the temple can return to their normal lives.

- Written by Eugene Chew

B) Improving Air Quality In Time For The Olympics

Beijing begins massive Olympic shutdown to clean capital's filthy air

http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/Asia/STIStory_259280.html

Outlook for Air Quality In Beijing For Olympics Is Borderline

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080714113005.htm

'Green' Olympic Games point way for China's future

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/cgi-bin/search/search_7days.pl?status=&search=olympics&id=362154

Synopsis:

With close to a month to the 2008 Beijing Olympic, the utmost concern amongst the organizers and athletes alike is that of the air quality in Beijing, China. A recent study has concluded that “the outlook for air quality in Beijing during the Olympics is just borderline', and there's little that the Chinese government can do to improve it”. However, some measures implemented recently include: the drastic ban of half of private vehicles (alternating the even and and odd license plate) for the next two months; closure of pollutant-emitting factories and relocation of others; and, the adjustment of working hours in public companies to reduce traffic congestion during peak hours. Even though these measures have served to reduce pollution to a certain extent, problems in other areas have risen as a result. Overall, the efforts are still nonetheless laudable and still well supported despite the inconvenience. Questions remain though about the sustainability and long-term feasibility of these measures.

Commentary:

There is so much to be done and so much effort and resources have been poured into the preparation for the games. While this Olympic is unique because it China's first effort to host an international games to attest to its enormous potential and the promise of its future, it will also be remembered for its huge investment in environmentally friendly technologies and renewable resources. That said, questions remain about the long term feasibility and sustainability of the efforts. If the authorities undertake these initiative as a public relations control measure, then the future for a cleaner more environmentally conscious remains pessimistic. Nonetheless, the one good we can hope out of the Games is that the locals conditioned for almost half a year to cleaner and greener city and might perhaps come to expect better and more serious commitment to protect their surroundings. In addition. It is also a reminder that the future is only for the Chinese themselves to chart and work their way out of being one of the world’s most polluted cities. We should also pray that Christians in China and outside will also stand as witness to efforts to preserve and protect their environment. We must speak out when we witness actions that are only economically driven and not environmentally desirable. We should take the responsibility to have a Christian response and opinion. This is thence stewardship for our Master’s place.

Prayer Pointers:

The health and fitness of all athletes in Beijing.
The Chinese leaders will be committed to reducing pollution and sustain the impetus even after the Olympics.
The health and living conditions of the local Chinese who live in Beijing and other regions who live alongside poisonous waste discharged by factories, polluted water and poor air quality.

- Written by Elaine Tan

C) Organ trade – save lives or exploit the poor?
Tangs chief named in kidneys-for-sale case
http://www.asiaone.com/News/the+Straits+Times/Story/A1Story20080628-73383.html

Two plead guilty to human organ trading in first such case in S'pore
http://www.sgclub.com/singapore/two_plead_guilty_77281.html

Let's not rule out organ trading yet, says Khaw
http://health.asiaone.com/Health/News/Story/A1Story20080714-76436.html

Organ Shortage Fuels Illicit Trade in Human Parts
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/01/0116_040116_EXPLorgantraffic.html

Summary:
Earlier in June this year, two Indonesian men were convicted for organ trading. The transaction between one of the men and his client, Mr Tang Wee Sung - executive chairman of retail company CK Tang, was stopped, while the other transaction (selling of the man’s kidney) was already carried out. Under the Human Organ Transplant Act, it is a criminal offense to have an arrangement for sale of an organ or blood. This sparked off a fierce debate about whether organ trade is an option that should be legalized, for the obvious reason of it being able to save many more lives, since the current organ supply is very much below the demand and many patients die from the wait. However, this option of organ trade allows for desperately poor and socially disadvantaged donors to be exploited and abused as they do not have full knowledge of what serious risks this trade involves. Also, this might result in a lower number of organ donations, which will shrink the donor pool instead, and it also means a patient’s donor may most probably not be from within family members, although a family member will make a better match. The position of the government remains unchanged although Health Minister Mr. Khaw Boon Wan has indicated that the healthy ministry is still open to different considerations.

Commentary:
I believe that this issue is beyond a matter of right or wrong, because it is clear to anyone that organs should not be sold like commodities in a market. The debate thus centers around which policy would best maximize social interest. Both sides have compelling arguments, but i hold the opinion that banning organ trading is the better of the two. This is because organ trading disproportionately benefit the rich at the expense of the poor. Such an example can be seen in the Indonesian village, Galang, where one of the two convicted organ sellers came from. In this village it is not uncommon to find someone who has donated their organs. Most of them do not even regret it because with the money, ‘life is better now’ for them. That said, no one should be compelled by poverty to sell his organ, willing or unwilling. Just as one would be hard pressed to argue that it is acceptable to prostitute yourself because of poverty, than the sale of organ for economic reasons should not be condoned. Another thing to also consider is that even with the legalization of the organ trade, the poor patients who require an organ will still be disadvantaged. I believe that our bodies are meant to honour God (1 Cor 6: 19-20) and therefore should not, even in part or whole, be sold or bought at a price. Acknowledging the significance of the opposing arguments, nonetheless i believe the cost of organ trading outweighs the gain because it is the poor and destitute who are most likely to be disadvantaged and since as Christians we are called to stand with the low and humble, i stand for the position against organ trading.

Prayer points:

Pray that the Singapore government and the Singapore Medical Association will exercise wisdom on the issue of organ trading.
Pray for the socially disadvantaged that they will not be compelled by circumstances to sell their organs.
Pray against the exploitation of the poor and for the countries that have already legalized organ trading that there will be effective measures to regulate organ trading.

- Written by Kah Yoke

[1] The view(s) expressed in the E-newsletter strictly belongs to the writer and in no way reflects the official position of the Varsity Christian Fellowship.

e-Newsletter #10

2008-08-27T01:21:00.000+08:00

A) Greener Initiatives: Corporate Responsibility

Saving Gaia (documentaries)

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/savinggaia/savinggaia.htm

Companies claiming false green initiatives becoming a rising trend

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/356808/1/.html

Things you can do to save the environment

http://www.gvn.com.sg/home/thingsYouCanDoToSaveTheEnv.html

Synopsis

In the last few months, there has been an undeniable increase in the number of accounts about people “going green”. These include more publicity and creating of awareness for the need to protect our environment, and “save Gaia”(also mythical name for Earth). Corporate firms have also stepped up to take on the role of being more responsible towards the environment. One such example is Mediacorp. She has pioneered a series of activities such as the series of documentaries on “Saving Gaia” in the hope of reaching out Singaporeans. Facts are presented with a clear and simple message – we have been living off the earth with negligence, so now it’s time we stop being ignorant and start taking ownership of what we use.

Commentary

Had I been more skeptical, I would say that much of the green initiatives by various corporate firms are a facade. However, I would really much like to think otherwise. The exponential increase in corporate and public declarations and pledges make it all seem to be a fad, a public relations tactic to adjust to the increasingly demanding and sophisticated public. Frankly, I could go on with a whole list of economical logic to explain this, but I believe that doesn’t really matter. After all, we are not the One to judge, and who are we to question their motive. But the more important question we should pose to ourselves is this – are we like those who catch on this passing phenomenon and go all green with our lifestyles because it seems popular or cool- or do we have a deeper reason for the change in lifestyle? It is always so simple to do things for the sake of doing, and eventually the meaning is lost. Do we campaign for environmentally-friendly projects because they are in the boom now, or do we do it because it stems from a desire to serve God? Each day when I look around me, I see God’s wonderful creation. I thank Him, and praise Him because he has blessed us with all the beauties of the earth. Every amount of effort to save the environment must be an offering of worship to Him. Therefore we should not stop doing all that we can to conserve the environment, and continue to remind ourselves for whom are we doing all these for.

Prayer Pointers:

Wisdom for all of us so that we know how to use our resources wisely
Extra wisdom for our leaders so that they know how to plan policies and allocate resources extra wisely
Perseverance in our journey to protect God’s creation

- Written by Elaine Tan

B) Roof over our heads?

Meet Singapore’s Nomad Families

http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Story/STIStory_250444.html

Get Real episode on “Homeless in Singapore”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Elmgsdfv2G0

Synopsis:

With rising cost of living and soaring prices for daily necessities, life has become more difficult for those in need. In particular, it has affected those families who live in sedentary make-shift homes below the void deck. According to the nine family service centers (FSCs) surveyed, each of the FSCs reported seeing between 10 and 30 such cases each year. This number is increasing, as more families are unable to cope with mortgage loan payments and the cost of living. Social workers call these groups “nomadic families” as they inhabit public areas such as void decks and parks while awaiting an allotted one or two room HDB rental unit, which could take up to 15 months. Most of these groups comprise divorcees and the down and out that have made a series of bad decisions and poor planning, resulting in the banks seizing their assets. The main approach that the government endorses is to encourage such families to live with relatives, friends and the homeless. However, many times the “rules and regulations” set up by relatives or friends often leave the lives of nomadic families feeling contrived and eventually, seeking shelter elsewhere. Otherwise, they often are found guilty of flouting these “rules” and eventually chased away. The article goes on to point out that a main concern is for children of these families, who require a stable environment but end up being constantly on the move.

Commentary:

We have heard a great deal about foreign workers and their issues in Singaporean society. It has served to help us see the importance of caring for the underprivileged in a foreign land. Now, in the light of seeing local Singaporeans encountering relatively similar problems, how are we to respond? In our ever-growing consumerist society of today, many of us would know of relatives and friends who experience difficulties in maintaining their lifestyles. It must be acknowledged that trying to help them is not an easy task, as both the tangible and intangible resources of money and love are things that we hold dearly to. Yet, the religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is “to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world”(James 1:27). How is the condition of our heart in this season of our lives? Have we been able to make a conscious effort to renounce the materialist and secular self that has been subconsciously growing on the sidelines? Who are some of the “orphans and widows” in our midst that we can offer love and concern for? What are some of the practical ways in which we, as students can think of to help them in spite of our limited capacities? Many questions have we, to ask of ourselves. However, let us begin to look to our Father in revealing what we can do to help the brothers and sisters in our midst who maybe in dire physical needs, that their spiritual needs may be shared for prayer and supplication.

Prayer Pointers:

For the condition of our hearts, and that we may be able to discern God’s call in our lives, not worldly pressures.
For our relatives and friends who maybe in times of financial difficulties, that they may continue to trust in faith for deliverance.
For Christians to truly love and serve their brothers and sisters in the community, knowing that it is a sacrifice, but also an act of obedience unto our Lord.

- Written by Darryl Chew

C) 2% GST Increase? What about a 40% hike?

Charitable bodies feeling pinch of price hike

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/6/28/nation/21626965&sec=nation

No U-Turn on Fuel Hike

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7439474.stm

Synopsis
2 weeks ago, the Malaysian government, reeling from a growing deficit from subsidizing fuel has undertook an unprecedented step in announcing a hike of 40% for petrol and 63% for diesel. It is a bold move at a time where its popularity has plummeted significantly after the recent electoral setbacks in March. Many Malaysians were caught off guard by the measure and the extend of increase. The decision has drew flak for a huge increase at too short a notice. Businesses and transport operators have said that they have little choice but to pass the increase to consumers, constituting higher prices for fresh produces which Singapore imports in large quantities. Although attracting little attention, charity organizations are in a Catch22 situation. These charitable bodies have no one to pass their cost on to as most of their recipients rely on the good-will and support of these organizations to get by. Yet they cannot afford to stop providing these essential services. However sound an economic measure, there are always consequences and the burden is much harder to bear when the context giving the rise to the policy has its own set of baggages.

Commentary

If you think a 2% hike in GST is bad, think about a 40% increase in petrol prices! The response to the fuel hike can be surmised with 3 Ds- dispute, debate and demonstrate. Fuel subsidies were introduced in the heydays where oil prices were cheap so as to alleviate the difficulties of the needy. However, soaring fuels have made continuing government subsidy untenable. Yet in no small measure, the public anger is not surprising. That is a 40% jump in prices mind you. In the recent months, Malaysia is no stranger to a series of demonstrations. Previously, the protest were mainly social. The latest concern the economic livelihood of the people. But both have severe political implications. In the next few months, Malaysia's domestic political battles will get more intense as the the Prime Minister fights for his political survival and his gambling on undertaking bold initiatives like cuts in fuel subsidy and reforming the judiciary. Therefore in the political psychology of the government, the 40% hike in fuel is a tool that cuts both ways- for economic and political expediency. It is strange how the public always end up the biggest loser in any political dispute. Perhaps what is the most important lesson for us as Christians is to recognize the wider repercussions of our own actions. Sometimes our own differences and disputes can potentially hurt others. It is easy to assume that the consequence of our own actions can be easily confined and contained. But it is often not so. It is even more difficult if the dispute concerns leaders of the Christian communities. Therefore leaders, as servants of God and called to a higher responsibility, must uphold themselves in a way that honours God and set an example for believers to follow and non-believers to respect.

Prayer Pointers

Pray for the church-run charities; that God will meet their needs through these trying times.
Pray for political stability in the country as talk of the Opposition forming the Government looms large.
Pray for the needy and those severely affected by the price hike.

- Co-written by Eugene Chew & Seng Jea

[1] The view expressed in the E-newsletter strictly belongs to the writer and in no way reflects the official position of the Varsity Christian Fellowship.