Imprinted in my mind is a statement I read years ago. It says something about listening if we want to be of help to others. It is called mind-healing listening; we don't merely listen to what is said; we listen to the person who is saying it. In other words, the messenger is more important than the message. We need to be genuinely sensitive to needs of others, because talking is often so personal that inattention is the same as disrespect or disregard for the talker.
People hear what we speak, that is if they are not deaf, but only a caring person listens. Hearing is done with the ear while listening is done with the mind and heart. We meet many people with emotional wounds, people who are crying out 'please listen to me.' But we live in a busy world, and we hear, but have no time to listen.
We talk our problems away when we know someone who cares is listening. Last weekend, God sent us someone who needed counselling, or should I say, needed a listening ear. She was able to pour out her heart and soul. She has left us for home in a foreign land, but we shall keep in contact with her by e-mail. Hopefully she has found some relief for her aching heart. The important thing as we told her is to have a relationship with Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord. He is the perfect Listener and Healer of all wounds.
Yesterday, I had a very interesting day chatting with a young person. I always feel the need to be involved with the young to keep relevant in this day and generation. Talking with older folks, we hear of aches and pains, illnesses, visits to the doctors, complaints about the young and of course, the usual subject - the good old days. But talking to the young brings one up to date with today's challenges, new opportunities to serve God. It keeps me relevant. So I had a good and interesting day talking with this young person. It did my soul good.
I give thanks to God for sending these people -the elderly, the middle age and the young into our lives. Not a day passes without people crossing our paths and they have blessed us.
I once read a story of a child who returned home with a crayon drawing he had done in school. He rushed into the kitchen where the mother was preparing dinner. "Mum, you'll never guess what.." he cried out.
"I don't know what" replied Mum, "but I'm listening."
"No, you are not Mum, you are not listening with your eyes."
Telephone conversations are good up to a point. E-mail is good up to a point. Nothing beats eye to eye contact and listening with heart and mind.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
A blessed day at church
The last few of studies on Revelation 4 and 5 were on "Worship and Praise' in heaven. Yesterday, out thoughts were focused on planet earth. We turned our attention to the 'opening of the seals and judgement.' I gave an overview of John's vision of God's wrath and judgement against sin, chapters 6-16. From next week onwards we shall go into more detail study of the opening of the seals. I am pleased our studies have generated a deal of interest among our people.
Whether we see the calamities as events of the past or future depending on the view one takes - the historicist, preterist, futurist or spiritual, much of it is certainly contemporary in application.
Frightening indeed, the judgements as recorded in Revelation, but none is inconsistent with the suffering love as seen at the cross on Calvary. Albert Schweitzer described Jesus as 'laying hold of the wheel of he world to set moving on that last revolution which is to bring all history to a close." Jesus did it at tremendous cost of personal agony, pain and suffering.
It appears that Revelation falls far below the standards set in the gospels or the teachings of Jesus or even much of the Old Testament. The God of the Apocalypse seems to contradict the picture expressed by Jesus. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil because God was with Him.
Really, in my own study of Revelation I find nothing in Revelation inconsistent with the teachings of Jesus. Jesus spoke about hell with great intensity of feeling. In the gospels as well as in Revelation we see God does not approve of war and famines and plagues. These are but the consequences of men's persistence to go against God. We live in a moral world - the inevitable outcome of selfishness is disaster and doom. The wages of sin is death. Herbert Butterfield said this, "The character of divine judgment in history is that men are made to execute it upon themselves."
In his book, THE GREAT DIVORCE C S Lewis said, "There are only two kinds of people in the end; those who say to God 'Thy will be done' and those to whom God says in the end 'Thy will be done.'" Revelation certainly supports this thought.
The last Sunday of the month is always Family Sunday when the children and youth all join in worship at the main hall. The message was "From generation to generation' based on Psalm 78. We were reminded of our responsibility to the next generation. We are to pass on our faith and the lessons we have learned in life to the next generation.
Whether we see the calamities as events of the past or future depending on the view one takes - the historicist, preterist, futurist or spiritual, much of it is certainly contemporary in application.
Frightening indeed, the judgements as recorded in Revelation, but none is inconsistent with the suffering love as seen at the cross on Calvary. Albert Schweitzer described Jesus as 'laying hold of the wheel of he world to set moving on that last revolution which is to bring all history to a close." Jesus did it at tremendous cost of personal agony, pain and suffering.
It appears that Revelation falls far below the standards set in the gospels or the teachings of Jesus or even much of the Old Testament. The God of the Apocalypse seems to contradict the picture expressed by Jesus. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil because God was with Him.
Really, in my own study of Revelation I find nothing in Revelation inconsistent with the teachings of Jesus. Jesus spoke about hell with great intensity of feeling. In the gospels as well as in Revelation we see God does not approve of war and famines and plagues. These are but the consequences of men's persistence to go against God. We live in a moral world - the inevitable outcome of selfishness is disaster and doom. The wages of sin is death. Herbert Butterfield said this, "The character of divine judgment in history is that men are made to execute it upon themselves."
In his book, THE GREAT DIVORCE C S Lewis said, "There are only two kinds of people in the end; those who say to God 'Thy will be done' and those to whom God says in the end 'Thy will be done.'" Revelation certainly supports this thought.
The last Sunday of the month is always Family Sunday when the children and youth all join in worship at the main hall. The message was "From generation to generation' based on Psalm 78. We were reminded of our responsibility to the next generation. We are to pass on our faith and the lessons we have learned in life to the next generation.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
How do you pray?
Some years back I copied into my notebook a little humorous poem that teaches you can pray in any position:
“The proper way for a man to pray,” said Deacon Lemuel Keys;“
And the only proper way - is down upon his knees.”
“Well I should say - a man should pray with rapt and upturned eyes-
With both his hands lifted up,” said Rev. Brother Wise.“
Oh no, no, no!” Said Elder Snow “Such posture is too proud!
A man should pray with eyes fast closed and head contritely bowed.”
“Well it seems to me, that his hands should be austerely clasped in front
With both his thumbs pointing down.” said Rev. Dr. Blount.
“Last year I fell in Higgins’ well - Head-first!” said Cyrus Brown
“With both my feet a sticking’ up and my head a pointing’ down.
I prayed a prayer right then and there - the prayingest prayer I’ve said.
Stuck in a well that day a standing’ on my head!”
It is not the posture but the attitude of the heart that really matters. A man may kneel in prayer but still maintains a proud heart.
I can pray while waiting for the bus to arrive, I can pray sitting or standing inside the bus. I can go for a prayer walk and talk with God, my eyes wide open my heart turns to Him. I can sit quietly in my chair, or kneel beside my bed and commune with Him. It's my attitude that really counts.
"Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God Thy will to see,
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit Divine."
"Prayer is the sum of our relationship with God. We are what we pray. The degree of our faith is the degree of our prayer. Our ability to love is our ability to pray." Carlo Carretto
“The proper way for a man to pray,” said Deacon Lemuel Keys;“
And the only proper way - is down upon his knees.”
“Well I should say - a man should pray with rapt and upturned eyes-
With both his hands lifted up,” said Rev. Brother Wise.“
Oh no, no, no!” Said Elder Snow “Such posture is too proud!
A man should pray with eyes fast closed and head contritely bowed.”
“Well it seems to me, that his hands should be austerely clasped in front
With both his thumbs pointing down.” said Rev. Dr. Blount.
“Last year I fell in Higgins’ well - Head-first!” said Cyrus Brown
“With both my feet a sticking’ up and my head a pointing’ down.
I prayed a prayer right then and there - the prayingest prayer I’ve said.
Stuck in a well that day a standing’ on my head!”
It is not the posture but the attitude of the heart that really matters. A man may kneel in prayer but still maintains a proud heart.
I can pray while waiting for the bus to arrive, I can pray sitting or standing inside the bus. I can go for a prayer walk and talk with God, my eyes wide open my heart turns to Him. I can sit quietly in my chair, or kneel beside my bed and commune with Him. It's my attitude that really counts.
"Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God Thy will to see,
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit Divine."
"Prayer is the sum of our relationship with God. We are what we pray. The degree of our faith is the degree of our prayer. Our ability to love is our ability to pray." Carlo Carretto
Thursday, September 23, 2010
My quiet time with God
"We need no wings to go in search of Him, but have only to find a place where we can be alone and look upon Him present within us." St. Teresa of Avila
"It is not for His gifts that I continue in my prayers, but because He is true life." Gregory of Narek.
"Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer,
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father's throne
Make all my wants and wishes known;
In seasons of distress and grief
My soul has often found relief,
And oft escape the tempter's snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer." William Walford.
Thank God for the privilege of prayer.
"It is not for His gifts that I continue in my prayers, but because He is true life." Gregory of Narek.
"Sweet hour of prayer, sweet hour of prayer,
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father's throne
Make all my wants and wishes known;
In seasons of distress and grief
My soul has often found relief,
And oft escape the tempter's snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer." William Walford.
Thank God for the privilege of prayer.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Jesus is coming again!
"Christ is our hope because Christ is our future. That means we are waiting and hoping for His second coming, praying 'Come, Lord Jesus, come to the world, come to us.' Without the expectation of Christ second coming there is no hope." Jurgen Moltmann in Experiences of God.
I've spent much time reading and meditating on the Book of Revelation. I know there is a keen and widespread hunger to know the truths this book proclaims, to unravel its mysteries, to know what's coming. I don't think there is any other book in the Bible that produces such wide divergence of views or interpretation.
One thing is certain, this Book tells us clearly Christ is coming again. Maranatha - the Lord is coming soon! I pray this prayer often.
"O send Thy Spirit Lord,
Now unto me,
That He may touch my eyes
And make me see;
Show me the truth concealed
Within Thy Word,
And in Thy Book revealed
I see the Lord" (Alexander Groves SASB 650 verse 3)
I've spent much time reading and meditating on the Book of Revelation. I know there is a keen and widespread hunger to know the truths this book proclaims, to unravel its mysteries, to know what's coming. I don't think there is any other book in the Bible that produces such wide divergence of views or interpretation.
One thing is certain, this Book tells us clearly Christ is coming again. Maranatha - the Lord is coming soon! I pray this prayer often.
"O send Thy Spirit Lord,
Now unto me,
That He may touch my eyes
And make me see;
Show me the truth concealed
Within Thy Word,
And in Thy Book revealed
I see the Lord" (Alexander Groves SASB 650 verse 3)
Monday, September 20, 2010
A day in the house of the Lord.
We had a good time at our Bible class and as usual lively discussion on Revelation. We concentrated on the portion Revelation 5: 8-14 - "Worthy the Lamb." Just imagine one day we shall join the thousands, millions and billions to sing the praises to our Lord and King in Heaven. This is our belief and our hope. Yes, there is something to look forward to when the time comes for us to leave this world.
In the world we have our trials and tribulations, there is so much sin, suffering and pain in this fallen world. For the Early church suffering persecution this message came as a great comfort and reassurance that being a Christian community is meaningful, relevant and important for now and for eternity.
Heaven is a place of worship and our church is a mere shadow of this - a rehearsal that pales in comparison. Worship is our hearts pouring out to God's heart.
Good to spend time in the house of God yesterday and to enjoy the fellowship of believers. The Songsters sang beautifully the old hymn "All creatures of our God and King, Lift up your voice and with us sing. Alleluia!" I've retired from Songsters as I cannot spare the time to attend practices, but I do enjoy their singing. Sitting in the congregation I joined them in singing, albeit quietly so as not to disturb others in the congregation.
We had special prayer for peace at out meeting. "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin in me. " was my silent prayer in my own heart.
The sermon was on Psalm 84 and the theme "The Living God." It's a great psalm and this morning I read it again in different versions.
"One day spent in your house, this beautiful place of worship, beats thousands spent on Greek island beaches. I'd rather scrub floors in the house of my God than be honoured as guest in the palace of sin." (Psalm 84: 10 The Message) I don't know what Greek island beaches look like, but I presume they must be beautiful. I have no plans to go there. I like my Home Sweet Home
In the world we have our trials and tribulations, there is so much sin, suffering and pain in this fallen world. For the Early church suffering persecution this message came as a great comfort and reassurance that being a Christian community is meaningful, relevant and important for now and for eternity.
Heaven is a place of worship and our church is a mere shadow of this - a rehearsal that pales in comparison. Worship is our hearts pouring out to God's heart.
Good to spend time in the house of God yesterday and to enjoy the fellowship of believers. The Songsters sang beautifully the old hymn "All creatures of our God and King, Lift up your voice and with us sing. Alleluia!" I've retired from Songsters as I cannot spare the time to attend practices, but I do enjoy their singing. Sitting in the congregation I joined them in singing, albeit quietly so as not to disturb others in the congregation.
We had special prayer for peace at out meeting. "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin in me. " was my silent prayer in my own heart.
The sermon was on Psalm 84 and the theme "The Living God." It's a great psalm and this morning I read it again in different versions.
"One day spent in your house, this beautiful place of worship, beats thousands spent on Greek island beaches. I'd rather scrub floors in the house of my God than be honoured as guest in the palace of sin." (Psalm 84: 10 The Message) I don't know what Greek island beaches look like, but I presume they must be beautiful. I have no plans to go there. I like my Home Sweet Home
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Container or Contents
Mooncakes are traditionally eaten during the Mid-Autumn Festival or Zhongqiu Festival. They are regarded as an indispensable delicacy on this occasion. Mooncakes are offered between friends or on family gatherings while celebrating the festival. The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the four important Chinese festivals.
Traditional mooncakes are round or rectangular pastries, measuring about 10 cm in diameter. The filling is usually made from lotus seed paste. Some come with yolk of salted duck eggs or nuts. Nowadays the filling can be anything, even durian paste. I still prefer the traditional ones.
Moon cakes are on sale everywhere. We've been the recipient of a number of boxes of moon cakes. We just came upstairs after visiting Red Shield Services Store, for the 8th anniversary celebrations. A very good friend of ours gave us a box of moon cakes. His wife made them herself so they are special. We are going to make these cakes last a long time.
Nowadays moon cakes are packed and sold in beautiful boxes and it's a shame to throw the boxes away after we have consumed the contents. What matters more - container or content? Come to think of it, it is the moon cakes that we enjoy eating, not the boxes! These expensive boxes only add to the cost. What a waste of money.
While eating mooncakes I am reminded of the words of Paul. "If you look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us. As it is, there's not much chance of that. You know yourselves that we've not much to look at." 2 Corinthans 4: 5-7 The Message)
Apparently Paul was small in stature, had bad eyesight, not a great speaker and constantly on the run. He had many enemies and critics. He was hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted and even put in prison. But in this 'clay pot' body of his he carried an important message and had an important ministry. So what matters most really is not the container but the content, not the packaging but the filling, not the external elements but the heart.
As for me, this clay pot is aging, perhaps a little marred or chipped and a little worn out, (not cracked) but I am glad its contents are precious to God. I still have a ministry in an earthern vessel. Well God works within the limits of our humanity. We are still fallible human beings living in an imperfect world.
On a lighter side let me tell you the story of a young preacher who took the words of Paul about this 'treasure in earthern vessels' for his sermon. He published the subject of his sermon in the church bulletin -"The Glory of a Cracked Pot."
Now I'll finish the rest of my piece of mooncake.
Traditional mooncakes are round or rectangular pastries, measuring about 10 cm in diameter. The filling is usually made from lotus seed paste. Some come with yolk of salted duck eggs or nuts. Nowadays the filling can be anything, even durian paste. I still prefer the traditional ones.
Moon cakes are on sale everywhere. We've been the recipient of a number of boxes of moon cakes. We just came upstairs after visiting Red Shield Services Store, for the 8th anniversary celebrations. A very good friend of ours gave us a box of moon cakes. His wife made them herself so they are special. We are going to make these cakes last a long time.
Nowadays moon cakes are packed and sold in beautiful boxes and it's a shame to throw the boxes away after we have consumed the contents. What matters more - container or content? Come to think of it, it is the moon cakes that we enjoy eating, not the boxes! These expensive boxes only add to the cost. What a waste of money.
While eating mooncakes I am reminded of the words of Paul. "If you look at us, you might well miss the brightness. We carry this precious message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That's to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us. As it is, there's not much chance of that. You know yourselves that we've not much to look at." 2 Corinthans 4: 5-7 The Message)
Apparently Paul was small in stature, had bad eyesight, not a great speaker and constantly on the run. He had many enemies and critics. He was hard pressed, perplexed, persecuted and even put in prison. But in this 'clay pot' body of his he carried an important message and had an important ministry. So what matters most really is not the container but the content, not the packaging but the filling, not the external elements but the heart.
As for me, this clay pot is aging, perhaps a little marred or chipped and a little worn out, (not cracked) but I am glad its contents are precious to God. I still have a ministry in an earthern vessel. Well God works within the limits of our humanity. We are still fallible human beings living in an imperfect world.
On a lighter side let me tell you the story of a young preacher who took the words of Paul about this 'treasure in earthern vessels' for his sermon. He published the subject of his sermon in the church bulletin -"The Glory of a Cracked Pot."
Now I'll finish the rest of my piece of mooncake.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Knowledge and wisdom
"Knowledge is proud that he has learn'd so much;
Wisdom is humble that he knows no more" W Cowper, "Poems"
Wisdom is humble that he knows no more" W Cowper, "Poems"
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
A morning at Peacehaven
On arrival at Peacehaven Tuesday morning, we met a man in a wheelchair looking very sad and depressed. He was waiting at the foyer for the van to take him Changi Hopsital. I tapped his shoulder and assured him of my prayers. He thanked us and started to smile. Obviously seeing familiar faces and receiving a gentle touch brought comfort.
We then went to the fourth level to greet the staff who are always very courteous. Its always a joy to meet these lovely folk who never fail to bless you by their cheerful spirit and warm smiles.
We did chapel service at two places - Partridge and Sparrow Living Areas. As usual we went round to chat with the residents, nurses and visitors. We met a lady from Australia who has come to visit her mother, now bed ridden. I saw she was holding a book by Rick Warren "Purpose Driven Life." It provided that opportunity to begin a conversation about spiritual things. She was not a Christian yet, but have been attending Bible class in Sydney. So we spent some time talking about God's purpose for each individual. We prayed with her and also went to the room to pray for her mother a devout Christian.
We went over the HOPE centre to visit the residents there. They are in different stages of dementia. What a joy to talk with these dear people. One lady always tells us she wants to take us out for a meal. We know she can't but we always thank her and make her feel we are very grateful to her for her invitation.
Time passes very quickly when we are at Peacehaven, There are always people, residents and staff who need a listening ear. We thank God for the privilege of ministering to the folk there.
Of course we visit Poh Chin as well. We give thanks to God everyday for the provision He has made for her. She is receiving tender loving care.
God is great, good and gracious. How wonderful for us to be able to share God's blessings with others
We then went to the fourth level to greet the staff who are always very courteous. Its always a joy to meet these lovely folk who never fail to bless you by their cheerful spirit and warm smiles.
We did chapel service at two places - Partridge and Sparrow Living Areas. As usual we went round to chat with the residents, nurses and visitors. We met a lady from Australia who has come to visit her mother, now bed ridden. I saw she was holding a book by Rick Warren "Purpose Driven Life." It provided that opportunity to begin a conversation about spiritual things. She was not a Christian yet, but have been attending Bible class in Sydney. So we spent some time talking about God's purpose for each individual. We prayed with her and also went to the room to pray for her mother a devout Christian.
We went over the HOPE centre to visit the residents there. They are in different stages of dementia. What a joy to talk with these dear people. One lady always tells us she wants to take us out for a meal. We know she can't but we always thank her and make her feel we are very grateful to her for her invitation.
Time passes very quickly when we are at Peacehaven, There are always people, residents and staff who need a listening ear. We thank God for the privilege of ministering to the folk there.
Of course we visit Poh Chin as well. We give thanks to God everyday for the provision He has made for her. She is receiving tender loving care.
God is great, good and gracious. How wonderful for us to be able to share God's blessings with others
Monday, September 13, 2010
Maranatha
We studied Revelation 5: 1-7 on Sunday. We focused our thoughts on "The Lamb takes the scroll." Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll? Only the Lion of Judah who became the Lamb of God is worthy. Who has done as Christ has done for us? Who can take His place, His eminence, or His significance? The answer is 'nothing' and 'no one.' The ultimate power is that Christ saved us. His unsealing of the scroll means He accomplished God's purpose.
"Worthy is the Lamb of God!"
At our worship meeting, our Corps Officer spoke on Doctrine No. 11 - last things. " This doctrine spells out a summary of what the Bible teaches about the end of the world.
"We believe in the immortality of the soul, in the resurrection of the body, in the general judgement at the end of the world, in the eternal happiness of the righteous, and in the endless punishment of the wicked."
Maranatha!
"Worthy is the Lamb of God!"
At our worship meeting, our Corps Officer spoke on Doctrine No. 11 - last things. " This doctrine spells out a summary of what the Bible teaches about the end of the world.
"We believe in the immortality of the soul, in the resurrection of the body, in the general judgement at the end of the world, in the eternal happiness of the righteous, and in the endless punishment of the wicked."
Maranatha!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
This is my story - 42
42 – A stalwart of the Corps – Ng Fook Kum
My wife and I have been blessed in our ministry through the years by support of local officers. There were many good Salvationists at the Corps, but one who made a great impact on my life was Treasurer Ng Fook Kum –a real trophy of grace and a veritable saint of God.
Before the war, a young Lieutenant Lim Siok Chin sold him a copy of The War Cry. He read it, put the paper away and gave no further thought to it. Somehow the seed of the gospel was sown in his heart.
Years later after the war, he saw a group of people, singing, testifying and preaching at an open air meeting at Dhoby Ghaut (so named because the Indian laundry men used to wash clothes by the river near where the MRT station is now) He remembered seeing the familiar uniform and recalled the day when the young Lieutenant sold him the War Cry. He listened with much interest and when the open air meeting ended, he accepted the invitation to follow the Salvationists to their hall at 30 Oxley Road. He was touched by the friendliness of the Salvationists and also enjoyed the meeting so much, that he went again the next week. Then one Sunday he went to the Mercy Seat and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour.
Thus Ng Fook Kum began a life of great adventure for Christ. He became a soldier and soon brought his whole family along. They used to live in one of a row of small wooden houses opposite Borneo Motors (now Singapore Shopping Centre) Later he was commissioned as the Corps Sergeant Major.
He believed in the printed word for it was through the War Cry that he first came to know the Army. So every Saturday evening Ng Fook Kum armed with a bundle of papers, the War Cry could be seen outside the cinema theatres such as Cathay, Capitol, Rex, selling the War Cry to the queues of people lining up for their tickets. In those days there was no television and no booking of tickets in advance either, hence the long queues of people waiting outside.
When we came to the Corps in January 1970 he was the Corps Treasurer, a very conscientious one who made sure that every soldier was handed his or her ‘cartridge’ (tithe) envelope. He gave his testimony at every open air and indoor meeting when the opportunity was given. He joined the band and played trombone, but gave this up after some time as he felt he could not cope with the marches and more difficult pieces.
He always took his holidays during Self Denial time so that he could go round collecting funds for the Army. He also arranged his vacation during carolling time. He and his family were very active at the Corps. Mrs. Ng was a Home League enthusiast. Every Chinese New Year, the servicemen would congregate at his HDB flat at Margaret Drive to share in the festivities. They were greatly loved.
In December 1970, he became seriously ill and was admitted to Singapore General Hospital. As his Corps Officer, I suggested to the band and comrades that we should visit him in hospital to sing carols to him. He himself had been a faithful caroller for many years.
I wrote to the Chief Medical Officer requesting permission for our band to play and carollers to sing in the hospital compound below the ward where Ng Fook Kum was. What little faith I had. I dared not ask to carol in the ward beside his bed. The Lord had other ideas.
I waited several days and there was no reply, so we thought we would just visit the hospital to read the Bible and pray with him. Mrs. Ng happened to visit her husband and met Professor Freda Paul whose father the Reverend Paul, a retired Methodist minister, was a patient on the bed next to Ng Fook Kum. Professor Paul asked Mrs. Ng if it were possible for the Salvation Army band to play and sing carols in that ward!
Mrs. Ng wasted no time to contact me. So on Sunday afternoon the band and carollers visited the Singapore General Hospital. On arrival the Sister in charge of the Ward welcomed and brought us right to the space between the beds of Reverend Paul and Ng Fook Kum. The band played, others sang and someone read the Scriptures, but I had a lump in my throat and asked John Rees to pray instead. John confessed to me later that he had hoped not to be asked as he was about to burst into tears of joy. Afterwards the nurses brought us refreshments courtesy of the Hospital.
The next morning, Monday, the reply came from the Chief Medical Officer expressing regret that permission could not be granted for us to sing in the compound of the hospital. Never mind, we had already done it, not in the compound but right beside the bed of Ng Fook Kum. “O you of little faith” I heard the Lord telling me.
The Lord’s hand was in this. God answers prayer and gives us more than we can ever ask or think. I believed the Lord intervened, stopped the letter from arriving on time because He had better plans.
Almost 30 years later, Henry Ng Seng Fatt, second son of Ng Fook Kum, joined the William Booth Corps and served faithfully as a soldier till his promotion to Glory. At the funeral of Henry, his son, Andrew, met an old friend, Cadet Julian Wong and reconnected with The Army. Recently, he joined the Balestier Corps and now works full time at the Kallang Outpost Youth Centre.
Ng Fook Kum’s youngest son, Ng Seng Chow and his wife Tian Huay, with sons Daniel and Matthew have always been active Salvationists. She is the Recruiting Sergeant of Chinese Corps. Grandson Daniel Ng is now the bandmaster and pianist of Central Corps. Daniel married Kathryn, daughter of Salvationists Allen and Christina whose parents were the late Brigadier and Mrs. Tan Eng Soon. Kathryn is one of the Corps worship leaders. She and her husband play active roles in mentoring the youth of the Corps. We give thanks to God for people like the Ng family.
My wife and I have been blessed in our ministry through the years by support of local officers. There were many good Salvationists at the Corps, but one who made a great impact on my life was Treasurer Ng Fook Kum –a real trophy of grace and a veritable saint of God.
Before the war, a young Lieutenant Lim Siok Chin sold him a copy of The War Cry. He read it, put the paper away and gave no further thought to it. Somehow the seed of the gospel was sown in his heart.
Years later after the war, he saw a group of people, singing, testifying and preaching at an open air meeting at Dhoby Ghaut (so named because the Indian laundry men used to wash clothes by the river near where the MRT station is now) He remembered seeing the familiar uniform and recalled the day when the young Lieutenant sold him the War Cry. He listened with much interest and when the open air meeting ended, he accepted the invitation to follow the Salvationists to their hall at 30 Oxley Road. He was touched by the friendliness of the Salvationists and also enjoyed the meeting so much, that he went again the next week. Then one Sunday he went to the Mercy Seat and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Saviour.
Thus Ng Fook Kum began a life of great adventure for Christ. He became a soldier and soon brought his whole family along. They used to live in one of a row of small wooden houses opposite Borneo Motors (now Singapore Shopping Centre) Later he was commissioned as the Corps Sergeant Major.
He believed in the printed word for it was through the War Cry that he first came to know the Army. So every Saturday evening Ng Fook Kum armed with a bundle of papers, the War Cry could be seen outside the cinema theatres such as Cathay, Capitol, Rex, selling the War Cry to the queues of people lining up for their tickets. In those days there was no television and no booking of tickets in advance either, hence the long queues of people waiting outside.
When we came to the Corps in January 1970 he was the Corps Treasurer, a very conscientious one who made sure that every soldier was handed his or her ‘cartridge’ (tithe) envelope. He gave his testimony at every open air and indoor meeting when the opportunity was given. He joined the band and played trombone, but gave this up after some time as he felt he could not cope with the marches and more difficult pieces.
He always took his holidays during Self Denial time so that he could go round collecting funds for the Army. He also arranged his vacation during carolling time. He and his family were very active at the Corps. Mrs. Ng was a Home League enthusiast. Every Chinese New Year, the servicemen would congregate at his HDB flat at Margaret Drive to share in the festivities. They were greatly loved.
In December 1970, he became seriously ill and was admitted to Singapore General Hospital. As his Corps Officer, I suggested to the band and comrades that we should visit him in hospital to sing carols to him. He himself had been a faithful caroller for many years.
I wrote to the Chief Medical Officer requesting permission for our band to play and carollers to sing in the hospital compound below the ward where Ng Fook Kum was. What little faith I had. I dared not ask to carol in the ward beside his bed. The Lord had other ideas.
I waited several days and there was no reply, so we thought we would just visit the hospital to read the Bible and pray with him. Mrs. Ng happened to visit her husband and met Professor Freda Paul whose father the Reverend Paul, a retired Methodist minister, was a patient on the bed next to Ng Fook Kum. Professor Paul asked Mrs. Ng if it were possible for the Salvation Army band to play and sing carols in that ward!
Mrs. Ng wasted no time to contact me. So on Sunday afternoon the band and carollers visited the Singapore General Hospital. On arrival the Sister in charge of the Ward welcomed and brought us right to the space between the beds of Reverend Paul and Ng Fook Kum. The band played, others sang and someone read the Scriptures, but I had a lump in my throat and asked John Rees to pray instead. John confessed to me later that he had hoped not to be asked as he was about to burst into tears of joy. Afterwards the nurses brought us refreshments courtesy of the Hospital.
The next morning, Monday, the reply came from the Chief Medical Officer expressing regret that permission could not be granted for us to sing in the compound of the hospital. Never mind, we had already done it, not in the compound but right beside the bed of Ng Fook Kum. “O you of little faith” I heard the Lord telling me.
The Lord’s hand was in this. God answers prayer and gives us more than we can ever ask or think. I believed the Lord intervened, stopped the letter from arriving on time because He had better plans.
Almost 30 years later, Henry Ng Seng Fatt, second son of Ng Fook Kum, joined the William Booth Corps and served faithfully as a soldier till his promotion to Glory. At the funeral of Henry, his son, Andrew, met an old friend, Cadet Julian Wong and reconnected with The Army. Recently, he joined the Balestier Corps and now works full time at the Kallang Outpost Youth Centre.
Ng Fook Kum’s youngest son, Ng Seng Chow and his wife Tian Huay, with sons Daniel and Matthew have always been active Salvationists. She is the Recruiting Sergeant of Chinese Corps. Grandson Daniel Ng is now the bandmaster and pianist of Central Corps. Daniel married Kathryn, daughter of Salvationists Allen and Christina whose parents were the late Brigadier and Mrs. Tan Eng Soon. Kathryn is one of the Corps worship leaders. She and her husband play active roles in mentoring the youth of the Corps. We give thanks to God for people like the Ng family.
This is my story - 41
41 – Enjoying the work of a Corps Officer
It has always been the principle of The Salvation Army to work towards self support for the Corps/church for which one is responsible. We teach our people the importance of tithing as a Christian responsibility.
RSI (Red Shield Industries) as we know it today had not been formed yet in the 70’s in Singapore or Malaysia. The officers would respond to request to collect old clothes, books etc and it was each man for himself; or rather each Corps or Home would do its own collecting. Calls received at Command Headquarters were directed to the Public Relations Department and it was the duty of the Public Relations Secretary to make arrangements to pick up the stuff. All goods collected would be kept in the store and if an officer wanted anything would make a request to the General Secretary. She was always very helpful and co-operative in giving us stuff for our regular jumble sales.
The Army did not have a big Public Relations Department like it is today. The whole department comprised Major and Mrs. Brian Corfield with his assistant Major Ruth Naugler (later succeeded Major Lilian Glover) who was also the Corps officer of Tamil Corps now called Eratchippu Corps. She spent five days a week Monday to Friday going round soliciting funds from shop to shop or office to office. During the weekend and evenings she was the Corps officer of Tamil Corps! I don’t think she ever had a day off at all! The telephone receptionist was also the clerk/typist and keeper of records of donors for the Public Relations Department. So the other officers helped out whenever we could.
Every Saturday evening my wife and I would go out to sell copies of the War Cry. The purpose was two-fold – for fund-raising as well as evangelism. The three regular places we visited were the NAAFI at Beach Road, the Union Jack Club at Stamford Road and the Tangle Inn at Tanglin among others. Corps Cadets sold War Cry at the Corps on Sundays to those attending the meetings. The lady in charge of Tangle Inn was an elderly English lady, a Presbyterian but good friend of the Army. She claimed that as a baby she had been dedicated by our Founder William Booth! She also told us that Lieut. Colonel Herbert Lord conducted her husband’s funeral in Singapore.
Every Christmas she would invite our carollers to her restaurant to sing and play carols. She would provide us with refreshments and give us a donation. We always received a big hug from this dear lady. When she passed away, my wife and I attended her funeral at the Orchard Road Presbyterian Church.
We worked hard at raising funds and we were delighted when we were able to inform Headquarters that we did not need any more subsidies. Central Corps was now self supporting!
We had been using the Headquarters’ telephone, quite inconvenient at times. When there was a phone call for us, Gina the receptionist had to run to our quarters to call us. After office hours the phone was switched to the General Secretary’s quarters and Lieut. Colonel Watson had to call for us. When she was out, whoever was around would answer the phone placed at the window ledge. When we heard the phone ring, one of us had to run downstairs to answer the call. So we were pleased when the Board gave approval for the Central Corps to have our own phone!
One day when we had saved enough, we bought an old car a Renault for $3,200.00 – all our savings went into it. The Corps now had sufficient funds to pay for the petrol for official use plus road tax! Certainly this was a big help for which we were grateful. We were able to get around easily doing our pastoral visitation and also when I had to take Poh Chin to hospital for her regular check ups. One day Dr. Freda Paul the paediatrician suggested that Poh Chin should be placed temporarily at the Home at Woodbridge for observation. We took her advice and placed her there for some time so it was good we had our own car. I think the good doctor also wanted us to have some respite. She was a lovely Christian lady who worshipped at the Tamil Methodist church at Short Street and a great friend of the Army.
In those days we did not set up ‘kettles’ to raise funds like we do today, but we went out carolling for two to three weeks before Christmas. The band would always be on duty and to relieve the bandsmen I would use my concertina for some of the carols. We always ended up on Christmas Eve at the Orchard Road Presbyterian Church for a Combined Carol Service in the church compound with the other churches. This tradition began on Christmas Eve 1945 when the heads of churches who had just been released from Changi Prison met there for their first carol service. The united band of Central and Balestier Corps were always on duty and pastors of different participating denominations took turns to give the Christmas message broadcast live by Radio Singapore.
We really enjoyed out ministry at Central. There was plenty to do and the folk gave us good support.
It has always been the principle of The Salvation Army to work towards self support for the Corps/church for which one is responsible. We teach our people the importance of tithing as a Christian responsibility.
RSI (Red Shield Industries) as we know it today had not been formed yet in the 70’s in Singapore or Malaysia. The officers would respond to request to collect old clothes, books etc and it was each man for himself; or rather each Corps or Home would do its own collecting. Calls received at Command Headquarters were directed to the Public Relations Department and it was the duty of the Public Relations Secretary to make arrangements to pick up the stuff. All goods collected would be kept in the store and if an officer wanted anything would make a request to the General Secretary. She was always very helpful and co-operative in giving us stuff for our regular jumble sales.
The Army did not have a big Public Relations Department like it is today. The whole department comprised Major and Mrs. Brian Corfield with his assistant Major Ruth Naugler (later succeeded Major Lilian Glover) who was also the Corps officer of Tamil Corps now called Eratchippu Corps. She spent five days a week Monday to Friday going round soliciting funds from shop to shop or office to office. During the weekend and evenings she was the Corps officer of Tamil Corps! I don’t think she ever had a day off at all! The telephone receptionist was also the clerk/typist and keeper of records of donors for the Public Relations Department. So the other officers helped out whenever we could.
Every Saturday evening my wife and I would go out to sell copies of the War Cry. The purpose was two-fold – for fund-raising as well as evangelism. The three regular places we visited were the NAAFI at Beach Road, the Union Jack Club at Stamford Road and the Tangle Inn at Tanglin among others. Corps Cadets sold War Cry at the Corps on Sundays to those attending the meetings. The lady in charge of Tangle Inn was an elderly English lady, a Presbyterian but good friend of the Army. She claimed that as a baby she had been dedicated by our Founder William Booth! She also told us that Lieut. Colonel Herbert Lord conducted her husband’s funeral in Singapore.
Every Christmas she would invite our carollers to her restaurant to sing and play carols. She would provide us with refreshments and give us a donation. We always received a big hug from this dear lady. When she passed away, my wife and I attended her funeral at the Orchard Road Presbyterian Church.
We worked hard at raising funds and we were delighted when we were able to inform Headquarters that we did not need any more subsidies. Central Corps was now self supporting!
We had been using the Headquarters’ telephone, quite inconvenient at times. When there was a phone call for us, Gina the receptionist had to run to our quarters to call us. After office hours the phone was switched to the General Secretary’s quarters and Lieut. Colonel Watson had to call for us. When she was out, whoever was around would answer the phone placed at the window ledge. When we heard the phone ring, one of us had to run downstairs to answer the call. So we were pleased when the Board gave approval for the Central Corps to have our own phone!
One day when we had saved enough, we bought an old car a Renault for $3,200.00 – all our savings went into it. The Corps now had sufficient funds to pay for the petrol for official use plus road tax! Certainly this was a big help for which we were grateful. We were able to get around easily doing our pastoral visitation and also when I had to take Poh Chin to hospital for her regular check ups. One day Dr. Freda Paul the paediatrician suggested that Poh Chin should be placed temporarily at the Home at Woodbridge for observation. We took her advice and placed her there for some time so it was good we had our own car. I think the good doctor also wanted us to have some respite. She was a lovely Christian lady who worshipped at the Tamil Methodist church at Short Street and a great friend of the Army.
In those days we did not set up ‘kettles’ to raise funds like we do today, but we went out carolling for two to three weeks before Christmas. The band would always be on duty and to relieve the bandsmen I would use my concertina for some of the carols. We always ended up on Christmas Eve at the Orchard Road Presbyterian Church for a Combined Carol Service in the church compound with the other churches. This tradition began on Christmas Eve 1945 when the heads of churches who had just been released from Changi Prison met there for their first carol service. The united band of Central and Balestier Corps were always on duty and pastors of different participating denominations took turns to give the Christmas message broadcast live by Radio Singapore.
We really enjoyed out ministry at Central. There was plenty to do and the folk gave us good support.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Hari Raya - Public Holiday
Everyday is a public holiday for retirees like me and everyday is a working day too. I am a free agent, I do what I like and when I like. However I choose to have a programme, a discipline I impose on myself. Today I am going to concentrate on Bible studies. I am doing Revelation and today will concentrate on Chapter 7. I like to be four lessons ahead of the class which I conduct at the William Booth Corps (church) every Sunday from 9.30 to 10.30 a.m. It's a privilege given me and I thank God for it.
The last few weeks we have concentrated our thoughts on the first five chapters. We are created for God's pleasure. We are here to express His worthiness. We are made to worship. Graham Kendrick said, "To worship must be the consuming passion of the heart, whether we express it in old ways or in new ways, in silence or on shouts, in stillness or in dancing." Yes we are made to worship.
"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honour and glory and blessing!" Revelation 5:12
In heaven we will worship Him so let's get used to it here.
William Temple has this to say about worship.
Worship is -
to quicken the conscience with the holiness of God,
to feed the mind with the truth of God,
to purge the imagination by the beauty of God,
to open the heart to the beauty of God,
to devote the will to the purpose of God.
The last few weeks we have concentrated our thoughts on the first five chapters. We are created for God's pleasure. We are here to express His worthiness. We are made to worship. Graham Kendrick said, "To worship must be the consuming passion of the heart, whether we express it in old ways or in new ways, in silence or on shouts, in stillness or in dancing." Yes we are made to worship.
"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honour and glory and blessing!" Revelation 5:12
In heaven we will worship Him so let's get used to it here.
William Temple has this to say about worship.
Worship is -
to quicken the conscience with the holiness of God,
to feed the mind with the truth of God,
to purge the imagination by the beauty of God,
to open the heart to the beauty of God,
to devote the will to the purpose of God.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Love is central
"The fruit of the Spirit begins with love. There are nine graces spoken of, and of these nine Paul puts love at the head of the list; love is the first thing, the first in that precious cluster of fruit. Someone has said that all the other eight can be put in terms of love.
Joy is love exulting; peace is love in repose; longsuffering is love on trial; gentleness is love in society; goodness is love in action; faith is love on the battlefield; meekness is love in school; and temperance is love in training..
If we only just just brought forth the fruit of the Spirit, what a world we would have! Men would have no desire to do evil." Dwight L Moody.
Joy is love exulting; peace is love in repose; longsuffering is love on trial; gentleness is love in society; goodness is love in action; faith is love on the battlefield; meekness is love in school; and temperance is love in training..
If we only just just brought forth the fruit of the Spirit, what a world we would have! Men would have no desire to do evil." Dwight L Moody.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Worship at Changi Corps
We were at Changi Corps this morning and had a good time. Somehow due to miscommunication, we got the time of departure for Changi somewhat mixed up. It was raining quite heavily; anyway, we got there in time to join in the Prayer meeting, thanks to Cadets Andrew and Fiona for providing transportation. It's always a joy to be with these cadets who never fail to show courtesy. Thanks for Lieut. Colonel Prema Rajan the Corps Officer who invited us to lead in worship and share the word.
The Holiness meeting began at 10.00 a.m. The congregation was small to begin with, but as the meeting progressed more and more people turned up and swelled the numbers.
Good to see old friends again and meet new ones. When I got home I reflected on this morning's worship and thought of the people I met and here let me share some of my thoughts.
We have had many people after attending our church once or more times decide not to continue but move on to another church. There are many reasons – maybe they don’t like the style of our worship or they disagree with our doctrines. Perhaps they have moved to another area and it is convenient to worship at a nearby church. There are those who stay on and become involved in the activities, or even become Salvationists or adherents. Some prefer to keep the membership of their own church, but choose to attend our meetings and share fellowship with us. There is a welcome for everyone in the Army.
The probability of new people becoming actively involved is directly related to the number of friends they develop soon after joining the church. Survey shows those who have found new friends and formed personal relationships within the congregation are more likely to remain in the church and become more actively involved. Those who stayed had developed an average of more than seven new friends in the church.
On the other hand those who dropped out could identify an average of less than two friends. This may not be due to the church members being unfriendly. The new members may not be overtly rejected. Often, dare I say, there is a superficial level of friendliness. So let us not go just for superficial courtesy – this ‘nice to see you’ then leaving them. They are forgotten. “The opposite of love is not hate; it’s indifference” says Ken Abraham.
Let’s offer people genuine friendship, enquiring about their families and seeking to bless them with any practical help we can give. Try and sit with them on the same table. Let us love them with the love of the Lord. Every person is precious in the eyes of God.
It is good to have our special group of friends – people who talk the same language, share common interests or citizens of the same country. The kingdom of God knows no boundaries. It is inclusive not exclusive. Broaden your group to make new people feel they belong. Let us all unite to create the atmosphere where when new comers feel they belong. And they will want to come again because they have found friends here!
In Christ there is no east of west,
In Him no south or north,
But one great fellowship of love
Throughout the whole wide earth. John Oxenham (SASB 826)
The Holiness meeting began at 10.00 a.m. The congregation was small to begin with, but as the meeting progressed more and more people turned up and swelled the numbers.
Good to see old friends again and meet new ones. When I got home I reflected on this morning's worship and thought of the people I met and here let me share some of my thoughts.
We have had many people after attending our church once or more times decide not to continue but move on to another church. There are many reasons – maybe they don’t like the style of our worship or they disagree with our doctrines. Perhaps they have moved to another area and it is convenient to worship at a nearby church. There are those who stay on and become involved in the activities, or even become Salvationists or adherents. Some prefer to keep the membership of their own church, but choose to attend our meetings and share fellowship with us. There is a welcome for everyone in the Army.
The probability of new people becoming actively involved is directly related to the number of friends they develop soon after joining the church. Survey shows those who have found new friends and formed personal relationships within the congregation are more likely to remain in the church and become more actively involved. Those who stayed had developed an average of more than seven new friends in the church.
On the other hand those who dropped out could identify an average of less than two friends. This may not be due to the church members being unfriendly. The new members may not be overtly rejected. Often, dare I say, there is a superficial level of friendliness. So let us not go just for superficial courtesy – this ‘nice to see you’ then leaving them. They are forgotten. “The opposite of love is not hate; it’s indifference” says Ken Abraham.
Let’s offer people genuine friendship, enquiring about their families and seeking to bless them with any practical help we can give. Try and sit with them on the same table. Let us love them with the love of the Lord. Every person is precious in the eyes of God.
It is good to have our special group of friends – people who talk the same language, share common interests or citizens of the same country. The kingdom of God knows no boundaries. It is inclusive not exclusive. Broaden your group to make new people feel they belong. Let us all unite to create the atmosphere where when new comers feel they belong. And they will want to come again because they have found friends here!
In Christ there is no east of west,
In Him no south or north,
But one great fellowship of love
Throughout the whole wide earth. John Oxenham (SASB 826)
Friday, September 3, 2010
This is my story - 40
40 – Chinese New Year pastoral visitation
To me, Chinese New Year was and still is a special occasion. It is a time of celebration, reunion, visiting our relatives and friends. It is the custom among the Chinese for the young to visit their seniors and employees to visit their employers. The elderly are specially remembered. We just go and visit to pay our respects, no invitation is required. Officers would go round to visit the Chinese comrades to read the word of God and pray with them.
Shortly after our appointment to the Corps it was Chinese New Year. It was customary for the Officer Commanding and his wife and the General Secretary to visit the comrades of the Corps. So on the first day of Chinese New Year, we took our children to my mother in Toa Payoh as we did not want to take our children round to visit the homes of our comrades. They would feel obliged follow Chinese custom and give ‘ang pows’ (red packets with money inside) to our children. For obvious reasons it would be impractical for us to reciprocate. So throughout our officership we never took our children to visit the folk on Chinese New Year.
We went with Lieut. Colonel and Mrs. Engel to visit the homes of our people in the morning on the first day of Chinese New Year. We were pleased of course for the Colonel drove us in his car otherwise we would have to depend on public transport. We were so new to the Corps (church) and did not know how regularly these folk had been to the Army. After the morning’s visitation, Colonel Engel said to us, “We don’t know who these people are.”
Then in the afternoon the General Secretary Lieut. Colonel Watson went with us on our rounds. Having been here longer she would tell us whom she wanted to visit. This meant visiting the same folk the second time! We had to learn what to do for the following year.
The other Headquarters officers went on their own to visit the folk of both Central and Balestier Corps. Our Public Relations Secretary Major Brian Corfield spent a lot of time during the festive season visiting the donors and friends of the Army.
Lieut. Colonel and Mrs. George Engel were very good soldiers of the Corps. They were times in an emergency when Mrs. Engel would babysit Poh Chin for us. She arranged for the flowers for the hall. They were very humble servants of God and really down to earth.
Their successors were Canadian officers Lieut. Colonel and Mrs. James Sloan a very godly couple whom we respected highly. The Colonel was with me in the same session at the International College for officers in London in 1963. They too were great supporters. I recall during their first Chinese New Year with us, when they heard that I had to take Poh Chin to my mother at Toa Payoh, they volunteered to take us there first and on arrival Mrs. Lieut. Colonel Grace Sloan indicated that she would like to pay her respects to my mother on the first day of Chinese New Year. We were very touched by their thoughtfulness. It meant a lot to my mother who was a Roman Catholic. She was a Home Leaguer at Balestier Corps before the war, but during the Japanese occupation joined the Roman Catholic Church.
Brother-in-law, Mr. Goh Bin Lay used to loan us his second car to do our Chinese New Year visitation. Later on another relative, Mr. Wee Sip Chee also made the same offer for the festive season. He and his wife are not Salvationists, not even Christians, but they have always been good to us and indeed very caring. God wonderfully provided for our needs. We have always proved that when we do God’s will He never fail to provide for all our needs.
To me, Chinese New Year was and still is a special occasion. It is a time of celebration, reunion, visiting our relatives and friends. It is the custom among the Chinese for the young to visit their seniors and employees to visit their employers. The elderly are specially remembered. We just go and visit to pay our respects, no invitation is required. Officers would go round to visit the Chinese comrades to read the word of God and pray with them.
Shortly after our appointment to the Corps it was Chinese New Year. It was customary for the Officer Commanding and his wife and the General Secretary to visit the comrades of the Corps. So on the first day of Chinese New Year, we took our children to my mother in Toa Payoh as we did not want to take our children round to visit the homes of our comrades. They would feel obliged follow Chinese custom and give ‘ang pows’ (red packets with money inside) to our children. For obvious reasons it would be impractical for us to reciprocate. So throughout our officership we never took our children to visit the folk on Chinese New Year.
We went with Lieut. Colonel and Mrs. Engel to visit the homes of our people in the morning on the first day of Chinese New Year. We were pleased of course for the Colonel drove us in his car otherwise we would have to depend on public transport. We were so new to the Corps (church) and did not know how regularly these folk had been to the Army. After the morning’s visitation, Colonel Engel said to us, “We don’t know who these people are.”
Then in the afternoon the General Secretary Lieut. Colonel Watson went with us on our rounds. Having been here longer she would tell us whom she wanted to visit. This meant visiting the same folk the second time! We had to learn what to do for the following year.
The other Headquarters officers went on their own to visit the folk of both Central and Balestier Corps. Our Public Relations Secretary Major Brian Corfield spent a lot of time during the festive season visiting the donors and friends of the Army.
Lieut. Colonel and Mrs. George Engel were very good soldiers of the Corps. They were times in an emergency when Mrs. Engel would babysit Poh Chin for us. She arranged for the flowers for the hall. They were very humble servants of God and really down to earth.
Their successors were Canadian officers Lieut. Colonel and Mrs. James Sloan a very godly couple whom we respected highly. The Colonel was with me in the same session at the International College for officers in London in 1963. They too were great supporters. I recall during their first Chinese New Year with us, when they heard that I had to take Poh Chin to my mother at Toa Payoh, they volunteered to take us there first and on arrival Mrs. Lieut. Colonel Grace Sloan indicated that she would like to pay her respects to my mother on the first day of Chinese New Year. We were very touched by their thoughtfulness. It meant a lot to my mother who was a Roman Catholic. She was a Home Leaguer at Balestier Corps before the war, but during the Japanese occupation joined the Roman Catholic Church.
Brother-in-law, Mr. Goh Bin Lay used to loan us his second car to do our Chinese New Year visitation. Later on another relative, Mr. Wee Sip Chee also made the same offer for the festive season. He and his wife are not Salvationists, not even Christians, but they have always been good to us and indeed very caring. God wonderfully provided for our needs. We have always proved that when we do God’s will He never fail to provide for all our needs.
Meal at Riverboat
Our cell group members were invited to the RIVERBOAT for dinner on Thursday evening by Mr. Gary Barto. We enjoyed the fellowship and the delicious dinner. This floating restaurant is moored at Marina South Pier. We met the owner Mr. Eric Saw a very humble devout Christian who gives a wonderful testimony of his walk with the Lord.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Silence before God
We are being bombarded by noise all around us. How I appreciate moments of silence.Let me pass on to you by Dietrich Bonhoeffer in "Life together."
"Silence is the simple stillness of the individual under the Word of God...We are silent at the beginning of the day because God should have the first word, and we are silent before going to sleep because the last word also belongs to God...'Seek God, not happiness' is the fundamental rule of all meditation. If you seek God alone, you will gain happiness; that is the promise... Prayer (ought) to be guided by the word of the Scriptures ...in the way we shall not become the victims of our own emptiness."
This is my favourite song (No. 567 SASB)
"Drop Thy still dews of quietness
Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls, the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of Thy peace"
We used to sing this chorus prayerfully before the opening prayer at our meetings.
"Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit Divine"
Be still and know that I am God Psalm 46: 10
"Silence is the simple stillness of the individual under the Word of God...We are silent at the beginning of the day because God should have the first word, and we are silent before going to sleep because the last word also belongs to God...'Seek God, not happiness' is the fundamental rule of all meditation. If you seek God alone, you will gain happiness; that is the promise... Prayer (ought) to be guided by the word of the Scriptures ...in the way we shall not become the victims of our own emptiness."
This is my favourite song (No. 567 SASB)
"Drop Thy still dews of quietness
Till all our strivings cease;
Take from our souls, the strain and stress,
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of Thy peace"
We used to sing this chorus prayerfully before the opening prayer at our meetings.
"Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit Divine"
Be still and know that I am God Psalm 46: 10
This is my story - 39
39 – An international congregation
Every Sunday we preached to an international congregation. The Corps was situated in the tourist area of Orchard Road and visitors had no difficulty in locating The Army and joining us in worship.
The Corps had a very good band comprised mainly of overseas Salvationists with a handful of local folk. The Bandmaster was Frank Hewitt from the UK territory who also founded the Crescent School Band in Singapore. We still keep in contact with Frank and Beryl now soldiers of Hillington Corps, England. After Frank and Beryl Hewitt left for England, Bandmaster Vic Griffiths a New Zealander took over the band. His wife Joy was an excellent vocal soloist and often blessed us with her singing.
The Songsters were under the direction of Songster Leader Howard Bartlett, an English Salvationist. His wife Alwyn was the songster organist. Her parents were Brigadier and Mrs. Stanley Gordon who had served many years in Malacca, Ipoh and Singapore, his last appointment as the Public Relations Secretary. After the Bartlett family left for England, Vic Coe from Peterborough took over as Songster Leader. Eventually the baton passed on to Brother Jim Webb.
Among the Australian Salvationists serving in Singapore were twin brothers - John and David Rees. They and their spouses were very active supporters. They would often be asked to sing as a quartet in the meeting and in our broadcasts over Radio Singapore. After Alwyn left for England, Christine took over as the Songster organist. Every Sunday David and Christine played the organ and piano for the meetings. I had the privilege of signing the papers backing John and Narelle into the training in Sydney. Both my wife and I sang in the Songsters. As I had to be on the platform for every meeting it was not practical for me play in the band during meetings.
John Rees was commissioned the Corps Cadet Counsellor and worked very hard in training the youth of the Corps. This responsibility was later taken over by Mrs. Major Elma Corfield who endeared herself to the young people. We had about 15 to 20 Corps Cadets very active and in uniform.
Majors Brian and Elma Corfield were totally involved in the Corps. Both of them were in the Songsters and Mrs. Corfield became the Songster organist and also Corps Pianist. Major Brian Corfield played the drum in the band. They were very much loved by the corps folk and even today, they are remembered with great affection. They were always available to conduct meetings at the Corps.
Major Norina Staples the superintendent of the Girls’ Home was the Corps Secretary and Ng Fook Kum the Corps Treasurer. We had an assistant Corps Officer, Lieutenant Saroja Kakan who later resigned her officership to get married.
We had a lot of activities during the week - the band and songsters had their practices on Wednesday evening. While the men were at band practice, their wives met for Auxiliary Home League, a ladies’ fellowship.
Every Thursday there was a United Holiness meeting conducted by the Officer Commanding or General Secretary. The officers and comrades were given opportunity to participate. The combined band of Central and Balestier Corps provided the music. Balestier and Central Corps Songsters took their turns to provide items.
We spent much time visiting homes of our people and tried to make new contacts for the Army. When I was a child attending Balestier I came to know Molly Yeo one of our teachers living at Martaban Road. She later became an officer and married Captain George Tan. They resigned from officership in the early fifties. They were attending the Bible Presbyterian Church.
Molly responded to our invitation to attend the Home League. She came, enjoyed the meeting so much she rounded up her friends to join us, among the ladies she brought to the Home League was Maggie Kang who is still very active at the Central Corps. Maggie in turn brought a number of her friends and the Home League grew and even won the banner of progress. Molly is now in Australia and still attends the Army at Chatswood. Brother George Tan came faithfully every Sunday morning to the Holiness meeting and before long got into uniform.
We did a lot of pastoral visitation; in fact an officer is required in our regulations to clock in a minimum of eighteen hours per week. Because of the family, we had to take turns to go visiting during the day and whenever possible would visit together every Wednesday evening. The General Secretary Lieut. Colonel Watson allowed us to make use of the Public Relations or her vehicle for this purpose.
Every Sunday we preached to an international congregation. The Corps was situated in the tourist area of Orchard Road and visitors had no difficulty in locating The Army and joining us in worship.
The Corps had a very good band comprised mainly of overseas Salvationists with a handful of local folk. The Bandmaster was Frank Hewitt from the UK territory who also founded the Crescent School Band in Singapore. We still keep in contact with Frank and Beryl now soldiers of Hillington Corps, England. After Frank and Beryl Hewitt left for England, Bandmaster Vic Griffiths a New Zealander took over the band. His wife Joy was an excellent vocal soloist and often blessed us with her singing.
The Songsters were under the direction of Songster Leader Howard Bartlett, an English Salvationist. His wife Alwyn was the songster organist. Her parents were Brigadier and Mrs. Stanley Gordon who had served many years in Malacca, Ipoh and Singapore, his last appointment as the Public Relations Secretary. After the Bartlett family left for England, Vic Coe from Peterborough took over as Songster Leader. Eventually the baton passed on to Brother Jim Webb.
Among the Australian Salvationists serving in Singapore were twin brothers - John and David Rees. They and their spouses were very active supporters. They would often be asked to sing as a quartet in the meeting and in our broadcasts over Radio Singapore. After Alwyn left for England, Christine took over as the Songster organist. Every Sunday David and Christine played the organ and piano for the meetings. I had the privilege of signing the papers backing John and Narelle into the training in Sydney. Both my wife and I sang in the Songsters. As I had to be on the platform for every meeting it was not practical for me play in the band during meetings.
John Rees was commissioned the Corps Cadet Counsellor and worked very hard in training the youth of the Corps. This responsibility was later taken over by Mrs. Major Elma Corfield who endeared herself to the young people. We had about 15 to 20 Corps Cadets very active and in uniform.
Majors Brian and Elma Corfield were totally involved in the Corps. Both of them were in the Songsters and Mrs. Corfield became the Songster organist and also Corps Pianist. Major Brian Corfield played the drum in the band. They were very much loved by the corps folk and even today, they are remembered with great affection. They were always available to conduct meetings at the Corps.
Major Norina Staples the superintendent of the Girls’ Home was the Corps Secretary and Ng Fook Kum the Corps Treasurer. We had an assistant Corps Officer, Lieutenant Saroja Kakan who later resigned her officership to get married.
We had a lot of activities during the week - the band and songsters had their practices on Wednesday evening. While the men were at band practice, their wives met for Auxiliary Home League, a ladies’ fellowship.
Every Thursday there was a United Holiness meeting conducted by the Officer Commanding or General Secretary. The officers and comrades were given opportunity to participate. The combined band of Central and Balestier Corps provided the music. Balestier and Central Corps Songsters took their turns to provide items.
We spent much time visiting homes of our people and tried to make new contacts for the Army. When I was a child attending Balestier I came to know Molly Yeo one of our teachers living at Martaban Road. She later became an officer and married Captain George Tan. They resigned from officership in the early fifties. They were attending the Bible Presbyterian Church.
Molly responded to our invitation to attend the Home League. She came, enjoyed the meeting so much she rounded up her friends to join us, among the ladies she brought to the Home League was Maggie Kang who is still very active at the Central Corps. Maggie in turn brought a number of her friends and the Home League grew and even won the banner of progress. Molly is now in Australia and still attends the Army at Chatswood. Brother George Tan came faithfully every Sunday morning to the Holiness meeting and before long got into uniform.
We did a lot of pastoral visitation; in fact an officer is required in our regulations to clock in a minimum of eighteen hours per week. Because of the family, we had to take turns to go visiting during the day and whenever possible would visit together every Wednesday evening. The General Secretary Lieut. Colonel Watson allowed us to make use of the Public Relations or her vehicle for this purpose.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
This is my story - 38
38 – Happy Family at Central Corps
I arrived in Singapore at 7.45 p.m. on 27th January 1970. How wonderful for the family to be reunited after a month’s separation. My wife who had returned to Singapore earlier had already found places for our two children – Gladys at Singapore Chinese Girls’ School at Emerald Hill Road and Stephen at Anglo Chinese School popularly known as ACS at Coleman Street. We were pleased and gave thanks to God for His wonderful leadings through the years. It was a real miracle that Stephen could get into ACS and into Primary 2 at that! An Indian boy had just left the school to return to India, thus leaving a vacancy in Primary 2 when we made application. God’s timing is always perfect.
I walked upstairs into this spacious quarters behind the Corps hall and noticed the boxes containing our personal belongings had all already arrived from Ipoh. In those days we all had to find our own crates or boxes and do our own packing. No such thing as calling in the packers like they do today! My elder brother who dealt in refrigerators got us an old fridge and charged us $30.00 just to cover the cost of transportation. In those days refrigerators were not provided for officers.
We were warmly welcomed into the Central Corps on Sunday 1st February 1970. I stood up to give my first message and there in the congregation were the Officer Commanding and his wife, Lieut. Colonels George and Florence Engel, the General Secretary Lieut. Colonel Thelma Watson and other Headquarters officers. In those days there was no such ritual as installation and we were welcomed by the Corps Treasurer Major Ng Fook Kum a very saintly man who had great influence in the Corps.
We had two adult meetings on a Sunday – Holiness meeting at 10.00 a.m. and Salvation meeting at 6.00 p.m. My wife and I took turns to lead and give the Bible messages in these meetings. Home children and their superintendents worshipped with us on Sunday evening as they had their own Sunday Schools in the mornings in the Homes. Brigadier B. Tjeertes and some of the residents of the Home for the Aged attended the Holiness meeting. During this meeting, whoever was preaching the sermon would give a summary of the message in Chinese as well for the sake of those who did not understand English.
Our Sunday School was held at 3.00 p.m and comprised mainly of children from the neighbourhood. These children are now in their middle age and are still worshipping with their families at Central Corps e.g. James Tian Toh Kian, Thang Teck Huat, Thang Hock Huat and their families. My wife’s sister Mrs. Goh or Angela as she is generally known brought their family to join the Corps. They lived at Cairnhill Circle not too far from the Army. They had been attending Bethesda Church at Bras Basah Road, but it was more convenient for them to come to the Army instead and as an added bonus the two families could meet every week. Later the cousins formed a singing group called “kinsfolk” which occasionally participated in meetings and concerts.
After Sunday School the children would come upstairs to our quarters for high tea before attending the Salvation meeting at 6.00 p.m. So Sunday was the gathering of the two families for fellowship.
Every Sunday evening we had an open air meeting at Killiney Road or Tiverton Lane. The band was always on duty at every open air meeting. Corps Cadets always joined us and they all participated in giving testimonies and reciting Bible verses.
I arrived in Singapore at 7.45 p.m. on 27th January 1970. How wonderful for the family to be reunited after a month’s separation. My wife who had returned to Singapore earlier had already found places for our two children – Gladys at Singapore Chinese Girls’ School at Emerald Hill Road and Stephen at Anglo Chinese School popularly known as ACS at Coleman Street. We were pleased and gave thanks to God for His wonderful leadings through the years. It was a real miracle that Stephen could get into ACS and into Primary 2 at that! An Indian boy had just left the school to return to India, thus leaving a vacancy in Primary 2 when we made application. God’s timing is always perfect.
I walked upstairs into this spacious quarters behind the Corps hall and noticed the boxes containing our personal belongings had all already arrived from Ipoh. In those days we all had to find our own crates or boxes and do our own packing. No such thing as calling in the packers like they do today! My elder brother who dealt in refrigerators got us an old fridge and charged us $30.00 just to cover the cost of transportation. In those days refrigerators were not provided for officers.
We were warmly welcomed into the Central Corps on Sunday 1st February 1970. I stood up to give my first message and there in the congregation were the Officer Commanding and his wife, Lieut. Colonels George and Florence Engel, the General Secretary Lieut. Colonel Thelma Watson and other Headquarters officers. In those days there was no such ritual as installation and we were welcomed by the Corps Treasurer Major Ng Fook Kum a very saintly man who had great influence in the Corps.
We had two adult meetings on a Sunday – Holiness meeting at 10.00 a.m. and Salvation meeting at 6.00 p.m. My wife and I took turns to lead and give the Bible messages in these meetings. Home children and their superintendents worshipped with us on Sunday evening as they had their own Sunday Schools in the mornings in the Homes. Brigadier B. Tjeertes and some of the residents of the Home for the Aged attended the Holiness meeting. During this meeting, whoever was preaching the sermon would give a summary of the message in Chinese as well for the sake of those who did not understand English.
Our Sunday School was held at 3.00 p.m and comprised mainly of children from the neighbourhood. These children are now in their middle age and are still worshipping with their families at Central Corps e.g. James Tian Toh Kian, Thang Teck Huat, Thang Hock Huat and their families. My wife’s sister Mrs. Goh or Angela as she is generally known brought their family to join the Corps. They lived at Cairnhill Circle not too far from the Army. They had been attending Bethesda Church at Bras Basah Road, but it was more convenient for them to come to the Army instead and as an added bonus the two families could meet every week. Later the cousins formed a singing group called “kinsfolk” which occasionally participated in meetings and concerts.
After Sunday School the children would come upstairs to our quarters for high tea before attending the Salvation meeting at 6.00 p.m. So Sunday was the gathering of the two families for fellowship.
Every Sunday evening we had an open air meeting at Killiney Road or Tiverton Lane. The band was always on duty at every open air meeting. Corps Cadets always joined us and they all participated in giving testimonies and reciting Bible verses.
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