Glory to God

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever.
Amen. Jude 24-25

This beautiful benediction is quoted in today's reading - Words of Life.

The writer in her commentary of this letter written by Jude, the brother of James and half brother of Jesus exhorts us to do three things.

Remember Christ's words.

Remain in God's love.

Remove those who speak against the truth of the gospel.

The priority of prayer

It's a busy time for everyone, but let us not forget the importance of prayer. A small group of us met at Territorial Headquarters to have our regular prayer meeting. We are part of the chain and we cannot afford to break this chain.

While we are celebrating Christmas,  people in other parts of the world are suffering. We specially remember countries like Bangladesh where the fire has killed many people. We prayed for DR Congo. We prayed for peace in the Middle east, the conflict between Israel and Gaza. May wise sense prevail.

We thank God the Army has started work in Cambodia - the 126th country the Army is at work now. Plans are in hand for the pioneering work in Thailand.

It was good for us to meet in this way. We cannot survive without prayer.

"The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees. He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness, in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day. If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day. " E M Bounds.

Christmas carolling and celebrations

I started carolling when I was in my teens during the late forties. Captain Cecil Watts our Corps Officer (pastor) took a group of us to sing carols in the Balestier area. He played his piano accordion to accompany the singing.

Since then I’ve participated in carolling in Singapore and in different parts of the world. We sing carols proclaiming the message of Christmas.

The William Booth Corps band plays outside Tang’s Plaza every Tuesday and Saturday evening. Here The Salvation Army has a kettle stand and many people stop to listen to the band and drop money into the Collecting tin.

Other churches go out carolling too. They visit Homes for the elderly, the handicapped and other charitable Homes to sing the message of Christmas.

“CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS IN SINGAPORE” is looking for volunteers to form a 1,500 choir for its inaugural Mass Carolling segment of the programme this year. This will take place at Marina Square Outdoor Area facing Raffles Avenue/Esplanade. It is scheduled to be held 23^rd and 24^th December.

Orchard Road as usual is lighted up at this time of the year and there is plenty of celebration during this period of Christmas. This year’s light-up called “Christmas on a Great Street has three zones each with its own motif.

1. Tree for Joy at Tanglin
2. Heart for Joy at Orchard
3. Dove for Peace at Somerset.

 Every night from 17^th to 25^th December there will be musical shows in the areas of Orchard, Scotts and Bideford Roads.

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2: 14

The Christmas Kettle

The year was 1891. Captain Jospeh McFee of The Salvation Army San Francisco, USA wanted to provide a free Christmas Dinner for about a thousand people. Good thought but where was he to get the funds to do this charitable deed?

He pondered over this vision and his mind went back to the days when he was a sailor in Liverpool, England. He remembered seeing on the stage landing a large pot called "Simpson's Pot." Passers by dropped donations into this pot.

The next morning, he obtained permission from the authorities to place a similar pot conspicuously at the Oakland Ferry landing, at the foot of Market Street. It attracted the attention of the people and they placed their donations into this pot. He collected enough for the project. His vision was realized and the poor and needy enjoyed a special Christmas dinner.

Christmas kettling spread to other parts of USA. Soon other territories including Singapore copied the idea to raise finds during this time to help the needy in our many centres.

Adult Bible Study.

To day we had our last Adult Bible Class for the year. For the month of December all of us will be busy with Christmas activities - celebrations, parties, kettling etc. We shall recommence classes in January.

This morning, we had a review of the first 16 chapters of Judges. Time was given for questions and sharing among the group.

Compromise is one of the main themes of Judges. God set them a standard, but they failed to seek His help and guidance in living to God's Kingdom values. They left themselves open to influences from the people of the land - chiefly idolatry and immorality. They went to the land and fought the Canaanites, but in the end they were like the Canaanites. Sad story.

God used the oppressors to punish His people. They had to accept painful consequences.

Remember your Creator

I thank God for the gift of memory. Writing my memoirs involve a lot of research through old papers, letters, programmes etc but most of all on my memory. As age catches up with me, I sense my power of recall is getting weaker. Still I should not complain when I see people half my age don't seem to remember much.

Remembering the past teaches us countless lessons about how to live today. I have been teaching the Book of Judges and notice one thing that stands out in the book. The Israelites forgot!! They did not remember or chose not to remember the miraculous events that brought them to the land of Canaan, or the covenant that united them to God. But God did not forget His covenant and because of His love for His people, He disciplined His sinful children so that they might return to Him.

"Forget not His benefits." "Remember your Creator" these and many other verses of Scripture call upon us not to forget God. I learned a new word today from a report in the Straits Times. The leader in Hong Kong used an interesting word which I've not heard before. He said, "I mis-remember that I had up illegal structures."

Some of us don't forget, we just mis-remember!! So readers, let's 'mis-forget' and remember God. We must not forget the great work God has done in our hearts and the things He has done for us.

This is my story - 73 - Hong Kong/Taiwan

73 – Our visit to China with the International Secretary

In May 1989 the International Secretary Commissioner Robert Bath and Mrs. Bath visited Hong Kong to conduct meetings following which Mrs. Major Karen Lam and I joined them on this their first visit to China. Mrs. Major Lam was our interpreter.

The plane touched down at Beijing Airport, and after the usual custom and immigration formalities, we walked through the gate and there to greet us were a group of former Salvation Army officers and their families. Their faces were beaming with smiles when they saw us in our uniform. “Huang Yin” (welcome in Chinese) and shouts of hallelujahs burst forth from the group. Cameras began to click for such an historic occasion, the visit from the International Secretary from International Headquarters and team had to be recorded and kept for posterity. Major Yin Hung-shun their leader introduced us to the rest of the welcoming group! They still addressed each other by their ranks – Lieutenants, Captains, Majors and the obsolete rank of Adjutant!

The sun beat down upon us mercilessly and we were glad to get into the van waiting for us. These dear folk, a number from nearby towns had been waiting at the airport for hours, were glad to join the group making our way to the hotel. Motor vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians competed for space in the busy streets. The tourist guide wanted to know who we were and we took the opportunity to tell them about The Salvation Army. 

We arrived at our Hotel, checked in and before long were sitting down with the folk at the lounge. They all wanted to know what was going on in the Army world. Commissioner Bath responded to their welcome and brought greetings from General Eva Burrows. He assured them that International Headquarters and the international Army had not forgotten our Chinese comrades. It was great time of sharing fellowship and news. These dear folk had gone through trials and tribulations and had proved the grace of God sufficient. Tears of joy flowed freely as they recalled their experiences and their joy in seeing us.

Beijing was in a festive mood. Crowds lined the streets waiting for the procession making the celebration of the 70^th anniversary Youth Festival.

But there were those who were in no mood to rejoice and chose to congregate at the famous Tiananmen Square with placards and banners calling for democracy. China with its six thousand year history was at that time undergoing great changes. China was going through a crisis and was the object of international spotlight.

Our visit was from 5^th to 8^th May and in less than two weeks on 20^th May, martial law was declared! The tragic episode - Tiananmen massacre was on 4^th June 1989 a dismal page in Chinese history.

The vehicle taking us inched its way through the crowded streets packed with people. The atmosphere was tense. Everywhere police were out in full force controlling the crowds and directing traffic, but the mere mention of the name Deng Pu-feng, (son of Premier Deng Xiau-ping) whom we were to visit was sufficient to get us through even the streets that were out of bound to other traffic! I believe the Lord miraculously opened the way for us.

Prior to leaving Hong Kong we had done our homework. Contact had been made with Mr. Deng  Pu-feng the Director of China’s Disabled Persons’ Federation. In 1984, he had made a visit to our Salvation Army Home for the handicapped at Lai King, Hong Kong!

The leadership in Hong Kong and the National Council of Churches in Hong of which the Army was a member had kept contact with the Chinese authorities.

During the Cultural Revolution, Deng Xiau-ping and his family were targeted by Mao Zedong. Deng Xiau-ping was branded as a ‘capitalist’ and on one occasion was forced to kneel to the ground with his arm stretched out behind him and over his head. His family watched as the Red Guards forced him to confess to capitalist ways of thinking.

Mao’s Red Guards imprisoned Deng Pu-feng. He was tortured and thrown out of the window of the three storeyed building at Beijing University in 1968. He was rushed to hospital but was denied admission because he was the son of a ‘capitalist.’ By the time he reached another clinic he was paralysed. His back was broken and he remained a paraplegic for the rest of his life.

After a tense journey, we finally arrived at our destination – the office of Mr. Deng Pu-feng. We were warmly welcomed by the staff and Mr. Deng Pu-feng himself. Between sips of Chinese tea conversation flowed freely. Commissioner Bath brought greetings from our General and then congratulated Mr. Deng for the charitable work he was doing for his people.

Mr. Deng Pu-feng told us about his plans for the future for the handicapped. He thanked us for the warm reception he had received when he visited the Salvation Army in Hong Kong. He seemed to have considerable knowledge of the Army for he had travelled widely. We thanked him for giving us time in busy schedule. We assured him of our support.

I believe that brief visit helped to build bridges and prepared the way for more involvement of the Army in China. In 1996 The Salvation Army established an office in Kunming (Yunnan) to oversee its growing portfolio of projects in south west China. In 2001 a second office was established in Beijing to cover north China. This oversees ongoing community development programmes in Inner Mongolia and forestry projects in Hebei, Hubei and Anhui.

We believe God raised up The Salvation Army and it is important that we seek His will and work according to His will and timing. Jesus was very conscious of timing and lived His life with an acute awareness of God’s timing for His life. I believe that visit was timely. Whether the Army will be able to work in the same way as we do elsewhere is a matter for God to decide.

Majors Ian and Isobel Robinson

The Majors are on furlough in Singapore and today is their last day before returning to U S A.  It was good to see these folk again. We had lunch with them at Peacehaven today and after that we went with them to visit Balestier Corps. We worked closely with them when they were running Peacehaven Nursing Home at one time.

Normally we visit Peacehaven on a Tuesday, but we had to miss the last two weeks - one week was a public holiday and last week we had medical appointment.

We did chapel service on the third floor - Skylark. The folk here are quite responsive. We then went round to visit the other residents.

God has been good  to keep us in fairly good health and we are able to still do ministry.

Nursing Homes need visitors. People need friendship and encouragement and even if we cannot communicate in the language or dialect of the residents we can still hold their hands, read or pray with them.

Gratitude and Thanksgiving

“Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse.” Henry Van Dyke

George Herbert the 17^th century English poet wrote this poem and it is good we pray this prayer too.

“Thou hast given so much to me;

Give me one thing more – a grateful heart

Not thankful when it pleaseth me;

As if thy blessing has spare days:

But such a heart, whose pulse may be Thy praise.”

The Americans celebrate Thanksgiving Day on the fourth Thursday in November and this year it falls on 22^nd November. Canadians celebrate theirs on the 2^nd Monday in October.

The Jews have been celebrating their Thanksgiving Day for centuries. It is not called Thanksgiving but the Feast of Purim. In the Book of Esther, we read of the wicked Haman who plotted to exterminate of the Jews in the Persian kingdom. To win favour of the gods Haman cast lots to determine the date the massacre was to take place. The Hebrew word of ‘lots’ was ‘pur.’ He cast so many times to determine, first the month then the date they had to cast ‘purim’ (plural of pur) (In English we add "s or es"to form the plural, in Hebrew "im" is added hence cherub becomes cherubim, seraph becomes seraphim.

Read the story in the book of Esther and see how the story ends. God used Esther as an instrument to save the nation. Miraculously the tables were turned, the Jews were saved and Haman ended up dead on the gallows he had built to kill Mordecai.

The Feast of Purim is a time of celebration. Singapore does not hold a Thanksgiving Day, but let each day begin with thanksgiving. God has done so much for us let us thank Him everyday. I begin the day with thanksgiving and praise.

One of our favourite songs is "Thank you Lord for all Your goodness through years of yesterday." by August Ludvig Storm and translated into English by Flora Larsson

Birthday blessings

Christmas, New Year and occasions likes these including birthdays, provide opportunities for celebration.. On 17 November, it was my wife's birthday and we had a few dinners and lunches with family and friends.

Our children and grandchildren took us out for meals on different occasions and on the very day itself, our pastor and friend took us to Jack's place to have lunch. We celebrated with our Cell group members when we went to Food Haven for buffet lunch.

So the last week or so we must have added on extra calories and increased the level of cholesterol to our bodies!  Everyone tells us "once in a while it does not matter." I've yet to truly understand the meaning of "once in a while."   This week we really need to go back to simple meals to keep healthy. But then it will soon be Christmas and we once again will indulge in the "once in a while" feasting.
Some people seem to think in life we just "Eat, drink and me merry, for tomorrow we diet."

God wants us to enjoy life. He wants us to enjoy our fellowship with family and friends. We also need to discipline ourselves. The word 'disciple' and 'discipline' derive from the same root word.

Fellowship meeting and thanksgiving lunch

Eleven of us met this morning for our cell meeting. We spent much time discussing  the subject of "Death and Resurrection.' We then adjourned to Food Haven at Dover Road  for our Thanksgiving lunch. It was a great time of fellowship. We have two more weeks and not meet till the new Year 2013.

Fellowship in the family of God and with God Himself is one of the greatest blessings of being a followers of Christ.  Fellowship suggests something of purpose, partnership and interest. We mutually help and strengthen each other as we share fellowship week after week. Christian fellowship is more than just friendship with like-minded people, we meet to help and build each other up in the Christian faith.

Jesus prayed “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.: John 17: 20- 23

Purpose of Prayer

"The purpose of our praying is not to force or coerce his will; never that. It is to free his will of the warping influences that now twist it awry. It is to get the dust out of his eyes so his sight shall be clear. And once he is free, able to see aright, to balance things without prejudice, the whole probability is in favor of his using his will to choose the only right."

 S D Gordon

We were at the Global Prayer meeting this morning. Thank God for the privilege of sharing fellowship and prayer with fellow Christians who believe in the importance of prayer

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Deepavali -Festival of Lights

To day our Hindu friends celebrate Deepavali. Darkness signifies ignorance, but light is for knowledge. The lighting of lamps symbolizes the destruction through knowledge of negative forces like wickedness, violence, lust, anger, envy, jealousy, greed, bigotry, fear, injustice, oppression, suffering, the list goes on.

We believe Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. When He indwells in us we are in the light. We believers are to reflect this light and shine as lights in this dark world of sin.

I ponder once again the words of our Lord, ".. let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."Matthew 5:16

Prayer by St. Columba (521-597)

O Lord, give us we beseech You in the name of Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord, that love which can never cease, that will kindle our lamps but not extinguish them, that they may burn in us and enlighten others..

Do You, O Christ, our dearest Saviour, Yourself kindle our lamps that they may evermore shine in your temple and receive unquenchable light from You that will  enlighten our darkness and lessen the darkness of the world."

Balestier 76th Corps anniversary

To God be the glory! What a great day we had with the folk at Balestier to celebrate their 76th Corps anniversary and the end of first year in this new building. Now the folk begin with the second year and I am sure more progress will be made. It is a growing church, thanks to God and the wonderful team ministry under the leadership of Captain Hary.

Very early in the year, Captain Hary booked us for this special event. Unfortunately he was not able to be present himself as he is attending the International College for Officers in London and will not be back till early December.

Sister Anne Kwong was at Praisehaven to pick us at 10.00 a.m. for Balestier. Thus we were able to spend some time with the folk before the commencement of the meeting. The celebrations began with the singing of the Song "Thank You Lord for all Your goodness."  Yes, we have much to thank God for His leadings throughout the 76 years.

It had its humble beginning at Lorong Limau in the home of Mr.and Mrs. Syd Henson. The officers appointed to the Boys' Home at Kim Keat Road, Adjutant and Mrs. Harold Matthews reached out to the neighbourhood where our family lived. He held open air meetings and started a Sunday School in the home of Mr. Syd Henson.

The work grew and the Corps was opened at Balestier Road, hence it was called Balestier Road Corps in the beginning. And that's where  I began my spiritual pilgrimage at the age of five.

When Singapore fell to the Japanese in February 1942, the Corps closed down. Salvation Army officers were imprisoned at Changi Prison. But some of the folk met in secret to worship. In August 1945 when the Japanese were defeated and the British returned to rule Singapore, the Army restarted at Martaban road, on land owned by Mrs. Palmer. She later sold the land at a token sum of $3,000.00. In 1961, The Salvation Army built a new hall and quarters which served the community till it was sold during the time of Colonel David Bringans for about $7 million. The corps continued worshipping at Bishan till it moved into the present building. It had its official opening on 11th November 2011.

Time was given for testimonies and it was heart warming to hear folk praising God for what He has done for them. After the benediction the young people performed some items. There was also a power point presentation of the year's activities.

We concluded the celebrations with the singing of the well know Salvation Army song, "Come join our Army to battle we go, Jesus will help us to conquer the foe.."  The Salvation Army marches forward at Balestier.

We then adjourned upstairs to have lunch brought by the comrades of the church. It was a sonderful time of fellowship.

A beautiful sight -the New Charis Mission

This morning when we went downstairs for our usual morning walk, we were greeted by some men from the New Charis Mission.They had been using our Retreat Centre temporarily. This Christian charity is doing a tremendous work among the ex-drug addicts, ex-offenders/prisoners and men who had gotten into trouble. Wonderful cases of conversion.

They were getting ready to go out on their daily routine and what impressedme was to see them gathering in a group at our car park to pray. I could hear a loud chorus of Amen, then they dispersed and got into their vehicles to work in different parts of Singapore.

As they left they waved to us. We were truly encouraged at the start of the day!  God is using the New Charis mission to touch lives.

Prayer and pastoral visitation

This morning we attended the Prayer meeting at THQ. Good to be part of the Prayer chain that binds the whole Salvation Army around the world.

After the meeting we were about to take a bus from Bishan to Singapore General Hospital to see one of our friends. Lieutenant Anthony Yong came to know about it and he volunteered to take us there for he knows this sister too. We also spent some time chatting with the other patients in the same ward.

We were about to take a bus home from there, but the Lieutenant insisted to fetching us back. It was so kind of him for we know he has a busy schedule himself. We stopped at the Kopitiam to have a drink then made our way back to Upper Bukit Timah.

We are truly blessed by friends who care and often go out of the way to be helpful.

We were without the internet access for the last three days. Jason came this afternoon and fixed the system for us and restore our connectivity. Jason and the staff of the IT Department are always very supportive.

Thank God for friends He has sent to bless us.

"The greatest service one can perform is to be a friend to someone. Friendship is not only doing something for someone, but it is also caring for someone which is what every person needs."
G Neil. Strait.

Giving To God - Self Denial Altar Service

"And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich "2 Cor. 8: 1-9

To day we had our Self Denial Altar Service and the above portion of Scripture was used. Paul used the Macedonian Christians as example of human giving. It was certainly sacrificial giving. They were poor and suffering persecution. Yet in their poverty and affliction they gave sacrificially, yes beyond their ability.

One verse really struck me - "they gave themselves first to the Lord..." The grace of giving begins there - the giving of ourselves first. In other words their giving was the outward manifestation of their total dedication to God. Someone put it this way, "The crowning point of their generosity was their complete surrender."

Victory in Jesus

There is much report in the media regarding sensuality, lust and lack of integrity in our modern world today.

William Shakespeare in his play, 'Cleopatra' presents Antony as one of the great soldiers of the world. He was one of the triple pillars of the Roman Empire. Lust of the flesh slowly reduced him to become the fleshly slave of Cleopatra - 'a strumpet's fool, reduced to dotage and disgrace.'

"O God! Am  I to run a race,
Who lack the very self-restraint
That would all subtle lust abase
and win the laurel of a saint?"

We strive to obey the command of the Lord, "Be holy, as I the Lord am holy." But then lust crouches like a tiger, waiting to spring in upon our flesh. We are urged to  indulge in passion. The world, the flesh, the devil flashing on the TV screens, on the internet and elsewhere, yes temptations attack.

We need the indwelling and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Holiness can be lived in the flesh. Jesus lived in the flesh - He became flesh and dwelt among us and we are told experienced temptations in all points as we do. Jesus overcame, Her conquered, He was victorious. We too can be more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

A word of encouragement

Who is my neighbour? We know how Jesus responded to that question. From His teaching, we gather Jesus is not only the person who lives next door to us, he is also the person we meet in the street, the person we interact with each day, my colleague, my classmate, the foreign worker who cleans our street, yes anyone whom we meet at the point of need.

I went to NUH yesterday and met the Nurse who was to take my blood. The first thing I did was to greet her "Good morning, how are you today?"  She responded politely then  apologised for keeping me waiting so long.

"Not at all" I said, "you are busy people, thank you for your service." She took my blood and when I was leaving she said to me, "You made my day." Well, I'm glad I can bring a word of encouragement to some. It made my day too! The nurses, doctors, receptionists in fact all of us need some word of encouragement.

I am sure each day we can find someone whom we can give that word of encouragement. On the way home I was crossing the road when I met an Indian foreign worker. I wished him "good morning' and he seemed surprise. He responded with a beautiful smile and we chatted as we crossed the road together. He must have received a big surprise when I thanked him for coming to Singapore to work on the construction site and help build our train station.

Come 2015 there will be the Hillview Station. Anyone coming to The Salvation Army Upper Bukit Timah Road need just get to this station and you will be right where the Army is. Thank God for the many workers mostly from foreign countries working in the hot sun building this station. They need our encouragement for they are our neighbours.