Time flies, and the older one gets the more one feels its speed. A whole week has gone since I last wrote.
However I do keep a diary and scribble something each day. The big event for the week was the celebration of our daughter Dora Poh Chin's birthday. She turned 45 on Saturday 26th April.
She is very well cared for at our Salvation Army's Peacehaven Nursing Home at Changi. Our daughter Gladys was free on Friday, so she was able to fetch us there for the celebration. The nurses and residents in her ward joined in the celebrations. Everyone was given a piece of her birthday cake. The staff and nurses are wonderful people serving suffering humanity in the name of Jeeus.
Hard to believe that it was 45 years ago when Poh Chin was born in Kuala Lumpur where we were stationed. It was a year of the terrible racial riots in Malaysia where many lives were lost. God wonderfully preserved us those traumatic days.
This morning in our meeting we sang that lovely song by Fanny Crosby a blind poet. She scorned the idea that God had planned her blindness. She wrote in her autobiography , "The idea is repulsive to me that the Lord looked down on baby Fanny Crosby and ordained that she should be blind for life. I do believe that God permitted me to be blind, when that affliction had been put upon me by a doctor's blundering, and I believe that the way has been shown to make my blindness a blessing."
She wrote further that she had prayed: "About being blind, Lord there is something else. At first I had a hard time dealing with me. And then I learned to accept it. And now something even better has happened. I thank God for it!"
I must have the Saviour with me,
For I dare not walk alone;
I must feel His presence near me,
And His arm around me thrown.
Chorus:
Then my soul shall fear no ill;
Let Him lead me where He will,
I will go without a murmur,
And His footsteps follow still.
I must have the Saviour with me,
For my faith at best is weak;
He will whisper words of comfort
That no other voice can speak.
I must have the Saviour with me
In the onward march of life;
Through the tempest and the sunshine,
Through the battle and the strife.
Our Poh Chin is handicapped. We do not blame God. What caused the doctor to delay coming to perform the delivery, we still do not know. Later when we went back to the Hospital at Petaling Jaya, the nurse explained that her records were lost. We did not want to pursue the matter further.
One thing we know Poh Chin has brought blessing to many people and certainly to us her parents. She has in her own way added a new note to our ministry in helping suffering humanity. Our LORD is with us and we still hear "His words of comfort that no other voice can speak." He equips us to share His words of comfort to those who are suffering. All glory be to our loving God who revealed Himself in Jesus His Son.
Sunday, April 27, 2014
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Easter Sunday
Had a great time of fellowship at Changi Corps this morning sharing worship and the word with our fellow believers. It was good to see so many people in the meeting, quite a number new to us. God is blessing the church in Changi.
For a change instead of dwelling on the Sunday morning Easter scene, I decided to focus our thoughts on the Walk to Emmaus as recorded in Luke.
We sang the usual Easter songs - "Christ the Lord is risen today, Hallelujah" "O joyful sound O glorious hour when Christ by His almighty power, arose and left the grave." and "Low in the grave He lay with the chorus, Up from the grave He arose."
After the message, we sang an old hymn "Abide with me, fast falls the eventide." Some of these old hymns don't seem to be used these days.
When we were in England, it was our privilege to visit a little seaside town called Brixham in Devon. We were invited there to conduct meetings at the Brixham Corps (church)
We visited the church where Francis Lyte was the pastor at one time. This old hymn was written by him during his final weeks there. He was stricken by tuberculosis and had been advised to go to the south of France to rest. After the Sunday evening service he went to the stroll along the shore he loved so well.. During these moments he received the inspiration for the hymn.
Anyway he heeded advice, went to France where he went to be with Lord in Heaven. Thy hymn based on Luke 24: 29 lives on and everyday at 6.00 p.m. this hymn is still heard at Brixham today. The bells chime out this beautiful tune "Abide with me"
As we travel along life's journey, let us walk with with Jesus our risen Saviour.
For a change instead of dwelling on the Sunday morning Easter scene, I decided to focus our thoughts on the Walk to Emmaus as recorded in Luke.
We sang the usual Easter songs - "Christ the Lord is risen today, Hallelujah" "O joyful sound O glorious hour when Christ by His almighty power, arose and left the grave." and "Low in the grave He lay with the chorus, Up from the grave He arose."
After the message, we sang an old hymn "Abide with me, fast falls the eventide." Some of these old hymns don't seem to be used these days.
When we were in England, it was our privilege to visit a little seaside town called Brixham in Devon. We were invited there to conduct meetings at the Brixham Corps (church)
We visited the church where Francis Lyte was the pastor at one time. This old hymn was written by him during his final weeks there. He was stricken by tuberculosis and had been advised to go to the south of France to rest. After the Sunday evening service he went to the stroll along the shore he loved so well.. During these moments he received the inspiration for the hymn.
Anyway he heeded advice, went to France where he went to be with Lord in Heaven. Thy hymn based on Luke 24: 29 lives on and everyday at 6.00 p.m. this hymn is still heard at Brixham today. The bells chime out this beautiful tune "Abide with me"
As we travel along life's journey, let us walk with with Jesus our risen Saviour.
Saturday, April 19, 2014
Holy Saturday
Known by different names, such as Easter Eve, Easter Even, Black Saturday or Saturday before Easter, the day is often considered a time of both sadness and joy among the Christians around the world.
Traditionally considered to be a time of reflection and waiting, Holy Saturday is the last day of the Holy Week and the end of the season of Lent.
It is good for us to spend time in quiet reflection on this day before Easter. Lieut. Colonel Richard Slater wrote a song on the tenth anniversary of his conversion in 1892. I have been singing the chorus of this song.
"I think of all His sorrow,
The garden and the morrow,
When cruel death did follow.
'Twas all for me, 'twas all for me."
Traditionally considered to be a time of reflection and waiting, Holy Saturday is the last day of the Holy Week and the end of the season of Lent.
It is good for us to spend time in quiet reflection on this day before Easter. Lieut. Colonel Richard Slater wrote a song on the tenth anniversary of his conversion in 1892. I have been singing the chorus of this song.
"I think of all His sorrow,
The garden and the morrow,
When cruel death did follow.
'Twas all for me, 'twas all for me."
Friday, April 18, 2014
Thursday, April 17, 2014
The Missing Cup.
In 1495, Duke Ludovico of Milan asked the Florentine artist Leonardo DaVinci to portray the dramatic scene of Jesus last supper with His disciples as they gathered in the Upper Room before His crucifixion. The scene was to be painted upon a large wall of the dining room at Santa Maria delle Graazie monastery in Milan. DaVinci, then 43 years old and already famous as a painter, sculptor and architect, agreed to take on the assignment.
Working slowly and with great care for detail, he spent three years completing the painting. The disciples were grouped in threes, two groups on either side of the figure of Christ, who sat at the centre of the table, His arms stretched before Him. In His right hand He held a wine cup, painted with marvellous realism. At last the painting was ready, and DaVinci called a friend to see it. "Give me your honest opinion, " DaVinci said.
"It's wonderful," the friend told him in open admiration. "The cup is so real I cannot keep my eyes off it."
Instantly DaVinci immediately took a brush and drew it across the sparkling cup. "If it affects you that way, it must not remain," he exclaimed. "Nothing shall distract attention from the figure of Christ."
Today, 500 years later both the beauty of his painting and the truth of his statement remain. At this Easter season, will anything take your eyes off Christ and the real meaning of His death and resurrection?
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
Working slowly and with great care for detail, he spent three years completing the painting. The disciples were grouped in threes, two groups on either side of the figure of Christ, who sat at the centre of the table, His arms stretched before Him. In His right hand He held a wine cup, painted with marvellous realism. At last the painting was ready, and DaVinci called a friend to see it. "Give me your honest opinion, " DaVinci said.
"It's wonderful," the friend told him in open admiration. "The cup is so real I cannot keep my eyes off it."
Instantly DaVinci immediately took a brush and drew it across the sparkling cup. "If it affects you that way, it must not remain," he exclaimed. "Nothing shall distract attention from the figure of Christ."
Today, 500 years later both the beauty of his painting and the truth of his statement remain. At this Easter season, will anything take your eyes off Christ and the real meaning of His death and resurrection?
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
The Blood of Jesus
Lenten series of meetings held at The Salvation Army Central Corps.
Monday: Power through the BLOOD of Jesus (Captains Phiouthong)
Tuesday: Faith in the BLOOD of Jesus (Ezekiel Tan - Singapore Bible Society)
Wednesday: Deliverance through the BLOOD of Jesus (Commissioner Lim)
Thursday: Cleansing through the BLOOD of Jesus. (Colonel Bronwyn Buckingham)
To day it was my turn and I spoke on the topic "Deliverance through the BLOOD of Jesus"
1 The Blood of Jesus delivers sinners from the Penalty of sin - Past Salvation. He died for us all.
2 The Blood of Jesus delivers believers from the Power of sin by His daily care. Present salvation. He enables us to keep our relationship with God right
3 The Blood of Jesus will deliver believers from the Presence of sin when He comes to take us Home. Future salvation.
Monday: Power through the BLOOD of Jesus (Captains Phiouthong)
Tuesday: Faith in the BLOOD of Jesus (Ezekiel Tan - Singapore Bible Society)
Wednesday: Deliverance through the BLOOD of Jesus (Commissioner Lim)
Thursday: Cleansing through the BLOOD of Jesus. (Colonel Bronwyn Buckingham)
To day it was my turn and I spoke on the topic "Deliverance through the BLOOD of Jesus"
1 The Blood of Jesus delivers sinners from the Penalty of sin - Past Salvation. He died for us all.
2 The Blood of Jesus delivers believers from the Power of sin by His daily care. Present salvation. He enables us to keep our relationship with God right
3 The Blood of Jesus will deliver believers from the Presence of sin when He comes to take us Home. Future salvation.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Palm Sunday
What a joy it was for us to be invited to lead and speak on Palm Sunday at Balestier Corps (church) It was good to meet old friends and be introduced to new ones! The church is growing and the big challenge is space. Anyway, plans are in hand to have a second meeting at Kallang in the afternoon. This meeting will be bi-lingual.
On Palm Sunday, Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem riding on the colt of a donkey. This much despised animal enjoyed the wonderful privilege of taking the Messiah into the city to fulfill the mission of redemption.
"God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful." 1 Corinthians 1: 27 New Living Translation
On Palm Sunday, Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem riding on the colt of a donkey. This much despised animal enjoyed the wonderful privilege of taking the Messiah into the city to fulfill the mission of redemption.
"God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful." 1 Corinthians 1: 27 New Living Translation
Friday, April 11, 2014
Alone He prayed
Solitude and loneliness are not the same. All of us need moments of solitude. "The world is too much with us" says Wordsworth the poet. I find it necessary to have those times of solitude when I retreat into a world of mine own and spend time with alone with My Lord.
Jesus took three of His disciples - Peter, James and John into the garden up to a certain point. Then He said to them, "Sit here while I go farther to pray alone."
There are certain issues we cannot share with others. The greatest crises and decisions need to be faced alone.
Jesus must go to the Cross alone.
"Lord in this quiet hour, I bare my heart to you. Speak Lord for Your servant is listening."
"To be there before You, Lord, that's all.
To shut the eyes of my body,
To shut the eyes of my soul,
And to be still and silent,
To expose myself to You Who are there, exposed to me.
To be there before you, the Eternal presence. Michel Quoist
Jesus took three of His disciples - Peter, James and John into the garden up to a certain point. Then He said to them, "Sit here while I go farther to pray alone."
There are certain issues we cannot share with others. The greatest crises and decisions need to be faced alone.
Jesus must go to the Cross alone.
"Lord in this quiet hour, I bare my heart to you. Speak Lord for Your servant is listening."
"To be there before You, Lord, that's all.
To shut the eyes of my body,
To shut the eyes of my soul,
And to be still and silent,
To expose myself to You Who are there, exposed to me.
To be there before you, the Eternal presence. Michel Quoist
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Singing psalms and hymns
"After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives" Matt. 26:30
In the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, we have this statement as part of the Passover Supper scene. At the meal, the Hallel Psalms of Praise (113-118) were sung. Every Jewish boy had to memorise these psalms. Psalms 113 and 114 were sung near the beginning of the observance and Psalms 115-118 at a later point. At the end of the Feast the great Hallel Psalm 136 was sung.
I love the Psalms. It would be good for us all to read these psalms. Think of it, as our Lord moved towards Calvary these words were in His heart and on His lips. Let us join Him in saying, "The LORD is for me; I will not fear' What can man do to me?" Jesus went to the Cross singing these beautiful words.
We live in world of trouble, chaos, confusion. What will happen next? With God on my side, I fear nothing to fear.
An unknown writer has written this beautiful poem.
"I will not doubt, though all my ships at sea
Come drifting home with broken masks and sails:
I shall believe the hand that never fails,
From seeming evil worketh good for me.
And though I weep because those sails are battered,
Still will I cry, while my best hopes are shattered,
I trust in Thee.
I will not doubt, though sorrows fall like rain,
And troubles swarm like bees about a hive;
I shall believe the heights for which I strive
Are only reached by anguish and by pain;
And though I groan and tremble with my crosses,
The greatest gain.
I will not doubt, well anchored in the faith,
Like some storm ship, my soul braves every gale;
So strong its courage that it will not fail,
To breast the mighty unknown sea of death;
O may I cry when body parts with spirit,
I do not doubt, so listening worlds may hear it,
I trust in Thee.
In the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, we have this statement as part of the Passover Supper scene. At the meal, the Hallel Psalms of Praise (113-118) were sung. Every Jewish boy had to memorise these psalms. Psalms 113 and 114 were sung near the beginning of the observance and Psalms 115-118 at a later point. At the end of the Feast the great Hallel Psalm 136 was sung.
I love the Psalms. It would be good for us all to read these psalms. Think of it, as our Lord moved towards Calvary these words were in His heart and on His lips. Let us join Him in saying, "The LORD is for me; I will not fear' What can man do to me?" Jesus went to the Cross singing these beautiful words.
We live in world of trouble, chaos, confusion. What will happen next? With God on my side, I fear nothing to fear.
An unknown writer has written this beautiful poem.
"I will not doubt, though all my ships at sea
Come drifting home with broken masks and sails:
I shall believe the hand that never fails,
From seeming evil worketh good for me.
And though I weep because those sails are battered,
Still will I cry, while my best hopes are shattered,
I trust in Thee.
I will not doubt, though sorrows fall like rain,
And troubles swarm like bees about a hive;
I shall believe the heights for which I strive
Are only reached by anguish and by pain;
And though I groan and tremble with my crosses,
The greatest gain.
I will not doubt, well anchored in the faith,
Like some storm ship, my soul braves every gale;
So strong its courage that it will not fail,
To breast the mighty unknown sea of death;
O may I cry when body parts with spirit,
I do not doubt, so listening worlds may hear it,
I trust in Thee.
Sunday, April 6, 2014
In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.
"In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength" Isaiah 30: 15
Simple words, simple text expressing a profound truth. It is the formula for adequacy for the demands placed upon us. This verse has brought me much help and comfort when I meet challenges that I feel I cannot cope.
Briefly let us look us look at the background of this chapter in Isaiah. Sennacherib was threatening Judah. Panic reigned; everyone was nervous and jittery when they thought of this formidable enemy. So the people. God's chosen ones, instead of trusting Him, decided to go to get help from Egypt. To safeguard their possible, they thought it best at that juncture to have an alliance with Egypt, a nation with horses, chariots and big army. The might of Egypt filled them with admiration. They somehow forgot Yahweh the Almighty.
We live in a trouble world and there is danger of us to leave out God Almighty in our calculations. Well has the Psalmist remind us, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord." Psalm 20:7
May we during this Lenten season, pause, be still and focus our thoughts on God Almighty Who in His great love sent Jesus into the world to be our Saviour. Let us put our trust in the Almighty God who is still in control of this universe He created.
In the secret of thy presence,
Where the pure in heart may dwell,
Are the springs of sacred service
And a power that none can tell.
There my love must bring its offering,
There my heart must yield its praise,
And the Lord will come, revealing
All the secrets of his ways.
More than all my lips may utter,
More than all I do or bring,
Is the depth of my devotion
To my Saviour, Lord and King.
Nothing less will keep me tender;
Nothing less will keep me true;
Nothing less will keep the fragrance
And the bloom on all I do!
Blessed Lord, to see thee truly,
Then to tell as I have seen,
This shall rule my life supremely,
This shall be the sacred gleam.
Sealed again is all the sealing,
Pledged again my willing heart,
First to know thee, then to serve thee,
Then to see thee as thou art.
Albert Orsborn (1886-1967)
Simple words, simple text expressing a profound truth. It is the formula for adequacy for the demands placed upon us. This verse has brought me much help and comfort when I meet challenges that I feel I cannot cope.
Briefly let us look us look at the background of this chapter in Isaiah. Sennacherib was threatening Judah. Panic reigned; everyone was nervous and jittery when they thought of this formidable enemy. So the people. God's chosen ones, instead of trusting Him, decided to go to get help from Egypt. To safeguard their possible, they thought it best at that juncture to have an alliance with Egypt, a nation with horses, chariots and big army. The might of Egypt filled them with admiration. They somehow forgot Yahweh the Almighty.
We live in a trouble world and there is danger of us to leave out God Almighty in our calculations. Well has the Psalmist remind us, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord." Psalm 20:7
May we during this Lenten season, pause, be still and focus our thoughts on God Almighty Who in His great love sent Jesus into the world to be our Saviour. Let us put our trust in the Almighty God who is still in control of this universe He created.
In the secret of thy presence,
Where the pure in heart may dwell,
Are the springs of sacred service
And a power that none can tell.
There my love must bring its offering,
There my heart must yield its praise,
And the Lord will come, revealing
All the secrets of his ways.
More than all my lips may utter,
More than all I do or bring,
Is the depth of my devotion
To my Saviour, Lord and King.
Nothing less will keep me tender;
Nothing less will keep me true;
Nothing less will keep the fragrance
And the bloom on all I do!
Blessed Lord, to see thee truly,
Then to tell as I have seen,
This shall rule my life supremely,
This shall be the sacred gleam.
Sealed again is all the sealing,
Pledged again my willing heart,
First to know thee, then to serve thee,
Then to see thee as thou art.
Albert Orsborn (1886-1967)
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