Timothy Ooi, 34 year old son of John and Esther Ooi of Balestier Corps was promoted to Glory on 27th November 2014. My wife and I went to the wake on the Thursday 28th November conducted by Major Ruth Pascoe at the void deck below their flat. The funeral was on Friday 29th November
Timothy had been a very faithful soldier and lovely Christian. Despite his handicapped he took an active part in the Corps especially with the sound system. He had been helping Changi Corps too.
We thank God for a life well lived for God's glory. We thank God for his lovely parents, soldiers of Balestier Corps for many years.
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Officers' Retreat -17-20 November
On my wife's birthday, Monday 17th November, Major Ruth Pascoe, Aux. Captains Raymond and Cathy Aloba and my wife and I travelled together to Johor to attend the Annual Officers' Retreat at Pulau Springs Resort. The speakers were Colonels Andy and Yvonne Westrup, Territorial Leaders of Papua New Guinea. They are New Zealanders on their way from IHQ to PNG.
The theme was "The Significant Life" - messages based on the life of Daniel. We had very good sessions.
We had the Welcome meeting on the first evening after dinner. It was a very interesting meeting. On the way back to the Hotel Room, I slipped and fell and injured myself and had to be taken by ambulance to the Hospital. There I was attended to by the doctors and even had stitches on my upper lip. Four men officers - Lieut. Tan Thean Seng, Major Lee Kong Yee, Major Tan Guat Hai and Lieutenant Andrew Lo followed in the van behind the ambulance and kept me company. We did not finish till about 2.00 a.m Tuesday morning. My wife was advised not to go with me as she has back problems and Major Pascoe and Major Pat Tan accompanied her back to her room and made sure she was all right. We thank God for such supportive friends who truly care for us.
I did not go to bed till 3.00 a.m. Anyway I did not want to miss any meeting, so was up early to join our comrades for the rest of the session even if it meant depending on the support of my wife and friends, plus my walking stick! The grace of God saw me through.
We returned on Thursday and Major drove us straight to see the doctor in Singapore who examined me and gave me medicine. I am recovering, thanks be to God who watches over all of us.
Life goes on as usual and we are busy packing to move to Changi in mid December. God is great, is good and gracious.
The theme was "The Significant Life" - messages based on the life of Daniel. We had very good sessions.
We had the Welcome meeting on the first evening after dinner. It was a very interesting meeting. On the way back to the Hotel Room, I slipped and fell and injured myself and had to be taken by ambulance to the Hospital. There I was attended to by the doctors and even had stitches on my upper lip. Four men officers - Lieut. Tan Thean Seng, Major Lee Kong Yee, Major Tan Guat Hai and Lieutenant Andrew Lo followed in the van behind the ambulance and kept me company. We did not finish till about 2.00 a.m Tuesday morning. My wife was advised not to go with me as she has back problems and Major Pascoe and Major Pat Tan accompanied her back to her room and made sure she was all right. We thank God for such supportive friends who truly care for us.
I did not go to bed till 3.00 a.m. Anyway I did not want to miss any meeting, so was up early to join our comrades for the rest of the session even if it meant depending on the support of my wife and friends, plus my walking stick! The grace of God saw me through.
We returned on Thursday and Major drove us straight to see the doctor in Singapore who examined me and gave me medicine. I am recovering, thanks be to God who watches over all of us.
Life goes on as usual and we are busy packing to move to Changi in mid December. God is great, is good and gracious.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Pleasant surprise - birthday celebration
Life is full of surprises - sometimes unpleasant, perhaps the Lord allows certain things to happen to test us and help us in our spiritual growth. Most times we receive pleasant surprises for our encouragement. Thank God for surprises whatever kind they are. The Lord knows what is best for us.
Normally we go to our son Stephen's place for lunch with the family. One of the members of the family comes to fetch us usually about 12 noon, but yesterday we were told it would be a little later at 1 pm. At about that time our grandson David and his wife Yurong came for us.
What a lovely surprise greeted us on arrival. Some old friends were already there to greet us, others were on the way. A lunch party had been arranged to celebrate my wife's 78th birthday. The guests were some old friends - former Central Corps junior soldiers, Corps cadets, bandsmen, songsters etc! They are now in their late forties and mid fifties many with grown up children! Three were still single. Lydia one of the guests brought a lovely big birthday cake baked by herself! We knew her years ago when her boy friend used to fetch her on his motor cycle and yesterday, he brought her with her cake on his motor bike! What a lovely couple!
So we had our lunch and celebration. What a pleasant surprise to see these dear friends. They are planning to visit us one day when we move to Changi. We were Corps Officers (pastors) of the Singapore Central Corps from 1970-1974. What wonderful four years spent with these folk, and later when we moved to Headquarters' appointment continued to worship with them till we move to start another Corps at Pasir Panjang. What memories. Lovely to connect with old friends and spend a whole afternoon together in fellowship reminiscing the good old days!
Normally we go to our son Stephen's place for lunch with the family. One of the members of the family comes to fetch us usually about 12 noon, but yesterday we were told it would be a little later at 1 pm. At about that time our grandson David and his wife Yurong came for us.
What a lovely surprise greeted us on arrival. Some old friends were already there to greet us, others were on the way. A lunch party had been arranged to celebrate my wife's 78th birthday. The guests were some old friends - former Central Corps junior soldiers, Corps cadets, bandsmen, songsters etc! They are now in their late forties and mid fifties many with grown up children! Three were still single. Lydia one of the guests brought a lovely big birthday cake baked by herself! We knew her years ago when her boy friend used to fetch her on his motor cycle and yesterday, he brought her with her cake on his motor bike! What a lovely couple!
So we had our lunch and celebration. What a pleasant surprise to see these dear friends. They are planning to visit us one day when we move to Changi. We were Corps Officers (pastors) of the Singapore Central Corps from 1970-1974. What wonderful four years spent with these folk, and later when we moved to Headquarters' appointment continued to worship with them till we move to start another Corps at Pasir Panjang. What memories. Lovely to connect with old friends and spend a whole afternoon together in fellowship reminiscing the good old days!
Saturday, November 8, 2014
Possesions
I've preached, taught, counselled others on the subject of possessions. Good to live simply. Don't be possessed by possessions! All sound advice and scriptural too. We came into the world with nothing, and will leave with nothing.
Job said, "I came naked from my mother's womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!" Job 1: 21
"We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can't take our riches with us". (Ecclesiastes 5:15 New Living Translation)
We are in the midst of packing to move to Changi - from west to east. We shall occupy one of the units on the top floor of Peacehaven Nursing Home. We have to get rid of a lot of things that we have accumulated. Sadly I must confess some things do possess me and I need to be drastic and walk my talk. You see, the unit there is smaller than the current one we occupy. We are downgrading or downsizing and it will be easier to maintain.
We shall be near our special daughter, Dora Poh Chin, a resident of Peacehaven Nursing Home. We shall visit her everyday!
"In life we need to learn to let go of things. "Anything you cannot relinquish when it has outlived its usefulness possesses you and in this material age, a great many of us are possessed by our possessions." Peace Pilgrim
My simple prayer today is asking the Lord to help me learn not to cling on, but just hold lightly to this world's goods. They are on loan to me for the time being. There is a time to enjoy something, and a time to release and pass on to someone else who can make use of it.
"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6: 33 (New Living Translation)
Job said, "I came naked from my mother's womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!" Job 1: 21
"We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can't take our riches with us". (Ecclesiastes 5:15 New Living Translation)
We are in the midst of packing to move to Changi - from west to east. We shall occupy one of the units on the top floor of Peacehaven Nursing Home. We have to get rid of a lot of things that we have accumulated. Sadly I must confess some things do possess me and I need to be drastic and walk my talk. You see, the unit there is smaller than the current one we occupy. We are downgrading or downsizing and it will be easier to maintain.
We shall be near our special daughter, Dora Poh Chin, a resident of Peacehaven Nursing Home. We shall visit her everyday!
"In life we need to learn to let go of things. "Anything you cannot relinquish when it has outlived its usefulness possesses you and in this material age, a great many of us are possessed by our possessions." Peace Pilgrim
My simple prayer today is asking the Lord to help me learn not to cling on, but just hold lightly to this world's goods. They are on loan to me for the time being. There is a time to enjoy something, and a time to release and pass on to someone else who can make use of it.
"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6: 33 (New Living Translation)
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Monday, November 3, 2014
Mission Sunday - Self Denial Altar Service
Every year we take part in this important day. We set aside funds and give to mission. The International Self Denial Fund supports the missionary work of The Salvation Army around the world, now comprising 126 countries.
For us, this gift we bring to the Altar is apart from our regular tithe to the church. Many years ago we had an American officer, Lieut. Colonel George Engel in charge of The Salvation Army in Singapore and Malaysia. He made it a point after paying his tithe of 10% to the church, set aside another 2 % per month to give to missions. So in a year it is almost a quarter of his salary as his gift to Self Denial. His aim - one week's salary to missions.
We have adopted his system in our giving. God is no man's debtor and He honours and blesses those who bless others.
We are stewards of the time, the gifts and possessions that God has given us. Let us use them wisely and make sure He has the first claim to whatever we possess.
For us, this gift we bring to the Altar is apart from our regular tithe to the church. Many years ago we had an American officer, Lieut. Colonel George Engel in charge of The Salvation Army in Singapore and Malaysia. He made it a point after paying his tithe of 10% to the church, set aside another 2 % per month to give to missions. So in a year it is almost a quarter of his salary as his gift to Self Denial. His aim - one week's salary to missions.
We have adopted his system in our giving. God is no man's debtor and He honours and blesses those who bless others.
We are stewards of the time, the gifts and possessions that God has given us. Let us use them wisely and make sure He has the first claim to whatever we possess.
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