Haze - when will this end?

Everybody is asking, "When will haze end?" Everyone is hoping the situation will change. People are suffering the effects of haze. Let's all pray for rain especially in the affected areas in Indonesia. We pray for wisdom and guidance from God for the leaders to act wisely

We quote Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, “remain calm and look out for one another”. Our family is of our utmost importance right now, and if our loved ones experience any haze related illness, stay calm and visit your general practitioner (GP) or polyclinics, whichever convenient."

Mrs. Janet Tang-Liok

Janet Liok a lovely Christian lady 84 years old has gone to be with the Lord. She was called home last Saturday 26th September 2015. We shall miss her.

Despite the haze, my wife and I made our way to Mount Vernon for the service held at Grace Hall. Some Salvation Army folk were already there - Major Ruth Pascoe (former pastor of William Booth Corps), Janet Ong, Ng Mei Ling and Sze Hian were there too.

We did not go to the crematorium as it was just for the family. We understand Major Pascoe did the committal.

Mrs. Janet Liok was the daughter of the well known C K Tan. When the family moved to Cashew Road, they decided to attend the William Booth Corps (church).She was in poor health, but attended meetings regularly until recent months when her health deteriorated. She was a great supporter to the church.

It was at her request that the William Booth Corps band began to play carols every year at the entrance of Tang Department Store. The Salvation Army also has a kettling stand to raise funds for our social and community work. Every year she would invite the carollers and bandsmen to Christmas dinner at the Marriot Hotel Restaurant.

When I was a young Lieutenant in my early twenties, I was appointed to Malacca Corps (church) Her uncle Rev. C Y Chang and aunt were great supporters of The Salvation Army. I recall going to their shop to collect their monthly donation to the church. Every Chinese New Year Eve I would be their guest for the family reunion dinner.

When we were stationed in London, we were able to make contact with Mr. Chang at that time in his nineties and living with their daughter.

God has blessed us with many good friends in many countries all through the years. What  a wonderful day it will be to meet again in Heaven when we see Jesus face to face.

"When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing it will be.
When we all see Jesus and sing the songs of victory."

2014 13 July WBC Sun Service - Compassion In Action - Commisioner Lim Ah...

Hari Raya Haji

Today is Hari Raya Haji, a public holiday for Singapore. Unfortunately, the haze situation is terrible and at the time of writing the PSI is 210 - unhealthy. Our doors and windows are shut tight.

Thousands are suffering because of the selfishness of those who slash and burn without thinking of the harm caused, not only to their own countrymen, but others in the neighbourhood as well.

We pray for rain to come.

Preach the word of God

“Give me 100 preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God; such alone will shake the gates of hell.” ~ John Wesley

“I preached as never sure to preach again, and as a dying man to dying men.” ~ Richard Baxter


“Some of the best things I have ever thought of I have thought of during bad sermons.” ~ Jayber Crow (a fictional character by Wendell Barry)


“To preach Christ is to feed the soul, to justify it, to set it free, and to save it, if it believes the preaching.” ~ Martin Luther


“A man who first tried to guess 'what the public wants,' and then preached that as Christianity because the public wants it, would be a pretty mixture of fool and knave” ~ C.S. Lewis


“People have an idea that the preacher is an actor on a stage and they are the critics, blaming or praising him. What they don't know is that they are the actors on the stage; he (the preacher) is merely the prompter standing in the wings, reminding them of their lost lines.” ~ Soren Kierkegaard


“If the truth were known, many sermons are prepared and preached with more regard for the sermon than the souls of the hearers.” ~ George F. Pentecost


“One filled with joy preaches without preaching.” ~ Mother Theresa

“The sermon has been reduced to parenthetical church remarks about newspaper events,” ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer


“A prepared heart is much better than a prepared sermon. A prepared heart will make a prepared sermon.” ~ E.M. Bounds


“I don't like to hear cut and dried sermons. No—when I hear a man preach, I like to see him act as if he were fighting bees.” ~ Abraham Lincoln

“It matters to God what is preached. And it matters to Him how it is preached. No man is free to preach whatever and however he so chooses.” ~ Steven Lawson


“The most important thing a pastor does is stand in a pulpit every Sunday and say, 'Let us worship God.' If that ceases to be the primary thing I do in terms of my energy, my imagination, and the way I structure my life, then I no longer function as a pastor.” ~ Eugene Peterson


"He preaches well that lives well." ~ Miguel DeCervantes

Bible study group

Every Tuesday evening a number of our friends meet at our home for Bible Study. At the moment we are doing the Book of Acts. These are adults, very busy people who make time to get together to share the word and fellowship together.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16)


We read in Deuteronomy 6:4-9,"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates." (NIV)

What a privilege to be able to share the word with my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Going forward

Dr. Luis Palau the evangelist once said,

"We can go forward and succeed;
We can go forward and fail;
We can stay safe and be mediocre."

At our age, the temptation is to stay at home and be comfortable, waiting for friends to visit us. No, there is no end to ministry - we still can contribute with whatever strength God provides.

Blessed by friends

We have been richly blessed by our many friends local and overseas. Here at The Salvation Army Peacehaven Changi,  we are well supported by the staff and nurses of the Nursing Home.

There is a difference between being friendly and being a friend. We meet many friendly people in Singapore, but not all can be considered true friends.

Last Sunday afternoon we were blessed by the visit of one of the cell groups of William Booth Corps.  The pastors - Majors Beth and Mark Brooks, delightful people brought a number of folk in the Corps van and Earnest and Janice with their two children came in their car. We still keep in touch with our many friends in the other Corps (churches).

The haze was quite bad the PSI  reading was above 100 in the unhealthy range so we were confined indoors, otherwise we could have gone to the poolside and the children could have some fun in the pool. Never mind, we had a great time of fellowship. We were members of the William Booth Corps till our transfer to Changi nine months ago.

A grateful heart

Everyday is a bonus from God to me. Everyday I get up thanking God for yet another day. Despite the haze that seem to blanket our country - 'the little red dot', we keep reasonably well.

I find myself reciting one of the George Herbert's poems I learnt in school - that's ages ago.

"Thou hast given so much to me,
Give me one more - a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleaseth me;
As if Thy blessing had spare days,
But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise."

Ruling Party PAP elected

The majority of Singaporeans made their choice of Government in the elections held last Friday 11th September 2015. The PAP will continue ruling Singapore until the next election when we go the next polls. Out of the 89 seats the ruling party now control 83 - more than two thirds majority. A big responsibility rests upon them. They need our loyal support and prayers.

Singaporeans have made their choice. Now the nation must work together to move the country forward. We are glad the opposition have graciously accepted the decision of the majority of the people.

Let me share with you a prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr.

"O God give us grace to walk humbly,
and save us from pretension
and every arrogant folly.

You have made us, and not we ourselves.

Help us to remember the limits
of our power and wisdom,
but, help us also
to do our duty within the limits of our own power and wisdom. Amen.

Election Day

My wife and I went at 9.00 a.m to cast our votes. It is our duty as loyal citizens to vote for the party we reckon will do the best for the nation.

We thank God daily for our leaders. They are by no means perfect, but they are doing their best for Singapore. God bless the nation of Singapore.

It is a public holiday today. Except for the haze, it is so peaceful all around us. When we arrived at the polling station we were met by very polite ushers. As senior citizens we went through the priority line. The whole process of voting took up only about five minutes.

Majulah Singapura!

Golden Series Worshop

I attended the first session of "The Golden Series Workshop" arranged by the Health Promotion Board. It was held at the Tampines Polyclinic.  Good to be reminded that we need to take care of our health. I received some very useful tips.

I thank God that at my age of 83, I keep reasonably well. God has been good to me.

And much more important I need to take care of my spiritual health. This is Saturday evening and tomorrow we shall join our brothers and sisters in worship at church.

Of course, I need to look after my own physical and spiritual health by my own daily devotions.