Celebrating the New Year.

Sunday afternoon, we had reunion dinner with our daughter and family. We had “steam boat” at a Japanese Restaurant at Simei not far from where we live. Four generations met to celebrate, although our great grandson Elias was content to chew a biscuit and have his milk.

During the period overseas working in Hong Kong and Taiwan we celebrated Chinese New Year with our Hong Kong and Taiwan friends. In Hong Kong we would invite some expatriate officers to join us for the reunion dinner at our home as the local folk would be with their families.

The three years in the Philippines, we did not celebrate Chinese New Year in the same way. We had to be in office, but on the eve of Chinese New Year we would invite some of our officers to join us for reunion dinner. Now Chinese New Year is a public holiday in the Philippines. We were in the Philippines for three years July 1990- June 1993. On 1st July we took up our appointment at International Headquarters.

In November 2011, President Aquino declared Chinese New Year as a special non-working holiday. This then allowed Filipinos and Filipino-Chinese to celebrate the festival.  President Aquino's ancestors, the Cojuangcos -  his  matriarch's clan -  are Filipino-Chinese.

In England, Chinese New Year is a normal working day. So each year we invited some friends to join us for dinner. One year we had General Paul Rader and his wife Commissioner Kay Rader plus the ADC Lieut. Colonel Bartlett.

For the last 19 years we always have reunion dinner with our own family. It is good that in retirement days, we can enjoy our own children, grandchildren plus their wives (two grand daughters-in-law.) and a great grandson. God has showered us with abundant blessings.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow! God is great, is good and gracious.

Xin Nian Pen An  (New year peace be  to you.)

Chinese New Year - 2017

 

Chinese and ethnic Chinese celebrate this special festival referred to as Chinese or Lunar New Year. In China is it called Spring Festival. The New Year's Eve dinner is called "reunion dinner", and is considered to be the most important meal of the year as we end the year of the monkey and begin the year of the rooster.

After 15 years working overseas in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippines and United Kingdom, we came home in 1997 for retirement. The first few years we used to host the reunion dinner. As age catches up with us, our son and family have taken over this responsibility and we go to their home to celebrate this important event.

Our daughter with her family will celebrate the reunion dinner at her husband’s family home.

The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first lunar month and in the Chinese calendar it ends on the 15^th which is called Lantern Festival.

 On the first day, the oldest and most senior members are visited. The visits serve to strengthen family ties. Bài nián refers to both, pay a New Year's call as well as 'wishing somebody a Happy New Year'.

In Singapore and Malaysia, the custom is for the visitor to bring two mandarin oranges and offer them to the host or hostess, using both hands as a mark of respect. The host accepts the fruit and reciprocates with two mandarin oranges – in other words exchanging gifts of blessings.

Our home will be open to visitors, no appointment is needed, so don’t  be surprised you might be meeting many strangers!

You may stay as long as you like, at the same time, feel free to excuse yourselves as you may have other homes to visit.

All are welcome. A blessed Lunar New Year.

If crosses come (I'll not turn back

Watchnight Service

New Year Day 2017 fell on Sunday, so the decision was taken not to hold Watchnight Service. There was a feeling that folk might be too tired to attend the meeting on Sunday morning! I wonder how many churches kept the Watchnight Service.

Some of us still remember that at one time in the 1950’s and 60’s, The Salvation Army in Singapore used to have just one Combined Watchnight Service and it was held at Central Corps at 30 Oxley Road and later at Clemenceau Avenue.

Then someone came up with the idea to have a Chinese New Year Watchnight Service at Balestier Corps at Martaban Rd. The comrades would gather in the evening to have a service of thanksgiving at the Corps after their reunion dinner in their own homes. The officers and comrades of Central Corps would come and join us for this service. Most of the Balestier folk lived in the neighbourhood, so it was easy for them to get together for activities.

Blest be the tie that binds
our hearts in Christian love;
the fellowship of kindred minds
is like to that above. John Fawcett

 

Blest Be The Tie That Binds

Reflection on Covenant Sunday

On the first Sunday of the year, The Salvation Army in our territory observes Covenant Sunday. On this special day, I always made my way to the Mercy Seat or Altar to pray and renew my covenant. Since we got married in 1958 we have always done this together.

This year, Covenant Day fell on the first day of 2017. It has been a time of deep reflection as I look back on my pilgrim journey. Yes, I started young, just at the tender age of five when my elder siblings and I followed the Salvation Army contingent to their simple small hall at Balestier Road.  I did not know Christ then, but the influence and teaching of the officers and comrades helped me to understand the Bible and my faith. It has been a long journey of eight decades! As I knelt with my wife this song came to my mind "Have I ceased from walking close beside thee? Have I grieved thee with an ill-kept vow? In my heart of hearts have I denied thee? Speak dear Lord, O speak and tell me now." Yes, in life I have broken many promises, but thanks be to God He has enabled me to keep three special covenants intact.

As I prayed there came to my mind three very important covenants – first when I signed my “Articles of War” or “Soldier’s Covenant” at the Balestier Hall – an ‘atap’ or thatched roof hut, wooden walls, plain cement floor and no electricity. We used kerosene lamps to brighten the church for worship. That Covenant signed when I was a teenager is still intact, thanks be to God and support of fellow salvationists and friends.

I was at Youth Councils in 1949 when I felt the call to be an officer of the Salvation Army. At the conclusion of the meeting, I made my way to the Altar and offered myself to the Lord to be an officer. Unbeknown to me a young lady also made the same commitment. That lady was to become my wife in 1958. God called us at the same time in the same meeting, listening to the same messages, although we did not know each other then. We entered the Training College together in 1954 in the “Shepherds Session” Both of us signed our Covenant in the same meeting. That covenant by God’s grace is still intact.

June 7^th 1958, the then Lieutenant Fong Pui Chan and I made our Marriage Covenant at 207 Clemenceau Avenue, Singapore and tied the marriage knot. Will the Lord allow us to live till 2018 to celebrate our Diamond Jubilee Wedding anniversary? This is for Him to decide. We are in His hands, the safest  place to be.

As I write,  this song by Will J Brand came to my mind and I want to share it with my readers.                            

When from sin's dark hold thy love had won me,
And its wounds thy tender hands had healed,
As thy blest commands were laid upon me,
Growing light my growing need revealed.
Thus I sought the path of consecration
When to thee, dear Lord, my vows were given;
And the joy which came with full salvation
Winged my feet and filled my heart with Heaven.

 Chorus

By the love that never ceased to hold me,
By the blood which thou didst shed for me,
While thy presence and thy power enfold me,
I renew my covenant with thee.

But my heart at times with care is crowded,
Oft I serve with weak, o'erladen hands,
And that early joy grows dim and clouded
As each day its heavy toll demands.
Have I ceased from walking close beside thee?

Have I grieved thee with an ill-kept vow?
In my heart of hearts have I denied thee
Speak, dear Lord, O speak and tell me now.

By the love that never ceased to hold me
In a bond nor life nor death shall break,
As thy presence and thy power enfold me,
I would plead fresh covenant to make.
From before thy face, each vow renewing,
Strong in heart, with purpose pure and deep,
I will go henceforth thy will pursuing,
With my Lord unbroken faith to keep.

O God, Our Help in Ages Past