Successful Fatherhood

Spent extended time working and interacting with my team leader who is based in San Diego during my recently concluded biz trip, and I got to know him better in the process.

Not only was he a master at what he does at work (and I the padawan...:-) ), I found out that there are other things that I can learn from him too, especially on fatherhood. Here is a Christian dad with 2 teenaged sons, totally dedicated to the well-being of his family, and in many ways setting a good example to his boys in these crucial teenage years. Why do I think he is successful? Consider the following:
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(1) He regularly gets calls at work from his sons when I was there, asking him when he can be home to go ride bikes with them, play baseball or catch a movie with them. They call him to discuss weekend plans to go surfing, dirt-biking etc. His sons actually want to spend time with him. With teenaged children, I believe this is an achievement.

(2) His sons are both actively involved in church. He does not need to drag them there. Instead, they are regularly bringing their non-believing friends to church activities. Definitely what all Christian parents want to see.

How did he manage to do these in the lives of his sons? From my conversations with him, I believe these made the difference:
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Firstly, no compromise on quality time spent with his family and his sons. He remarked with a smile that ever since he became a father, he only gets to do the things that his sons want, not the things he wants. It takes years of consistent sacrifice, placing the needs of the kids above himself. No matter how hard he works and how tired he is, he goes home to watch a movie, or throw a baseball with his sons. Through that, I believe his sons can sense how much their dad loves them. It is reaping fruits for him now.
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Secondly, he takes a keen interest in his sons' education. He tutors them personally. He gets them involved in sports from a young age. They ride bikes, take part in extreme sports, play baseball etc. He keeps them away from video and computer games. He chooses schools carefully for them. He ensures correct values are built in. He has plans to enrol them both in 1 year of Bible college before letting them loose in the marketplace. He really invests in their education.
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Lastly, he sets the example for his sons. He walks the talk. He regularly opens up and welcomes dozens of teens (his sons' friends) to his home for meals, swims and games. He knows that many of them come from broken and dysfunctional families. He knows that he cannot possibly adopt them all as his own. What he can do is to at least let them see a real example of what a healthy family can be like, so that they can experience a degree of love and hope. And these relationships open up opportunities for him and his wife and kids to link them up with the church. His sons see what dad is doing, and they have caught on.
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I pray that by the grace of God, I will be as successful in bringing up Nicole and Timothy.
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A Tribute to My Wonderful Wife

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It is my 9th wedding anniversary today!

But I am away in San Diego, away from my wife and family! Sigh....can't wait to get back. Unfortunately, on the day that I am back in Singapore, my wife will be travelling for the next 3 days! Double sigh..... Looks like we have to postpone our celebration for another week or so.

Even though I am away, I thought I should take the opportunity to pay tribute to the wonderful and beautiful wife that the Lord has blessed me with.

Here is a beautiful and Godly woman who has been steadfast in being an excellent wife, mother and daughter-in-law.

She has progressed from being unable to cook to cooking full chinese/western meals that win the approval of my mother. No easy feat I assure you. She also accompanies my mum to do marketing weekly in the wet-market. Even the fishmongers know her as my mum's daughter-in-law. I am so impressed.

She has willingly given up a lucrative legal career to serve the Lord in the area that she knows He has called her: Music.

She is one who is gracious and patient, towards me, the children and her disciples.

She is extremely capable, and manages the household well, juggling the timetables of the children, mum-in-law, hubby, mum in a way few can manage.

The list goes on but I just want to say to my darling wife on our 9th anniversary:

Thank you for the joy and blessings that you have brought into my life over the 9 years of marriage, and for the 2 wonderful children. It is my privilege to be your husband. I love you!


A wife of noble character who can find?

She is worth far more than rubies.
Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.
She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.
In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
"Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.



(Proverbs 31 : 10-31)
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Visiting San Diego Zoo

The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. (Psalm 24:1)

Spent Father's Day this year in a foreign land, without my family around me. Strange feeling. Wished they were around.

Since I had the free day, my colleague (who travelled to San Diego with me) thought we might as well do some sightseeing in San Diego. So we decided to visit the world-famous San Diego Zoo, which some claimed is "the world's best" - even superior to our own Singapore Zoological Gardens.

Not trying to spiritualise things, but I have always thought that being with animals up close helps me to appreciate the beauty and diversity of God's creation. It is always a wonder when we gaze at the exotic animals of all shapes and sizes. What a creative God we have! (took these pictures myself - gives you an idea of how close we can get to the animals!)

I had an enjoyable time in the zoo. Had the "been there, done that" feeling of satisfaction...I mean, wouldn't it be a waste to travel all the way to San Diego and then leave without visiting their most famous attraction?

My verdict? I must say it is a very impressive and well run zoo. They call themselves the "world's best". We only claim to be "one of the world's best". Maybe Americans are generally more bold about their claims, or perhaps there is a zoo rating system that I am not aware of.

To be fair, I have not been to our zoo for the last 2 years, so I am not aware of their latest improvements. But what I can list down are the areas that San Diego Zoo impressed me:

(1) The nice Californian climate. Nothing that we can do about here. But I was in the SD Zoo from about 11am -2 pm in mid June, and I could comfortably walk through the entire park without feeling hot. It was sunny and yet the air actually felt cool! Amazing! Try walking in the Singapore sun at noon for 3 hours and you know what happens to you...:)

(2) Caring for the aged and the young - Sturdy prams (with shade) for babies & toddlers; motorized tri-cycle buggies for the elderly. All these are made easily available to all who need them. Many organisations talk about embracing pro-family values. Good to see one that walks the talk.

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(3) Walkways that reach the height of tree tops, to get visitors closer to animals and birds that inhabit the higher grounds.

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(4) This one impressed me the most: in many exhibits, there are signs reminding visitors that some of the animals they have in the exhibits are actually handicapped. (eg loss of limb), but they continue to be part of the zoo's exhibits because it is the zoo's core belief that like humans, even disabled animals need to be accepted and treated with dignity.

I like that.

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In San Diego

For those who are unaware, I am now in San Diego, CA, USA. Will be here till 24 Jun.

On the right is the plane I took in SFO to San Diego.

Thank God for a safe trip from Singapore-Tokyo-San Francisco-San Diego. Long trip. Tiring but otherwise everything is fine. Jet lag is manageable, and I managed about 5 hrs sleep the first night in the hotel.

Thank God too for a safe drive from the airport to the hotel in heavy traffic. Took a while to get used to driving on the left, not to mention familiarising myself with the rented car they gave me this time...a 3.8 L Pontiac Grand Prix Sports Sedan. Monster of a car.....I suspect a fuel guzzler as well. But then, it is only in USA that I get to drive cars like that...:)

Pray that as I settle down in the next day or so, I will be able to spend more time for devotion. Business travel for me is always a good time to do so, since I am "free" from other responsibilities back home. Pray too for my family, that everything will be well.

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Hope to have some time to blog during this trip. May have time for some fun stuff as well, such as sand-buggy riding in the desert during the weekend, not to mention the trip to the factory outlets for some good bargains, Legoland etc.

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God's Faithfulness to Israel

ISA 14:1 The LORD will have compassion on Jacob;
once again he will choose Israel
and will settle them in their own land.
Aliens will join them
and unite with the house of Jacob.
ISA 14:2 Nations will take them
and bring them to their own place.
And the house of Israel will possess the nations
as menservants and maidservants in the LORD's land.
They will make captives of their captors
and rule over their oppressors.

Read Isaiah today and was again amazed by the faithfulness of God towards His chosen people. Isaiah 14:1-2 is such a clear example of God's promise and prophecy fulfilled in our times. The re-creation of the country of Israel IS a miracle never seen before in history. That other nations (led by the United Sates and Great Britain after WW2, and sanctioned by the United Nations), will take the Jews and bring them back to their own land is so incredible to comprehend. It can only be a miracle of God to fulfill his promise and prophecy to His people.

And looking at what's happening in the West Bank now and looking back at Isaiah 14:2, it is not far from the truth, that right or wrong, Israel is ruling over their oppressors.

And in the current financial, commercial and industrial world today, if we are to look at the list of prominant financiers, industrialists, owners of mega-corporations, neither is it an understatement to say that Jacob's descendants do possess a huge share of the known world's wealth.
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And what am I reminded of from all these? God's faithfulness, towards His people who have so often turned against Him, and still rejects His Son.

Read Romans 11 and Paul described so clearly God's unfailing love and faithfulness towards Israel.
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As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable. Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you. For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.
Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
"Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?"
"Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay him?"
For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.

(Rom 11:29-36)

What a faithful God we serve!

"if we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself." (2Tit 2:13)

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Apart from the Lord, I have No Good Thing

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David said in the Book of Psalms:

I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing."

(Psalm 16:2)

How true that is! I had an experience today that I am not proud of, but it so clearly demonstrated the truth of David's words.

It all happened this evening on the way back from work. I was feeling fine, not stressed, frustrated or anything. It was just a routine trip home. I was at the MRT station. As the train pulled into the station and the doors opened, I waited to board while the passengers disembark. A lady passenger in a hurry then tried to push me aside to get off the train.

Somehow, that caused something to snap within me. "Mr Hyde" suddenly took over. Instead of stepping aside, I purposely stood to block her exit. She glared at me. I glared back, and if looks could kill, she would be dead already. She tried to push me aside, and I literally elbowed her hard enough to cause her to stagger off the train.

A couple of passengers looked at me, probably with disapproval, but I glared at them with such venom that they looked away from me in double quick time.

For a while, it actually felt good.. I liked to demonstrate that "no one messes with me and gets away with it!" But it did not take long for remorse to set in and I promptly asked God for forgiveness and cleansing.

This incident just revealed once again just what I am really like. Indeed, without Christ's redemption and the Spirit's restrain, what kind of man will I be?

Need to watch out for this problem of the "red mist". May the Lord's protection be with me at all times!

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Not by Power, Nor by Might

100k campaign. Raising of 5000 warriors. Sounds daunting I must admit....

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Which is why the central theme from this year's Youthnet 288 Re-Encounter meant so much to me:

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`Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.

(Zech 4:6b)

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How else can we ever hope of pulling this off? By our best human effort and strength?

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I am even more thankful for the Word from God that was revealed to me during my solitary time in the re-encounter:

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This is what the LORD says--
he who made you, who formed you in the womb,
and who will help you:
Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant,
Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,
and my blessing on your descendants.
They will spring up like grass in a meadow,
like poplar trees by flowing streams.
One will say, `I belong to the LORD';
another will call himself by the name of Jacob;
still another will write on his hand, `The LORD's,'
and will take the name Israel.

(Isa 44:2-5)

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The concerns i my heart as I approach the 100k campaign are these:

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(1) Fear of rejection by people whose hearts are hardened.

(2) Doubt if our prayers for these people's needs will be answered

(3) Will my own spiritual children want to be part of this campaign for God?

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The promises of God from Isaiah answers them all:

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(1) He who forms me in the womb has chosen me and will help me. So don't fear.

(2) He has promised to pour out His blessings on the dry land

(3) He will pour out His Spirit and blessings on my children, who shall willingly take on the Name of the Lord.

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Amen. Let all these come to pass. Not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of God.

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