5 Things I never noticed about Singapore till I moved away

This is long overdue. I had crossed my first year in Vietnam in three months ago. And I was blessed to mark the first year by contributing an article to City News. 

In Singapore, God has richly blessed us that we can be a blessing to those around us and beyond our borders.

This is evident with the countless overseas missions that our local churches embark on annually.

This not only speaks of our readiness to spread the love and good news, but it attests to the rich resources which God has provided His people in Singapore.

Hence, we ought not only to be thankful that we are home to many strong churches, but as a small nation, we can serve as a blessing to those around us.

Read the full article here>>>

God’s affirmation: keep writing

Last month, my writing ‘career’ received a boost with an award- “Most Outstanding Writer” by City News.

This was my first ever such accolade since I started writing (and blogging) passionately and professionally some four years ago.

It definitely came as a pleasant surprise as I’d never expected to receive anything in return for my voluntary service.

But more significantly with the award aside, I saw this as an affirmation from God for my faith and obedience in using what I’d thought is His gift to me to serve.

This has also encouraged me to embark on a personal project that has been closed to my heart for a long time.

And all that can be revealed for now is that it will involve more writing and more writing. Haha…

Lastly, did I mention that the award included a prize of an all-paid trip plus accommodation to Sydney?

Yeah!! God is AWESOME!!!

Your Self-concept Determines Your Destiny

Most recently, I had the wonderful privilege to meet Dr. Rev. A R Bernard during a face-to-face interview. Personally, I owe a lot to this man for shaping my Christian worldview and clarifying my destiny as a Christ-follower. I’ve reproduced the article from City News here.

According to Bernard, a healthy (or biblical) self-concept will largely affect and influence how a Christian acts or behaves. Ultimately, said Bernard, choices will create life and determine destiny.

To illustrate the power of self-concept, Bernard presented astounding findings about the people of Israel or Jews, whose national identity and self-concept are greatly influenced by their covenant with God as descendents of Abraham.

Notably, there are 13 million Jews out of a global population of approximately six billion people, constituting a mere one-fifth of a percent of the global population.

In America, the Jewish community makes up two percent of the country’s total population. In spite of the Jewish community’s seemingly insignificant size, it is found that out of the top 40 percent of the richest Americans, 45 percent are Jewish.

Bernard attributed the Jews’ distinctive ability to prosper wherever they are placed in the world, and when they are confronted in any given situation, to their deeply entrenched self-concept as a people of God who are destined “to be the head and not the tail, above and not beneath, and to be the lender and not the borrower.”

Read the full article with interview here>>>

Tony Blair: Being Open Is The Key To Being Successful

Below is a reproduced article that I had recently wrote for City News Print Weekly. It was a report of a speech Former UK Minister Tony Blair made when he stopped over in Singapore last month. He provided his views on global trends and challenges facing today’s world. Enjoy the read.

“The speed of change in our modern world is just too overwhelming and nothing is left untouched by the pace and depth of the nature of change. In our fast-changing world, you cannot stand still,” he said.

It is crucial that one be open-minded. Blair viewed it necessary as “new thinking and new ideas do not come to closed minds.”

In our modern world, where different races, creeds, cultures and religions live side by side, it is vital for individuals to see themselves as global citizens.

Hence, individuals ought to have the humility to learn from others who are different from them. It is when one becomes closed-minded, intolerable and disrespectful toward others, that he or she becomes limited in development.

In today’s inter-connected world, success also is built on partnerships between individuals.

Read the full report here>>>

Some Personal Updates

For quite awhile, I’ve been pretty tied up with work and some other stuff that explains my erratic absence of entries in this site.

Furthermore, Facebook and Twitter have also become my other favourite online channels.

This aptly illustrates why man should only have one woman in his life, cos one is all that he can really handle. LOL…

In regards to what I had mentioned as other stuff, part of it is my involvement with City News and another big part is my marriage preparation.

Yes… you read correctly. I’m getting married, but I will save that part for next time. Ha ha…

Back to the part of City News. Last week, my debut news report was finally released. It was an interview with not just one, but two Miss Earth Singapore beauties!

Since then, I have done two more assignments. I must say that I truly enjoyed the entire journalistic process.

I’m equally grateful for the opportunity to meet and interview some of the nicest people from celebrities to one of our founding leaders, Mr S.Dhanabalan.

Pertaining to work, let’s just say that I’m going through a steep learning now.

Though its tough and rough, but I know that my God has given me everything I need to succeed since it is He who led me to where I am in the first place.

Because I know that where my God leads, He also anoints and provides.