BY KELLY NEW (Pastoral Intern)

“GRACIOUS WORDS ARE A HONEYCOMB, SWEET TO THE SOUL AND HEALING TO THE BONES.”

PROVERBS 16:24  (NIV)

The Lunar New Year celebrations have just ended for most of us, and while it might have been one of the quietest ones we have had, phrases like “Xin Nian Kuai Le” (HAPPINESS) and “Chu Ru Ping An” (PEACE) remained as popular greetings during this joyous season. Indeed, the exchange of kind words are the easiest to say when the mood is right but what happens when things go wrong? Which words do we use when faced with a fight-or-flight situation?

BY REV HENRY HONG

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

2 CORINTHIANS 5:17

This Lunar New Year’s celebration comes with new restrictions for the reunion of family members because of the ongoing pandemic. However it is my prayer that in Christ every Christian will experience a liberating ‘new’ outlook and outworking of God’s grace.

During my last year-end’s study break, I had the opportunity to learn from the life and example of the Reformed Pastor Richard Baxter who served faithfully and fruitfully in England during the 1600s.

BY REV HENRY HONG

“God makes a home for the lonely.” (Psalm 68:6 NASB)

Pandemic not only put us into our confined spaces. But for some they are left in the lurch of loneliness.

This year’s celebration of Lunar New Year comes with several restrictions to try to keep us and the ‘vulnerable’ seniors safe. There is the specified numbers of household that can be visited as well as the number of people who can gathered in a home’s visit at any one time.

I am also thinking of those in hospital, hospice, nursing home and home-bound. In this season may we take time to pray for and also plan to touch base with those who may be struggling with loneliness.

BY REV HENRY HONG

“Look, a righteous king is coming! And honest princes will rule under him.
Each one will be like a shelter from the wind and a refuge from the storm,
like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a parched land.”

ISAIAH 32:1-2 NLT

During this pandemic, if you or someone close or perhaps a friend is struck down with a critical medical condition, what would your response be?

BY ELDER GOH CHONG ANN

I delivered the closing lecture for the CWBS last Wednesday, when the programme resumed after the year end break.  Because of that, over the past few months, I have been mulling over the passage – John 16. It is about the last evening Jesus spent with His disciples before He was arrested by the authorities to face trial. In John 16, Jesus spoke to His disciples about how His going away will be advantageous for the disciples, as the Helper will then come to them. Since Pentecost, the Holy Spirit indwells each one of us who believes in Jesus and accepts Him as our Lord and Saviour.

BY PR EVANGELINE CHEONG

Chinese New Year is around the corner and with that, the questions that relatives ask while we eat melon seeds together: What are you going to study? Where are you going to work? When are you going to find a boyfriend? I am always ready for these questions, but the times when I was searching for purpose and meaning in life, answering these questions was very hard! It seemed like I had to justify my choices in life, that I was useful and productive or at least socially acceptable in their eyes. I knew that they loved me and wanted me to be happy, yet their questions implied that if I found a right and good purpose in life, I would be happy.