Living in a Crisis Stricken World – what do you hold on to in life?

School Devotion for 23/9/2008
Over the last two weeks, we have seen crisis after crisis happening in the world we live in. First, we read about how large banks in America were closing down. Stock markets were crashing. Then came the news that AIG, one of America’s biggest banks might also close down. I was joking with Roy, who is a Man U fan how Man U might now need to find another sponsor since AIG might be closing down. In Singapore, we read how many insurance policy holders of AIA panicked and began selling their shares and terminating their policies to avoid losing all their hard earned money put in investments.

Then there was the big news in China where industrial chemicals were found in baby milk products leading to many babies falling sick and some even died to the poisoning. In Singapore, many milk products were quickly taken off the shelf to prevent something similar happening to us. Those who were responsible for this inhumane thing were probably selfish people desiring to make quick money in the cheapest way without sparing a thought for the many innocent lives and babies.

And just recently, a geographical expert said that Singapore might not be spared from future Tsunamis for long. And when it happens, we will be devastated. In reality, Singapore being a very small country, we might even be wiped off the face of this earth if it really happens to us.

As students, perhaps we might think that these things may not affect us so much since we are in school most of the time. In truth, we are very much part of the world as it moves on. True, we may not feel the full impact of the banks that crashed, we may not have seen any of our babies in Singapore falling sick. We may not have experienced a real tsunami in our lives yet.

However, in the midst of all that is going around us – calamities, economic instability, sicknesses, one thing that is certain is that life is pretty much uncertain. We do not really know what may happen tomorrow. Our families might break up, we might face a financial situation at home that is beyond us, we might lose a loved one. All these are the tsunamis in life itself. Is there anything we can hold on to when life issues affect us?

The Bible which is the word of God assures us that in spite of all these uncertainties and instabilities in life, there is one thing which we all can be certain of

In Luke 21:33, Jesus says 33 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

Psalm 46 says, God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.

Have you ever ask yourself who makes the sun rise to smile down at us? Who makes it go down in the horizon that we might smile and admire the beauty of the moon as it rises? Who makes the rain come down?

Everything else may fade away one day but God and his promises will never fade away and this is the one hope we have.

Let us pray.
Lord, thank you for this wonderful morning you have blessed us with. We pray for all those affected by situations beyond their control that you will watch over them and bring peace to their lives. We pray for the babies affected by the contamination that you will bring healing to them and bring comfort to their parents. We thank you for your reminder to us this morning that everything else might disappear but you and your promises will always be here for us. I pray for all of my friends who may have struggles in their lives, that you will be with them in every way. May you also continue to guide all of us here in our studies and grant us wisdom in everything we do.

In Your name I pray, Amen.

Appreciating your teachers

Hi fellow Chaplains,
The following is what I shared with the sec school students of KCPSS a few weeks back. Hope it brings you encouragement as well.

KCPSS Devotion on 28 August 2008
I wonder how many of you will remember your teachers after you have long graduated from Kuo Chuan. Will you remember them for who they are and for the things they have taught you? Will you remember them for having being in a part of your life? Do you appreciate them for being a part of your life in history with you?

I was always getting into trouble with teachers and I still find it funny sometimes that I am back in a secondary school again. It’s like reliving my secondary school days except this time round I don’t get into trouble with the teachers and principals?

I was thinking of what to share with all of you this morning and I thought since Teachers Day is round the corner, I might as well share something about that. And as I was preparing, the name of my secondary school Maths teacher came into my mind. And I decided to write to her yesterday and she surprised me when she wrote back. And I will like to share with you our conversation over email.

“Dear Mdm Matthews,
Stanley here saying hello. Stanley, one of your ex students who used to give you a lot of headaches and pain? I am sure you will remember me! Haha! How are you? Hope you are doing fine? I recalled the last time we met was when you were with your family in the church along Yio Chu Kang Road when I visited it. How time flies!

I thought I write to let you know that I have graduated from my Christian studies since May last year and am now serving in my home church Living Praise Presbyterian Church in Bishan. It’s in the midst of both Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary and Secondary Schools and we are involved in the chaplaincy work of the schools. I am presently involved with the worship ministry and young adults ministry of my church and the student work in both schools.

As I was preparing my weekly devotion to share with the secondary students, I realized that teachers day was round the corner. I decided to share how they can appreciate their teachers and your name came up and memories of my time in YCKSS came flooding back.

I recalled you bringing me to one corner and speaking to me personally about my behaviour after I said something rude to Ms Rita the English teacher then. You reminded me that I should set a good example for others because I am a Christian. Of course, probably what you said to me then fell on deaf ears.

But, God has been merciful to me and I am thankful that I am able to be where I am today only by his grace, mercy and love.

Now that I am with secondary school students, it makes me think about those times when I was like them. I share with them how I failed my sec 3 exams because of soccer and because I was playful and how that was a humbling experience for me. I can see ‘myself’ in some of their lives now too and I hope that I can find ways to encourage them to have a purpose in their life and not waste their life.

I thought I send you an email to update you of how I am doing and more importantly to THANK YOU for the wise words you always tell me, and your constant patience with me and my nonsense.

Oh! I am happily married now …. Coincidentally to a teacher as well  and I understand all the frustrations and heartaches of being a teacher. Now I know how you felt then.

If there is any comfort for you, I came across this quote from the internet and I thought it makes a lot of sense for teachers who give their hearts and lives to their students.
It says:
“In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day's work. It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years.” ~Jacques Barzun

It’s been what … 23 years since I left YCKSS? I guess there is some truth in the statement then?

I thank the Lord for putting you in my path in life and as an anonymous author once quoted:
“I would thank you from the bottom of my heart, but for you my heart has no bottom.”

Thank you Mdm Mathews.”

My teacher Mdm Mathews replied and this is what she said:
Dear Stanley,
Very nice to hear from you. It is wonderful to know that you are working in your Church with young adults and students. It is wonderful to know that you are happily married. Do you have any children?

Thank you for sharing about your work. I thank the Lord that I was able to help you during your school days.

I have been in YCKSS since 1984. It was wonderful teaching you all. You all were my first batch of 'O' level students. I am proud of you all. It is more difficult teaching these students now than when you were in school. Many of your teachers are no longer here. They have retired or left the school.

Thank you for writing to me. This has made me feel appreciated. - Mdm Mathews

1 Thessalonians 5:12 (New Life Version)
12We ask you, to respect those who work among you. The Lord has placed them over you and they are your teachers. 13You must think much of them and love them because of their work.

Paul wrote a letter to his friends reminding them not to forget those teachers who have taught them about God and about life. He was also reminding them to show appreciation to these teachers.
Let us take time to be appreciative of our teachers. Besides teaching us academic subjects, they too teach us precious lessons in life. Let us be thankful for them. Their advice and nagging may not make much sense to us now, but we will realize they do actually make sense when we grow older and wiser.

Let us pray.
Dear Lord, thank you for giving us teachers in our lives. Thank you for their patience, strength and perseverance shown to all of us. May we learn to always appreciate them for the things that they have taught us and may we learn to never forget them. Grant to them wisdom, patience and strength always as they influence the future lives of the generations to come. Amen.

our Everlasting God

Have we felt lonely and discouraged serving the Lord? Remember our Lord is everlasting and He reigns forever. He is our hope and deliverer as we serve Him! To paraphrase Isaiah 40:30-31 -

"Even chaplains shall faint and be weary and fall exhausted
But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint."

Roy taught our church this song at our worship service last week and it spoke to my heart about how the Lord will never grow weary and faint. Let us put our trust in God always.

28Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
29He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
31but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.

Cheeksrosy, that's me, Carol!

Yep! I'm Aunty Carol! Sometimes kids called me 'Jie Jie Carol'. They said I'm not that OLD! Thank God! Praise God for this kids' ministry as it keeps me young, hee hee.... that's why Cheeksrosy is my web name, always smiling in their presence! The kids love to come to the lounge area (which is just outside my room, & also Stan's and Pastor Lai's) to play, chat and for the aircon! It can be quite noisy sometimes but my 2 collegues loved the noise, the chatter and occasional intrusion of their privacy! It's great to mingle with them this way, yes laughter, fun and tears sometimes...
















In this ministry, though we are called to be a blessing to them; to listen, to love, teach and nurture them, at times these children are really angels, blessing us in many ways. I was blessed by kids who turned up at my door with packet of milo and piece of cake. They were worried that I didn't have my recess. My heart just melts... My heart also filled with thanksgiving as the kids showered me with gifts during Teacher's Day. One P2 girl even took the effort to deliver this gift to me on the 1st day of Term 4, she was sick on Teacher's Day Celebration and kept it till then. I was touched by the gesture and the effort she has gone through in bringing delight and warmth in my heart! God is so faithful and rewarded us with the love and care of our children. Praise God!

LP's 3 amigos

Hi folks, we are the three amigos from Living Praise Presbyterian Church and we serve together in the chaplaincy ministry of both Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary and Secondary schools.

On the left of the pic is our very lovely sister Carol or more affectionately known as Aunty Carol by the primary school monkeys ... Oops I mean children. Carol loves working with children and spending time with them listening to their chatter and squeals. Carol brings cheer and bubbliness to our team in LP.

On the right weighing heavily at 80kg is Unker Stan who loves food. Besides eating, he loves snacking as well! Oops sorry this is a chaplains blog .... Well, he loves playing soccer (die hard Liverpool fan!!), tennis, marbles and truant occasionally as well. He loves cycling but is slowly becoming an ardent collector of bikes (5 in total sitting at home collecting dust). It's time you did something! Now where was I?
Oh! He is a 'everyvore' which means he eats basically anything. Usually found near canteen areas wandering and wondering what to eat for breakfasts, lunches and dinner. Loves music - jazz especially! Stan is married to his ex girlfriend ... now wife, Hui Phing, who teaches in the primary school.

Right smack in the middle is Roy! Now Roy is a miracle when it comes to music - he plays the guitar, drums, bass and piano and sings as well and he is our worship coordinator in church too! Like Stan, he plays soccer but they are both arch enemies when it comes to soccer cos Roy is a Manchested United fan! However, all soccer aside, Roy and Stan are great buddies on the food scene and are occasionally seen together wandering and wondering in the canteen as well. Roy and Ailin are proud parents of YiKai, their new born baby boy!

Well, this a short update from the chaplaincy scene from Living Praise.

Oh! Carol joins them in the food forays too :) Oops! Carol better not read this .... :p

stan

virgin post....

Hi all, my name is Willy, they usually call me Preacher Willy at Pei Hwa and this is my student from Charity 5, De Wei. This photo was taken in the Chaplain's office on Teacher's Day celebration. (29th Aug. 2008) Most of the time, I am reading my students' blogs and this is my first time attempting to blog. I have been a chaplain at this school since March 2006 and I have been loving MOST part of it. Before we launch this blog nation-wide or even worldwide, I just wonder if we can tidy up some stuff such as can we link to some of the Presbyterian churches blog, some of the Presbyterian youth pastor's blog, our synod's website, some children ministry resources website, and to make our blog more readable and sustainable, (I'm sure you have read enough dead blogs out there), can we routinely ask all the chaplains to post something, anything, random stuff, and to make it really interesting, let's make it really fun but sharing our personal lives, our successes, dreams and failures as Chaplains and updates or even just sharing some interesting book reviews, our current news you may come across. Not too sure if I am making any sense here but I think if we chaplains, ourselves commit to do this, I'm sure our readership will expand and increase in no time. What do you think? I think photos and videos are really necessary for a start as no one really want to read stuff as most of the time, it's the pictures and videos or even music that really makes the popularity of the blog.