Hannah Leung – Kallos

Why Is Christian Dating So Complicated?

Hannah Leung — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 09:33:00 +0000

With a heart to honour God, many Christians start dating with a list of do’s and don’ts in mind. Must it be so complicated? HANNAH LEUNG shares the lessons she learnt in dating.

Ah, dating. The strange phase between being single and being married. Whether you’re single or married, there are explicit principles and encouragements you can turn to in the Bible. The Bible, though, doesn’t discuss dating. Dating only became commonplace way after biblical times. Almost all the characters in the Bible were brought together via family arrangements!

Yet, there seems to be an endless stream of rules surrounding dating for Christians. Since there are no guidelines in the Bible, many well-meaning church leaders try to help us prepare for dating by setting rules that are grounded in biblical principles.

I remember the once-a-year service in youth church when leaders would share about boy-girl relationships (BGR) — what to do; what not to do; what to expect; what to flee from … must dating be so complicated?

After hearing all these guidelines, I felt anxious about entering a relationship, though having rules made sense to me. I knew that as humans, we tend to act on our emotions and conveniences. I hoped that the guy I ended up dating would want to tread wisely and carefully as well.

Just before I turned 19, a close friend from church, Abhi, told me that he really liked me. But in that conversation, he also confessed to the physical intimacy he shared with his previous girlfriends. He wanted me to know before I made any decision about going out with him.

Oh …. What do I do now? I wasn’t sure what to do when the “rules” were broken before the relationship even started. As we ventured into dating, I learned some lessons about how dating guidelines could help our relationship.

Lesson 1: Guidelines are not just about what’s right or wrong (although there are certainly rights and wrongs!)

After hearing many stories about how guys are easily led to think lustfully, coupled with the fact that Abhi had already broken some dating guidelines, I felt this heavy responsibility to make sure he didn’t have ‘funny’ thoughts. We started dating for about a year, and throughout that year, I didn’t let him hold my hand. I could tell that he really wanted to, but I was afraid of what it might lead to!

Was it right for me not to let him hold my hand? When it comes to physical boundaries, I don’t think that there is a right or wrong to most actions per se. It might be more helpful to think about whether an action is wise or unwise. What was clear to us was that having sex outside of marriage is something spoken against strongly in the Bible (e.g., Gen 2:24; Lev 20:10; Prov 5:15–21; 1 Cor 7:2). We wanted to honour God in our relationship by not engaging in sexual relations before marriage. Therefore, to help ourselves stay far from temptation, what was wise for us at that time was to keep to this boundary, though it may have appeared extreme to others!

Looking back, I think it was a helpful decision not to hold hands, because it made it clear that I didn’t want to engage in any behaviour that may arouse us. Well, holding hands may seem safe now, but the guidelines we put in place helped us to stay as far away as we could from any sexual temptation!

I WASN’T SURE WHAT TO DO WHEN THE “RULES” WERE BROKEN BEFORE THE RELATIONSHIP EVEN STARTED.

Lesson 2: Guidelines can change

As we continued in the relationship and there was greater certainty of our feelings for each other, we felt that we could look at our physical boundaries again. We wanted to find new rules that would allow us to express and enjoy each other’s affections without compromising on our commitment to honour God. We took some time to think about it, and one day, he shared openly that he felt that kissing would cause us to venture into sexual territory. Thus, we decided that that was the line we wouldn’t cross, and we wouldn’t share a kiss until we got married. I don’t think it’s a commandment to be followed by everyone, but it was what we decided was beneficial for us. Withholding some of our physical desires at the dating stage is a way to love our partners, since it helps them to honour and love God. I wouldn’t want to lead Abhi into doing what he thinks is wrong!

WHEN IT COMES TO PHYSICAL BOUNDARIES, I DON’T THINK THAT THERE IS A RIGHT OR WRONG TO MOST ACTIONS PER SE.

Different guidelines are helpful to different couples, and guidelines can be revisited as your relationship progresses. For us, discussing our physical boundaries while dating made things unambiguous, while allowing us to grow into new expressions of affection comfortably. At every point when we wanted to do something new, for example, when we started holding hands, or hugging, we would check with each other if we were OK with it. While our emotions led us to desire more physical intimacy with each other, our desire to honour God helped us to say no to some behaviours that we felt could lead us into sexual temptation.

Lesson 3: Guidelines help us to honour God

Guidelines are not there to steal our joy. They should liberate us to enjoying a God-honouring relationship that produces joy! Imagine if there were no rules in soccer. Someone decides to use his hand to block the ball, or there could be ten goalkeepers completely blocking the goal …. It wouldn’t really be a proper soccer game, would it? It would be frustrating, confusing, and potentially cause lots of injuries! Likewise, guidelines in our relationships help us to enjoy them more. When we don’t have to constantly guess what is right to do in a relationship, we have the freedom to enjoy it fully within the boundaries we have set.

THAT DESIRE TO HONOUR GOD AND OUR PARTNER IS WHAT MOTIVATES US TO SET UP THESE RULES.

Lesson 4: Christ-led dating sets you up for a Christ-led marriage

At the end of the day, dating concludes with the question of marriage. What do you want in your marriage? With dating, you are already building a relationship with a person, and that relationship can’t change overnight on your wedding day. The final lesson I would like to share is this: if you want your marriage to be one where God is first and foremost, it needs to start at the dating stage.

I’ve talked a lot about physical intimacy because it seems to be the biggest issue in Christian dating, and thus, an area with a lot of guidelines and rules. But it is far from the only aspect of a dating relationship that needs discussion. Have you given any thought to areas in your dating life that might draw you away from God?

Choosing to prioritise honouring God in your dating relationship may feel difficult at times, because it could mean that you are putting to death something of your earthly (as opposed to godly) nature. We read about this in Colossians 3. In putting to death our sinful nature, we can take on Christ’s nature (Col 3:5–10, 12–13). Verse 14 says, “And over all these virtues put on love” — such true love is also what we desire and hope for in our romantic relationships. Christian dating can feel complicated, but really, it doesn’t need to be. At the heart of it all, that desire to honour God and our partner is what motivates us to set up these rules, as a way of setting us up for a love that matures and deepens with time.

Whenever you feel discouraged or a little rebellious, remember the way that Christ loves us with wisdom and patience. Those are the characteristics we hope for in who we marry, and the characteristics we hope to develop in ourselves. As such, persevere in having guidelines in your relationship, and take heart that it will most certainly be worth it.

I Was An Accidental Bully

Hannah Leung — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 01:10:00 +0000

In my first year of secondary school, I received a “fair” conduct grade, the second lowest you can receive. What put me on the blacklist was an incident of cyberbullying. Not of a classmate; I cyberbullied a teacher.

Just before my final exams, when I was 13, our discipline master showed up at my classroom door one day and called my name. From the way she stood — her arms crossed, her eyebrows furrowed, and her lips pulled down unhappily — I knew I was in trouble … but for what? I was scared stiff, and fumbled my way out of the classroom.

She passed me three pieces of paper. When I saw what was printed on it, I froze. Have you ever been caught for something you never thought you’d get caught for? Yep, that’s how I felt.

Back in 2009, handphones were banned at my school. As a show of rebellion, I snapped a photo of my form teacher in class and uploaded it on Facebook. At that point, I had no idea the trouble it would cause. What ensued was a series of hurtful comments left by classmates about the picture. Because my teacher was so disliked by my classmates, they seized the opportunity to spout silly but nasty comments about her appearance and personality. Truth be told, I laughed at many of the things they said, and didn’t think that there would be any consequences. I left the picture up for the comments to continue, and shrugged off a nagging thought that a teacher from school would find out.

“Did you know that this is a serious case of cyberbullying?”

My mind was reeling — cyberbullying? As she listed out the consequences of this supposed crime, I grew giddy with questions and fright. Well, mostly fright. The school’s discipline committee held me fully responsible for this event because I uploaded the photo. I spent the next three days in detention alone, then everyone who left a comment joined me in a Corrective Work Order for the next two days.

On the last day, we wrote a letter to apologise to my form teacher. When I passed her the letter, she snatched it without looking at me, and disappeared into the staff room. When she reappeared, the hurt in her eyes was apparent.

She said, “Once you lower someone into the grave, you can’t bring them back anymore.”

We didn’t know this beforehand, but she had planned to retire that year. When I found out, guilt twisted knots in my stomach. It was only then that I realised how deep our words had cut. Imagine ending your teaching career reading hateful comments from your students. Words said online are still words that can’t be taken back.

To be honest, I cannot remember if she ever spoke to us again after that day. We had our study break, then our exams, before we all moved on to the next school year. I never saw her again.

It has been 11 years, and sometimes I wonder where my teacher is now, and whether she has recovered from the incident. I used to think that we were “unlucky” to get caught. It would not have been that bad if no one found out about the picture and comments, right?

Yet, I remember how my classmates were emboldened and encouraged to pile on insult after insult as they read each other’s comments. Even if my teacher had never read them and never got hurt, my classmates and I were becoming increasingly hateful, and that was an ugly sight to behold.

GO DEEPER!
Proverbs has a lot to teach us about the power of words. Use an online Bible to search for “tongue,” “mouth,” “lips,” “word,” and “speech” in the book of Proverbs and reflect on the verses that are especially relevant to how you have been using (or abusing) your words. James 3 also has a lot of wisdom about this issue. Pray for God to help you become someone who chooses to bless rather than curse others, as we are all made in His image (Jas 3:9).

10 Books To Inspire You

Hannah Leung — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 01:10:00 +0000

There are some books that give you new insight every time you read it, and here are 10 books that do just that for us! Whether you’re looking for inspiration, life lessons, or a relaxing holiday read, we’ve got you covered!

1. The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis
When God thinks of us, He thinks of us with love. When the devil thinks of us, he thinks of… what? Through the imagination of C.S. Lewis, we get a glimpse of how the devil works. Through imagined letters that a senior demon writes to a junior demon on how to corrupt and tempt a man, The Screwtape Letters encourages us to recognise how hard the devil has been working to do what he does best: kill, steal, and destroy.

2. Chasing the Dragon by Andrew Quickie and Jackie Pullinger
In 1966, Jackie Pullinger boarded a boat from England with no money and no plan, but was filled with faith that God would tell her where to get off and start sharing the gospel. This classic about her work in the Kowloon Walled City — a lawless labyrinth of haphazardly built buildings in Hong Kong where crime was rife — is sure to inspire you to take courage in unabashed obedience to Jesus. Fun fact, she still lives and serves in Hong Kong!

3. What Is A Girl Worth? My Story of Breaking the Silence and Exposing the Truth about Larry Nassar and USA Gymnastics by Rachael Denhollander
Immediately after finishing the book, Kallos writer Hannah dropped a friend a text and said, “I’m shaking.” In spite of her personal trauma and the frustrations of bringing Larry Nassar to justice, Denhollander’s grit and grace is unmistakable. While the fight against injustice is often fueled by bitter revenge, she is motivated by love — for the victims and all the young gymnasts that could suffer in the same way — and this makes her story both refreshing and empowering.

4. When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
The most sobering reflections seem to come in the face of the threat of death. When Dr. Paul Kalanithi was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, he began thinking deeply about what a meaningful life looks like. You may not be facing death currently, but in thinking about death, it may inspire you on how to live life to the fullest.

5. The Scars That Have Shaped Me: How God Meets Us In Our Suffering by Vaneetha Rendall Risner
We always hear people talk about overcoming suffering, but very rarely do we hear someone talk about enduring it. Risner’s story is heartbreaking — she contracted polio at a young age, went through multiple miscarriages, lost her infant son, and her first husband left the family. Yet, in the face of great adversity, she learnt an invaluable lesson — how to taste the goodness of God even in suffering. Read her story to find out how her suffering not only boosted her faith in God, but cemented her hope in Him.

6. You and Me Forever by Francis and Lisa Chan
One of the best pieces of relationship advice that we can give is this: Don’t wait till you’re attached to figure out what a godly relationship should look like. Dive into Scripture with the Chans and let this book guide and shape your ideas about romance. Be prepared; it is going to look quite different from what we’re used to seeing on the big screen!

7. Unseen: The Gift of Being Hidden in a World that Loves To Be Noticed by Sara Hagerty
The title says it all. In a world that loves to be noticed, have we forgotten the preciousness of desiring the praise of God above the praises of man? When the things we do seem unnoticed, are we still willing to do them in service to Jesus? Laugh and learn with Hagerty through her stories of learning to see the beauty of a life hidden in God.

8. Mentoring Paradigms by Edmund Chan
If you’re in a position of leadership, this book is for you! In chapters no longer than four pages, Pastor Edmund Chan provides helpful ways to think about how to mentor, lead, and disciple those under your care. With such short and punchy lessons, no one can say that they are too busy to pick this up!

9. Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers
This bestselling series of novellas is Rivers’ way of putting herself in the shoes of the unlikely women in Jesus’ family tree. Immerse yourself in the worlds of Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary. We assure you that you will see their stories in a light you never have before!

10. Katie Weldon series by Robin Jones Gunn
Gunn’s unique writing style guarantees that even though you will never be able to meet the fictional Katie Weldon, she will feel like a friend you’ve gone through life with. Join Katie as she navigates college life, finds love and loses it, and has an unexpected African adventure… You will laugh at the mishaps she gets into, cry with her in her heartache, and savour the lessons of faith she picks up amidst the challenges of school, friendship, and romance. Available on www.kallos.com.sg!

Say What? Out Of The Heart The Mouth Speaks

Hannah Leung — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 04:00:00 +0000

If you know a little about World War II, you might be familiar with the Little Boy and the Fat Man. These were code names for the two atomic bombs used on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It was the first time in history that bombs of such destructive power were used. Interestingly, the source of their power came from something so tiny that our naked human eye cannot see it. The atomic bomb was created from the energy released from the splitting of an atom. Just an atom!

Small things can be powerful despite their size. Can you think of something else that is small but powerful? It lives right in the centre of your mouth — the tongue!

THE POWER OF THE TONGUE

In James 3, James likens the tongue to the bit that is placed in a horse’s mouth that allows a rider to control the animal, or to the rudder that is fixed on a ship that allows a pilot to manoeuvre it (Jas 3:3–5a). He goes on to compare the tongue to “a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body (Jas 3:5b–6a)” and asserts that “it corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell” (Jas 3:6b).

Harsh words. James certainly does not water down the truth. He says it for what it is — our tongue is a “world of evil.” As fallen human beings, sin continues to dwell in our hearts, and it shows in our speech.

I’m sure that none of us have to think too far back to remember a moment when we used our words to hurt someone, or when someone used them to hurt us. Either way, we all have our experiences with angry words, gossip, and slander, knowing all too well that the tongue can be used to destroy. The late Sulli, former member of the Korean girl group f(x), shared openly about the verbal and online abuse she had experienced. This abuse contributed to her deep distress and depression, and she died by suicide in 2019. Unfortunately, her story is not unique.

USING WORDS TO GIVE LIFE

While the tongue has the power to destroy, the same power can be used to build others up. Proverbs 15:4 tells us that “The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.” Imagine your words forming a tree that gives shade, nourishment, and beauty to many!

The fruit of the Spirit includes self-control (Gal 5:23), which means that the Holy Spirit can and will help us to control our tongues when we choose to follow Him. Words have great power to build others up, and this has been an enduring truth from ancient days.

WHAT ABOUT US?

From the moment we wake up till the moment we sleep, we need to use words. So, we are constantly using something of great power. Have you paused recently to think about how you have been using your words? And hey, if you think that online speech is excused, think again. Your online activity should be something you seriously think about too. From the birth of social media, words online, whether shared through a tweet, comment, or a post, have generated great distrust and anger among friends, communities, and nations.

IN ORDER FOR THE WAY WE SPEAK TO CHANGE, WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE IS THE SOURCE OF OUR SPEECH — OUR HEART.

Consider the things you have said or posted online in the past few days. Did your words serve to build up, or tear others down? And don’t think that being anonymous online shields you from blame — God sees everything that exists (Job 28:24).

Sometime ago, a friend shared with me that he was actually quite hurt by a few sarcastic comments I made. I didn’t expect that my words had such a big impact on him! Sometimes, we don’t really mean what we say, but the words we speak can leave a lasting impression on others.

In order for the way we speak to change, what needs to change is the source of our speech — our heart.

OUT OF THE HEART THE MOUTH SPEAKS

The Bible addresses how our words are an expression of what’s in our hearts. Jesus said to the Pharisees that “the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Matt 12:34). Often, the words we say show us the condition of our hearts. As complex human beings, all of us have some form of brokenness in our hearts — insecurity, fear, bitterness … the list goes on. This brokenness is a key reason why our words may be careless and even hurtful.

So, for our words to change, our hearts need to change. As fallen creatures, we’re unable to change ourselves. The good news for us is that God never leaves us alone in our brokenness. Thankfully, God is an expert at transforming hearts. Paul encouraged the Roman church to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom 12:2). This tells us that transformation is possible! God heals and changes us, by filling our hearts and minds with love, hope, and faith. As the source of our speech — our hearts — is transformed, our words will change too, to form a “tree of life”.

While we are powerless to change on our own, God is more than able. And not only is he more than able, He is also more than willing to help us grow. When we surrender our lives to God, trust in His promises, and obey his words, God actively works His miracle of transformation in our hearts.

This week, ask God to fill your heart with love, and resolve to speak life-giving words. Practise doing one of the following:
– Affirm a parent, friend, or leader
– Thank a teacher (especially one that you may not be so fond of!)
– Apologise to someone you’ve hurt
– Say a kind word to a helper or cleaner

This list is not exhaustive. There are many ways to build someone up! If you catch yourself sharing words that can tear others down, run quickly to God and ask Him to change your heart. As you pay attention to your words, may your friends, family, and even teachers know you by the way your speech glows with a Christ-like love.

May we wield our words well, such that every time we speak, the love and tenderness of Christ will bring life to even the hardest of hearts.

Review: To All the Boys (P.S. I Still Love You); Worth The Time?

Hannah Leung — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 04:00:00 +0000

WARNING: SPOILER ALERT!

YAY: Learning to Reconcile

Lara Jean is insecure because of her boyfriend Peter’s past relationship with Gen. She is shaken to the core when she finds out that Peter met Gen to help her go through her parents’ separation. She calls off the relationship in a moment of frustration.

When we think about dealing with insecurities, we often turn to self- love, self-affirmation and self-validation. However, Lara Jean fended off her insecurity by reaching out to Gen and seeking reconciliation. As their hearts softened towards one another, the animosity she felt towards Gen disappeared, leaving her room to see Gen not as a threat, but a friend. Respect, girl! (Though if your boyfriend is constantly keep close to his ex, you probably need to have some healthy conversations about it!)

YAY: Forgive, forgive, forgive

Peter and Lara Jean exchanged many careless words in their moments of anger, but one thing they did well was to forgive. Lara Jean forgave Peter for coming half a day late to their coffee date (that is truly respectable patience!), while Peter forgave Lara Jean for her incoherent rant after their awkward treehouse reunion.

In the last scene as Lara Jean and Peter reconcile at the steps of Belleview, they exchanged “I love you”s. While simple, their words were weighty, because in saying “I love you,” they were really saying “I forgive you for all that you have done to me, and for all that you made me feel. I choose to leave the past behind and build up the love that we presently share.”

One of my favourite relationship advice is by Ruth Graham Bell, who said that “A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers.” Forgiving involves putting the other above yourself. Is not Jesus’ ultimate act of love on the cross one of forgiveness?

NAY: The Source of Wisdom

Toward the end, Stormy drops a quotable quote as Lara Jean admits that she kissed John Ambrose while confused about her relationship with Peter. Stormy assures Lara Jean that “sometimes you have to kiss the wrong man to know what’s right.” It sounds assuring at first, but take note; her advice seems to justify trying out different relationships simultaneously to “know what is right”. While experience is a good teacher, it is not the source of wisdom that enables us to choose wisely. So if you’ve never had experience in dating, take heart! God guides us in all things, including how we date, and eventually who we may marry. While Stormy is charming, her words — not so much. Tune your ears to the Holy Spirit instead!

To The Next Tony Stark

Hannah Leung — Sun, 24 Nov 2019 04:00:00 +0000

With Tony Stark’s death, the Avengers lost a vital member of the team. The self-proclaimed genius, billionaire, playboy and philanthropist left a gaping hole in the lives of the many who had grown to depend on him and his life-saving technology. Flawed as he was, the sacrifice he made to give up his life to save the rest of the world sealed his place in the Heroes’ Hall of Fame. But that final, infamous snap marked the end of an era, leaving many to ask, how will the show go on?

WITH HIS DEATH COMES A GIFT

Spider-Man: Far from Home provided a glimmer of hope that perhaps he wasn’t really gone. When Peter Parker received a seemingly ordinary-looking pair of sunglasses named E.D.I.T.H., or “Even Dead, I’m The Hero”, Stark ensured that his legacy lived on in “The Next Tony Stark”, and that all he had achieved in his lifetime would not end with him in the grave. Whoever owned the glasses would have full access to Stark Industries’ databases, satellites and even weapons. Talk about foresight — now, the show can (literally) go on!

It may not seem like it, but this story is an echo of something that has happened before. When Jesus was on earth, many recognised him as the Messiah — the one who would save them. Imagine how devastated they felt when they saw the tortured body of Jesus hanging on the cross! All hope seemed lost, but miraculously, Jesus’ death wasn’t the end of the story. Unlike Tony Stark’s spur-of-the-moment sacrifice, Jesus went to the cross fully knowing that He would suffer horribly and die. But He wasn’t without a plan (John 14:18). His resurrection three days later was hope renewed, and when He ascended to heaven, He too left a gift.

Jesus gifted His disciples (that means us!) with the Helper or Advocate, who is the Holy Spirit (John 16:7). This is why one of the names we ascribe to God is Immanuel, which means God with us! Tony Stark may have died and left behind a powerful tool for Peter Parker, but when Jesus died, He left us with more than a tool — He gifted us with the Holy Spirit who convicts us, edifies us, encourages us, and so much more!

THE GIVER IS THE GIFT

While Peter was grappling with his identity and worthiness to be the next Tony Stark, Stark’s gift could only sit idly by, ready to be used (or misused). It provided no guidance, and even made things take a dangerous turn. While all Peter wanted to do was erase an implicating image off a classmate’s phone, E.D.I.T.H. identified his classmate as a target and ordered an airstrike on him!

Thankfully, the Holy Spirit is not passive in any way, leaving us to helplessly fumble and figure out our mission on our own. And He is certainly not harmful. Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit guides us in what is right and wrong, and that all He speaks comes directly from God (John 16:8–15). Paul teaches in Romans 8 that “the Spirit helps us in our weakness,” and that He “intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God” (8:26–27). Isn’t it amazing to know that the Holy Spirit guides us, intercedes for us, and speaks directly what He hears from God?

Tony Stark’s hope in equipping “The Next Tony Stark” with E.D.I.T.H. was that he would have no lack in defending the world from the forces of evil. This rings true to our mission here on earth. Jesus’ final resounding call to His disciples when He met them as a resurrected man included these four words: Go and make disciples (Matt 28:19).

As disciples of Christ, we are to devote ourselves to this call so there will be no lack in sharing with the world the good news of Jesus Christ. Don’t forget that we are not to live for ourselves, and the gift of the Spirit is not just for ourselves. God has given us an amazing gift — the gift of Himself — to help us answer the call to make disciples. We have nothing short of the best! He will enable us to serve and reach the world.

Corrie Ten Boom

Hannah Leung — Fri, 24 May 2019 04:00:00 +0000

WAS 50 YEARS OLD WHEN SHE STARTED HIDING JEWS TO SAVE THEM FROM PERSECUTION

RESCUED OVER 800 JEWISH REFUGEES DURING THE HOLOCAUST

When I think about radical living, I think about Corrie ten Boom. Her life sparkled with events and moments of radical faith. However, it was not always so. Corrie was brought up in a family of believers who were fervent for God. As a teen, she went through a rebellious stage (just like some of us!) but was soon compelled by the love of Christ to live a life set apart for Him. She spent the next few decades of her life serving God in church and in her community, until Nazi Germany invaded her beloved country, the Netherlands.

The first Jew came to her home in 1942. Corrie was 50. The ten Booms had heard about the persecution of the Jews in the country and sought a way to help them. Without planning to, Corrie and her family soon became part of the Dutch Underground, working to hide and rescue Jews from certain death. A secret room was built in Corrie’s room that was just 30 inches deep, the size of a small wardrobe, and this became a hiding place for many Jews before they could be relocated to a safe place.

Unfortunately, Corrie and her family were eventually caught by the German secret police. As the hiding place was too well-hidden, the police were never able to prove that they were hiding Jews, but they did find the extra ration cards that the family used to supply the refugees with food and with that, charged them for treason. Corrie, her father, her sister Betsie, and a few others were arrested. Up till they were caught, they hosted and hid an estimated 800 refugees!

After their arrest, Corrie and Betsie travelled through several concentration camps before arriving at the Ravensbrück concentration camp, a women’s labour camp in Germany. Both of them suffered tremendous physical, verbal, and emotional abuse during their time there. They were made to stand in the daily roll calls for hours in rain and snow, and humiliated by being made to strip naked for health inspections by male guards. Despite their awful conditions, they held worship services after the hard days at work, using a Bible that they had managed to sneak in to encourage each other and the women in their bunk. Corrie faced the hardest moment of her life when Betsie passed away in the camp. In the face of great suffering and heartache, Corrie found great release and refuge in the Bible, often reading until “the ache in my heart went away”.

Miraculously, due to a clerical error, Corrie was released from prison a week before the women in her age group were put to death. She was free! But there is one more story to tell. After the war, Corrie travelled the world as a public speaker to share her story of faith and forgiveness. At a sharing in a church service one day, she recognised a guard from the Ravensbrück camp who was especially cruel towards Betsie. He approached her with joy that the gospel preaches that his sins are washed away. He tried to shake her hand. She hesitated. While she preached the message of forgiveness, she herself was faced with the challenge of forgiving her enemy! As she eventually took his hand, a love sprang forth from her heart that overwhelmed her with forgiveness. She famously said, “When [God] tells us to love our enemies, He gives along with the command, the love itself.”

IF YOU LOOK AT THE WORLD, YOU'LL BE DISTRESSED. IF YOU LOOK WITHIN, YOU'LL BE DEPRESSED. IF YOU LOOK AT GOD, YOU'LL BE AT REST. - CORRIE TEN BOOM

Where fear and death plagued her nation, Corrie’s heart was plagued with the love of Christ, and it was all she needed as she provided refuge for those on the run. Her surrendered life is a testimony of simple things. A prayerful posture, a mind hungry for the Bible, and feet ready to move for the Gospel. These things created in her what she truly needed in providing a “hiding place” for people she barely knew: a heart that is hidden in Christ.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

1. If there are people in your society who are being ill-treated, would you have the courage to help them, even if it could be at great cost to yourself?

2. Is there someone in your life that you need to forgive? Ask God to give you His love, just as He did for Corrie.

Is Worship Only About Singing?

Hannah Leung — Sun, 24 Mar 2019 04:00:00 +0000

Have you ever met someone who is generous? Not in any regular way, but in a way-over-the-top manner?

I have a close friend who is a serial giver. Every Christmas, he drafts up a list of friends that he wishes to appreciate, and blesses each friend with a lavish gift. Last year, many of us received expensive chocolates. He also never forgets his friends’ birthdays, and he makes it a point to celebrate us, whether with his time or with his money. The thing that humbles me most about this guy is that he doesn’t have much. That means that every time he gives, he gives until it hurts, and he still does so willingly and joyfully.

In response to his lavish giving, I am always scratching my head trying to figure out what I can do to give back to him. What does he really like? What does he need? What does he want? Once I’ve picked out a gift for him, even though I feel as though I’ve settled on a good gift, I know that it is nothing compared to the time and money he has given to his friends. Still, I pray and hope that he will know just how treasured he is as a friend to us.

This friend’s generosity always reminds me of God. God gives us so much, so generously, in a way-over-the-top manner too! He is a God of abundance, and He showers us with so much — His enduring presence, His righteousness, His wisdom, His peace, His joy … the list goes on and on! Yet these gifts pale in comparison to the most precious gift at the dearest cost — His only son, Jesus, because of His love for us.

In response to this love, I can’t help but want to give back to God! But … what can I give to God? God is not in need of anything, and there is nothing I can buy on this earth that the creator God will need! Furthermore, while I want to give back to God to the same degree that He has given me, nothing I can do comes close to that extravagance.

Mark 12:28–34 gives us a clue. The teacher of the law who tried to test Jesus admits that “To love [God] with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbour as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” In response to His extravagant giving, all He wants in return is that we love Him with our whole being.

WHEN OUR HEARTS BEAT WITH ADORATION OF GOD, SOMEHOW OUR LIPS ALSO FOLLOW AND WE BURST INTO SONG.

LOVING GOD 101

One of the most common ways that we tell God how much we love Him is through our songs. Beautiful songs have been written all throughout history that tell of the greatness of God. In fact, the majority of the psalms were written by people who could not help but sing about God’s mercy and goodness. The psalmists expressed their love and awe of God through songwriting and singing. As churchgoers, we have made it a practice to sing songs at church too — a time which we call “praise and worship”. When our hearts beat with adoration of God, somehow our lips often follow and we burst into song.

But there is so much more to worship! At the heart of it, worship is about expressing our love, adoration and devotion to a great God. While singing worship songs is a wonderful act of praise that we should continually practise, being a true worshipper is not simply about singing.

TRUE WORSHIP

The concept of “true worship” can be difficult for us to wrap our mind around, but thankfully, Paul provides us with a picture of this in Romans 12:1, where he urges the church, “in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God — this is your true and proper worship.”

In view of God’s mercy. True worship begins from a place of knowing what God has done for us. Just like how I cannot help but reciprocate my friend’s generosity, it is so with God. Because of all the great things that God has done for us, we cannot help but worship him!

Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice. Worship is not what we sing; it is how we live. When you love and revere someone, you want to become like him or her. You want to live in a way that makes them glad, not sad. A true worshipper is someone who lives and breathes to please God.

Holy and pleasing to God. Take a moment to consider how you live your life. Does it please God? When tempted, do you flee? When you sin, do you allow the Holy Spirit to convict you and lead you to repentance? Take a step back and remind yourself of what God has done for you, repent from your ways, and ask God to help you live a life that is Christ-like.

True and proper worship. I like to imagine that my life is like a worship song unto God. Songs can only be written from the heart, and I want my life to be a heartfelt song to God. All that we say and all that we do should be an outward expression of our inward devotion to God. What does that look like? It looks like considering others above yourself. It looks like choosing to do the right thing even when it is not a popular option. It looks like extending a hand of hospitality and help to those around you who need it. For all that I do to be used to serve and love Him — that is the song I want my life to sing.

DON’T MERELY STRIVE TO OFFER THE BEST WORSHIP TO GOD — SEEK TO KNOW HIM FIRST ABOVE ALL ELSE!

THE MASTER MUSICIAN

Max Lucado has written, “Let God have you, and let God love you — and don’t be surprised if your heart begins to hear music you’ve never heard and your feet learn to dance as never before.”

My encouragement is this: don’t merely strive to offer the best worship to God — seek to know Him first above all else! In knowing God more and loving Him more completely, your heart will grow to become so full that it will no longer be able to contain its song to the Lord, and that is the song that God most desires to hear you sing.

If you are feeling fearful that the melody of your life is not worthy to be called “worship”, remember that God is a master musician, and He is transforming your imperfect tune into a masterpiece in which He absolutely delights.

Who Did It Better?

Hannah Leung — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 04:00:00 +0000

No sibling relationship is perfect — they all come with their fair share of conflict. When I was young, I remember being so upset with my sister that I bit her arm — hard! While we have grown past our childish fights, there are definitely days when things aren’t so rosy.

There are many reasons why enmity breeds so easily in our sibling relationships. For some, it might be bitterness. For others, it might be a lack of communication. Upon reflecting on my life with my sister, I’ve realised that one of the insidious reasons for my occasional disgruntled thoughts towards her is jealousy.

THE COMPARISON GAME

Who can say that they have never been compared with their sibling? Sometimes, it can feel as though our siblings are there just to show us that we are flawed in a certain way. I’m a twin, so the experience can be even more intense! Every difference between Tammy and I was amplified because everyone expects us to be so alike.

Growing up, our intellect, our weight, our height, and even our complexion were common points of comparison, and soon, it became clear to me that I had begun to compare myself against my sister, even when no one pointed anything out. Because of this, as much as I love my sister, having a twin was tiring at times as I grew to measure myself against her in almost every aspect of life.

As that sinister sense of jealousy stirred in my heart, it was more and more difficult to love my sister for who she was. If Tammy seemed better than me in any area, I could not celebrate her fully because whatever she had, I wanted.

With the endless availability of things about our siblings that we can compare ourselves with, the potential for envy and jealousy to rear its ugly head is always there. How then can we overcome this feeling that seems to come so naturally in our relationship with our siblings?

1. Think rightly

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves … (Phil 2:3, NASB)

Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi changed the way I saw and handled my relationships, including the relationship I shared with my sister. It is interesting that while he was addressing their conduct, he found the solution in their thought life. Whenever you recognise that your train of thought might be heading towards contempt or envy, snap out of it! Stop and ask God to change the way that you see your siblings and yourself.

For myself, I found that my heart gradually became slow to compare contemptuously and quick to celebrate the wonderful things I saw in others. Eventually, this effected a change in my conduct, speech and especially in my motivations, where I did and said things out of a genuine respect and honour for my sister. Upon learning to value her above myself, I found that thanksgiving came instinctively, instead of jealous thoughts.

IT IS FAR BETTER TO PRESERVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP THAN TO PRESERVE YOUR PRIDE.

2. Forgive quickly

Ruth Bell Graham, Billy Graham’s wife, once said this about marriage: “A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers.”

This simple piece of wisdom is not just applicable in the context of marriage, but to every relationship we have with other people. Living in the same house as our siblings means that we are very often witnesses to each other’s bad days and tired nights when we are more easily agitated and more prone to lash out with biting words. Sometimes, we hold these things against our siblings in order to feel better about ourselves. However, be quick to forgive. Learn to hold your tongue in moments of anger or irritation. It is far better to preserve a good relationship with them than to preserve your pride.

3. Act lovingly

I once heard a pastor remark in his sermon that we should “practise acts of love” in our families. Truly, it is not in our nature to love beyond ourselves. We must make a conscious effort to love where we can. How different would your relationships look like if you woke up every day determined to practise loving your family members and friends?

Admittedly, family is where we face some of our greatest hurdles. It may feel so diffiult to act lovingly when we are being compared or treated poorly in our view, but instead of letting our feelings control our actions, let us discipline ourselves and choose to act in a godly and loving manner. It’s not always easy to act against our feelings and emotions, but it is always worth the effort.

ADMITTEDLY, FAMILY IS WHERE WE FACE SOME OF OUR GREATEST HURDLES.

4. Always be thankful

There is one habit that you can practice every day that will definitely impact the way you view your siblings and even yourself. That is the habit of thanksgiving. For those of you who feel particularly susceptible towards comparison, practise thanksgiving! If you struggle with thanking God for your siblings, take time to make a list of their positive traits and then thank God that He created them in that way.

I am always thankful that I have a sister that asks me the difficult questions — questions that challenge me to live a devoted life unto Christ. And once in a while, she reminds me never to forget the gospel! For that and more, I deeply value the relationship we share.

No matter how fun or how difficult the relationship is, pray that God will show you the value of your brother or your sister, and that He will give you the love and wisdom you need to continue growing in your relationship with them. Ask that God will give you a humility of mind, which will enable you to be quick to forgive and quick to act in love. All in all, let love be a matter of first priority in your relationship with your siblings.

Dig Deeper: How Did We Get The Bible We Have Today?

Hannah Leung — Sun, 23 Sep 2018 16:00:00 +0000

The Bible you hold in your hands today, whether a physical or digital copy, may seem like a single piece of work. However, instead of a massive novel or a thick history textbook, the Bible is more like a scrapbook that contains news reports, letters from close friends, and emotional song lyrics. Who made the scrapbook? And where did all of these ‘scraps’ come from anyway?

What does “cannonisation” mean?

The word “canon” finds its origins in the Greek language, in which “kanōn” refers to a measuring rod. “Canonisation” means the recognition that a particular piece of writing was sacred, in that it gives the true laws and teachings of a religion.

The contents of our Bible were not randomly thrown together; rather, they went through a process of canonisation. Each text had to meet certain standards to be recognised by everyone as Scripture, that is, having the authority of God over the lives of believers. The text had to be consistent with (not contradict) other texts in the Bible, exemplify the kind of life that God wants his people to lead, have truly important things to say, and be relevant to the lives of people not just when it was written but everywhere and throughout time. It had to tell the truth.

The Old and New Testaments

For the Old Testament, the books of the Pentateuch (first five books of the Bible) were recognised as Scripture the earliest, since they recorded the experiences of a people chosen by God and the laws He gave them through Moses. The rest of the books in the Old Testament were steadily added and used in worship before the canon was “closed” and no other texts were admitted into this exclusive list of books. By the time of Jesus, all the books in the Old Testament were recognised as Scripture. When Jesus and Paul mention Scripture, they were referring to the Old Testament.

For the New Testament, the process of canonisation was much shorter. The accounts in the Gospels and Acts and letters by the apostles or those very close to them were recognised and shared amongst believers, who agreed that the texts conveyed the truth about Jesus Christ and what it meant for them to call Him our Lord and Saviour, and also did not oppose previous teachings and laws in the Old Testament. The Christian faith was founded on these texts. Only when there was a major controversy over attempts to remove some books of the New Testament, did Christian leaders see the need to make the list official and declare the canon closed.

What next?

All this took place over about a thousand years, but the whole Bible tells a consistent, coherent and dramatic story of God. Before you first read the Bible, what did you think about it? From the outside, it may have looked like a difficult book draped in religious fanfare and filled with empty words. But the more you read it, the more you will feel the weight of truth and ease your cynicism about the truth that it conveys. Take the leap and commit to reading the whole Bible!