Issue 16 – Kallos

When he Says … I Really Like You!

Dory Khoo — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 16:00:00 +0000

As I sat across from him, my heart began to pound. “Did he just say that he likes me? But … I don’t feel the same! What do I do?”

If you’ve ever been in this situation, you know that it’s never as straightforward as just saying “No!” When a guy confesses his feelings, it can be a dream come true – if we like him back. But when we don’t, it often leads to the extremely difficult and awkward task of having to reject him kindly and clearly.

At the right time, a confession is a pivotal moment that could ideally propel two individuals toward a God-ordained marriage. However, I have also witnessed and personally experienced how such moments can end in broken friendships and ugly memories. What is the best way for a girl to react? We’ll get to that, but first, from my experience there are three main ways that girls respond:

The Nice Rejection

Because we don’t want to hurt the guy by rejecting him directly, we give replies like “Um … I’m not sure … Maybe in the future …” Instead of giving a straightforward answer, we prolong his agony by being vague and ambiguous. This becomes a not-so-nice wait for the guy as he is left wondering, “So does she like me or not?!”

The Chop-chop Rejection

An uninterested girl may choose to put a swift and decisive end to a guy’s hopes. Once the words are out of his mouth (or perhaps even before!), we shut him down as quickly as we can to make it clear that we are not interested AT ALL. We walk away relieved that the message got across, but the guy walks away nursing a bruised ego, or worse, a broken heart.

A REJECTION CAN END IN BROKEN FRIENDSHIPS AND UGLY MEMORIES

The Not-A-Rejection Rejection

It is natural to feel flattered when we receive attention from the opposite sex. While we like the attention, we don’t want him to get the wrong idea. As such, we swing between being hot and cold, enjoying the attention but subtly hinting that he doesn’t have a chance. The poor guy gets these mixed signals and can never quite figure us out!

I suppose there is no hard and fast rule on how we should respond to an interested party, but as you can see from the scenarios above, the way we respond when a guy first bares his heart can have a huge impact on the way he feels about himself and your relationship with each other. So, how should we do it? Here are some tips:

BE KIND

Guys often express interest way before they confess directly to a girl. By the time he lets his intentions known, at least a small part of him probably thinks he stands a chance to win the girl over. While some of their perceptions could be skewed, girls sometimes convey unintended messages through their friendliness, openness in personal sharing, and by spending exclusive one-on-one time with him. However, if you have no intention of ever saying yes, please be kind and don’t lead him on. It can be very uncomfortable to have to reject someone, especially if he is a friend, but please know that you are doing him a greater favour by ending his wait. If you are truly uncertain, decide if you need a specific duration to think or pray about it (not a year please) before giving him a response.

BE SENSITIVE

A guy is extremely vulnerable when confessing his feelings. In our hurry to say ‘no’, we can end up being too blunt and hurting him. A curt response may send the message that he is being brushed aside or disregarded as not good enough for you. Tactfulness is required to send a clear message while still being gentle in your response.

IN OUR HURRY TO SAY "NO", WE CAN END UP BEING TOO BLUNT AND HURTING HIM

DON’T BE AFRAID

We can become nervous and even afraid when we don’t know how to reject a guy, or when the guy is pushy. Some guys could even behave in a manner that borders on harassment! You may not like the man, but see him with the loving eyes of God. Don’t get me wrong; loving him does not mean that you have to entertain his feelings or show affection. However, it does mean an internal shift in how you perceive him. When we understand that he is also in the process of learning how to convey his feelings in a godly manner, it eradicates fear of his ‘next move’ or the fear of losing a friendship. Rather, it helps us to extend grace and be as helpful as possible in conveying our own feelings in a gracious manner.

If you’re ever caught in the uncomfortable position of having to reject a guy when he confesses his feelings, remember these tips and pray that you can both walk away with your friendship and his heart intact.

HEAR IT FROM THE BOYS

What do boys have to say about being rejected?

Please don’t say …
When I told a girl I liked her, she said no without a hint of deliberation despite showing interest over several months! I was horrified and devastated … So this is my advice to girls. When a guy tells you he likes you, please don’t say any of these things:

1. Please don’t block me on social media.
2. Have I clarified myself?
3. At first I liked you but now I don’t.
4. Actually I’m looking for someone smart.

– Timothy, 20

Don’t ignore us
If you don’t like me back, please don’t try to comfort me. Don’t ignore me either, but don’t encourage my feelings. I’d be okay with it if you say you need some space because it gives me time to get over it and transit to just being friends again! – David, 21

Rejection can cause insecurity
In secondary school, I told a girl I liked her, it was pretty awkward. She ignored me for a week and we didn’t talk much after that. I was quite sad and dejected … Looking back, it affected me a lot more than I thought it would! It wasn’t because I couldn’t get over her, but more because of the insecurity that it caused me to have. – Jonathan, 21

Dare To Say Yes

Roxane Ng — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 16:00:00 +0000

I thought I had found the dream guy at 20. He was smart, witty, liked the same music I did and we often had long conversations deep into the night. There was only one thing we didn’t have in common – God. And that caused a year-long tension in our vague relationship.

As he put it one day, “So, we’re sort of dating, but we can’t hold hands in public?” I remember being speechless when I heard that and knew right away that I couldn’t continue like this anymore.

God had been prompting me to let go of the relationship, but I was reluctant. “He’s perfect! What if I can’t find another guy like him? What if no one else finds me attractive? Why would God ask me to give up something so good?” – these were some of the questions I had. Fear of the unknown, of heartbreak and of losing out were preventing me from taking that step of obedience. When the relationship finally ended, the only thing left for me to do was to trust that God had a better plan than I did for my life.

What is God calling you to obey Him in? It could be abandoning the double life you’ve been leading in order to fit in. It could be a questionable habit that He wants you to quit. It could be to walk a radically different path from your peers. The truth is, God is not a dictator who demands our blind obedience. He calls us to obey Him because we are meant to be like Him – holy in thought and speech and action.

THE COST OF OBEDIENCE

But there seems to be an inverse relationship between comfort and change. The more comfortable we are, the more resistant we are to change. We naturally take comfort in certainty. Wading into the unknown, on the other hand, requires immense courage. When God told Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses had immediate doubts. He basically told God, “I am not important enough; they won’t listen to me! I am not a good speaker… Please send someone else” (Exodus 3:11-4:13). I wonder if Moses was reluctant to leave the familiarity of his life or feeling insecure and fearful of what the Israelites might think of him. It took some time for God to remind him of His sovereignty and power before Moses eventually obeyed.

I also wonder how many of us choose not to obey because we fear the sacrifices and potential pain. I know that’s how I feel at times. I once hesitated to go on a mission trip even though I felt a burden in my heart to go. I was fearful of being in a foreign land with people I barely knew. I could hardly afford the air-ticket too and these seemed to be enough reason to doubt His call.

GOD IS NOT A DICTATOR WHO DEMANDS OUR BLIND OBEDIENCE

Like Moses, perhaps you know that your obedience might invite opposition. Reaching out to the outcast in your class might cause you to be excluded too; choosing to leave a gossip session might provoke your friends to gossip about you; an act of faith might prompt unkind teasing.

But even Jesus was not spared. No matter who He tried to reach out to, whether the poor and downtrodden, the rich and privileged, or those perceived to be immoral and corrupt, he was plagued with opposition. Even the act of healing someone on the “wrong” day was met with criticism (Mark 3:1-6; Luke 13:10-17)! Obeying God is never easy – it requires us to be courageous, to persevere, and to trust that His plan is perfect.

THE POWER OF ‘YES’

When Moses finally said ‘yes’ to God, he began a journey that included carrying out nature-defying acts and witnessing miracles testifying to God’s great power. More incredibly, his relationship with God was such that God frequently spoke to Moses as a friend. The best thing is that his story of obedience isn’t unique! When Queen Esther was challenged by Mordecai to approach the King and appeal for the lives of the Jews, she was facing possible death. Not only did she survive and save an entire nation, she got to experience for herself the sovereignty of a King above all Kings.

When Jesus called Peter to step out of the boat and walk on water, He was inviting Peter into a deeper level of trust and faith in Him. Peter’s reward was not so much getting to walk on water, but immediately and powerfully experiencing God’s faithfulness, goodness, and reliability.

When God placed that burden on my heart to go on a mission trip, He did not let me down either. While deciding whether or not to go, I mustered up the courage to believe that if God has called me, He would have a plan to get me there. God did not fail. I told my non-believing superior about my desire to go and he not only extended my internship period but also blessed me with extra money needed for the trip! This small act of obedience led me to experience God’s providence in an unexpected way.

THE REWARD OF OBEDIENCE IS NOT RICHES NOR COMFORT... IT IS A LIFE OF ADVENTURE WITH THE MAKER OF HEAVEN AND EARTH

Trust requires small steps of faith. Despite their fears, Moses, Esther, and Peter chose to place their trust in a God whom they found to be absolutely trustworthy, and I did the same.

The reward of obedience is not riches nor comfort. It’s not a guarantee to a life free from pain, sickness, and suffering. Neither is it a ticket to fame and glory. The reward is in living the life that God created us for. The pleasure is in discovering how His plans and purposes for us are perfect. The prize is a life of adventure with the Maker of heaven and earth.

Dare to say ‘Yes’ to God, dare to answer His call, and dare to live an outstanding life. In Joshua 1:9, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged,’ is followed by the promise “for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” This is His promise to us as well. Don’t let fear hinder you from experiencing what He can do in your life.

Spotlight: Geraldine Ong – Stepping Out In Faith

Quek Shiwei — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 16:00:00 +0000

‘Sweet’ and ‘demure’ were the first two words that came to mind when I met Geraldine in person. However, I quickly found that beneath her sweet veneer lies a tenacious and bold spirit that is not to be underestimated!

Before graduating from university, Geraldine was offered a managerial role at a new cafe that some members from her church were setting up. Despite it being unconventional for a fresh university graduate with a degree to choose to work in the F&B industry for a starting job, she decided to take a step of faith and heed God’s call. Join us in finding out more about her story!

Hi Geraldine! How did you discover that working in a café was something you wanted to do? Was it a childhood dream?

It was a teenage dream actually. I wanted to open a cafe to call my own one day, but while I dreamt about this, I am also quite a realistic person. I was fully aware that the cafe industry is not a very sustainable one and it is extremely competitive as there are always new cafes popping up. Hence, I was caught in limbo. So when I was offered a managerial position at 5 Little Monkeys at age 21, my first thought was “Sure, why not! I will just do it for six months.”

That was two years ago though! Why did you decide to stay?

My parents were not very supportive at first because they expected me to work in the corporate world. They told me to work there for six months but to look for a real job in the meantime. I heeded their advice but no job caught my eye despite endless scrolling through job offers. I also struggled with comparing myself to my friends. Back then, all of them started off with the basic degree pay, whereas mine was slightly lower.

All the while, I was praying about this dilemma. During the second and third month of prayer, I specifically asked God to give me a clear sign on whether to stay or not after six months. The next day, my prayer was answered! I was in disbelief.

I CONSIDERED MYSELF LACKING IN EXPERIENCE FOR A MANAGERIAL POSITION

Wow! That must have been a real step of faith. How did you feel when you were entrusted with such a huge role?

That I wouldn’t be able to do a good job. Despite previously working in a couple of part-time jobs, I considered myself lacking in experience for a managerial position. Also, all the cafe staff are older than me – I am the youngest! Hence, I felt that if there any conflicts or complicated issues were to arise, I would not have the wisdom and experience to solve them.

So, what does a typical workday look like for you? I work from Mondays to Fridays, following the typical office hours of 9.30am – 6.30pm. My main job scope is to manage the operational aspect of the cafe, which includes managing the cafe staff, fellow colleagues, and parttimers. Another aspect of my job scope includes running corporate events that are held at our cafe, including the upcoming Kallos Book Launch party! Due to my prior experience as a barista, I also provide training for new baristas with little experience in making coffee. Finally, the last part of my job scope is baking! I am the café’s in-house baker; I get to bake and sell my own cakes and desserts at the cafe.

What do you like most about your work?

It would definitely be the flexibility that my job allows. I am a person who does not really like being desk-bound, so even though I am doing typical “office work” such as handling calls and sales and managing events, my work environment is much more dynamic. Even though the work can be demanding, I enjoy it because I get to move around in the cafe and interact with people!

What would you say make 5 Little Monkeys unique?

My church is actually located at Level 5 in the building! The space that 5 Little Monkeys is currently using was once a staff canteen. However, it was empty for almost a year. One day, a group of church members prayed for the possible start-up of a cafe in that empty space. Soon after, an offer was put up for interested tenants to rent the space to start a cafe or restaurant! Our church took it up and slowly our cafe came into fruition. The purpose was to provide a comfortable and convenient space for church members to hang out and have fellowship after service, as well as for cell groups on Saturdays. We also differ from other cafés because of the large space that we have. We even have an outdoor garden, which makes our cafe perfect for hosting events.

If you could say anything to teenage girls about pursuing dreams that are placed on their hearts, what would it be?

Pray and seek God! I believe wholeheartedly that He provides guidance and the answers you need. Have faith to take the first step – it never hurts to try! A verse that I held close to my heart throughout the whole journey was Philippians 4:6-7. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Finally, if you weren’t in this industry, what would you want to do?

I would like to be a tai-tai, so that I can bake every day!

Did you know?

The name ‘5 Little Monkeys’ wasn’t just chosen as a cute and whimsical name that people would remember! It also has a deeper meaning most people don’t know about.

The cafe was envisioned as a space where people can be reconciled with each other, and ultimately for people to be reconciled to God. This theme is taken from Philemon, a New Testament Book, which is also the abbreviated version of the cafe’s name! (Fi-Lil’-Mon … Philemon … Get it?)

Dear Kallos: I Have Been Struggling With An Eating Disorder And With Self-harm

Alina Teo — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 16:00:00 +0000

I have been struggling with an eating disorder and with self-harm for a few years now. Though I have made progress, I still find it difficult to resist the urge to restrict my diet and harm myself. I don’t want to disobey God by harming my body, but sometimes the thoughts get very loud. Why do I still have these thoughts and how can I make them go away? – Struggling

dear Struggling,

We are so proud of you for pressing on toward full recovery! It is a difficult road, yet you are so brave to choose to conquer these giants in your life.

The fact that you don’t want to act on those thoughts already shows that you are making progress. The temptation to harm yourself or restrict your diet can be overwhelming, but we applaud you for desiring to keep yourself pure before God! We love what Dr Tam Wai Jia says about relapses in her own struggle with eating disorders: “It is a key part of recovery. It is God’s gracious way of revealing areas in our lives that require a deeper dependence on Him. Relapse is what I’ve learnt to call ‘Falling Forward’. Every time you pick yourself up, you’re in a different place” [Read her interview in the previous issue of Kallos].

Don’t let those voices tell you that you’ve failed just because you’re tempted. As humans, temptation is a reality because our sinful nature still persists! The mark of recovery is not about never having those thoughts again, but having the ability to resist them when the thoughts come. And the good news is that you don’t have to walk this journey alone – God has given you the Holy Spirit to guide and empower you, as well as the community around you to support you through this recovery process!

Instead of allowing the thoughts to overwhelm you, we encourage you to heed the advice in Philippians 4:8-9 – “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” Fill your mind with the word of God, and soon enough, you may find that there is no longer space for unwanted thoughts. In addition, it will help to gather some friends you trust to keep you in check. When harmful thoughts come to mind, quickly send out an SOS for them to cover you in prayer! Allow them to come alongside you and share your burden.

One day, we believe that you’re going to look back on these days and stand up with confidence to shout about how great and faithful God has been in your life to see you through these tough times. Stay strong and rooted in Christ!

I Survived 3 Weeks Without Social Media

Quek Shiwei — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 16:00:00 +0000

You’ve been issue a challenge!

No social media for THREE WEEKS (no viewing + no posting)
To prevent temptation, surrender your social media accounts and passwords (we promise not to peek!)
If it helps, delete the apps from your phone for the duration of this challenge
Keep a daily journal of how you are coping
Have fun!

Challenge accepted!

Name: KALISTA WAN

Age: 18

Favourite social media platform: INSTAGRAM

Average time spent on social media a day: 3 HOURS (oh my!)

First joined social media? 2010 ON FACEBOOK

Longest time without social media: 3 DAYS

Quick Facts

More than 85% of Singaporean teens own a smartphone

Average time teens spend on social media:

3.4 hours a day

1 day a week

52 days a year

Average number of times a teen checks her phone in a day:

110 times

First Thoughts

When I first received the challenge, my eyes zoomed into one entirely capitalised word – ‘THREE’. Why? Because alarm bells were sounding in my head that I may not be able to survive this challenge. THREE weeks without social media?! I’ve gone three days without it before and I think a week is possibly ‘survivable’, but THREE weeks? Wow, this is real challenge indeed. Let’s see if I survive.

My daily log
Day 1: I failed, accidentally. The first thing I did when I woke up was to pick up my phone and scroll through my Instagram feed… When I realised what I had done, it was too late; I had already spent 6 minutes of my day on Instagram! I quickly surrendered my accounts to the Kallos Team and deleted my other social media apps. It was bittersweet – I knew I’d miss them, but I knew it was for a good cause. Throughout the day, I kept trying to check Instagram or Snapchat, only to realise again and again that they were gone. Oops. I felt a bit lost on the ride home because I was so used to checking social media while traveling. It’s only been one day, but I am already witnessing how much time I spend on social media.

Day 2: I miss my private account on Instagram that I use as a mini diary. However, I found myself less distracted by my phone and easily had more face-to-face conversations with my family and friends.

Day 3: It’s Mother’s Day! I really wanted to post something about my mum but I told her, “Mummy I love you but I’m on a social media challenge so I cannot post anything for you today”. I may have ‘cheated’ because I helped her post a photo on her Instagram account…

Day 4: It’s my mother’s birthday! Again, I really want to post something but it’s okay. It dawned on me that she knows my love for her and she loves me just the same with or without my post. Love you mummy.

Day 5-10: I’m able to leave the house with low battery and still survive for the day! Seems like social media not only takes up a lot of time, but also battery life, haha. Been reading the Bible on the way to school and I find myself intentionally spending more time with God. Realise that I also watch fewer Youtube videos and Korean dramas. I think it’s because I often see new videos while scrolling through Instagram, and when I see them I feel like I need to watch the full thing. But since I’m off Instagram, I just don’t get tempted and my urge to watch those videos is gone.

Day 11: It was such a bad day and I wanted to rant on my private account on Instagram. I ended up just crying by myself before finding a place to journal and talking to God. I guess finding solace in His truth is much better than taking it out on social media.

Days 12-17: This week, I feel like the voice of my flesh has gotten quieter. Going without social media has been a good break from all the insecurities that were amplified when I constantly looked at accounts of beautiful-looking girls that made me question and doubt my worth as a person and even as a child of God. Without the constant exposure to such images, it’s been easier for me to align my heart and my desires to God’s standards of beauty, focusing on my heart and not just my outward appearance.

Days 18-20: There have been so many moments when I wanted to let out my frustrations on Twitter or on my private Instagram account, but I couldn’t, so I confided in a friend and felt the ‘healing power’ of a proper heart-to-heart talk. When I totally did not touch my phone at all during the meet up, she was really happy that we could have that quality time together sharing about our lives.

Day 21: Wow. I really cannot believe today is the last day!! It feels so surreal that I don’t have the habit of whipping out my phone and checking my social media anymore. That said, I’m glad to have my accounts back!

Closing Thoughts

I’ve definitely discovered the pros and cons of social media for myself. On one hand, it’s so useful for keeping up-to-date with my friends, especially those I hardly get to see. It’s also great for sharing my thoughts or showing public appreciation.

On the other hand, this challenge shed light on how dependent I was on social media. On hindsight, it’s scary to think that I initially thought that I wasn’t really dependent on social media at all! For the first few days, I kept unconsciously checking my phone when I was bored and feeling weird that I couldn’t check Instagram first thing in the morning. By the last week of the challenge, I really had no urge to whip out my phone to check social media anymore and I found that there are just so many other more meaningful things that I can spend my time on!

I also realised how I was being subconsciously affected by the people I follow online. My time without social media revealed that what I was exposed to translated into unrealistic ideals that I had for myself, especially about how I look.

Moving forward, I intend to unfollow some of my ‘idols’ on social media, as the standards that they set are unhealthy for me. I’m glad that with this break from social media, I’ve won back so much time that I used to waste… In fact, I now find it quite troublesome to spend so much time in a day checking my phone and scrolling through my feed!

Challenge completed!

Women Of Judges

Benita Lim — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 16:00:00 +0000

It’s so unsettling living as a woman in my country. The tribe of Benjamin has been nearly destroyed as punishment for defending a group of Benjamites who raped and killed the concubine of a brother from the tribe of Levi. He had been travelling with her from Bethlehem to his home in Ephraim (Judges 19). And now, the leaders of Israel’s twelve tribes are taking pity on the surviving Benjamites. “With the women of Benjamin destroyed, how shall we provide wives for the men who are left?” they say, even after giving them 400 young women from a town wiped out for not joining the civil war. I hear that they plan to allow the Benjamites to kidnap us young women as wives (Judges 21:16-23)!

What will become of us? I remember my father telling me stories of when our people came out of Egypt, walked the wilderness and came to Canaan. We feared God and obeyed His commands to drive the inhabitants out from this land that was first promised to our Father Abraham. Women would have been well-treated then. Look at Achsah, daughter of the great warrior Caleb (Judges 1:12-15). Caleb promised his daughter to the man who would obey God and capture a city. He even granted her bold request for precious gifts of water sources.

But because of our people’s self-centredness and disobedience, many have turned to worshipping idols and doing whatever they think is best for themselves! Our leaders’ failure to fear God and obey Him has greatly affected our entire nation, and since we women rely on the men for security, we are especially vulnerable. What will become of us?

WHAT WILL BECOME OF US?

Remember that Levite man? Rumour has it that he sent his concubine to be raped in his place! When the Benjamites came for him, he pushed her out and did not attempt to save her (Judges 19:25-28).

Our God cares for the weak and lifts up the needy. It is all written there in His laws (Exodus 23). But just look at how the leaders are now making use of us women after deciding to decimate Benjamin! Are we not also made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and so deserve the same dignity as men?

ARE WE NOT ALSO MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD AND SO DESERVE THE SAME DIGNITY AS MEN?

Whenever our nation of Israel cried out to God, He showed His faithfulness by raising a deliverer who would save us from our enemies and bring peace to our land. Sadly, apart from Joshua, Caleb, Othniel and Deborah, many of these deliverers have not been obedient leaders. They did not worship God and God alone, leading our nation into further decline.

So who is our latest deliverer, you ask? There is no one. Samson was the last, and he too was disobedient. He considered his supernatural strength his own, fell into the charms of foreign women, and died with the enemy (Judges 13-16).

What is to become of us now? So what if we have the Promised Land? Everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes, and not God’s! Perhaps this is why God has not given us peace in the land after all these years. And us women … I shudder to think of what is to come.

Oh Lord, have mercy on us! Turn Israel’s eyes back to You, that we might fulfil Your will for us in this place!

Dig Deeper: How do I Know the Bible is True?

Kallos Team — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 16:00:00 +0000

In 1 Peter 3:15, we are exhorted to “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect”. In today’s world where knowledge is king, more people are seeking solutions to their questions through science and logic. Can we still be sure that our faith is grounded upon truth? Kallos digs deeper to investigate the foundation of Christianity’s truth claims – the Bible.

What is the Bible?

The Bible is the cornerstone of our faith, but how can we be so sure that this book is true and accurate? Far from being a mystical book filled with legends and superstitions, the Bible has been recognised by Christians and non-Christians alike as a historical book based on true events and people. Here are some fascinating facts that confirm the Bible’s historical accuracy!

Dead Sea scrolls

A common criticism against the Bible is that since it is a book that has been translated and passed down for over a thousand years, it must have plenty of mistakes and is therefore inaccurate. However, the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947 proved otherwise. When translated and compared with modern versions of the Hebrew Bible, about 95% of the text proved to be identical, word for word! The remaining 5% was mostly spelling variations, which shows that even though the Bible has been handed to and handled by many throughout history, we can have confidence in its accuracy.

The book of Luke

The Book of Luke is filled with historical details – names, places, times and titles! But many doubt the historical accuracy of his accounts, such as the case of the census taken when Jesus was still in Mary’s womb (Luke 2:1-3). They say, “Surely there was no census, as no governor named Quirinius existed, and citizens were not required to return to their ancestral homes to be counted!” A shocking find in 1912 silenced these doubts. An inscription was found on the base of a statue indicating that a man named Gaius Sergius served under a governor named Publius Sulpicius Quirinius. It proved that Quirinius did exist as governor of Syria in 7 BC. Further archaeological finds showed that the Romans did indeed return home for a census every 14 years!

History scholars

To prove the accuracy of a source, we must be able to cross-reference it to other texts and find that the same claims are made. Did you know that this can be done with claims that are made throughout the Bible? For example, Suetonius (c. AD 69–c. AD 140), a Roman historian and chief secretary to the Roman Emperor Hadrian confirms the report in Acts 18:2 that Claudius commanded the Jews to leave Rome in AD 49. Tacitus, another Roman historian (c. AD 56–c. AD 117), writes about how “… a most mischievous superstition … broke out not only in Judaea … but even in Rome” as a result of “Christus, [who] suffered at the hands of … Pontius Pilatus.” He was referring to the result of the resurrection of Christ, thus acknowledging that Jesus was a real person in history!

Balaam and the talking donkey

For years, people have scoffed at the story of Balaam and the talking donkey (Numbers 22:2135). Surely donkeys can’t talk and so Balaam never existed! In 1967, an Aramaic inscription was found with the words “Warnings from the Book of Balaam the son of Beor. A divine seer is he”. This matches exactly the genealogy that is recorded in Numbers 22:5 and Joshua 24:9, proving through a source other than the Bible that Balaam was indeed a real person of history and adding credibility to this account!

Refreshed – My Date With God

Jiamin Choo — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 16:00:00 +0000

I was exhausted. It had been a long week. The usual, really – work, family dinners, catching up with friends and church activities. By the time I got home after Sunday church service, I was tired out. Thinking about the new week ahead, with my calendar packed full, the stress began to overwhelm me. That was when I decided, “Ok! I’ve got to get out for a while, not to think about my ‘to-do’ list, but to enjoy some alone time with my Creator. It’s time for a ‘Date with God’!”

So I went to the nature spot near my home – Singapore Botanic Gardens. The weather was cool. The sun was setting and I began a stroll through the lush greenery. It felt so good just to slow down my pace, relax … and B.R.E.A.T.H.E.

I saw families and friends having picnics, and joggers with their dogs. A leaf spiralled in the wind. The light blue sky was dotted with white cottony clouds. Birds flew over me. Sun rays danced on the grass. A sudden breeze swept my hair across my face.

When I reached the Swan Lake with its shining waters reflecting the beauty of God’s creation, Psalm 23:1-3 came to mind – “The LORD is my Shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.”

Psalm 23 is a beautiful song of praise penned by King David to describe his close relationship with God. It’s even more meaningful because David actually grew up as a simple shepherd boy looking after his father’s sheep at Bethlehem, yet God chose David to become the king over Israel, and gave him success in the fights against his enemies.

As I quietened down to reflect on this psalm, I thought, “Yes, God. I really needed this time of rest. Thank You for this reminder that You are my Shepherd and I can find rest in Your presence.” I realised the reason why I felt exhausted was because I had been relying on my own strength to get through the busyness instead of depending on God. I had forgotten to let the Shepherd lead me through the week, and so I got anxious instead of trusting Him with my needs. No wonder I was tired out. In the midst of busyness, there is even more reason to set aside time to be alone with God, my Source of life, to be refreshed and fruitful.

By the time I reached home after my ‘Date with God’, my heart felt much lighter and happier. The situation hadn’t changed (a busy week was still coming up), but my perspective had. I knew that I didn’t have to face the new week alone as God would be by my side to guide me. Even if difficulties are to come my way, I can be brave to face them, as the good Shepherd is with me and I can trust Him to lead me through.

PRAYER:
Thank You, God, for being my Shepherd. In this new week ahead, help me trust You more and to let You lead me. No matter how busy it may get, remind me to spend time alone with You, so that I can be refreshed by Your loving presence. Amen.

REFLECTION TIME
1. Like Jiamin, have you ever felt overwhelmed and overworked? What did you do about it? 2. How would you spend your own ‘Date with God’? Set aside a day this month to do it! 3. Are you feeling tired or in need of refreshment? Find a friend who can support you and pray with you.
2. How would you spend your own ‘Date with God’? Set aside a day this month to do it!
3. Are you feeling tired or in need of refreshment? Find a friend who can support you and pray with you.

DELVE DEEPER
Read and reflect on these passages for more about being refreshed in God’s presence!
o Psalm 23
o 1 Samuel 16-17
o Matthew 11:28-30

HANDLES
Want to delve deeper into Scripture? Use SOAP!

Scripture: What passage/verse are you studying today?
Observation: What do you think God is saying to you through this Scripture?
Application: How can this Scripture be applied in your life?
Prayer: Write down a prayer based on the lessons you have learnt!

Victims of Human Trafficking

Isabel Phua — Fri, 29 Jul 2016 16:00:00 +0000

Every year, more than 8,000 Nepalese citizens are trafficked across the border (National Human Rights Council), and every 45 minutes, a girl is trafficked from Nepal to India. According to Reuters, in the aftermath of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Kathmandu in May 2015, the risk of being trafficked increased by 15-20%!

WHO?

Most of these trafficked persons are vulnerable women and young girls who come from poor families. Their ages range from as young as seven to as old as 25 years old. As having sex with a virgin is believed to be able to cure diseases, younger girls are highly prized by older men, making them particularly vulnerable to receiving the worst kinds of sexual abuse.

HOW?

Some are kidnapped, drugged, and brought across the border. Others are tricked with promises of marriage to a wealthy businessman or jobs in the city. No matter how they are trafficked, almost all of them eventually end up in dismal conditions as sex workers, cheap labour, or even as unwilling organ donors.

WHY?

In a country where girls are considered “less than” boys, females often have fewer opportunities to go to school or to get jobs. As such, poor and uneducated parents readily accept promises of a better life for their daughters, unaware that the next time they see her, she would have experienced horrors no one ever should. In addition, an inadequate police force, weak border control, and the powerful mafia in India make it difficult for traffickers to be stopped and brought to justice. What’s worse, those who do manage to escape and find a way home are not welcomed with open arms, but are often shunned for being “soiled goods.” They face shame and disgrace, rejected by their own community.

Will you pray for the victims and families of those who have been trafficked in Nepal?

PRAY:
– that vulnerable women and children will be protected from evil men and women
– that the plans of traffickers will be confused and ineffective (Psalm 55:9-10)
– that those working to stop trafficking in Nepal will be given the support to continue their efforts
– that those working to identify and rescue victims of trafficking will have discernment and wisdom to know how and when to act
– that those who return home and are ostracised will find comfort in Jesus
– for grieving families whose daughters are yet to return home

NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

STATE OF EMERGENCY IN VENEZUELA
Gripped by political and economic crisis, Venezuela declared a state of emergency. Citizens lack access to food, electricity and basic healthcare, with many dying from preventable diseases due to unavailability of medicine.

PRAY:
– for order to be restored in the country by strong and uncorrupt leaders
– that in the midst of crisis, Venezuelans will find peace in Christ and develop a personal relationship with Him
– that those who have unnecessarily lost loved ones will find comfort in Christ.

SLAIN MISSIONARIES
On 1 May 2016, two missionaries from America were found murdered in a rural area in Jamaica. Both worked for a Christian charity called Teams for Medical Missions.

PRAY:
– for their families who remain in Jamaica
– for the mission work in Jamaica not to be jeopardised by the violence toward these two missionaries

KIDNAPPED CHIBOK SCHOOLGIRLS
In April 2014, terrorist group Boko Haram kidnapped 276 female schoolgirls in Chibok, Nigeria. 57 girls quickly managed to escape, but of the remaining 219, few have been found over the past two years. Recently, one of the kidnapped girls was found and reunited with her family.

PRAY:
– that those who have escaped will find healing from their traumatic experiences
– that the remaining schoolgirls will be found and reunited with their families
– praise God for the one girl who has been found despite hope being lost after two years