Challenge – Kallos

Disconnect to Reconnect

Rachel Chan — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 04:59:00 +0000

Tired of living on screen time? RACHEL CHAN explores how we can disconnect ourselves from our devices and reconnect with life.

It is too easy these days to be constantly connected with the world through technology, but not truly be connected with anyone. When was the last time you allowed yourself to put your devices away and reconnect with real life?

If your answer is “a long time ago,” then it’s time to get started. Put away your devices (yes, including your phone!), leaving them out of sight and (hopefully) out of mind. When you don’t need them, leave them in a different room on silent mode. Better yet, set aside a specific time each day to leave your devices off or on airplane mode so that you aren’t tempted to use it. Start with 15 minutes a day and slowly extend it to an hour. You might be surprised at the difference it makes to your life.

Not convinced? Try it yourself! Challenge yourself to reconnect with the parts of your life that are often crowded out by noise and distraction.

Reconnect with God

It’s perfectly acceptable to use a digital Bible or utilise search engines to go in-depth into Bible study. However, our devices are more often a source of distraction rather than assistance as we are easily tempted to open another window or application.

Try having your quiet time using a physical Bible and notebook, with your phone in another room. When you meet a verse you’re unsure about, make a note to find out more about it later so you can stay focused on what you are reading now. Take uninterrupted time to pray, and don’t forget to sit and listen to God speak as well!

Reconnect with people around you

During meals or gatherings with family and friends, put your phone away and resolve not to use it. Be fully present. Instead of turning to a screen during a conversation lull, take time to pause and think about how you can encourage the person or be a better listener. Simple questions like “How was your day?” or “What are you currently excited about?” can spark meaningful conversations.

In quiet moments, spend some time thinking about your loved ones. Make mental or physical notes about why you love and appreciate them. Pray for them, and ask God how you can love them better.

Reconnect with yourself

Is there something you are struggling with emotionally? Don’t bury it under the carpet or distract yourself so that you don’t have to think about it. Face those emotions so that you can reconnect with yourself. Grab a journal and spend time processing your emotions with yourself and with the Lord in a healthy way.

You can also reconnect with your physical body. Exercise to keep yourself healthy. It doesn’t have to be vigorous — from a short time of stretching to a walk in the park, any type of movement gives you a better awareness and appreciation of your body. The endorphins released during exercise also helps to boost your mental health!

Finally, give yourself time to relax screen-free. Daydream. Think about things that bring you joy. Keep a gratefulness journal. Lie in bed and listen to the sound of waves on a beach. Sing like you mean it! Find something that works for you.

Reconnect with your surroundings

When your head isn’t bent down low and your eyes fixated on a screen, you may find yourself observing your surroundings much more. While travelling to and from school, look out of the window and see what’s new. While walking around, pay attention to the décor, or even the patterns on the wall or floor. Open your eyes to the needs around you and who you can pray for, such as the delivery riders outside a mall or a tired-looking person walking beside you. Who knows, you might even be inspired creatively or find new ways to serve God through observing your surroundings.

30-Day Spiritual Reset

Kallos Team — Wed, 01 Dec 2021 03:59:00 +0000

Challenge Tasks

Choose a book of the Bible and read one chapter a day.
For the first 15 days, set aside five minutes a day to spend in quietness before God. Build it up to ten minutes for the next 15 days.
Fast from a meal or social media for at least three days (it doesn’t have to be consecutive days!)

Challenger: Alisha Yang, 19

Fun Facts:
1. I enjoy playing Christian music on my guitar
2. I like Japanese food
3. I love watching K-dramas

Do you find it hard to practice spiritual disciplines like fasting, reading the Bible and prayer? Creating new habits and sticking to them can be challenging, but also rewarding! Join Alisha as she takes on the Kallos 30-day spiritual reset challenge.

FIRST THOUGHTS
Receiving this challenge was really an answer to my prayers. Juggling school and a part-time job, I often spent time with God by reading the Bible on the way to school or praying before I went to bed. Was this even right? How could I fully give my time to God when I have other responsibilities? The Holy Spirit has been reminding me to give God the best timings of my day, but waking up at 6 am to read His Word and spend more time with Him was so difficult. I felt so excited knowing that this challenge will help me have a good start to a more beautiful relationship with God.

15 Oct
Today was the first day of the challenge and I decided to wake up early to read God’s Word. I was feeling lethargic from work and, being a night owl, it’s been a long time since I’d woken up this early, but I thanked God for being able to wake up early to spend time with Him. For this challenge, I chose to read the book of Proverbs. While reading chapter one, verses 23–25 stood out to me, “turn at my rebuke; surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, because you disdained all my counsel, and would have none of my rebuke, […]” (NKJV). These verses are a warning against disobedience to God’s words.

Many times, God has talked to me through the Holy Spirit, dreams, people, and social media. Even though God spoke so clearly to me what He wanted me to do, I was stubborn and instead chose to follow what I wanted to hear, disobeying Him and His truth. From today’s reading, I learned to listen to God’s Word — no matter how harsh it may sound, it was still God’s Word and His truth.

16 Oct
This morning before work, I read Proverbs 2. Verses 6–7 say, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity” (ESV). It’s always comforting to know that God will always be there for us and protect us. But when we face struggles, it’s important to pray to God to guard our hearts, minds, and souls so that we won’t draw away from Him.

19 Oct
I was an hour late to my class today. During the train ride to school, I read Proverbs 3:5–8: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones” (ESV). When we face struggles at work and at school, sometimes it’s truly difficult to fully give God our trust. We can end up chasing after earthly wisdom instead of the wisdom from God. I remembered that, during my secondary school days, I was too focused on my schoolwork that I had neglected the Word of God. These verses reminded me that no one else but God could give us wisdom. When we learn to see things in God’s perspective, we learn more about His love for us every day!

23 Oct
Today, I decided to fast from Instagram. Doing this made me realise how much time I’ve wasted and that I could spend this time building a much deeper relationship with Christ instead. I was reminded of 2 Peter 1:5–6: “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness.” With so many distractions around me — Netflix, K-dramas, TikTok — I struggle a lot with self-control when it comes to entertainment. After just two hours of not using Instagram, I felt a really strong urge to just go back onto Instagram to catch up with my friends. As I prayed, I asked God to help me with my addiction to social media and instead to use my time to be with Him.

24 Oct
Today, I read Proverbs 8, and verses 32 to 36 spoke to me: “Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it. Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord. But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death.” Beyond just reading the Bible every day, it is important to apply His Word in our daily lives. I prayed to God that I would not lose my way and that I would meditate on His words and follow them.

26 Oct
Today, I decided to fast from Instagram again as it was the app I used the most. Since I did it last Saturday, I was confident that I would be able to go without Instagram without feeling the urge to open it. I spent my time worshipping God and also practising my guitar. This was until I saw an Instagram text from my friend. I naturally clicked on the notification and only realised my mistake when it was too late. It’s only the second time I tried to fast from Instagram and I failed, too easily. Today I read Proverbs 10: “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs” (vv. 11–12). Reading this, I felt assured by God, that even though I felt like I had failed, His love is enough to cover all wrongs.

4 Nov
Recently, I started watching the Korean drama series Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha. Even though I promised to just watch one episode a day, I was so tempted to watch another episode every time because the start button for the next episode on Netflix would come up almost immediately. Even so, I was reminded of the need to spend more of my time with God. Today I read Proverbs 16. “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established” (v. 3; ESV). This week, I’ve been worrying about my schoolwork as there were more assignments, projects, and exams coming up. This verse reminded me that no matter the workload, God is always more important in our lives. When we learn to commit and put our work into His hands, He can take our worries and anxieties away and help us to manage better.

7 Nov
These past few days, I realised that reading the Bible on my journey to school was very distracting; sometimes I would just be browsing through the verses without actually thinking them through. Having spent time with God early this morning, I felt the urge to spend time and worship God again at work today, and it reminded me of the importance of my heart posture. Worshipping God isn’t always just in the form of singing and music, it can also be in the way we act, the way we communicate. When we reflect God in our lives, it also shows that God is in our hearts and minds.

Last Thoughts
This challenge helped me to reset my relationship with God by spending more time in His Word and building healthy habits to continue to grow in my relationship with Him. Reading the book of Proverbs helped me to understand the importance of wisdom, and listening to and obeying God’s words. This challenge helped me to be more intentional when reading the Bible, and I found that I was more aware of what God was speaking to me. I thank God for this opportunity to be able to grow closer to Him through this challenge!

Battling Comparison and Jealousy

Kallos Team — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 05:40:00 +0000

CHALLENGE RULES

This will be a 14-day challenge. Prior to the challenge, you are to list down five things or platforms that cause feelings of comparison and/or jealousy to arise in you.
During the challenge, fast from the above-mentioned things or platforms.
Suggest five ways that you can combat these feelings during the course of this challenge.

Challenger: Victoria Yeo, 17

Fun Facts:
1. I play the keyboard in church
2. My ideal partner is one who can catch insects for me
3. I love banana prata!

Comparison is the thief of joy, so why do we find it so difficult to stop? KALLOS challenges a reader to nip comparison and jealousy in the bud and replace it with wholesome alternatives instead.

FIRST THOUGHTS
I am excited for this challenge! We live in a world that is increasingly competitive, and it is so easy for me to define my success and worth based on how well I am doing in comparison to others. Whenever I feel jealous, I try to use these feelings as a source of motivation to do better. However, I know that allowing my actions to be motivated by envy and the fear of being inferior is not how God wants me to live my life.

I will be deleting Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube, and avoiding secular music and online shopping.

I have asked a close friend to keep me accountable and remind me to stay committed to the challenge if she sees me liking or posting anything on Instagram. She will also be able to view my activity on Spotify to make sure I don’t listen to secular music.

Day 1
Today was pretty challenging. Throughout the day, I still instinctively searched for those apps on my phone before remembering that I had deleted them. I struggled with thoughts on comparison even when I was simply observing people around me. These included things like being envious of the way others looked, talked, or carried themselves. On the upside, I was surprised at the difference fasting from these platforms made spiritually! Since I didn’t have all my social media platforms to scroll through in my spare time (such as while travelling home from school), I tried using that time to talk to God instead, and pray about the thoughts and feelings I struggled with during my day.

I found that not being so caught up with all the noises of the world generally helped me be more in tune with God and more sensitive to His voice and what He was saying to me.

Day 2
Something happened today that I was really eager to post about on Instagram. I was disappointed when I realised I couldn’t, as it was one of those things that would give me temporary confidence after posting about it. In that specific moment I was prompted to pause and ask myself what was my reason for the post. Was there something about myself that I wanted to prove? Was I just eager to rake up some points in this game of comparison that everyone else was playing?

Days 3-6
When I was texting my friends and hearing about what they’ve been doing and accomplishing throughout the day, I still struggled with thoughts of comparison, getting frustrated at myself when my day didn’t seem as fulfilling or productive as others’ did. However, I found it easier to recognise and manage these feelings by reminding myself of the things God has taught me the past few days. I also took time daily to pause, converse with God, and thank Him for what He has blessed me with.

Days 7-10
One evening, I was involved in an online vote for the new Executive Committee of my co-curricular activity. Normally, I would question my own abilities and competence in comparison to the rest. However, I found myself committing everything to God and asking Him to show me who He wanted to appoint as leaders in each specific position. To my surprise, every person I voted for was the exact person who won that round. I also felt joy when I texted those individuals to affirm them!

Day 11
Something happened today that I really felt like posting about again, but this time I realised that because my thoughts were already centred more on God’s heart and seeking to please Him, it didn’t bother me one bit that I wasn’t able to do so! I’m really encouraged seeing how God has been working in and through me these past few days.

Days 12-14
A few of my friends were talking about a project that they found out about through social media, and that some other people I knew were involved in as well. They were discussing how they wanted to participate in it, and I was tempted to download all my deleted platforms before the challenge was up to see what it was all about. However, seeing the huge difference that this challenge has made for me mentally, emotionally, and in my walk with God, I was encouraged to follow through to the end of the challenge. I didn’t think I would be able to make it, but I’m really glad that I did.

Last Thoughts
Looking back, I think this challenge was something I didn’t know I needed. Fasting from all these platforms and meditating on God’s Word didn’t instantly make it easier for me to curb my feelings of jealousy and comparison, and it still took consistent effort to be mindful of my thoughts, but it was definitely very helpful! I’ve learnt to see things a little more like God does, and value the things that matter to Him.

Now, whenever I experience such emotions, I try to go back to God’s Word. One of the passages I like to read is Job 38–40, where Job finally encounters God face-to-face and has a revelation of God’s wisdom, which is far above his own. Reading this passage always humbles me and reminds me of how small I am in comparison to how great and awesome God truly is. I am reminded that God does not owe me anything, and yet He has blessed me with so many things that I do not deserve. This helps me refocus my thoughts and give thanks for all that God has given me, instead of feeling jealous and getting upset over what I do not have.

Moving forward, I want to continue living my life accountable to my audience of One and to Him alone — the One whose opinion truly matters, because He created me.

The “Scripture Memory” Challenge

Kallos Team — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 13:50:00 +0000

CHALLENGE RULES

This will be a 21-day challenge. Memorise the following passages each week:
Week 1 — James 1
Week 2 — Proverbs 16
Week 3 — Romans 12
At the end of three weeks, come up with a creative product that encapsulates one thing you learnt from this experience. Enjoy!

Challengers: Pollyanna Tang, 19

Fun Facts:
1. I am blessed with six wonderful siblings
2. I am an aspiring ballerina
3. I have fractured my arm twice

When was the last time you memorised a Bible verse? Scripture memory isn’t just an old Sunday School challenge — there’s power in the Word when we let it take root in our hearts. KALLOS challenges a reader to memorise Scripture for 30 days.

FIRST THOUGHTS
Recently, I visited a missionary couple and was given a small package that included more than 70 key verses in the Bible that covered topics on our faith, relying on God’s resources, being Christ’s disciples, and growing in Christ-likeness. Since then, I have committed to memorising one Bible verse a week. However, aside from my past Scripture memory found in my home-schooling curriculum, and some memory verses from childhood, there has definitely been a period when I stopped keeping God’s word close to my heart.

Admittedly, I have been feeling a little disconnected in my walk with God recently. Hence, I hope and pray that this challenge will remind me that Scripture memory is not merely to show off to my family and friends but to gain priceless truths from the Word. I hope that after this challenge, I will be able to yearn for the Word earnestly, and continue this habit for a lifetime.

WEEK ONE
The challenge started off well. James 1 was really dear to my heart and every verse spoke truth to me. I really enjoyed how the entire passage flowed like a story, which made memorising it less of a hassle. Surprisingly, my mum and best friend decided to hop on board with me, and we cheered one another on, keeping each other accountable! Every day, my mum would bring her Bible out to the dining table. She would quote a section of the passage from memory, and I would catch any errors she made and correct them. This process really worked wonders. It was really enjoyable too, because I got to meditate on the verses while working on different chores in the morning, such as hanging the clothes or preparing breakfast for my family!

WEEK TWO
This week proved to be slighter more difficult as I had to balance many tasks alongside the challenge. Hence, my momentum slowed down for the first few days. Also, I struggled with this week’s passage a lot more. Instead of last week’s passage that was like a story, Proverbs 16 was filled with commands and advice that I struggled to piece together. Nonetheless, I decided to push on. There were days when I was a little busy and couldn’t fish out time to read the Scriptures, but I would try to make up for those days by repeating the passage a few more times the next day! The more I repeated the passage, the more it stuck with me and I was able to hop back into the routine and finished strong!

WEEK THREE

As with all challenges, I decided to grasp hold of my final opportunity to give it my all and I was able to memorise Romans 12 with ease. Nonetheless, I was certain that God was doing the work and it was definitely not my own strength and wisdom.

Writing out each chapter and bringing it on the go was a good way for me to keep refreshing my mind with Scripture. I also stuck to a daily routine of reading the chapter thrice in the morning, and thrice in the evening. My sister also volunteered to quiz me on the chapter whenever she heard me reciting the verses!

FINAL THOUGHTS
One of the most impactful verses that spoke to me in this challenge is James 1:2–4, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (NASB).

Even though I have very loving parents who have given me a lot of freedom, there’s one rule that they have always been very strict about — my curfew. When I was younger, I grasped their intention and reason for doing so. However, I recently broke the curfew and had to bear the consequences. I struggled with why they had to be so strict with me when I’m in my young adult years. This verse reminded me that I should consider my trials in a joyous manner, because the testing of my faith will produce endurance. It helped me to look at my situation in a different light; understanding that my parents would only do this because they loved me enough to care for me.

I’ve been trying to change my perspective to think of how Jesus would have reacted if He were in my situation. Pondering about how Jesus remained humble and calm when everyone mocked him when He was fully blameless and pure allowed me to approach situations with a better attitude and mindset.

Through this challenge, I was reminded of God’s living words, and I will definitely be continuing this habit of Scripture memory on my own. Ultimately, choosing to memorise God’s Word is not for the purpose of showing off an ability to men but to hold ourselves accountable to God. Knowing that there are three chapters in the Bible that I can turn to at any time of the day, at any point of my life was so special. Even though finding extra time to slot in Scripture memorisation was
a little arduous, I never regretted a single day of this challenge. I would rather have the Bible right in my heart than pursue my worldly pleasures and walk my way towards eternal death and separation from God.

What Did You Say?

Kallos Team — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 10:07:00 +0000

CHALLENGE RULES

Before the challenge begins, spend some time reading through a list of verses on speech and the power of words. Meditate on them and ask God to show you the power of words and the importance of watching what you say.
For one week, when you feel tempted to gossip, be rude, or snap back at others, refer to the practical handles provided to help you out.

Challengers: Sarah Chen, 17

1. I play tennis
2. I have a sweet tooth
3. I enjoy playing Christian music on my guitar

VERSES ON THE POWER OF WORDS

– PROVERBS 13:3, 16:24, 18:19, 18:31
– MATTHEW 15:18,12:36
– EPHESIANS 4:29
– COLOSSIANS 3:8, 4:6
– JAMES 3:3–6, 9–12

PRACTICAL HANDLES FOR TAMING THE TONGUE!

• Take a deep breath and count to 10 before snapping back when you are angry.
• Choose to walk away instead of engaging in gossip sessions.
• Be firm to make your stand that you do not wish to engage in gossip sessions.
• Ask yourself, “Do I want a friend to be sharing my personal life with others?” when you are tempted to divulge a friend’s sharing with you.
• Ask yourself, “If Jesus is sitting here and is a part of this conversation, would He be pleased at my behaviour?”
• Begin your day with prayer and ask God to give you wisdom and awareness over your words.
• Choose to speak words that edify and inspire instead.

FIRST THOUGHTS
After meditating on the verses provided, I had these thoughts and reflections:

– Words can easily tear people down and can leave a long-lasting scar on people’s hearts.
– Words can also build people up — more than you can imagine.
– What we choose to say determines the kind of relationship we have with the people around us.
– A slip of the tongue happens easily, thus, not only do we need to be mindful of what we say, but we should also surround ourselves with godly friends and remove ourselves from ‘dangerous situations’.

Initially, I thought it would be a simple challenge for me as I am cautious with my words. However, on closer reflection, I realised that I can be quite harsh towards my family members (more specifically my younger siblings). I also easily find myself in the middle of a gossip session with friends. Even though I don’t often contribute, I asked myself: Is agreeing and allowing the conversation to continue equally as bad?

I struggle with my tone and word choices towards my siblings the most. It usually comes off as irritation whenever they ask me for help and can even come across as condescending. As an older sibling, I feel like I have a sense of authority over my younger siblings and have probably developed such a tone over time.

As I see my family members every day, speaking to them this way has become a habit. I wonder how this challenge will go for me!

CHALLENGE TIME!
Day 1: At the start of the day, I tended to speak before I think, struggling to hold back what I wanted to say. For example, when I was training with my younger brother, I told him that he was not playing well instead of encouraging him to do better. In other words, my words tore him down rather than built him up. However, I identified this immediately and regretted what I said. The rest of the day was better — when I knew something unkind was about to come out of my mouth, I managed to stop myself.

Day 2: Today wasn’t difficult as I was mainly in school and I am usually very careful with my words when I am around friends. I think first impressions and reputation are very important in school, and thus I am subconsciously more careful about what I say.

Day 3: During CCA, my friends and I were talking about how one of the guys isn’t committed to the CCA and is a deadweight to the team. As he is my classmate, I contributed by telling them negative things about what he is like in class. I didn’t think much of it at first, but upon reflection, I think enjoying the conversation and wanting to hear the gossip also constitutes gossiping. I regretted what I said, especially since I consider him a friend, but during the conversation it just came out naturally.

On the bright side, I managed to stop myself from snapping at my sister when she annoyed me. I paused for a few seconds and asking myself, “If Jesus were here, would He be pleased with my behaviour?” before addressing her.

Day 4: I had Student Council Investiture today! I didn’t find it difficult to watch my speech as I spent time that morning meditating on the verses and was also in a good mood throughout the day. I also witnessed the power of encouragement and words of affirmation. Hearing my friends cheer me on and all the student councillors supporting one another was very heart-warming.

Day 5: I didn’t have much difficulty today except for one slip-up when I was very focused on my work and my brother asked me to identify a Chinese word. I said, “There’s a dictionary for a reason.” That probably demoralised him as he struggles with Chinese and I should have phrased it in a nicer way. I can work on controlling my tone and speech towards my siblings by stopping whatever I am doing when I speak to them, giving them my full attention. When I am distracted, I tend to be careless with my words and just return to my old habits.

Day 6 and 7: I met my friends from my previous school whom I haven’t seen in a very long time and shared a lot about my new school life and the people in it. On hindsight, I don’t think it was a good representation of who these people are. I completely left out the positive sides to them, and the conversation wasn’t very uplifting or encouraging.

LAST THOUGHTS
Even though I didn’t struggle much with my speech around my friends, I definitely did with my family! The list of verses and practical handles did come in handy actually! They really helped me start the day right as I looked at them every morning. Surprisingly, my prayers before meals helped to keep me in check too. They served as checkpoints throughout the day to talk to God and be reminded of my intention for the day, which was to watch my words. Simply pausing before speaking also helped a lot in being intentional about changing my phrasing of words and the tone I was about to speak in.

I will continue to meditate on the verses and cultivate a habit of watching my speech especially at home. I want to ask for God’s guidance every morning as well as be more encouraging towards people. I am definitely still a work in progress but I am glad that this challenge allowed me to be moulded more in this aspect!

Accountability Challenge

Kallos Team — Sat, 01 May 2021 03:11:00 +0000

CHALLENGE RULES

Find an accountability partner. Write down three goals that you would like to achieve respectively. Share them with each other and the practical ways that you plan to achieve them.
Focus on one goal per week and remain accountable to each other on your progress!

Challengers: Lucy Chung and Zaara Bharuah, 13

Fun Fact:
We’ve known each other since we were five and attend the same youth group in church.

ZAARA'S GOALS

1. Reading the Bible daily
2. Not giving in to peer pressure and gossip
3. Cultivating patience with friends and family

LUCY'S GOALS

1. Not being affected by peer pressure (swearing, gossiping, fitting in, etc.)
2. To desire reading the Bible daily
3. Fighting against jealousy of my friends’ freedom to use social media

FIRST THOUGHTS
Zaara: When I received this challenge I knew that it would take me out of my comfort zone to be held accountable to a friend for the things that I struggle with. Lucy and I decided to do a weekly check-in on Sunday to share updates about how the week has gone, and to pray through specific prayer requests that might arise. We also plan to drop each other a text each day to find out how the other person is doing.

Lucy: I have to admit I’m quite nervous about completing these goals. Usually when I’m tasked to do something, I stall till the very last minute. I’m going to try my best for this challenge and ask Zaara and my parents for encouragement!

WEEK ONE
Zaara (Reading the Bible daily): Honestly, it takes a lot of effort to pick up my Bible and read it. I’m slightly ashamed that I have a lot of catching up to do. A huge help was when Lucy shared verses with me that I wrote down and placed on the door of my closet to encourage and motivate me. A change was evident as I persisted to spend more time reading and meditating on God’s word! It was a tough and draining week, but I found myself talking to God whenever I was overwhelmed. During church, I was also able to be more attentive. Spending more alone time with God this week had an impact!

Lucy (Not being affected by peer pressure): Sometimes, I find that my choices are affected by my friends’ opinions, and it’s extremely tempting to ‘copy’ what others do in order to fit in. I challenged myself to ask God to give me strength to think twice before doing or saying something I might regret after, such as swearing or gossiping. This week was really challenging since I’m surrounded by all forms of peer pressure every day. When I shared with Zaraa about my temptation to gossip, she shared her past experiences when she had gossiped and regretted it later on. Knowing that she didn’t judge me and could relate to my struggle assured me, and it encouraged me to press on in my challenge to avoid gossiping.

WEEK TWO
Zaara (Not giving in to peer pressure and gossiping): This week, there were multiple instances when my friends talked about another person. In the past, I have caught myself joining in even though I know it is wrong. I believe that the reason why I find it difficult to rebuke my friends is because I care about my friends’ opinions, want to fit in, and I fear rejection. Though I was greatly tempted to join in on the conversations, I made it clear to them that what they were doing was wrong and if they continued on with it, I couldn’t be part of the conversation. On multiple occasions I was surprised to see my friends reflect on what they were doing and stop the conversation all together!

Lucy (To desire to read the Bible daily): Bible reading is set into my schedule every other day; it feels more like homework and not a relationship with God. My mum shared some encouraging Bible verses and quotes to spur me on. One quote said, “the more you read, the more you learn from it.” But even so, I am often tempted to just skip a day of Bible reading and read an engaging book instead. Zaara and I talked about the temptation we faced to avoid reading the Bible every day, but we encouraged each other with creative ideas to make Bible reading fun. She told me that doing little calligraphy drawings on the side of her Bible of a certain verse she wanted to remember helped her meditate on the verse through the day. That was something I had not thought of before!

WEEK THREE

Zaara (Cultivating patience with friends and family): Once I started making an effort to read the Bible daily, I found it easier to be more patient with my friends. Many times I found myself silently praying to God, “give me patience, give me patience,” when I was tempted to lose my cool. I was looking for a perfect friend who was always there for me, and when I looked at my own friends, I didn’t see that. That realisation made me snap at them as I got impatient. By cultivating patience, I’ve realised that only God can be that perfect friend of mine! I still struggle with this but that’s okay. I believe that if I continue to grow my relationship with God, He can work in me and mould me in this aspect.

Lucy (Fighting against jealousy of my friends’ freedom to use social media): Compared to many, I don’t use social media because my parents feel that I don’t need social media at this age. While I understand their concerns, I do get jealous of my friends’ freedom at times. At times, I feel left out from the latest trends on Instagram or TikTok. Zaara encouraged me by telling me that social media can promote gossip and peer pressure, which helped me to not feel as jealous of it. Also, since she has Instagram, she told me that there’s lots of stuff you don’t want to come across, so she sticks to certain topics to view such as her friends, art, etc. Having her personally tell me this helped me feel more confident about what I researched about social media on the Internet, and the decision I made with my parents not to have social media for now.

FINAL THOUGHTS
Zaara: The hardest goal for me was probably reading and meditating on the Bible daily. I generally struggle with having self-discipline for things I have no motivation for. However, this challenge helped me to kickstart a new habit. I am also thankful that Lucy shared encouraging verses and quotes with me to motivate me. With accountability, I was “forced” to hold myself accountable to Lucy about the things I struggle with and how I could change them. Without accountability, I honestly don’t think I would have found the courage to step out of my comfort zone to change my old habits!

Lucy: Reading the Bible daily was the hardest goal for me too as it required a lot of perseverance. Having Zaara helped more than I thought it would. Since we were going through these goals together, we could relate to and encourage each other. Now I think I understand why people do one-on-one Bible studies, attend cell groups, and church; we all need community to build us up in our lives! With accountability from Zaara, we were able to persevere through the three weeks to complete our goals!

Digital Detox Challenge

Kallos Team — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 07:28:00 +0000

CHALLENGE RULES

For three days, take note of your daily time spent on social media and other media platforms such as YouTube and Netflix.
For four days, activate the timer notification on Instagram to remind you when your time on the app is up (start with 30 minutes for two days, and then 15 minutes for the next two days).
For the next two weeks, go on a digital detox. Find ways to use that time on other activities instead!

Challengers: Chloe Ng, 17

Fun Facts:
1. I am a left-hander
2. I love editing videos
3. I’m currently studying at Victoria Junior College

FIRST THOUGHTS
When I first received the challenge, I was extremely surprised at how apt the timing was. For the last two months, my screen time has been rising at an alarming rate and I am getting increasingly conscious of how bad it has become. Yet, I have been unable to bring myself to control my social media usage. During school weeks, I clocked in eight hours of screen time daily. During the school holidays, it steadily hit 11 hours. I confess — I once hit 15 hours a day! This challenge will definitely help me to manage my phone usage and not rely too much on technology.

GETTING STARTED
For the past three days, I have savoured these last few moments of “freedom” and allowed myself to use social media freely. However, the impending challenge lingers at the back of my mind; I am subconsciously aware that a high screen time is not healthy. I realise that I spend a lot of time on YouTube and on TikTok. The moment I get bored, I move on to another app. Switching between different social media apps does make me feel empty inside sometimes. Also, the moment I watch a new TV series (I just started the new Korean drama “Start Up”), I can spend hours binge-watching it. I have decided that in order to slowly ease myself into the impending challenge, I will try to exercise daily and hang out with my friends more.

TIMER TIME!
The time came to activate the 30-minute timer on my Instagram app to limit the amount of time I spend online! However, knowing that I am easily tempted, I decided to delete the app to eliminate any form of temptation! I must be honest and confess — I still eventually downloaded Instagram again due to a lack of self-control and a desire to keep up with my friends’ lives online. Yet, when the 30-minute timer went off, I actually managed to get off the app! I also decided to set time limits on YouTube and Netflix to prevent myself from consuming other sorts of media to fill up the void of Instagram. It hasn’t been easy; I hope that I will be able to fully stick to this two-week digital detox!

THE REAL CHALLENGE

Week 1
When I started the week, I had a game plan: to bring a book with me wherever I go and to fill my time with other activities like hanging out with my friends! I even got a puzzle to help curb my boredom that week. When I got the puzzle, I spent some time solving it and asking my friends to help me out too. It has been a cool and fun way for me to learn how to find other ways to enjoy my time without having to use social media. I also spent more time worshipping God these few days by quieting down my heart, listening to Christian songs, and proclaiming His truth.

Week 2
This week was tough. I just started my junior college initiation so I made a lot of new friends and Instagram has been my main way to connect with them. By the end of the first week, I really could not keep away from Instagram, but I disciplined myself to keep to the 30-minute limit daily. In all honesty, I have succumbed several times to indulging in a few extra minutes to check out someone’s profile.

Without social media, it has definitely felt quite strange and awkward at times when I suddenly realise that I have a bulk of time on my hands. I tried to fill that gap by reading more books and trying to kickstart a regular quiet time schedule again. When I have small pockets of time while waiting for my bus or commuting on public transport, I have tried to read more books, one of which is a popular book on social inequality. There have been plenty of moments when I definitely find myself drawn back to the temptation of scrolling through Instagram. I have come to the harsh realisation that cutting social media out of my life is truly harder than I thought!

FINAL THOUGHTS
In all honesty, I have struggled with deleting TikTok for awhile. I felt like it had a toxic grasp on me. It had become a platform that fed my insecurities and unrealistic expectations. The endless stream of TikToks with cute couples, perfect friendship groups, and exciting lives overseas really influenced me to chase after a worldly life that seems perfect and cool. I am very happy that I have been able to do without TikTok for the last two weeks!

Even with Instagram, I realise that I have always felt the immense need to check the number of likes on my posts or the number of people viewing my Instagram stories. Beyond that, compliments on my outfit or replies to my Instagram stories used to really make my day. It’s funny how I found happiness in comments from people I barely knew! Though I wasn’t fully able to abstain from Instagram, I feel that this challenge has given me the opportunity to be less reliant on the likes and validation that comes from Instagram and compelled me to rediscover my identity in Christ again.

With this new-found time on my hands that I used to spend mindlessly scrolling through social media, I have started connecting intentionally with people and building deeper relationships. I have more time to talk to friends I care about, arranging calls almost every night so that we can delve deeper into our lives and spend time helping and spurring each other on. This challenge has really helped me to reflect on my time spent online and to discover ways to centre my life on Christ in this digital world!

We Did A Bible Study Together!

Quek Shiwei — Fri, 01 Jan 2021 12:53:00 +0000

CHALLENGE RULES

Download the LifeGuide Bible Study on Ruth by Dale and Sandy Larsen.
Find a friend to do the study with you at least once a week (Deborah and Elicia did it twice a week!).
After completing each Bible study session, share your thoughts about what you’ve gleaned from Scripture.
Pray for each other at the end of each study. Have fun!

Challengers: Deborah Tan and Elicia Ling, both 16

Fun Facts: “We have been friends since 2017. We’re always seen together in school because we’re from the same class, CCA, leadership board, and are register-number partners too!”

FIRST THOUGHTS
Deborah: I am quite excited to do this Bible study because I love studying the Word and also because I’ve never done this with a friend. There is also a sense of fear too as the study guide appears quite daunting. Nonetheless, I’m sure this challenge will be fulfilling, and I can’t wait to hear what God has to say to the both of us!

Elicia: The thought of a Bible study is quite scary to me, as it is something I have never done before, and I am afraid that I won’t be able to understand the passages. However, I’m thankful for this opportunity to study the Bible with Deborah to hear her views and learn from her! I’m extremely excited to find out more about God’s Word and hear from Him!

BIBLE STUDY TIME!
Week 1: Judges 2:6–3:6 & Ruth 1
Deborah: I personally like how the study guide gets us to put ourselves in the characters’ shoes, and to reflect about our society today and our personal lives. The questions also allow us to share openly about some of our struggles in our Christian walk, think of ways to overcome them, and pray for each other. It was a very fruitful session which allowed us to be accountable to each other, and I’m looking
forward to the next one.

Elicia: When Deborah and I sat down and read the scripture carefully instead of skimming through it, we were able to analyse the passage and have a better understanding of the text. Also, Deborah and I usually do not pray for each other, but we did at the end of the session. It seemed like a small thing, but I was very grateful for that. Doing a Bible study together has definitely brought us closer as friends and as children of God!

Week 2: Ruth 2 & 3
Deborah: This week, we were able to learn more about the culture in Bethlehem in the past, such as what a guardian-redeemer was and why Ruth asked Boaz to spread a corner of his garment over her (Ruth 3:9). Furthermore, we took a deeper look into the values displayed by Ruth, Naomi and Boaz, and it made me see how much I can learn from these characters, such as Boaz’s generosity and Ruth’s selflessness.

Elicia: I really appreciate how the Bible study guide has very personal questions that invites personal response. This really allowed Debs and me to be vulnerable and share with each other. The questions made us think deeper about how we can apply what we learned from the Bible study in our daily lives. For example, we shared about what we are willing to risk to allow the Lord’s will to be accomplished in our lives. This was a tough but needed conversation, and we were able to pray for each other afterwards too!

Week 3: Ruth 4 & Matthew 1:1–6
Deborah: In this session, we studied the genealogy of Jesus from Boaz and Ruth onwards, which revealed how, throughout history, God has always been working and intervening to fulfil His ultimate redemptive purposes for the world, which we are all a part of. We also learned that God delights in faith and obedience to Him, such as Boaz’s, and good character, like Ruth’s, will be rewarded in due time.

Elicia: Today, we read the last two chapters of the study. We learned that God has a purpose for His children, and we can be used even in the most unexpected circumstances despite our current situation or background. All in all, we learned a lot from the book of Ruth, and there are many things we can apply in our daily lives!

FINAL THOUGHTS
Deborah: I realised there is a need for me to do Bible study regularly, so I can refresh my memory on some of the Bible stories and the lessons I can glean from them. It’s also important to dig deep into the Word, because it reminds me again of simple truths which are easily overlooked. Additionally, studying the Bible also makes me more aware of how I’m living and should be living as a Christian, probing me to make changes to let His will be done in my life.

Elicia: Since this was the first time I’ve done a guided Bible study, I really learned that there is a deeper meaning to each verse in the Bible than I thought. Merely scanning through the Bible is not enough. Bible study also helps us learn more about God and allows us to strengthen our personal relationship with Him. We are able to make clearer connections between Scripture and our lives. I really thank God for this opportunity to take on this Bible study challenge with Deborah! To know that we are able to support each other in our journey as Christians is very comforting, and I really hope to do another Bible study with Deborah in the future!

Deborah and Elicia’s tips for effective Bible study

1. Study the Bible in a quiet place. Put your phone away — remove distractions!

2. Don’t rush through the passage. Take the time to read it carefully.

3. Note the word choice in the verses (though do realise that the Bible you’re reading is a translation from the languages it was originally written in — Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek). Are any of the words particularly striking? What image do they evoke? This helps you to picture the situation at hand and empathise with the characters.

4. Think about what the verses tell you about God. Where is He throughout the events they depict? Every event in the Bible will reveal something about Him, whether His influence is obvious or not.

5. Think about what each character’s thoughts, speech, or actions reveal about their character, values, or beliefs. What can you learn from them? What should you not learn from them?

6. Journal your thoughts, reflections, and learning points!

Project ‘Made With Love’

Quek Shiwei — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 01:09:00 +0000

CHALLENGE RULES

Your cell group will compile a list of ways to raise $1000 and carry them out over five weeks.
At the end of five weeks, distribute the amount raised to your chosen beneficiary!

FIRST THOUGHTS
Joelle: When my cell leaders told us about the $1000 challenge over Zoom, I was very surprised because it was so unexpected. The whole cell group was told to anonymously vote on whether we wanted to take the challenge up.

Lea: Personally, I was a bit worried and unsure at first as this was something that our cell group has never done before. Also, $1000 is a huge sum and being able to hit it would be a miracle. Thinking about what to sell to hit $1000 also posed a challenge. However, I decided that instead of seeing this challenge as something impossible, I should see it as something potentially meaningful and beneficial for the disadvantaged in the community. That warmed my heart and compelled me to give it a shot.

Joelle: One challenge our cell group members faced was that many of them were taking their major exams this year and were not able to spend a lot of time on this project. However, we all felt like it was worth our time and effort and decided to go for it! In the end, everyone voted yes!

Lea: As a group, we decided that the money that we raised will be donated 100% to The Straits Times School Pocket Fund to help students from low income families in Singapore with their daily expenses. Challenge accepted!

THE PLANNING PROCESS
Lea: We had a planning meeting over Zoom where we discussed what we could contribute to raise the funds. We decided to split our cell group into two groups — a craft team to bake handmade goodies and make cards, and a social media team to promote the items for the cause. It took us around a week to think of what to sell. We eventually decided to sell baked items and handmade cards because we felt making these items from scratch would hold more meaning. The social media team came up with an instagram handle (@projectmadewithlove) to promote our items. As the items sold were all handmade with love, we thought it was a meaningful way to pitch them.

Joelle: The plan was to sell $100 worth of items each since there were 10 of us in the cell. We broke it down even further — we chose to sell our goods at $10 so that each of us will just have to sell 10 items to raise our individual $100 quota.

THE FUNDRAISING PROCESS
Lea: It was difficult for us all to come together to find time to bake due to our own busy schedules. However, we all tried to help in our own ways, be it promoting the handmade items on social media or working behind the scenes to get the cards out. Seeing how each of our cell group members did their best to pull time out of their schedule or even to come down to church earlier to help out really amazed me. It showed how willing they were to serve with their hearts!

I was part of the craft team in charge of baking loaf cakes and muffins. As soon as the challenge started, many orders came flooding in! I felt pretty overwhelmed as that meant more time had to be spent baking them. Also, only our two cell group leaders had ovens in their homes, so we were limited to these two places to bake. Fortunately, it felt doable progressively with the help of our leaders. Most of the orders came from our church mates, friends, and relatives who were really supportive of this cause and that really encouraged me. When the funds started growing, I was really thankful. It was a timely reminder for me that God is with us in this challenge. However, as the deadline inched closer and closer, I was worried about whether we would be able to raise enough funds!

Joelle: I am not much of a baker but thankfully, our leaders were really patient and guided me through the whole baking process. Even though baking was stressful, I loved seeing many of my friends and family members enjoy the handmade goods. Another challenge I faced was the issue of time. Since I work a part-time job, I had to manage my time wisely so that I could make time for the challenge also. Whenever there were any clashes, I tried my best to prioritise my time to help with the challenge as I felt it was really important for me to help out as much as I can.

FINAL THOUGHTS
Lea: Through this challenge, I have come to realise how important it is for us to come together and bless others beyond our church community only. Even if the targeted amount of $1000 seemed daunting to hit, it was important to encourage one another to do our very best. The fact that we had each other’s back in the process encouraged me and compelled me to press on when we faced road blocks (limited ovens, exam season, and clashing schedules).

Joelle: Initially, I felt that it would be tough to raise such a big amount of money in one month. I feared that we wouldn’t have enough resources or maybe people would not want to order our goods. However, God showed me the needs in the wider community and that I can reach out to help them. As a church community, we can also do so much for the community beyond church. This was a really interesting challenge that my cell group would want to do again, maybe to raise funds for other charities too!

The Real Talk Challenge

Quek Shiwei — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 03:42:00 +0000

CHALLENGE RULES

Read three chapters of Real Talk: Exposing 10 Myths About Love and Sexuality and respond to the reflection questions at the end of each myth.
– Myth 2: Guys are more interested in how sexual a woman is than how pure she is.
– Myth 5: Sex is just for self-pleasure.
– Myth 8: There is nothing wrong with watching porn; I am not hurting anyone in the process.
After completing the reflection questions at the end of each chapter, schedule a call/meet up with each other to share your thoughts and struggles with what you’ve read. Pray for each other at the end of each meeting.

Challenger: Janelle Fong & Jana Ponnia, 16

Fun Fact:
We have been table partners in school for over a year, have totally opposite personalities, and both love stickers!

INITIAL THOUGHTS
Jana: I was not expecting the topics to be so difficult. However, at this age, it is important to delve deeper into these myths. I am not sure how this will progress but I am certain this challenge will help me be more confident in my faith and draw me closer to God. I am very grateful that I am able to do this challenge with Janelle because we are close, so it will be easier and more comfortable to talk about these myths. Despite all my uncertainties, I am excited! The myth I am most eager to discuss is: Guys are more interested in how sexual a woman is than how pure she is. I personally do not agree with this statement. However, I don’t quite know how to express my thoughts on this, so I hope that reading this chapter will help me gain clarity.

Janelle: When I first found out which chapters we would be reading and discussing, I found it a bit weird because they are topics that usually aren’t discussed in normal conversations. However, I think that this will be a good learning experience and will help me grow closer to God. I’m also very curious as to how my discussions with Jana will go. Similar to Jana, I am curious about Myth 2 because I have heard it many times but I strongly disagree with it. I am interested to find out other viewpoints about this myth.

CHALLENGE ACCEPTED
Jana: For me, Myth 8 was an interesting chapter. I was always told to stay away from pornography and explicit content; I have just accepted that it is bad but I have never been told what makes it bad. I have always believed that watching porn is a sin but it was important for me to understand why it is against God’s will. I especially liked the line, “[there has been a] shift from sex for procreation to sex for recreation” because I felt that it clearly summarised the difference between God’s intent of sex for love versus worldly desires and lust. I have always believed in sex after marriage and this chapter reinforced that too. I am glad that I can now articulate my beliefs clearly!

One thing that really struck me in Myth 5 and 8 was the impact of consuming explicit material on others globally. I never really thought about the impact of pornography on prostitution and sex trafficking. This is really a big issue especially in poorer areas in the world as children are being exploited too.

Janelle: Myth 2 listed ways to identify a godly man (e.g. one who respects the boundaries you have set for yourself, who tries his best to flee from physical temptation etc.). That was very thought provoking for me as I have never really thought about the qualities I would want in a future partner except that he has to be a Christian. These were very useful pointers that I would definitely keep in mind in the future!

Myth 8 was also a very eye-opening one! I realised that so many people are impacted and affected when people watch pornography. It deepened my perspective that porn objectifies people and this objectification can be carried into real life where what is seen in porn is reflected in the expectations we have of how people should look or behave. The pornography industry is one that exploits people and it saddens me to think that there may be some who have no choice but to enter the industry for a living. It must be incredibly painful for God to witness His creation treated in such ways and I think it is important for people to realise that watching porn goes way beyond fuelling their lust. Watching porn also affects our brains and the relationships we form with other people as well. It is even more important that we stay away from porn in order for us to be able to build healthy relationships with others.

FINAL THOUGHTS
Jana: Honestly, it was a little awkward at first as we didn’t really know how to begin. But as we progressed, we delved into deeper discussions which were helpful. I enjoyed talking to Janelle about these topics because I was able to hear her views too. The last time I delved into such topics at length was around two years ago with two best friends from church. I really feel that it is essential to discuss such topics with close friends or our parents. I also grew in my walk with God because I understood more about His plan for me and what is against His will. I hope to apply all the things I have learnt to truly be a woman after God’s own heart!

Janelle: Broaching these topics are always a little hard initially. It helped that I am quite comfortable around Jana. My first conversation about such topics was with a non-Christian friend. At that time, we both shared similar views, such as how pornography can be harmful to others (those who work in the industry and the people around us), and how we believe in abstinence before marriage. This time, the conversation with Jana was more God-oriented and we were able to discuss how God fits in the whole narrative about sexuality. Furthermore, the discussions made me think that although these topics are considered “taboo” in Asian countries, they should be discussed more openly. Doing so in the context of church and cell group would help to educate young people about sexuality too, and help them to hold each other accountable in their struggles. Overall, it was a really interesting challenge for me and I look forward to growing closer to God as I journey to stay pure both in heart and mind!