The Crowd Chose Barabbas

In recent months, the news reported a number of unexpected deaths. In Singapore, two children under 12 passed away from complications due to Covid-19. Several cases of fires in HDB flats resulted in loss of lives and homes. A friend recounted to me how her husband had just lost his close friend, a 45-year-old triathlete, to a heart attack during a routine run. These incidents made me wonder whether the deceased would have chosen to live their lives any differently if they had known what would eventually happen to them. Then, a few weeks ago, it was my turn to get a health scare.

I experienced some chest discomfort at work on a Thursday, coupled with cold sweat and slight numbness in my left arm. These symptoms lessened after a while and I carried on working, thinking that I just needed more rest that night. After work, I went home and  slept for 11 hours till the next day, but the discomfort persisted. I then decided to seek medical attention. The “chest discomfort” turned out to be a heart attack which had to be resolved by angioplasty. When the doctor told me I had a 100% block in one of my arteries, I was taken aback. Yes, I would admit that my diet was not super healthy, but neither was it extremely unhealthy. My health indicators were quite typical of an average person in his early 40s, so the severe blockage was totally unexpected. Looking back, it was really God’s mercy that kept me alive from Thursday late morning till Friday evening, when I finally got the medical help I needed. Thanks be to God!

While I was resting in the hospital, a brother commented that it was a good time to “take stock” of my life: To reflect on what was important and what changes I would make in my life henceforth. It was then that I remembered a chorus I used to sing in my youth, titled “Do You Ever Search Your Heart”.

Life (and death) can be unexpected. Life-changing circumstances can be unexpected. But no matter what happens, God’s love for us remains the same. No matter what happens, we can choose to praise His Name in all circumstances, and serve Him and His Church in whatever capacity He allows us to. I pray for every one of us, myself included, that we will continue to journey in faith, loving God and serving Him wholeheartedly. I pray that when that day comes, we can all say, “I have done my best, Lord; I have no regrets”.

 By brother Simon Koh

I have a love-hate relationship with running… no, make that a hate-hate relationship. Although running was one of the hallmarks of my NS vocation many years back, I never experienced the oft-mentioned “runner’s high”. In my opinion, it has always been an exercise with lousy returns, I mean, go through 10km of torture to lose the calories gained from one plate of chicken rice? Sounds like too much effort and time wasted, doesn’t it?

However, studies have shown that regular physical activity carries many more benefits than burning calories and losing weight. Regular physical activity is associated with more energy, a better mood, less stress and better sleep. A US television station, WUSA9, stated in an online article:

“In the best moments running challenges you, strengthens you and boosts your self-esteem. At other times, running exhausts you to the core and can even makes you feel a little emotional. If you keep up with training there are far more good days than bad on the road or trail. No matter what don’t be hard on yourself after what feels like an unsuccessful run. The fact you got out the door is a win. Just do your best and stay with your plan.”

In a way, spiritual disciplines sometimes feel the same. There are days where our hearts and minds are so caught up with the busy-ness of life, that reading the Bible becomes a hurried and distracted affair. Our eyes complete scanning the passage even before our hearts

have settled down, and we wonder why we even bothered to go through the process. Like what  the article said, if we keep up with training (in righteousness), there will be far more good days than bad, and the fact that we still wanted to pursue our daily devotion is a win.

“Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” – 1 Timothy 4:7b-8 (ESV)

The aim of practising spiritual disciplines (which include praying, fasting, worshipping, serving, learning, etc.) is godliness. As we continue to learn, pray and worship, we experience the joy of being close to God, and the more we experience God, the more we recognise His Hand in our lives.

It takes intentionality and perseverance to walk closely with God. Marathon runners prepare themselves for the race by training with increasing distances – there is some form of training plan before the event. When it comes to spiritual disciplines, a devotional plan or prayer plan (which group of people we want to pray for each day) helps. So does a fixed time or setting, e.g., on the morning commute to work.

It will not be easy; many things compete for our time and attention each day. But we do this not by our own strength, but by constant dependence on God. As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

It is my prayer that each of us will keep on “keeping on”, that we may grow in our faith and walk with Christ. Press on, brothers and sisters-in-Christ!

By brother Simon Koh

I am not a “people” person. God created me this way; I get drained from social interactions with strangers, acquaintances, and even friends at times. And that’s ok, God has every right to shape each individual the way He wants them. As a result, I sometimes subconsciously refrain from showing concern for people around me, lest they unleash raw emotions on me. I can just stop there, and tell myself, “If I try to show concern for people, I would no longer be “authentic” because I’m faking a persona that is not me”. I want to always show others the real me, not put on a mask everywhere I go.​

But what does the Bible say? “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts…“ Colossians 3:12. We are called to be compassionate, and compassion is not just about showing sympathy, but also wanting to alleviate the suffering of the other party. It is about being there, listening, praying with, providing practical help where needed. Is the Bible indirectly asking me not to be authentic, then?​

God created us with different strengths and weaknesses. Some people express compassion better through listening and crying alongside the suffering brother/sister, others are quick to jump to “what can I do to solve your problem”. Problem-solving has its place and is important, but I am reminded that God created people, not problems. ​

I am also reminded in Philippians 1:6 that, “ And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” We are all works in progress, but if we are content to stick with our labels, “not a people-person”, “better at talking to machines than people”, “I’m so bad at expressing compassion that I just offend people if I try”, we leave little room for​

God to mould and refine us into who He wants us to be. Being authentic then, doesn’t mean that I have to behave as I (or other people) label me.​

What then, does authenticity look like? To me, it means recognising my strengths and weaknesses, accepting them but not being confined by them. It means not being afraid to show my brothers & sisters that I need help in certain areas, being vulnerable in order to be shaped and re-shaped by God through the community of fellow believers that God has put me in. It means going out of my comfort zone in order to grow in faith, in love, in maturity. ​

I am in no ways a “people” person, far from it. But that shall not stop me from showing concern, encouraging and praying with and alongside and for the people around me. I leave you with a quote from Bob Goff, in his book “Love Does”.​

“At some point I stopped staring at the pile of broken cake on the asphalt that was my life and decided to get some skin in the game. My life had not been shattered into many pieces by a massive tragedy, but it consisted of as many disorganized pieces as it would if it had been. I simply decided that I wasn’t going to let the residual rocks and small pieces of gravel get in the way of me getting served up and used. It has always seemed to me that broken things, just like broken people, get used more; it’s probably because God has more pieces to work with.”​

Let us continue to actively allow God the Master Potter to mould us, with all our broken pieces, into vessels suitable for His use.​

By Brother Simon Koh​

What is mindfulness? According to https://www.mindful.org,

 “Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us.”

Mindfulness is, in a way, understanding the situation / environment we are in, and how our being (body, soul, spirit) is reacting (through interaction with others, response to situations) to it. What then, is Christian mindfulness? Christian mindfulness considers our identity in Christ (Jn 1:12, Rom 8:1-2, Matt 5:13-14 etc.) and affects the way we live and interact with others.

The Bible notes many examples of people who practiced Christian mindfulness. Paul said in Philippians 1, that “for to me, to live is Christ”, that Christ would be honoured in his life. Daniel prayed to God three times a day, even when it became life-threatening to do so. King David was called  “a man after God’s own heart” (Acts 13:22). Modern day examples of men of faith include Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection (author of “The Practice of the Presence of God”) and the recently departed Eugene Peterson (author of “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction”). And standing in first place on the chart of examples of Christian mindfulness is, yes, you most probably guessed it, Jesus Himself.

How do we, then, practise Christian mindfulness?

Philippians 2:1-4 states, “So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my [Paul’s] joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Sounds difficult, if not impossible, doesn’t it? The fact is, if we try to do this by our own strength, we’ll most probably fall into depression and self-loathing with our repeated failures; and even if we “succeed” in doing so, we will likely fall into false humility and / or self-righteousness. Jesus gives us the answer in John 15:4-5, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

As Jesus promised in John 14:15-31, we have a real-time always present helper in the form of the Holy Spirit living in us. Galatians 5:16-25 talks about how living in the Spirit results in us not gratifying the desires of the flesh. Add to that the fact that Jesus now sits at the right hand of God, always interceding for us (Romans 8:34), and our task no longer seems impossible.

I find it helpful to consider some questions on a regular basis:

• How does knowing the attributes of God shape my perspective of things that happen in my life?
• How does knowing God’s priorities for me (to love God with all my heart, soul, strength, mind, love my neighbours as myself, to tell others about Him) affect my daily behaviour?
• Am I willing to surrender my all to God, to seek satisfaction only in fulfilling His Will?

May you and I seek to abide in Christ, that we may produce much fruit for God’s glory!

By Simon Koh, Deacon (YCKC Bulletin 25 August 2019)