Blazing with Rach!

Today, my birth-nation Singapore turns a grand 50 and I am proud of her. I am thankful for the freedom to practice my faith. I am thankful for the education I have received. I am thankful that I was able to serve my country in the Defence Ministry. I am thankful that my parents have a home of their own. I am thankful that all my siblings have a job. I am thankful that this is where some of my family and friends met their spouses. I am thankful for the diversity of culture and races within the family and nation. I am thankful that true Singaporeans strive to remain harmonious. I am thankful that this is where I met Christ. I am thankful that I have family and friends who continue to look out for me.  I am living overseas but my eyes are on my birth-nation. If there was something I do not appreciate, I am not one to gripe on Facebook, I just write to the Prime Minister's Office about it but I think, "let's be constructive here and let's aways remain a bles...

Why re-invent the wheel?  I found a good link for guidance to fasting and prayer on the Campus Crusade website.   The only thing I want emphasize is this:  Pray about the period, the type and the reason(s) for your fast before embarking on it.  Be sensitive to what God wants throughout the fast period. http://www.cru.org/train-and-grow/devotional-life/personal-guide-to-fasting.1.html

So, how does fasting God's way look like?  I guess I could just say, "Oh, everything opposite to my previous blog" and leave it at that.  But I am not doing that.  So, let us see what God says in the Bible. Isaiah 58:6 "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? 8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. 9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, 'Here I am.' If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, 10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry...

A couple of days ago, a young lady asked me to explain about fasting .  How timely! I had just been reading Isaiah 58. So this one is for you, young lady.   Isaiah 58: 3b  . . . Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. 4 Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high. 5 Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD? For those of us who put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we need to understand the kind of fasting that pleases God.  What better way than to discover what does Not please Him. Well, according to the verses above, the following stances definitely do not give God any pleasure: 1.  Seeking to gratify self during the perio...

Some time ago, I was on the Hedman Alas bus from La Ceiba to San Pedro Sula in Honduras.  I booked a ticket on their Executive Plus section which has more leg space (and a snack meal) and sometimes they even play Christian worship songs in Spanish!   Unfortunately, the bus which left punctually had some trouble about an hour into our ride. Hedman Alas was prompt in serving their customers.  Thankfully, I did not have a flight to catch that day and so, I could do the Honduran thing - relax under the trees and wait for another bus to pick us all. About two hours later, we got on a much smaller mini-bus and with legs close to my body, we continued our journey.  Now, I was thankful for the ride but I did not understand why I had to pay Excutive Plus price for that ride.  Or could it be that Singaporeans really expect much from others?  So, I gently asked if Hedman Alas could look into this discrepancy. I am happy to report that after about 2 months, ...

I am glad to finally be back in Honduras.  It's home for me but unlike other places that I have visited from April-end May 2015, most people I know in Honduras are just acquaintances and perhaps, just a handful of new friends.  Friendships in a new nation takes time. Just before I left for my 6-week trip to Asia, an Honduran (new) friend bought me a single-cup tea set.  6 weeks later, I unwrapped it and use it.  This thoughtful gift has made me happy despite losing a loved one in recent days or when encountering ministry challenges.  Nothing like a cup of Earl Grey tea, and bible verses to soothe the soul and set some perspectives right. Psalm 34: 8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Psalm 23 1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake. 4 ...

My conversations these last few days and through another week might just go like this: Conversation 1 Hotel Staff:  Ya, ibu.  How can I help you? Me:  Si, I like to know the opening hours of your piscina?... I mean your swimming pool. Hotel Staff:  It is open from 7am - 9pm. Me:  oh...bagus sekali.  Por favor, jam berapa is the opening hours of the gym? Hotel Staff:  Same time, ibu. Me:  Terima Kasih. Conversation 2 Me:  Disculpe, may I have your menu please? Restaurant staff:  Ya, ibu.  Makan di sini atau room service? Me:  hmmm...room service.  I like to order the Ikan Gurame en chilli sauce con arroz...I mean with rice, Por favor.  And one soda water please. Restaurant staff:  Okay, ibu. Me:  Please goreng the fish well.  Gracias and my room number is Ocho...no, eight, three, nine; lapan, tiga, sembilan. Conversation 3 Me: Por favor, could y...