Editor’s note: 12 March 2024. This column was published in order to recognize the unease of many about gender identity, and to initiate a conversation about transgender persons – against the backdrop of silence of the churches while “the world,” including the Olympics Council and some Muslim groups, made statements concerning them. The intention was …
International Women’s Day 2023. Happy?! … Or Confused? Read More »
“Since 2007, the English Wikipedia page of Martin Luther has received more than 15,367,261 page views. His biography is available in 173 different languages on Wikipedia … Martin Luther is the 4th most popular religious figure … the 4th most popular biography from Germany and the most popular German Religious Figure.” That’s from the Pantheon …
It’s Chinese New Year (“CNY”) and we hear shouts of “Gong Xi Fa Cai!” which means “Wishing you Prosperity and Good Fortune!” We hear “Niannian You Yu!” which means “Surplus and Abundance Year after Year!” We hear “Ji Xiang Ru Yi!” which means “Good luck, Good fortune!” We greet each other with greetings of good …
Q1: What does Chinese New Year (“CNY”) mean to you? Q2: Do you enjoy CNY? Why? Q3: What are your hopes for CNY? These were the questions posed to a number of friends who celebrated Chinese New Year, (19 people of Chinese descent (3 living overseas), 1 Korean and 1 Japanese). Surprisingly, the …
1st of January 2023 has come. We’ve bid goodbye to 2022. It’s a new year. How is it that I feel nothing has really changed, yet I also feel that 2022 has come and gone too quickly. Who is the person who determined that the 1st of January is a new year in the first …
“I was once expelled from the hostel I stayed in while attending English College in Johor Bahru because I sneaked out with two friends to eat see ham (cockles) on Lido Beach!” R shared with a bashful smile and a twinkle in his eye. “You didn’t!” I laughed, “Why did you do it?” “The food …
Perhaps you’ve heard the story. Of the violin. At the auction. Bids for it stopped at $25. The auctioneer was about to say “going, going, gone.” But a man interrupted. The man got up. Dusted off the violin. Played it with passion. Everyone heard it. The sound was heavenly. The man sat down. The auctioneer …
As an Asian and a first-generation adult convert, I wasn’t brought up with the traditions of Christmas. I vaguely remember as an adopted child, being brought to my natural parent’s house, and they had carolling there. I remember being baptised on Christmas day 1981, in Faith Lutheran Church, Penang. There was one Christmas when I …
In Lutheran churches, on each of the four Sundays preceding Christmas, an Advent candle is lit. The four candles have names: hope, love, joy, and peace[1]. But where is the Candle of Faith, I wonder? What is faith, I ask? Hebrews 11:1 comes to mind, and it reads: “Now faith is being sure of what we …
The Father of Faith threw his wife under the bus. Twice. Read More »
I sent these three questions to many friends and relatives. Question 1: Are you looking forward to Christmas? Question 2: Can you explain why? Question 3: What do you wish for this Christmas? I got 44 responses. The answers were interesting! Here’s what I learned. Question 1: Are you looking forward to Christmas? 25 persons …
I asked, you answered: Christmas is magic, panic, romantic … Read More »
