Category: Singapuraku

The Gay Revival

I’m going to address some very controversial topics today. If you have trouble with God moving outside your comfort zone, you may not want to read this article. I’m serious: be careful! This may push your buttons.

We’re going to talk about homosexual Christians, LGBT [Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender] Christians.

The Bible is clear, Old Testament and New: homosexual behavior is sinful behavior. Since we’re talking about Christians, we could go on about how there are loads of sins that we overlook in the church, while we call out certain others, but that hypocrisy is another topic for another day.

One day, years ago, I was with a small group, praying for some folks we knew that were stuck in homosexuality. It was one of those prayer gatherings where you just know that God is hearing your prayers, even as he’s helping to shape them and encourage us in them.

In the midst of that, I had a vision: tens of thousands of people in the homosexual community were encountering Jesus. It was a huge movement, and God was in their midst. They were worshiping powerfully, and God was delighting in their praise. There were signs and wonders. Many were in tears, some because of His love, some because of their sin, but it wasn’t always the sin I had my own eyes on that they were convicted of. It was a genuine revival.

I began to praise God for that revival, for the many sons and daughters that were coming back to their Father, and as I did, the vision became even more real: I was in their midst as they were worshiping God.

And then I realized: they weren’t – most of them weren’t – leaving their culture. Nearly all of them stayed in the homosexual community, and a very large number of them didn’t appear to repent of their homosexual ways.

I began to react to that: That’s not right, I said in my mind. Father began to gently instruct me in this vision:

1)         When he calls people to himself, he does not call them to leave their culture. American Church Culture is not our goal. Relationship with Jesus is the goal. Hmm. OK. That’s true enough.

2)         When he finally got ahold of my life (after a longer fight than it should have been), I was not sin-free. There were several sins that he took decades to put his finger on. In fact, He said, There are some things I haven’t pointed out to you even yet. Yikes.

But it’s true. If he didn’t point out– and by pointing out, give me grace to deal with – some of my sins for decades, why should I expect him to be less patient with other sons and daughters?

3)         And son, he said so very gently: these are my children, not yours. I am their Father, you are not. I am capable of raising My own children without your getting in their way.

Since that experience, I’ve received a few reports that it’s beginning to happen, that substantial numbers of people inside the LGBT community are discovering the Lover of their Souls!

I have received credible testimony from different people in different streams that tell me about the revival that is going on among the homosexual population. (At their request, and for their safety, I will not be releasing their identities. Some people do not respond well when God moves outside their box.)

These people have been among gatherings of gay believers – we might call them church meetings or conferences – where the worship is powerful, where the Holy Spirit is present, where signs and wonders are in abundance, where Jesus is lifted up high. They have recognized God’s favor on the gatherings, and experienced His delight in them.

I have met believers who are homosexuals. Some appear to be your basic, timid churchgoers, some flaming transsexuals proclaiming the gospel to their community. Some are content with their homosexuality; some want out but don’t know how; some are proud of their status, though these seem to be the ones who’ve taken the brunt of the church’s accusations.

I’ve said all this to arrive at this conclusion: God is moving powerfully in ways that we never expected. And hold on to your hats, because he has more than this that he’s going to do.

So how shall we respond to homosexuals that call themselves Christians? That’s simple: we love them. Just like we’re called to love self-righteous people who call themselves Christians.

We surely have no right to challenge the faith of either group, and nearly always, we lack the right to challenge either their behavior or their culture. But we have the right to love them.

Let’s love one another, as Jesus commanded us, shall we? And let’s trust our good Father to raise His children well.

Source: www.pilgrimgram.com

May 30, 2015
Andrew Loh: Calvin Cheng’s Behaviour Not Befitting Of Media Literacy Council Member

Calvin Cheng is an acquaintance of mine. I even had him on my Facebook “friends” list. But not anymore. I removed him after his latest Facebook posting which insinuated that the writings or work of playwright Alfian Sa’at were such a potential threat that “the Government should watch commentators” like Alfian “closely”.

He then accused Alfian of “irresponsible rhetoric”, and likened Alfian to “domestic agitators”.

Read in context, these unsubstantiated claims and their insinuations are obvious.

Many have taken Calvin Cheng to task, and I shall not go into arguing against the points in his posting.

They are clearly pure nonsense.

What I am more interested in is Calvin Cheng’s membership in the Media Literacy Council (MLC), a government-appointed outfit which advises the Government on “research, trends and developments pertaining to the Internet and media, and appropriate policy responses.”

The MLC also “[develops] public awareness and education programmes relating to media literacy and cyber wellness”, and it seeks “to promote an astute and responsible participatory culture.”

“Through our work, we aim to… encourage users to be more reflective about the ethical choices they make as participants and communicators and the impact they have on others,” the MLC website says.

The MLC consists of 26 members, headed by professor Tan Cheng Han of the Centre for Law and Business, Faculty of Law, National University of Singapore .

Calvin Cheng is a council member. (See here.)

On the council’s “Media Literacy Council Core Values” page, the council states several “key areas” which it “seeks to address”.

These include “uncivil behaviours online” which, the council says, “refers to behaviours that are anti-social, offensive, irresponsible or simply mean.”

Do note the last word – “mean” – which the council considers as undesirable “uncivil behaviour”.

The Media Literacy Core Values “encompasses a set of values and skills that … are indispensable to conducive and positive living especially in the digital age,” the MLC says.

“The Media Literacy Core Values will underpin the Council’s public education and outreach programmes.”

If you turn to the “Best Practices” page on the MLC website, you see a tab titled “Values and Social Norms”.

What are these?

They are four sets of advice which, the MLC says, will help you keep your friends and not make enemies.

One of the ways to achieve this is to “win people over with your objective arguments and logic” because “hysterics will not get you anywhere.”

“There is no need to make personal attacks as everyone is entitled to their own views,” the MLC says. “Make out your case politely and objectively. You might find that you will get a few converts instead of enemies.”

It also urges participants to reject and report “bad or bullying behaviour”, as this means “you are helping to create a better cyber space by propagating positive social norms.”

The MLC uses words such as “empathy and graciousness”, “respect”, “responsibility and integrity” as values and social norms it champions.

So there. The MLC has laid out, basically, what is good online behaviour which will foster a positive environment for everyone.

What then of those, especially those in positions of influence (no matter how limited), who behave in ways which run against what the MLC is promoting?

Indeed, what if the behaviour of MLC members themselves betrays the MLC’s very own core values and best practices?

Insinuating that someone is responsible for some misguided terrorist group’s potentially harmful actions in Singapore because one raises concerns about minority race issues is just plain irresponsible itself, no?

And accusing someone of being a “domestic agitator” in that context is not only devious, it is also highly dangerous, for it plays up the racial and religious faultlines here.

Additionally, if behaviours such as Calvin Cheng’s are allowed to propagate, they may have the effect of silencing those in the minority races from speaking up about genuine grievances.

So, one would not object if the Internal Security Department (ISD) invites Calvin Cheng for an interview about his posting.

It is also not unknown that Calvin Cheng also engages in online challenges, such as a recent one where he challenged a poster to meet him and slap him, and also engages in baiting others, such as calling them “ball-less” when challenges are not taken up.

Indeed, he is also known and seen as a troll in some quarters.

“Trolls want to create discord by purposely baiting people to react,” the MLC website says.

One just needs to peruse his Facebook postings to see the tone of his exchanges with others over any issue.

To be sure, Calvin Cheng is not alone in engaging in this less than desirable behaviour.

There is also the other pro-PAP cesspool Facebook page which spews non-stop bile online everyday.

And it seems that this cesspool is the only site which is supportive of Calvin Cheng’s behaviour – and that says a lot: if all you have is a cesspit to stand on or stand with, you should realise your credibility is in deep shit.

I wish Calvin Cheng, being a former Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) – which comes with a certain level of expected public responsibility and decorum – would not resort to such hateful behaviour towards others.

There are certainly better ways to get your points across than to resort to attempts in dragging someone’s name through the mud.

Ironically, in 2013, Calvin Cheng wrote – in a letter to the Straits Times Forum page:

“If there is a terrorist attack or a viral outbreak, and people turn to the Internet for conspiracy theories and advice instead of listening to and trusting the Government, the consequences could be unimaginable.”

Yes, ironic indeed that he is the one now spewing exactly such conspiracy theories.

So, I ask myself: what do the MLC members think of this sort of behaviour?

But personally, I have a deeper, more troubling question, and it is this:

What kind of person would cause another person more pain at a time when the latter is also grieving over the recent death of his mother?

I cannot fathom the depths of depravity which would make anyone do such a thing.

Alfian’s mother had just passed away last week, and Alfian is still in mourning.

The very fact that Calvin Cheng saw it fit to launch his baseless and unsubstantiated attacks on Alfian at this time speaks of his (Calvin Cheng’s) mental make-up and of how truly oblivious he is.

Pity, Calvin, that you find it apt to do this to Alfian at this time and betray everything that the MLC stands for.

I think the MLC, funded by public money, seriously needs to look into the online behaviour of its member.

Source: https://andrewlohhp.wordpress.com

May 30, 2015
Calvin Cheng: Arts Community Should Get Own Funds, Stop Producing Subversive Content

For too long, some quarters of the local arts community, especially those who produce English language content, have taken grants from the Government to subvert the very people who feed them.

This needs to stop.

If you have your own money, go ahead and produce whatever content you want, subject to regulations agreed on by the moral majority. But it is doubly hateful to be taking taxpayers money to produce socially subversive content in the name of ‘art’.

The arts community needs to wake up or be made to wake up. And the best way to wake them up is to starve them of the oxygen of government grants.

Source: Calvin Cheng

May 30, 2015
51 Year Old Kidney Patient Looking For A Flexible Office Job

Thousands of Singaporeans go to the hundreds of dialysis centres every day spread all over the island due to kidney failure.

They do it thrice a week religiously forever or alternately they receive a kidney from a donor of which they need to pay $200,000 for a hospital transplant ops.

We visited 51-year-old Indera who faces kidney failure recently and he has just started his dialysis two months back.

He is undergoing his dialysis when we visited him.

He is extremely positive and could even passed as a spokesman for kidney failure patients.

He pays $200 per session at a private dialysis centre due to his $4000/month income as a cheuffeur cum asst working for a Korean company.

NKF dialysis is alot cheaper but there is a salary cap.

Unfortunately he lost his job recently and has to make do with his PR wife pay of $1700 as a F & B captain.

They have a 1 1/2 year baby.

To complicate matters, while waiting for his BTO flat they have to rent a 3-room flat paying $2300 a month.

Mr Adnan is looking for a job in the office and if you are open to hiring a guy on dialysis please let us know.

No one should be left behind.

Editor’s note: visit was done together with Ms Janna Rehanna.

Source: Gilbert Goh

May 29, 2015
$35,000 Anugerah Bagi Pelajar Cemerlang Aljunied

Kegigihan dan kecemerlangan beliau dalam mata pelajaran terserlah apabila Encik Hassanuddin Razali dianugerahkan Biasiswa Syed Abdul Rahman Aljunied yang pertama di Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah, semalam.

Pelajar berusia 19 tahun itu akan menerima $10,000 setiap tahun selama empat tahun bagi melanjutkan pelajarannya di fakulti syariah di Al-Azhar, Mesir, pada Ogos nanti.

Encik Hassanuddin bukan sahaja pelajar cemerlang malah beliau juga pelajar contoh bagi rakan yang lain.

Ini terbukti selepas beliau mendapat lapan agregat di peperiksaan GCE peringkat ‘O’ dan pernah memenangi anugerah Mendaki dan peraduan Matematik antarabangsa yang dianjurkan oleh Universiti Nebraska dan Persatuan Matematik Amerika.

Beliau menyifatkan kejayaan beliau hasil sokongan semua yang telah membantunya.

“Pengorbanan guru-guru, ibu bapa dan rakan saya adalah faktor utama bagi kejayaan yang telah saya alami ini.

“Saya berharap saya dapat berkhidmat kembali kepada madrasah dan masyarakat di Singapurai,” katanya yang juga pernah menjadi penolong ketua pengawas di madrasah itu.

Encik Hassanuddin juga merancang melanjutkan pelajarannya sejauh mungkin dan ingin menjadi seorang yang berjasa kepada masyarakat.

Empat biasiswa dan anugerah lebih $35,000 telah dianugerahkan kepada 14 pelajar bagi memburu kecemerlangan dalam pelajaran mereka masing-masing.

Anugerah yang julung-julung kali dianugerahkan di Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah itu nerangkumi empat bidang khusus iaitu Anugerah Cemerlang BOG Madrasah Aljunied, Biasiswa Syed Abdul Rahman Aljunied, Biasiswa Sastera dan Bahasa Arab dan Anugerah Perkhidmatan dan Kepimpinan.

Bagi biasiswa, penerima akan menerima antara $5,000 hingga $10,000 setahun selama empat tahun dan ia juga tiada ikatan.

Bagi anugerah pula, setiap penerima boleh menerima sehingga $1,760.

Kesemua 14 pelajar itu menerima biasiswa dan anugerah itu daripada Mufti Dr Mohamed Fatris Bakaram di madrasah itu semalam.

Ketua Madrasah Aljunied Al-Islamiah, Ustaz Mahmoud Mathlub Sidek, amat berterima kasih kepada semua pihak yang telah merealisasikan usaha biasiswa ini.

“Pihak madrasah merakamkan rasa syukur dan terima kasih kepada semua pihak atas sokongan mereka menjayakan usaha biasiswa Syed Abdul Rahman ini, terutama sekali Majlis Ugama Islam (Muis), ibu bapa, para penderma, guru-guru dan jawatankuasa pentadbir madrasah Singapura” ujar beliau.

Beliau juga inginkan anak-anak muda, bukan sahaja di madrasah beliau bahkan di mana-mana, berusaha sejauh mungkin dan berbakti kepada masyarakat.

“Saya inginkan anak-anak ini belajar setinggi langit dan mendapatkan pendidikan sejauh mana mereka mampu agar mereka dapat menyumbang bakti sebagai manusia yang berjasa bukan sahaja untuk masyarakat mereka bahkan untuk negara, bangsa dan juga di peringkat antarabangsa,” katanya.

Source: http://beritaharian.sg

May 29, 2015