The Prodigal Father

"The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand" Psalms 37:23-24

The celebrated Rembrandt painting, 'The Return of the Prodigal Son' has a prominent place at the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg. Staring at it, I was quickly drawn to the figure of the father in resplendent red. Rembrandt's portrayal of the father captures the divine act of compassion in a most human person.

This was the moment when the father received his errant son back into the family with unconditional love and forgiveness. The father that Rembrandt chose to paint is that of an aging blind man. The significance is not lost to any repentant sinner; God is 'blind' to our excesses when we return to Him like this prodigal son.

I entitled this post the Prodigal Father to express the largess and magnanimity of this old man. This blind old man in red was not concerned about himself. He loved unconditionally, caring only for son. He gave without expecting anything in return. Seldom will one experience this kind of love.

George Matheson, preacher and theologian, was born on 27th March 1842. After excelling at school he entered Glasgow University where he studied Classics, Logic and Philosophy. He graduated with first class honours when he was only 19 years old but a deep tragedy was being worked out in his life.  He had an incurable condition that would eventually result in total blindness. Whilst at University he had met and fallen in love with a girl who was a fellow student and they were planning to get married. He broke the news of his impending blindness to her, would she still marry him? To his deep sadness her blunt answer came to him with the force of a dagger to his heart, “I do not want to be the wife of a blind man” she said – and with that they parted. George never did marry but he learnt soon enough that there was another love and this love is enduring - the love of Christ for the sinner. He penned these words 

"O Love that wilt not let me go,

I rest my weary soul in thee;

I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be."

When the prodigal son forsook his father and took his inheritance, he expected the father to disown him. There must have been a deep seated grief in the father when this unfaithful son left. That did not prevent an attitude taking shape in the the father towards this wayward son, a willingness to forgive. This forgiving spirit translates to generosity in the extravagant reception and feasting when the son, returning home was restored to his place and wealth.

King David of Israel confidently wrote in Psalms 23:6, "I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever". Unlike David, I am not so confident and ever so often, I need a reality check. Like the prodigal son, I feel that from time to time I will digress, stray and leave. Yet somehow there is a Love that will not let me go. Hence I believe, I will always return. There is a love that burns within us, a love that guarantees that although we may stumble, we will not fall for the Lord upholds us with His hand.

Lionel

True Repentance

The Prodigal Son in Repentance

"If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sins and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

In the heyday of the evangelistic crusades, scores of people answered the altar call to find salvation in Jesus. Despite the emotional outpouring and the prayers to receive Christ, many did not receive salvation. The Bible said that they are like seeds that when sown never took roots and did not bear fruits. Their encounters with Jesus were short-lived and no true conversions took place.

One would assume as these people stepped forward they would regret their sinful nature. They would make a U-turn and return to God and find in Jesus, forgiveness of sin and strength to live a new life. That would be true repentance or t'shuva in Hebrew and it means more than to regret or to feel sorry; it means to turn back. Unfortunately many were led by emotional responses instead of truly repudiating their past lives and sins and then, coming by faith to accept Jesus Christ as their saviour.

J I Packer in his book, Rediscovering Holiness (Ref 1) argued that Christians are called to a life of habitual repentance. Packer pointed out that the very first of Luther's ninety-five thesis, nailed to the Wittenberg church door in 1517, declared: "When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, "Repent" He willed that the whole life of believers should be one of repentance".

What is repentance? J I Packer outlined that repentance means:

• Realistic recognition that one has disobeyed and failed God, doing wrong instead of doing right
• Regretful remorse at the dishonour one has done to the God one is learning to love and wanting to serve
• Reverent requesting of God' pardon, cleansing of conscience, and help to not lapse in the same way again
• Resolute renunciation of the sins in question, with deliberate thought as to how to keep clear of them and live right for the future
• Requisite restitution to any who have suffered material loss through one's wrongdoing.

One example of true repentance is found in the return of the Prodigal Son. This man had disgracefully sought after his inheritance from his father and squandered it in riotous living. He left home with pride and money but he was reduced to looking after pigs, losing all his dignity. He was no longer considered a human being. He was down in the dumps. That was exactly where we were at until we made the choice to return to God. The Prodigal finally came to his senses and made the long journey home.

Repentance is not easy. Its effects must be deep, changing our characters, behaviours and lives. John Wesley said that God has forgiven all on the cross, but not all have repented. After we have repented and found the forgiveness of God, like son and father we are reconciled. This is the same place we should all want to be in; our relationship with God being fully restored. Henri Nouwen wrote in the "Return of the Prodigal Son", (ref 2) "The father's embrace of his son told me that I was desperately searching for the that inner place where I too could be held as safely".

Lionel

Ref 1: J I Packer, "Rediscovering Holiness - Know the Fullness of Life with God". Regal 
Ref 2: Henri Nouwen, "The Return of the Prodigal Son - A story of Homecoming." Image books Doubleday


    

When God Ran

Rembrandt - "Prodigal Son"

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

The Parable of the Prodigal Son could also be renamed the Parable of the Prodigal Father. Prodigal means extravagance. Taken in the light of the son, it is a story of an extravagantly wasteful person, who took his inheritance prematurely from his father and squandered it. However, it also told a story of a father's extravagant love for his son, who in spite of the grievous insults done him, was profusely abundant in forgiveness and reconciliation. 

In one of his last paintings, Rembrandt captured this moment of Christian mercy with solemnity. This picture now hangs in the Hermitage Museum at St Petersburg. Bathed in light against a dark background, viewers of the painting are drawn to the two characters and the emotional homecoming. The son has an appearance of an outcast. Ruined and repulsive, he returned after wasting his heritage in foreign lands. His old father, dressed in rich garments hurried to meet him and received this long-lost son with gentle fatherly love. Henri Nouwen said that Rembrandt painted father and son, compassion and misery, God and humanity.

In a more modern rendition of the event, this amazing grace of a prodigal father was put to song by Benny Hester and John Parenti, “When God Ran". 

Almighty God, the Great I Am

Immovable Rock, 

Omnipotent, Powerful Awesome Lord,

Victorious Warrior 

Commanding King of Kings, Mighty Conqueror

And the only time

The only time run I ever saw Him run

Was when He ran to me

Took me in His arms

Held my head to His chest

Said “My son's come home again"

Lifted my face

Wiped the tears from my eyes

With forgiveness in His voice

He said "Son do you know I still love you?"

It caught me by surprise

It brought me to my knees

When God ran

It might sound strange, but God wants to find us as much as we want to find God. God is not the patriarch who stays at home, doesn't move, and expects his children to come to him, apologise for their aberrant behaviour, beg for forgiveness and promise to do better. On the contrary, he leaves the house, ignoring his dignity by running toward them, pays no heed to apologies and promises of change, and brings them to the table richly prepared for them. Nouwen (Ref 1)

How blessed and fortunate we are! When you next read the parable of the prodigal son, think of the image of a repentant sinner leaning against his father's breast and the old father bending with outstretched arms over his son. This is homecoming, the darkness of human existence, weary and sinful, taking refuge in the illuminating shelter of God's mercy. We are like that, we are walking step by step toward God and He awaits us with open arms to embrace us as we step into the light. 

Lionel

Ref 1: Henri J.M. Nouwen The Return of the Prodigal Son, Image Doubleday 1992

Charis - A Gracious, Attractive Community?

"Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtain wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes" Isaiah 54:2

My Church is Charis Methodist Church. In Greek mythology Charis is the name of one of the Graces. She is known for her charm, beauty and graciousness. In the Christian context the Greek word Charis (χάρις) refers to goodwill, loving-kindness, favour and the grace of God showered upon Christians. As such many Charisians think we are highly favoured by God, our motto being 'A Church After God's Own Heart'. Charis is also a root word for charisma and charity; we aspire to be a church full of vitality, graciousness and charity in service to God and others.

For some time now, I have ranted and lamented about people leaving and changing churches and emphatically stated that there is absolutely no good reason for committing such a 'crime'. Someone alerted me that I may be blind-sighted, that many people are leaving their churches because of our collective failure as a community. He observed, quite rightly, "that much more effort is put into the brick and mortar rebuilding, and into perfecting our worship service flow than into building our love for one another". In short, Charis Methodist Church may have failed to live up to our name.

Pope Francis in one of his homilies said, "Enlarge your tent" we read in the prophecy of Isaiah, so that all can dwell as members of one family. A family where there is one God and Father, one Lord Jesus Christ and one Spirit of life. A family in which no one member is more important than another, neither in virtue of age, intelligence or ability, for all are beloved children of the same Father. In this regard, Saint Paul's example of the body and its members speaks eloquently for us."

Rebuilding Charis Methodist Chu

How do we re-define ourselves? How can we revitalise a waning and tired body? How can we be a more attractive community? 

We can rebuild ourselves spiritually concurrent to rebuilding physically. 

• Rebuilding Community Strength
• Rebuilding Community Support
• Rebuilding Community Service

Rebuilding Community Strength

'All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word of that was preached to you.' 1Peter 1:24-25

The inspirational preaching and consistent studying of God's word is an important ministry of the local church. God's Word directs our paths. It helps the Christian to grow, strengthens him and sustains his faith. John Stott wrote, "The point is that we do not emerge from the new birth with the understanding and character of a mature Christian...but rather like new-born babies -weak, immature, vulnerable and needing above all to grow." (ref 1). 

A fundamental responsibility of Pastors is the pulpit ministry; from whence will come the encouragement and inspiration for church members. The Psalmist proclaimed in Psalms 119:9 and 10, "How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."

The Word of God strengthens the church and a local church steeped in God's word will be a formidable force in the community.

Rebuilding Community Support.

'Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed'

1 Peter 4:12-13

Bishop (Dr) Robert Solomon wrote in his book, The Race, "In suffering, we need to find meaning. We need to find love. It is difficult to suffer alone and many people feel they do so. But we are not alone when we suffer. God often offers us His loving presence. And when we allow Him to walk with us, we will find that suffering is redemptive. It changes us and makes us like Him. It gives depth and brings new life". (ref 2) 

Life is not meant to be easy. Suffering and trouble in our lives can swerve us off course. When such times befall us, will the church be there to support? A genuine congregation will have members who can and will support us in days of trouble. Such support structures take a long time to build and we should treasure such friends and church members.

Rebuilding Community Service

'And let us consider how we spur one another toward love and good deeds' Heb 10:24.

Someone said that we come to church the way we drive into a petrol station. We come in to re-fill our spiritual tank and we leave oblivious to the world around us and to its needs. Jesus said that Christians are to be the light and salt of the earth, that is the Church is expected to do good deeds, to be an exemplar to society. Every member should have a duty towards social service. The Church has a social conscience.

Let us be a 'Total Church'. There is a Christian song, 'Making a Difference' that aptly expresses these sentiments;

Won't you Lord 

Take a look at our hands

Everything we have

Use it for Your plan

Won't You Lord

Take a look at our hearts

Mould it, refine it,

As You set us apart

We want to run to the altar

And catch the fire

To stand in the gap

Between the living and the dead

Give us a heart of compassion

For a world without vision

We will make a difference

Bringing hope to our land

Lionel

Ref 1: John Stott, The Radical Disciple Inter-Varsity Press
Ref 2: Robert Solomon, The Race Armour Publishing

Church Under Construction

Sagrada Familia (credit Edith Frost)

"...and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not overcome it" Matthew 16:18

There is a church in Barcelona, the Sagrada Familia, the building of which started in 1894 but has remained under construction to date. As one can imagine it has become a tourist attraction. The architect is Antonin Gaudi and Barcelona has several iconic buildings designed by him. When asked why the project is taking so long to complete, Gaudi famously replied, "The patron of this project is not in a hurry".

Pat and Lionel at the Sagrada Familia (2001)

The Sagrada Familia is a grand and imposing structure with lots of promises but it still remains incomplete. In the same vein, the church of God remains under construction. Its members, we Christians are described as living stones, laid brick by brick and cemented to one another, to slowly but surely build God's house.

If this is so, it seems rather strange that Christians are often judgemental about their local churches. Instead of realising that these local churches are still work in progress, some Christians are so dissatisfied with their congregations that they would leave the local church. We are all sinners saved by the grace of Jesus Christ. If the church is made up of people like us, then surely it must be naïve to expect perfection.

So why are Christians often intolerant of their local churches? How often have we broken away from the congregation to move on to seemingly better churches, where there should be better worship, better fellowship, better teaching, better pastors, better leaders, better ministries only to find after a few months in the new church, that the same old church problems resurface?

Sometimes we are led to believe that the New Testament churches were perfect congregations but we have the New Testament letters precisely because these churches were imperfect and required corrections and rebukes. The Galatians were wrong on a basic point of doctrine. The Philippians were suffering from disunity. The Colossian church was suffering from a group within the church who regarded themselves as better than everybody else. Corinth had problems of immorality, of factionalism and unsound doctrine. Martin Luther once said; “The face of the church is the face of the sinner”.

In 2020 and 2021, my church, Charis Methodist Church is experiencing the physical inconvenience of rebuilding a new church sanctuary. Like buildings under construction it looks a terrible mess with all the dust and dirt, chaos and confusion. We are glad to find temporary premises to worship in; the Living Hope Methodist Church lending us their premises in the afternoon.  What worries me is that many of our church members will leave the Charis community to go to worship at more conveniently located churches. This will soon be an excuse to leave the church permanently.

Undeniably, our Charis church community (Koinonia) remains incomplete and imperfect; so are many churches too. Instead let us learn to accommodate and even forgive one another for any wrong doings done to each other.

The children in singing the song 'Kids under Construction' by Gaither and Paxton can tell the adults a thing or two

Kids under construction

Maybe the paint is still wet

Kids under construction

The Lord may not be finished

We're more than just accidents without the cause;

We're more than just bodies and brains.

God made us on purpose; we're part of a plan

He cares and knows us by name

Dear Jesus, please make me more patient and kind

And help us to be more like You.

And make room for all other children of Yours

For they are still growing too

So let us realise that Charis Methodist Church, the building and the people within are all still under construction. God has not finished with us yet. Then let us be grateful for God's patience with us, 'our patron who is not in a hurry.'

Lionel

Luke - Gift from God

Luke@4Months

 'Children are a gift from God, they are a reward from Him.' Psalms 127:3 (NLT)

Our third grandchild, Luke was born on 23 April 2015. I am glad that he is named after the gospel writer and the book of Acts as well as a faithful early Christian disciple. Luke was a young man when he accompanied Paul on the missionary journeys and chronicled the acts of the early Christian church. He was the bearer of truth. It is our prayer that our grandson, Luke will follow after his namesake, become a faithful disciple of Jesus Christ and become a bearer of truth and the good news of the gospel.

By the time Luke came along we were all less anxious about his birth. Nevertheless, I remember that we pray everyday for his safe arrival, not being presumptuous, and when Luke came we thank God for His bountiful blessing: A Gift from God!

The striking feature about young Luke is his curly hair, this make for a photogenic photo along with his stare into the camera. 

We welcomed Luke into our family and introduced him to the family of God, just as Jesus said in Matthew 19:14,

'Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'

Christianity has much to say about little children, how the Lord loves them and how they are truly blessed

• Children are blessed by God. Mark 10:16 'And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them and blessed them.'

• Children are gifts from God. Psalm 127:3 'Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him.'

• Children need nurture and guidance. Proverbs 22:6 'Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.'

• Children need correction. Proverbs 29:17 'If you correct your children, they will bring you peace and happiness.' 

When Luke came, his parents and grandparents felt a duty to pass our faith down to him as we did for his two older siblings, James and Eleanor. Like the gospel writer, we pray that our little Luke will carry the torch of our faith.

So whenever I had the opportunity to put Luke to sleep, I would sing him a praise lullaby, 'I Love You Lord' followed by 'To Get A Touch From Lord Is So Real.' 

I love you, Lord
And I lift my voice
To worship you
Oh my soul rejoice
Take joy, my king
In what you hear
May it be a sweet sweet sound
In your ear

To get a touch from the Lord is so real

To get a touch from the Lord is so real

If you draw nigh to Him

He will draw nigh to you

To get a touch from the Lord is so real

Hallelujah, Hallelujah Jesus is coming, is coming again

Hallelujah, Hallelujah Jesus is coming, is coming again 

I prayed that these songs will be prophetic for Luke and become his legacy.

Lionel

Celebrating the Flights of Life

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His faithful servants" Psalms 116:5


There used to be death-houses1 tucked away in the dark alleys of Sago Lane in Chinatown, Singapore. People living out the last days of their lives would be left at these death houses to die. There, solitary and terminally-ill Chinese immigrants could rent a bed space for their dying moments. They had pre-purchased their coffins and funeral rites. The funeral parlour would be below these rental spaces.  In those days, the dying person faced terminal illnesses alone often without the prospect of family and community support.

Not anymore.

Dover Park Hospice (DPH) was set up in 1992 to provide care for patients at the end of life. Now, these patients can live out their last days in comfort and dignity – lovingly cared for by an expert team trained in palliative care. What’s more, the hospices in Singapore have been engaging the public and community, creating awareness and societal support.

One example is the recent “Hospice Is….” Art Project initiated by DPH and the LaSalle College of the Arts (LCA). The project involved people from all walks of life, ranging from hospice patients and their families, staff and volunteers from the hospice fraternity, community partners and the general public. They were encouraged to express their feelings about end-of-life issues and Hospices and paint these thoughts onto pre-molded dove figurines. The dove is the symbol of the Dover Park Hospice.

Art Therapy is a creative way to express emotions, thoughts and states of being that may be difficult to share and communicate with others. There is an intrinsic therapeutic value in creating something with one’s own hands and then to share this with others.

Thus, using art to transcend barriers, the project and the ensuing exhibition from 3 to 7 Oct 2103 served as a platform for Singaporeans to share their perceptions on hospice care. It was hoped that the public will become more aware of these end-of-life issues and help de-mystify the concept of the hospice movement.

The success of the open art exhibition in contrast with the hidden death houses in the past, indicates the gradual change in societal attitudes towards taboo subjects such as the death and dying in Singapore.

So, why do we care and why are the dying moments important? In DPH our motto is “Every Moment Matters”. This means that whatever time is left for life should be lived in the most meaningful way. The hospice offers support and specialist care to achieve this aim. No one is left alone to die.

In the same way no Christian will face death alone. Psalms 116:5 informs that God will always be with us.

Lionel

1. Click on hyperlink to view You-tube of Death-Houses of Sago Lane

The Quintessential Pastor

A Pastor and Her Congregation

“ Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.  So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.” Acts 20:28-31

On the last day of 2012, we paid tribute to our outgoing Pastor Tan-Yeo Lay Suan, bidding her farewell after 7 years as the pastor-in-charge of Charis Methodist Church. There were heaps of sincere praise and an outpouring of gratitude.

Lay Suan came to our local congregation in January 2006, our very first lady pastor. She is petite, a trifle frail, but she is a powerhouse minister, performing her many duties as Pastor-in-Charge resolutely and with patience and gentleness.

Church elder, Koh Wan Yee aptly summarised her 7 years ministry in Charis, calling her “…a quintessential pastor, a pastor to all members for all seasons”. 

A minister of the church is a time-honoured vocation.  It is an onerous job. At times, it can be filled with agonising moments of disappointments whilst other times are filled with the elation and joys of having influenced and assisted others in their spiritual journeys. No achievement can surpass that of having guided people through difficult periods, healing hurts, sustaining spirits and restoring their spiritual health.

Unobtrusively, Lay Suan had the courage to exert her leadership in a manner after Bishop Emeritus Robert Solomon’s advice: “As ministers of order, pastors must exercise pastoral leadership, leading not just with the exhortation of their words, but also with the example of their lives. Pastors must also motivate their flocks to follow Christ and to live lives worthy of God. Their leadership must be exercised through personal involvement in the lives of their flocks. They must earn the respect of their flocks in the way they conduct themselves. They must lead their flocks." (Ref 1).

To these duties, Pastor Tan-Yeo offered herself unreservedly and unpretentiously. In so doing, she led, nurtured, encouraged, counselled and protected the flock just as St Paul expected in his farewell message to the Ephesians elders in Acts 20. She left behind an indelible mark and she will be remembered with fondness.

Lionel

Ref 1: R.S. Solomon Ordination Service at 28^th Session of the Chinese Annual Conference, Singapore 13 Nov 2003.

Eleanor - When A Child Is Born

“Behold, children are a gift of the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward”. Psalms 127:3

Our granddaughter, Eleanor was born on the 23 Feb 2011 at around 7.47 p.m. Like the birth of her elder brother James, I waited anxiously throughout the pregnancy for Eleanor’s arrival, all the time not knowing what kind of a grandchild will be given us from God but always trusting in His providence.

Every birth is a miracle. I stared at Eleanor and watched her move, cry and open her eyes. I cannot help but feel so proud as a grandfather. The name means the bright and shining one. In this child, gift of God, is the hope of the future. The song, ‘When A Child Is Born’ sums up this hope and exhilarating feeling so appropriately

A ray of hope flickers in the sky

A tiny star lights up way up high

All across the land, dawns a brand new morn'

This comes to pass when a child is born.

A silent wish sails the seven seas

The winds of change whisper in the trees

And the walls of doubt.. crumble tossed and torn,

This comes to pass when a child is born.

A rosy dawn settles all around

You got to feel you're on solid ground

For a spell or two no one seems forlorn

This come to pass when a child is born.

It's all a dream, and illusion now.

It must come true sometime soon somehow

All across the land dawns a brand new morn

This comes to pass.. when a child is born.

This song celebrates the birth of any child, anywhere in the world but it lends itself to an association with the birth of Jesus Christ. It is this greater miracle of the birth of Jesus which offers hope and joy to the world and from whom, every newborn, like Eleanor, gives the same expectations and brings their individual glimmer of hope.

Every child is God’s gift. Psalms 139:12-14 states, 

'For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.'

The Catholic Media House made a video, “The Miracle of Life” which shows us how amazing and wonderful the gift of Life is that God has blessed us with.

God is the creator of Life. Every child is special and wonderfully made. Jer 1:5 states, 

'Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you are born I set you apart...'  

Eleanor is a blessing from God.

Lionel

Find Us Faithful

Pa & Ma
Originally uploaded by LeeFamily

On the 28 Jun 2009, Pat and her siblings, the Goh (Kao) family celebrated the lives of their late parents the Rev and Mrs James Kao by remembering the 20th anniversary of their deaths. Both had died of cancer within 6 months of each other in 1989.

Coming together in family worship, we reminisced about Pa and Ma; what we knew of them. Rev Kao was a Methodist Pastor for 40 years. In his career he was the pastor to many churches ranging from small village congregations in Malaysia to large urban churches in Singapore. He was known as a church builder, having raised funds and organised the development for at least 7 churches in Singapore, Malaysia and China. Mrs Kao was ever the dutiful pastor’s wife who cared for 7 children and ever the present companion at his side.

We talked of how both were so committed to the Lord and faithful in ministry. It was not easy to be a minister of the Gospel in the 1940s. My father and mum in law were sent to village churches that could ill afford the minister’s salary, much less feed seven children. Ma would relate how these churches pay Rev Kao in kind, mostly by giving them “kampong” chickens. But they soldier on, faithfully serving God. They were both prayer warriors, noted for spending the early morning and late night hours on their knees, praying. We recalled the many miracles surrounding them wherein God answered their prayers in the difficult circumstances of their lives and ministries.

Considering their testimonies, struggles and service, the advice by St Paul to young Timothy comes to mind 1 Tim 6:6-8 ‘A devout life does bring wealth, but it's the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that's enough’.

They are fortunate, my in-laws. They found their calling early in life and lived lives of service, godliness and contentment. Ravi Zacharias states “We often find out too late in life that attaining a pursuit and finding fulfillment are not necessarily the same thing. It is surely possible to find meaning without extraordinary success. Many people do. But conversely immense success does not always bring meaning and fulfillment. Sometimes it takes a lifetime to recognise God’s calling.”

Richard of Chichester prayed.
‘may I know you more clearly,
love you more dearly,
follow you more nearly,
day by day.’

St Paul’s advice to Timothy in 1 Tim 6:11-12 ‘But you, Timothy, man of God: Run for your life from all this (that is the pursuit of wealth and worldliness). Pursue a righteous life—a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of so many witnesses.’

What should occupy our lives? Do we pursue wealth, happiness, popularity, acceptance? My guess is that the pursuit of godliness is the best path to follow. It was the path chosen by the Rev and Mrs James Kao. I hope that my life will be lived such that long after I am dead and gone, my children and grandchildren would one day sit in conversation and sift through our lives, Pat and I. My prayer is that they would have found that we’ve have kept our Christian faith and have made a difference for them and others. May they find us faithful.

“After all our hopes and dreams have come and gone
And our children sift through all we've left behind
May the clues that they discover and the memories they uncover
Become the light that leads them to the road we each must find

Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful
May the fire of our devotion light their way
May the footprints that we leave
Lead them to believe
And the lives we live inspire them to obey
Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful”
Lionel

Ref Ravi Zaccharias, “The Grand Weaver” Zondervan 2007