As the title suggests, this book explores various key fears one faces in life, as related to our relationship with God, people, ourselves and the world around us. The author takes us through 15 chapters, beginning with the fundamental issues and on a personal level, such as significance, approval, and sufficiency. He then takes us through broader areas of family, challenges, situations, violence, money, death, before ending with a few chapters on existential issues such as the future, reality of God, global disaster, and the magnitude of God. There’s a good discussion guide for each chapter that’s concise but also substantial enough for personal reflection or small group discussion, each with the same format of examining, exposing and battling fear.

This is one of my first Max Lucado books, as well as one of my first ebook reads and reviews. Lucado writes in a light and casual style, almost like story-telling, with personal anecdotes, stories, verses, illustrations thrown in, which makes for an easy Sunday afternoon read. It’s not preachy or heavy with theological or bombastic terms. However, having said that, it’s more like an afternoon snack or light brunch, compared to a hearty and filling dinner of serious, satisfying content. I was expecting much more in terms of discussion of different fears, as well as possible applications or steps (not necessarily quick-fix) towards alleviating or dealing with them in a godly, biblical way. Of course, there were good nuggets of wisdom and points of reflection that were insightful and thought-provoking, such as

It’s not the absence of storms that sets us apart. It’s whom we discover in the storm: an unstirred Christ.

as well as eight steps to stopping worry:

Pray, first. Easy, now. Act on it. Compile a worry list. Evaluate your worry categories. Focus on today. Unleash a worry army. Let God be enough. (PEACEFUL)

Overall, a good read and would recommend to others. However, it’s rather surface and light reading, so don’t expect if you are seriously struggling with irrational fears or clinical anxiety for your fears to be dealt with here. Food for thought, worth a quick read.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html>: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

What struck me most about him was his perspectives on missions, end times, and particularly, the role and place of national Israel. He had the most unique background and life experience, a great mix of East-West (Asian, American) and Middle East. One thing that stuck with me was his broad overview of the history of world evangelisation, or the spread of the gospel from the early church, specifically Paul’s being led by the Spirit to Macedonia (Europe), and how the gospel continued to go west from Europe, to America, to now to Asia, and one day, back to Jerusalem (Middle East).

Pictures here.

365grateful.com from hailey bartholomew on Vimeo.

The 4th Go4th National Missions Conference is back, this time from 26-28 May 2011 @ Singapore Expo. This year’s theme is “Beyond Going Places”. The workshops this year has multiple tracks, including “Raising the 4/14 Generation” and “Riding the Wave of Natural Disasters”. Register at their website today! Join their Facebook page here as well.

2. Use of social media
This GE also saw the upsurge of new media and social networking sites such as Facebook (FB), YouTube and Twitter playing an unprecedented role in reaching young and tech-savvy generations of current and future voters. Gone are the days where the only opportunity to hear an opposition party speech was if I travelled to some obscure, ulu (out of the way), crowded, sweaty, muddy stadium, and battle throngs of disgruntled mobs and crazy traffic jams. All I have to do is turn on the TV and watch a political debate/forum between parties (in English and Mandarin), click on a official YouTube or FB link, watch an amateur video clip of real-time news events e.g. nomination day, be humoured by spoofs of Darth Vadar politics, Returning Officer (RO) techno mixes, Kate Spade impressions, or even surf to individual party websites to read, listen, and watch them share their manifestos and speeches.

3. A new generation
The government is a forerunner, along with some leading churches, in identifying and recognizing the need to groom and empower the 3rd and 4th generation of leaders to rise up and take on the challenge of political leadership in Singapore. We saw a record number of stepping down MPs, as well as young 30+, 40+ potential MPs from all parties being fielded, as well as more women and minority representatives this time round as well. Both the ruling and opposition parties fielded yougner candidates, perhaps best encapsulated by WP’s Low Thia Khiang (LTK) taking a calculated risk, stepping out of Hougang SMC to contest Aljunied GRC, and trusting his 34-year-old protege-mentee Yaw Shin Leong to contest and win Hougang back with an even higher margin (64.8%, up 2% from GE 2006). The government even made provision for an increase number of opposition MPs and NCMPs (9), and NMPs (9), in a sense symbolically relinquishing their stronghold representation, with about 20% of MPs coming from these 3 camps in the new Parliament, versus the old days of 80+ versus 2 old birds (SPP’s Chiam See Tong and WP’s LTK)

4. Listening to the ground
One of the greatest gripes of citizens, which opposition parties relished and anchored on, as well as what the ruling party almost echoed verbatim even after their narrow-margin wins in their victory speeches, was the crying plea for the government and leaders to hear the voices of citizens on the ground. “We have heard you, we promise to listen more, your voice has been heard.” The ruling party initially brought out the usual KPIs and “carrots” e.g. estate upgrading, spinning the old record of “look what we’ve accomplished in the past 5 years” e.g. GDP, economic growth, surpluses, bonuses, rebates, credits, etc, comparing credentials, experience, track records with new, inexperienced, relatively unknown opposition candidates. Towards the last week of campaigning, we even saw threats (you will repent!), tears, and apologies from the top cabinet ministers! Of course, on the opposition side, we also have the usual sling of attacking every word and mistake of current MPs and ministries (the 3 biggest hits were Housing, Health and National Security), along with party manifestos with candidates promising to represent, serve and be the alternative voices for the people. We had interesting new plotlines such as the whole Nicole Seah-TPL saga, the national battleground of Aljunied (which for the first time saw an 5-member opposition team win, and 3 cabinet ministers, including long-serving Foreign Minister George Yeo ousted out), and MM’s straight and hard-line comments.

5. Service and trust
At the end of the day, our choice as voters were dependent on not just the parties, but the respective individual and team candidates running for specific SMCs and GRCs. The WP opposition made history and headway by winning 6 seats (including a 5-member GRC), as well as likely 2 more NCMP seats, with 1 more offered to SPP’s Lina Chiam, who narrowly lost Potong Pasir by 114 votes. It was a symbolic, rather than personal victory, meaning I don’t believe that voters actually wanted FM George Yeo out, but rather wanted more opposition representation in Parliament. The GE results where PAP lost almost 10% on every GRC/SMC, with an overall drop to 60.14% (15% lower than GE 2001) also decisively showed that not only were more Singaporeans disgruntled, but also there has been an erosion of trust over many government decisions and policies affecting the average Singaporean. “Don’t forget that the government or MPs exist to serve the people,” as several opposition members echoed throughout the campaigning. I believe though there was a silent majority that still voted the ruling party back into power, many Singaporeans are voting with not just their minds, but with their hearts as well. Looking back at past elections, though upgrading and economic growth is important, elections can’t and should not be reduced to such KPIs as deciding factors, they are mere indicators (Key Performance Indicators) that we might be doing things right, but not necessary that we are moving in the right direction, or having the right processes in getting there. Of course, the opposition has an uphill task not just of being alternative voices, but also of building up credibility and proven track records, which many fall short of, except perhaps appearing or being active 1 or 2 years before a GE. Many also, as I would like to call it, “talk air only,” or NATO (no action, talk only). Slamming the government alone does not build trust and confidence for me to vote for an opposition candidate, but wise, decisive insights, alternative policies which are thought-through and best for the overall nation (not just certain sectors at the expense or neglect of others), as well as mature reasoning and sensible debate. It’s not just about eloquence, charisma, and how learned or successful you are in your career, it’s down to whether I can entrust you to represent and serve the nation and specific communities/estates well for the next 5 years.

What an exciting elections, I’m looking forward to the new Parliament, as well as to the next GE in 5 years’ time. It’s times like these that you feel proud to be a Singaporean, to have a stake and vested interest in shaping Singapore’s future, and galvanizes people to really search deep down into their hearts to ask, “What makes a Singaporean, and what makes Singapore?”

I’m in the midst of migrating my blog over to WordPress. Do visit my new URL @ http://skillfulshepherds.wordpress.com. All posts and comments are intact, just migrating blog server to accomodate future upgrading and enhancements. Thanks for your support and readership!

Shalom,
Timothy P

http://www.videobb.com/e/AExfysa28n3S

http://www.videobb.com/e/AExfysa28n3S

http://www.watchseriesonlinehere.com/survivor-s22e12-you-mangled-my-nets/

Watch Mike give up his reward of spending an afternoon with his mother (after 30 days away from home), and instead give his 6 opponents the opportunity to spend time with their loved ones, quoting Matt 22:39.

Message entitled “Stewardship” on Matt 25:14-30 given @ Youth Open Sun, 1 May.

One of my schoolmates is even running under WP for East Coast GRC. You can find out more about him, Gerald Giam, at his socio-political blog here.
 
Blogpastor has written an excellent and succint summary of key issues to consider as Christians when voting in our General Elections. You can read it here.