Paving the Wei

The statement "every school, a good school" is by Heng Swee Keat, when he was Minister of Education in 2015. It has been over 10 years since then, but this still remains a topic of conversation among parents, educators and even amongst students themselves...in many cases, almost like a ridicule. Whether it is a statement of the education system, or a hope for the future, this statement requires some serious consideration.  From the speech by Minister Heng in 2015, he explained that to make it a good school, the system requires 3 things: every student an engaged learner, every teacher a caring educator, every parent a supportive partner.  The "good teacher" part, is the task of the Ministry of Education. In many cases, I think the government is doing a good job based on the opinion that the Singapore system is among the best in the world, especialy for Math. In addition, Singapore is also ranked highly, and even #1 in a some years, in the OECD PISA ranking for studen...

Just wanted to share today's quiet time insights from Paul's first letter to the Corinthians...the 7th chapter. The title of the passage says "In Whatever Situation"...which I think the picture below depicts very nicely. In the chapter, Paul wrote that we should live and remain in whatever situation the Lord has assigned, which Paul lay down as a rule in all the churches. This phrase is repeated again in verses 20 and 24...which to me, indicates that Paul really really wants us to do this. This talks to me. Despite the changes, whether we chose the change and things did not work out, or the change is forced on us (company re-org or leadership change which results in a change in our circumstances - financial or occupation), we ought to remain. If the changes is beneficial, great. But if not, then I suppose the command from God is in verse 19, that "keeping God's commands is what counts". We will still rejoice, pray unceasingly and give thanks ...

Life is unfair...but it can never rob us of God's truths.  Sermon by Ps Roland Lee at FCBC at 24 Apr 2026. Uncertainty is the only certainty, and knowing how to live with insecurity is the only security.  Scripture: Romans 8:31-39 talks about how God is for us, no matter what troubles we go through. Paul is convinced that nothing (not worries or fears, nor powers of hell, power in the sky or in the earth below) can separate us from the love of God. He will always be "with us". What are we promised when God is with us? 1. Our identity is secure We often compare ourselves with others (who are better) when we are unsure of our identity in God. Identity = depends on who or what defines you believe in it. If we depend on the value system of the world, it will be unfair.  But God's truth defines identity isbour relationship with God thru Christ. We are therefore worth the price that was paid by God - Jesus himself. I am chosen, justified and accepted by God thur Christ Jesu...

Sermon by Ps Charmaine Cheong at the Faith Community Baptist Church, 6 June 2026.  Scripture:  1 Cor 5:6-8 talks about the small amount of yeast that raises the whole batch of dough. The amount that is placed in bread is less than 1%...and yet, the entire dough will rise 1. Small things aren't a problem.  The church in Corinth was permitting immorality of 1 person, but Paul wrote to the church that they should take action to remove the person. We need to ask ourselves whose standards we are living by? Is it the standard of the world or God's standard? When we follow the desires of our sins, the results are very clear - sexual immorality, impurity, etc. We should not conform to the patterns of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind. Then we will be able to test and approve what God's will is, his good, pleasing and perfect will. 2. Small things aren't a priority Nobody wakes up in the morning wanting to commit adultery, or leaving the churc...

On a weekly basis, the Straits Times will conduct interviews of prominent people who made the news due to their large amounts of money, be it in their account or they manage it, or they had a great career. While it is great to read these stories, the stories does not apply to many...especially to the middle-class majority. Most of us do not have $1M Pokemon cards, work as director or C-suite executive (CEO, CFO, CTO), or from rich families, or entrepeneurs who made it big and are now earning the big bucks.  So here is my take from a typical middle-class person living in Singapore. 1. What do you invest in, and why? The core investment principle most strongly supported by Nobel laureate economists, investments gurus and well-known wealth managers is diversification and rebalancing. Obviously, we all want to be a stock-picker in the likes of Warren Buffet or Peter Lynch, but it is very difficult to do so across decades, especially with the VUCA environment we are living i...

Sermon by Ps Eugene Tan at the Faith Community Baptist Church on 22 May 2026. Questions: are we going to ride the fresh winds together? Whenever God moves, change happens - hearts are transfomed, faith begins to rise, eyes are opened, lives are renewed. But many are afraid of change - we prefer to do the same things. We face the same fears, disappintments, the same hardships...we get used to it and remains trapped. Scripture: the book of Mark chapter 10 talks about the blind man named Bartimaeus. He called out to Jesus, and said "Rabbi, i want to see" and Jesus healed him. What do we need to do to have a transformed life? 1. The Desire for Breakthrough Very often, names were not mentioned in the Bible bur Bartimaeus was. Interestingly, Timaeus means honored and the name means son of the honored one. However, this was not the case - Bartimaeus endured pity because he was blind. He faced daily darkness, lack and despair. But God desires that we live a life of hope, ...