AB - For The Love Of Money

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Asian Beacon F e b r ua ry- M a r c h 2 0 1 3 V o l 4 5 N o . 1

Y o u r

C o n t e m p o r a r y

C h r i s t i a n

M a g a z i n e

Established 1969

For the love of money Your Money, My Stewardship A New Trend in Giving Faith and Financial Freedom Build Your Pyramid of Wealth One Cup of Coffee at a Time Teaching Kids About Money

Saved in the nick of time Reaching the poor in China Is the 4,000-Year Bronze Tree Pointing to Genesis?

Jonah’s Anger, God’s Mercy

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Asian Beacon

Editorial Editorial Board Ms Mok Shi-Lynn (Editor) Ms Jhong (Sub-editor) Dr Lim Poh Ann Ms Goldie Chong Advisors Rev. Chan Theam Lai Rev. Loh Soon Choy Mr Wong Young Soon Legal Advisor Mr Steven Fung Sales & Marketing Manager Mr Steven Teo Administrative Manager Ms Chanice Chong E x ecu t i v e Commi t t ee Chairman Mr Goh Khoon Seng Secretary Dr Elok Robert Tee Treasurer Ms Loke Che Ching Committee Member Mr William Tan Mr Vincent Cheng Mr Lee Poay Keong Ms Charmain Sim Web Committee Mr Vincent Cheng Mr Steven Teo Ms Charmain Sim Publisher Persaudaraan Asian Beacon Malaysia P O Box 240, Jalan Kelang Lama, 58700 Kuala Lumpur An inter-denominational Christian magazine, Asian Beacon is published six times a year by Persaudaraan Asian Beacon, a non-profit Christian society. http://www.facebook.com/AsianBeacon S A L E S & M A RK E TING OF F ICE Persaudaraan Asian Beacon Malaysia 19-C, Jalan SS 22/19, Damansara Jaya, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia Tel: (603) 7725 4109 Fax: (603) 7726 1740 Hp: 012-3931 453 Email: aboffice@asianbeacon.org asianbeacon@yahoo.com Website: www.asianbeacon.org Sabah Representative Jessie Chong- Email: jessiecly08@gmail.com Singapore Representative Adrian Ngooi- Email: ankb74@gmail.com Perth Representative Tek and Goldie Chong - Email: tekchong@iinet.net.au Melbourne Representative Ms Lucy Yap, P.O. Box 3113, Wheelers Hill, Melbourne, Vic 31 50 Email: asianbeacon@optusnet.com.au Design & Layout Twentyfivecents Creative Solutions Email: twentyfivecents@gmail.com Facebook: Twentyfivecents Creative Solutions Printer Thumbprints UTD SDN BHD Lot 24 Jalan RP 3, Rawang Perdana, Industrial Estate, 48000 Rawang, Selangor Tel: (603) 6092 9809 www.thumbprints.com.my

W

e’ve all heard that ‘money can’t buy

happiness’. Well, the next time I hear that tired cliché, I will respond with this impertinent quote I just discovered: ‘It’s better to cry in a Ferrari than on a bicycle.’

Cheeky quotes aside, what does the Bible have to say about wealth and material possessions?

In Your Money, My Stewardship, we look at what good stewardship really means and why we should live responsible lifestyles. In One Cup of Coffee at a Time, the writer, who is in his 20s, gives a moving recount of the sacrifices made by the older generation in order to provide for their families. A New Trend in Giving discusses why the world’s richest individuals prefer to give their wealth to charities rather than leaving it all to their heirs.

As Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day roll around, we give and receive angpows, wish prosperity upon one another (kong hei fatt choy!), or spend an arm and a leg buying flowers and candy for our loved ones. Perhaps children should be taught the value of their angpow contents early on. Read Teaching Kids About Money to find out more. Practical financial advice can also be found in Build Your Pyramid of Wealth, written by our regular columnist.

Since it’s Chinese New Year season, Persuading the Chinese is a timely piece that talks about the connection between God and the ancient Chinese. In our missions section, the writer shows us how entrepreneurial projects have helped turn around the lives of the rural Chinese in Reaching the Poor in China.

Before I leave you to enjoy this issue, I would like to thank our readers who have taken the time and trouble to write to us over the years. We value your feedback, whether it takes the form of story ideas, suggestions for improvement or testimonies of how Asian Beacon has helped you. As such, we hope to begin a Letters section to publish our readers’ feedback. I’d like to invite you to write in to asianbeacon@yahoo.com and share your thoughts.

Have a blessed Chinese New Year!

Shi-Lynn

Contributions The opinions and views expressed by writers and advertisers are not necessarily those of the publisher. Contributors are welcomed to contact us for editorial guidelines. However, we assume no responsibility to return unsolicited materials. Kindly include your email, postal address and telephone number when you send articles, photographs or letters to us.

Permission For Reprint Copyright Reserved © 2013. Please contact the editor for permission to reprint articles, photographs and illustrations.

http://www.facebook.com/AsianBeacon Cover Artwork

MISSION • • • •

by

Twentyfivecents Creative Solutions

To help readers understand contemporary issues in the light of God’s word and to apply it to life’s challenges.

To testify to God’s love and power in transforming lives, families and communities.

To contextualise biblical principles within the Asian culture.

To be an agent of change in making our world a better place.

VISION Your Beacon of Hope

contents

COVER STORIES

F E A T UR E S

6 Faith and Financial Freedom

By Dr Lim Poh Ann 8 A New Trend in Giving

By Dr Leong Tien Fock 10 Your Money, My Stewardship

28 Is the 4,000-Year Bronze Tree

Pointing to Genesis?

By Tay Cheng Hsian

By Rev Dr William Wan

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14

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20

6 Tips to a Fatter Purse

By J.H. Ong

30 Persuading the Chinese

By Mok Shi-Lynn 32 Good News at Leadership Camp

By Seethor Chee Keen 34 Saved in the Nick of Time

By J.H. Ong

One Cup of Coffee at a Time

By Lim Ben Shane

Money Breakthrough

By Christine Cranney

Teaching Kids about Money

40

28

By Goldie Chong

Slow and Steady

By Kathlyn Toh, Kevin Hoi

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REGULARS

18 36 Money Matters

Build Your Pyramid of Wealth

By Rajen Devadason 40 Missions

Reaching the Poor in China

By Martin Chow 42 Dear Goldie

By Goldie Chong 44 Making Sense of Scriptures

Jonah’s Anger, God’s Mercy

From Project Timothy 46 Resources

February-March 2013

Vol 45 No. 1

24

cover story

FAITH AND

FINANCIAL FREEDOM

B y D r L i m P o h A nn

Can biblical principles help us at tain financial freedom?

Nobody fancies a life racked by constant anxiety over money. We would like to have some surplus come end of the month — and not have to face the situation where there is “too much month at the end of the money”.

Some of the worst case scenarios are creditors threatening us with legal action or our marriage getting on the rocks over money issues.

Does God care about our financial wellbeing? Is God relevant only on Sundays?

Does He have any role in our lives as we struggle on weekdays to eke out a living, put food on the table and raise our family?

The Bible not only touches on faith matters but down-to-earth issues, including finances. We need not split our lives into spiritual and secular compartments. God has provided us everything that pertains to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).

Besides this all-inclusive promise, Scripture is replete with wisdom, showing us how we can be financially savvy. After

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all, which earthly father wants his child to be in want? How much more our heavenly Father loves to supply our needs. * Here are some biblical insights as we journey along the road towards financial freedom:

No free lunch

Hard work is the first step towards financial independence. We are told to observe the industrious ant and learn from it — how it forages for food in summer ahead of winter (Proverbs 6:6-8). If we emulate the sluggard, we have only ourselves to blame if we face poverty in life (Proverbs 6: 9-11).

Unless we are born rich or marry into riches, most of us will have to work our way up in life. If we don’t work hard while we’re young, we’ll have to work harder when we’re old, which is difficult if health issues arise. “It is good for a man to bear the yoke while he is young” (Lamentations 3:27).

Savings and investment

Spending an entire life putting one’s nose to the grindstone is not a viable option.

First we work for money; then we allow

money to work for us.

So after giving to God, we should save a portion of our hard- earned money and invest part of our savings in a vehicle which has the potential to appreciate in value. Savings alone won’t generate sufficient returns that will comfortably see us through our twilight years as whatever meagre interest accrued will be eroded by inflation.

In the Parable of the Talents, Jesus chided the one-talent man for burying his talent. Why did he not save? Even if he was not skilled in investing, he could have left his talent with the bankers so that his master could benefit from the interest received (Matthew 25:14-30).

Having faith does not negate personal responsibility. We have to work hard, save and invest to ensure a bright future.

Moreover, we have to weigh the potential risks of investment against its benefits. In general, those who can stomach risk reap greater rewards. Risk-taking is an integral part of faith.

The one who buried his single talent absolutely refused to take risks. But the

“Which earthly father wants his child to be in want? How much more our heavenly Father loves to supply our needs.” other two servants who were willing to take risks — by investing their talents — were commended by Jesus.

Rearing goats and sheep — which provide fur, meat and milk for the family — is encouraged as a form of investment (Proverbs 27:23-27). This stands in contrast to modern-day investment vehicles such as real estate, stocks and unit trusts.

Seek knowledge

If we desire to obey God and know His ways, we need to study His Word. God laments that His people are destroyed for lack of knowledge because they have rejected it (Hosea 4:6). Similarly, if we want to be financially savvy, we need to seek knowledge. In this regard, there are resources aplenty to help us — books, magazines, seminars, websites and financial advisers.

We have to be diligent in doing research before investing in something. If an investment scheme is too good to be true, it probably is. Have we delved into all the pertinent facts and figures? Make informed decisions, not rely on rumours or hunches. “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22).

Sometimes God guides us through a rhema word — how and when we should invest. Long ago, God told Jeremiah to buy a field. Later when his cousin offered to sell his field to him, Jeremiah knew God had been speaking specifically to him ( Jeremiah 32:6-8).

Discipline

Many splurge on exotic vacations, flashy cars, fine apparel and sumptuous meals with nary a thought about their future.

They are unable to delay gratification of their desires.

One fine day, probably in their fifth decade, they might wake up to the fact that their income stream will soon dry up. And they still have to service a housing loan, support their children’s higher education

and build a retirement nest egg. That’s when they start panicking.

The wise, however, are proactive.

They realise that when they stop working, they need adequate funds to sustain themselves for at least another 20 years.

“A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences” (Proverbs 22:3).

The wise person recognises that money has a time element which can either work for or against us. If we borrow money, this factor works against us until the debt is settled. However, if we start saving and investing early in our working life, we will reap the benefit of compound interest.

Time works on money saved or invested — like yeast quietly working in dough — causing it to snowball.

Debt

The Bible warns against going into debt without good reasons. We have to be wary about consumer debt. That’s when we borrow to buy something, such as a car or an electronic gizmo, which depreciates in value over time.

But not all debts are negative. Some debts fund well-meaning goals such as investment in business, higher education or real estate, all of which have the potential to appreciate in value.

We should not bite off more than we can chew. If our debt burden is huge, our lives will be fraught with anxiety. We won’t be able to serve God effectively as the pesky “debt monkey” will always be riding on our back.

Debt is the mechanism that turns the financial wheels of businesses and families around. It is our friend if we use it wisely.

But it might enslave us if we misuse it. “The rich rule over the poor and the borrower is slave to the lender” (Proverbs 22:7).

Faith and Planning

Why do we need to follow all these biblical principles — work hard, save, invest, seek knowledge, be proactive, exercise financial

discipline and reduce our debts?

Why do we need to plan way ahead?

Doesn’t planning negate faith? Since God cares for us as He looks after the birds and the lilies, shouldn’t we just focus on seeking and serving Him (Matthew 6:25-33)?

Our creator is a God of foresight, planning and design. We find ample evidence of this in creation and the detailed instructions He gave for the building of the tabernacle and temple of Jerusalem. Joseph too had the God-given wisdom to plan. He stored up grain during good times. And his family and a nation were saved when famine came (Genesis 41:35-36).

Lack of planning may cause us to outlive our finances. We may then have to depend on handouts from relatives or friends. We may have to come out of retirement and go back to work but will our health permit it?

The need to plan our finances differs greatly. Donor-supported ministers mainly depend on God who is their inheritance, just like the Levitical priesthood.

Government servants can depend on their pensions and free hospitalisation benefits whereas private sector employees will have to fend for themselves. Singles usually have a lighter financial burden compared with a family man or single parent.

It is important that we trust God and submit to Him in all our plans. The mind of man plans but God directs his steps (Proverbs 3:5-6, Proverbs16:9).

While we need to have faith in a loving God who provides for our needs, we also need to be prudent — plan for our financial needs.

* Promise of material blessing: Deuteronomy 8:18, Psalm 37:11, Proverbs 22:4, Jeremiah 29:11, Philippians 4:19.

A medical doctor, Dr Lim used to be the editor of Asian Beacon (Dec 2008 to Oct 2011). He can be reached at http:// limpohann.blogspot.com/ For more on prosperity, please check out “Does God want me to be rich?” at http://bit.ly/WGbjZE

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cover story

A New Trend

Giving

in

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reuters report in 2011

has this headline: “Bill Gates didn’t lose his title as the world’s richest man last year; he gave it away by plowing billions into his charitable foundation, experts say.”

The Giving Pledge Giving a part of one’s wealth, even a large sum of money, to support a worthy cause has been around for a long time. But Bill Gates, together with Warren Buffett, are leading a new trend in giving, best expressed by this campaign statement: “The Giving Pledge is an effort to invite the wealthiest individuals and families in America to commit to giving the majority of their wealth to philanthropy.” It is not just about giving away at least 50% of one’s wealth but also encouraging others to do the same.

Those who pledge can fulfill their commitment “either during their lifetime or after their death.” Bill Gates has already given more than a third of his wealth. And Warren Buffett, the world’s third richest man, has pledged 99% of his wealth. The campaign formally began in June 2010. As of July 4, 2012, 81 individuals or families have pledged. Their names and their respective letters explaining their decision to pledge are available at The Giving Pledge website.

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B y D R L E O N G T i en F o c k

The book of Ecclesiastes teaches that there is nothing new under the sun. Is this “new trend” in giving really something new? As far as Ecclesiastes is concerned this is certainly not something unexpected.

It is in fact anticipated.

Solomon’s We alth Solomon, the speaker in the book of Ecclesiastes, was one of the richest men in the ancient world. But he said, “I hated all my wealth,” because he had to leave all of it behind to his heir (Ecclesiastes 2:18).

Though Solomon said he acquired his wealth through wisdom, it was not without toiling (2:19). He described the nature of this toiling as, “striving of his heart” in the day and “even at night his heart does not rest” (2:22-23).

Since he was king, his toiling would not involve much physical labour but would mainly be mental and emotional (in the Bible the “heart” refers not only to a person’s emotional but also his mental faculties). And since his heart did not rest

even at night, his toiling did not stop even when he had formally stopped working.

Solomon seems to be describing what has become “normal” today. When we exert so much mental effort and endure so much emotional stress to acquire something, during somber moments, we would ask whether it is all worth it. Solomon did not think it was worth it because he had to leave everything to his heir. He found it to be “vanity and a great affliction” (2:21).

He even “gave his heart to despair over” his wealth (2:20).

But why did Solomon consider leaving all his wealth to his heir so grievous?

His explanation is that he had to give everything he gained through labouring with wisdom into the hands of someone who may be foolish (2:19) and “who did not toil for it” (2:21). The implication is that he feared his heir would not have what it takes to make good use of the inheritance.

This is most obvious if the heir is foolish. He will simply squander the wealth away. Worse still, it is a common observation that when wealth falls on one’s

lap, whether through inheritance or other means, it often destroys the recipient in one way or another. Charles KinCannon, an estate planning attorney in America for over 15 years, attests: “I have seen wealth ruin families, create addictions for heirs and leave future generations without means to pursue dreams.”

Not surprisingly then, it has been reported that, “about one in five American millionaires is limiting his children’s legacies to ‘middle-class’ levels,” giving the rest of the money to charity. There are undoubtedly many more than 81 individuals or families who plan to give away most of their wealth.

Even if Solomon’s heir is wise, but because he “did not toil for it,” he may still lack what it takes to manage a level of wealth acquired through his father’s level of experience. Solomon’s fear that his heir may not be able to handle the wealth he had acquired is echoed in another Reuters report: “Six in 10 wealthy [American] parents are not fully confident their children will be well-prepared to handle an inheritance.”

We alth does not Survive Three Generations This fear is not unfounded. According to an editorial in the Hurun Report, “Wealth does not survive three generations, according to a Chinese proverb, and this is pretty much proven by statistics from the West too. A study in the US showed that a third of family-owned businesses survive into the second generation. Twelve percent will still be viable into the third generation, with three percent of all family businesses operating at the fourth-generation level and beyond, very much upholding the Chinese proverb.”

So whether a man’s heir is wise or foolish, the wealth that took such a toll on him to create will not likely last beyond the third generation. And it is even more tragic if in the process of transferring wealth across generations, families become ruined in one way or another.

among non-Christians. It is as though these non-Christians are trying to heed Jesus’ teaching on giving when He said that the poor widow who gave two copper coins gave more than all the rich givers (Luke 21:1-4). For they just gave something “out of their wealth,” while she gave everything “out of her poverty.” The new trend is not about giving something out of one’s wealth, but giving away most of one’s wealth.

Needless to add, Jesus’ teaching assures Christians that they are not missing out on the blessing of giving if they do not have millions to give. For what matters to God is not how much we actually give, but how much faith, hope and love is expressed in the giving. He would consider even two copper coins to be substantial, when given sacrificially.

The Two Copper Coins The new trend in giving is just a sensible application of what Ecclesiastes is teaching here about wealth. And this is happening

Dr Leong Tien Fock is the research director of Malaysia Campus Crusade for Christ (MCCC) .

Article courtesy of MCCC and Dr Leong. Originally published in Issue 197 of The Great Commission, an MCCC publication.

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cover story

Your Money,

W

My Stewardship hen I became a Christian

more than 50 years ago, I understood that Christ is either the Lord of all that I am and have or He is not Lord at all. That simple truth is the basis of my understanding of stewardship. A steward is one entrusted with his master’s possession for the singular purpose of looking after it on his behalf. A steward is not an owner.

In dedicating the gifts he received for building the temple of God, King David

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B y R e v . D r W i ll i am W an

acknowledges this truth: “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendour, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.” 1 Chronicles 29:11 (NIV) Most of us understand good stewardship to mean faithfully giving our tithes and offering, however we define them. If everything in heaven and earth is God’s, then He is the true owner of all. It is

proper that we give back to Him a regular sacrificial percentage. But, what about the much bigger percentage that we still hold?

Isn’t that God’s as well? If it is, then we are still accountable to Him on how we use that. If God is the owner, then giving our tithes and offering is only one aspect of our stewardship, for our responsibility as God’s steward must surely extend to the rest of what we have.

Clearly, we are called to be responsible for what we are entrusted with and not to judge others for the way they discharge

“ w h e n I a c k n o w l e d g e G o d ’ s Ow n e r s h i p , e v e r y s p e n d i n g d e c i s i o n b e c o m e s a s p i r i t u a l d e s i c i o n ”

success (Matt. 25:21, 23).

When I acknowledge God’s ownership, every spending decision becomes a spiritual decision. My attitude is not, “Lord what do You want me to do with my money? but rather, “Lord what do You want me to do with Your money?” To be found faithful, I need to be specific and constantly ask myself two questions: 1. What does God want me to do with what I have been entrusted?

2. What lifestyle does God want me to live in my capacity as a steward? their stewardship.

As responsible stewards, certain stewardship principles must be practised. In fact, the more we are entrusted, the more we are answerable.

Jesus said in Luke 12:48: “From everyone who had been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted much, much will be asked.”

Spiritual spending What does God require of me as a steward?

The answer to this question is intrinsically tied to the purpose for which God has recreated me in Christ Jesus. There is no doubt in my mind that I am saved to serve. The teaching of our Lord is unambiguous: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matt. 6:19-21.

“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.

You cannot serve both God and Money.”

Matt. 6:24.

Laying up treasures in heaven is about sending forward through our service to others. Since I am saved to serve and He has entrusted me with much, not for my own benefit but for His service, I’m faced with a significant challenge of faithfulness.

Paul teaches in 1 Cor. 4:2: “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” On the day of accounting, faithfulness is the issue – not

set “God might want me to a lifestyle limit below my income level . To assume otherwise is to take the po sition that I am the d owner and not a stewar of all I have .”

Two questions, three lifest yles The first question addresses my responsibility to meet my basic needs.

Paul says, “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, especially for his immediate family, he has denied his faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Tim 5:8). He adds, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.

For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it… “ (I Tim. 6:6-10).

As far as I’m concerned, providing for the education of our children falls under basic needs, but buying them a property does not. There is a need to teach them to trust God for themselves. One of the most important things I would like to leave my children is the gift of faith in God, to seek first His Kingdom and experience His promise to meet their basic needs. (Matt.

6:33; Prov. 3:5-6).

The second question addresses how I should live without assuming that if I could afford a certain lifestyle, then it’s God’s will that I should live at that level. It’s about a responsible lifestyle. I need to consider

that God might want me to set a lifestyle limit below my income level. To assume otherwise is to take the position that I am the owner and not a steward of all I have.

It appears there are three lifestyles available to me.

1. Living above my means. It will increase my wants as well as my stress level.

And naturally, it will increase my debt load.

2. Living within my means. I will be reasonably comfortable and debt-free but it will be mostly centred on my needs and wants. There will be very little left to give away.

3. Living below my means. I suspect most of us are not in the habit of thinking of this as an option, but we need to.

It will not only result in a steady, balanced cash flow and freedom, but it also accomplishes more.

In deciding to live below our means, I learn to be disciplined in not following the Joneses of this world. I learn the meaning of contentment. It helps me to distinguish between needs and wants, and I realise the blessing of not having to crave for what I do not need. Because I spend less than what I earn, I am free to practise the gift of generosity. I can support causes that I believe in and give to needs that I resonate with.

More importantly, I cease “chasing after the wind” (Eccl. 1:14) because I find joy in being and not in having; blessing in giving and not in accumulating; and peace in knowing that I seek to be a faithful steward of God. Understanding and practising the teaching that God is the owner of all we are and have, and that we are only His stewards is a fundamental spiritual premise for our claim to be children of God. It liberates me to focus on seeking “first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33) and reinforces my belief that this world is not my home, and by faith, like God’s faithful people recorded in Hebrews, I choose to focus on my ultimate reward: “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us…” (Heb. 11:39-40).

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cover story

6 Tips To A Fatter Purse B y J . H . Ong

H

ave you watched the

reality show, Extreme Couponing? It follows savvy shoppers who save tons of money on their grocery bill by purchasing their groceries with discount coupons. It’s an amazing feat by your ordinary Jane and Jenny who have perfected this complex art of grocery shopping. The show follows them as they go to extreme lengths to get hold of the discount coupons, such as rummaging through their neighbours’ garbage bins for old magazines.

Thankfully, there are other ways to save money on purchases. As stewards of God’s money, we are accountable to Him for our spending and a ringgit saved could mean an extra ringgit into the offering bag.

Here are some money-saving tips that have helped my family cut some corners.

1

Power of group purchases I introduced a friend to some groupbuying websites, such as Groupon and Living Social, and she’s now hooked.

These sites offer good discounts on a wide range of products and services, but most of the time, we grab the special deals for eateries and restaurants.

So instead of paying RM100 for a meal out with the family, perhaps you pay RM50.

Stock up on these deals for special treats for yourself and loved ones.

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2

Used but good I own several second-hand gadgets, such as a smartphone and an iPad which I bought through a buy-and-sell website.

It was only six months old but was a few hundred ringgit cheaper than a brand-new one. You’ll be amazed at the variety of second-hand goods for sale that’s available on the Internet.

Check out www.mudah.my, www.lelong. com.my or www.mybarang.com for starters.

You’ll be even more amazed at the amount of money you can save buying used (but in good condition) stuff. I’m now hunting for a second-hand breadmaker.

3

Save energy, save mone y I believe my family has one of the lowest electricity bills around (ahem…). Our kids have been nagged into turning off the fan and light when not in use and setting the timer on the air-conditioner.

Of course the energy-saving light bulbs help.

4

Bu y generic I’ve found that store brands (Tesco, Carrefour etc.) are cheaper but just as good. Yes, not all store brand products are great; you have to find what works and make them a part of your grocery list.

5

Bring your own water This is definitely one of my favourite money-saving tricks.

I carry a bottle of water everywhere I go (well, almost), especially when we eat out. Not only does this save me money, it’s healthier too.

6

Sales saver Shop during mega sales and you’ll have mega savings too.

Not long ago, we bought a washing machine and a fridge at 40% discount at a year-end sale (we’ve found year-end sales are the best). They were brand new with the five-year warranty intact. More savings means there’s more money to be given away to the needy.

cover story

ONE CUP OF COFFEE AT A TIME

I

B y L i m B en S hane

don’t think that my generation

will achieve half of what the last generation has, even though we have been given so much more to start with. By my generation, I’m broadly referring to Malaysian urbanites under the age of 30.

I’m not saying we’re going to be worse off than our parents, but for most of us, we’re not going to see a marked improvement in our quality of life despite every advantage that has been afforded to us, most of which our parents did not have.

When my father came to Kuala Lumpur to work over 30 years ago, he had a thousand ringgit to his name, no personal transport and nowhere to live. He was one of nine children to my grandfather who operated a coffee shop in the small town of Kluang, Johor.

My father spent most of his initial savings renting a room and buying a mattress because he believed a good night’s rest was important for the rat race. His only fortune was the degree in information technology (IT) that he held, at the very cusp of the tech boom of the ’80s.

Somehow, he managed to pool enough savings to buy a small property and break

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out of the rental trap. It took many years of hardship and hard work, but my old man has somehow scratched together enough money to put his three children through higher education, with a comfortable little nest egg left over for himself.

His stories are inspiring, and I’m sure you can find many similar stories from the baby boomers. Sons and daughters of fishermen, rubber tappers, and mechanics making it in the big bad city. Imagine anyone moving to the big city and making it on his own. Even with a grotesquely hefty RM10,000 in pocket, it would be incredibly challenging.

My father’s stories make me realise how blessed we actually are as a generation and perhaps how little we value it. Nowadays, everyone has a smartphone, a computer and maybe even a tablet. Most will have a car one way or another. Popular restaurants, bars and entertainment outlets overflow with young people. If you look around, the amount of retail space per capita in the Klang Valley is at an all-time high, fuelled by a generation that has been afforded the luxury to consume.

After all, it’s all very affordable and perhaps taken for granted. Most of the folks in my generation live rent-free and many do not have to pay for their cars. A young professional earning a modest RM3,000 each month with minimal commitments can easily afford the latest gadgets and even a holiday or two each year.

Sometimes I wonder if young people are too caught up chasing some of the symbols of affluence. In the meantime, owning a property and getting married seem wildly out of reach today. For a small minority, their parents will simply foot the

bill outright. For many others, they will be depending on their parents to bankroll their first property and give a generous ang pow when they get married.

Work for it My mentor however, challenged me.

“You’re 24. You’ve been around for almost a quarter of a century and you’ve got nothing to show for it. Everything you have, your parents have given to you. Your education and even the clothes on your back. What more do you want? It’s time to stop breastfeeding. Your dad deserves to take his hardearned money and go on a holiday. It’s your turn to work,” he chided.

But how?

“Give up some of your teh tarik sessions at the mamak. You’ve got those freelance jobs? Great, start writing more articles.

Every bit counts. Work for what you want,” he challenged.

As inspiring as he sounds, property prices are a little insane these days, with personal savings unlikely to outpace the property market. Frugality seems like an exercise in futility. On the flip side, our parents have given us every edge we need.

“My father’s stories make me realise how blessed we actually are as a generation and perhaps how little we value it.”

Most people in my generation have been blessed with a good education, something that did not come cheap from our parent’s pockets. If you speak good English and hold a degree, you’re basically ahead of 90% of the world.

A generation ago, not everyone was so blessed.

My father’s older brother stayed back in Kluang to take over my grandfather’s coffee shop. When I was very young, I remember visiting the shop every time we balik kampung. My uncle would be there making coffee and half-boiled eggs, with sweat running down his brow. Even watching him, I could feel the intense heat of the steaming hot water radiating from his kitchen.

He would get up early in the morning before the sun rises to begin serving the

ONE CUP OF COFFEE AT A TIME

breakfast crowd, staying long past noon to serve the lunch crowd.

Everyone has heard a story of that char kway teow man who managed to buy a Mercedes Benz. For me, it’s my uncle.

Just as his father before him, he paid for his children’s education one cup of coffee at a time.

How did the y do it ?

How could our parents afford a property for themselves, pay for our education and still fork out more money for my generation?

Could it be that we have become too complacent? A generation ago our parents had to start working as soon as possible to support their siblings who were still studying. Many, like my father, came from small towns to work in KL. For them, it was survival. There was no other way but forward.

For us, mediocrity is assured. We know that at the very least, we can do no worse.

My parents sacrificed a lot of luxuries in the early days so I could sit on their comfortable sofa typing out this story.

But it is not so comfortable thinking about how much more money I might have to borrow from them for my first property.

My parents have forked out no small sum for my education and here I am, employed, but only marginally less dependent on them.

It’s like the parable of the talents.

The generation before was given one talent which was multiplied into 10. My generation has been given 10 talents, but I

don’t think we can even double it.

Of course, this generation has its own set of challenges. The marketplace isn’t the same wide open green fields that our parents had and the cost of living in our country has risen much quicker than wages.

Just imagine someone with the drive and resourcefulness from a generation ago in the shoes of a young person today. What would they achieve? How would they do it? What would they sacrifice?

It’s something to think about while sipping on eight ringgit-coffees at the local Starbucks while fiddling with your iPhone 5.

“Everything you have, your parents have given to you. Your education and even the clothes on your back.

It’s time to stop breast-feeding.”

Author’s note: It tends to be a bad idea to generalise. There are definitely people out there who do not come from middle-class families, barely finished high school and work very hard to make ends meet. I hope that these stories will at least inspire you to continue building a better life for the next generation.

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MONEY BREAK CHRISTINE CRANNEY, a Kuala Lumpur-born journalist in her 30s, has always been careful with money. Since marrying a pastor’s son four years ago, she has learned over time that there is more to stewarding money than being prudent.

She shares her thoughts on money and true wealth.

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courtship, my husband and I clashed over finances. I wanted to save every cent.

Occasionally, I would splurge a little but mostly, I just wanted to save. In contrast, my husband – born in “the lucky country” of Australia – had no need to scrimp as the government provides a safety net for its citizens. Furthermore, he was born into a generation of abundance.

Like him, I was born in a time of plenty but I was raised to be farsighted with finances. If there was one thing my dad tried to drum into my head, it was this – always save for a rainy day.

I was 26 when I got my first job with an online news publisher. While I didn’t make a lot of money, I saved a lot of it. I didn’t buy a car, but took the bus and walked everywhere. I was always looking for ways to save. I checked my grocery and mobile phone bills to ensure I wasn’t overcharged (sometimes I was undercharged!), avoided unnecessary bank fees and always shopped around for bargains.

Admittedly there were times I took my dad’s counsel too far. I remember this incident when I needed new shoes. With one of my first paychecks, I walked into the Australian version of Giant Supermarket and bought a pair of sandals. When my fiancé saw me with my cheap new shoes, he shook his head and said, “Christine, you are a young woman with a job!”

In my primary school years, my dad once scolded me for borrowing a few cents from a classmate to buy snacks from the canteen. I didn’t understand it then but he wanted to instill in me from young that

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debt was undesirable.

He was worried that I would carry a “borrowing habit” over into adulthood and spend beyond my means. As I got older, he taught me that credit cards were for emergency use only. I learned that lesson well and to this day, have never paid interest for a credit card balance. When I applied for a mortgage, the bank officer was very surprised that a young couple living in a materialistic and microwave culture did not have any credit card debt at all.

However, being a good steward of money involves more than living within or under our means, saving, or subscribing to investment principles touted by finance gurus – especially if you are a Christian.

Give God His dues In 2008, I got married and moved to where my husband lived – a coastal area in Australia where full-time, professional jobs were scarce. While I knew I was never going to hit the jackpot as a journalist, my husband had decided early on to serve God in the media ministry. It was tough living mainly on one income.

Tasked with managing our money, I worked out a budget where 10% of our income would go to the church.

Unfortunately, we weren’t settled into any one church at the time and the full amount of our tithes never got paid. Although there

was “extra” in our budget from unpaid tithes, we struggled with balancing our finances monthly. Every cent was counted and fought over. Even having takeaway pizza (a cheap meal in the West) was a luxury.

Thankfully, God did convict me about my sloppiness in tithing and I renewed our commitment to giving God what was His, regardless of how we felt about the church.

Amazingly, things started to change. Our income was the same but I was able to balance our finances each month. Also, from then on, we experienced income growth proportional to and simultaneous with increases in our bills.

You Can’t Out- give God While I was waiting to have extra money before giving to others, my husband had learned from his father that we could still give in our lack. He was always saying that we could never out-give God. Giving to others is a big part of who I am as I had grown up in a very generous and hospitable family. However, I had to learn for myself what “not out-giving God” meant.

To illustrate this principle, my husband told me that in his single days, he had financially supported a friend who left a full-time job to work in their church for a part-time wage. During that time, instead of feeling “the pinch”, my husband saved

“I surrendered my worries to God, relaxed my curled-up fist and enjoyed the experience of His provision.”

THROUGH

arithmetic, it will be easier for you to trust Him and know that you can’t outgive Him. God’s law of arithmetic, which is different from man’s, goes like this: As we subtract (give away), He multiples (gives more), and as we multiply (have more) and subtract again (give away), He multiples (gives more) so that we can subtract again (give more).

I do believe He wants to bless us and He wants us to bless others.

Record His Blessings One day, while having coffee with my mum-in-law, I recounted God’s faithfulness in growing our income at the exact times when local government taxes, water bills, car registration costs and other major expenses rose. She agreed that God had also been faithful to her household although she couldn’t pinpoint the exact moments when He had come through for her. We both said we wished we’d kept a journal. Last year, I started journaling specifically to remember God’s blessings.

Whenever I worry about money now, I talk to God, trust Him and thank Him for the times He has provided for my family. Also helpful is meditating on the famous “Do not worry” words of Jesus in Matthew 6:25-34.

In a nutshell, I’ve learned that we need to do our part (save, spend wisely, tithe, be generous, thank God) and let God do His (be our Provider, and sometimes Deliverer).

As the Book of Wisdom says: The horse is made ready for the battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord. (Proverbs 21:31 ESV)

Mone y is Not We alth When I first moved to the Sunshine Coast,

(Note: God’s law of arithmetic and the reference to Proverbs 21:31 came from a sermon by my pastor at Calvary Christian Church.)

Christine Cranney learned to trust God to provide.

more money than he ever had in his life and made investments that would yield dividends for us in our married life.

As I trusted God in 2012 with our finances and gave to others and God’s work, God has met our needs and provided above and beyond our expectations. While I could have put more into our mortgage or worried about our needs, I surrendered my worries to God, relaxed my curled-up fist and enjoyed the experience of His provision.

Tithing from our gross income was also a big deal for me. It represented a 23% increase from tithing from our net income. Instead of letting my mind stray to the high income tax rate in Australia or the dole bludgers who benefitted from our taxes, I focused on God. He is our provider, everything is His and one can never out-give Him. Why does God give to us in the first place? If you understand God’s laws of

I struggled to fit in. Living five minutes from the beach may be idyllic for some but I was no beach bunny. I was a highlystrung, city-born girl who loved books, the arts and culture. I couldn’t even swim.

Furthermore, I had studied, lived and worked in a very international environment for the 10 years I had resided in Australia.

The immigrants in my new home were mainly from Europe or interstate who had gone to the region to retire!

Our finances improved with time, making me reflect morosely on the poverty of my social life. I wished during those early years for more friends, not money.

Money is merely one indicator of wealth.

You may have heard people say, “You can’t get time back” or “You can’t buy goodwill”.

One can be rich in love, in friendship, and also mentally (discernment/wisdom).

In any case, money is something that can always be regained, unlike time or a prized relationship.

“I do believe He wants to bless us and He wants us to bless others.”

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Teaching kids about money

B y G o ld i e Ch o ng

No courses at school, no demonstrations on TV, so how can kids learn about money management? From parents, hopefully.

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coffee bar at a busy shopping mall. Her two teenaged children are baristas, and so are their classmates and church friends.

Salary is of secondary importance but the discipline in time management is more important – less surfing the net or video games. Customers sometimes confide their problems to the friendly staff, including the youths, and so the shop has become an outreach point for sharing God’s love.

When Winnie was 12 years old, she gave Arithmetic tuition to the neighbourhood children. Her mother helped to collect the monthly fees. When she later had kids of her own, she intentionally planned what extracurricular subjects they should learn in order to be able to earn pocket money by teaching the same skills. She chose Kumon and piano, and so her children became Kumon assistants and gave piano lessons at home.

“I wanted to teach them about money and work. Money is a tool to achieve certain goals, to make a living, bless others, find fulfilment and honour God in using their God-given skills and talents. From young, they have learned to combine their jobs with living their faith. Secular and sacred should not be divided between weekdays and Sundays. The mindset that we serve God in everything we do is instilled in them to last into adulthood,” Winnie shared.

Allow allowance If parents don’t give their kids allowance, how are they going to learn to manage

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money? Give them an allowance and let them make their own decisions about what to do with it. By trial and error, they can make mistakes when the cost is minimal.

It forces them to think about how much things cost and to make spending choices between the many things they want. They will also be more appreciative of the things they buy when they use their own money.

Allow them to keep the money themselves, keep track of it and keep it safe.

If they misplace the money or lose it, it’s gone and they will bear the consequence.

Give the money in such a way that makes spending and saving easy. For example instead of giving a RM10 bill, give 10 RM1 bills.

When to start? A good time would be when they show interest in money or have some understanding of the concept of money, that it can be exchanged for goods.

For many kids this may be as young as three or four.

How often to give? Maybe once a week to keep short accounts.

How much? Some say a dollar for each year of age. Others match what their friends are getting. Or make a list of what they are expected to pay for with their allowance.

Discuss what will be on the list. The total cost will be their allowance. As their needs change, so can the amount. Review when necessary. As they grow older, the amount should be increased. The number of things they’re responsible for buying should also increase. But make it a fixed amount so they know what they will be getting regularly to enable them to budget.

Is allowance tied to chores? Harry

declared, “I’m not doing the dishes this week because I don’t need any more money”. As members of the family, everyone has a responsibility to do the chores. Allowance should therefore not be tied to chores. If responsibilities are not fulfilled, the loss of privileges would probably be more appropriate than the loss of allowances.

Budge ting Sally observed that her daughter was a natural spender and her son a natural saver. She taught both to be balanced in spending and saving. To make it visually understandable, she gave each three jars labelled: Share, Save, Spend. Their allowance was divided into three amounts according to the 10-30-60 principle.

10% went into the ‘Share’ jar for church/charities, emphasising the need to give back to God and the community.

30% was put into the ‘Save’ jar for big or long-term items such as missions trips or overseas holidays.

60% went into the ‘Spend’ jar to be used at their own discretion. She warned them against impulse buying, teaching delayed gratification by comparing prices, waiting for sales, buying only on specials, etc.

She showed them the difference between wants versus needs by letting them see her say “no” to something she desired but will not buy because it is not really a need.

Saving & spending Sally opened a savings account for her kids at an early age – around kindergarten.

She admitted that she may not be able to

“An allowance forces kids to think about how much things cost and to make spending choices between the many things they want.” keep an accurate record of all the birthday and Christmas gifts they gave her for safe-keeping, so she put it into the bank promising, “You will decide when you want to take money out”.

She knew that if she did not allow them to withdraw money, they might resist saving in the first place. She usually takes them along to the bank to put in their deposits. At different ages and levels of maturity, she encouraged them to use creative ways to earn extra money, such as selling lemonade and doing part-time jobs.

Meanwhile, Sally’s husband, James, taught his teenager who showed financial acumen how to invest in the stock market.

When the kids were older, she used banks that have special plans for teens to open checking accounts. She encouraged them to clip discount/special offer coupons to stretch their money. She took them to the supermarket and pointed out how she compares different brands, quantities and prices. If they wanted to borrow money

for some purpose, she used the occasion to teach about loans.

She charged a bit of interest to make them realise it is better to spend what they have than to borrow. When they were older, she explained how credit cards worked and the dangers of misusing and abusing them.

Family involvement James and Sally involved the kids in the family finances. For example, they explained where their money came from and how they earned it. They showed them the household’s expenditures – where the money went.

They explained how much everything cost – utilities, transportation, eating in a restaurant versus eating at home.

They did not hide the tough patches when business was bad. James’ teenager even went to see the bank manager to request extra credit. This involvement in the family business taught him financial expertise. When he went overseas to

university, there were times money didn’t come on time to pay school fees. He understood their hardship, whereas his classmate ranted at her parents’ delay.

Parents’ e x ample If we want our kids to learn good habits, we must get our financial house in order, control our own spending, put aside savings to avoid debt, have an emergency fund and not waste resources.

When my husband, Tek, stopped his medical practice and stepped out in faith to serve the Lord without salary, our children were convinced that God was a Promise Keeper, for in the following 20 years, not only has God blessed us abundantly in wealth but also in health, family and ministry. Even our grandkids can attest to God’s trustworthiness to “open the windows of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it”. (Mal. 3:10) So in money matters, put God first – He is the best paymaster.

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Slow And Steady A B y K a t hlyn T o h and K e v i n H o i

s Christians, we are

called to be good stewards with the money and wealth God has given us.

So, before we consider any investing or trading, we must find out whether the investment/trade is a Godhonouring way to grow our finances.

Some people avoid the stock market as they think it’s similar to gambling. Others keep their distance because they don’t understand the mechanics of this form of investment.

True, investing is not a “get rich quick scheme”. The Bible is full of warnings about rushing to make money without any effort (e.g. Proverbs 21:5: The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.)

Having trained and coached many through their investment and trading journey, we have learned some fundamental reasons why stock market investments fail.

Reason #1: Failing to honour G od

Secondly, we are told not to make haste to be rich. This means we are not to take excessive risk to get rich quickly, and that we not to give in to greed. Many people have fallen into the trap of making quick gains in a short time because they heard “someone has made money”.

The verse says that if we are in too great a hurry to become rich, we will not go unpunished. Notice that the verse does not say that God will punish us; it just says that there will be punishment. If God does not punish us directly for trying to get rich quick, where then does the punishment come from? We believe it will be the natural result of trying to get rich quick and may include losing money, destroying our families and ending up deeply in debt.

It’s important to note that this verse does not say that being rich is wrong or will bring punishment; it merely says that trying to get rich quickly will bring punishment.

So, if we invest according to God’s way and it results in our becoming rich, that is not only all right, it is a blessing from Him.

Reason #2:

L acking sound money management principles

Proverbs 28:20: A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished.

Proverbs 13:11: Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.

The thing is, there’s no “sure win” strategy. So, instead of putting their faith in God, some Christians unceasingly pursue the “perfect strategy” by, for example, following a guru’s advice to the tee. One of the golden rules of successful trading is to “cut losses small and let profit run”. This is easier said than done.

Gathering money little by little goes back to what we discussed in the previous verse, which is not to be in too big a hurry to gain wealth through investing.

The wonderful thing is that you can make money with just 50% success rate, and let your money consistently grow your capital. On the other hand, you can also lose money with a so-called 90% success rate strategy.

G olden Rule :

Never risk more than 2% of your capital in any single trade .

“When I first started trading more than 10 years ago, my capital went up and down like a roller coaster – up slowly, down terrifyingly. I could gain a lot and then lose it all within a few trades. Then, I learned this Golden Rule in investing.”

The above is a common story that you Firstly, we are told to be faithful.

This means living the way God wants us to live, including the way we manage our money. Sadly, I’ve come across many traders who buy and sell stocks based on hunches, news or “hot tips”.

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This verse tells us two more things

about how God wants us to invest – we are to do it honestly and little by little. Many traders are looking for the Holy Grail of Trading – a “sure win” strategy with 100% success rate.

will hear from many successful investors.

It’s also our personal experience.

Many people, when told of this rule, would say, “My capital is not that big.

Two percent will not allow me to trade any stocks.” While that may be true back

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in the ’80s, the advancement of financial markets and Internet technology has transformed the way we trade. Today you can place automated decisions in buying, selling, stop loss and profit taking.

Leverage instruments such as Options, CFD (Contract for Difference) & Futures allow us to trade with much less capital.

Making money consistently is all about risk management being your first priority and profits, second. If a trader thinks about “how not to lose money” first, he will then focus on managing the risk of his trades.

Reason #3: Failing to P lan is P lanning to Fail Proverbs 21:5: The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.

Proverbs 14:15: A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thoughts to his steps.

Like any business start-up, a good

business plan is essential to the success

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of that business. Investing and trading is a business and it requires a good trading plan.

A trading plan should be designed to meet one’s financial objectives that must be clearly defined. For example, if one desires a 30% return per annum based on a $10,000 capital to fund his children’s tertiary education in 10 years’ time, the plan then has to be based on the 30% returns per annum objective.

A trading plan must be tailored to a person’s personality and time availability.

I have met traders who use short-term strategies, such as day trading, without understanding that their personality or time availability are better suited for medium and long-term strategies.

Our personal observation is that it’s difficult for a trader who is trading against his personality to have consistent success.

A trading plan should also include clear pre-determined entry and exit criteria.

This means having the discipline to enter and close every trade based on what has been defined in the plan, and not based on ego or emotion.

A trading plan must consist of a series of actions that are repeated on a regular basis.

Our trading plan follows the following four steps. We call them the S-T-P-M formula.

A trading plan must include a good

S = Selecting the right stocks T = Time for the entry and exit P = Protect my investment M = Multiply my returns journaling of all your trades. A good journal will help you in reviewing your actions regularly to make sure you are following your strategy and not your emotions; and ensuring that you learn, especially from your losses. (We see every loss as a tuition fee we pay for our learning.)

Lastly, commit your plan to the Lord.

Your plan must keep you within your emotional comfort zone, in that it should prevent you from taking excessive risks that rob you of your peace and time with God. Kathlyn Toh is Chief Coach for Beyond Insights.

An investor and trader in Global Indices, US Stocks, Options and CFD, she has a passion to share her skills. Kevin Hoi is a registered financial planner with a keen interest in coaching, investing and trading in the US Markets.

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Special Pages to Exercise Adolescent Kung-fu

LOOKING FOR ME

IN AN ALIEN COUNTRY

By Ong Kay Jen

On my third day as an overseas university student in the UK, I decided to go for a party in a campus club called the Forum. I’d never visited clubs before in Malaysia, simply because my idea of a good night out is yum cha with friends at a mamak.

So when I decided to go for the party that night, it was for the sake of trying something new. Maybe I’d meet some interesting people, or discover that hibernating in this relatively quiescent old lady is a beer-chugging party animal just waiting to burst forth and paint the town red. (That was a joke, Mom.) The party turned out to be an anti-climactic, albeit mildly traumatic, experience. It began like this: Even at a relatively warm 11°C, I bundled up in three sweaters, a pair of jeans and practical sneakers.

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It hit me that something wasn’t quite right when, as a couple of Malaysian friends and I trudged shivering towards the Forum, we were overtaken by a group of girls in micro minis and sleeveless tops.

Are we headed in the same direction? And what are they wearing in this awful weather?

When we reached our destination, the party had already started.

A wave of techno/ dubstep music blasted in my coldnumbed face and almost bowled me over. People were pressed together in all directions, yelling at each other over the (in my opinion) obnoxious music, laughing, dancing, drinking.

Alarm bells blared in my head. I c

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switched to panic mode.

I stood squirming in the sea of people, unable to speak. What made me think I could do this?

“Guys, I’m leaving,” I shrieked to my friends.

And five minutes after arriving, I trudged back home in the cold. Then I called my parents on Skype and bawled to them about how hard university life is. The incident seems funny now but back then, it was too much to handle.

That first week in the UK was a series of uncomfortable situations, and for a selfconfessed introvert, that’s exhausting.

One of the things people often told me just before I left sunny Malaysia was that university is a time to try out

new things and get new experiences, to find out what you like and what you don’t. University is a place of self-discovery.

So I suppose I came with overblown expectations.

Prior to leaving, I did try very hard to maintain a ‘no-expectationsno-disappointments’ mindset, but perhaps I subconsciously also hoped to “find myself”, a ‘me’ comfortably settled into her place in society, knowing what she wants and how to get it.

I won’t mince words: settling in has been tough. There were many awkward situations, just like that night at the club. I made many acquaintances and few friends as I found it hard to relate to people here.

Mostly I missed (and still miss) home and all the comfortable familiarity it provided.

But I’ll end on a little note of optimism: I don’t

Just Enough

By JX Tung

A trainee teacher shares the valuable lessons he has learned from having just enough money. feel the pressure to fit in here anymore... because that’s a lost cause.

Admittedly, I feel alien in this place. I have grown up in an environment so sterile and Christian that I have no idea what to do with myself in such a mind-bogglingly opposite context.

Instead, I’ve been discovering bit by bit that it’s much more worthwhile to find God. I keep feeling that I’ve been thrown into this environment not so I can learn to fit in, but so I can be made acutely aware of how much I never will.

And that’s okay!

Upon reflection, “finding myself” really rings of narcissism. Myself? What is there in me to find? A collection of awkward habits and funny hobbies, unclear life goals, and the occasional social blunder.

Life became much simpler once I shifted the focus from finding myself to finding Christ. In doing so, I’ve become less insecure as my identity is firmly laid in a solid Rock.

Ong Kay Jen is currently doing her final year undergraduate degree in Mass Communications in England.

She still doesn’t like clubbing, but now enjoys “a little wine for the sake of her stomach”.

Two years ago, my family experienced financial problems. I had just finished my SPM exam and had to decide where to continue my studies. A ‘miracle’ happened when I was selected for a teacher’s training programme. As a trainee teacher in the degree programme, I receive a monthly allowance of RM500. My parents were relieved as they didn’t have to worry about my living expenses. This was such a blessing.

My college is located at Kuala Lipis, Pahang. Although it’s a small and quiet town, the living expenses here are surprisingly very high. After 2½ years of living here, I still haven’t figured out why things are so expensive. A bowl of noodles at a hawker centre can cost up to RM7. It’s a major headache for trainees like us.

RM500 a month ought to be enough for me to get by, but because things here are so expensive, I really need to budget well. However, I see many of my friends spending without a care. And after they empty their wallets, they’ll just ask for more from their families. I do not have this privilege.

In order to participate in the many activities in Kuala Lumpur during weekends, almost every Friday, I travel to KL, then back on Sunday. This took a toll on my budget. For two years, I struggled as I wanted to be with my church friends in KL. I felt so helpless.

During this period, I learnt much. Firstly, it is to be thankful. Although I do not have lots of money to spend, at least I have a little extra to do the things that I enjoy. And I’m truly thankful for my family’s support. I know they work hard to supply my needs, and they’ve never stopped me from what I try to achieve. Their love and support keeps me going.

Also, it was through this period of surviving on RM500 a month that I learnt to be thriftier in my spending. Prior to this, I never thought much about budgeting.

When I was living within the comfort zone of my home, I never had to worry about such things.

Over these 2½ years, I have learnt self-control, as instructed in the Bible. Having a lot of money may enable one to enjoy a so-called ‘better life’, but having just enough can make a person more aware. And being aware helps us treasure what we have and be thankful for them. I thank God for giving me such experiences. More than just learning how to spend my money, I’ve learnt about life and what’s truly precious.

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25

Value

Differences

I find it funny that we humans are the only species who love comparing ourselves to one another.

We don’t see monkeys asking who’s the furriest, or rhinos comparing who has the longest horns. But we humans walk around comparing who has the best hair-do or outfit.

Another characteristic that humans have is the constant need to be like others. Notice I used the word ‘need’, not ‘want’.

Well, technically it is a ‘want’, but after constant self-brainwashing, the ‘want’ becomes a ‘need’.

We then try to imitate the person we idolise. This is

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By Kedric Kwan

especially true when people have celebrity role models.

Guys want abs like Brad Pitt’s in Fight Club while girls want to have Rosie Huntington’s hot body.

It’s good to visualise your goals, but the constant fixation on these things makes us obsessive. We eat like a baby mouse, hoping to lose that fat. And if Brad Pitt doesn’t eat broccoli, we stop eating broccoli. Over time, we lose ourselves and when people say, “Wow, you are

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acting more like Brad Pitt each day”, our heart leaps with joy.

Guess what? We might be trying to behave like Brad Pitt but we can never be him. We will be stuck in the middle of who we once were and the embodiment of what we think Brad Pitt is. We might lose our personality and characteristics that people love us for.

The truth is that we’ll never end up exactly like

others and we should stop trying. There’s a reason why the world only has one Brad Pitt and one Justin Bieber – the world only needs one of each. (Ok ok, maybe it only needs Pitt.)

Picture a world with a million people trying to be like Justin Bieber; all of them stumble onto a magic lamp and the genie grants them their wish.

In an instant, there are a million Justin Biebers filling the streets with “Baby, baby, baby, no, I wish you could always be mine.”

Not a pretty sight. Even his biggest fan would agree.

We’re all created different for a reason.

We possess something that no one else has.

That something is what we should be focusing on – harnessing our unique talents, abilities and personality to become the greatest individual we can be, by the grace of God. God is the one who “stitched us in our mother’s womb”, who knows the most intimate part of ourselves (Psalm 139). So, shouldn’t we base our identity and personality on His truth and love? In His grace, each of us can paint his own beautiful picture and be himself/herself.

Part Two

By Lim Ben

Shane

In part one, our writer tackles the perception that tattoos are inherently ‘bad’ and lists some reasons people get inked. In this final part of the story, he reminds us that tattoos are pretty much permanent and ponders what the Bible has to say about the matter.

What you tattoo is as important as where you tattoo it. Personally, I would like to get inked, but I’m not going to get a tattoo for the sake of it.

I want to find a design I really like.

Tattoos can be beautifully crafted pieces of art, with deep personal meaning. They’re like time capsules – storing memories, hopes and dreams just beneath the skin. On the other hand, tattoos can be meaningless generic stamps – ugly, crude and immature.

Imagine your diary from when you were 13 years old. You didn’t have one? Well, imagine! Now imagine it’s on Facebook for all to see. Now imagine it’s going to be up there forever and ever. Not pretty, is it?

If you’re reading this and thinking about getting that first tattoo, you’re probably in your mid-late teens, or perhaps early- to mid-20s. In all likelihood, you’re still living with your folks and need their consent. You’re a pseudo-adult.

If you were my kid, this would be the point where I whip out your (stolen) diary from when you were 13.

Remember: on Facebook forever!

Moving on, if you’ve found that design that you oh-so-love, you’re inevitably going to be reminded that tattoos are permanent.

Thank you, Captain Obvious!

Are tattoos really permanent though? Our bodies sure aren’t – they’re single use only. Tattoos will slowly sag even as your body does.

I’m pretty sure they will look terrible!

But you don’t want to be sorry or regret having those old man tattoos.

(Which is why you make sure you don’t get stupid tattoos!)

Discuss, don’t just ban

Take a look at what the Bible has to say. Leviticus 19:28 – You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourselves.

That’s it. That’s all the Bible has to say about tattoos. This is the only verse that directly addresses tattoos, and I’m not even going to spend much time on it because when read in context, it is not applicable. Leviticus also tells the Israelites not to round off the hair on the sides of their heads nor shave their beards, and many other rules that have been flouted right, left and centre.

There is a real concern about pagan symbols and satanic markings being used in tattoos. However, the fact that you’re reading this also tells me that you’re not quite the devil worshipping sort and are not going to indiscriminately inscribe pentagrams onto your arm.

But what about innocent-looking tattoos that turn out to have some sinister spiritual history? Could a moon tattoo be traced back to some ancient pagan fertility goddess? Are dragons really demonic?

Can a symbol be inherently evil, even in today’s context when it has been reimagined and its roots long forgotten? Our Christmas celebrations on December 25 actually coincide with the winter solstice, which is steeped in pagan rituals and history.

Yet, we celebrate Christmas with great gusto.

I’m not equipped to cover such a deep, diverse and controversial subject. However I would like to stress the importance of not polarising the issue, but instead, create an avenue to openly discuss difficult issues like this.

Falling back to a “my house, my rules” approach can only create resentment. Ultimatums should be used on enemies, not loved ones.

Your son/daughter may comply either unquestioningly or sullenly. Or, he/she could get a tattoo anyway.

And even with all the forgiveness in a parent’s heart, it cannot remove a tattoo.

You need laser beams for that.

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“ t h i s i s q u i t e p o s s i b ly a d e p i c i t i o n o f t h e s t o r y o f t h e fa l l o f m a n k i n d . ”

Is the 4,000-Year Bronze Tree Pointing to Genesis?

By Cheng Hsian Tay

SanXingDui, or liter ally ‘three-star

mound’, is the name of an archaeological site some 40km from Chengdu in China’s Sichuan province. The original discovery was made in 1929 by some farmers who were digging a well. It was re-discovered in 1986 and properly excavated when its archaeological importance was recognised.

In two large burial pits were found items of bronze, gold, jade and ivory.

What sets this discovery apart from others are the uniqueness and quality of the many bronze items. Today, a large museum houses all the artefacts that have been found at the site. Some experts think that the artefacts are related to the Shu culture, dating back to 2000 BC or some 4,000 years ago – the very earliest days of the Chinese civilisation.

But most archaeologists seem to be quite stumped and unable to explain the significance of the artefacts or the culture in which they existed. There are many bronze masks of various sizes that have never been seen before – all showing stylised faces with large slanting eyes, high noses and big ears.

For Christians however, there is one particular item that has generated much interest. One of the most significant finds was a bronze tree about 14 feet tall, with nine branches and each with fruit and birds on it.

L ady and the snake Prominently on one side of the tree is a long slender snake with a squarish head with horns and on two legs. What is most intriguing is that near the snake is a lady’s hand, slender and complete with fingernails. Equally intriguing is a series of knives hanging from the snake.

The archaeologists call this the sacred bronze tree and some think it was an

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A replica in the courtyard of the museum that shows what the complete tree may have looked like.

Note the serpent in the lower right, lady’s hands and hanging knives.

object of worship.

But for any Christian who knows his Genesis, this is quite possibly and most probably a depiction of the story of the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden.

For the clueless (and this applies to all

those archaeologists who seemed unable to understand the significance of the tree), read Genesis 1 to 3, the first three chapters of the first book of the Bible.

There is the tree. There is the lady’s hand that reached out to take the forbidden

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fruit. There is the snake and interestingly, this snake has legs. And there are the knives hanging from off the snake as if to say in no uncertain terms that danger, sorrow and pain f low from this serpent.

A message in bronze I believe that the people who created this bronze sculpture knew well the story of Genesis and tried to depict in this tree the story of the fall of mankind into sin and sorrow. It was probably a tangible warning rather than a celebration of the event, a visual depiction before written language was more fully developed later in the Shang dynasty.

Perhaps these were the people who dispersed after the confusion created at the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11). Perhaps a group set forth eastward, settled in this fertile valley and decided to create this tangible warning about sin and Satan for future generations. Of course we can only guess what actually happened.

All the artefacts have evidence of being burnt and were buried, but the items that

withstood the f lames and the passage of time have survived. Was there an attempt to wipe off the images and depictions of the past? We just do not know. It is interesting to note that the serpent has a squarish head that immediately reminds us of the Chinese dragon. This must surely be the earliest depiction of the dragon in Chinese cultural archaeology. Perhaps over time, what was originally intended to be a warning became itself an icon of benevolence.

The Chinese have never really worshipped the dragon but it was an ancient icon of a protective force and depicted as such in many temples and in clothing motifs, especially for apparels related to the emperor.

Were the ancient Chinese familiar with the oral traditions and stories of the ancestral past that would have been passed down from generation to generation?

There are other evidences embedded within the Chinese language itself that also point to this possibility.

Those familiar with both Genesis

and the Chinese language characters will also realise that many of the earliest pictograms and ideograms that formed the Chinese language, especially the earliest forms, have ideas and imagery that relate to the incidents and teachings of the Genesis story.

For example the character for ‘forbid’ (jin) is depicted by the symbols of a mouth on that of a tree, a ref lection of God’s instructions to the first humans.

Another example is the abstract word for ‘desire’ or ‘covet’ (lan) which is depicted by two trees and a woman, again another ref lection of what happened at the Garden of Eden. There are numerous other such examples that we are unable to deal with here.

The bronze tree has survived many thousands of years to tell us its story – a ref lection of that first story of mankind.

Did the ancient Chinese know the story of Genesis? The evidence suggests they did.

The writer visited the SanXingDui Museum in May 2009. a

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“the god of heaven is calling you back because he loves you.”

Persuading the Chinese Reggie Lee’s deep interest in the connection between the Chinese and the God of the Bible began when he read a verse in Scriptures that answered a question he had long pondered. “Even though I knew that God’s Word was first revealed to the Hebrews, I wondered why God didn’t speak to the Chinese. Then I read Acts 17, and it said that even the poets and sages of the other peoples knew about Him,” he recalled. This sparked the fire that got him digging into Chinese history and culture.

Ten years of research resulted in a documentary, entitled Who are the Chinese?, that connected the traditions and ancient history of the Chinese to the Bible. But Reggie was not done. In fact, in his continuing research, he has discovered even more clues that point to a tantalising possibility that the ancient Chinese knew more about the Christian God than we realise.

“During my research, I discovered that in the earliest part of their history, the Chinese were worshippers of one God. Idol worship actually started much later in 500AD,” Reggie said. “Even though there’s adulteration in the way the Chinese worship in modern times, their practices actually have roots in the worship of the one God. For example, on Chinese altars outside the home, there will be three joss sticks, three cups and maybe some candles. But there’s never an idol.”

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Reggie believes that the number ‘three’ in the elements of Chinese worship represents the Holy Trinity of the Christian faith. “I visited the Temple of Heaven in Beijing and saw that everything is in sets of threes: there are three tiers on the altar of sacrifice and three gates that lead to the courtyard. People worship with three cups and three joss sticks. Is it just coincidence?”

Highlighting the simil arities Consider one of the most famous quotes of the great Chinese sage Lao Zi in his classic, Dao De Jing: The Dao exists as one.

One exists as two Two exists as three.

And three create everything.

“If you read this Taoist text on its own, you cannot understand it. Who are the three? But when you read this in the light of the Scriptures, it begins to make sense.

It’s talking about God: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit who created the world and everything in it,” said Reggie.

The Chinese remember their history, according to Reggie. “The Chinese record and remember everything through food, culture, and the writings of the sages. I base my findings on the oracle bone writings which are the earliest known form of Chinese writing.

“Here, we find another parallel bet ween ancient Chinese worship practices and the Bible. In the oracle bone

By Mok Shi-Lynn

script, the word for ‘sacrificial animal’ is represented by an ox and a lamb with the character for ‘beautiful’. Compare this with instructions to the Hebrews in the Old Testament on sacrificial animals: young, unblemished lambs or bulls.

“So traditionally, the Chinese offered roast lamb and roast oxen as sacrifices. The roast pig, chicken and other animals are actually modern adulterations,” said Reggie.

All the research that Reggie has done is for one reason: to persuade the Chinese to return to the true God of Heaven. “I’m trying to show that the Chinese have an ancient remembrance of and connection to the one God. The God of heaven is calling you back because He loves you and has done so much for you. He sacrificed Himself for you. Will you worship this God of your forefathers?”

For further reading God and the Ancient Chinese Samuel Wang, Ethel R. Nelson

Faith of Our Fathers Chan Kei Thong

Finding God in Ancient China Chan Kei Thong

God’s Promise to the Chinese Ethel R. Nelson, Richard E. Broadberry, Ginger Tong Chock

The Genius of China Robert Temple

It is not about the glitz and glitter. It’s about the grace of God.

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Good News at Leadership Camp

Pastor Seethor Chee Keen shares how an organisation is helping to develop the leadership skills of students in China through leadership camps, and at the same time, bring God’s love to them. He attended one such camp in mid-2012 to conduct some sessions.

It has been six years since I last

visited China. I used to go there regularly to conduct Bible training for the local house church leaders but stopped when I began to pastor a congregation in Singapore that reaches out to Chinese nationals. So, it was with great excitement that I set foot in the northeastern region of this vast land where our mission lies – to conduct a leadership camp.

The local students here see themselves as the nation’s future leaders, with dreams and aspirations for themselves, their family and their country. I was told by the camp organiser, LifePegs, that this year, male students comprised half the campers – the largest ever. LifePegs used to conduct English summer camps and for years, the ratio was usually 33 percent men to 67

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percent women.

The concept of the leadership camp was simple but effective. Organised like local university orientation camps in Singapore, the five days were packed with fun-filled games and activities. However, unlike the orientation camp, there were lectures and discussions on principles of leadership.

This is where I came in.

Each day, I taught them general principles of leadership growth and development. Using examples from history, current events as well as the Bible, I shared why they must keep learning and growing as individuals to be effective as leaders. Smaller group discussions led by counselors, directly ‘airlifted’ from Singapore and the United States, helped the students apply these principles to their

lives. We also had games and activities to impart teamwork and leadership in fun and practical ways.

When LifePegs started the leadership camp in March 2009, the number of campers was small – only 60. I remember my first lecture session at the camp. The students were so quiet that I thought they were only waiting for me to wrap up so that they could get out and play. Imagine my surprise when they fired their questions after I ended my lecture. Evidently, the lecture had struck a deep chord in their hearts and they were hungry to know how to change to become better people.

At the leadership camps, a third of the campers are Christian students who will mingle with the pre-believers. Basically, their role is to build bridges – share with them when the opportunity arises and remove false conceptions and ideas about Christianity in the process.

Mee ting Christ at the campfire On the last day of this five-day camp, we went to a deer farm for an overnight camp.

After the activities and barbeque dinner, we had a campfire and the Christian students spontaneously started singing Christian songs. It was like an impromptu worship

“A s t u d e n t w h o h a d b e e n r e s i s t i n g t h e c l a i m s o f c h r i s t o n h i s l i f e f o r t h r e e y e a r s f i n a l ly y i e l d e d h i s h e a r t t o t h e l o r d . ”

service around the campfire, with a congregation full of pre-believers, looking on and listening intently.

What a witness and testimony to these ‘lost’ students, many who have never even met a Christian before and wouldn’t be interested in finding out about Christianity.

There and then, they had the opportunity to see their friends, with whom they had studied, ate and played with, worshipping God with such delight and pleasure. I couldn’t help but praise God quietly for the privilege to witness this incredible scene of positive witness for Him. As the Christian students continued to sing, others began to sit down and chat.

Some were just sharing jokes and stories, others were asking deeper questions about life, and more were quietly sharing the gospel with their friends. That evening, a student who had been resisting the claims of Christ on his life for three years finally yielded his heart to the Lord. How great must have been the rejoicing in heaven over this one sinner who repented! And many more, I was told, would be followed up with after the camp.

A lady counselor, who flew into this camp with me from Singapore, told me that in one evening, she had shared the gospel more times than she had in an entire year. She’s a lawyer in Singapore and like a good Christian, she has been worshipping regularly in our local church and seeking opportunities to serve. But taking the time,

The easygoing atmosphere around a campfire led to spontaneous singing of praise songs.

trouble, money, and effort to make a short mission trip to China has given this young professional an encounter with the Lord’s work in and through her life.

Cre ative missions In the past, Christians who engaged in mission work had to be highly qualified with sound Biblical theology as well as knowledge in cross-cultural evangelism.

Usually, only a few spiritual ‘elites’ dared to take the plunge into the mission field.

Most believers who are burdened to serve the Lord beyond their shores have

Take the opportunity to make a lasting impact for Christ on the future leaders of China.

to be contented with merely visiting the mission field and offering a helping hand or some words of encouragement. But this leadership camp is an opportunity to do mission work in a week and leave a lasting impact for Christ.

The youths in China need good role models; a working adult’s experience is highly attractive to them. When you share your work experience with these students, they will be interested in what you believe as well. This is one effective way to reach these dear souls who may never have had any meaningful contact with Christians before.

The apostle Paul said in 1 Cor. 9:2223 (ESV): “… I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.”

We must be ready to embrace new ways to bring the gospel to all and be ready to step out of our comfort zones and familiar methods of missions.

It has been my privilege to witness God’s great work among the people in China. I hope to continue to be a part of what He is doing there and pray you will put your hands to the plough when He lays His burden on your heart.

The author is the pastor of the Chinese congregation of Gospel Light Christian Church, Singapore. a

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“ i t b r i n g s m e j oy t o s e rv e t h e p o o r w h o h av e d i f f i c u lt i e s ac c e s s i n g e v e n t h e m o s t b a s i c h e a lt h c a r e . ”

SAVED IN THE NICK OF TIME

By JH Ong

Six organisations teamed up for a medical mission to three villages in Kinabatangan, Sandakan, where they saved one life and provided medical and dental services to 565 villagers.

A group of medical volunteers unexpectedly saved a 10-

year-old boy from succumbing to acute appendicitis when they were at his village to provide free medical services. Mohammad Razman from Abai was diagnosed just in time and rushed off by a Borneo Eco Tours speed boat to Sukau where he was transferred by ambulance to Kinabatangan and then to Sandakan Hospital for immediate surgery.

The group of 68 volunteers – including seven doctors, one medical officer, six dentists, nine nurses, three pharmacists and one nutritionist – had travelled eight hours from Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Kinabatangan to spend four days at Sukau, Bilit and Abai last November. Among the most common ailments they treated were hypertension, diabetes, respiratory diseases, fungal infections and skin allergies.

This was the third medical camp organised by BEST Society, a non-profit organisation in Sabah, in partnership with Sky Community Bhd, Sabah State Health and Dental Department, Sukau Rainforest Lodge, Borneo Eco Tours and Kinabatangan Corridor of Life Tourism Operators Association, Sabah (KiTA), which funded RM20,000 of the RM35,000 project cost.

Jamal bin Ingau, the village head of Abai, expressed deep gratitude to the volunteers and organisations involved. “There’s no medical facility in the village while other medical outreach programmes mostly catered to women and children. The journey

Pharmacists and volunteers dispensing medicine.

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Mohammad Razman being transferred by boat to Sukau for further treatment.

to Sandakan by boat takes between one and two hours and the fee itself is RM20 per person per way, which is expensive for the residents here,” he said.

Risiman bin Bani from Bilit, who received dental treatment, added, “It makes it convenient for the villagers who have difficulties going to the town. Everything is at our doorstep and we hope there will be more such projects in future.”Meanwhile, the medical project provided a good opportunity to volunteers to help and be acquainted with the local community. They were also rewarded with wildlife sightseeing tours along the Kinabatangan River in appreciation of their contribution.

“The community service done through the years in different ways by BEST Society and Sky Community is very commendable as it portrays the heart of leaders, to love others as they love themselves. This is the first time I’m participating in the camp and it brings me joy to serve the poor who have difficulties in accessing even the most basic healthcare,” commented Dr Narjit Kaur of Klinik Pergigian Beaufort.

“I truly appreciate the opportunity to serve the community out of my normal routine hospital work. Volunteer work is always fun as new friendships and new experiences are made through serving both Kampung Sukau and Kampung Abai. I had the best time of my life, truly an unforgettable adventure – from sighting the Borneo Pygmy Elephant to the night river cruise under the forest canopy and looking for saltwater crocodiles, to convincing my patient why smoking is bad for him,” said Dr Erin Ong of Queen Elizabeth Hospital II, Kota Kinabalu.

Annie Tseu, a volunteer from Sky Community, shared her thoughts, “Apart from delivering treatment and promoting health, nutrition and dental care to the villagers in the three villages, the volunteers made lasting friendships as they worked shoulder to shoulder, energised by one another’s selfless contributions and the memorable Kinabatangan River cruises, amidst much laughter and fun.”

m o ney ma t t ers

r y P

r u o a Y e d l i W u B of

T

o counter our world’s

explosion of financial complexity, here’s a list of guidelines you can choose to govern your spending and wealth-building activities.

As I’m going to use percentages and not absolute sums of cash, you’ll find these ratios work, regardless of how little or how much you earn. If you’re young enough to embed these guidelines into your life over

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the next three decades, you will create for yourself a large, safely diversified fortune.

Regardless of your starting point today, I advise you to make it an intermediate goal, perhaps something you would like to achieve in 12 to 15 years, to get to the point where 5% or less of your net worth is tied up in your cars, and 10% or less of your net worth is represented by your primary residence. An easier target, should you prefer it, is to use those same percentages

d i m a

h t l

B y R ajen D e v adas o n

for your vehicles and home but to base them on your gross assets. (Note: Your net worth is the value of all your assets minus the total of all your liabilities. A large positive net worth is what you should aim to build throughout your years of active earning.)

After more than a decade of crunching retirement numbers for clients, I have learnt that more than 85% of Malaysian breadwinners need between RM500,000

B u i l d Yo u r P y r a m i d o f W e a lt h

and RM5 million to fund their desired retirement. That huge range reflects different retirement starting dates for adults now in the workforce and, more importantly, their desired quality of life in retirement.

Today’s rapidly greying Asian society makes retirement funding even more urgent for us all.

My wife, Rachel, and I visited Egypt in 2008, well before the Arab Spring uprisings.

The high point for me was being on the Plain of Giza and walking toward the Great Pyramid of Cheops… then clambering onto the 4,600-year-old structure!

Pyramids are stable because of their wide base; they also encapsulate a principle we can harvest for our own well-being.

Please imagine a hollow pyramid constructed of clear glass. This represents your investment portfolio. Your cash flow pattern in life, while you’re working and earning money, is identical to water gushing out from national reservoirs and flowing into our homes through pipes, and then flowing out, on demand, from our faucets.

In retirement, those who have a government pension enjoy a similar cash flow pattern, albeit at a slower rate, but what about the vast majority of us who don’t have a pension?

The responsibility lies with us – not with our government – to build a personal pyramid of wealth during our working years to meet our living expenses in retirement. If you acknowledge this but haven’t been taught how to do so, here is one possible plan. It may come across as too radical to some and too conservative to others, but I like it because it is easy to understand and implement.

Here are my 6 Steps to help you lay viable pipelines into your own pyramid of wealth.

Step 1: Pay your tithe to God. This

means setting aside the first 10% of all sources of income and paying it to your local church, the place you receive primary spiritual sustenance. Whether you tithe on a net income or gross income basis is up to you. What you should ask yourself, I guess, is whether you want net or gross blessings.

(Please read Malachi 3:8-11.)

Step 2:

Start saving money. If you can’t save 10% of your net income now, begin with perhaps just 1%. So, if for argument’s sake, you earn RM5,000 a

month after taxes and other statutory deductions, ask yourself if you can get by on spending 99%, RM4,950, and saving 1% or RM50? You know you can!

Step 3:

Don’t stop there; aim to ratchet up your savings rate by at least 1 percentage point every 3 or 6 months. If you do so steadily, after about 12 or 24 years, you’ll be at the magical 50% savings rate. Remember: Money saved acts as a magnet for money earned. I have observed people who began tithing and then adopted these staged increases in savings experience income leaps of three, five- and occasionally 10-fold over one short decade!

Step 4:

Your initial savings goal must be to set aside between three and 12 months’ expenses worth of cash in your personal reserve account or emergency buffer account (EBF).

Step 5:

Now return to your mental picture of a glass pyramid. While Egyptian pyramids sit on sand, your foundation supporting the pyramid, but which is separate from it, is your EBF comprising cash in bank accounts and pure money market funds. Once you’ve created an EBF with at least two months’ expenses, slow down your build-up of this reserve fund and begin filling your pyramid of wealth. (Note: You should still continue building your EBF until you reach your target.)

As you begin construction of your pyramid of wealth, structure it as a pyramid with four levels. Since it is glass, imagine filling the ground floor or first level with water containing yellow dye; the second level with green liquid; the third with blue liquid; and the fourth topmost level with red liquid.

If you draw a schematic of your pyramid as a simple triangle, you aim is to have 40% of your funds in the yellow first level, 30% in the green second level, 20% in the blue third level; and 10% in the highest red level.

Level 1 (yellow) will again be cash in bank deposits and pure money market funds. Level 2 (green) high-grade bonds or, more practically, bond funds. Level 3 (blue) carefully chosen equity funds or real estate investment trusts (REITs).

Level 4 (red) dividend-yielding stocks or rental property.

Step 6: It may take you two or three

years to complete filling your EBF. Because I want you to start modestly building up your pyramid of wealth, once your EBF is filled with just two months’ expenses, you should be able to make a slow start filling your pyramid, then speeding up once your EBF is full.

If you wish to begin building your own pyramid of wealth today, you may ignite this exciting process with just RM100 in a bank deposit, thus making a start at Level 1. If you have more money, you can make a great start on all four levels with RM10,000: Put RM4,000 in Level 1, RM3,000 in Level 2, RM2,000 in Level 3 and RM1,000 in Level 4.

Then every time you make money from Levels 2, 3 or 4, you should ‘cascade’ that yield in the form of cash down toward your Level 1 cash layer!

Doing so will fatten and enlarge Level 1.

The interest earned from the cash already in Level 1 will also hasten fattening.

Because your goal is to have exactly 40% of your resources in Level 1, you will intermittently rebalance your pyramid by reallocating Level 1 funds to the higher levels. As you rebalance it, your pyramid will grow in size, possibly from RM100 to RM1,000 to RM10,000 to RM100,000 to RM1 million and beyond – but always remaining stable because the ratios remain unchanged! This is a multi-decade programme with inbuilt self-motivators at each milestone of growth.

As God blesses you with wisely allocated growing levels of wealth, keep track of your income and profits. Then pay your tithe!

If you stick to your pyramidal plan for between 12 and 30 years, you will, I believe, achieve financial freedom… through God’s ceaseless provision.

© 2012 Rajen Devadason

Rajen Devadason, CFP, is a Securities Commissionlicensed financial planner, professional speaker and author. Read his free articles at www.FreeCoolArticles. com; he may be contacted at rajen@RajenDevadason.com. a

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SPECS Services Bhd, an affiliate of an international Christian mission agency with its office in Klang, Selangor, is looking for born-again Christians desiring to serve God in a full-time ministry capacity for the following positions:

1. Personal Assistant/Book-Keeper (Immediate) He/she will support and assist the Base Director in various secretarial and coordinating functions as well as manage the accounts of the base.

He/she should:  Preferably be between 23 and 35 years old  Have a degree in Business or Management Studies which include courses in accounting  Be able to perform secretarial and book-keeping duties with speed and accuracy, with at least one year’s work experience in this or a similar field  Be computer savvy with proficiency in Microsoft Office and accounting software  Have a good command of oral and written English  Possess a good work attitude when handling highly confidential matters.

2. Finance & Administration Manager (October 2013) He/she will support the Base Director in overseeing the operations and functions of the offices within the South-East Asia region. This includes: ▪ ensuring that all corporate financial and administration affairs comply with management/board policies as well as government requirements and that the Company’s financial practices conform to generally-accepted accounting principles; ▪ creating, interpreting, analyzing, compiling, processing and reconciling financial statements, reports and other financial data for effective financial control and planning; ▪ receipting, data processing, information systems/facilities/human resource management; ▪ strategic planning and budgeting; handling treasury functions; coordinating risk management, legal and related staff activities; and maintaining relationships with financial institutions.

He/she should:  Be a graduate and Certified Public Accountant with at least five years’ work experience in accounting and corporate systems and other related areas  Be competent in accounting principles, policies and procedures; auditing procedures and techniques; internal control principles; strategic planning; and organizational development, with a working knowledge of the MYOB accounting software  Possess good planning, management, supervisory, analytical and oral/written communication skills as well as sound financial judgment  Have the ability to work with minimal supervision to develop, monitor and maintain management information systems and procedures, prioritize work, meet deadlines and schedules, handle pressure and function well with day-to-day decisions.

To Apply: Kindly submit your application – including a comprehensive resume, a recent passport-sized photograph, scanned copies of relevant certificates/documents and contact information – by email to the HR Manager at jobs@intcoment.net by 15 March 2013 (Position 1) and 30 June 2013 (Position 2).

Mei Healthcare Ad

m i ss i o ns

Stitch by stitch, Xiao Zhang, a Yi lady, faithfully sews a Yi handicraft product.

REACHING THE POOR IN CHINA B y M ar t i n Ch o w

I

hear rumours that the developed countries want

to remove China from the list of developing countries because of China’s double digit economic growth. However this growth has not been evenly spread throughout the country.

Most economic growth is centered on the coastal provinces.

Interior provinces in the South-west have often lagged behind.

Imagine if you have 30-odd children, chances are that the bigger boys will have the bigger share, leaving any leftovers to the skinny ones. This has been the case for provinces that are poorly connected to the corridors of power who have to vie for more resources to develop their hinterland.

There are many living in poor and remote villages who know little about the outside world. In many villages, there are no economic enterprises or factories, and farming is on a small scale – hardly enough to make ends meet. Many youths leave their villages for the cities to seek employment, but when villagers try something new – for example planting marketable plants such as chayote – they found that such ventures could reap 10 times the income of traditional plants such as rice and corn.

Local Hero To many profit-oriented businessmen, it is financial suicide to set up a factory in a rural community where access and communication are difficult and costly. There are no ready skills available and everything has to be taught to potential workers.

The good news is that when an entrepreneur becomes involved in a community, he becomes a local hero. His profit is not merely

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money but transformed lives through employment and improved living standards.

For example, a shoe manufacturer who uses machines to produce shoes may employ 50 workers, but with a little bit of imagination, he could divide the manufacturing process into manageable cottage-type industries. One village makes the soles; another, the tops; and another, the heels. The different parts are then assembled in a factory in the county town. Now, instead of impacting 50 persons, the entrepreneur may have impacted 500 households. He is, what we call, the social entrepreneur.

My wife, Diana, has an embroidery project in a Yi village, north of Kunming, where she collects the handicrafts from one village which is a five-hour journey away, and another village eight hours away. At home, we do quality checks, package them nicely and send them to various buyers outside the country. This way, the ladies involved in the project are able to stay at home and with their earnings, send their children to school and put food on the table.

Diana always emphasises to them that our aim is to help them save enough to start their own businesses. We want them to realise their dreams. We want them to thrive, not merely survive.

Good business, good news Yunnan is fascinatingly rich in ecosystems and associated biodiversity. Its flora and fauna include species from the Tibetan plateau, mainland China, and South-east Asia’s tropical rainforests.

Where there is richness of flora and fauna, there will be bees to

REACHIN G THE POOR IN CHINA

do the pollinating job. When the bees meet the flowers, you get luscious, luxurious honey. There is money to be made in selling organic honey produced by beehives in Yunnan’s sprawling nature reserves. Imagine the transformation of lives if the people here start the organic honey business.

Yunnan – thanks to its beautiful landscapes, mild climate and colourful ethnic minorities – is one of China’s major tourist destinations. Most visitors are Chinese tourists, although foreigners are beginning to flock there. Also, there are trends towards small-scale and environmentallyfriendly ecotourism. You can participate in the up-and-coming ecotourism industry by providing management, financial and marketing services.

Many small-scale community-based ecotourism initiatives have failed due to poor promotions or management.

A county mayor may have the best intention to develop ecotourism, but lack of knowhow can hamper his good intentions.

Perhaps you can help to get the ecotourism or organic farming or cottage or new industry off the ground.

The sky is the limit to our imagination with what we can do to help these people. I strongly believe if we want to transform people’s lives, social entrepreneurship is one of the ways and it is welcomed by the government. In fact, we are bringing good news of the latest skills, increased employment opportunities and income to the community.

Often, we may be the first Christians these people come into contact with. When we create a favourable impression with the community leaders, we can lessen or remove their hostile attitude towards Christianity.

E ye on Yunnan China has launched a strategy to build Yunnan into a gateway for South and South-east Asia, which should augur more favourable and open policies for the province. Massive infrastructure projects are currently in full swing to complete the transport and logistic networks in Yunnan, which has positioned itself as the ‘bridgehead’ for the opening up of South-west China. Construction has begun on 12 railroads connecting Yunnan with other parts of China as well as Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam.

Write to me (martin.chow63@gmail.com) if you’re interested to find out how you can be involved in transforming lives in Yunnan.

How to Change the World (by David Bornstein) is the book that we give to our government partners. Once, traveling in a vehicle to a project site, Mr Li, a high-ranking provincial official, said to me, “You and I are social entrepreneurs working to better the lives of the minorities.”

That book tells stories of people who have not only changed their lives but also found ways to change their world. These people were not content to give someone a

Martin Chow hails from Batu Pahat, Johor. His early ambition was to make his first million by age 40 and then retire. But the Creator had other plans for him. In 2005, his family moved to Kunming, Yunnan, China where he joined an international linguistic NGO. His last role was to relate with government partners and external parties as Associate Director for External Relations. Presently, he is exploring different options to take advantage of the excellent and existing working relationship with various high-level government partners with the goal of equipping the unreached people groups, and helping them come out from their vicious poverty cycle to have a better future.

Martin worked in the Hong Leong Group, a multinational company in Malaysia as a Finance Manager before volunteering his life towards helping the poor and needy in 2001. He graduated with a Master of Science in Finance and Accounting from the University of Stirling, United Kingdom, in 1988. Additionally, he has two professional degrees from the Chartered Institute of Management & Accounting and the Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators from United Kingdom. He also graduated with a Diploma in Ministry from Christian Life College, London in 1991.

His wife, Diana, took over and developed the Yi Minority Livelihood project to help poor single mothers, widows and families to be financially independent. The project also provides financial assistance for Yi children to continue schooling. Diana holds an MBA from Stirling University and was a stock broker for many years until she found a higher calling in helping the poor and needy. She shares the same aspiration with her husband to equip the unreached people groups to come out from their vicious poverty cycle to have a better future.

They have a lovely miracle child named Joyous.

fish or even teach someone how to fish – they would not rest until they have revolutionised the fishing industry.

We cannot impact the community without being involved in their economic wellbeing. No amount of good intention is brilliant enough to compensate for a hungry stomach. Basic needs must be met first. Entrepreneurs bring in skills that are not inherent in these minoritypeople communities.

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Dear Goldie Dear Goldie, We’re on Cloud Nine – we are new grandparents. We want to understand our role and learn some successful tips for grandparenting. Can you help?

Newly Grand

The Grandeur of Grandparenting Dear Newly Grand, I’m glad you caught the idea when you call yourselves “grand”. The definition of “grand” is: magnificent, splendid, noble, wonderful, pleasing, of great importance and distinction. Certainly grandparents should and can be these. But grandparenting, like parenting, does not come naturally as you already realise. If you want to do a good job, you have to be intentional. Don’t take the relationship for granted and expect it will “just happen”.

Out of many things you can do, I will suggest just one – intercede.

When our one-year-old grandson visited us in Perth, we blessed him every day by praying Numbers 6:26: “The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you, the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.” When he returned to Singapore after two weeks, his mother wrote, “Ryan seems to be more cheerful and peaceful. He smiles and lifts his hands and shouts ‘hallelujah’ when he hears praise and worship music. It must be his grandparents’ prayers.” We don’t preach but we can pray Scriptures over young children.

My friend related, “My two-year-old granddaughter visited from Malaysia. I felt it was strange that whenever I prayed for her, she would remonstrate, ‘Don’t pray’. When I sang Christian songs, she

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resisted with ‘Don’t sing’. If I continued, she would put her hands to her ears and run away. I realised there were spiritual obstacles, so my wife and I agreed to pray for her every day. Our daughter joined us by involving her in acting out exciting Bible stories which she enjoyed.”

It was only in the seventh week before the visit ended that they saw a breakthrough: no more resistance and even gladly joining in saying “Amen”. She even wanted to memorise Psalm 23 with her eight-year-old cousin. Four months later when her day care teacher asked, “Where does your daddy come from?” she answered, “God made Daddy”. This shows a little child’s remarkable spiritual perception and retention.

Steven was two years old when his grandma became a Christian. Now 50 years later, he remembers her reading the Bible and praying regularly. When her friends visited her back then, their conversation was not gossip, food or complaints of aches and pains but on how good it is to believe in Jesus and who to visit to share the Good News. At that time, Grandma’s father was bedridden.

Grandma often prayed together with Steven for his salvation. She told Steven, then about six years old, to ask GreatGrandpa every day whether he wanted to believe in Jesus.

Usually without bothering to reply,

he would shake his head. This went on for several months. Then one night, before Steven went to bed, he asked Great-Grandpa the same question. To his surprise, Great-Grandpa nodded.

Grandma confirmed it and asked the pastor to baptise him the next day. GreatGrandpa then asked, “Who are those two beautiful ladies in my room?” Two weeks later, he smiled peacefully, “The two ladies are here to take me away.” He died, accompanied by the angels. Grandma, though unaware, was modeling for her grandson the power of prayer, for which he is forever thankful.

So from the beginning of their lives, intentionally mentor your grandkids with good values. You can be real “grand” parents – people who are wonderful, important, significant and above all, who leave them a valuable legacy.

Goldie Do you have an issue you need advice on?

Write to Asian Beacon’s Goldie Chong at aboffice@asianbeacon.org for her godly counsel.

Selected questions may be featured in this column. If you leave an email address, you will have your question answered, whether it’s published or not.

M ak i ng S ense o f S c r i p t u res With Project Timothy

Jonah’s anger,

God’s mercy

In Jonah, what was the writer trying to say to the original audience about the wideness and depth of God’s mercy compared to their understanding of divine mercy at that time? How is that relevant to us today?

T

he book of Jonah was written between the 5 th

and 4 century BC for a post-exilic audience. It tells of Jonah, a nationalistic Israelite prophet who, like the people of that region then, greatly hated the Assyrians, Israel’s enemy. Jonah’s initial disobedience to God’s command to preach to the Assyrians probably stemmed from his belief that God would show compassion towards the Assyrians if they repented. He felt the Assyrians didn’t deserve God’s mercy and should instead be punished for conquering God’s people (the Israelites).

Perhaps Jonah felt too that God shouldn’t care for the nonIsraelites (Gentiles). During that time, the concept of God’s mercy, even to alien nations, was not unknown to the Israelites. ( Jer 18:7-10: If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.)

As far as the Israelites were concerned, God’s mercy was their exclusive privilege.

Like Jonah, the post-exilic audience harboured great hatred towards the Assyrians who had conquered Israel and Judah, killed many of their people and took the survivors into captivity.

However, the book of Jonah tells the audience that God’s love and compassion is for all – Jews and Gentiles alike. Jonah knew God was gracious and compassionate but his understanding of the extent of God’s mercy was obscured by his self-centred hatred for his nation’s enemy.

For the original audience of the book, it reinforced the fact that God cared even for the Gentile nations. It also revealed the state of

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our human nature that is often directed by self-centred emotions to demand justice. In contrast, God’s mercy is wide enough to forgive even the worst of sinners who repent.

God addressed Jonah’s misplaced anger, firstly about His sparing Nineveh and secondly, the loss of his shady vine. The message was that God preferred acts of repentance to raining down retribution and punishment. Further, the decision whether to punish or exercise mercy is solely God’s prerogative.

As such, God can choose to extend His mercy even to the dreaded enemies of the Israelites as much as He can, in His sovereignty, choose to punish disobedient Israel and Judah. The audience was therefore, to understand that God had the total right to show mercy and compassion on whomever He wished, and not just the Israelites. (Exo 33:19b: I will have compassion on whom I choose to have compassion.)

At titude towards our enemies When we see our brethren and kin face suffering and even torture for standing up for their faith, it is rather human to ask God to exact vengeance and seek retribution against the “enemies”. We may even expect God to answer our call for “revenge”.

However, when the prayers are unanswered (or worse, the “enemies” go unpunished), we may get angry with God, forgetting that He is not subservient, nor obliged to answer our call for “justice”, for His ways are higher than ours. Think for a moment how often we succumb to such thoughts. There is a reason for God to say “Vengeance is mine.”

Instead of seeking our enemies’ destruction, we should value all human beings whom He has created and seek their salvation.

More so, we should submit to God’s absolute sovereignty to do what He so desires.

R es o u r c es

Sabbath For Pastors

The Chess Chronicles: The Church that God Intended

Mark Chua

Stress and burnout in pastors and full-time workers are real and perhaps not an uncommon issue.

In this book, Rev. Dr Mark Chua says that a survey by the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) Malaysia showed “19.7% of pastors indicated that they ‘regularly feel highly stressed while at work’ ”. This book serves as a guide to help pastors find their “Sabbath rhythm” while providing a biblical and theological reflection on the Sabbath.

Of particular interest and relevance to us is the discussion on pastoral ministry and its related stresses within the Asian context. Mark Chua writes as an Asian pastor to Asian pastors.

Price: RM25 Where to purchase: Canaanland

The Durian Years of Marriage…

With Some Hilarity Paul Nah Seang Hoo, Chiam Yoke Choo

Why did this husband and wife team use the durian as an analogy for the early years of marriage? In their introduction, they explain that the highest rate of divorce occurs during the first five years of married life. It’s a thorny time and requires patience and perseverance before one is able to enjoy the sweet, delicious reward within. Hence, the authors – both medical doctors who have remained happily married since 1973 – dubbed these five years the “durian years”. Based on biblical principles, the book contains topics including building the foundations of a marriage, prioritising time, and the role of the man and woman.

Price: RM29.90 Where to purchase: Canaanland, Cziplee, Ebenezer Bookland, Salvation, MPH

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Wilson Ng

Drawing from the game of chess and the strategies involved, Wilson Ng presents ideas on strategic planning, teamwork and organisational concepts that can be used in churches, businesses, families and on a personal level. He dissects the roles, strengths, moves and purposes of the six different pieces (Rook, Knight, Bishop, Queen, King and Pawn) and designates to each a role within God’s kingdom. From there, he takes common chess principles as analogies on how the pieces function together according to God’s master plan. Some of the principles are: “Every piece is unique”, “Don’t give pieces away”, and “Protect your king”.

Price: RM20 Where to purchase: Glad Sounds, Canaanland, Ebenezer Bookland

The Heart of Hymns For this album, Aubrey Suwito selected nine timeless hymns and embellished them with beautiful, contemporary arrangements.

He then roped in several local renowned gospel singers to perform the songs and the result is an uplifting collection of classic hymns with a contemporary sound.

The album opens with “Be Thou My Vision” sung by Juwita Suwito and Patrick Leong. Other gems include “I Surrender All”, performed with heart-rending emotion and intensity by Jaclyn Victor; “It Is Well with My Soul” by Russell Curtis; and “My Jesus, I Love Thee” by Amy Yeoh.

Price: RM30 Where to purchase: Cziplee, Canaanland, www.crankymusic.com

Asian Beacon

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