In a world saturated with so many channels of mass communication and advertising, there are many voices telling us—either directly or subtly—what we need, what we should do, what our value is and who we are. Our identity is constantly bombarded and questioned, but there is one who is firm on who he is.

In recent years, it seems that the institution of marriage and the concept of family have come under great pressure and scrutiny. In actual fact, it has been under attack since the beginning of time. When we look at the first family (Adam, Eve, Cain and Abel), we see so much dysfunction and brokenness.

On 20 April this year, Christians all over the world will celebrate Easter. We remember the virgin birth and hope of the world during Christmas, but more so than his birth, the resurrection of Christ validates, and is the foundation of, Christianity.

This year, the season of Lent starts with Ash Wednesday on 5 March. It commemorates the 40 days that Jesus spent fasting in the desert while being tempted by Satan. It is a time for believers of Jesus to reflect on and prepare for the suffering and death of Jesus.

Scriptural holiness is a teaching prevalent among Methodist churches. John Wesley believed that the unique design of Methodist preachers (and by extension, all Methodists), is “to reform the nation, and in particular the Church, to spread scriptural holiness over the land”.

Our hearts are full of thanksgiving as we begin a brand new year. Two events that stood out from 2024 fill me with gratefulness: the peaceful transition of leadership as Mr Lawrence Wong assumed his role as Singapore’s fourth Prime Minister in May, and Singapore winning a bronze medal in kitefoiling at the Paris Olympic Games in August.

To love our neighbour as we love ourselves is to treat them not in the way they might actually treat us, but in the way we wish they would treat us.

A good and godly Singaporean once told me that he was born on World Toilet Day. I knew he was a November baby, but I didn’t know that 19 November had been designated by the United Nations as World Toilet Day! Nor did I know that this Toilet Day gave the Singapore Government (through the efforts of Jack Sim) its very first successful Resolution adopted by the UN in 2013!

It’s Time to Prioritise Mental Health in the Workplace. This is the theme adopted for this year’s World Mental Health Day (10 October 2024). Recent years have generated more awareness of the importance of mental health. Today, mental illness afflicts many more of us than we used to think. We would be wise to acquaint ourselves with the different ways to promote stronger mental health in our families and friends.

This is the opening line of a hymn by Charles Wesley which Methodists traditionally sing every year at the start of their annual meetings. We will sing the same at the opening of our General Conference meeting on 2 September.