Life can be very unpredictable and some may say unfair. This is especially so when things outside our control happen to us. This includes being born with a disability or into a family where the level of care falls short. Or being betrayed by someone we trust. Or being in the wrong place at the wrong time when hit by a crime. When we find ourselves in such circumstances, we feel like a victim.
Teenage son talks back to his teachers
My nearly-adult teenage son does well in school both academically and in CCAs. However, he gets into trouble every year for talking back to his teachers. Some teachers absolutely adore him; they are the ones who see his heart. But teachers that are “not nice” will bear the brunt of his talkback because he has no respect for either their poor teaching skills or their difficult personalities. He is often the one at fault, but I don’t know how to get him to rein in his tongue. ~ Fed-up Mama
First principal of ACS (Academy), a veteran SPED educator, takes office this month
Ms Esther Kwan has been appointed the first principal of ACS (Academy), Singapore’s fifth special education (SPED) school that supports students on the autism spectrum who are able to access the National Curriculum. ACS (Academy) will be the first Methodist SPED school in Singapore.
Caught between two friends
I am friends with a couple and have known the husband and wife for nearly a decade now. On the outside, they look like the perfect couple—stable jobs, great kids, nice house, God-fearing family. However, both the husband and wife confide in me separately and share their deepest, darkest secrets with me. They do not know that I am hearing both sides of their stories. I have told them to talk to each other in my separate chats, or to consider couples counselling. How should I tell them I do not want to be involved and that it’s too much for me? ~ Friend in the middle
My husband is “fighting his feelings” towards another woman—is this infidelity?
My husband of 25 years told me he fell in love with someone my daughter’s age. He says he has never felt this way before. I consider this infidelity. He does not because he says he is fighting his feelings. I am so hurt. Is he right? Am I too sensitive? How can I be with a man who doesn’t love me but loves someone else? ~ Broken
MSM’s Worship & Church Music Director receives the Perkins Sacred Music Soli Deo Gloria Award
The Methodist School of Music (MSM) celebrates the achievement of Dr Judith Laoyan-Mosomos, Director for Worship & Church Music, who has been awarded the prestigious Perkins Sacred Music Soli Deo Gloria Award. This honour, presented by the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, recognises distinguished graduates who have made significant contributions to church music ministry and education.
Is it okay for my husband to give his female colleague a ride to work frequently?
My husband and I have been married for seven years and we have two children. Recently, I found out that he has been giving a female colleague a ride to work frequently. I found this out by accident when I saw a message coming into his phone which was left on the table, confirming pick-up time. When I asked my husband about it, he said this colleague lives along the way to the office and her husband was unable to send her to work on some days. He claimed that he picked her up only occasionally and he was just being helpful. I do not feel comfortable with this arrangement and told him so. Instead of respecting my wishes, he accused me of being controlling and insecure. I also found out that after a business trip they would share a taxi back together as our homes are close. While this sounds convenient, I am not comfortable with the thought. What should I do? Am I being difficult? ~ Concerned
Physical intimacy and Christian dating… why must it be so complicated?
Ah, dating. The strange phase between being single and being married. Whether you’re single or married, there are explicit principles and encouragements you can turn to in the Bible. The Bible, though, doesn’t discuss dating. Dating only became commonplace way after biblical times.
The Christian’s battle against addiction
God has given humanity the gift and mystery of life. From birth, life thrusts on us the need to survive, to overcome and mature, and to live meaningfully. Our separation from God because of the disobedience of Adam and Eve (Genesis 3) and what we have subsequently inherited complicates this challenge.
Worship as self-care
The Bible tells us that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), entrusted to our care. Caring for ourselves is not just about physical health—it is about nurturing our connection with God. Worship helps restore our whole selves and draws us closer to him.
Why it’s important to “be the change”
The sentence, “You must be the change you want to see in your life” is often attributed to the late Mahatma Gandhi, the great social activist and strong advocate of personal empowerment. Regardless of who actually wrote this, it reflects a positive change that I do see in my clients from time to time.