Paul Long's Ramblings

As someone who has in the past attempted suicide, It think that this is another important article by Soo Inn. I am thankful to God that I have good friends who are willing to walk with me when I feel low, and that I am reminded often through Scripture that God loves me unconditionally. One thing I want to add that I think is important - serving God and others. When we who are in Christ spend time helping others in need, it does help take our minds of some of our problems. I find that we begin to better realize the blessings we have been given. Also we receive great joy when we see how the love and grace of Christ positively affects others in need!  GRACE@WORK MAIL 16/10 April 23, 2010 Edition. (Grace@Work Mail is a ministry of Graceworks:  www.graceworks.com.sg ) Commentary: Another Suicide By Soo-Inn Tan Introduction ---------------- Last week I received a message that a young person, capable, full of promise, her life ahead of her, had taken her own life. The...

Another particularly excellent commentary that personally resonated with my soul. Sentences highlighted in red are my emphasis and my personal comments are after the commentary. GRACE@WORK MAIL 4/10 January 29 th , 2010 Edition. (Grace@Work Mail is a ministry of Graceworks : www.graceworks.com.sg ) Commentary: Seeing Mum By Soo -Inn Tan Bernice and I did a lightning visit to Penang this last Monday to Wednesday (Jan 25 th - 27 th , 2010.). We went to visit my mum. Widowed, she lives with a maid in her home in Pulau Tikus . We have asked her to live with us in Singapore many times, but like many Penang folk, she is not keen to leave her island. Besides her primary social networks are there. Mum will be eighty-three this year and I wonder how much time I will have with her. In truth nobody knows when their time is up and I may die first. Still, in the normal course of things, I tell myself that I have to be prepared to bid her goodbye. Our times together are extra precious now. Bern...

Another thought provoking piece by Soo Inn. Thanks "Yoda!" :-) GRACE@WORK MAIL 37/09 September 11th, 2009 Edition. This ecommentary is sent out free but your donations help this ministry in its commitment to bring truth to life. Details below. (Grace@Work Mail is a ministry of Graceworks: www.graceworks.com.sg ) Commentary: Not Another Leadership Seminar By Soo-Inn Tan Think of a few leaders you admire. How many of them were effective leaders as a result of some formal leadership training they received? Ruth A. Tucker has this to say about leadership training: [Enrolling in a seminar to learn how to be a leader is as unfeasible as taking a seminar to learn how to teach . . . Teaching elementary piano lessons, for example, requires a different set of skills than teaching calculus . . . If leading covers the categories of everything from playground monitor and supermarket produce manager to president and pope, then there is no effective way to teach leadership . . . training...

Got back from a Pastors Retreat yesterday. Sadly got sick before I left and so was sick ... and tired at the retreat. The 5 hour drive did not help, though it was actually a pleasant drive (scenery was great which makes a huge difference) and I enjoyed driving my new car and listening to both sermons and music on the journey. My colds normally last 24 to max 48 hours except a couple of times a year where they are prolonged (so I think that means it is the flu) and interestingly the times I have the flu coincided with the two pastors retreats I attended. I realise that one factor is the realisation that I come to the retreat tired and when I slow down for the retreat, my " resistance " drops, my body is more susceptible to all the wrong bugs.... Of course room mates who snore add to the tiredness during the retreat! :-) but that's another story ... Will blog more I guess on the retreat one day but one thing that was discussed was a recent survey done of Brethren pasto...

AMEN!!!! Another good piece from Soo Inn and some very interesting facts from research given like ... Rebecca G. Adams, a professor of sociology at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. "There is just scads of stuff on families and marriage, but very little on friendship. It baffles me. Friendship has a bigger impact on our psychological well-being than family relationships." But then again when I thuink about it ... it is not that surprising ... enjoy the read. And Soo Inn, thanks for the friendship! ------ GRACE@WORK MAIL 27/09 July 3rd, 2009 Edition. This ecommentary is sent out free but your donations help this ministry in its commitment to bring truth to life. Details below. (Grace@Work Mail is a ministry of Graceworks: www.graceworks.com.sg ) Commentary: A Big Deal By Soo-Inn Tan "Spiritual friendship Is friendship that is rooted in Christ, for the purpose of growing in Christ." "What is the vision of Graceworks?" Often folks would ask...

Another great e-commentary from Soo Inn. I love how he interacts with movies :-) GRACE@WORK MAIL 23/09 June 5th, 2009 Edition. This ecommentary is sent out free but your donations help this ministry in its commitment to bring truth to life. Details below. (Grace@Work Mail is a ministry of Graceworks: www.graceworks.com.sg ) Commentary: Hatred Makes You Strong By Soo-Inn Tan One of my favourite scenes in Star Wars 6 (Return of the Jedi) is the one where Luke Skywalker finally bests his heavy breathing dad Darth Vader. Luke had tried to avoid fighting his dad but when Darth threatened to turn Luke's sister to the dark side, Luke goes berserk and defeats his dad, cutting Darth's right hand off in the process. The evil emperor, who has been observing this duel, makes the following offer: "Good! Your hate has made you powerful. Now, fulfill your destiny and take your father's place at my side!" Every time I watch this scene, I am reminded that indeed, there is a certai...

Another great piece by Soo Inn. This is my first re-posting of any of his e-commentaries in my new blog (now that I have closed down my Multiply blog) so a quick promo ... 1. He is a great guy - genuine and down to earth (though some may think too "down to earth" ! :-) ) 2. I consider him a mentor and I miss our sessions as part of a mentoring triad. 3. I am a financial supporter of grace@work and I do commend it 4. He makes a lot of sense Ok , some additional comments. While I am seeking to see how I can "formally" work at developing leaders as well as be developed as a leader, I think the reality is that most of leadership development (also called disciple-making for the more spiritually / biblically inclined :-)) happens informally ... as a natural part of trying to living our lives honestly by the grace of God. I am so glad for this as a wise man commented (and then prayed) on Sunday something along the line of "God has raised up leaders" and that...