Church Life

When community becomes a distant concept

Not too long ago, we wouldnā€™t think twice as we walked into our church service hall, conveniently plonking ourselves down in the seat adjacent to a friend, acquaintance or newcomer. There was...

Real Life, Real People

When COVID-19 crashes your wedding

What were some of the challenges you faced?  Linus: Vivien and I are both frontline healthcare staff. So in the weeks leading up to our wedding in February, there was a real danger that we would get...

Friendship

I wanted to be popular, so I signed up for 10 CCAs

Growing up, I bought the idea that one had to be loud and extroverted to command the attention of others. To me, it seemed that these traits boosted oneā€™s popularity. And going into university,...

Dating

I told my girlfriend on Valentineā€™s Day: ā€œYouā€™re not as pretty as you used to beā€

Before I married my wife last year, we had been friends for 12 years during which we dated for about three. So Cheryl and I had already been going out for a fair amount of time when Valentineā€™s Day...

Relationships

I just wanted somebody to love me

At the age of 13, I got into my first unofficial ā€œrelationshipā€ with a guy from church. My family and church leaders advised me against it, saying that I was too young and needed more...

Dating

Help, Iā€™m a blur sotong: How to online date like a gentleman

ā€œEh, try leh.ā€ That was definitely not what my mum said to me when I told her I wanted to look for love online (but two of my friends did!). You see, I am no oppa or Prince Charming. Far from...

Dating

Lust in dating: The secret sin we donā€™t talk about

My husband and I have been married for more than half a year now. Before that, we were in a courtship for just over two years. Most of that time was spent struggling with a sin we were deeply ashamed...

Dating

No, romance is not your great reward

A Christian counsellor once told me that addiction to pornography is poisonous to a marriage. ā€œIf you watch pornography, your marriage will break down.ā€ He said that pornography kills...

Singlehood

Singlehood may be for some, but not loneliness

In the week leading up to our first womenā€™s Bible study, I was overwhelmed by an inexplicable loneliness. I was not alone, but I felt it.  The thing with loneliness is that it isnā€™t just a...