Real Life, Real People

See you soon, Dad

I remember climbing the Great Wall of China with my father in 2009. My sisters and mother were predictably not game enough to ascend the cobbled steps, but we men were always so brave. I led the way...

Singlehood

When will my Song Joong Ki come?

K-drama fan or not, who could forget 2016 – the year of Korean blockbuster series Descendants of the Sun? I’ll be able to look back fondly and tell my grandchildren one day that I was right there...

Singlehood

Be still my single heart

“Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you by the gazelles and by the does of the field: Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires.” (Song of Songs 3:5) I’ve fallen in love with a...

Friendship

My “holiness” turned everyone off

I have been a ā€œChristianā€ since my water baptism in 2009 – quotation marks intended. The early years of my faith revolved around being holy, such as by not staying out late, not drinking, not...

Worldview

Compassion without compromise

One of my friends came out to me. He said he was inĀ a same-sex relationship. I found it a highly uncomfortable experience;Ā it shocked me because this friend was a friend in Christ. What was worse...

Friendship

A letter to my gay best friend

Dear You, I’m writing this with trepidation and excitement at the same time. I don’t know how you’ll feel upon reading it, and some of this has been brimming over for a while. I just didn’t...

Culture

Where are our manners?

The other day in the church lobby I sawĀ someone I knew in conversation with the parents of our mutual friend. IĀ was out of earshot, but the body language was plain to see: TheĀ young man’s...

Friendship

When my mentee came out to me

ā€œI have something to tell you. I’mĀ attracted to the same gender.ā€ Someone I was mentoringĀ in church had suddenly asked to meet me. She lookedĀ extremely jittery and it was clear something...

Real Life, Real People

Scarred by the hand of man, saved by the Hand of God: A pastor’s journey of grace

He was only five when it happened. In those days, young Ian loved watching his father play Chinese Chess with the neighbourhood’s older residents. In fact, he looked solely to his father for...