Here are some ways to make the time go by faster but productively.

WHAT YOU CAN WATCH

On Netflix

You might be pleasantly surprised to know that there are some faith-related series up on Netflix, including The Jesus Code, a historical documentary series about Jesus’ life and ministry.

There’s also the biographical drama, The Two Popes, a film based on the real-life friendship between Pope Benedict and Pope Francis. Both shows are not too heavy on the mind but just enough to get you pondering.

Need your dose of K-drama? Unlike most romance-heavy K-dramas, Hospital Playlist explores the life and friendship of five friends working on the medical frontline. There are also no complex plot lines or mother-in-law drama – the story is simple and easy to follow.

Or pick your brain with the quirky American reality programme 100 Humans where literally 100 humans experiment with life’s questions like “does wearing a uniform make you look more attractive?”

For anime connoisseurs, Netflix has also recently released a collection of Studio Ghibli films such as Arriety and The Castle in the Sky. 

Prefer something fun? Indulge your inner child with wholesome cartoons like SpongeBob SquarePants (’90s kids where you at?) and Carmen Sandiego (a modern remake of a classic!).

PRO-TIP: You can now also enjoy watching these shows with friends and family through Netflix Party! 

On YouTube

Those who want to brush up on their Bible knowledge in a fun and visually engaging way should definitely watch the videos by The Bible Project. The channel offers beautifully animated study guides that will help you dive deeper into the richness of the Bible. 

Of course, for local faith-based content, yours truly – Thir.st – is also on YouTube. Aside from interviews, you can chill out to our collection of locally written worship songs on our #THIRSTACOUSTIC playlist. Or get a quick lesson from #THIRSTBITES, our series of short videos offering life and faith advice.

For other local good news, you might want to check out Our Grandfather Story, featuring wholesome content such as one that follows a volunteer who took to the streets to help stranded Malaysians during the lockdown. Their Can Ask Meh? series also offers insight into the lives of Singaporeans you may have otherwise never spoken to.  

The Office star John Krasinski has also started his own YouTube series called Some Good News. Shot at his own home, Krasinski shares good news sent in from fans in an engaging, casual news setting.

Faith-based platforms

Released last Christmas is the beautifully shot series called The Chosen that depicts the Gospels of Jesus Christ. Both Apple and Android users can stream the entire first season for free via The Chosen app. The different episodes offer a more holistic insight into New Testament times such as its political climate and culture. 

If you need a reminder of why we should share the Good News, the Full Flame Series by the late Reinhard Bonnke features the renowned evangelist and his rich teachings on the life of Jesus. Available for free on their website, you’ll gain access to eight different short films upon registration. Shot around the world over a decade, Bonnke’s words will inspire you to reach people for Christ! 

Never read the famous book? Revelation Media has also made available a free screening of The Pilgrim’s Progress. This animated film – based on John Bunyan’s novel of the same title – is an allegory of one’s faith journey, where the main character, Christian, journeys through trials and tests to reach the Celestial City.

WHAT YOU CAN READ

If you’ve been procrastinating to read books, now’s a good time to finally get to it! The National Library (NLB) has a wide variety of ebooks and audiobooks available on its online database.

All you need is your Singpass to register for an account. Ebooks can be downloaded for free, and can be read offline via the Libby app on your mobile device or as an Epub file on your computer.

Some books available include Henry Cloud’s Boundaries, Boundaries in Marriage, Boundaries in Dating and Boundaries for Leaders. 

Other good reads you can find as ebooks from NLB are The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R Tolkien and the complete C.S. Lewis signature classics, which include titles like Mere Christianity and The Screwtape Letters.

WHAT YOU CAN LISTEN TO

Apart from worship songs, there are other ways to let feed your ears with God’s Word!

Pastor Benny Ho’s teaching ministry Arrows Resources is offering its app content for free for the entire month of April. All you need to do is download the app on the App Store or Google Play, create an account and enter the group code: GwvvQ9. 

There are a variety of audio resources on Bible studies – like the book of Malachi and book of Philemon – to practical guides based on Christian values, like 10 Keys to Choosing a Life Partner and Managing Your Finance God’s Way. 

The Cathedral Podcast by St. Andrew’s Cathedral offers discussions by local pastors and other guests on topics like “What’s the point of work?” and “Faith in sickness”. This is available on iTunes, Spotify and Google Podcasts.

For fiction lovers, Amazon has also cancelled its subscription fees for children and young adult’s audio stories. These are now free to stream and can be accessed on your various devices via their website. Books you can listen to include familiar classics like Moby Dick and The Jungle Book.

WHAT YOU CAN PLAY

After a few hours of sitting still all day, your fingers might be itching for some engaging gameplay.

Sky: Children of the Light offers a relaxing role-playing game (RPG), where you can traverse beautiful landscapes without having to leave your home. 

Put your drawing skills to the test at Skribbl.io, a website where you can compete with others to guess the image being drawn. You can also create your own private room to compete with friends. Aggie io, on the other hand, is a website where you can create a digital masterpiece together.

Also consider Houseparty, a video conferencing tool that also offers games such as Heads Up and Pictionary, which you can play with a group of friends while on a video-call with them.

So go on, find something wholesome to engage in and make your time at home worthwhile!