Tragedy in the Chapman Family

Last week I received with deep sadness, the terrible news of the tragedy that had fallen on Steven Curtis Chapman’s family. Chapman has been one of my favorite Christian artist ever since I got hold of his album, Declaration, many years. His songs have lifted me up when I was down, brought me hope when the journey got rough, inspired worship within me when I felt dry and most of all, they have always brought God near. Much of You, Carry You to Jesus, Magnificent Obsession are just some that has ministered to me. So it was a very sad day when I heard that his 5-year old daughter, Maria Sue was hit in the driveway of her home by the SUV driven by her teenage brother. The older boy did not see her as he was reversing the vehicle. I can’t even begin to imagine the psychological impact the accident must have had on the brother. Maria Sue is the youngest of the Chapman’s 6 children, of which 3 were adopted from China. Maria was one of them. It just crushes my heart to know that this adorable and lively little girl is now gone.

Eugene Cho who wrote a little more extensively about this tragedy in his blog, Beauty and Depravity, received what in my view was a very insensitive and incompassionate comment from a reader.

Isn’t it hypocritical for you and the Christian community to highlight the death of one child – however tragic – when so many die tragically around the world?

Cho gave a very good response. Yes, there are thousands of tragic deaths everyday all over the world but we will NEVER apologize for grieving over someone who is, in a way, close to our heart through the ministry of her father. Like Cho said, “there are stories behind numbers” and there is nothing shameful about mourning especially for those whose story has one way or another, crossed our path. There are other theological questions being tossed about by readers, such as the age old one about how God can be good as the Christians claims Him to be and where is the hope in such tragedy? These are some of the questions Cho addressed, so please do find time to read it if you’re interested.

Cho, by the way, is the pastor of Quest Church in Seattle and I have been following his blog for over a year now. He is Korean by birth. Here is someone I can respect. He is willing and able to listen with understanding and an open mind to the voice of a changing generation and culture while staying faithful to his own convictions.

Here is the link to Cho’s post on the tragedy, Part I. There is a link from there to Parts II and III at the top of the post.

As we grieve for the Chapman family, I would like to share this music video form his recent album, This Moment. The song Cinderella is a poignant ballad that spotlights a father’s relationship with his daughter in a novel way. Please pause to allow it some time to load.

rk

Are We Ready For The Shaking?

It’s depressing reading the papers these days. The news seem to be getting bleaker and bleaker. We’re only into our fifth month and there are already more than we can handle. Worsening economy, political unrest, shortage of food, diseases, natural disasters and the continuing terrorist threats. I am reminded again of how blessed I am to still have a job, two healthy children, family and friends and living in a relatively safe nation. Even then, I know I must not put my trust in earthly things, especially now that “the shaking” is going on. “Put your trust in God; the only thing (Person) that is unshakable!”, pastor urged us earlier this year. Really, there is nowhere safe anymore. You think Singapore is safe? For how much longer and from what? earthquakes? tsunamis? cyclones? terrorist threats? what about diseases? But we do not need to fear the shaking. C.S.Lewis likens pain to God’s megaphone. It’s gets our attention! Philip Yancey, having worked with Dr Paul Brand who works with leprosy patients, discovered the “gift of pain”. It calls our attention to the problem. Leprosy attacks the body’s pain sensors so that you cannot feel pain. Lepers slowly loose their limbs, most times without even knowing it!

So fear not the shaking, fellow pilgrims. We share the same earthly home, bearing it’s joy and sorrows. Your triumph is our celebration and our tears, your sorrows. Whatever destiny awaits us, we shall pass through the fire and testings with courage and hope knowing “that what can be shaken will be removed so that what cannot be shaken will remain.” (Hebrews 12:27)

The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in pains of childbirth right up to the present time. (Romans 8:19-22)

Before I sign off, I just want to share with you this lovely hymn by Chris Rice.

 

 

rk

Ready-made Life

So here’s the thing, there is a man who has not had a stable job for over 5 years. Can’t take criticism, instruction nor correction. Hides his insecurity behind a tough and prideful front. Soft with friends but hard with family. Has difficulty submitting to authority and so got himself kicked out one time to many. Blames everything and everyone for his woes, from the government to the local Ah Pek at the grocery store. Thinks the whole world is against him; every person and institution is out there to “cheat his money”. Believes in quick and easy money. Hoarding and stinging is his way to riches. Has a delusional view that investing money he don’t have in the stock market will somehow payoff someday. Who needs a job when several months pay is possible in a day? That’s his philosophy. When the day comes, that his lucky stars should be in the right position, and he strikes a pot of gold, he will do the responsible and sensible thing and pay off his creditors and give his family a break. No, he puts them gold back into the pot and rolls it. Maybe, just maybe there is a bigger pot, hell no, an entire reservoir of it! – just waiting to be found. So he hogs the TV and the internet half of the day and punches into the calculator for another half before he calls it a day. His maid manages the house and the children in the day before his wife takes over after work in the evening and on weekends. His brothers sponsor some of his groceries and his mother is always there in case of “emergencies”. In any case, there is the fully independent, full-time working wife who also coaches the kids, attends to all their school related programs and meet-the-parent sessions PLUS takes care of their recreational, emotional, social, spiritual (and whatever “als” you can think off) needs. Everything is just perfect. Life comes ready-made.  And so it is to this very day.

May God have mercy on him before he losses both his pot of gold and his family.

 

rk