#123 foursquare

This is the only incentive I need to explore new places. If I'm needed to run an errand to far-flung places, foursquare makes me feel less stupid. As a rule, I only check in somewhere when I have an interaction there. That's good enough, compared to people who do so just for the points.

#122 Children

They're so incredibly cute when they're not yours. You can play all you want with them, with none of the attendant responsibility. And those cheeks! So pinchable!

#121 Dresses

According to Jasmine's logic, she's entitled to pay more (up to double) for dresses as they are an outfit in itself, and it costs less than a blouse & pants combo. I'd never thought of it that way before, but I find myself agreeing with the logic. We looked for a sombre, morose and funereal few that would instil fear & trembling in the kids at work next year.

#120 Counting offering

While possibly an onerous and mundane task, I look forward to counting offering as it reminds me of God's faithfulness.

I'm especially heartened when I see the younger ones tithe their pocket money, even if it just amounts to a few cents; we all started small.

The other big encouragement for me is when people tithe out of their blessing and abundance. These are typically huge amounts that come at opportune times. What's worth remembering is that these generous people all started giving when they were receiving far smaller amounts, but they are now equally faithful to God in giving when they are blessed with much more.

After all, we are reminded to emulate the widow with two copper coins, not the Pharisee who gave ostentatiously out of his largesse.

#119 Home cell groups

Perhaps, like all good things, its time has passed. Home cell groups are now difficult to maintain because of the sheer logistic effort of getting a large number of people to commit to meeting in one place at one time on one day. Decentralisation seems to be de rigueur now.

In simpler times, however, home cell was the only way we knew how. And what times they were.

Sing a few simple songs, pray fervently, read Scripture, and - as a kid, this was the most important part - relentless makan and play time thereafter. We'd even traipse off to the McDonald's playground at Sembawang after that. This was before issues like being too busy with work set in. People made it a priority to meet.

Sadly, times have changed. It's not just the discipleship that's lacking in putting God's business first, but the reality that work consumes so much more of our lives now that work-life balance has been eschewed in favour of work-life harmony; balance is no longer attainable; we have to be content with its coexistence instead.

Well, we are the new working generation, and by those bonds that were forged in blood, sweat and tears at McDonald's, we can make small groups work again, but in vastly different ways. Our methods may change, but our objectives remain unchanged - discipleship, fellowship, worship His Lordship.

#118 Friendly neighbours

My tee, which had been hanging outside my living room window, was blown downstairs by a particularly strong gust. To my dismay, it was trapped on the parapet between the fifth and sixth floors. The sixth floor unit was unoccupied, and it'd be more tricky to get it from the fifth floor, probably by using a pole to poke the shirt down.

Knocking on the fifth floor unit, I realised my neighbours were out. I left a note with my number, asking him to call me when he was back home.

I then went out to run some errands. Halfway through, behold - an SMS! My neighbour kindly informed me that he had seen my note, and taken the initiative of retrieving my shirt and putting it at my door.

We Singaporeans may not be the most sociable lot, but as neighbours, we can and should go the extra mile.