25th Wedding Anniversary

As 2017 draws to a close, may I wish you a great year ahead.

“I am getting married!” was the subject heading of an email I received recently from a former student. She is not the only one who got married this year… I know of several other former students who also tied the nuptial knot this year.

 

2017 is also a special year for us. It is our 25th wedding anniversary. We are thankful for the many good memories; we have been to interesting places we never dreamed of… This year, we visited Florida (Jan), Hong Kong (Apr), Switzerland (Jun), Taiwan (Jul) and Sydney (Oct). That adds up to nearly 80,000 km!

Florida (Jan 2017)

Marriage is not the only milestones in one’s life. There are other significant milestones, such as:

• the first day in university;
• the last exam;
• getting the first job;
• receiving the first pay check;
• collecting the keys to the house;
• the first promotion;
• becoming a parent;
• retiring; and so on…

Taichung (Jul 2017)

Milestones are important because they are the fruits of our hard work; they encourage us; and they mark a new phase/season in our life. It is therefore important to celebrate milestones; lest our “life become one long ride without stops to enjoy the scenery”. So I am reminded that we should not be  hurried to reach our destination... don't settle on snapping photos to share on Facebook. Instead, remember to pause, ponder, enjoy the panoramic view, make friends, and smell the flowers along the way.

Sydney (Oct 2017)

Mankind has over the years erected monuments & memorials for many reasons. Personally, I collect small stones/pebbles and place them in visible places around my house/office. They serve as a constant reminder for me to:
(1) be thankful (look back) - count my blessings,
(2) be humble (look up) – if I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants, Isaac Newton; and

(3) be hopeful (look forward) – past victories paved the way for future success.

May your 2018 be filled with abundant grace, joy and peace.

 

Switzerland (June 2017)

The Ebenezer Stone... Three Important Lessons (1 Samuel 7:12)

 "Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “till now, the Lord has helped us…" 

 

Today, I received my new laptop, a Lenovo T250, which was ordered a few weeks ago... Since today is Christmas eve, I will consider this as my Christmas present, unwrapped early. For the  opening ceremony, I would like to start using this new computer by making a blog entry on honouring God. Based on a bible passage that I have been meditating on recently, it concerns the Ebenezer Stone which Samuel erected after a successful battle with the Philistines.   

The background to this verse:

 

I. A long time has passed (some 20 years), and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord (7:2).

Note that since 4:1, we have not read about Samuel; he was not mentioned till now… as if he was unconcerned (which is probably not the case). More likely, Samuel’s labours among the people are not mentioned until the time is ripe. Often, a lot of our good and hard works remain unseen and unmentioned; they remain in the background until the appointed time.
 

II. When he perceived that the house of Israel was ready, Samuel exhorted them to:

1. Return to the LORD with all their heart – this involves putting away the foreign gods and directing their heart to the LORD and serve him only. 
2. Gather at Mizpah for a leaders’ retreat – for dedication, fasting, prayer & repentance…

III. The Philistines mistook the general meeting (for repentance and prayer) to be a rendezvous for war. So, they decided to invade Israel first. Henry Matthew added:

…they had no just cause for this suspicion; but those that seek to do mischief to others will be forward to imagine that others design mischief to them.” 

... how evil sometimes seems to come out of good; The religious meeting of the Israelites at Mizpah brought trouble upon them..., which may perhaps tempted them to wish they had stayed at home and to blame Samuel for calling them together; often we may decide to walk in God’s way and yet meet with distress; often when sinners begin to repent and reform, they can expect Satan to muster all his force against them, and set his instruments on work to oppose and discourage them.”

... they were here unarmed, unprepared for war - they came together to fast and pray, not to fight, and the only weapons they brought along were prayers and tears… Thus, Israel could never be threatened more seasonably than at this time, when they were repenting and praying, nor could they have been better prepared to receive the enemy; nor could the Philistines have acted more impolitely than to make war upon Israel at this time, when they were making their peace with God.” 

 

IV. Israel cleaves closely to Samuel in distress; though he was no military man, nor ever celebrated as a mighty man of valour, yet, being afraid of the Philistines, for whom they thought themselves an unequal match, the Israelites engaged Samuel’s prayers for them: Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us (7:8) 

 

V. Samuel intercedes with God for them, and does it by sacrifice. (7:9)

 

VI. God gave a gracious answer to Samuel’s prayer (7:9): The Lord heard him. Israel had the pleasure of triumphing over their oppressors. They pursued the Philistines... How soon did they find the benefit of their repentance, and reformation, and return to God! Now that they are engaged with God, none of their enemies can stand before him.

Samuel erected a thankful memorial of this victory, (1) to the glory of God, and (2) for the encouragement of Israel. Interestingly, the place where this memorial was set up was the same where, 20 years before, the Israelites were beaten before the Philistines (4:1).



Now, the intention of Samuel in erecting the Ebenezer stone is clear: If ever the people’s hard hearts should lose the impressions of this providence, this stone would either revive the remembrance of it, and make them thankful, or remain a standing witness against them for their unthankfulness. 

Three lessons to remember:

 

1. That we should often review our past mercies

All have received mercies in abundance, which we ought from time to time to review, in order to impress a sense of them the more deeply on our minds. For the lack of this, how many mercies are forgotten! And what a loss do we sustain by means of our forgetfulness!

• Blessings that are unnoticed are no more to us than they are to the brute creation: but if we bring them frequently to our remembrance, we have frequently in the retrospect a sweeter taste of them than we had in the actual possession.

Let us learn to pass over no mercy without labouring to imprint it on our minds, and to retain the remembrance of it to our dying hour. - Charles Simeon

 

2. That we should especially view the hand of God in them

And to whom can we trace all our mercies, but to God? Look at our temporal mercies; 

• the time, and place of our birth, when the light of the Gospel was shining all around us - our preservation during the helpless state of infancy;
• the many deliverances, seen, and unseen, which we have experienced since;
• the blessings of health and abundance.  

View but the last year (2015), and see how many have been plunged into deep distress, from which you are exempt; or been called away into the eternal world, whilst you are left with protracted opportunities of working out your salvation… For who is it that has made you to differ?

Will I, or can I, trace these blessings to my own superior wisdom, or goodness, or strength? Surely,  not. Humbly, I acknowledge the hand of God in them, and say, “Hitherto hath the Lord helped me.”  

3. That we should make our experience of past mercies the ground of expecting all that we can need from God in future

From what we have received “hitherto,” we know what to expect henceforth. And so should the memorials that are raised in our hearts:

 

“Thou hast been my help; therefore under the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice [Psalms 63:7.]:”

"Because the Lord hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live [Psalms 116:2.].”

 

This is the key purpose of preserving memorials of past mercies in our minds! What holy confidence will it introduce into the soul, and what a happy anticipation even of eternal blessedness! Only let the “Ebenezer” which Samuel erected teach us this, and we shall ourselves raise in due time a similar memorial in the realms of bliss.

source: LAB, Henry Matthew, Charles Simeon

Chronophage - The Time Eater

"Basically I view time as not on your side. He'll eat up every minute of your life, and as soon as one has gone he's salivating for the next."

Year-end Reflection 

 

Dec 2015: Another year is passing away.... Although not everything we had resolved to do at the start of the year have been accomplished; although we encountered trials along the way; and although the economic outlook remains uncertain over the horizon, we can still find reasons to give thanks.

 

We do have a good life: I am truly blessed with a wonderful wife. We live in a private apartment, we enjoyed doing simple things together. We are healthy… physically, emotionally, socially and financially. Job-wise, I find meaning in what I do... I love to do research, teach and inspire my students, who are really the hope and future of the nations. All in all, we are happy and humbly grateful for God's protection and grace.

 

We were away on sabbatical: 4 months in Cambridge (Aug -Dec 2014) and 5 months in Florida (Jan - May 2015). What does one do during sabbatical? R&R! Intellectually, R&R stands for Reading and Research. At a deeper level, R&R also stands for Rest and Reflect. During our sabbatical, we met many acquaintances and made new friends. We tried new things, new experiences. We also travelled to many cities, such as Maastricht in Netherlands, Brussels & Bruges in Belgium, London, Manchester & Reading in England, Edinburgh in Scotland, Boston and several interesting places in Florida, USA.

 

What inspired us? In reflection, there are indeed many things we could share on what inspired us. Cambridge is a stunningly beautiful college town. You can easily be awed by its rich history; imagine dining at The Eagle pub where Crick and Watson interrupted patrons’ lunchtime (in Feb 1953) to announce that they had discovered “the secret of life” (i.e. how DNA carries genetic information); or visiting the Wren Library to look at the handwritten notes of Sir Isaac Newton; or peeping into the field notes of Charles Darwin at the Sedwick Museum.

 

In Florida, we were inspired by the natural serenity of God’s creation and by the friendliness of those we met. I was thrilled to visit many farms, which taught us many life lessons, such as not to underestimate the potential of a small seed; the importance of patience and hard work; and appreciating the seasons of life… particularly, there is a season to sow, there is a season to wait, and there is a season to reap. 

Where am I in the seasons of life? 2015 is also a very special year. It marks Singapore's 50th year of independence. Most Singaporeans will also remember 2015 for the passing of Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the founding father and chief architect of modern Singapore. Born in 1965, I also celebrated my 50^th birthday this year. If you take age 20-35 as spring, 35-50 as summer, 50-65 as autumn, 65-80 as winter, then I am at the stage where summer has just passed. So, here I am, staring into the autumn season of my life… reflecting the season of transition, the changing colors of autumn leaves (and white hairs) can make one more contemplative on life... While this is the season for gathering the harvests and for giving thanks, it is also a time for preparing for the coming hibernation of winter.

 

The Corpus Clock: The continual passing of time and cycle of life and death reminded me of an interesting landmark in Cambridge UK. The Corpus Clock is a large sculptural clock at street level, looking out over the busy King’s Parade. The dominating visual feature of the clock is a grim-looking metal sculpture of an insect similar to a locust. This beast is called the Chronophage (literally "time eater" in Greek). It moves its mouth, appearing to "eat up" the seconds as they pass, and occasionally it "blinks" in seeming satisfaction. The creature's constant motion produces an eerie grinding sound and the hour is tolled by the sound of a chain clanking into a small wooden coffin hidden in the back of the clock. Below the clock is an inscription from 1 John 2:17: mundus transit et. concupiscentia eius ("the world passeth away, and the lust thereof").

 

According to Taylor (the benefactor), the clock is entirely accurate only once every five minutes. The rest of the time, the pendulum may seem to catch or stop, and the lights may lag or, then, race to get ahead. This erratic motion reflects life's "irregularity". Conceived as a work of public art, the Chronophage reminds viewers in a dramatic way of the inevitable passing of time. It is deliberately designed to be "terrifying". Taylor shared, "Basically I view time as not on your side. He'll eat up every minute of your life, and as soon as one has gone he's salivating for the next."

 

Time can pass us by swiftly without our knowing: Below are two photos we took, then and now. Then was in 1997, now is in 2014. Two photos of the same couple taken in front of the same building, but 18 years apart. Note that I am wearing the same navy blue jacket, although its color has faded and the padding worn out. Thankfully, we are still smiling after all these years! Life has been good to us!

 

                   

Some say, life after 50 is a downhill: I do not believe this. Instead, I believe there is more to life! While the visual image of the Chronophage eating away time can be hypnotically disturbing and the claim that the world (and its lust) is passing away is true, it is incomplete. The second part of the verse was left out: “but the one who does the will of God lives forever.” One inspiring biblical character is Caleb who continues to thrive at the age of 85. During our sabbatical, we got to know many who are still going strong in their autumn/winter seasons. Their stories serve as a lesson for us to never release God’s promises; never retire from serving God; never resigned to the fate of time, and never retreat from the enemy!

 So for this Christmas: We choose to look back with gratitude, to enjoy the present, and to look forward with hope. Instead of letting the Chronophage chew away our precious moments, we intentionally take time out to celebrate life. Instead of running mindlessly, we find time in this festivity period to remind ourselves of God’s provision, and to say “thank you” to those who have been a blessing to us in many different ways.

 

Indeed, your friendship has been a blessing to us. Thank you. May the holidays become a special time of spiritual enrichment, personal renewal, and genuine gratitude.[1]

Photo: on a less-travelled road in Florida (2015)

Our prayer as we look forward to 2016: Lord, you have been good to us, you have been gracious; you have been faithful meeting our needs; Lord, it’s so plain to see. You have been good to us. We have been given much that we can’t even begin to thank you… And still, we believe there is more. So, we open our hands to receive all that your love has installed for us,
miracles wonders blessings unnumbered, love never-ending!

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[1] References: Don Moen, Charles Swindoll, Wikipedia.

 

Kung Fu Panda: Lesson 4

4.      The secret to unlimited power is to “believe”.
 

In the movie, the hero and the villain fought over the Dragon Scroll, which contained the secret to unlimited power. However, when the scroll was eventually unveiled, it turned out to be an anticlimax because the scroll was blank. Po later discovered that the secret of the scroll is simply to “believe”.

In another scene, Shifu had an exchange of words with Grand Master Oogway on Po’s potential. Shifu was dismissive of Po, saying, “The panda? He is no dragon warrior!” However, Grand Master Oogway, in his wisdom, foretold that, “maybe he can, if you are willing to guide him, to nurture him, to believe in him!”    

As a teacher, I believe in the value of education. I also believe in what I teach. Most importantly, I believe in my students who are really the hope and future of the real estate profession. I honestly believe that the best buildings have yet to be built, and the most innovative real estate deals have yet to be structured, because the people behind those buildings and deals are in my classroom today.

Source: "Four Lessons from Kung Fu Panda", OEA Public Lecture Series 2012.

Kung Fu Panda: Lesson 3

3.      We may not be born with teaching skills, but we can acquire them through perseverance.

A quick question—are kung fu masters born or made? In the movie, the villain Tai Lung was a natural kung fu fighter. Everyone said, “He is a prodigy!” He mastered every kung fu move very quickly. However, despite his superb skills, Tai Lung’s pride eventually turned him into a monster. Po, on the hand, was fat and clumsy. Although unskilled at first, he eventually mastered the art of kung fu because he persevered and refused to give up.

Similarly, are excellent teachers born or made?

Some are naturally gifted. They have intelligence, good looks, charisma, verbal fluency, a pleasant voice, and a good memory! In my case, it was the exact opposite—for one thing, I am not a naturally fluent speaker. Language and grammar are not my best subjects. Inhibited by a lack of confidence and self-consciousness, I used to suffer from stage fright.

However, I was determined to take every opportunity to learn and improve my teaching skills—both informally, from colleagues and formally, from attending courses organised by CDTL. I recorded my lectures, reviewed them over and over again, and solicited feedback. I read books on public speaking, making good presentations, and general teaching. I also made an effort to master the subject knowledge; I learnt to tell stories and to develop my own style of teaching.

Source: "Four Lessons from Kung Fu Panda", OEA Public Lecture Series 2012.

Kung Fu Panda: Lesson 2

2.      The first step to our dream is to wake up.

We all have to start somewhere; to paraphrase the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, “the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step”. In the world of dreams and fantasies, we can do anything—from beating the most powerful foe with one little finger, to executing the most difficult stunt. However, in the real world, nothing worthwhile is easily obtained.

In the movie, Po’s initial reception by the Furious Five and their master, Shifu, was anything but warm. He was ridiculed and poked fun at. In one scene, Tigress, his idol, told him straight in the face, “Look, you don’t belong here! You are a disgrace to kung fu!” In another scene, Shifu derided Po: “Look at you! This fat butt, flabby arms, and this ridiculous belly, and utter disregard for personal hygiene… Don’t stand too close, I can smell your breath!”

When I first started teaching, I also encountered critical comments from students (despite my good intentions and best efforts). Some of these comments included:

·  “he lacks confidence… should be more at ease”,

·  “need to improve on his presentation style... always reading straight from the slide. Not very clear during [the] lecture”,

·  “his lectures are not well organized. Notes are often out of order” 

·  “content [is] too dry and technical”.

Two negative responses to such criticisms would be denial and self-pity. Denial would involve rejecting negative feedback by rationalising that students do not know how to identify “good” and “bad” teaching; that their view of a good teacher is based primarily on popularity and showmanship rather than substance. Self-pity, on the other hand, would involve allowing the negative feedback to eat into one’s confidence and emotion, which could lead to depression and making excuses about one’s teaching skills. In the movie, a dejected Po cried,

“I suck! They totally hate me! How is Shifu ever going to turn me into the Dragon Warrior? I mean, I’m not like the Five. I’ve got no claws, no wings, no venom, even the mantis has this… Maybe I should just quit!” 

In short, critical words can break the confidence of a young apprentice. I am glad that Po did not quit despite such setbacks. If he had, his story would have ended there and then, and there would have been no “Kung Fu Panda”. I wonder how many stories have remained untold and dreams unfulfilled because someone said, “I quit!”

Source: "Four Lessons from Kung Fu Panda", OEA Public Lecture Series 2012.  

Kung Fu Panda: Lesson 1

1.      Every great thing starts with a dream.

 

The movie starts with a dramatic scene of Po fighting alongside his idols, the legendary Furious Five (Tigress, Crane, Mantis, Viper and Monkey) to defeat an army of villains. Alas, it was only a dream, a crazy dream it seems!

 

Like Po, many of us can recall having childhood dreams. However, at some point in time, many cast aside these childhood dreams. What happened? Maybe as they grew up into adulthood, they learnt that dreams and fantasies were for children and would have no place in the adult world. Maybe, they learnt from bitter experience that dreams and disappointments were correlated. The bigger the dream, the greater the disappointment! As such, in order to insulate themselves from being hurt, they stopped dreaming.

However, dreams are important. To be honest, my pursuit of teaching excellence involved pursuing a series of dreams, starting from scaling small hills to eventually aiming for the peak—the Mount Everest of the OEA! In the words of the great American industrialist Henry J. Kaiser,

“I always have to dream up there against the stars. If I don’t dream I’ll make it, I won’t even get close. So, dream a great dream, a lofty dream, an impossible dream!”

 

 

Source: "Four Lessons from Kung Fu Panda", OEA Public Lecture Series 2012.

Devastating Events

Devastating events – disappointments; reversals; anything you didn’t want but got anyway; Plan B, not Plan A; things that discourage, that disappoint; things that threaten your well-being and threaten your understanding of the purposes of God?

We know what it is like to see our lives plunged into turmoil. We know what it is like to see our plans dashed. We know what it is like to see our dreams crushed. Every one of us has had that. … When those things happen to us, they will either make us bitter or they will make us better. It will be one or the other.

photo: sentosa, singapore

Seeing God in the midst of devastating events: These things didn’t happen outside the understanding of God. They don’t surprise God. These devastating events that Satan may have meant for our ill, God means for our good. He will bring us through those devastating events into an encounter with Him. He is preparing to meet us in a special way.

If we look carefully into the devastating events of our lives and into those things that threaten our well-being, we will find that there is a burning bush, and God is endeavouring, through those devastating events to bring us to Himself.

source: James T. Draper, Jr (2004) Joy for the Journey in Preaching with Passion

A Friendly Trail

"Try leaving a friendly trail of little sparks of gratitude on your daily trips. You will be surprised how they will set flames of friendship that will be rose beacons on your next visit."

- Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends & Influence People.

The Two Rails Life

We have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life.... "I used to think that life was hills and valleys – you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don’t believe that anymore.

Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it’s kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life... No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on.... And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for." - Rick Warren, Purpose Driven Life.

photo: railway track along Upper Bt. Timah Rd, Singapore

Cherish The Seasons

Yesterday, a friend from church shared a profound statement, "Every moment is beautiful. Treasure it." This afternoon, I took time to reflect and do some study on what it means to cherish the moments.

"We spend precious hours fearing the inevitable. It would be wise to use that time adoring our families, cherishing our friends, and living our lives.” - Maya Angelou

photo: harvesting apple (State College, 2008)

Below is a tragic poem (by Jason Lehman) on a man who never got what he wanted.

It was spring, but it was summer I wanted,

the warm days, and the great outdoors.

It was summer, but it was fall I wanted,

the colorful leaves, and the cool, dry air.

It was spring, but it was winter I wanted,

the beautiful snow, and the joy of the holiday season.

I was a child, but it was adulthood I wanted,

the freedom, and the respect.

I was 20, but it was 30 I wanted,

to be mature, and sophisticated.

I was middle-aged, but it was 30 I wanted,

the youth and the free spirit.

I was retired, but it was middle age I wanted,

the presence of mind, without limitations.

My life was over, but I never got what I wanted.

The author, John Mason, exposits that God is a God of seasons. Ecclesiates 3:1 proclaims, "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven". Distinctively different things happen during different seasons.

There is a wintertime in God. It is a season of preparation, revelation and direction. It is also the time when the roots grow. God wants to establish the right foundation in you during this season. But there is no harvest now.

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There is springtime in God. It is a time of planting, hoeing and nurturing. In other words, hard work. God wants you to work your plan. But there is no harvest in springtime.

There is a summertime in God. Summer is a time of great growth. Nowis the time when activity, interest and people begin to surround your God-given idea. For all the activity of summer, there is only a minimal harvest. But then comes autumn.

This is God's harvest time. It is during this season that the harvest is reaped in much greater proportion than the work, activity or idea expanded. But most people never make it to the fall. Often, they end up quitting along the way because they don't know what season they're in.

When you understand that God is a God of seasons, it prepares you to do the right thing at the right time. It inspires you to persevere to the fall. God's Word is true when it says, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" (Gal 6:9).

reflection: if you pluck the blossoms, you must do without the fruit.

source: John L. Mason, An Enemy Called Average

PEACE

“Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7

When I was about to graduate from the university, I went for a job interview with a prestigious MNC. During the interview, the MD asked, “What do you treasure most in life?” Very assuredly, I said, “Peace.” He replied, “You can’t find peace in this company.” Without pausing, I countered, "I disagree. Peace can be found anywhere. It is found within one’s heart!” Sure enough, I didn't get the job. On hindsight, I could have been more agreeable during the interview process. But I still hold the belief that peace is found in one's heart!

Anyway, this posting is not about job interviews, but rather on the subject of peace. Do you want to worry less? Imagine never being “anxious about anything”. Seems like an impossibility, right? We all have worries at work, in our homes, at school. So, how do I cope with worries?

One motto which carried me through my university days was “aim for the best; expect the worst”. The second half of the motto was my in-built mechanism to handle stress, worries and disappointments. Since the worst is expected, everything else will turn out better! It is quite similar to what one real estate entrepreneur said, "if you can live with the downside risk, the upside will take care of itself".

Since I became a Christian, I learnt there is a better way to cope with worries and face an uncertain future. As the scripture (Philippians 4:6-7) suggests, I now turn my worries into prayers. Whenever I start to worry, I stop and pray. God may not always remove the issue (or problem) that causes my anxiety in the first place. Instead, He promises a “peace which surpasses all understanding”; a peace that the world cannot provide; a peace that guards our hearts (our feelings) and our minds (our thinking) regardless of circumstances, people, or things that would otherwise steal our joy; a peace that doesn't mean the absence of trials on the outside, but it does mean a quiet confidence within.

photo: Miami (april 2010)

True peace is not found in positive thinking, in the absence of conflict, and in good feelings. It comes from knowing that God is in control and He cares for me.

What All Good Leaders Do?

"Those of us who are strong and able in faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?". - Romans 15:1-2 (The Message)

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This evening, I was browsing through the journal I kept for my sabbatical. In it, were a number of loose papers and sticky notes in which I scribbled some nuggets of truths, words of wisdoms, or inspiring thoughts that I came across. I believe most of them came from books or articles I read or sermons I heard during that year. Regretfully, I didn't do a good job recording their sources; thus, I may not be able to cite or acknowledge where I got them from. The scrap notes are currently all over the place. Over the next few weeks, I will be revisiting these gold nuggets, reflect and share them on this blog. Trust they will be a good reminder for you and me.

The first one is entitled "What All Good Leaders Do?". One, they get the job done. Two, they get people to produce. Three, they teach people how to do things right, and four, they delegate authority. Whilst all these are true, there's a simple answer that covers all that ground. It is:

"to bring out the best in the people you are leading."

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A good scripture to accompany this thought is Romans 15:1-2 (above). In summary, strength is for service, not status. Leaders need to look after the good of the people around them, asking "How can I help them to be succesful?" We can have enormous influence on the people with whom we come into contact. That influence could be for good or for bad. Similarly, as a professor and an educator, my legacy will not be my research papers nor the awards, but the success of my students.

Field trip to Sentosa Cove (2006)

You have heard of MSG, which is often used in chinese cooking as a flavor enhancer. Well, have you heard of life enhancers? They are people who improve, strengthen, and beautify the world around them. In their interactions with other people, they bring out the best of people. They see something good in us, and then they help us see it too. More important, they help us tap into it... .

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The bible has a lot to say about bringing out the best in people... "Let your words be for the improvements of others, as occasion offers" - Ephesians 4:29; "Therefore encourage one another and build up each other" - 1 Thessalonians 5:11; "The mouth of the upright is a life-giving fountain - Proverbs 10:11; "Say only what is good and helpful to those you are talking to, and what will give them a blessing" - Ephesians 4:29.

In closing, good leaders bring out the best in other people. It's better to build up than to tear down.