People everywhere bear visible distinguishing marks that others can readily recognise, especially when they travel away from home. These distinguishing marks can be dressing, language, food culture, social behaviour and mannerisms and even physical appearance. In addition, there are non-physical traits like what the apostle Paul and also our Lord Jesus Himself are known for: being risk-takers, strong leaders, strategic thinkers, and also, controversial figures. 

ARE YOU AFRAID TO GO DEEP? In conversations,  do you stick to safe topics to avoid bringing up personal opinions and feelings. Do you prefer surface-level interactions, sharing general updates without saying much about yourself. Are you constantly busy and occupied, yet lack relationships with real depth?

VALLEYS are low-lying areas situated between elevated landforms like hills and mountains, distinguished by a river or stream flowing through them. Scenically beautiful, they can also be symbolic of difficult circumstances. It's mentioned in Psalms 23:4, assuring us of God’s presence with us in that “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

People generally have a pretty standard assumption that messy situations always lead to bad outcomes. But consider the childbirth experience – lengthy involuntary contractions, the intense pain and the amount of blood in the picture. What appears chaotic produces the much-anticipated birth of a child. Or picture surgery of any kind: the living body is not made of neat compartments but overlapping parts constantly reacting to what is being done on any part. The operating theatre is not a place of beauty and order but where precision, time and patient safety are prioritized over appearances. Finally, step into a busy restaurant kitchen: nothing resembles the beautifully plated dishes that is capable of producing.

The last month of the year can be a time of ambivalence to many. December marks the end of a calendar year and the beginning of another. It is a time that triggers powerful memories of personal milestones, as well as moments, people, or seasons of life gone, and mistakes made. With a mix of gratitude and regret, we recall what went well, what was lost, and what never happened, and quietly resolve to “do better” next year. Except that without the right self-reflection and taking deliberate steps for change, next year becomes pretty much the same (if not a worse) version of the current one.

In every major city, elaborate Christmas trees decked out with expensive ornaments, lights, gold and glitter draw huge crowds and encourage festive spending. Meanwhile, overhead speakers supply an unbroken soundtrack of Christmassy songs of silver bells and dreams of a white Christmas. Businesses and social media influencers create a world of make-believe – snow in tropical climates, picture-perfect relationships, and the ‘magic of Christmas’ replaces the meaning of Christmas. People rush from store to store searching for the “perfect gift” as if joy could be bought, wrapped, and placed neatly under a tree.

Hitting the wall is an idiom for describing a point when we encounter a barrier that halts progress where further advancement is not possible. In life, we hit the wall when we face the hard moments that test our ability to persevere. The only way to avoid hitting the wall is to move in repetitive circles that makes no progress. In trying too hard to avoid pain or failure, we also avoid growth: we may never crash, but we also don’t evolve or improve either.

When our emotional age does not match our physical age, we will act in childish ways to cover up a myriad of struggles. We recognize childish adult behaviour when someone lacks the ability to negotiate and talk through issues and instead make demands and throw tantrums when they don’t get their way. Or they are habitually so self-focused that they are unable to empathize with another person’s experience of realities. In relationships, childish adults may put themselves in groups but like toddlers, they do not share anything personal or engage with people on any deep level. 

STRIVING FOR PERFECTION may make our efforts appear noble but being faithful to God is not about how flawless and faultless we appear to Him. In truth, human perfection does not exist and to reject this is to reject our humanity – with all its imperfections and failings.

ALL OF US have met people who  appeared in the most ordinary moments of our lives and did something so unexpected and thoughtful that set them apart from others. They seem to possess a certain ability to perceive and respond spontaneously to human needs without ministry platforms, programmes or personal acclaim. This ability comes naturally to some who are more intuitive in making human connections that make a difference. For the majority of us, it is a skill we gradually acquire over time.

True greatness of faith is not measured by how much we know, but by how completely yielded we are to God. It is ironic that we have more faith in a $20 electric toaster to produce brown and crispy toasts without fail than we have faith in Jesus to do what He does best – creating miracles and moving mountains! Yet, when it comes to facing life and relational challenges, our faith in God fluctuates like a roller-coaster! 

Pastor Lai Keat Keong laid out four types of faith that Jesus considered great.

When four men brought a paralytic into full view before Jesus, everyone took one look at the man’s physical handicap and thought they knew exactly what he lacked and what he needed. Often, that’s how we sum up each other’s struggles, strengths and successes – by drawing inferences from their present situations and presenting symptoms. We rely on visual cues instead of making deeper connections.

We all like to know how a story, a situation or an event ends. By nature, we are both curious and have a deep need to bring things to a close. We expect things to always fall into place without prolonged uncertainty. That’s why we gravitate towards streaming platforms to see how human dramas unfold (even if based on fiction). And that’s why we ask each other for updates about things we are not even remotely involved in. After all, a good ending gives meaning to everything that came before it.

All relationships involve rights, responsibilities and risks for the parties involved. In terms of rights, we can all expect respect, honesty and concern from each other, while upholding the mutual responsibility to be truthful, transparent and thoughtful. However, relationships also run the risk of being one-sided where one person’s preferences and needs are prioritized over the other, leading to alienation and  hurt. God is acutely aware of all the threats that can lead to relational breakdown. It is why Jesus made this the first and greatest command for all believers: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” And for the second most important command, He emphasized, “Love your neighbour as yourself.

People today tend to remember only what they last saw on the news or on social media. In contrast, we have a God with rich memories. Hence, the Bible is an important source of record to help us remember who He is in our response to life. There are numerous commands in the Bible telling us not to forget His instructions and His commands. Depending on the version, the word “remember” appears in the Bible from 148 times in the King James Version (KJV) to 231 times in the New International Version (NIV). Some translations use synonyms like “do not forget”, “call to mind”, or “recall” instead of the word “remember”.

SENSE-MAKING is about how we give meaning to what’s happening to and around us. For believers, it often sounds like this: if we practice strong faith in God, we should see prayers answered quickly or it won’t make sense. If we are faithful in serving God, the best outcomes should happen to us or else our lives are a weak testimony of His goodness. If we live a quiet and godly life, we should not expect to be struck by unexplained illnesses. If we do not offend anyone, we should enjoy healthy relationships.

From the start, BeInReach has never been an online ministry to substitute a believer's need to be part of an offline community of faith. It aspires to nurture spiritual growth by provoking believers to think deeper about how they will live each day as disciples of Jesus Christ. Through its teachings, the online ministry hopes to see your names in the spiritual ‘hall of fame’!

To follow someone on social media requires little effort and commitment. All it takes is a click on the mouse or a tap on our phone screens. Many of us follow or are followed by people who have no personal connection with us. Together, we form an imagined community (a term coined by Benedict Anderson) consisting of people who respond to each other’s posts. It is no surprise that many believers follow Jesus in pretty much the same way: they join a church or a faith group like they join Facebook, Instagram or TikTok), they log in to online ministries like BeInReach like watching a ‘live feed’ on social media with others, and they cite verses here and there like posting online comments. Unfortunately, people mistake their felt connectivity for actual relationships. 

Storms in life describe times of personal trouble, hardship, conflict and suffering that everyone experiences one time or another. They point to chaotic times when it is hard to discern fault lines in the face of unpleasant realities. To be sure, storms in life can be brought on by the poor decisions or wrong actions we made that impact those closest to us. Storms can also be a result of actions by other people that impact our ability to feel safe. Finally, there are storms permitted by God to teach or refine us. 

According to ChatGPT, “main courses are usually the centerpiece of the meal and can include dishes like roasted meats, grilled fish, poultry, or vegetarian options. They are often accompanied by side dishes like vegetables or starches but the main course itself refers to the main protein or substantial dish served”. People linger over the main course or the entrée as they call it in the US. Outside the US, however, entrée refers to starters or side dishes that are served before the main dish.