27 June 2012

of a napkin and a pastor


About a year and a half ago, a few friends and i went to Bintan Island during the December holidays for a short vacation. Upon our arrival at Bintan Lagoon Resort on the buggy, i saw a sign stating that a church was having their short R&R trip there as well. Oh, all right, cool, i thought. 
The next morning when my 3 other friends and i went down for the complimentary buffet breakfast, the place was brimming! We did however find an empty table near a family of 6 and settled down. All 4 of us decided to go grab food at the same time, leaving our only belonging- a camera (we just thought it was safe) by the seat against the wall, and under the table cloth. 


No one would know that table is taken unless he lifts up the cloth; there were no reserved sign nor anything else on the table either. 
I was then the first out of my friends to return to the table with my breakfast. As the seating area was a level beneath the food section, i could see everything clearly while the people below would not actually be looking up unless they wanted to. 
Just as i was taking my first few steps down, I saw the man from our nearby table standing and waiting as his family prepared to go. Very casually and thinking that our table was empty, he reached out and grabbed a napkin from one of our seats for his own use (considering his own table was messy with children and all). 

I did not feel anything as i knew it was a complete overlook, cos NO ONE would know that the table is taken since everything was still untouched save for the camera under the table cloth. 
However, a few seconds later when i reached the end of the steps and standing by my table with a plate in my hands, this man looked at me and started apologizing profusely and with all sincerity. 


“Oh gosh this is your table! I’m so sorry, i didn’t know this table was taken and i took the napkin! Im sorry, please, let me get a waiter to replace it.” There was a few seconds of fluster that filled this man’s face, but it only serves to tell me how genuine he is.
And all i could manage to say was “It’s ok, it’s ok, it’s ok.” 
When really deep down, with a man of stature towering over me AND apologizing to me this way, all i wanted to say was,
“it’s all fine, Pastor Kong.”

This experience is etched in my mind forever. And i mean forever
When no one is looking, and when no one would blame him, this man watched his own actions and lived a life of virtue. 
He didn’t know I’ve been a member of his church since i was 11; he didn’t know i was baptized in his church; he didn’t know i’ve spent my saturday evenings in church so much that i would feel like a fish out of water if i was anywhere else; he didn’t know the table was taken. 

You would say “it’s just a napkin!” and oh, am i glad you said that! 

Because it is exactly that, a napkin, that impacted and caused me to be utterly speechless. If a man who would apologize profusely and i could see something almost like panic flush his face over a napkin, what else can i say about his faithfulness in things and people? 
When no one is looking, that’s when our true character is on display. And i happened to be “God” overlooking literally from the steps above. 
This is the man i know from afar, and this is the man that i would trust like its family. And when its family, nothing else matters other than the fact that i am standing there together, all through. 
This is the Pastor Kong i know, the man who has walked the narrow way to path a road for us behind. And im writing about a man, as real as us, but has definitely sacrificed more than most of us did for anyone. 
The church houses and trains up more people so that someone holds onto my hand, holds my wounds, before the medicine and healing came. These are the ones who merely administrates and guides us the way to recovery while we, ourselves, discover and make a decision for a better life. Can we put a value to their sacrifices?


Most importantly, these are perfect strangers who held my hand. 


Thank you Pastor Kong. For leading and training people to touch even more. Because right now, I cannot deny the resurrection if i have been risen from the dead. 


Yang,
E495
SOT Team 3, 2012
“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” 1 John 4:11-12

81 comments:

  1. As a fellow believer in Christ, i'd just like to affirm you as well as any other members of CHC who have been subjected to snide comments from outsiders. Though i may not know Pastor Kong personally, this is my opinion. All men have the capacity to fall. Whether or not Pastor Kong is innocent, truly only God knows. It is our duty as believers to support him in these times. Stand firm CHC, tough times are ahead. God will test your faith in the times to come.

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    1. please... he and his members know best if they are innocent or not~

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  2. If you really had to put your views based on a personal experience like that. It's sad. Why?

    Because as a normal human being, it's basic courtesy to do what he did.
    There is absolutely no link to the current event going on in the news.

    If say, i had an experience with a murderer in terms of something like apologising for taking the napkin. Does it account for him being innocent?

    A simple no. Don't read too much into simple basic courtesy and base everything off it. This is blind faith.

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    1. The thing is- the faithfulness you put in the small things in life determines your character. If he can be faithful to such little things as all these, he CAN be faithful to the big things that he is responsible towards.

      You see it as basic courtesy; while I see it as a man upholding his integrity as a person all throughout every single thing he does in life. No pretences.

      Mind your words.

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    2. Outright cheating people's believe, so many still follow.

      they are good.

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    3. outright people anyhow talk about grey allegations, yet so many still assume

      you guys are better.

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    4. yeah at most, its just courtesy or good manners...
      all the dark secrets are kept in the drawer like how the members are kept in the dark about the funds.

      Delete
  3. When getting flustered over a napkin tells you more about someone's character, than his refusal to acknowledge misdeeds, and his continued attempts to call on the followers he mislead to keep on believing in him... That's blind faith indeed.

    Try and separate God and the church from Kong Hee. He is but a man who has failed the people who put their trust in him.

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    Replies
    1. And on what basis do you claim that he has indeed committed misdeeds? The final verdict isn't out yet.

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    2. who fails who? Pastor Kong? As a matter of fact, he dint fail me/us(CHC members)! I trust him COMPLETELY! We trust his him! so mind your words when you know no truth. In the end the truth will prevailed and in the very end God Himself is the one who weighs every motives! Don't be quick to judge.

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    3. We should only place our trust in Jesus. At the end of the day, we know that only Jesus never fails. Whatever the outcome, hold on to Jesus - He is the same, yesterday, and forever.

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    4. Don't be quick to judge... verdict isn't out.. well put. So, we should not draw conclusion just yet. Neither can we say he is innocent nor he is guilty till the trial runs its course. This will be fair and objective judgement without mixing emotion & faith in it.

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    5. so do u know the truth huh~

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  4. So he kop the napkin, only to apologise when he got 'caught'. Like how he funnel your hardearned money, and will subsequently apologise after being convicted.

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  5. How do you guys manage to conclude on his lifelong integrity and faithfulness based on something so trivial??? God worries for you and wants to save you by putting them behind bars. Amen

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    Replies
    1. hmm. i think God worries about your own salvation la. #justsaying

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    2. Wah really? Need to ask him help me win toto liao.

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    3. I think God can bless you more than that, your career, your finances, your family life:) come join us this weekend at expo hall 1. Sat 5pm and Sun 10am:)

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    4. Think about it, if God does not bless you with your career, your finances and your family life; would you cling on Him? EVEN if He doesnt give you anything? Love for God does not come based on what HE can do for us, but it's mere innocent love to love HIM for whom He is... and not based on what HE can give us!

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  6. Everyone starts from small things, the fact that he could be as mindful to the small things reflects his character as a person, don't be so quick to judge him because he is a pastor and think that therefore he should be good and take it for granted that he has to do such a thing.

    Many will see this as nothing or just a random act of kindness, but when it comes to doing it, can you honestly say you can do it unconsciously and not purposely?

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  7. . Do you really know what is faith? Faith is just purely faith. Faith is a substance, something hoped for, but it can't be seen.. So what is blind faith? It's the same thing. put my trust in my pastor. So please, get to know my pastor first.

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    1. I agree! get to know him first! Pastor Kong may not be perfect as a human just like everyone of us but he sure is not a criminal. So people! Dont judge! If you have time to judge on people, why not go and reflect on yourself and learn to love and trust.

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  8. As much as you guys have said, who are we to judge him?
    Please understand that every penny given by the members were of their own decisions. No one, not even Pst Kong can force someone to give their money if they felt like they are being cheated or feeling insecure about giving. True he MAY have made a mistake but is the verdict out yet? No its not. So who are we to comment on what he has done?
    And for you who have said that God worries for him. Are you suppose to be the one that speaks on behalf of God and that God has told you that he wants to save him by putting them behind bars? God told us a savior is coming but He didn't say that the savior will be here to put people behind bars.

    I am not a CHC goer but I do believe that what has happen has not reached to it final conviction. Everyone has given negative comments on the current happenings but may I ask when he was doing good, or when the church was doing good, were there any positive comments? If there was why isn't it on the first page of Today, Straits Times or other Chinese newspapers the previous times?

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  9. Anyone with decent moral values would have apologized for that "napkin" incident.

    If you can praise Pastor Kong to such extent because he apologized for taking your seat and go on to say he is capable of doing MUCH greater things...then I wonder what your reaction would be like if he is convicted. Would you then say he is capable of doing greater evil deeds from then on? Or just say he is human after all and we all make mistakes. Because I can tell you, we are all human after all and we apologize for taking someone else's seat, too.

    He is innocent until proven guilty. He's is alleged of a crime which warrants an arrest. I say all CHC members just keep it low until he is acquitted. It is better for the church and pastor kong

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    1. I may not be part of this whole convo, and may not be related to these stuff at all being a free thinker myself. But I can tell you that you are using a very weak analogy to condemn against the pastor. What others is saying here is that people don't see on the many good things the pastor has done, but nick-pick on the one wrong he may have done.

      To be brutally honest, who will be quiet when people like you are lambasting against their church??

      Sorry for being blatant here and I'm not taking sides. But this is really what I think.

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    2. that was "lambasting"? Dont exaggerate what was said

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  10. Isn't it funny how you all can easily deny his good and proclaim him guilty even before he has been sentenced?
    The fact that so many chc members and even other Christians are willing to stand up for him shows his character as a person. Why are those who have not given the money complaining and saying that he is a fraud when the people in church who tithe regularly and which most of the money came from, are defending him instead?

    For those who call this blind faith, listen! This isn't blind faith, we know his good that's why when people talk about his bad, we defend him, it's just like the Ming Yi case, when he was inititially charged, people came out to defend him. Only after he was pronounced guilty, then people deserted him, how can you ask us to give up someone we trust and have faith in when he is innocent until proven guilty?

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    Replies
    1. Because history has taught us that the prosecution does not commence high profile cases unless they are almost assured a conviction.

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    2. Remember, TT durai also claimed innocence DURING his trial and fought to the end until he was ripped totally apart and threw in the towel on the 3rd day...

      did you forgive TTdurai when he eat money? did you show your compassion when the monk took $$ from ren ci? did you forgive the 2 SLA civil servants when the committed fraud and bought themselves nice fast cars? how abt Yew shin leong? did you all forgive him??

      or is forgiveness and mercy and compassion only reserved for Christians?? whatever religion we all subscribe to, we should always show humility and compassion for you never know when you will need it from others yourself. this is not a religion thing. this is rightful basic human behaviour. btw, i AM a christian..

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    3. I really doubt you are a Christian cos you sound so bitter about this, but anyway, religion has always been a sensitive issue, so I will not dwell on this.

      This incident also reflects on how our Singapore laws can be better shaped. by grouping a religious organisation under the same laws that govern a charity, it makes it even harder to justify when one is right or wrong. The difference between how funds should be used in a religious organisation and charity are so different, that it seems a tad unfair to simply judge Kong under such a law. After all, if it was a charity and he had misused the funds, people have a reason to be outraged, but this is after all the church he started, who are we to say that the use of the funds had been inappropriate?maybe his wife's music career did help to influence people into becoming Christians?

      Kudos on the article too by the way, you seem young to write really well for your age.

      Delete
  11. its ok. i think you are writing an experience you had. its a great write up. Thanks for sharing!

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  12. What a beautiful write up! Thank you for sharing!

    May we remember that when we point a finger at someone, three points right back at ourselves.

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  13. To the writer of this Blog:
    Thank you for sharing such a unseen sight of a Godly man, truly like what you say When no one is looking, that’s when our true character is on display. I just want to say I believe in the Crossover just like you do.


    For people who read everything and thinking you know everything through social media, maybe you should take sometime to read this http://iunspoken.com/blog/2012/06/27/city-harvest-executive-member-alleges-coc-defamation/

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  14. A kind deed done by a person of position and power is always exaggerated and magnified.

    Think about that.
    If a mere napkin incident speaks "so much" about a person in position.
    So am i wrong to say that Pastor Kong is "supposed" to be of a bad character?

    Thus the reason why his little "napkin incident" made him a better man suddenly?

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  15. As much as you say that we cannot extrapolate that Kong Hee is a bad man from these 'accusations', how on EARTH do you extrapolate that he is a good man from basically courteous behaviour? Many of the world's most despicable people, sociopaths, are in fact able to conceal their true motives from such smooth behaviour. (AGAIN, this is not an accusation, but you know, IT GOES BOTH WAYS.)

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  16. When Pastor Kong is eventually proven guilty, how will you blind followers react? Reject the verdict?
    I am waiting for that day to come.

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    1. Forgive n pray for him n also forgive all u ignorant ppl n pray for u guys... that's what we will do. Hope I gif u a satisfactory answer, just in case that day nvr come :)

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    2. How 'Christian' of you to call others 'ignorant'. Truth will prevail, no need to be so high and mighty.

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    3. if forgive and pray is good enough, why do we spend $$ building prisons???!?!

      anyway just think of it as your pastor going for all expenses paid vacation like he has always gone for the past few decades..

      or, he going to conduct Changi Cell Group??

      Delete
  17. Sooo...

    Apologizing for taking a napkin automatically means that theft of $23 million should be forgiven.

    /logic

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    Replies
    1. who IN THE WORLD IS SAYING THAT? Oh my god.. Shows your level of intellect.

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  18. Lolol I am the morning and evening star, judge not lest thy be judged. Hitler was a vegetarian, despised alcohol and was a non-smoker. He also promoted aggressive anti-smoking campaigns throughout Germany. Who would have thought..

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  19. So it's actually okay for him to break the law, live a lavish lifestyle at the expense of donations because he says sorry? So either he have no respect for the law of Singapore or he have no trust in his congregation because he chose to hide his accounts? Why not just be honest from the beginning?

    Pray hard because after the court, it'd be God judging him.

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  20. At the very end of the day, we must know that we should only place our trust in Jesus because His love never fails. He is the same - yesterday, today, and forever. No other name but the name of Jesus should be glorified. Whatever the outcome, we know we have our loving Heavenly Father to always count on. We love you Lord!

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  21. Eh? Only a napkin and you can write so much gibberish out of it. As a pastor, it's of course he must uphold his image in public, especially when his church members are dining at the same place as him, no? Besides, his misdeeds and his character are separate. He has broken the law, at that's the fact.

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  22. Wat a great post! It is through the small things that we see what is in the DNA of a person. In the same way, let's not be anonymous but stand up for what we believe in! :)

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  23. people please calm the f**k down.
    Things will be fine. If things are meant to be right, it will be
    If its not, let it be.

    We should not be having argument about this.
    To the members, please please calm the f**k down once again, there are millions comments circulating around trying real hard to prove the subject is innocent.

    Again..things will be fine. you do not want to be regarded as a group of Pharisee. It is never be a good thing. Calm down, stop worrying.

    As far as I concern, this has nothing to do with the religion, it is the people who drive this.

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  24. Didn't you say "when no one is looking, your true character shows"? When he thought no one was looking, he kope your napkin instead of asking for one from the waiter...? Compromising someone else for his own convenience?

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    Replies
    1. Wow. These are some really great words to reply to the post.

      Awesome thoughts pal.

      Delete
  25. Wow! thanks for sharing something so small and so real about Ps. Kong. His heart and character are the very essence of who he is.

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  26. Didn't you say "when no one is looking, your true character shows"? When he thought no one was looking, he kope your napkin instead of asking for one from the waiter...? Compromising someone else for his own convenience?

    Seconded.

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  27. “Oh gosh this is your 23 million! I’m so sorry, i didn’t know this money was for church use only and i took the money! I'm sorry, please, let me work with the rest to fill it back with another 26 million.” There was a few seconds of fluster that filled this man’s face, but it only serves to tell me how genuine he is.

    A country is govern by law. Church's operations come under Charity Act. It is not about why, but how the money was used that is the problem here. Hundreds of people gather in front of the subordinate court without considering the problems they may caused to others. All in the name of support. What message do they want to convey to our people? A cult to behold, or a church to respect and believe?

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    Replies
    1. $23million later still a horiible singer but now with disgusting MVs, that is truly criminal

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  28. Wow, this sure looks like a battlefield! Here's to non-Christians: I apologise. But I must be objective, Pastor Kong isn't proven guilty yet, so we'll see about that. But if in any way we Christians have ever offended you in any way, I apologise. That is all I can say. I can't undo whatever we Christians have done to you because that is outside of my power. And I must say, we, the true Christians, do not follow any figure except for God Himself. So if you don't believe in God, it's all up to you. I respect your opinion and you respect mine. So have we set aside our differences? Good ;) God loves you all.

    To the Christians, be it CHC or non-CHC members: let us evaluate ourselves. Who do we truly follow? Our leaders? Our pastors? Our parents? Who do we IDOLISE? Are we allowed to IDOLISE anyone, except for God Himself? So why are you so crestfallen over a mere human being? With all due respect, I admire Pastor Kong for his dedication in his ministry. But he is human after all. Do NOT let this make you leave God, IN CASE he is TRULY guilty. If this drama truly makes you leave God, then God isn't your priority in life. Don't live as a fake Christian who follows a person using God's Name. Go fall in love with God first, please. So, please evaluate yourselves.

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    1. well said. all you need to praise and love god is a quiet room and a bible.. not music videos, sentosa cove ppties, mega churches, rock concerts, shouting amen on rooftops for the whole world to hear, $310mil ppty investments, 9999mil congregation, cell groups, pot luck, god also dont need your $$.. all these are man's doings.. not god.. even the poorest of poor who cant afford to buy a bible, can praise god...

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    2. And even if he is TRULY guilty, I will not judge Pastor Kong. There is a reason behind everything. The eyes of the law don't count to me, only God's. And I'm not saying you are not allowed to judge, we are in fact encouraged to tell the difference if something is right or wrong. But in this case, none of us knows what truly happened behind the scenes. After all, who are we to judge when our lives are not pleasing to God?

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    3. Really well said. Fake christians who follows a crook in God's name. Wake up your idea. Think logically!

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  29. The Lord will smite his ass

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  30. What load of bullshit. Even my little sister knows how to apologize after taking a napkin. So what? She suddenly have the rights to use 23MIL for herself and me? No right!? I'm fcuking suprised why chc members would go so far for a crook. Clear cut scammed. He should be convicted soon. If not future generations would suffer.

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  31. Lets just wait for a while more before the truth speaks for itself shall we? I believe that if Pastor Kong Hee really did not misuse the fund, everything will be fine, vice versa.

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  32. 'I saw the pastor take a napkin and look guilty afterwards, therefore I give him the benefit of the doubt on $23m.'
    Hmm, possibly this is a logical relation to -
    'I believe the Bible because the pastor told me so, and I believe the pastor because he preaches the Bible.'

    Who would have thought that Christians would be credulous?

    Someone asked why those who gave him the money in the first place are willing to support and withhold judgement, while outsiders are quick to condemn. Easy answer: people would rather lose their money to a crook than let their belief structures come tumbling down, revealing they are their own guides and compasses after all. Scary.

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  33. Maybe some of you ought to give at least a cent to voice your comments.

    CHC has never solicited any money from public like charity does.

    'those who know the least have the most to say" and 'those who gave nothing have the most angst and fury over this matter'.

    Since you are not affected, why have so much to say and comment?

    hahaha

    This is an amazing article and I support the blogger and her stand :)

    True character is shown when no one is watching :)

    Peace.

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  34. LOL wtf did I just read. There must be a lot of nice guys out there then. Kong hee fat choy!

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  35. A life in private only shows the REAL person he is. I agree with you. Ps Kong is a humble man, who loves God and loves his people. Thank you for sharing this snippet, and encouraging us! :)

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    1. you forgot the last part of your sentence. i completr for you.

      Ps Kong is a humble man, who loves God and loves his people and loves money.

      Delete
    2. And love his people's money

      Delete
  36. Anon @ 1.26 - I give my cents to people who help others, rather than lining their own pockets. Why do I care about this? Because out of the wealth of the credulous people like Kong accumulate material and political power. They don't give a rat's behind about others. Check the lyrics of Sun Ho: "everywhere I go my life is a party,I don’t have a worry, the sun keeps on shining on me". Yup, she "woke up feeling like a millionaire", that's for sure - don't forget, "no one can tell me no".

    As for "true character is shown when no one is watching," maybe read the post again. When he thought no one was watching, he took the napkin. When he knew someone was watching, he apologised. Wakey-wakey.

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  37. These people are charged as individuals, and yet CHC members are defending them actively. What does this shows?

    Anonymous on June 28, 2012 11:57 AM said "The eyes of the law don't count to me, only God's." Are you an extremist?

    I think we should investigate further into CHC, and probably there might be more ugly things to uncover.

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  38. All for the good work CHC has done, but that does not absolve the individuals in CHC mgmt from wrong doings (if they really did). Even the Yakuza performs good deeds (note recent Tsunami), but we all know what they do.

    Charges came from $50million that CAD managed to trace. It makes you wonder if there are other skeletons in the closet that are untraceable.

    If the purpose of the money is to do great things for the church or the Lord, you should ask yourself (seriously!!!) why did they go all their way to create such a roundabout money trail?
    a) To hide from government (against the law)
    b) To hide from the church members (to maintain good image?)
    The case is never about the intent of CHC, or the project. It is about the way it was done. All charities (including all places or worship) MUST be accountable for all monies collected.

    For CHC members, please take a step back and look at the whole picture objectively, look for red flags, pray for wisdom.
    For other Christians, continue to pray for the 5 involved in the case, and that that the truth will be revealed
    For non-Christians, acknowledge the good things CHC has done and not belittle the members. As for the case, let the courts decide.

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    Replies
    1. exactly. if you think you are above board, why do you need to cook the books???

      Delete
    2. He is master chef. Every sat 5pm and sun 10am cook story for guillibles to fleece their money no Kick, cook books more challenging cuz higher risk higher return.

      Delete
  39. This is such a touching post. You just re stalled the faith of many city harvesters!
    I completely agree with you that Pst Kong will never do such a thing.
    Looking forward to more posts by you (:
    WE CHOOSE LOVE. I BELIEVE IN THE CHC CROSSOVER

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    Replies
    1. Please, you just chose to be comfortable

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    2. you just choose to be in denial

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  40. oh please, he's a fucking cunt

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  41. It really wasn't very wise of the 4 of you to leave your table to go get food at the same time. Especially since the restaurant was "brimming". Really, not wise at all...

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  42. Lol how could he think that 'no one was watching' ? As you said, the whole restaurant was filled with people from chc, so your whole point is invalid. Why doesn't anyone recognize this.

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  43. now we know where samantha francis went....and by the way, nice post only 1.5 years after the napkin incident, what nice timing. Wait, was that a napkin or your tissue paper? What? was it some paper notes from your wallet....

    And of all the previous blog posts only this one on napkins, how nice.

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  44. So, there's not much of what is right or wrong anymore? Not so much of what is sin anymore - as long as we can put "valid" justifications for actions done?

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  45. 3 packets of tissue papers only $1, this guy took how much for a napkin?

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