Dear Mr Chew Chor Meng,
The headlines did little to belie my excitement at your photo on the frontpage today. As I hurriedly flipped to your article and read it over breakfast, my hot bowl of mee tai mak tasted bland.
It is with sadness and also excitement that I write to you. It is the excitement of sharing the good news that led me to pen this letter. I do not profess to any medical knowledge beyond the common flu, having never heard of muscular atrophy nor the Kennedy's disease. What I do hope is to shed some light of my initial thoughts of your confession to your local church.
Granted that I don't know you personally, it is considered extremely inappropriate for me to want to talk about such a personal matter with you, more so using an open channel. I also am aware of the ST's ability to quote(or misquote) certain areas of the interview, especially about the part of your testimony in church which took place before the interview. The ZB's article shed more light on your personal struggles and how you went to church. It confirms my thoughts that at this present moment, encouragements and prayers are needed most.
My first onscreen 'encounter' with you was either the Witty Adviser or Young Justice Bao. The hilarious and convincing performance was enough to make this 9 year old your ardent fan. When I was 10, I took my pocket money and used them to vote for your in the 1994 Star Awards. Feeling smug the day after you made it in the Top 10 Artiste, I was given a shocking realization by my teacher who polled the class, "Who voted for their favourite artiste yesterday?" Needless to say, my hand was the first to shoot up. What followed was a line that I remembered when thinking of what to write to you: "Do you think that Li Nanxing or Zheng Hui Yu will give you anything in return or even know of what you have done for them?"
I stopped calling the year after but I watched almost every single show you were in without fail. I am 22 this year and I admit I have failed to remain a 'zhong shi guan zhong'. Just a couple episodes of Love Blossoms this year. However, I do believe what my teacher told me 12 years ago has come full-circle and gave me this opportunity for me to show my support and encouragement in these trying times.
At first I was skeptical about the turn of events having not know you to be a church-goer. My concern here is that if we were to look to religion, or Christianity to be a form of emotional release or a group therapy session, then we are just scratching the surface of God's will for the church and possibly heading in a direction away from God. I mean no harm no malice when I question your faith because I myself came to know Christ after failing my examinations and needed moral support. It has been a long journey of almost 7 years and I just hope to share with you what I've learnt recently about God.
I thank you for sharing your struggles and weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9 has always been an encouraging verse for me in difficult times: "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Paul was having a 'thorn in his eyes' and it has became his weakness. It's been suggested that the thorn was God's way of reminding Paul that he is human and has weaknesses. Most importantly, I think it is to remind Paul that God's strength can only be made surer and more clearly through Paul's weakness(es). Only then can the people see that what Paul is doing can only be God's hand upon him.
A lesser man would have buckled under the situation and dire straits they were placed into. Paul did not buckle because he had a complete understanding of what God's will for him is and how can God manifest himself through Paul. In fact, I would like to encourage you that Paul in the same verse went on to say: "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." Chor Meng, I hope that your weaknesses can only be an opportunity for God to show His strength over this incurable disease. I pray that through you may people see a greater disease that is plaguing our society nowadays, that above all, family ties and support is of utmost importance"
On the issue of eternity, I wish that to encourage you that our prize is eternal and lasting as compared to the temporal and perishable awards in the world. I am reminded of the 2 parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl. What the merchant and the man in the field realized is that no amount of earthly treasures can replace the eternal prize that awaits us. The prize is not easy to obtain, if it was it would not been a prize. The short time you may have been given by medical opinion is still considered short in the perspective of eternity. Indeed, "You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. (James 4:14)" 90 or 50.. it's still small compared to infinity. Therefore, I pray that having known our race has only started, let us continue to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14)
Once again, thank you very much for the on-screen memories and God-willing meet one day on the distant shore.
Don't worry, Be Happy.
in His love,
Khoo Bingxin
The headlines did little to belie my excitement at your photo on the frontpage today. As I hurriedly flipped to your article and read it over breakfast, my hot bowl of mee tai mak tasted bland.
It is with sadness and also excitement that I write to you. It is the excitement of sharing the good news that led me to pen this letter. I do not profess to any medical knowledge beyond the common flu, having never heard of muscular atrophy nor the Kennedy's disease. What I do hope is to shed some light of my initial thoughts of your confession to your local church.
Granted that I don't know you personally, it is considered extremely inappropriate for me to want to talk about such a personal matter with you, more so using an open channel. I also am aware of the ST's ability to quote(or misquote) certain areas of the interview, especially about the part of your testimony in church which took place before the interview. The ZB's article shed more light on your personal struggles and how you went to church. It confirms my thoughts that at this present moment, encouragements and prayers are needed most.
My first onscreen 'encounter' with you was either the Witty Adviser or Young Justice Bao. The hilarious and convincing performance was enough to make this 9 year old your ardent fan. When I was 10, I took my pocket money and used them to vote for your in the 1994 Star Awards. Feeling smug the day after you made it in the Top 10 Artiste, I was given a shocking realization by my teacher who polled the class, "Who voted for their favourite artiste yesterday?" Needless to say, my hand was the first to shoot up. What followed was a line that I remembered when thinking of what to write to you: "Do you think that Li Nanxing or Zheng Hui Yu will give you anything in return or even know of what you have done for them?"
I stopped calling the year after but I watched almost every single show you were in without fail. I am 22 this year and I admit I have failed to remain a 'zhong shi guan zhong'. Just a couple episodes of Love Blossoms this year. However, I do believe what my teacher told me 12 years ago has come full-circle and gave me this opportunity for me to show my support and encouragement in these trying times.
At first I was skeptical about the turn of events having not know you to be a church-goer. My concern here is that if we were to look to religion, or Christianity to be a form of emotional release or a group therapy session, then we are just scratching the surface of God's will for the church and possibly heading in a direction away from God. I mean no harm no malice when I question your faith because I myself came to know Christ after failing my examinations and needed moral support. It has been a long journey of almost 7 years and I just hope to share with you what I've learnt recently about God.
I thank you for sharing your struggles and weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9 has always been an encouraging verse for me in difficult times: "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Paul was having a 'thorn in his eyes' and it has became his weakness. It's been suggested that the thorn was God's way of reminding Paul that he is human and has weaknesses. Most importantly, I think it is to remind Paul that God's strength can only be made surer and more clearly through Paul's weakness(es). Only then can the people see that what Paul is doing can only be God's hand upon him.
A lesser man would have buckled under the situation and dire straits they were placed into. Paul did not buckle because he had a complete understanding of what God's will for him is and how can God manifest himself through Paul. In fact, I would like to encourage you that Paul in the same verse went on to say: "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." Chor Meng, I hope that your weaknesses can only be an opportunity for God to show His strength over this incurable disease. I pray that through you may people see a greater disease that is plaguing our society nowadays, that above all, family ties and support is of utmost importance"
On the issue of eternity, I wish that to encourage you that our prize is eternal and lasting as compared to the temporal and perishable awards in the world. I am reminded of the 2 parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl. What the merchant and the man in the field realized is that no amount of earthly treasures can replace the eternal prize that awaits us. The prize is not easy to obtain, if it was it would not been a prize. The short time you may have been given by medical opinion is still considered short in the perspective of eternity. Indeed, "You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. (James 4:14)" 90 or 50.. it's still small compared to infinity. Therefore, I pray that having known our race has only started, let us continue to press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14)
Once again, thank you very much for the on-screen memories and God-willing meet one day on the distant shore.
Don't worry, Be Happy.
in His love,
Khoo Bingxin