THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER Like many other things in life, fathering is not an exact science. There are rules to follow but abiding by these rules do not necessarily guarantee the expected results. Conversely, violating these rules do not always bring about negative results. Gordon MacDonald, current c...

THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER This week has been quite unusual. First, Tante Lian was admitted to the hospital but thank God, she was discharged on Friday. She had a fall. Roni’s father, Oom William was also admitted to the hospital for urinary tract infection but praise God, he was discharged also on F...

THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER A couple of days ago Santy and I went to the hospital to visit somebody. Since it was around noon, instead of going straight to the car, we decided to just sit at the courtyard and eat our lunch there. It was then that Santy and I noticed there were ducks walking […]...

THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER The Scriptures tell us, “Man proposes; God disposes.” Yes, we can only make plans—or, proposals—but it is God who will have the last say. Last week I had to lay in bed and miss church. Something simple like lifting up my suitcase and stowing it in the car could cause ...

THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER Life is a process—of becoming and of being. It is a process of becoming—we grow from being a girl to become a mother and eventually, a grandmother; from being a student to become a teacher and finally a retiree. And, life is also a process of being—we stay in the condit...

THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER Lately I have been getting this question a lot, “So, how do you feel? Pretty soon you will be a grandfather?” Yes, if God’s willing, in a matter of days Santy and I will become grandparents. And, that means we will be at the same rank as Oom Andy, Oom Djaja, Oom [&helli...

THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, ...

THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER May 2 and May 4 have always had a special meaning for me. May 2 was the day I left Indonesia and May 4 was the day I set foot on American soil for the first time. The year was 1978. It was the beginning of the second chapter of my life—the […]...

THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER Years ago when I was still in college, I used to work night shift at a local convenient store. I still remember that the store’s best times and days were Friday and Saturday evenings. Those were the times when so many people came to purchase beers—lots of them—for their...

THE SHEPHERD’S CORNER On Thursday, April 15, I went with Tante Lolita’s family to a beach to scatter her ashes in the ocean. We took a boat and had to travel 40 minutes into the ocean before we could stop and conduct the final part of her funeral procession. That was Tante Lolita’s final wish ...