Evidently, he was a Magistrate in Xiamen, in the Fukien Province.
My grandfather was a rich merchant who eventually settled in Singapore and my dad was born there.
Grandma died at the age of 39 from cancer.
The strange thing about growing up in a Chinese family is that we weren’t raised with typical Chinese values and traditions.Due to the fact that my parents worked for British expatriates, (dad worked in the Royal Air Force (RAF), and mom was a nanny for an RAF Captain) we adopted quite a fair bit of English customs.
All the boys wore knee high bobby socks and khaki shorts for church.
Even our diet consisted of a mix of Asian and Western meals. There would be days when we had English scones for tea, meat pies for supper along with the occasional sausage rolls and cucumber sandwich. This was highly irregular as most Chinese in post war Singapore were not familiar Western food or culture at that time. Our favourite reading material consisted of Beano and Dandy comics.
We watched The Ed Sullivan Show instead of Chinese soap operas.Possibly the only time we were totally Chinese was during the lunar New Year when we learned a few words of greetings to earn our Red Packets. (Prosperity money)
Although, we were forced to learn Mandarin as second language, we were never ever good at it because of our bias against some of the superstitious and negative elements we saw in the Chinese culture. It didn’t help that we had only Western names in our birth certificates. I remembered my Mandarin teacher in school berating and picking on me because of my Western name. (Racial discrimination exists even within a homogenous culture.)
Years later, while ministering as a missionary in Taipei city, I was constantly confronted with my ethnicity. Some of the locals insisted I was not really Chinese, while others reluctantly called us “Straits-born" or "overseas Chinese.” It was in that one year that I realized I was not really Chinese at heart. My views, philosophy of life, belief system and convictions were more Christian and had a Western bias. I’ve accepted who I am and know that it was in God’s plan for my future ministry in North America, that God had orchestrated my early development and training. Although I can speak Mandarin, Cantonese and Fukien quite fluently, I still think in English. I’m thankful for my rich heritage that consisted of the best influences from both eastern and western worlds. 
"For I know the plans I have for you. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11
What greeted me in the center atrium of this expansive shopping complex was a sandcastle depicting the Great Wall of China and some of the iconic symbols of my oriental culture.
The Great Wall Sandcastle
Along with this were the Terracotta warriors, transported from the archaeological dig in Xi'an Province. To think that there are 6,000 of these life-size terracotta warriors assembled in their battle formations is mind boggling and unimaginable.
What creative mind conceived such a plan? What great leader inspired such a magnificent project? I was quite astounded to find out that it all began because of the morbid fear of death in a 13 year old emperor. He would grow up to become the same Emperor who would commission the building of the Great Wall of China. 
Although I am awed by such man-made wonders, I am also scandalized by the cost of such endeavours. It is said that thousands of artisans and workers were buried alive after the project to protect the location of the Emperor’s mausoleum. 
I can’t help but come to the conclusion that such mega-structures are a sad reminder to us of the fears of man and the madness of power-mongers. 
I have a black currant plant that has been trained to grow up a trellis, an espaliered apple tree with two types of apples, a grape vine, a blue berry bush in a pot, a dwarf Chinese pear tree and a ‘dwarf’ peach tree that has become overgrown. 
The only fruit that I actually harvest are the peaches. They’re actually quite large and juicy, if the squirrels don’t get them first.
This year I have a smaller crop as the late snowfall in April froze half the blossoms on the tree.
The hardest part of enjoying these juicy looking peaches is the waiting. From a guest bedroom window, I can see them growing bigger each day. It’s been getting more tempting by the day as the green fuzzy skin takes on a pinkish hue. The other day I plucked one only to discover it was still a week away from being fully ripe.
Tiny drops of water eventually form the ocean. Those little drops of water cover 70% of the earth’s surface. The Pacific ocean alone covers 64,196,000 sq miles. (166,266,877 sq km)
Tiny particles of rock and mineral (0.0625 to 2 millimeters in diameter) deposited together, is what we call a sandy beach. 
Many countries boast the longest beaches in the world; in fact we have so many beaches named “Long beach” you have to add the city, state or Province to identify the correct one.
Most people would succeed in small things if they were not troubled with great ambitions. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Make it a habit not to be critical about small things. Edward Everett
We can do no great things; only small things with great love. Mother Theresa
Sunset and the crowds have already been there for hours.
Every year a much anticipated event comes round – ‘The Celebration of Light’ Fireworks competition. 
Since the inception of this fabulous mid-summer festival almost 20 years ago, I have a dear friend who has not missed a single event. 
Imagine three to four hundred thousand people crowded into the city center. Consider the fact that most have to wait at least 2 to 3 hours to watch a 25 minute fireworks display. 
I must say that it is always well worth the wait for such an amazing fireworks show set to music. 
Thought: Light shines brightest in the dark. It’s a great reminder that we are to let our light shine in this darkened world. Most living things are drawn to the light... 
Your gift is what you do best.
Green used to mean just that – one of the many colours of the rainbow. When a city was referred to as green and clean city, it used to mean that it was full of trees and flowering plants.
Today if you googled the word ‘green’ you would probably get the website of a “save-the earth” group or political groups with an environmental agenda. 
I much prefer to stick to the original designation of the word “green.” Did you know that the word green comes from the Old English word grene, or in its older form, groeni, meaning “to grow.” (Wikipedia) 
Growth is what I see when I look at the green plants in my garden. The average homeowner cringes when spring arrives, and their lawns grow an inch a day. I actually love mowing the lawn for the smell and the excuse to be outdoors. 
Green speaks to me about growth opportunities which sometimes comes with a sacrifice and can be inconvenient. 
“He makes me lie down in green pastures.” Psalm 23:2
Whether it is found in an old growth forest or in a tropical paradise, green is still one of the most pleasing-to-the-eye colours.
Green lily pads.