Will done

After much trouble, I have completed the will for The Ambra. We have decided to go for will because the amount to pay to change my name into The Ambra works out to be 40+k. 30k for stamp fee and 1.5% on 500k bank loan. What we plan is get the will done for 3 years then we will sell this house.

Questions about CHC I

First off, the full story.

1. Rumours of financial impropriety concerning the church and it's pastor/s have been around for years. Some say as far back as 10 years ago.

2. The first public out roar about the church, arose in March 2010 this year, when the church bought a $310 million stake in a commercial entity known as Suntec Convention Centre for it's new church. Worse, it had to hide the details in a Non-disclosure agreement, when as a public charity and society, it has a duty of openness and accountability to it's members.

3. This series of actions, sparked a complaint by a member of the church to the Commissioner of Charities, asking why the church had submitted it's members to future liabilities, without the members' permission.

This was because the church had not raise the full sum of $310 million at that point (only $65 million was raised).

4. The Senior Pastor and the church was questioned about this by the Commissioner himself. But no public answers were forthcoming.

5. Shortly after, on 31st May 2010, the Senior Pastor's home and office, together with 16 other associates of the church, was raided by the Singapore police (Commercial Affairs Department(CAD)) on the request of the Commissioner of Charities (COC). They were all hauled in for questioning at the police station.

6. The COC and CAD issued a joint statement that the Senior Pastor and his associates were being investigated for:

6.1 Misuse of church's funds

6.2 Falsification of Documents

6.3 Criminal Breach of Trust

7. The pastor's wife was then asked to return from LA for questioning by the CAD. At this time, the financial probe had increased to 20+ people including the Pastor's wife, as well as the deputy senior pastor of the church.

8. The church itself and the Senior Pastor and his wife, then seek legal representation from Senior Counsels in Singapore.

9. Shortly after this, the Senior Pastor was accused of plagiarising the works of 2 American authors and this was featured in the local newspapers. Plagiarism is a crime in Singapore. But the authors decided not to press charges on the pastor, as long as he did not continue to use their works.

10. News of the Senior Pastor's wife extravagant lifestyle in LA hits Singapore. This amongst others include a USD20,000 a month rental in the posh Hollywood Hills mansion, 2 cars, maids/butler, personal entourage of dancers and choreographers, frequent travel, expensive clothes and makeovers, jewelleries, etc.

11. The Senior Pastor and his deputy was asked to step down as heads of the church and replaced by 2 executive pastors.

12. An independent auditing team was appointed to review the governance of the church as well as it's internal controls.

13. Public debate in Singapore rages to a fever pitch, so much so that it has been declared the most Googled item in Singapore. This is the extent of the public outrage in Singapore.

13.1 Yahoo FTP - 8 threads and 30,000 posts

13.2 channelnewsasia forum - more than 5 threads and 10,000 comments

13.3 sammyboy forums

13.4 hardwarezone forum-80 threads and more 100,000 comments

13.5 irreligious blogpost

13.6 cheat grace blogpost

13.7 theonlinecitizen

13.8 the NEW temasek review

13.9 sg forums

13.10 sgclub forums

13.11 new republic asia blogpost

13.12 what i have against City harvest Church blogpost

13.13 why i left City Harvest Church blogpost

13.14 church warnings blogpost

13.15 Cash Harvest CULT blogposts

13.16 The Christian Post

13.17 trevvy forums

13.18 blowing wind forums

13.19 AsiaOne forums - more than 15 threads, more than 20 thousand comments, more than half million views, etc etc etc

14 Public discussions led to the following list of questions, which are culled from verifiable facts from the various discussions in Singapore.

14.1 Why did the CAD raid my Snr Pastor’s home, CHC Office and offices of associates of CHC on 31 May 10?

14.2 Why did the CAD interrogate my Snr Pastor and his wife on multiple occasions?

14.3 Why did my Snr Pastor and his Dy Snr Pastor have to step down?

14.4. Why did my Snr Pastor pay $46.3 million to the Licensor for simply finding a new place of worship for CHC? Why was the Snr Pastor so generous to give Licensor such a big amount when the Suntec church will not be ready by March 2011 and the usage is non-exclusive and without a tenancy agreement?

14.5. Why did the CHC buy million of $ of unquoted bonds from Xtron, a company that has been losing money since it was formed?

14.6 Why did my Snr Pastor announce that CHC was “co-owner” and later clarified that the Church only is a minority shareholder of SCC? This was further clarified by ARA Group in the Chinese newspaper.

14.7 Why did my Snr Pastor pledge the Jurong Church in “the event of non-payment of rent, the creditors have a cause of action against the assets of CHC (i.e. our Jurong West St 91 Church Building)”? Isn’t this a violation of the Societies Act which does not permit society members to subject it’s members to adverse risk?

14.8 What is impact of URA restrictions on the church usage of Suntec? Would the space be enough? If space is not enough, what sense is there to move at all? Also, if non-exclusive does it mean have to move out all equipment every Sunday? Where would we go for our Bible classes, morning/evening prayer sessions etc etc as earlier planned for Suntec?

14.9 It has been clarified that Suntec Reit will eventually buy over Suntec Convention Centre in 2-3 years time. Why then did the Senior Pastor announced that the deal was self-sustaining, when it’s unlikely that future shares can be bought in Suntec Convention Centre?

14.10 Is it true that the Management Committee passed Resolutions to approve the Cultural Mandate and the acceptance of companies linked to CHC (e.g. Xtron and AMAC) as legal and valid? What is the meaning of all this? Does this mean that monies has passed through these companies and involved in matters not in the Building of God’s church?

14.11Is it true that the Senior Pastor and his mentor, Dr Kevin Dyson got their education and qualifications through degree mills i.e. unaccredited institutes of higher education as defined by the US Department of Education?

14.12 Is true that CHC has just 14,000+ members rather than 33,000 members as earlier declared by the church.

Underpaid?

2.5 Bonus, 850 National Bonus, 4000 share, 13th Month

= $91650

Maybe a timely break is good

My wife and his parents have being at odds for awhile. I think all these problems may be the result of living together too long after marriage. Her parents told me that they will move out once their tenancy in July retires. It will present me another set of problems like who is going to look after my kid and how about the laundry and food.

Perhaps this could be the best solution. I have heard that best friends don't even talk to each other after sharing rooms for too long.

Is this true?

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/488394.html

Interesting Job

Genting Break

Went for a small break during easter weekend. It was fun and was within budget.

Hotel - $280

Coach - $240

Eat & Spend - $200

The only blemish is the trip back on a low grade coach. We only reach Singapore at 10pm having departed at 1pm in Genting. It was a gruesome experience especially the long wait at the Singapore Custom. Overall, the kids enjoyed themselves.

Boring 2 days

Thank God, 2 days have passed nothing had happened. Tomorrow evening going to sign STE's offer letter and then reject GE's offer. 2 more days to trip to Genting before 1 more gruesome week. Yeah!