Just as churches and suraus were being fire-bombed following the recent High Court judgment which ruled that Christians can use the word Allah to refer to God, the son of one of my church members married a Malay Muslim lady. The wedding couldn't have come at a more interesting time.

There were two wedding celebrations; both most unusual just as the love match was unusual--bukan cinta biasa. The first was as Malay and as Muslim as it can get. The other went the opposite direction. The Chinese raja sehari was majestic in all his finery complete with his head gear accompanied by crisp beating of the kumpang or hand drums leading the procession to the bride's house with the groom's Christian parents happily in tow.

The whole neighbourhood was out there; some undoubtedly curious while others were just there to join in the celebrations. The couple went through the whole works bravely; the akad nikah, bersanding and more. He spoke in impeccable Malay. She looked at her prince with all the pride and adoration. They certainly looked happy. Eternally blissful even.

The second celebration was just as joyous. This time the groom came in tuxedo and his bride in a flowing gown.

Earlier on, in keeping with Chinese tradition, a tea ceremony was held and this was at the request of the Malay bride herself. There was also the toast. Yes, the champagne flowed generously even though it was non-alcoholic. It was rather a rare sight to see his new Malay in-laws toasting to the three rounds of yam seng as loudly as only the Chinese could.

The groom came from the same age group as my daughter from the Sunday School days in the church and his parents are long time personal friends. Then, like many of the children, the son eventually left for overseas study. When my wife and I received the wedding invitation, we could not help but be taken aback to learn that their son is marrying a Muslim. Private thoughts did cross our minds.

The parents themselves did wonder whether their Christian friends would turn up at the wedding banquet now that they know their son is marrying a Malay Muslim. But turned up they did, including the pastors and leaders. Of course, they would. After all they have known his parents in church for a long, long time; and the groom since he was a little boy. Now is the happiest moment of their lives. Now is the time for celebrations, how could anyone not come and celebrate? It's just unimaginable.

I could feel the relief of the parents that evening as one by one his church friends arrived early, which is unusual for a Chinese wedding. In his speech, the father of the groom repeatedly thanked his Christian friends particularly for turning up "at a time like this." That passing remark didn't go unnoticed.

The joy was infectious when his wife said, "We have been waiting for a long time for this moment."

Speaking of his conversion, the groom said his friends joked that he is entitled to take up to four wives. But he said he already have more than four women in his life; his grandmother, mother, sister and now his wife apart from his new mother-in-law and sisters-in-law. He promised to stick to one to the delight of all present.

His father had earlier in his speech reminded him to keep his eyes just on his new wife and none other.

Taking a leaf from the Bible, the father said, "Husband love your wife and wife respect your husband." His friends gladly said amen to that. His father even composed a love poem for the newly wed.

He offered another piece of biblical advice on love: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." (1 Corinthians 13:4-7).

While dinner was served, many were having their own food for thought. The aunties and uncles especially who had taught the groom when his was little in Sunday School were presumably mulling over some unasked questions to which probably there were no ready answers.

"What a pity he had to renounce his faith," a friend on my table lamented. Her husband quickly said, "I look at it this way; he has embraced another faith." Then both of them looked at me as if I had the answer.

I said, the question is whether they would put God first in their marriage and commit themselves to living righteously as husband and wife.

"How could that be possible?" his wife asked.

"With God nothing is impossible," I said. (By BOB TEOH/MySinchew)