About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.)
While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. A voice came from the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him." When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves, and told no one at that time what they had seen.
Rev Titus Zhang shared on the verse on the Transfiguration of Jesus, and shared how Moses represented the Law and Elijah, the Prophets. And what then brings the Law, the Prophets and the cross together? Mat 22: 37, Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Indeed, it is love. And when God calls us to listen to the word of our Lord, it is the message of love. On this very special day of Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day, such a message adds so much value to the occation, sharing a message of reunion, reconcilation and restoration. Praise be the God!!
Have a blessed Chinese New Year and to all lovers out there, have a Happy Valentine's Day :)
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Merlin!!
Haha...sorry...I'm a sucker for fantasy shows :) Thank God it only had 13 episodes, so not too much time wasted on the entertainment... 
Oh well, wish I too can conjure some magic to help me focus and be less distracted :P
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
THE MBBS
32 days and counting...*brrrr*
After the MBBS briefing, reality sets in once more. The final MBBS is near. Time is running short, yet the knowledge gaps only seem to get larger. More topics to cover, more p/e to brush up, essays to read, MCQ to do...arg!!! The fear is real!!!
Was practicing/sparring with Joel and Suriya in the wards eariler, realised how chui I was. Worst of it all was that I was getting weaker at the things that I had once known and was able to perform well. I was stumbling at the things I tot I was ok, and persistantly forgetting things that my friends had taught me (my heart aches each time Joel says "We just discussed that yesterday" and I completely forgotten). Yeah, feel like a burden to my friends (to Aaron/Ken too), not being able to contribute much to their learning, yet leeching from them...Ah, my heart is filled with thanksgiving everyday meet my patient and beloved friends.
Nonetheless, the fear is real...very real!!!
What fear?!?!? Fear of failing MBBS? To be honest, yes. As the exam draws near, I can sense the fear slowly creeping into my heart, stirring my soul. But when all the depressive and anxious emotions die down, I realised how foolish I was to fall into the devil's trap. Why fear? Was it the fear of losing face and hurting my ego? Was it the fear of having to repeat another 6mth? ... What useless fear!
The end point of my medical profession is to be a competent, compassionate, Christian doctor. The only reason I should fear, is the fear of not being able to be the doctor which God would want me to. MBBS is but a check-point to see if I was indeed able enough to be a safe HO, it is not the be all and end all. Thus, if I can't pass, that simply means I'm really not good enough. Period! And I'll give thanks for the extra time (and also that God has kept me from harming others) and jolly well buck up, to fill in the blanks.
Yes!! So what if I can't make it through this MBBS? Yeah I'm sure I'll be a little upset and disappointed, but I will just have to continue the run till the next check-point :)
Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father's house, then the LORD will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth." Gen 28:20-22
Indeed, this has been my prayer since M1, and just look at how God has provided for me all these years. What then should I fear, other than to disappoint my Lord! Father Lord, I commit myself and all my friends into your hands. Lead us all through the valley of the exams and teach us to become the doctors you want us to be.
To all my dear friends, jia you and press on!!!
After the MBBS briefing, reality sets in once more. The final MBBS is near. Time is running short, yet the knowledge gaps only seem to get larger. More topics to cover, more p/e to brush up, essays to read, MCQ to do...arg!!! The fear is real!!!
Was practicing/sparring with Joel and Suriya in the wards eariler, realised how chui I was. Worst of it all was that I was getting weaker at the things that I had once known and was able to perform well. I was stumbling at the things I tot I was ok, and persistantly forgetting things that my friends had taught me (my heart aches each time Joel says "We just discussed that yesterday" and I completely forgotten). Yeah, feel like a burden to my friends (to Aaron/Ken too), not being able to contribute much to their learning, yet leeching from them...Ah, my heart is filled with thanksgiving everyday meet my patient and beloved friends.
Nonetheless, the fear is real...very real!!!
What fear?!?!? Fear of failing MBBS? To be honest, yes. As the exam draws near, I can sense the fear slowly creeping into my heart, stirring my soul. But when all the depressive and anxious emotions die down, I realised how foolish I was to fall into the devil's trap. Why fear? Was it the fear of losing face and hurting my ego? Was it the fear of having to repeat another 6mth? ... What useless fear!
The end point of my medical profession is to be a competent, compassionate, Christian doctor. The only reason I should fear, is the fear of not being able to be the doctor which God would want me to. MBBS is but a check-point to see if I was indeed able enough to be a safe HO, it is not the be all and end all. Thus, if I can't pass, that simply means I'm really not good enough. Period! And I'll give thanks for the extra time (and also that God has kept me from harming others) and jolly well buck up, to fill in the blanks.
Yes!! So what if I can't make it through this MBBS? Yeah I'm sure I'll be a little upset and disappointed, but I will just have to continue the run till the next check-point :)
Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father's house, then the LORD will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth." Gen 28:20-22
Indeed, this has been my prayer since M1, and just look at how God has provided for me all these years. What then should I fear, other than to disappoint my Lord! Father Lord, I commit myself and all my friends into your hands. Lead us all through the valley of the exams and teach us to become the doctors you want us to be.
To all my dear friends, jia you and press on!!!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Psychiatry
Most people, including many in the medical profession, don't give psychiatry much respect. Some feel that the practice is very effy and hardly objective, others simply fear what they do not know (or know wrongly, thanks to the media). But the past few days in psychiatry has made me realise the importance of this speciality to others...and myself.
Psychiatry is the study of the of psychological conditions and simply put, is the study of the human mind ie how people think and why people think they way they think. With such understanding, one can objectively evaluate a person's thought process and thus appreciate his/her point of view hence improving the inter-personal interaction. More importantly, it has helped me to see people with psychiatric conditions with greater empathy and compassion.
For myself, thru my understanding of various psychiatric conditions, I begin to understand why I see certain things in certain ways, and thus help me put a word to my nameless emotions, giving them a etiology and thus a "mangement". It is a precious journey of self-discovery, which never fails to humble me in realisation of my great imperfection and weakness.
God works in beautiful ways indeed.
Psychiatry is the study of the of psychological conditions and simply put, is the study of the human mind ie how people think and why people think they way they think. With such understanding, one can objectively evaluate a person's thought process and thus appreciate his/her point of view hence improving the inter-personal interaction. More importantly, it has helped me to see people with psychiatric conditions with greater empathy and compassion.
For myself, thru my understanding of various psychiatric conditions, I begin to understand why I see certain things in certain ways, and thus help me put a word to my nameless emotions, giving them a etiology and thus a "mangement". It is a precious journey of self-discovery, which never fails to humble me in realisation of my great imperfection and weakness.
God works in beautiful ways indeed.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Living on the Word
As my church duties finally come to a pause, me and Sam decided to emback on an advanture to visit various churches of different denominations. First stop : Paya Lebar Methodist Church!
I'm personally not very foriegn to the Methodist church, having been to Weasly Methodist a few times. There's much similarity between the Methodist service and my (Anglican) service, so it was quite easy to follow :) Had a sudden realisation that though we are churches of different denominations at different places, we worship the same God, read the same Bible and follow the same creed. We are a family under the universal chruch/banner of Jesus Chirst!
Coincidentally, Rev Jonathan Seet was sharing with the church today about cult and denomination. How do we know if a particular "Christian" organisation/institute/church is a cult or denomination? He pointed the importance of creeds (eg Nicene creed and the Apostle's creed) which forms the foundational defination of our faith. Anything that deviates from this creed is heresy and thus a cult. A reminder once again of the importance of knowing the creeds and treasuring them.
The sermon message today by Rev Lynette was equally thought-provoking. Though "Living in the Word" is no new message, it was a reminder of the importance of being deligent and faithful in reading God's word. I'm now into the 4th week of my disciplined QT (which started with the 1 week fasting, inspired by Sam n a painful encounter with God). Had commited to spend 1h every day with the Lord, but been failing here and there. Rev Lynette encouraged us not to feel guilty or worst, be legalistic about QT. Our attitude towards QT sld be a joyful and refreshing encounter, like reading a love letter from a loved one. Yes! I will continue to keep this commitment to my Lord, to be disciplined to hold His word close to my heart and living it our in my everyday life. Help me Father!
Yup, so it's an exciting day of visitation. But nonetheless, I do miss my own church and fellowship. It feels extremely werid and incomplete to simply walk out of church after the service (cos we didn't know anyone). Realised how much I actually treasure the fellowship with brothers and sisters, even though a short while after service...Ah, abscence makes the heart fonder :)
So a new week/posting begins. Father, I commit my life (and my dear's) into your hands!
I'm personally not very foriegn to the Methodist church, having been to Weasly Methodist a few times. There's much similarity between the Methodist service and my (Anglican) service, so it was quite easy to follow :) Had a sudden realisation that though we are churches of different denominations at different places, we worship the same God, read the same Bible and follow the same creed. We are a family under the universal chruch/banner of Jesus Chirst!
Coincidentally, Rev Jonathan Seet was sharing with the church today about cult and denomination. How do we know if a particular "Christian" organisation/institute/church is a cult or denomination? He pointed the importance of creeds (eg Nicene creed and the Apostle's creed) which forms the foundational defination of our faith. Anything that deviates from this creed is heresy and thus a cult. A reminder once again of the importance of knowing the creeds and treasuring them.
The sermon message today by Rev Lynette was equally thought-provoking. Though "Living in the Word" is no new message, it was a reminder of the importance of being deligent and faithful in reading God's word. I'm now into the 4th week of my disciplined QT (which started with the 1 week fasting, inspired by Sam n a painful encounter with God). Had commited to spend 1h every day with the Lord, but been failing here and there. Rev Lynette encouraged us not to feel guilty or worst, be legalistic about QT. Our attitude towards QT sld be a joyful and refreshing encounter, like reading a love letter from a loved one. Yes! I will continue to keep this commitment to my Lord, to be disciplined to hold His word close to my heart and living it our in my everyday life. Help me Father!
Yup, so it's an exciting day of visitation. But nonetheless, I do miss my own church and fellowship. It feels extremely werid and incomplete to simply walk out of church after the service (cos we didn't know anyone). Realised how much I actually treasure the fellowship with brothers and sisters, even though a short while after service...Ah, abscence makes the heart fonder :)
So a new week/posting begins. Father, I commit my life (and my dear's) into your hands!
Friday, January 15, 2010
Angst!!!!
Grrr.....
I know it's very immature of me to get all emotional and angry about such matters, but my heart is indeed filled with angstiness. Grr...the frustration of plans being foiled, of the helplessness before authority...ARG!!!
Oh Lord, teach me to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and even slower to anger. Keep me in your peace and let Saturn not have a foothold over me!
For interest sake:
angst: A feeling of acute but vague anxiety or apprehension often accompanied by depression, especially philosophical anxiety.
I know it's very immature of me to get all emotional and angry about such matters, but my heart is indeed filled with angstiness. Grr...the frustration of plans being foiled, of the helplessness before authority...ARG!!!
Oh Lord, teach me to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and even slower to anger. Keep me in your peace and let Saturn not have a foothold over me!
For interest sake:
angst: A feeling of acute but vague anxiety or apprehension often accompanied by depression, especially philosophical anxiety.
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