Distributing Flyers

Today I distributed flyers to inform residents that we will be surveying them for our Community Health Project (CHP) over the next week. Randomisation had it that some units were chosen, and some were not - not all the units on a floor or in a block were chosen. When I was looking at the list of units I had on my piece of paper, going around putting the flyers in metal grille or under the door, the image of the Lord passing through every household in Egypt - sparing the firstborn of all the families who painted blood on their doorframes and killing the firstborn of all the rest who didn't, came to my mind.

Thank God the main block I was given had one continuous corridor, sparing me the agony of my other friends, who had to make 5 trips up and down between the 2nd and 12th floors because the corridors were disjointed. I practically finished giving out all my flyers in half the time my friends took.

Anyway, some doors were open; many others were closed. For the open doors, it was quite interesting to see what was happening inside the house. There was this elderly Indian gentleman who was either sleeping or stoning in his bed, with his door and gate wide open. I waved and said hello; he didn't respond to me. I wonder what would happen if a thief/burglar came by. There was this elderly Chinese lady who was ironing when i said hello; she shouted something in Hokkien rather loudly. I didn't know what it meant, but it sure didn't sound too friendly; I was prepared to run if she came out after me with a stick. There was a elderly Malay lady who didn't understand English, so she went to the Malay family next door to ask what I was trying to say.

I wonder what the Lord saw as He passed through the households in Egypt.

I'm praying hard that the Lord will work a miracle. I really don't wish to survey a full day on Sunday. Not because I loathe surveying or want to slack. Just that having rearranged and pushing away all my appointments on Thursday and Friday night and not being able to be there for my ministries on Saturday, Sunday is the least I could have. I understand that CHP is important; results (of both the survey and the subject) are important. No doubt, Sunday may have a very good yield of survey respondents, because more people will be at home. But work is not my life. Why insist that a full day of surveying be done on Sunday? Does half a day make that much of a difference? What is the real value we're getting from this half a day, and are there more important things we have lost in this half a day? Are results really everything?

Just finished watching Flywheel, a movie about a dishonest used-car seller who experienced a change in His life when He came to Christ. He was struggling to make ends meet, owe the bank a lot of money, and was about to be forced to sell his business to pay the bank. But God blessed him when he came to Him, and on the day the bank was supposed to come for his business, he sold 32 cars in 8 hours, a miracle by his measure. There's a lot more to the movie. Go watch it yourself.

I should trust God to make a way. *nods*

A Beautiful Picture

I saw a beautiful picture during service in church today.

My pastor's 5 year-old son sitting beside him. He does not sing with the congregation, but plays quietly with his water-bottle, with a contented smile on his face.
A new youth sitting amongst the youths.
A family of 3 generations worshipping together, singing praises to God.

成长不单在于人际关系、知识或事奉的多寡；关键在于是否在基督里面与上帝有亲密的关系。

Sometimes when I have too many things on my mind, I get rather flustered. :S

Review of 2009

Now that the CMPS report is complete, I have a little time to look back at what happened in my life in 2009. The list of significant events is as follows:

January
1. Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella (featuring Lea Salonga)

February
1. Formation of Jubilate and assisting in conducting this youth choir, whom I have grown to love and have the blessing of watching them grow together, musically and spiritually
2. Formation of Caleb and having the privilege of leading this cell group, with whom I have the blessing of growing, learning, laughing and going through ups-and-downs together
3. The Screwtape Letters (Theatre)

March
1. My 21st Birthday Party (This has gotta be the highlight of the year. Still very touched to this day)
2. Baptist Youth Choral Festival
3. Chinese High 90th Anniversary Dinner
4. 2nd M.B.B.S Part I (Thank God I made it through)
5. Defending the Caveman

April
1. 3-day trip to Hong Kong to get my I/C, visit relatives and eat
2. RZIM Faith Weekend at Malacca: Being in the World and not Of the World
3. CATS!
4. Clinical Skills Foundation Course @ NUH

May
1. Much Ado About Nothing @ Fort Canning Park
2. Sundown Marathon (My first marathon, though I walked nearly half of it)

June
1. Vietnam Trip (with the many exciting and memorable experiences. I shall return to Halong Bay one day!)
2. Commencement of weekly Precept bible study on Genesis (weekly for 7 weeks)
3. Medicine Posting @ SGH (Thank God I made it through. Thank God for a great CG and tutors)

July
1. Commencement of Every Young Man's Battle book study (weekly for a couple of weeks)
2. Missions Conference (Thank God for the opportunity to interpret and conduct)
3. Sing Dollar! The Musical Comedy About Money

August
1. Da Vinci Exhibition @ Science Centre
2. Army Half Marathon
3. Straits Times 7.59 Series
4. Mayday Concert!

September
1. Surgery Posting @ TTSH (Thank God I made it through, despite screwing up my EOPT case. Thank God for great tutors. An unforgettable first night call.)
2. HOS Choral Music Camp (Thank God for the opportunity to conduct. It was a nerve-wrecking but immense learning experience.)

October
1. Emceeing for the first time for a wedding (A good learning experience.)
2. First meeting with Christian Acapella group
3. Performance at Hour of Inspiration at AH (Never try to sing We Are the World in the morning)
4. Nike Human Race!
5. Family Medicine Posting @ a Harbourfront clinic, shipyard and Woodlands Polyclinic (Thank God for my new, current CG. Lots of laughter and nonsense with them around)

November:
1. 林以诺牧师 培灵会 (Thank God for the opportunity of leading Cantonese worship in front of a congregation of 800+ for the first time. The whole experience had taught me how to deal with unforeseen limitations and circumstances.)
2. 2nd World-In-Singapore Concert
3. Psychological Medicine Posting @ SGH　(Thank God for nice tutors. It had been an eye-opening experience.)

December:
1. Standard Chartered Half-Marathon
2. Messiah Concert (Probably a once(hopefully twice)-in-a-lifetime experience. It's not only the months of rehearsals or standing on stage for 3 hours with only a 15 minute interval, but experiencing God through the music)
3. Broadway Beng - Jiak Liu Lian!
4. Lea Salonga
5. W!ld Rice: Beauty and the Beast
6. Happy Songs for a Great Recession by Budak Pantai
7. Caleb Retreat
8. Carolling with Hwa Chong Voices @ Fullerton
9. Carolling with Jubilate
10. Christmas Service programme
11. EPH Posting: CHP (Too early to give comments yet :p)


On the background of:
1. Sing Voices (weekly)
2. Jubilate (weekly)
3. Caleb (weekly)
4. VCF (weekly)
5. Worship rehearsals (once to twice monthly)
6. Combined Messiah Rehearsals (twice monthly)
7. Tuition with 6 lovely kids (once to twice weekly each - There were a couple whom I did not follow throughout the whole year, but on and off. It feels that the time and effort I spend on them is insignificant compare to the joy, humour and laughter some of them bring me)
8. Screwtape Letters book study (weekly - currently on hiatus. To resume this year?)
9. CAs (erm. many?), EOPTs (4) and Case write-ups (11 - 2 Med, 2 Surg, 4 Fam, 2 Psy, CMPS)


Looking back, it doesn't seem like such a busy/hectic year. Or does it? Many of my classmates or friends out there probably have equally, if not more, busy schedules than I do. But one thing is certain:

None of this would have been possible without the grace and mercy of the Lord my God, who sustains me and gives me strength to live everyday.

"If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness." ~ 2 Cor 11:30
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On a side note, movies I watched this year:
1. Red Cliff
2. Bride Wars
3. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
4. Valkyrie
5. Slumdog Millionaire
6. He's Just Not That Into You
7. Marley and Me
8. Angels and Demons
9. Night at the Museum 2
10. X-men Origins: Wolverine
11. Knowing (Is this the Nicholas Cage one?)
12. Ice Age 3
13. 500 Days of Summer
14. The Ugly Truth
15. Whatever Works
16. Year One
17. The Blue Mansion
18. My Sister's Keeper
19. Michael Jackson: This Is It!
20. Love Happens
21. Mulan
22. Sherlock Holmes
23. Avatar

**Addendum: Forgot to add -
24) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Princd
25) My Girlfriend's an Agent
26) Accident

This works out to an average of 1 movie every 2 weeks. Not that many right? A quarter to a third of them are probably free tickets anyway. Heh.

Farewell 2009

I have been intending to review 2009 for myself for some time. But as it would have it, I haven't been reaching home earlier than 12 midnight for 3 of the past 5 days; and of the days I did, there was too much work to be done or I was just simply too tired. And now, with the CMPS report, I guess that'd have to wait till after Monday, when hopefully I'd get a bit of a breather.

Daily for the past week, there would be 2 pages reviewing a particular aspect in the past decade. I'm wondering whether I should make such an attempt to. A decade ago, I was 11, in primary 5. Certainly, many many things have changed since then. Many experiences, and I'm inclined to think there're many more good than bad ones. God has been extremely gracious and good. I always thought that if I were to sit down and count God's blessings within a year, it would already take forever, if I even remember all of them; what more a decade, or a lifetime? (:

At this point of time, I would just like to express my deepest appreciation and thanks to all those who have given me lifts home for the past year. With the start of clinicals, many of my friends and classmates have started to drive. I'm always very thankful and touched when many of them offer to give me a lift all the way to my doorstep even when it's already past midnight, or to somewhere I need to go. It really demonstrates the love that they have for me and my other friends. It's not as if all of us live within close proximity of one another. Twice in the past 4 days, 2 of my choir friends have ferried 4-5 people who lived in different parts of Singapore. And it's not even on their way home. By the time they reached home, it would already be past 1am. Yet they do so willingly. Thank you so much. (: If I ever get a car, (after I get my license, hopefully next year), I would reciprocate this love I have been shown. You can hold me to my word.

Going for watchnight service and countdown in a while. For the first time in many years, I have not made a concrete decision whether to go out for supper after countdown, or even stayover at someone's place. For the past few years, I would have more than made up my mind days in advance that I'm only going to reach home in the late morning of 1st January. Is it age catching up with me? The desire just to have some time on my own at home? Not wanting to have to hang out with a large group of people? Is it to accompany my mum, who had spent many of the past new-years on her way home alone because my sister and I would be out with friends? Or just the thirst for a good night's sleep of more than 6 hours in the comfort of my own bed? I don't really know, it could probably be many or all of the above. But certainly, there is an element of fatigue setting in. Can't wait to finish my CMPS report (which is due Monday), it seems to be the only thing on my mind nowadays (besides CHP), since tomorrow would already be Friday.

To end off, would just like to quote Dr. Ang Peng Tiam, who wrote the following words in his column in the Straits Times supplement, Mind Your Body:

"Everyman wants to take control of his life. But the truth is, you are not in control. I , as your doctor, am not in control either. Someone else is in control - a higher being."

This patient [with recurrent breast cancer] is still very much alive today - a living miracle, full of vitality and purpose in life.

My silent prayer is that, by God's grace, the miracle will repeat itself. As we approach the new year, we are reminded that there is hope even in despair, light in darkness, and, as a doctor, even though I have no control over my patients' destiny, I can be a vessel of peace.

For One More Day

You may not believe it anyhow.

But ask yourself this: Have you ever lost someone you love and wanted one more conversation, one more chance to make up for the time when you thought they would be here forever? If so, then you know you can go your whole life collecting days, and none will outweigh the one you wish you had back.

What if you got it back?

Another one of Mitch Albom's books. Don't really have much to say about it, having read Five People You Meet in Heaven and Tuesdays with Morrie not too long ago. Personally there wasn't anything fresh within the book which appealed to me. Hopefully, Have a Little Faith would have something new to offer.

Till we meet again

This is a back-dated post which I kept in my phone until now.

"For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive." ~ 1 Corinthians 15:22

This worse kept going through my mind when I was on the bus returning from the crematorium. Perhaps because it is one of my favourite pieces in Handel's Messiah, but because the truth and reassurance that there is life after death through Christ comforts me. A friend asked me, "After all this has happened, do you still believe there is a God?"

I think this is a question that a lot of people have on their minds, one which challenges Christians to respond, maybe one which 'justifies' people's disbelief in Christianity. And though I believe one must broach some theology in response to this question, I doubt it is the most appropriate response at a time when one is in grief.

For God is love, and through this all, I have seen love. Love from her parents and brothers, friends, classmates, even people who hardly know her, but were willing to pray for her, to come together to do something for her. I may never know why God allowed her to go through such suffering. But what I do know is that I saw love. I saw God in His glory through these circumstances. Detractors who think that God is narcissistic and sadistic know only half the story. They don't know that in the advent of the new heaven and earth, my dear friend, with all the believers before and after her, will share this glory with Christ. Not to mention that God, the creator, being love, deserves all this glory, for the truth that He is God in the first place.

I wept, more because I felt the grief and sorrow of her loved ones. Because I lost someone who loved me dearly. Even though our time together as classmates, as friends, was short, you have touched me with your love. I saw Christ living in you.

Why would someone cling onto something so dearly if it were merely a farce? One might say many cling on to ideologies to their deaths. There can only be 2 conclusion: One being that a person can be so crazy, deluded and mistaken; Second being it is the truth. I believe that every person who comes to the Lord has to examine the evidence and truth by himself. But this fact in itself should be worth anyone's time and attention exploring, why millions in the world hold on so tightly to this person called Jesus, even in suffering.

Thank you for your friendship, company, laughter and everything you've ever done for me.
Thank you for loving me.

Till we meet again. (:

A Very Different Christmas

"For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." ~ Isaiah 9:6

This year's Christmas period has been a very different one for many reasons. First of all, I think it's the first time that there's only ONE miserable week of break in between postings. While I know I shouldn't be complaining because the millions of people who are out there working only has one day, I'm still a student so I guess I should still erm.. get longer breaks? Okay. That was a weak argument.

Secondly, I don't think I had ever been this busy for the previous years. For once, I have to concede that handling tuition, carolling with Hwa Chong Voices, Jubilate (Church youth choir) and the programme for church Christmas service, with even the limited CHP Lit-Review stuff, all within the course of one week, is no mean feat. Not to mention the CMPS report which is due real soon and which I've not started on. Some may say that it's my own fault for saying 'yes' to so many things, so I shouldn't be complaining. For those out there who are concerned, I thank you for the encouraging sms-es and words that you've given me. It's really greatly appreciated. (: Although all of these had been physically and mentally tiring, they gave me an immense amount of joy. God's grace has sustained me thus far, and all glory goes to Him. However, maybe it's time for me to consider not taking up so many things for next year, to give myself some respite and rest. But then again, I say this every year. Well, we'll see. Till then.. (:

However, the week hasn't been all 'work'-related. Caught up with a sister in church who returned from overseas studies for a short while and couple of JC classmates. Great times of catching up. It's always refreshing to meet up with friends you haven't seen for some time and talk about anything under the sun. The connection's just amazing, and I always bid them goodbye fulfilled.

Thirdly, the loss of a dear sister, classmate and friend has brought additional meaning to this Christmas. The truth that a living God came to this world to die for dying people so that they may live for eternity amazes me once again. It is the hope that Christmas brings that assures me that I will meet her again in future.

No matter how much the Christmas period may change/vary for me year to year, one thing never changes: The real significance of Christmas.

"Christmas isn't Christmas till it happens in your heart
Somewhere deep inside you, is where Christmas really starts
So give your heart to Jesus, you'll discover when you do
That it's Christmas, really Christmas, for you"

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On a separate note, I would like to say a great thank you to all those who wrote me cards and gave me presents. Just your luck to have a bo xim friend like me, who didn't write any card or buy anybody any presents this year. For those who have been writing me cards every year without fail, a huge sorry that it's been pretty much one-way the past years. I may not be able to reciprocate your love in cash (i.e. gifts) or in kind (i.e. cards), but I really appreciate it very much, from the bottom of my heart. <3

P.S. Nobody is interested in any of the events in the previous post? ):