Epistle to Hamers (13)

Dear Frank and Lora,

Merry Christmas from the town of Sibu. It had been a happening month especially with christians predominantly in the town.

* * *

Firstly they have a Christmas Parade on December 12, where the organiser gathered most of the churches in the town to have this parade. Everyone keep saying this is a one of a kind event that will only be seen in Sarawak. Indeed it is something that will not happen in West Malaysia.

It is a grant event, but honestly I don't feel very comfortable with it, because I don't really the see point of gather almost all the churches from different denomination (Roman Catholics, Methodists, Charismatics, etc) and have them walk around the town with decorated cars. Does this kind of event will deliver the biblical message of Christmas to the people in the town? Will people misunderstand the true meaning of Christmas? Maybe this might also be the reason why the church that I am attending (Calvary Sibu Bible-Presbyterian) didn't not participate it (although the organiser put the name in the event pamplet without their permission).

Many times it really perplex me, what is the line that divide the spectrum of these 2 extremes:

(1) 2 Corinthians 6:14 - Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

(2) Ephesians 3:14 - until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

In this kind of event, should we be in unity, ot should we separate ourselves from them?

I also saw some photos in the net (http://www.theborneopost.com/2015/12/21/history-making-christmas-gathering/) where a Methodist church in Sarawak organised some sort of gathering during Christmas and invites people from other religions like Muslims and Buddhists. I don't really know how to respond to this kind of event since I am not sure what is their intend to organise it.

* * *

On December 22 we have a fellowship dinner to celebrate both Christmas and Winter Solstice at a sister's house.

We have a wonderful time and have gift exchange as well. This cell group is under David Ngu, the pastor of City Harvest Church in Sibu. The sharing that he gave (that Christ is the centre of the Christmas) is true, but at the same time rather simplistic, and this gave me more reason not to attend their regular Sunday Service.

Calvin will be going back to his hometown in Penang from December 22 to January 3 to celebrate Christmas and New Year with his family.

* * * 

On the Christmas day itself, my church Calvary Sibu has morning service, and thank God that I was able to attend it after my night shift in the casualty department.

In the evening 5.30pm they also have a Christmas dinner in the church, followed by Christmas message from the pastor, testimony from siblings of four, many choir presentations, dance performance, Bible quiz, and also a sketch on the Book of Jonah. The sketch was surpirsingly very good, with just enough of humour, but most important was the sketch faithfully followed the entire Book of Jonah from the first verse to the last verse. Overall the whole Christmas celebration good, in the sense that the Christmas message was proclaimed and the call to repent and turn to Christ for salvation.

The attendance for the dinner was surprisingly good, 4-5 times of the usual attendance on Sunday service. A sister told me that many grandparents and parents came to see their grandchildren and children to perform during the celebration. They usually didn't attend Sunday service,  and usually will not come for other events that organised by the church, except this Christmas celebration, ie. they only come to church once a year, on the Christmas day only. Kind of sad to hear that, but may they hear the message presented during this time of the year.

* * *

Recently I read through a few interesting messages for Christmas in the Internet.

https://youtu.be/3eyLISSSlAI

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2015/december-web-only/five-errors-to-drop-from-your-christmas-sermons.html

http://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/santa-claus-harmless-fun-or-christmastime-diversion

http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/christ-centered-silence-for-noisy-advent-season

http://www.desiringgod.org/messages/jesus-the-son-of-god-the-son-of-mary

* * *

A picture shared by Joshua.

Christ Jesus, who,
though he was in the form of God,
did not count equality with God
a thing to be grasped,
but emptied himself,
by taking the form of a servant,
being born in the likeness of men.

And being found in human form,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient
to the point of death,
even death on a cross.

Therefore God has highly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
that is above every name,
so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth
and under the earth,
and every tongue confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

(Philippians 2:5-11)

A Not-So-Orderly Account

Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning,

it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you,

most excellent Theophilus.

Luke 1:3

This is the reason Luke wrote his version of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence I am going to write also an account of this encounter with her, for myself, as a reminder of this painful lesson.

It was in summer 2010, this lady approached me via MSN messenger (something that was popular at that time), just a simple encounter, to ask whether I have this particular book. She is not a believer (for some it is not important, but for me it is utterly vital) Neither one of us will ever know how thing will further develop at that time. Since we have an intermittent chatting, via this web chatting.

This kind of chatting getting more complicated when we came back from summer holiday in fall 2010. We start to chat more and more frequent, eventually to daily basis. Neither one of us know that we have start to fall into this dangerous pit. We start to talk about all things, school life, family, classes, lectures, friends. Though we are not from the same age, yet we chat, and chat, and chat. And not without ending a chat with saying a proper 'good night'. And both of us gladly want to keep everything in this small chatting window, and not letting others know that we start to develop this relationship, maybe both if us fear the unnecessary gossip from unnecessary people.

From the bottom of my heart I start to know, something is not proper. She is not a believer. She is not. I keep remind myself that there is a boundary that I cannot cross, yet I can't control my heart. I still develop this special feeling for her. I keep using this excuse that I want to share the Gospel with her. I literally share the bible verses from Genesis to Revelation to her. Eventually I share the Gospel with her, invited her to Christmas dinner with the proper Christmas message shared in that event. I keep deceived myself that she is responding to the Gospel, but the fact is that the seed never grow in the soil, before the seed lands on the soil it was snatched away by the bird. She never confess, she never seek the truth, she never believe in this Saviour. Why? Simply because she never recognise her sins and her need for a Saviour. The born again experience never occurs in her life. That Christmas event is just an occasion for her to exchange gift. That Christmas is just an occasion for us to exchange Christmas card. The Word never went into her ears.

One of the reason she starts to open up to me, is because initially I am not too close, so that she can secretly share her deep feeling with me, her deeply wounded heart, from her previous relationship. She had a boyfriend before, and apparently that person hurt her deeply. I used the word "apparently" because I only heard this version of the story from her and not from other people around us. The part that very annoyed me is that she keep dilly-dally with this person that she hated so much for hurting her. But people said love and hate are the flip-sides of the same coin. I can sense that she still have feeling for this person. And it annoyed me. I was here willing to spend time with you and you keep thinking about this person that so-called hurt you.

I tried to keep a distance from her, tried to temporary stay away from this web chatting. But my heart is still thinking of her. I even shared this with my pastor, and he offered tremendous advice and counsel, and prayers. The scary part about her, and the part when things get more complicated was when she started to rely more and more on me. I mean, even to very simple thing. I tried to help her, I offered her help when she need it, I even pray with her (once only). But what she need is not me, but God.

The twist of the account is when she started to complain more and more about the people around her, and thing worsened when she started to complaint a brother of mine in the church. Although she was very close to me that time, but how dare she bashed my brother in Christ. I tried to solve thing peacefully with her. But she keep murmuring, and it showed the ugly side of her, by using not foul language, but very disgraceful words. Eventually I directed the conversation to her. I confronted her of her sins and her need for repentance. She was annoyed, she was pissed off. She just stop the conversation with the excuse of headache (we were both medical student at that time, please don't bluff me with this kind of stupid excuse).

Anyway when the conversation was done, I quoted Hebrews 3:15 "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion." on my messenger status. She saw it and confirmed with me whether it is referring to her. My affirmation triggers her anger. She is offended to be known as 'rebel', she denied that she is in rebellion, she sees not her sins against this Holy God. She was so offended by the last part of the verse that she forgot the first part of the verse, where I wanted to remind her to not harden her heart if she hear God's voice. Seems like she didn't hear His voice. The Word of God is like so sharp, like a double-edged sword, it either pierce the heart of flesh and break the pride of the believers, or it pierce the heart of stone and offend the mind of non-believers. Apparently His Word did the latter to her. The worst is she understand not the concept of forgiveness, so she bashed the core of my belief.

This confrontation also end our relationship abruptly in summer 2011. She did apologised of her rudeness. But I see no repentance of her sin of unbelief. I need not her apology in this matter, I only want her repentance and her confession of a need of Saviour. But it didn't happen. Eventually I keep myself away from her. A broken glass can never be fixed back. And we became strangers, or even worse than that. I didn't even attend her convocation which I promised (my preparation for examinations was more important at that time). I met her 2 years later in the hospital, but I pretended that I didn't know this person. She either doesn't recognise, or does the same thing that I did - pretend didn't know me.

I do recalled a event where we actually asked each other, what we were to each other. We only mentioned that we were friends. Neither one of us confess that we think each other as someone closer than friends, we never said it out, though my heart think otherwise. The sad part is that I saw her revert to her belief in Buddhism that she followed all these while. I don't think it is correct to use the term "revert" since she never believe Christ in the very first place.

A painful encounter, but a deep lesson.

___________________

 

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

Proverb 4:23

Epistle to Hamers (12)

Dear Frank and Lora,

It has been about 1 week in this town called Sibu. Nothing much is going on. Done with the orientation in hospital, going to start working in emergency department this coming week.

Calvin invited me to join a small group on December 4th, Friday evening, consisted of rough 8 people, mainly doctors and some medical-related people. But sadly to say that this small group is under this City Harvest Church in Sibu. City Harvest Church (CHC) is a charismatic church, found by Kong Hee in Singapore. Recently Kong Hee was just sentenced for 8 years together with other five church leaders for abusing church fund for the music career of his wife Sun Ho under the Crossover Project.

Anyway, we did have a good time of fellowship that day. Sharing from each member, food (because we are Malaysians), and summary of previous week sermon from 2 Chronicles 20 (topic: what you should do when you are helpless, something like that). But some of the points in the summary doesn't sound very right, not say heretic, but just doesn't sound right.

For example, 2 Chron. 20:13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the LORD.

They said (or their pastor said), "stood there before the LORD means to do your part. We must do our part, then God will do His part."

Although I think what they meant is something like "continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose" (Phil. 2:12-13), or to put in John Piper's wording, "act the miracle", but the wording is very dangerous, as it sounds arminianistic, or if to the extreme, can be stepping on the path of work-based salvation. And in the first place, I don't see that verse in 2 Chron. 20:13 have anything too do will "doing our part".

Another example is when they said, "when you pray, not just simply pray, but pray in the way that you believed God have promised you the blessing." Eg. praying to get a child, praying to pass exam, praying for work.

Again it is not totally wrong, and I think they meant it in such a way as James described in James 1:6 - "But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."

But this can raised a million of questions. How should we know this is a blessing that promised by God? Is everyone blessed to have a child? Joshua and Jean tried very hard but they still haven't get a child? But Hannah prayed and God gave her Samuel. Is everyone blessed in their vocation? Will everyone passed their examinations? How should we ever know that the blessing that we think is promised by God is actually what God's plan for us? Deut. 29:29 says, "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law." Many of the answers to those question is not made known for us.

Recently I just re-watch the movie "Facing the Giant", the protagonist and his wife have difficulty to conceive, yet the wife says, "Lord even if you didn't give me a child, I will still love you." Isn't that it suppose to be? We pray, and ultimately we surrender unto God.

The dangerous part of what they said is that it can be stepping on the path of prosperity gospel or Word of Faith movements. However the is an important point in what they said. We do have to believe in the promises of God, as written in the Scripture. Eternal life, salvation, "Never will I leave you not forsake you" are real and solid promises that God gave us, and these promises we do have to believe and hold firm unto it.

You might ask why I didn't raised all these question during the meeting. Firstly is time constrain. Second is that I don't want to be appear so hostile during my first appearance in their meeting. Thirdly like I said above, I don't think they what they said are wrong or bad, and actually it is a summary of their pastor's sermon.

They invited me to to their church, but I am really reluctant to attend a charismatic church.

Today is the Lord's Day. Instead of going that City Harvest Church, I went to Calvary Sibu Bible-Presbyterian Church, is sister church of the church that I attend in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. It is a small church, with congregation of approximately 30 members. Only chinese service is available. I am more comfortable with this church, as the is less likely to hear heretic or possible heretic teaching,

Sibu is a chinese-dominant town, hence most churches provide chinese service only, and this imposes a problem for Calvin. He can speak chinese, but not reading or writing chinese. And chinese terminology in Christianity is basically a foreign language for him. Not only in understanding the sermon, but imagine he will have difficulty to sign the songs, public reading of the bible, and some churches sing the Doxology chinese with another lyrics (same meaning but not the version that we sang weekly in Koinonia). So far he is only attending this english small group only, and to put in his own words, he is not "ethusiastic to go to these churches" due to language barrier. I am very sad to hear that. This reminded me the time we were in Russia, where language is a serious problem, and this is also the reason why Koinonia appears. I am still very impressed that Joshua stayed in those Russian churches for 3 years.

Anyway, I managed to ask around my friend, and found out there is church that provides english service, called Wesley Methodist Church. Not sure whether they have sound teaching (the sermons in their YouTube channel are private http://wesleysibu.sarawakmethodist.org/). I mentioned it to Calvin already. Maybe we should find a time and visit it, and hopefully it will rekindle Calvin's enthusiasm.

Still waiting for the renovation of the place that I will rent, hopefully it will done as soon as possible, so that I can move in earlier. Now still living in my aunt's place, like a traveler, as I cannot unpack my stuffs and bought new utensils and other things. Yet this reminds me that we are just travelers or sojourners, passing through this world only, as we have a better home prepared for us in His kingdom (now that is another promise of God that we have believe).

During the mission conference, Joshua reminds me that if I will have the burden or calling for mission (maybe not now), I should live in such a way that prepare me for mission. Live like a traveler, not to accumulate to much unnecessary asset, not to have to much liability like housing loan or car loan, even when looking for spouse, should look for those who has the same vision for God, who willing to follow the calling for mission (if not we will end up like William Carey, who was willing to "attempt great things for God", but his wife Dorothy was unwilling, and end up with mental breakdown.

Some photos I took in Sibu. Still remember those photos taken by Lora with bible verses.

​

In Christ, 

Kevin.

Epistle to Hamers (11)

Dear Frank and Lora,

How are both of you? I am fine. Before I came to Sarawak, Joshua and Jean invited me to attend a mission conference on 27th-29th November, organised by Oversea Missionary Fellowship (OMF), used to be know as CIM (China Inland Missionary). This year is their 150th anniversary. This organisation was initially leaded by Hudson Taylor. A very inspiring conference, with speakers from different places: Dr Patrick Fun and Dr Jennie Fung from Singapore, Matthew Goldsmith, Dr Chew Wing Chee, Dr Alex Matthew, etc. Good bible exposition, with wonderful forum and testimonies from mission workers. I am glad to know that different people from different fields can play a role in mission. I still remember Frank told me that there is a great mission opportunity to be a medical worker. And I still remember the vision that I have 2 years ago, but I am still feeling the call to hold on and wait until God opens the door for me.

I travelled to Kuching (capital city of Sarawak) on November 30. It is an early flight, 7.05am. Airport is quite far from my house. So have to wake up at 3.30am. After arrived at Kuching International Airport at 8.55am, my uncle in Kuching picked me up and sent me to the Sarawak Public Health Department to register. I met a few "Volgogradians" when we register at the office. They assigned me to Sibu Hospital. So I bought a flight at 5.00pm, and reached Sibu at 5.45pm. At the mean time I am staying at my auntie's place while looking for a place to stay.

Registered with Human Resources Department in Sibu Hospital on December 1. Still waiting for the placement of the department as the director is not around. I met Calvin in the hospital, he is working in the Radiology Department. Cherrie left Sibu few months back and transferred to Sungai Buloh Hospital in West Malaysia few months ago.

Some history on this town of Sibu. Located in the centre along the seashore of Sarawak. My ancestor, Wong Nai Siang, a methodist christian from Fu Zhou, China brought a group of people to Sibu in 1900-1901. Two-third of the group are christians, hence many churches around in the city, predominately methodist churhes. The bible-presbyterian church that I have been attending in Petaling Jaya have a sister church in Sibu as well, but only chinese service.

Today morning I just got a news that a batchmate of mine when study in Volgograd, just passed away in a motor-vehicle accident in Temerloh, Pahang while driving to work with her younger sister, who survived from the accident. She used to be staying in Kim Hostel. The news is sudden to all of us.

The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away, may the name of the LORD be praised. (Job 1:21)

“Missions is not the ultimate goal of the Church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn’t. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary necessity. But worship abides forever." - John Piper, Let the Nations Be Glad.

Countless lives on this earth still haven't heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. And countless lives are passing away everyday. The conference and the lost of this friend reminds me this quotation from Piper.

Currently reading Morning Rain, a biography on James Fraser, a missionary in Lisu, China. The way he learn chinese language, really put me to shame, as I didn't take effort to learn russian language.

By the way recently while waiting to be transfered to Sarawak I made some drawings, after inspired by few artists.

The artists that inspire me to draw:

Andrew Chai, a missionary in Cambodia
https://www.facebook.com/cartoonsforfaith/?ref=br_rs

They put C.S. Lewis' writings into video-illustration
https://youtube.com/user/CSLewisDoodle

They do an overview on different books and theme in the Bible in video-illustration
https://m.youtube.com/user/jointhebibleproject

That's all I guess for this time. Take care.

In Christ,

Kevin

Direction

It has been quite some times since I ever really start writing in this blog. The number of posts I wrote over the past two years decreased dramatically. This might be a good proof that housemanship in Malaysia is really very busy, or maybe it is just a proof that I have been using busyness as an excuse to be lazy in writing, on top of the fact that there is a place to write quick and short posts in this place called Facebook, something that I used to resent and ridiculed so much, but now I am hooked on it everyday. 

Anyway, the reason I really start writing a proper post (instead of copy and paste the email I wrote to Frank and Lora) is because of this quotation from one of my favourite writer C.S. Lewis:

Not really because I am fed up with life, but kind of directionless now, after finished two-year housemanship. It have been many ups and downs, but the sad part is - the downs are more than the ups. Still drowning in my old sins. Still being distracted by so many things. 

Still addicted to many things. Main issues here of course are the time, money, and my devotion to God. John Calvin penned it very well, “Man's nature, so to speak, is a perpetual fabricum idolarum (factory of idols).”

It has been five days since I am on leave, and sadly to say, nothing much was accomplished. I am interested in emergency medicine, but the path before me seems to be so vague and full of mist. Andrew Chai's picture perfectly illustrates my current situation:

Managed to complete that long letter to Frank and Lora. Very anticipate the update from their side in the State, and above all, the exaltation from them. Finished reading "Crazy Busy" by Kevin DeYoung, but didn't put what he taught into practice. Reading the biography of George Muller at the moment. But still kind of hard for me to learn how to entrust all things to God. Maybe this is one of the important lessons God wants me to learn, in fact I think God had already start teaching since few weeks back. I lost a few gadgets, on the same days. Yet they aren't the essential things that will influence much in my work. Immediately His Word came across my mind: "Let those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away." (1 Corinthians 7:31)

Another thing that quite of bothering my mind, is a sister whom I have interest in. Half a year ago she met a new guy. Not much news nor information on this guy. Just hope he is a fellow believer as well. Sometime I asked myself, what will happen if I do something earlier, if only I will be more courageous, if only I choose my posting in Sarawak, will thing change in a better direction? But it is a known fact that to ask the "if" question is usually futile. Perhaps it is time for me to forget about it, though it is difficult. Still find it hard to digest what Paul said, "I wish that all men were as I am. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that." (1 Corinthians 7:7) And until now I am still asking, " Do I have this similar gift that God gave to Paul?" Previously have been entangled in a relationship with another fellow. Kind of messed up, because in the first place she is not a believer. And now this fellow is appearing on and off in my working place. Maybe it is not an bad idea to get my new posting in the Land of Hornbill.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Hebrews 12:1)

I read this interesting account in George Muller's biography. As William Reader was going to leave George Müller's Orphan-House and enter his apprenticeship, Müller put half a crown into Reader's left hand, a Bible in his right.

Müller: You can hold tighter with your right hand than with your left, can't you?

Reader: Yes, sir.

Müller: Well, hold to the teaching of that book and you will always have something for your left hand to hold...  Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. (Psalm 37:3). Goodbye, my lad, goodbye!

___________________

I don't intend to put down roots in any one place,

but to travel around preaching as and where God directs me.

- George Müller -

Epistle to Hamers (10)

Dear Frank and Lora

Hello, how are both of you? I am fine. This suppose to be a short email, but I didn't manage to finish it in September, so end up adding more and more as time passes.

* * *

September was quite eventful:

September 19 - a brother Tan Wai Chong in my church passed away and returned to the Lord at the age of 51. He has nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) for some years, received operation and chemotherapy in Singapore. Last year the disease recurred and he started to have difficulty and speech, and last month the disease spreaded to his larynx. He underwent another operation in Singapore and was discharge well. But few days after operation he has bleeding from the blood vessel in his throat (due to prolonged coughing). He was sent back to hospital immediately, and the Lord brought this brother back to him.

He is a man of few words, and I know him when he was on duty in the library and bookroom of the church. He is a faithful brother and diligent in the service to the Lord. He is the one who recommended me to read the exposition of the book of Romans by Martin Lloyd Jones to me.

September 20, morning - received the news from my colleagues that a patient who is under hand team specialist passed away in ward due to leaking aortic aneurysm. Quite a sudden news as he was quite stable previously.

September 20, night - a friend of my brother informed that my brother fell from bicycle and dislocated his right elbow with an open wound. The joint was reduced and the wound was washed and sutured up.

September 21 - the mother of the pastor in my church was found to have a tumour in her rectum during her colonoscopy. She was admitted to my hospital for further investigation as it look like a malignant tumour. She was discharged with CT scan appointment and follow up in clinic to review the result of biopsy that was taken during the scope. Later she had a keyhole operation in October to remove the tumour, and was well upon discharged. Please pray for her recovery and also for her salvation.

During the vigil service for Brother Tan, it really make me think a lot.

And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away, blessed be the name of the LORD." (Job 1:21)

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14)

It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. (Ecclesiates 7:2)

* * *

October have been quite fun, mainly because I am able to attend two conference despite my busy working hour. Both conferences held on the same days October 12 to 14, one is in the morning, the other one is in the evening, so I applied 3-days leave and able to attend both. Indeed Jehovah Jireh my provider.

​

First is the International Clinical Conference on Emergency Medicine (ICCEM) 2015. It is a 3-days conference discussing clinical cases encounter in emergency department with speakers and presenters came from different country.

A summary I wrote for a lecture "Global Emeregncy Medicine and the New Paradigm" by Prof Terrence Mulligan:

"A breathtaking presentation by Prof Terrence Mulligan. He brought us through the rocket science of Ptolemaic geocentrism vs. Corpenican heliocentrism, Newtonian physics & quantum physics, and finally brought us back to emergency medicine.

The explanation of apparent retrograde motion of the planet can be explained in a simpler way after change of perspective. Many misconceptions of emergency medicine by others is largely due to the lack of understanding the fact that there is a paradigm shift in medicine.

To think that emergency medicine is a jack of all trades but master of none means they have ignored the fact that emergency medicine is a specialty in itself, not in a vertical sense but in a horizontal sense."

For quite a long time I was doubting which field to specialize in. Internal medicine has been my interest of field for quite some time, but the working environment is really bad. However I have found my interest in emergency medicine after I did my posting in that department. In medical school in Russia we did not really have a proper exposure to emergency medicine. After I did my training in this department, the feeling is like "Why I never knew such wonderful specialty exist?" This feeling is confirmed after I attended this conference. And I don't understand why other people choose anaesthesiology or even psychiatry instead of emergency department (for the final posting during housemanship we can either choose emergency, anesth, or psy). And I have this eagerness to persuade others to choose emergency.

That feeling is similar when I was found this new Christian faith - or to be exact, I was found by God - and that feeling was confirmed after God shown his grace and mercy during trials and temptation, and that daunting question why people don't understand Jesus Christ, and that eagerness to share the gospel.

Second is the annual Klang Valley Bible Conference (www.kvbc.info), speaker is William Taylor from St Helen's Bishopgate in London. A few key points of his exposition on John Chapter 5, 14 and 17:

Q1: What is Jesus' analysis of the nature of human?
A1: Apart from Jesus Christ, we are:
- dead (John 5:24),
- condemned (5:24)
- helpless (6:63)
- evil (7:7)
- blind (8:12)
- slaves (8:34)
- children of devil (8:44)

Q2: What is the primary work of God?
A2: The primary work of God is to help the helpless dead corps like you and me, to cross from death to life, to save us from condemnation to salvation, through His Word, to bring glory to God in the ultimate Sabbath in heaven.

Q3: What is Jesus' answer when Philip ask him to show them the Father?
A3: Jesus answers Philip:
1. Look to me (14:9), and you will see the Father.
2. Listen to me (14:10-11) through the Word of God, and you will see the Father's work.
3. Talk to me (14:12-14) through prayer, and the Father will answer.
4. Follow and obey me (14:15-21), and the Holy Spirit will dwell in you.


If you rip away the propitiation from the cross, you rip away the heart of the gospel.

Preaching and teaching God's Word is about making essential connections, like passing the baton... It involves both receiving it rightly and passing it on rightly.

The glory of God, this glory, shines through eternity from one source - Jesus Christ, through the cross-shaped witness of the believers.

* * *

During the month of October I was managed to meet up with Ivan who came to KL for holiday before he went back to Penang. We met up in this restaurant suggested by Joshua, and upon entering the restaurant we saw this...

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)

* * *

November. I have start to resume my reading habit, as I have finished my 2-years housemanship, and my next posting will be in Sarawak. I have been calling the Sarawak State Health Department but they still unable to determine which hospital or polyclinic I will be working. They just asked me to report on duty on December 1. 

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. (Hebrews 11:8)

I picked up this book, Crazy Busy by Kevin DeYoung during the KVBC conference. This paragraph strikes me a lot:

"At first we try to help, maybe even enthusiastically so. But as the demands escalate, we despair of ever being free from this relationship. We begin to resent the person we wanted so much to help. And yet the calls for help keep coming. What's a busy person to do?" 

The workload in hospital is so high that the system is overload, patients' care is compromise, the service we offer is substandardize, and the work is so 'crazy busy' to the point that some times - in fact, many times - we start to resent the patients. Yet my specialist told me before, "Do not hate your patients, no matter at what hours they come, and no matter how ridiculous their complaint is." In his lecture on patients' flow in emernency department, Prof Terrence Mulligan mentioned that "to control the overload of patient in ER (emergency room), the one thing you must do is, stop trying to stop patients from coming to you, because it will never happens."

Anyway, this indeed is a good and short book to read in the time of busyness.

I also picked up a biography of George Muller from the bookstore in my church. I only read half way through the book, but what I can say so far is that George Muller's submission and dependence to God is amazing.

He wrote his when he was found by Christ:
" 'God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' I understood something of the reason why the Lord Jesus died on the cross, and suffered such agonies in the Garden of Gethsemane: even that thus, bearing the punishment due to us, we might not bear it ourselves. And, therefore, apprehending some measure the love of Jesus for my soul, I was constrained to love Him in return. What all the exhortations and precepts of my father and others could not affect; what all my own resolutions could not bring about, even to renounce a life of sin and profligacy: I was enabled to do, constrained by the love of Jesus. The individual who desire to have his sins forgiven, must seek it through the blood of Jesus. The individual who desires to get power over sin, must likewise seek it through the blood of Jesus."

When he started his ministry, he said, "I don't intend to put down roots in any one place, but to travel around preaching as and where God directs me." 

Maybe this is the same spirit that I should carry when I go to Sarawak.

In Christ,
Kevin.

Langkawi - Island of Eagle

Currently working in emergency department, a very hectic and busy place, where housemen work everyday, literally, unless if you take leave. Flying off to the Island of Eagle - Langkawi with four friends of mine during secondary school. Bought the air ticket 8 months ago.

 

According to Wikipedia, "Langkawi means island of the reddish-brown eagle in colloquial Malay. The Malay word for eagle is 'helang' - which is shortened to 'lang', while kawi is the name of a red stone used as a chalk to mark goods."

View of Langkawi from the airplane.

Day 1: Sky Cable and Sky Bridge

After we arrived and checked in into our hotel, we went for a cable car ride.

 

At the top of the hill there is a bridge call Sky Bridge, basically a bridge built across two hill top.

  For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways,

 they will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

(Psalms 91:11-12)

 Viewing down from the Sky Bridge.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,

even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

(Psalm 139:9-10)

Behind our hotel is a beach.

  You rule over the surging sea,

when its waves mount up, you still them.

(Psalm 89:9)

He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.

(Psalm 72:8)

We went off for dinner at a western restaurant called Yellow Cafe. The name derived from the owner's nickname, Yelo.

 

  From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,

the name of the LORD is to be praised.

(Psalm 113:3)

 Day 2: Island Hopping

On second day we went off for Island Hopping. We took a motor boat and travel from one island to another, hence the name island hopping. But we literally hopped 2 island only.

  As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, 

he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, 

for they were fishermen. 

"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 

At once they left their nets and followed him. 

(Mark 1:16-18)

Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, 

and it was completely calm. 

The men were amazed and asked, 

"What kind of man is this? 

Even the winds and the waves obey him!"

(Matthew 8:26-27)

First island is Pregnant Maiden Island. The name derived from a myth, where two elves fell in love, the female elf get pregnant and delivered her child on this island, but the baby died seven days later. She buried the child on this island. Here we can see the hills of a mountain, which looks like a pregnant lady lying down, with the abdomen in the middle, followed by the breast, then the head on the right side.

You saw no form of any kind the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire.

Therefore watch yourselves very carefully,

so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol,

an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman...

(Deuteronomy 4:15-16)

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now

- Hillsong -

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee.

- Augustus Montague Toplady -

 

In his heart a man plans his course,

but the LORD determines his steps.

(Proverb 16:9)

On this island is a huge lake in it, called as Pregnant Lady Lake.
 

Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee.

Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down.

(Matthew 15:29)

 

One ride - RM 30. Ouch!

Next we went for eagle feeding. a very brief moment for us to witness eagles.

Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.

They will soar on wings like eagles,

they will run and not grow weary,

they will walk and not be faint.

(Isaiah 40:31)

After seeing some eagles we drop by at Beras Basah Island, literally it means Wet Rice Island. The beach here is clean, with finer sand, unlike the beach at other parts of the island.

 

I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God.

I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, 

so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting 

men may know there is none besides me.

I am the LORD, and there is no other.

(Isaiah 45:5-6)

The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.

Come, let us bow down in worship,

let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. 

(Psalm 95:5-6)

He stilled the storm to a whisper,

the waves of the sea were hushed.

(Psalm 107:29)

Your path led through the sea,

your way through the mighty waters,

though your footprints were not seen.

(Psalm 77:19)

This reminds me the about the story of the footprints on the beach,

which Lora told during bible study.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. 

(Hebrews 6:19)

Praise the LORD from the earth, 

you great sea creatures and all ocean depths.

(Psalm 148:7)

I will surely bless you and make your descendants

as numerous as the stars in the sky

and as the sand on the seashore.

(Genesis 22:17)

"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

"Come," he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat,

walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

(Matthew 14:28-29)

After finished hopping island, we went off to visit Pantai Pasir Hitam, literally mean Black Sand Beach. The sand is not exactly black, you can see the usual sand is mixed with dark sand. There exists huge amount of minerals called Tourmaline and Ilmenite in the granites of Gunung Raya (i.e. Mount Raya). These minerals are run down by the spring water from the mountain and cause the color of sand to turn black. But rumour says the sand is polluted by the cement factory nearby the beach, which you can see in the photo below.

Before we head back for lunch we drop by the Seven Well Waterfall. It is so named because seven natural pools have been formed at different levels by water streams that flow down the second highest mountain of Langkawi - Mount Mat Cincang.
 

 

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.

- Robert Robinson -

 

God’s grace is ever cascading over the waterfall of the present

from the inexhaustible river of grace coming to us from the future

into the ever-increasing reservoir of grace in the past.

- John Piper -

Last Day: Leaving

Before we left we drop by the Tubotel, a portmanteau of "tube" + "hotel". Literally the room of the hotel is made from a big tube. Not sure how it is looks like internally, but the scenery out side of Tubotel is surely beautiful.

  

 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad,

let the sea resound, and all that is in it.

(Psalm 96:11)

There is this particular fat cat lying around in the hotel that we live. Cat always reminds me of Frank, who is allergic to cat. "If you want to kill me, you can just throw a cat on to me".

 ____________________

They say no matter how busy is our life, we always can have a cup of coffee, 

or in this case, a cup of English tea. 

"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. 

(Exodus 20:8-11)