Spiritual Work - by Rev. Dr. Tan Soo Inn,Chaplain, CMDF Singapore

Another excellent and uplifting piece from Rev Dr Tan Soo Inn....

Saturday (May 1st) was a particularly hectic day. I had to preach at a Saturday Evening service then rush off to a Christian Medical Dental Fellowship gathering for new medical house officers. It helped that there was a common theme for both meetings --- to see all legitimate work we do for God as spiritual work. In the evening service I preached on the salt and light mandate (Matthew 5: 13-16), how we serve God’s purposes in the world by bringing Kingdom values into all we do. I challenged the church to resist any unbiblical attempt to divide life into spiritual and secular compartments and to give spiritual significance only to stuff we do in church or in church related enterprises. John Stott defined work as “the expenditure of energy (manual or mental or both) in the service of others, which brings fulfillment to the worker, benefit to the community, and glory to God.” I told the church that God is in the business of saving people from sin but He is doing more than that, much more. He is also in the business of maintaining and blessing His creation, and for that He needs all sorts of people doing all sorts of work in the world.

I wanted the house officers to know that practicing medicine is also spiritual work. I knew that they were about to face a very demanding year where they will have about two real off days a month and will not be able to participate in their usual meetings in church. Some churches are aware of the special circumstances of the life of a house officer but many are not. I asked the house officers to be prepared that church leaders may question their commitment to the church and to serving God. I also said that we also serve when we prepare. Their houseman year was going to be a hothouse experience in their journey to become the doctors that God wanted them to be. As long as the medical internship programme is set up the way it is, all newly graduated doctors will have to undergo the highly demanding houseman year. They should not let those who do not understand the preparation journey of a doctor, make them feel guilty.

I emphasized that their medical work was also spiritual work, no less important in God’s eyes then the stuff they do in church. I am not implying that church related work is any less important. Indeed after they finished their houseman year, and they get back more discretionary time, they could return to more regular levels of church involvement. But I wanted them to learn early that the practice of medicine is also spiritual work and that doctors are key agents in God’s healing purposes. Indeed, when they practice medicine with skill and compassion, they touch lives in a way that fleshes out the gospel. And when the time comes to verbalize the gospel, people would have already seen glimpses of the reality and the character of Christ in the interactions they had had with their doctors.

Medicine is a special calling. It enables those who practice it to impact people in a way few other professions can. And a good houseman year is a key part of the journey to be a good doctor. There will be many challenges. Indeed there will be challenges after their houseman year is over and beyond. This is the reality of serving the Lord in a fallen world. But if medicine is spiritual work, there are two implications. One, we are to try to practice medicine with Kingdom values. Two, we can depend on the Lord to provide us with the grace we need.

Indeed, I want to be able to practice medicine with Kingdom values....

Weddings..

Almost forgot about a wedding that I'm supposed to attend in 2 weeks' time.....finally found some time to buy a traditional Punjabi suit for the occasion.....had a fun time looking for a nice one....actually 2 pieces...one for the wedding and one for the salmeet... hahaha...
Anyway..found a perfect wedding card for them....a very meaningful one....

HOW TO MAKE A BEAUTIFUL LIFE TOGETHER
-Reflections on Marriage for the Bride and Groom

Let love be your shelter.
The world is noicy and confusing at times,
so make a home that is a haven,
a peaceful place where you can listen to your hearts
and savor the comfortable closeness you share.

No matter how busy your days may be,
make time for yourselves.
Hold hands.
Unwind.
Surprise each other.
Find little chances every day to show you're grateful to be partners,
to be friends, to be married.

Life is not perfect.
You will make mistakes,
but each time you meet life's challenges together,
you will grow wiser , stronger, and surer of your love.

Cherish your yesterdays.
They are irreplacable souvenirs of your journey through life.
Make memories that will bring smiles and sighs
Whenever you look back ( Look back often!)

Look forward, too.
Dream together.
Plan together.
Make promises to keep.
Believe in your tomorrows, because tomorrows are what forever is made of.

To make love last,
put each other first.
That is the way to make a beautiful life together,
the kind of life you both deserve so much.

Congratulations!

...wow!! so profound! so appropriate!!

INSOMNIA!!!

Oh my goodness!! I really can't believe this! It's 3AM on a saturday morning and I can't get any sleep.....ok, not to mention the fact that it's raining outside with flashes of lightning every few minutes.....and the thought that my brother wasn't home yet ( only to text him and find out that he's back in M'sia!)....arrgh! worst thing ever to happen when u have a mock exam at 2pm later!!! arrgh!!!
anyway....was thinking about lotsa stuff....only to suddenly realise that my 30th birthday has come and gone....gee...maybe I really really wanted to forget that I was turning to the big 3-O!!! was mighty glad for birthday wishes from my family...but truth be told, was really really disappointed with my close friends...those who came to my place for dinner the previous night din even know it was my birthday....and those colleagues who went out for dinner with me on that day itself din even know it was my birthday! I mean...I'm not really complaining...I dun like others making a fuss over my birthday...especially when I really feel 'OLD' amongst them! But I guess being older and more mature now ( I hope!) makes it easier to forget what others forgot about me......in the past, I think I would have been fuming mad and not talk them for a while!! ( childish right?!?)...
Oh well, so here's wishing myself a belated birthday! And may all these insomnia go awway!!!!

Snail no more!!

Finally, moving into a more permanent home after wandering for the last 10 years or so with all my world possessions on my back!!! Whilst its been harrowing looking at the amount of money and investment in this...but I realised that it is the start of being a working adult.....and maybe, just maybe God has His own plans as to why I need to be here....because I see all the opportunities around me....yet being frustated that doors aren't opening up fast enough...or in the direction that I thought it would....maybe I just need to re-focus and see what God is doing in my life....
My only prayer - that this piece of property would enable me to bless others with it...coz I know that God's blessings is meant to be shared...not hoarded alone...coz there is no joy in it....
So yeah, till then, I pray that God will open my eyes and heart to see His hand in my life and to hear His heartbeat!

Reflections...

Its been a looong while since my last update here..... maybe its sheer laziness and procrastination....maybe its my disillusionment with the Christian community that I am in ......however, through it all, He never forgets me......never leaves me alone with nothing....How thankful I am!
Was going through a tough patch in Dec last year......stopped going to cell group completely.....feeling lost and alone....and then, I drop an email to a dear friend and mentor......only to receive the greatest encouragement through his reply....we even chatted on the phone! What a blessing!! So unexpected....didn't expect his call....and as usual, can't stop crying as I talked to him as I poured my heart out....my parents probably thought that I was cuckoo!!!
Anyway....things have gotten a bit better since 2010 started...still have my struggles as usual...but He is near at hand....ever ready to listen and encourage me.....I started praying for 2010 to be a year of JOY....and in a way it has! God brings different people into our lives for different reasons.....and at the beginning of the year, a friend introduced me to her other Malaysian friends....in the hope that I may benefit from their friendship! So, I did meet an interesting person, and now hoping to get to know that person better.... and then, I met a few female consultants whom I really really get along with at work.....and one of them even offerred to invite me to her parties ( in her attempt to help me find a life partner)!!! Its quite funny coz I am a pretty private person...even my family finds it hard to get info out of me in regards to this sector in my life....but I found myself pretty open to other people's questions to me regarding this! Strange! But I guess it just shows that people are concerned for me......
So, I guess life is just throttling along right now....just need to focus on passing my exams in June this year! And found this song a tremendous encouragement ( including the song 'Dia Mengerti').

BAGAI RAJAWALI

HANYA KEPADA-NYA KU 'KAN BERLARI
DI SAAT KU BIMBANG DALAM HIDUPKU
YANG AKU PERCAYA DALAM HADIRAT-NYA
ADA KEKUATAN YANG BARU

WALAU KU MELANGKAH DALAM TEKANAN
BADAI PENCOBAAN DATANG MENGHADANG
YANG AKU PERCAYA DALAM HADIRAT-NYA
ADA KEKUATAN YANG BARU

REFF :
KU KAN TERBANG TINGGI BAGAI RAJAWALI
DI ATAS SEGALA PERSOALAN HIDUPKU
DAN AKU PERCAYA SAAT KU BERSAMA DIA
TIADA YANG MUSTAHIL BAGI DIA

Be it unto me...

'I am the Lord's servant' Mary answered. 'May it be to me as you have said.'
- Luke 1:38

As Pastor Wayde Goodall shared from this passage last night, an old song just kept playing in my mind, by Don Moen

Chorus:
Be it unto me
According to your Word
According to your promises
I can stand secure
Carve upon my heart
The truth that sets me free
According to your Word O Lord
Be it unto me

You promised your blood will deliver
Lord, we believe it's true
You promised us joy like a river
Lord we receive it from you
These things you have spoken
And you're bringing to pass
This world's disappearing
But your word will last

Chorus

You promised to carry our sorrows
Lord, we believe it's true
You promised unending tomorrows
Lord we receive them from you
You will be our provider
In your word it's revealed
And by the stripes that you've bowed
Lord we have been healed

Chorus

A timely reminder. Lord, may I be like Mary who obeyed and trusted in You although she had no inclination of the consequences of her obedience.

You Never Need to Be Afraid of God's Plan - by Rev Wayde Goodall

Well, it's always nice to have Rev Wayde speak in church , all the way from USA. And his message was very very timely ( as a prelude to Christmas). The main message was taken from Luke 1:26-55.

He starts of with quoting the Scriptures from 2 Chronicls 16:9 ( TLT):

'The eye of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.'

And then he proceeds to talk about Mary, who never asked to be worshipped ( as the Catholics do) but was somehow a chosen teenager by God to carry and birth Jesus, the Son of God. In Luke 1:29-30, the angel Gabriel speaks to Mary and she is confused and disturbed ( and rightly so!). The common fears that Mary had ( and so do we):

1) Fear of criticism that says ' what will people think of me?
2) Fear of the supernatural that says ' what is going to happen to me?'
3) Fear of being inadequate which says 'how will I be able to handle this?'
4) Fear of change which says ' how will this change my life?'

Which is why the most repeated command in the Bible is FEAR NOT.
And the reason why we don't need to fear God's plan for our lives is:

1) We can be certain of His presence in our life
2) We can trust in God's supernatural power in our life
3) We can be sure that God will fulfil His promises in our life

Wow! How true is that!! Amen!