Friday, June 30, 2006
3:50 pm
OVER.Yay! I'm off my hiatus. (Forgot to credit EAT for the idea. Thanks!)
i shall not talk about the papers (except that all major ones are over. there is just chinese listening left.)
"Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive. - 1Cor 10:23 (NIV)
i am just thankful that the Lord has brought me through all these, for providing me with strength for each new day. i did what i could. There is nothing within my control i can do to change anything. At the end of the day, do results matter that much? Not really, but i will have to be cautious to not become nonchalent.
Anyway, i submitted my Guitar Exco forms the other day. Heh. i'm trying out for VP and Treasurer =x haha.
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+ +Saturday, June 17, 2006
9:41 pm
HIATUS
i realised that the computer and handphone has been taking up most of my time these few days, hindering my revision. i seriously need to concentrate and focus.
Therefore, i have decided to go on a handphone and computer hiatus with effect from Sunday 17June 2006 0000 until Friday 30June 2006 1130. i will only turn on my handphone when i am out of the house, and use the computer for official matters such as KM.
Sorry for any inconvenience caused.
i want to take this chance to thank everyone who has been encouraging and supporting me these few days. Thank you for your advice and your love. Thank you!
"Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong."
- 2 Cor 12:10 (NASB)
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+ +Friday, June 16, 2006
12:00 am
Just had Bible Study with XY today. Her views on the Charismatic Movement made me think. She said it seemed too mystical and experiential to her and should not be stressed upon. She said that according to Acts, speaking in tongues (common in Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches) is only useful if there is someone around with the gift of interpretation. However, thanks to help from EAT and ZM, and further research, there is a strong case that this practice is useful, even without interpreters, as supported by several verses in 1Corinthians and other NT books.
Also, she said that the act of being "slain in the Spirit" was not recorded in the Bible. After doing some 'research' on the internet, it
seems that it really wasn't. So my question is:
is it biblical? Someone out there,
if you have an answer to my question, please tell me. Your answer would be greatly appreciated =)
I still have faith and believe in
Joel's prophesy. I still believe in the workings, physical manifestations and gifts of the Holy Spirit today. I still believe, and i want the world to know
why i have such hope.
Anyway, i went to ACJC Symphonic Band concert -- muse, today. My opinion? Not lacklustre but not fantastic, not quite worth $15 but i'm not complaining. One new thing i found out though. Ho Wen Long, who was an actor before, is currently in ACJCSB Percussion, and he plays the drums superbly; he's super talented.
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+ +Wednesday, June 14, 2006
11:28 am
LDM Lesson 4 is about understanding the sex drive.
Keep yourself pure. Purity is one of the greatest gifts that you can give your future husband or wife.
Something to think about:
People in today's society often call for freedom to do as they wish, to be "free" to do anything they like(sexual immorality or even lying), while all the time they are bound and held as slaves to their sins.
"While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage." - 2 Peter 2:19
"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." - John 8:32 (NIV, emphasis added)
do you know the TRUTH?
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+ +Saturday, June 10, 2006
12:09 am
i was reading new creation church's website
out of curiousity yesterday and found this really true.
"The Bible is written by the Holy Spirit. It is breathed by Him. So we need both the Bible and the Holy Spirit. The Bible makes the leading of the Spirit sure, stable and secure. The Bible is like the railroad track, while the Spirit is like the power that drives the engine of the train. Without the Bible, you lack direction, and without the Spirit, you lack power."
i'm still searching. something seems to be telling me to attend a particular church (not ncc) but something else is stopping me...
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+ +12:06 am
thursday
We sat in with Dr again. He said that when advising patients on treatment, they usually consider the patient as a whole. Their social conditions etc. (eg. No point giving an old lady suffering from arthritis cutting-edge knee surgery, especially when her daily activities do not require great mobility. It’s a different story for a patient who is a businessman.) That’s why at the primary healthcare (polyclinic) level, they focus a lot on a holistic team-based approach. Again, he stressed that new cutting-edge technology is not what medicine really needs. Knowledge can be picked up but not values. That’s why most medical schools have interviews, to ensure that whoever they are grooming have a proper set of values and principles and will not murder/torture patients for “fun” etc. Although such technological advancement has greatly reduced the hassle and paperwork, he lamented that it has dehumanized the profession, sometimes treating patients as “cases” or “illnesses”, instead of a human beings (common in large hospitals).
Later, we observed the Developmental Assessment and Immunisation room. I saw babies getting their injections! They looked so tiny, yet so strong.. Too bad it was raining and there were very few patients. There was a “Hall Of History” between the DA and Immunisation rooms. Since we had nothing better to do, we went in to take a look. It was a brown room that was not very well-lit, displaying mannequins dressed in nurses’ uniforms from the 1940s to the present and certain tools/equipment used in medical procedures in the past. I was looking at some of the tools in the corner when I heard the sound of a siren, screams, airplanes and a conversation. I didn’t take note of its content because I was quite startled. N and I gave each other the “what is that? / huh?” look. Then we sort of stoned for a while before we started laughing and walked out of the room. So stupid! haha. yea. Then we wandered around the polyclinic before reporting back to Dr.
Dr said that in whatever you do, it is very important that you internalise the motivation. Your motivation must not come from something external. What if this external motivation changes? Will you be able to hang on and persevere to the end? It is very common to see drop-out cases in medical school because of this reason. Also, when you choose medicine, you will definitely be behind your peers who did not attend medical school, in terms of career advancement. For guys, you will be at least 28 when you can start building your career. :o tremendous sacrifice must be made.
Afterthoughts:
This attachment really changed my attitude towards primary healthcare physicians/ general practitioners. Initially, I had the mentality that GPs were a bunch of lazy people who were simply after easy money, who “wasted” their potential. After so many years of medical school, all you want to do is treat patients with the common cold, fever, etc.? This is definitely not the case, especially for doctors working in polyclinics. Their job is tough, needing to deal with difficult, often uneducated patients that belonged to the lower strata of society. They need to tackle a social problem often underplayed and neglected by the media. They are often unheard, unseen by the general, more affluent population, compared to those in the larger hospitals.
I thought life as a family physician was monotonous, boring and dull. Yet, through this programme, I realised how wrong I was. In fact, it could be even more challenging and exciting than that of a specialist. Here, you will not know what might be coming through the door next. It could range from the usual cough-cold-flu patient, to someone who has a cotton bud stuck in his ear, to someone suffering from depression. Whereas in a cardiologist’s clinic, you know for sure that the next patient coming in will suffer from some heart ailment. There is an element of suspense and the unknown.
It also helped me appreciate the entire healthcare system as a whole, a large concerted effort towards the same goal. I have greater respect and admiration for healthcare workers, especially those in the primary healthcare industry. This experience shattered my rose-tinted glasses towards medicine in general. It is a far cry from the hyped-up, overly glamorous (or degrading) image portrayed by the mass media in popular shows such as “ER” and “Grey’s Anatomy”. Medicine truly is a noble profession.
Now, I am seriously reconsidering my future career choice. I really wonder if I would be able to step up to the call, face he challenge, make the sacrifices, handle the pressure? Biomed slightly dissuaded me because it is so difficult and I could barely catch up, let alone even understand what they are teaching. However, this attachment helped me see that after the initial difficulties, medicine is an extremely rewarding career. Even as an observer, I felt satisfied when I saw patients leaving the room with a smile on his/her face. I guess it all boils down to the individual’s attitude. Despite the challenges and difficulties that I observed, somehow, I felt even more strongly that medicine is what I wanted to pursue. This ‘unglamorous’ side attracted, rather than repelled me from this aspiration that I so dearly held on to since Primary 5.
Yes. I have come to the end of my description of the NHG JSP. I sincerely hope those who are reading it have benefited. I felt that it is the least I could do for those who were not as privileged as me, though I feel that these entries cannot do justice to the experience itself. Until now, I still do not know why I was granted this rare opportunity. I was the only J1 there. The school could have easily chosen a J2 instead... I really thank God for His providence and grace. I feel so undeserving of the blessings I’ve been given...
Now that this is done, I have to get back to reality. I seriously need to start work. Believe it or not, I have not touched my books since the holidays started. Don’t expect anymore entries anytime soon. As usual, feel free to post any comments or questions on the tagboard. I will do my best to answer them =)
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+ +Thursday, June 08, 2006
10:22 pm
wednesdayWe sat in with the doctor from 8.30am to 10am. He was expounding on the importance of communication in the healthcare industry. It's something that is not taught and cannot be taught in medical school. In this day of medical and technological advancement at break-neck speed, it is not the breakthroughs and new treatments that matter most. Ironically, it is the basic human-to-human interaction -- communication, that makes a difference. Communication is the key to developing a healthy doctor-patient relationship, and more importantly, trust. Honestly speaking, all doctors should be equally proficient and have the same level of expertise in treating illnesses. Afterall, they DID graduate from medical school. It is not as if some doctors keep a secret stash of medicines under their drawer or something. You see at the end of the day, what makes a doctor "better" than the others is his/her ability to communicate well with the patients. This is one of the most valuable lessons i learnt on this attachment.
Later, we visited the Diabetic Foot Screening and Diabetic Retinal Photography. They provide care for the diabetics and education for their caregivers. This is an important step because this care, or the lack thereof, could mean a difference between an amputated limb or not. The nurses help doctors to look out for areas at risk of infection and spend time with the patients that doctors cannot afford.
Anyway, we also visited the Diagnostic Lab. They carry out simple tests here such as blood count, glucose level and urine microscopy. They also have ECG and radiography facilities. We spoke to a radiographer who was very dedicated and enjoyed her job greatly. She told us about commitment when you decide to enter the healthcare industry. Before entering the course, seriously ask yourself some questions. Would you be able to withstand the pressure from family and friends who tell you to quit when an epidemic such as SARS occurs? Would you be able to take the social stigma associated with working in the hospital? As part of this industry, you MUST HAVE the moral responsibility and obligation to stand with it throughout. Are you prepared to face the stress of working in shifts and being on call, especially in the early years of your career? You may have to forego social gatherings, and your social life could be near zero just because you chose to enter this field. (She had to miss quite a few of her friends’ weddings because of the same reason.) The decision comes from you alone.
Oh, and she wanted me to help her dispel some myths and commonly held notions about radiography. You will not die/develop cancer due to “overexposure” to radiation in X-ray photography. In the room, you are adequately shielded by the thick lead glass and barium-lined walls. Exposure to radiation in the job is much lower than what you will be exposed to while sunbathing or riding in an aeroplane. So you can still continue working even if you are pregnant. The only possible risk is when working with nuclear medicine, dealing with radioactive substances that emit gamma rays. (yea. you should know that gamma rays cannot be blocked) She said something that was quite true as well. Healthcare is actually not that dangerous a profession because you are dealing with a known enemy and are properly shielded from it. However, the risks are real. You could accidentally poke yourself with a needle that was used by a patient with Hep B or HIV =S Who knows?
So moral of story is this: Make sure you are aware of the sacrifices you have to be ready to make before embarking on anything/any career. Make a wise, informed decision so that you will not regret.
We went for lunch, bought a “thank you” card for the staff at BBP and visited the Pharmacy after that. Basically the Pharmacy forms the last communication point. It dispenses the medicines and clears any doubts patients might have because of the limited time with the doctor. The difference between a Doctor and a Pharmacist is: the doctor is involved with the diagnosis and appropriate treatment for diseases (ie, disease and medication). However, the pharmacist knows drug and their effects / side-effects in greater detail. Here, we helped the pharmacy scan the patients’ barcode and issue queue numbers. N seemed to enjoy it a lot for some reason that I do not fully comprehend. We only reported to Dr at around 4pm because he wanted to say longer over there =S
i went to serene centre later for BS before the SYFC pot-luck ;)
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+ +Tuesday, June 06, 2006
9:12 pm
Let me rewind to
sunday.
i went for Pentecost Sunday - a Global Day Of Prayer. Met JT, WT, EAT and ZM at Kallang MRT station at 5pm when the event actually starts at 7.14pm! Wahaha. So we were waiting. And waiting. JL and JN met us there. At around 6.45 or so, worship started and continued until around 7.30. It was really awesome. First time in my life seeing so many Christians gathered together, all worshiping and singing songs of praise to God =) Half of the entire NATIONAL STADIUM was occupied but the number of people was DOUBLE the capacity of the indoor stadium, which was booked for another event. There was also this reconciliation thing between the Conservative/Evangelicals and Pentecostal/Charismatics. Everything ended at 10pm then JL did not want to leave! haha so the rest of us left him alone :s quite mean la but we all had to go home.
the entire event was great but ZM and i actually hoped God would have done more. heh.
now to
mondayFirst day of NHG Job Shadowing Programme! We were supposed to report to NHG college at NUH. i took the MRT to buona vista station and intended to take the shuttle bus. But, i could not find the waiting place and walked to the main road searching for it. Then, i saw the time. IT WAS 8.50am!! A mere 10 minutes before i was late for my first day of NHG JSP. Then i sort of panicked because i could not find the public bus to take. So, out of desperation, i took a cab and it costed $4.50 la! argh.
By the way, there were 7 NJC students and 6 VJC students (1 more was on MC) in the programme. Began with "ice-breakers" and sat in order of birthdates (year not taken into consideration). Later i realised i was the youngest there. The one and only J1. We had an introductory talk on Singapore's Healthcare System, followed by a catered tea break and a "discussion". Topic: Can we have a healthcare system in Singapore that is both world class and affordable? Actually it was not really a discussion because the speaker seemed only intent on getting one answer from us - offering a range of services, basic to the state-of-the-art kind.
The
most interesting part of the day was visiting the
Simulation Lab. They had many cool stuff there! 2 human-like robots which could mimick real diseases and conditions (costed $80,000), computer simulation of microsurgery, and stations to practice hand-eye coordination. i made the computer bleed in the simulation and it was televised on a projector! so embarassing :s
Later, the gastroenterologist spoke of the track to becoming a specialist. It takes more than 10years after graduation from medical school. Then a Medical Officer spoke to us. He was the best House Officer for 2005!
One thing to all considering Medicine as a career: CHOOSE WISELY. IF MONEY AND FAME IS WHAT YOU WANT, THERE ARE MANY OPTIONS OUT THERE. ONCE YOU DECIDE ON MEDICINE, YOU WILL BE STUCK IN IT FOR AT LEAST 10 YEARS, IF YOU STUDY AT NUS. (due to the heavily subsidised medical school fees the government pays)Yea. and i found out that i was attached to NHGP Bukit Batok for the next 3 days, together with this VJ guy named N_____. Attire was smart casual and the guy had to wear tie =p ahaha.
That basically wraps up Day One.
todaytook MRT from bishan all the way to bukit batok almost late :s
anyway, we were attached to a doctor there (don't think i should disclose his identity) . What came later was a real shock. Jerk back to the harsh reality.
Medicine at the polyclinic level was not a very glamorous job, if not, downright unpleasant. N and i agreed that the doctor seemed cynical, completely out of our expectations. It was a good experience nonetheless. Doctor had to meet patients who lacked self-care and responsibility, expecting an instant fix to their problems. He seemed a little harsh to the patients at times but i later realised that he was doing it for the patient's benefit, so that they may face the reality of their condition, at the expense of seeming like a fierce, uncaring doctor. It definitely was not an easy job. Case files seemed never-ending. Doctor had to converse in a diverse range languages and dialects. Hokkien, teochew, cantonese, chinese, english, malay(now thankful that i took malay special programme and perservered until the O levels) and even tamil! Reason with unreasonable patients. Patients who can clearly afford to go to private GPs but choose to visit polyclinics, claiming that they pay taxes and complain of long waiting times. Frustration of not being able to allocate and utilise resources to attain maximum benefit to society (sounds super econs but a true reflection of market failure, applied to real life). Frustration of not being able to change anything. Oh, and he has to put up with questions from students like us. Not that we asked many questions (N didnt even ask a single question). But still, its an additional duty.
Anyway, polyclinics were set up, mainly to cater to the lower-income group, many of which have minimal education. It has a focus on preventive medicine and education. A large proportion of patients come for follow-up to chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc. However, these people do not often get the level care they should receive because the overworked doctors simply do not have enough time to spend with them. This is where the Allied Healthcare Professionals come in. The nurses for example, counsel and educate patients on disease management. This was where i was attached to for the afternoon.
I still have a lot to say but its too tedious to type them all out, especially with my perfectionistic tendencies. Its really time consuming(i bet i spent more than 1 hr on this entry). sorry. i guess you'll just have to settle for this at the moment. just post any questions on the tag board.
wait for the other updates coming soon =)
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+ +Monday, June 05, 2006
6:43 pm
YAY! haha. i scored full marks for LDM lesson 1!
Friendship should always be an underlying foundation of any romantic relationship. Romance is fleeting, and comes and goes. Friendship lasts. Both are important in a lasting relationship.
Lesson 2:
First, for a happy and successful marriage, you must have agape love -- the unselfish love which desires the best for the other person. Then you need friendship love -- the love that enables a husband and wife to enjoy being together. Finally, in a happy marriage there is satisfying physical or sexual love.
A pyramid cannot be built on shifting sands. It needs a solid foundation. The solid foundation for our "pyramid" is God's love.
Real love is not blind -- you should use good sense in deciding whether or not you want to be involved with someone. You don't have to "fall in love" with someone. You can choose not to love someone who is not right for you.
Value yourself, for you are very precious. Don't sell out. Any price you're given less than a love willing to commit itself and willing to wait -- that price is too cheap.
The story at the end freaked me out a little.
man.. could it be? but there must be a reason. am i rejecting it? i'll wait. time will tell.
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+ +Saturday, June 03, 2006
5:34 pm
NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCENot those kind of 'white light' NDE if that's what you're thinking about. I NEARLY GOT KNOCKED DOWN BY A TRUCK! Oh my goodness. Just now after biomed ended, i was walking along the main road when my bottle slipped out of my hand and almost rolled onto the main road. Instinctively, i bent down to pick it up. Unknown to me, there was some kind of green truck-like vehicle travelling very closely to the pavement along the road, closely behind me! When i stood up, it brushed past me! Later, Jeremy (one of the biomed trainers who was walking behind) told me that if i was 1 second slower, i would have been hit!!! really thankful for God's grace and His protection =) i'm still reeling from the shock but as J said, "you can be assured that you won't be taken away until your time on earth is up" Indeed, God has a purpose for me on this world, and every circumstance i'm in is not an accident.. And somehow, i felt that my reaction seemed faster than usual.
Mr Goh's Wedding was held at Singapore Thomson Baptist Church. Only 5 people from 2cmF went but it was a wonderful experience =) The ceremony was held in mandarin because the couple felt that it was the language most suitable to their parent and it was a way of honouring them =) so sweet. Could really tell that they loved each other deeply and their relationship was strengthened because God was honoured in it =) Wow. It really served as a strong reinforcement to my 1st LDM lesson.
The pastor used strings to illustrate a good marriage/relationship. When 2 strings are wound together, it is not very strong. Once you let go of one end, everything will loosen. However, when there is one more string, you plait them together and it will remain even if you let go of one end. This string is God's love and because God's love is so abundant, this 'string' can even wind around the 2 other strings without end, strengthening the relationship even further =)
The entire ceremony was so touching that my eyes watered a few times. haha. i'm just emotional la =p
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+ +Friday, June 02, 2006
10:34 am
LDM Lesson 1
some of the things that really struck me in this lesson:
There's nothing lacking in the love that God can give you. Don't ever believe that you can live without love because you can't. You cannot count on the people around you to give you that love either, but you can count on God. He's always there and He never changes.
You have friendship first, secondly you are both Christians, and out of that grows a love. And God helps maintain that love. From there you go to dating and being serious and then later getting married.
You do not change a person... no matter how much you love them
You cannot make someone love you
An infatuation is the state of being completely carried away by an attraction to someone. The dictionary calls it "being blindly in love." In other words, you are so carried away by this attraction that you don't know what you are doing.
One of the signs of an infatuation is that you tend to idolise the person you think you are in love with. Everything they say or do seems just perfect to you. You don't see any flaws. Your romantic feelings have taken over and you are not using ordinary good sense.
Lust is an intense desire to satisfy one's sexual appetite. Lust often goes under the name of "love", but lust and love are two entirely different things.
Lust is SELFISH - the emphasis is on getting something. Lust demands immediate satisfaction. Lust says, "I want it for my own pleasure, I want it regardless of the consequences, and I want it now."
Love is UNSELFISH - the emphasis is on giving. Love wants what is best for the other person. Love is willing to wait. Real love will wait for the right time and right circumstances.
Sexual attraction is physical attraction between a fellow and a girl. Sexual attraction is not love. There is a vital place in marriage for sexual attraction, but a marriage cannot be built on sexual attraction alone.
Real love is not just a wonderful feeling that strikes you suddenly. It takes time to grow and develop.
You don't "fall" into real love - you grow into it. You have to know a person before you can love that person with real love
God, on the other hand, loves you supremely and desires only what is best for you. He wants you to have a precious love - not cheap sex. If it is His will for you to be married, he has just the right person for you. He wants you to have a mate who loves you unselfishly and is committed to you for life. And He likewise wants you to be committed to that person for life.
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+ +Thursday, June 01, 2006
6:48 pm
Oh yes. One more thing. I just started a a Bible Correspondence Course, "Love, Dating and Marriage", by Source of Light, Singapore. This is also endorsed by SYFC so it should be reliable. Excerpt from the email they sent, " Satan is very subtly destroying young lives. Home and the potential of a happy marriage is often marred by the missteps of the teen/dating years. Following the guidelines of these lessons will help you lay a foundation for whatever God has in the future for you. "
I'll use part of my holidays on this course instead of wasting time by blog hopping etc.
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+ +6:13 pm
We had an
SYFC Outing to ECP yesterday. It was a great time of fun and fellowship! We went roller blading and i taught WT, ZM and JT the basics
. From little awkward steps, they improved and were able to skate on the open bicycle tracks! I really felt a sense of satisfaction =)
Gained some new insights as well. We are designed in God's image and as Christians, we should first seek God. We do not have to struggle or as JT said, "kek" out to be good in everything. When we seek God, everything will just come naturally =) This reminds me of the song,
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God; and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.."This saturday is Mr Goh's wedding. Having a headache choosing my outfit because all my clothes belong to the casual category. To add on to my problems, i have to go to school for biomed before that! Argh.
This sunday is Pentecost Sunday. There's going to be a big prayer event at National Stadium then (
http://prayforsingapore.org.sg/). This is so exciting! Christians all over Singapore gather together to pray for our country =) So far, ZM and J are going. Hope my parents will allow me to go..
Yes, one thing as been bugging me for quite some time. I think my parents would allow me to go to church on a regular basis already. Thank God! BUT, now i have trouble choosing which church to attend. I know church-hopping has to stop. I have made up my mind on one thing though, that is, i would like to attend a Charismatic church, one that places enough emphasis on the Holy Spirit. So far the 3 choices i have seem to meet this (and love God and His Word). So yes, i'm still praying for wisdom, and waiting for the answer.
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."
- Matthew 7:7
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