15 Aug 09 Why we must bridle our tongue?
Doctors are held in high esteem and patients can trust their personal and medical information with them without fear of it being repeated to anyone else (not even their spouses, friends, parents or employers)
Lawyers are also governed by similar set of ethical codes. In fact both doctors and lawyers could be suspended or even sued for breaching such ethical codes of their profession.
There are no such strict guidelines for maintaining confidentiality of information among friends and even religious leaders. How can we be assured that our friends, colleagues or even our religious leaders who provide counselling to their flocks maintain the same level of confidentiality when we share information with them?
Strictly speaking I have not heard of any law that cover this area of ethics with regards to confidentiality. However I do believe that the trust among friends, colleagues and even with our religious is sacred.
Under normal circumstances, true love and genuine concern for each other would be a good enough constraint to keep confidential and private the information we heard from friends or the people we care for. This trust has to be upheld because it is sacred to maintain the friendship and the trust with have with the leaders.
What does the bible say about this matter? It is stated very clearly that if a man claims to be religious and he shut not his mouth to keep secrets availed to him in private, his religion is in vain. This will definitely dishonour God.
A loose tongue that does not know how to keep secrets can set a fire, defile the whole body and create havoc to an organization (James 3:6)
What is friendship if friends could not even keep secrets out of love for each other? I would rather share my secrets with my enemy. At least I know I did not trust him rather from the start and I would be on my guard not to reveal anything more that what I want him to hear.
How scary it is when friends start to gossip about things and it returns back to your ears?
If you are troubled and have no one to turn to share your burdens you can definitely share it with my friend who is a Jew. His name is Jesus.
Unlike sinful man who can beguile you and lie to you, Jesus is always true and faithful. Call on Him and pour out your trouble and sorrow to Him. He will never fail you nor betray you because He has died for you. He is your true friend indeed!
-
If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion [is] vain. James 1:26
-
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! James 3:5
-
And the tongue [is] a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. James 3:6
-
But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. James 3:8
-
For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 1Peter 3:10
-
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. 1John 3:18
Tags: confidential, ethical code, friends, lie, secrets
06 Aug 09 Psalm of Comfort when I needed God most
PSALMS 25
2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.
4 Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
15 Mine eyes [are] ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net.
16 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I [am] desolate and afflicted.
17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged: [O] bring thou me out of my distresses.
18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins.
19 Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred.
20 O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.
21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee.
Tags: comfort, Psalm of comfort
22 Jul 09 Was Michael Jackson happy?
Was Michael Jackson happy when he was alive? He had all the popularity of a great celebrity. He had large followers of fans. He had lots money (at least before he lost them). He lived is a big mansion. But he could not sleep. Why couldn’t he sleep? Perhaps he had no peace. Was he happy? He was trying so hard to please so many people.
Can you find happiness on earth? Where can you find happiness?
• Not in unbelief — Voltaire was an infidel of the most pronounced type. He wrote: “I wish I had never been born.”
• Not in pleasure — Lord Byron lived a life of pleasure, if anyone did. He wrote: “The worm, the canker and the grief are mine alone.”
• Not in money — Jay Gould, the American millionaire, had plenty of that. When dying, he said: “I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth.”
• Not in possession and fame — Lord Beaconsfield enjoyed more than his share of both. He wrote: “Youth is a mistake, manhood a struggle, old age regret.”
• Not in military glory — Alexander the Great conquered the known world of his day. Having done so, he wept in his tent, because, as he said: “There are no more worlds to conquer.”
Where, then is happiness found?
The answer is simple: “In Christ alone.” He said: “I will see you again and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.” (John 16:22)
Where can we find great JOY? The secret is found in the acronym J.O.Y.
To have joy you must put Jesus first, Others next and then Yourself last.
That’s right! Put Jesus on top of everything else. Put Jesus as your motive for doing anything. Put the needs of other people first before looking at your own needs. If you follow this formula you will find true happiness.
Tags: Happiness, Happy, joy, Rejoice
18 Jul 09 Life is so fragile
I like to read the obituary section of the newspaper. It is a reminder that our life on earth is but a short sojourn. I like to read what people say about their loved ones who have gone before them.
Several years ago, while I was reading the newspaper and munching my breakfast I suddenly saw a very familiar face in the obituary section.
It’s the face of Mdm Lee. I remember this loving mother who had four beautiful children.
What had happened to her?
I found out about the tragedy which took away the life of this lady the next day. Tears flowed down my cheeks as I read the newspaper account of what happened to this lady.
The family was travelling to Malaysia in their family car. They decided to stop the car at the road shoulder of the highway to check if they have brought all their passports. Mdm. Lee went out of the car to look for their passports in the booth.
A van suddenly lost its control and crashed right into the back of the family car. Mdm. Lee was sandwiched between the two vehicles. She was still alive when her husband came out to help her. Her husband held on to her hand while she uttered her last word, telling him to take care of their children.
I was moved to attend the funeral wake. Nothing I said could comfort the husband and these four children whose mother was taken away so suddenly.
I could almost hear the laughter even as I imagine the children talking excitedly about their holiday trip to Malaysia. Then I felt the cold chill running down my spine as I imagined the painful sight of the husband holding helplessly to his wife. Their children were still too shock to realize that their mother would soon be taken away by the tragic accident which came like a bolt in the sky.
What a tragedy? Life is just so unpredictable and so fragile.
Indeed the bible is right. We really do not know what will happen tomorrow. Our life is really like a vapor that appeared for little while and then vanishes away. Whether we live to do this or that all depends entirely upon the mercy of our almighty God, our Creator.
Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
For that ye [ought] to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
James 4: 13-15
Tags: Accident, James 4:14, Life is Fragile, Life is like a vapor
12 Jul 09 The black door or the firing squad
An Arab Chief tells the story of a spy who had been captured and sentenced to death by a general of the Persian army. The general had fallen upon a strange custom. He permitted the condemned person to make a choice. He could either face a firing squad or pass through the Big Black Door.
As the moment of execution drew near, the general ordered the spy brought before him for a short, final interview, the primary purpose of which was to receive the answer to the query: “Which shall it be… the firing squad or the Big Black Door?”
This was not an easy question, and the prisoner hesitated, but made it known that he much preferred the firing squad. Not long after, a volley of shots in the courtyard announced that the grim sentence had been fullfilled.
The general, staring at his boots, turned to his aide and said, “You see how it is with men: they always prefer the known way to the unknown. It is characteristic of people to be afraid of the undefined. And yet we gave him his choice.”
“What lies beyond the Big Black Door?” asked the aide. “Freedom,” replied the general, “and I’ve known only a few men brave enough to take it.” The blind leading the blind.
Isn’t it true of so many people? Jesus said it clearly that He is the way to God, the way to eternal life, joy and peace. Yet many people clinged on to what they have learnt from their parents, their teachers who were themselves taught by their own parents and teachers. The blind leading the blind.
They rather believe in evolution which claim that man comes from Ape. They would rather believe in the dumb idols made by men who sell them for a living.
They would rather take the path that lead only to eternal condemnation and hell even though someone offered them another path that promised eternal life.
They would not be open minded enough to think that perhaps there is life behind that Black Door.
It does not cost them anything. All they need to do is say “Yes to Jesus” and believe that He is the Son of God and in Him alone is the source of life. Yet, they would rather let their souls leave this world with nothing but the certainty of eternal damnation and judgement.
Only a few have faith enough to say “Jesus I believe, I want the key to eternal life that You alone can give.”
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 3:15
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3: 16
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:19
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Tags: Black door, Eternal Life, firing squad, heaven, Hell, John 3:16, Truth
03 Jul 09 Man fell and died at Fusionpolis on 3 July 2009
A man (looks like someone in his 40-50s) was found lying dead on the open terrace outside Fusionpolis at around 2pm today.
He was wearing long black pants and a short sleeve shirt which was tucked out. His four limbless were outstretched and without life. His head was deformed and badly smashed. There were blood splashed around him.
There were some guards walking around and looking from a distance. People have also started to gather and watch from a distance because they could not stomach the sight.
The police have not arrived when we drove past at around 2pm today. What could have happened to him? Did the man commit suicide by jumping down from Fusionpolis? He does not look like a construction worker. My colleague who was travelling with me said he could not take his lunch after having seen the horrific sight of such as tragic death.
Why did the man die? What could have driven him to jump down and died in such a tragic manner? I guess I just have to wait to read the newspaper tomorrow to find out more.
Oh how said it is to see a man die so tragically!
Life is indeed like a vapor. It appears for a little while and then vanished away.
For reading.
Tags: dead man, Fusionpolis, suicide
29 Jun 09 Spare the rod spoil the child
If you spare the rod you spoil the child. Many cases of parental abuse are now surfacing as families could no longer suffer in silence. Could these unfortunate cases be avoided if parents stick to the time test method of disciplining their children?
720 youths were referred to the Singapore Children’s Society last year because they were beyond parental control. Almost half of them have turned violent against their parents.
Last year the following adult children were jailed for hurting their parents:
- A 47 man threw a wooden dining chair at his 67 yr old mother for nagging at his young niece for refusing a bowl of hot porridge.
- A 22 year man whacked his mother’s head with a hammer because he was frustrated with his mother’s nagging.
- A 39 year old woman hit her 79 year old father after he tried to stop her from shouting at her maid.
Last week a young man kicked his 82 year old grand mother and threatened his father with a chopper because they refused him money.
One 69 year old man needed 7 stitches after his son smashed a ceramic flower pot over his head. His 30 year old son had been in and out of jail for drug offences and would hound the family for money to feed his habit.
In Britain plans are being made to give schools more powers to make students behave. Parents have been warned to keep kids in line or be fined
Soon teachers in Britain will be able to take parents of disruptive pupils to court under government plan which will be unveiled soon.
Schools will get stronger powers to ask for the imposition of parenting orders which could mean families being forced to attend classes to learn how to control their offspring.
A parenting order requires parents to take specific steps to control a child’s behaviour- including attending parenting courses or counselling sessions to ensure their children are at home at a certain things, or avoiding certain situations and people.
If they still fail to keep their children in line, they would face a $2,400 fine and a jail term if they do not pay.
What has happened to our society today? What has happened to filial piety? Advocates who claim that we should not use the rod on the child are terribly wrong. Look at the outcome of such teachings in our society today.
We should follow what the bible teaches which has been time tested since the beginning of humanity.
Children are commanded to honour their parents.
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. (Exodus 20:12)
Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise; (Ephesians 6:2)
If you don’t teach them and cane them while they are still teachable, beware that they will turn around and “hammer’ you when they are old enough!
Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness [is] bound in the heart of a child; [but] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
As the Bible tells us:
“Withhold not correction from a child: for if thou strike him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and deliver his soul from hell.” (Proverbs 23:13-14)
“He who spareth the rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him correcteth him betimes” (Proverbs 13:24)
Tags: Disobedient children, fillial piety, honour parents, parent abuse, Proverb 13:24, Spare the rod, spoil the child
17 Jun 09 Get out of danger
Pull for the Shore. Get out of danger!
Look at that man in a boat on Niagara River. He is only about a mile from the rapids. A man on the bank shouts to him, “Young man, young man, the rapids are not far away; you”d better pull for the shore.”
”You attend to your own business; I will take care of myself,” he replies. Like a great many people here, and ministers, too, they don”t want any evangelist here–don”t want any help, however great the danger ahead. On he goes; sitting coolly in his boat. Now he has got a little nearer, and a man from the bank of the river sees his danger, and shouts: “Stranger, you”d better pull for the shore; if you go further, you”ll be lost.
You can be saved now if you pull in.” “Mind your business, and you”ll have enough to do; I”ll take care of myself.” Like a good many men, they are asleep to the danger that”s hanging over them while they are in the current. And I say, drinking young man, don”t you think you are standing still.
You are in the current, and if you don”t pull for a rock of safety you will go over the precipice. On he goes. I can see him in the boat laughing at the danger. A man on the bank is looking at him, and he lifts up his voice and cries, “Stranger, stranger, pull for the shore; if you don”t you”ll lose your life;” and the young man laughs at him–mocks him. That is the way with hundreds in Chicago.
If you go to them and point out their danger, they will jest and joke at you. By and by he says: “I think I hear the rapids–yes, I hear them roar;” and he seizes his oars and pulls with all his strength, but the current is too great, and nearer and nearer he is drawn on to that abyss, until he gives one unearthly scream, and over he goes. Ah, my friends, this is the case with hundreds in this city. They are in the current of riches of pleasure, of drink, that will take them to the whirlpool.
The Bible reveals that if a person is not born again and if his/her sins are not washed by the blood of Jesus, he/she is heading towards eternal danmantion.
If you are not already a Christian, we can only tell you that there is eternal danger ahead. Where you are heading after this life is over is eternal torment. Pull over to the side of safety and rest securely in the arms of Jesus our Saviour now.
Tags: danger, mind your business, Niagara River, pull for the shore, safe in Jesus, Salvation
11 Jun 09 My classmate has passed away
The photo of a woman who passed away on 10 Jun 2009 caught my attention while I was reading the obituary section this morning. There were multiple obituaries of the same person.
As I read further I realized that the person who has passed away is a 47 year old doctor. I suddenly realized that she was my classmate who is married to another of my classmate who is now a prominent doctor in Singapore.
Oh dear, what happened to my classmate? I remembered her as someone who is very cheerful and bubbly. Why did she pass away so suddenly? She is only 47 years old.
I decided to text my other classmates and found out later that she has been struggling with cancer of the breast for a while.
This is the second death among my classmates. I recalled another male classmate who was a very promising doctor training to become a hand surgeon a few years after we graduated. He was the top cadet in the officer cadet course and has just got married to a young doctor who is now a Pediatrician. He too died of cancer.
Life is indeed very short and very fragile. What is life? Do we just exist here on earth for around 40-70 years and then vanish away? Is that all there is to life?
If there is nothing after death, then I guess I should really go all out and earn as much money as I could and live life to the fullest and be merry for tomorrow I die.
Is life like a monopoly game? We plan and compete to see how many properties or assets we could own. We build one house after another. We bid for the best real estate space and trade our houses to build a big hotel.
All of a sudden an urgent phone call came and our monopoly game was interrupted. How we wish we can carry on the game and gather more and more properties and assets?
Life is like a game of monopoly. When the game is over we have to face the reality.
So what do we face after we pass away? Is there reality after death?
I read the bible and it says
Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. – James 4:14
Do I have a tomorrow?
For that ye [ought] to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. – James 5:14
I will have a tomorrow on this earth if the Lord who watches over my life let me have a ‘tomorrow”.
Will I live forever after I die?
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. –John 3:16
Tags: classmate, Death, Doctor, Eternal Life, Life, monopoly
11 Jun 09 Life is short
Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is] your life? It is even a vapour that appeared for a little time, and then vanisheth away. -James 4: 14
I received this SMS from a business contact whom I have met many years ago.
“Hi Doc this is Jane Tan (not real name) in shanghai. Do you have anyone neurologist to recommend at SGH? My elder brother aged 45 years old has just had a stroke this afternoon. According to the Dr, 2 of his vessels burst and they are clearing the blood from his brain cavity and then do an angiogram. Can you recommend anyone good to help him at SGH? His name is Tan _ _. Thanks for your help. “
This message came as a surprise to me because I hardly know Jane. We must have met many years ago. I guessed she was desperate and had no one to turn to since she is based in Shanghai.
This morning I received another SMS at 8am. Jane has taken an overnight flight back from Shanghai and is now in the surgical ICU at SGH. I was moved to visit her brother and decided to make a trip to SGH (Singapore General Hospital) in the afternoon.
I finally got to the ICU after clearing all the H1N1 registration and temperature checking processes and met up with Jane Tan. She accompanied me to see her brother who is now in a coma and is being sustained by ventilators.
Jane appeared tired after the overnight flight. She told me that her brother works as an operation manager in a restaurant. He was working in his office when he suddenly collapsed and threw a fit and went into a coma.
She told me sadly that the surgeon has pronounced him to be officially brain dead. He left behind 3 children and a wife who is a housewife.
How true it is when the bible says that life is like a vapor?
For all flesh [is] as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. – 1 Peter 24-25
We are indeed like grass and all that we ever achieved on this earth is like the flower. We age and withered away like the grass. The grass could also be removed suddenly by a strong gush of wind or a grazing animal.
We could be rich, power and famous. But what is there to glory? The flower stands tall and beautiful but it will soon vanish away. The flower will soon be blown away by a sudden gush of strong wind.
What I see now is just a vegetative body being sustained by machines. On the one moment he was alive and now he is brain dead. Where is he now? Is that all there is to life?
Surely there is more to it to life? Where do we go after we die? Where do all the dead people go?
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; – Titus 1:2
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. -John 3:16
Tags: brain dead, Death, Life is Fragile, stroke, vapor
