My health has stabilised, though tumours have spread to my liver, left kidney and pelvic bones, my oral chemo drug has brought my cancer under control. My tumours and drug have put a cap on my stamina. I am moving into my 4th chemo cycle (each cycle lasts six weeks). Going for blood test and bone-influsion injection every 6th week, and a CT scan every 12th week have become a routine for me. I am thankful that I experienced minimal side-effect during my 3rd chemo cycle. Acting on faith, I have accepted three preaching assignments next month, one of them at my church retreat in Desaru, Malaysia. I will also be teaching part-time systematic theology at Jubilee School of Missions 禧福宣教学院 (a training centre for missionaries and laity ministering the blue-collars) end of next month till September. According to my oncologist, I have many months but short years to live, but she also said that only the LORD decides when my time is up. My oncologist also remarked that not many patients experienced minimal side effect like mine, so I am really thankful. I have also gained weight during the last six weeks, which is a good news. I also had the chance in vote in the most recent Singapore's General Election, and in my church's most recent AGM. I attended a church wedding recently and had a nice reunion. I must say that I am very contented now.
Yesterday was the death anniversary of my cousin, and I visited his urn site at The Garden of Remembrance together with my aunt's family. I finally have the courage and space to grieve. When he passed away seven years ago, my lifestyle was so hectic that I hardly had the time to grieve. I believe my clinical pastoral education program at a hospital setting in Boston, U.S., has opened the door for me to actually grieve, and my own illness has made me more intimate with losses and grief. At the columbarium yesterday, I also grieved briefly for some unknown people, one of them died just before birth. This is so tragic. My experience has gradually become my lenses even when observing people and interpreting the Scripture.
During my visit to the National Cancer Centre last week, while waiting my turn for blood test, I overheard a daughter's conversation with her mother. Her mother was losing weight due to cancer and her daughter set a goal for her mother in the coming one week, i.e. to gain one kg of weight. As a cancer patient, I know this target is unrealistic due to a number of factors like body's reaction to chemo drug, mood, type of food, etc., but the motive behind this unrealistic goal is the daughter's love for her mother. The daughter wanted her mother to live. I was deeply touched by that brief conversation.
Just this morning I was reading Genesis 11:28 "Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his birth, in Ur of the Chaldeans." This verse which did not seem interesting to me previously caught my attention immediately. Haran died before his father, which means he died young, leaving behind his child Lot. Though nothing is mentioned of Haran's wife, there must be a lot of grieving in the whole family. This is perhaps why Abraham was so close to his nephew, Lot, because he could have taken over the role of fathering Lot after the passing on of his brother (i.e. Lot's father) and his father (i.e. Lot's grandfather) subsequently.
If you could join in me prayer, please pray for:
1) My health to continue stabilising so that I could preach and teach in the next few months;
2) Minimal side effect in my oral chemotherapy;
3) I am scheduled for another CT scan four weeks later. May my tumours shrink;
4) I am asking for a close walk with God in this journey, and may He use me as an instrument of blessings to others.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Prayer updates 12May'11
This week has been a hot and humid week, but a new week for the history of Singapore. The opposition parties have made the voice of the people clearer during the election, and more members from the Worker's Party were elected into the Parliament at the expense of some capable ministers. At the same time, unpopular member was elected into power as well. This testifies to the strength of our democratic system as well as the weakness of the GRC system. I am optimistic about S'pore's future and I pray that the future of S'pore will be geared towards the needs and ethos of the people rather than policies benchmarked by GDP growth.
My feet have generally recovered from soreness and blisters during my six-day break from chemo. I have resumed my 3rd cycle two days ago, and I continue to ask for minimal side effect. Generally, my health has been stable in the last one week, thank God. I tried exerting myself by walking more rounds but found myself too physically tired after doing that for consecutive days. Now, I roughly know my walking limit.
On a delightful note, my Sunday school with the youths were well-received. Powerpoint slides and two-way interaction with 24 teenagers helped to enliven the 45-min lesson. I felt an immense sense of satisfaction. Praise God. I will be leading Bible study with my PRC brothers and sisters this Friday based on the Chinese translation of J.I.Packer's Knowing God. Do keep me in your prayer.
Another area of concern is my part-time teaching duty at Jubilee Sch of Missions. My students had systematic theology 1 last semester, and I do not know what they had covered. The textbook I recommended is too deep for their level, and I still lack sufficient Chinese resources to work with. The academic dean is too busy at the moment to attend to me. I feel loss and the constraint due to limited resources in Chinese ministry. Prayer for guidance and resources to pour in is much appreciated.
Lastly, I discovered these biblical texts during my youth Sunday school and while preparing for my sermon:
- Phil 1:9-10 And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless,
- 1Co.1:8-9 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
My insight: Paul prays for the Philippians to remain blameless until Christ's return. In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul is confident that the Corinthians will be blameless and since God is faithful, God will give them the means to remain blameless. I believe the church is instituted with every means to ensure we may be blameless till the day we meet God face to face.
My feet have generally recovered from soreness and blisters during my six-day break from chemo. I have resumed my 3rd cycle two days ago, and I continue to ask for minimal side effect. Generally, my health has been stable in the last one week, thank God. I tried exerting myself by walking more rounds but found myself too physically tired after doing that for consecutive days. Now, I roughly know my walking limit.
On a delightful note, my Sunday school with the youths were well-received. Powerpoint slides and two-way interaction with 24 teenagers helped to enliven the 45-min lesson. I felt an immense sense of satisfaction. Praise God. I will be leading Bible study with my PRC brothers and sisters this Friday based on the Chinese translation of J.I.Packer's Knowing God. Do keep me in your prayer.
Another area of concern is my part-time teaching duty at Jubilee Sch of Missions. My students had systematic theology 1 last semester, and I do not know what they had covered. The textbook I recommended is too deep for their level, and I still lack sufficient Chinese resources to work with. The academic dean is too busy at the moment to attend to me. I feel loss and the constraint due to limited resources in Chinese ministry. Prayer for guidance and resources to pour in is much appreciated.
Lastly, I discovered these biblical texts during my youth Sunday school and while preparing for my sermon:
- Phil 1:9-10 And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless,
- 1Co.1:8-9 He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
My insight: Paul prays for the Philippians to remain blameless until Christ's return. In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul is confident that the Corinthians will be blameless and since God is faithful, God will give them the means to remain blameless. I believe the church is instituted with every means to ensure we may be blameless till the day we meet God face to face.
Wednesday, May 04, 2011
Issue with religious affiliation on our identity card?
Mr. James Gomez of the National Democratic Party picked on the issue of why our identity card (IC) should indicate our religious affiliation during his rally. He asked whether this is a hallmark carried over from our colonial past, and whether this would undermine our social cohesion. I wonder whether this issue is important in the first place. So far, there has not been any religious quarrel based on our identity card since Singapore become independent. Secondly, if I were a chaplain working in a hospital or a hospital staff who just received a patient in coma, it will be helpful for me to know his/her religious affiliation so that I can direct the relevant spiritual resources to the patient until I could get in touch with his/her next-of-kin. Third, is this issue of religious affiliation on our IC related to the bread and butter of our citizens? Even if this is worth debating, I think the parliament would be a better place to examine this issue as the various religious leaders can be roped in for their opinions, rather than to present this as a hot-button issue during rally.
On the influx of foreign workers
I have been observing the arguments crafted by various opposition parties. PAP has been an easy target for opposition parties to attack, but not all opposition parties can come up with better alternative plan. The most common argument picked up by the opposition party is to blame the incumbent ruling party for allowing too many foreigners into Singapore. They argued that the foreigners took away jobs from S’porean, lowered the wages, and jacked up the property market prices.
Without the foreign workers, S'poreans will be paying more for our services. What’s more, S’poreans only go for better paid job. We are witnessing globalization on our doorstep and it is inevitable for foreign workers to come here as they are willing to work more for lesser pay. If we were to stop companies from hiring foreign workers, these companies might shift overseas to cut cost and this will impact all connected local industries. I believe PAP has pointed a way out, i.e. increase local productivity. But this will create another inherent set of problems, i.e. those who are not able to increase productivity, perhaps due various challenges such as illiteracy or physical handicapped or long-term illness, may be left further behind in the rat race.
At the same time, the influx of foreign workers has crowded our public transport system, and they are using the same public facilities as the local residents. Opposition parties have pointed out that our infrastructure is currently not able to cope with the sudden influx of foreign workers. There were an estimated 4.5 million inhabitants in S'pore in 2005, about 5 millions in 2010. In the last five years, there was an increase of 500,000 inhabitants without proportional increase in public transport system. Prime Minister Lee has also apologized yesterday for the lack of hindsight in government's planning, though he has not hinted how this problem could be rectified. Perhaps an increase in the number of our service trains and public bus services could alleviate the problem. Slowing the trickle of foreign workers through higher levied tax and setting quota limit could be another way.
With S'pore's declining birth rate, it may be necessary for us to accept foreigners to be part of S'pore story. In the earlier half the decade in our 21st century, the policy was to import foreign talents, and most S'poreans bought into that policy. In the later half of the decade, it was not much about foreign talents any more, but whoever can lower the payrolls of the employers. I know U.S. policy strictly demands employers to justify why they employ foreigners over local Americans. This suggests why highly educated foreigners are more easily employed, and the U.S. has been a magnet of talents. Yet, there is also an existing stream of undocumented workers who work for lower wages and who are willing to live in less desirable housings in the U.S. Our market demands low-waged workers, and I believe S'pore has not seen critical mass of undocumented workers yet perhaps because of the harsh punishments on dwelling owners who dare to habour undocumented workers (the punishment on employers is less stiff though). How do we accept foreign workers without concurrently lower our quality of living is a hard question. Other than controlling quotas such work permit, employment pass, and social visit pass (some undocumented workers come here on social visit pass), we may have to explore alternatives such as diversifying our talents or skills so that our industries could be encouraged to employ local workers. This implies that our industries have to shift towards skilled labours, and the manufacturing sector has to explore automation. Those sectors that are still heavily dependent on local unskilled workers such as cleaning may be here to stay but I suggest even these jobs may have to be more specialized in the long run.
It is only when our infrastructure and society as a whole can absorb foreigners that our foreigner friends can integrate better into our society and be able to relate to us and to share with us in shaping the Singapore story. This means that the rate of foreign influx though necessary, may have to slow down until our infrastructure and society can absorb them. If the living pressure in S'pore can ease a bit, and there were more rooms for different lifestyle, the incentive for having children would be higher and there will be less challenges from social integration.
Without the foreign workers, S'poreans will be paying more for our services. What’s more, S’poreans only go for better paid job. We are witnessing globalization on our doorstep and it is inevitable for foreign workers to come here as they are willing to work more for lesser pay. If we were to stop companies from hiring foreign workers, these companies might shift overseas to cut cost and this will impact all connected local industries. I believe PAP has pointed a way out, i.e. increase local productivity. But this will create another inherent set of problems, i.e. those who are not able to increase productivity, perhaps due various challenges such as illiteracy or physical handicapped or long-term illness, may be left further behind in the rat race.
At the same time, the influx of foreign workers has crowded our public transport system, and they are using the same public facilities as the local residents. Opposition parties have pointed out that our infrastructure is currently not able to cope with the sudden influx of foreign workers. There were an estimated 4.5 million inhabitants in S'pore in 2005, about 5 millions in 2010. In the last five years, there was an increase of 500,000 inhabitants without proportional increase in public transport system. Prime Minister Lee has also apologized yesterday for the lack of hindsight in government's planning, though he has not hinted how this problem could be rectified. Perhaps an increase in the number of our service trains and public bus services could alleviate the problem. Slowing the trickle of foreign workers through higher levied tax and setting quota limit could be another way.
With S'pore's declining birth rate, it may be necessary for us to accept foreigners to be part of S'pore story. In the earlier half the decade in our 21st century, the policy was to import foreign talents, and most S'poreans bought into that policy. In the later half of the decade, it was not much about foreign talents any more, but whoever can lower the payrolls of the employers. I know U.S. policy strictly demands employers to justify why they employ foreigners over local Americans. This suggests why highly educated foreigners are more easily employed, and the U.S. has been a magnet of talents. Yet, there is also an existing stream of undocumented workers who work for lower wages and who are willing to live in less desirable housings in the U.S. Our market demands low-waged workers, and I believe S'pore has not seen critical mass of undocumented workers yet perhaps because of the harsh punishments on dwelling owners who dare to habour undocumented workers (the punishment on employers is less stiff though). How do we accept foreign workers without concurrently lower our quality of living is a hard question. Other than controlling quotas such work permit, employment pass, and social visit pass (some undocumented workers come here on social visit pass), we may have to explore alternatives such as diversifying our talents or skills so that our industries could be encouraged to employ local workers. This implies that our industries have to shift towards skilled labours, and the manufacturing sector has to explore automation. Those sectors that are still heavily dependent on local unskilled workers such as cleaning may be here to stay but I suggest even these jobs may have to be more specialized in the long run.
It is only when our infrastructure and society as a whole can absorb foreigners that our foreigner friends can integrate better into our society and be able to relate to us and to share with us in shaping the Singapore story. This means that the rate of foreign influx though necessary, may have to slow down until our infrastructure and society can absorb them. If the living pressure in S'pore can ease a bit, and there were more rooms for different lifestyle, the incentive for having children would be higher and there will be less challenges from social integration.
Attending a rally by NSP at Jurong West stadium on 2May
Singapore General Election is going to take place on 7 May'11. This election takes place once every five years, and I am really excited to be able to vote again. I was not able to vote in 2006 because my residential zone was part of West Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC) represented by five members of parliment. As they had no opposition party to contest against them then, they walked through the election. This happened for many residents of the GRC ward for many years. This year is really different as the opposition parties are able to form their teams to compete both in the GRC and in the Single Member Constituency (SMC) ward (SMC ward is represented by a member instead of a team).
My residential zone is no longer under West Coast GRC but standing on its own as Pioneer SMC. Mr. Cedric Foo of the incumbent ruling party (i.e. People's Action Party, PAP) will be contesting against Mr. Steve Chia of the National Solidatry Party (NSP). I attended a rally held by NSP last Sunday at Jurong West (JW) Stadium.
The whole stadium was packed, and emotions were running high. The NSP knew how to fan people’s emotion. What impressed most is that Mr. Chia was able to utilize statistics and hard facts to support his arguments. The presence of foreign workers is a sore sight in Pioneer neighbourhood. Some of them would gather as groups in the void deck, drinking beer and eating together, while some of them would venture into the parks using the facilities there. Mr. Chia personally witnessed foreign workers leaving litters behind and urinating in the public while he was in the neighbourhood. To enhance the safety of the local residents, Mr. Foo advocated for security camera to be installed outside the lift of every block. However, Mr. Chia pointed out that the cost will come from the town council, and the maintenance cost will be likely added to our monthly conservatory services charge, and does not solve the problem. He suggested regular patrolling making up of MP and volunteer residents to remind these foreign workers not to litter or to urinate in public space. He put forth a 2nd viable suggestion, i.e. to shift these workers’ dormitory from to Joo Koon, which is further away from the residential area. Among these two different approaches to handle the presence of foreign workers, I think Mr. Chia’s proposal is more proactive, and put the elected MP closer in touch with the residents.
Mr. Chia also shared his response from the prime minister when asked about the ministers' high pay (in fact S'pore's ministers are one of the highest paid in the world). Minister's pay is written in their contract and cannot be amended. Mr Chia then compared why our Central Provision Fund savings (equivalent to U.S. social security) withdrawal age can be amended, and the minimum cap amount can also be amended. While I do not understand why minister's pay in S'pore is pegged to fifteen top earning industries in S'pore, I do understand the government's initiative in revising the CPF's minimum cap and withdrawal age to reflect the older retirement age and higher cost of living in S'pore. I can see how relatively easy it is for the political opponents to find fault with government's policy and incumbent ruling party, and to raise the stake of the issue by hinging upon people's emotions.
It may not easy to differentiate what is at stake in this election. I do pray for the wisdom of my fellow citizens in electing our candidates to represent us in the parliament.
My residential zone is no longer under West Coast GRC but standing on its own as Pioneer SMC. Mr. Cedric Foo of the incumbent ruling party (i.e. People's Action Party, PAP) will be contesting against Mr. Steve Chia of the National Solidatry Party (NSP). I attended a rally held by NSP last Sunday at Jurong West (JW) Stadium.
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| Scene from the stand at NSP rally in JW stadium |
Mr. Chia also shared his response from the prime minister when asked about the ministers' high pay (in fact S'pore's ministers are one of the highest paid in the world). Minister's pay is written in their contract and cannot be amended. Mr Chia then compared why our Central Provision Fund savings (equivalent to U.S. social security) withdrawal age can be amended, and the minimum cap amount can also be amended. While I do not understand why minister's pay in S'pore is pegged to fifteen top earning industries in S'pore, I do understand the government's initiative in revising the CPF's minimum cap and withdrawal age to reflect the older retirement age and higher cost of living in S'pore. I can see how relatively easy it is for the political opponents to find fault with government's policy and incumbent ruling party, and to raise the stake of the issue by hinging upon people's emotions.
It may not easy to differentiate what is at stake in this election. I do pray for the wisdom of my fellow citizens in electing our candidates to represent us in the parliament.
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