tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-133249482024-03-13T07:14:22.645+08:00ArthKohsL's BlogI am a Singaporean Christian who completed MDiv degree at Boston Uni School of Theology, and Level 1 Clinical Pastoral Education at Massachusetts General Hospital in 2010. I was diagnosed with advanced renal cancer in the same year. I am now worshiping at Providence Presbyterian Church (长老会恩泽堂) in Singapore. I seek to relate theology to the contemporary world, and to be transformed in the process. You may either call me Swee-Leong (official name) or Arthur (nickname) or 瑞龙 (native name).Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13324948.post-73831943280944488112011-11-03T19:41:00.001+08:002011-11-03T19:44:14.655+08:00Aftermath of removing my tummy’s protein-fluidI remained pain-free for about one week before my tummy’s protein-fluid started returning. The excruciating pain caused by the fluid on my old wound returned as well. This time round, I resorted to using surgical tape to "stitch" the old wound superficially so that they would there will be less pressure tearing at the old wound and this simple method does reduce the pain. I thanked God for Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13324948.post-51967181755329019472011-11-03T12:23:00.000+08:002011-11-03T12:23:16.596+08:00When we cannot solve problems of those we seek to helpI would like to share two paragraphs from Henri Nouwen's Spiritual Direction: Wisdom for the long walk of faith, an extract on "what to do" when we cannot solve problems of those we seek to help. More often than not, I have heard Christians utter the magical word "Trust in Jesus Christ" or "Believe in God" to signal the end of a brief conversation (or perhaps the "exit" sign) with the other who Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13324948.post-23055913831276885292011-10-18T23:22:00.001+08:002011-10-18T23:28:01.387+08:00An unfinished journey
In one of my last few academic theological papers, I had to evaluate Paul Knitter’s typology: replacement, fulfillment, mutuality, and acceptance as a framework for inter-faith dialogue in his Introducing Theologies of Religion. On top of that, our class had to analyze why we prefer a certain model or a framework for inter-faith dialogue. This model or framework could be a modified form of the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13324948.post-48102465625259590812011-10-16T23:08:00.001+08:002011-10-17T23:39:38.833+08:00A minor surgery to drain out 3-litter of fluid from my tummyI had a minor surgery on 11 Oct’11, to draw out out the excess fluid floating in my stomach. The excess fluid was pressing my liver against my chest and it could be so painful that I felt a knife piercing through the bottom of my left ribcage whenever I exerted strength to switch from a flat to sitting position or when I laid in a flat position. This made sleeping at night for consecutive few Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13324948.post-60460678909538686702011-09-28T16:47:00.004+08:002011-10-04T23:17:45.157+08:00Hospitalized for feet’s bacterial infection: part 2 of 2
The first night after the acupuncture was terrible. I had to position my feet in a baby bathtub while laying on the bed the whole night. I hardly slept well. I felt my feet to be less swollen in the next two to three days. However, whenever I planned to move about, my feet had to be wrapped in tissue papers and plastic bags by my wife or my mother. It was very inconvenient, but at least I felt Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13324948.post-44586981014124684672011-09-28T16:46:00.001+08:002011-09-28T16:46:39.826+08:00Hospitalized for feet’s bacterial infection: part 1 of 2
It started with edema in the mid of August when I noticed my right foot to be swollen after teaching adult Christian education class one Sat morning. The swelling of both my feet coupled with increasing tiredness were telltale sign of the ineffectiveness of my 2nd chemo drug, Affinitor. After I stepped down from my teaching post at Jubilee School of Missions and the Peoples’ Presbyterian Church,Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13324948.post-70538445642700124982011-09-25T01:23:00.000+08:002011-09-25T01:28:35.432+08:00Moving from 1st to 4th line of treatment within two months  I started switching to Affinitor in the early July when my CT scan done on 28 Jun’11 revealed the ineffectiveness of Sutent (my 1st line of treatment) in managing my tumours. I decided to switch to another oncologist, Dr. Tay, at Gleneagles for 2nd opinion and for more personal advice. Dr. Tay was of the opinion I should also switch medication and knowing my situation, he was able to Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13324948.post-47154731115649117712011-09-23T21:29:00.001+08:002011-09-23T21:29:22.510+08:00Stating my philosophy of life briefly  I have been asked whether life is meaningful if one were to die eventually. I would say a definite YES. I believe we live to create good memories with our cherished ones, and we leave behind memories while also taking it together with us. Grief is a natural process of detachment. Everyone is bound to attachments which will be naturally followed by detachments. The challenge is to live in Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13324948.post-37250557032748180072011-09-17T23:59:00.001+08:002011-09-18T00:26:11.750+08:00Community requires forgiveness by Henri NouwenThere are different types of community life you have probably been part
of. There are probably some where you enjoy and you feel like part of
its whole. There might also be some where you wish some of the
underlying problems could be resolved before the community moves on.
There might be a few where hurts and grievances are not given room
to be expressed and healing is not taking place. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13324948.post-49221566460989378002011-09-03T16:31:00.005+08:002011-09-03T22:39:46.674+08:00Disappointment with my AIA HealthShield Gold Plan AI bought my AIA health insurance policy back in 2002 when I was still in the prime of my health and when I undergoing training as a professional school teacher. My policy underwent some revisions and it is now known as AIA HealthShield Gold Plan A. It was regrettable that I did not find out more from my ex-insurance agent (who has switched to another industry this year) about the the revision andUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13324948.post-59014298338624493042011-09-02T23:59:00.004+08:002011-09-03T22:39:02.629+08:00Comparing NTUC latest hospitalization insurance policy with AIA’sAs a cancer patient, I am heavily dependent on health insurance policy. It is unfortunate that I did not buy the health insurance policy that offers the most comprehensive coverage nine years ago, and I did not think about upgrading my policy during those nine years until I was diagnosed with cancer last year. While I was in the US, I had thought of cancelling my hospitalization policy in Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13324948.post-84499809844924857852011-08-31T20:29:00.000+08:002011-08-31T20:29:45.861+08:00Short reflection on "Lifting the cup"Other than visiting hospital for regular consultation, blood test, and injection, and receiving short visits from relatives, I have more time to read and to watch TV. In one of my most recent readings, I came across a paragraph by Henri Nouwen in his Can you drink the cup? This small booklet can be divided into three parts: 1) Holding the cup of life; 2) Lifting Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13324948.post-14924940140193047422011-08-18T12:18:00.000+08:002011-08-18T12:18:58.353+08:00Riding through a stormI went through one of the most trying periods in the last two weeks, but the harshness of my ailments has been softened by God's grace. Two weeks ago, I was still struggling badly with my sleep at night as well as learning to cope with my nausea. I also felt my stomach to be more bloated (I later learnt that my stomach is retaining water from Dr. Tay). It was a Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13324948.post-39928074694438089742011-08-02T18:31:00.000+08:002011-08-02T18:31:14.658+08:00Enjoying a sacred momentA dear old friend. Guozhang, invited me to his place recently for a lunch. He lives in Pinnacle@Duxton, the tallest public housing estate in Singapore, and one of the most unique since Pinnacle incorporates gardens at the 26th storey and 50th storey. The view from the sky garden on the top floor is phenomenal as you could see almost the whole stretch of the southern part of Singapore, the Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13324948.post-55861273274688402312011-08-02T17:08:00.000+08:002011-08-02T17:08:58.250+08:00Both my parents have accepted ChristWhen my church pastor, Rev. Tay Hae Dar and his wife Pr. Esther Tan visited me on 13 Jul'11, they felt the prompting of the Spirit to share the gospel with my parents. As I was relatively tired and needed a rest badly, I retired back to my room. Then within the next hour, Pr. Esther informed me through text message that both my parents have accepted Christ! She further informed me their hearts Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13324948.post-14390344933103340312011-08-02T13:58:00.000+08:002011-08-02T13:58:00.866+08:00Thanksgiving during last week In the last one week, there was a dip in my energy level. I am exhausted more easily, and I am not sure whether it was because of my poor quality of sleep and my constant vomiting as I switched back to my oral chemotherapy (Afinitor) regime, and on top of that, I am taking morphine on daily basis as well as laxatives because the morphine causes constipation. IUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13324948.post-73898728930273886922011-07-11T22:38:00.000+08:002011-07-11T22:38:14.969+08:00Hospital - a place where God is both absent and presentWhile walking to the Singapore General Hospital for lunch after my CT scan at National Cancer Center two weeks ago, I passed by a patient who lost a limb, a patient with a tube sticking out of his nose, a patient who can only move about in wheelchair, a patient who need two clutches, etc. I gradually noticed that the hospital is a place of paradox. It is a place where God is absent, but also Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13324948.post-72591285264727145202011-07-11T22:36:00.000+08:002011-07-11T22:36:16.068+08:00Things are not looking goodMy latest CT scan on 28th Jun shows that my tumours to be growing and spreading, which means that my current medication is losing its effectiveness, even though I have gained weight and my blood test looks better than it was six weeks ago. I have just switched to another medication called Afinitor, which is also consumed orally and serves to inhibit tumour growth, but is twice expensive Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13324948.post-25706695320717903272011-07-11T21:18:00.000+08:002011-07-11T21:18:02.539+08:00从复活中认识与渴慕神以下是我在万民堂长老会6月13日的证道。题目:从复活中认识与渴慕神
马可12:18 撒都该人常说没有复活的事.他们来问耶稣说、 12:19 夫子、摩西为我们写着说、人若死了、撇下妻子、没有孩子、他兄弟当娶他的妻、为哥哥生子立后。 12:20 有弟兄七人、第一个娶了妻、死了、没有留下孩子.12:21 第二个娶了他、也死了、没有留下孩子.第三个也是这样。 12:22 那七个人都没有留下孩子.末了、那妇人也死了。12:23 当复活的时候、他是那一个的妻子呢.因为他们七个人都娶过他。12:24 耶稣说、你们所以错了、岂不是因为不明白圣经、不晓得 神的大能么。12:25 人从死里复活、也不娶、也不嫁、乃像天上的使者一样。12:26 论到死人复活,你们没有念过摩西的书荆棘篇上所载的吗? 神对摩西说:“我是亚伯拉罕的 神、以撒的 神、雅各的 神。”12:27 神不是死人的 神、乃是活人的 神。你们Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13324948.post-47874194201366087302011-06-16T18:49:00.003+08:002011-06-16T18:57:42.092+08:00我们敬拜的对象与自由
以下是我6月5日在长老会恩泽堂裕廊聚会的证道。主题:我们敬拜的对象与自由
1. a) 我们的上帝是主动的创3:8天起凉风的时候,那人和他的妻子听见耶和华上帝在园中行走的声音,就藏在园子的树林中,躲避耶和华上帝的面。9耶和华上帝呼唤那人,对他说∶「你在哪里?」
当亚当与夏娃犯罪后,他们一听见上帝行走的声音就躲避上帝。难道上帝不知道亚当与夏娃躲在哪里吗?为什么上帝要问“你在哪里?”这里让我们看到祂主动寻找迷失的人,主动呼唤迷失的人回到祂面前。上帝在告诉我们祂是主动者,是祂主动寻找我们。我们的上帝是个灵,祂无所不知,无所不在的。我们凭肉眼是看不到上帝的,我们的手也摸不着。若不是我们的上帝主动的向我们显现,我们是不可能认识这位上帝。若不是上帝向我们呼唤,我们也不知道上帝在哪里。唯有知道上帝在哪里,我们才知道自己在哪里。加尔文在基督教要义里说“人若不先思念上帝的性格,继而观察自己,即Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13324948.post-2106847685090461932011-05-30T22:24:00.001+08:002011-05-30T22:25:09.811+08:00Prayer updates 30May'11My 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 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13324948.post-56566972785457523142011-05-12T22:34:00.000+08:002011-05-30T22:35:56.061+08:00Prayer updates 12May'11This 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 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13324948.post-40887077302596294672011-05-04T14:10:00.002+08:002011-05-04T23:27:49.450+08:00Issue 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 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13324948.post-81985514135790353452011-05-04T14:07:00.004+08:002011-05-04T23:34:55.872+08:00On the influx of foreign workersI 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 Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13324948.post-15658708133024756112011-05-04T12:48:00.001+08:002011-05-04T14:11:07.374+08:00Attending a rally by NSP at Jurong West stadium on 2MaySingapore 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, Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0