受难节及复活节一周禁食祷告

你能否成功地完成禁食， 与你怎样开始禁食有着重大的关连。 以下是白立德博士所分享的七个步骤， 请按圣灵的带领去祷告， 并在开始之前作好以下准备:

步骤一: 订立您的目标
为何禁食? 是为属灵的复兴? 得着指引? 还是祈求如倍的恩典去处理一个困局呢?
祈求圣灵带领你的方向。

步骤二: 作出承担
禁食祷告会持续多久呢? (一餐/ 一日/ 数天/ 一星期)
你会以哪一种方式禁食? (喝水/ 喝果汁)

步骤三: 预备好自己的心灵
祈求神帮助你作一张彻底列出自己过犯的清单
开始禁食前， 要有一颗满有盼望和信靠的心
不要低估属灵上的攻击， 撒旦有时会在你禁食的过程中加剧肉体与圣灵的争战
(加 5: 16-17)

步骤四: 在身体上作好准备
开始禁食前应进食较少食物
在禁食过程中只可作轻量的运动
要对暂时性的精神不安有心理准备

步骤五: 为自己订下时间表
独个儿找一段时间寻求神的面
若有其它人同时进行禁食， 可与他们一起同心祷告

步骤六 : 逐渐停止禁食
长时间禁食后， 不宜立刻进食大量食物和喝奶类饮品
待身体机能逐渐恢复正常后才可如常进食东西

步骤七: 期待结果
若你诚心谦卑， 祷告寻求主面， 您会大大经历神的同在， 并得着更深的属灵体验!

在禁食祷告的初期， 你或会感到十分肚饿， 很想进食。 你可以求神的恩典帮助你渡过这段时间， 让你能专心祷告和在禁食祷告后有力量继续你日常的工作。

盼望， 仰望 2

但那等候耶和华的必从新得力。
他们必如鹰展翅上腾；
他们奔跑却不困倦，
行走却不疲乏。
以赛亚书40: 31

耶和华说:
我知道我向你们所怀的意念是赐平安的意念，
不是降灾祸的意念，
要叫你们末后有指望。
耶利米书29: 11

我想起这事，
心里就有指望。
耶利米哀歌3: 21

不但如此，
就是在患难中也是欢欢喜喜的；
因为知道患难生忍耐，
忍耐生老练，
老练生盼望；
盼望不至于羞耻，
因为所赐给我们的圣灵将
神的爱浇灌在我们心里。
罗马书5: 3-5

盼望， 仰望

我的心哪， 你为何恢闷?
为何在我里面烦躁?
应当仰望神， 因他笑脸帮助我；
我还要称赞他。
诗篇42: 5

我的心哪， 你当默默无声， 专等候神，
因为我的盼望是从他而来。
诗篇63: 5

敬畏你的人见我就要欢喜，
因我仰望你的话
诗篇119: 74

我等候耶和华， 我的心等候；
我也仰望他的话。
诗篇130: 5

以雅各的神为帮助，
仰望耶和华 – 他神的， 这人更为有福!
诗篇146: 5

耶和华喜爱敬畏他
和盼望他慈爱的人。
诗篇147: 5

Faithfulness Forever

Exactly 2 more weeks I gonna face my Professional 3 exam. Feelings of anxiety and uncertainty begin filling my heart. So much to study, so much to clinical examination to practice. I really dunno how this 2 weeks is gonna be, what the outcome. I wish I could just turn back time and start all over again, but tats of course impossible.
We can try our best to achieve anything but, we cant guarantee anything in life.
With this I put my all my hope and trust in God. Whatever the outcome of this Pro 3, I will still praise Him.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but I everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.” Philippians 4:6

SUKAD 2008/09 – Archery

It’s been some time since I last posted a blog here. Very much ‘distracted’ by many things. After losing badly in SUKAD Squash few months back, I started playing archery. With Julian as the coach, and my 2 brothers as teammate, Alex and Arvind, we started training way back 3 months ago. I know I’m taking a big risk, cause by doing this, I will have less time in studies. But I really wanna try this last opportunity to glorify God in sports. Age is catching up with me, so does time. Archery was my last shot to get a gold in SUKAD. After this, I will ‘officially’ retired from competitive sports. No more intensive training after this. Just as the bible says in 1 Corinthians 9: 24-25, “Do you know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”
The crown that athletes won in sport is a crown that will not last. Somehow, someday, they will be beaten or their records broken. But the crown that will last forever is the crown of our personal relationship with Jesus. We live a life that glorify God, that’s the crown that last forever. That’s why in sports, we give glory to God when we win.
Our training wasn’t an easy one. It was really a strenuous time. We shot arrows everyday except when it was raining, starting around 4.30pm till around 7pm. On weekends, we trained in the morning and evenings. And most of time, especially in the mornings, I go knocking on Arvind’s door. He will show his sleepy face, opening the door. Then after a few weeks, there come the raining season for about 1-2 months. During that period, I went to district hospital, Hospital Pasir Mas for 3 weeks.
Sometimes our training was fun, all those kutuk-mengutuk and gurau-bergurau between me, Alex and Arvind was hilarious. We used to joke, saying to Arvind, ‘If he hits the bullseye, Lynn will fall in love with him.’ Hahaha! Through this hard but fun training, I develop a bonding with Alex and Arvind.:-)
Came back from district hospital in the early January, we continue our intensive training for 2 weeks before we depart to USM Main Campus together with the female team. My family prayed for me and Im very happy that my dad owiz support my course and struggle in university. Many friends sms me encouraging messages, I was very touched.:-)
We prayed together before we go for each competition. The archery competition in Penang was eventful, we leads both events, 20m and 30m,winning the gold. The women team also got gold. This is my 1st gold won in USM, an unforgettable memory.

Gold medalist

Hospital Pasir Mas

Its been a few days since I was posted in Hosp. Pasir Mas. Life here was really different than that in USMKK. Arrived here on thursday, I found the scenery here rather peaceful and quiet. There were 17 of us, 6 guys and the rest girls, one house for each. Two dutch students from Holland came and join us in this district posting. Wow, our life here will be much more interesting with their presence. The house was dirty, so the first day was all cleaning and mopping. One good thing we found is that, the previous groups left a map of Pasir Mas in our house, showing those popular food restaurants in Pasir Mas. These restaurants were also rated, imagine that? How creative they were?

The next day, we set out to check out those ‘hot’ restaurants in Pasir Mas, but unfortunately most of the reataurants are closed on fridays. We wanted to eat the ‘Lian Hong’ Loh Mee, but it was closed too. So we just settle down with wan tan mee nearby. That day was also one of our coursemate, Zie’s wedding party. Including her, there were already 4 ppl in group who are married, one of them is already a mother! I am still single.:-( So jealous of them… Anyhow the bride was so beautiful tat day. She was always pretty, but tat day was just extraordinary beautiful. We had another lunch at the wedding party and then took photos with the newly wed couple.

On day 3 which was Sat, We spend the whole day online, chatting, downloading movies. The line here was quite fast, so our computers were on most of the time. I brought my keyboard along and Viki brought his guitar. I taught Toh Jeng, my coursemate to play ‘My heart will go on’ on the keyboard and he was diligently practising it since then. Occasionally his gf (who is also our groupmate) will drop by listen to him playing. How sweet…:-)

Yesterday, was just the usual briefing, running in the wards, doing procedures. We are supposed to go Barkas in the evening, to do some research on the water in Kelantan but due to technical error, the trip was postponed. Tis morning, I went to the Labour room, and there was this patient, 28 year old female, gravida 2, para 1, about to give birth to her second child. No painkiller was given to her. Her active phase of labour was long and she was having difficulty pushing her baby down. Possibly due to her short contraction pain. It took almost 1 hour before finally the the baby’s head came out. Here in Pasir Mas, unlike HUSM, they dont give painkiller to pregnant ladies in labour. Imagine the pain they go thru? I really salute these ladies who choose to deliver in Pasir Mas.

Life here is rather slow paced, unlike in HUSM. People here are more relaxed and not in a hurry. I dont feel so much pressured here.

Giver of Life

Testimony by T. W. Hao

I was born into a Christian family. Everybody assumed I was a well-behaved child. But this is not true until I believe and accepted Christ. Since kindergarden I was a very very rebellious child who likes to break the rules. I liked to bully girls and was constantly picking on a fight with the boys. As a consequences, my teacher, frustrated with me, decided to send me away from the ‘excellent’ class as she was worried that I may have a negative influence on the well-behaved children.

Then, I enter into primary school. I started to smoke, gamble, fight, and even steal my parents’ money to buy story books I fancy. I stole books from book exhibitions. My neighbours also thought that my future was gone. By the time I graduated from primary school, my elder sister decided to bring me to church. Initially I was reluctant to attend because I could not stand the boring sermons by the preachers. With my attitude at that time, it was astonishing that I would have the patience to give it another try,but I suspect it was the work of Holy Spirit, that I have the patience for attending the biblical teachings conducted in the church. All of a sudden, I begin to experience a 180 degree change in my life. I became enthusiastic to care and help other people. I do not steal anymore and I even admit my small faults like breaking an egg to my mother. My mother was surprised and touched by the new change in me and encourage me to go to church more often.

However, in secondary school, I became decadent once again. The reason was – all the youth attending at that time were females and I was embarrassed and shy to go to church to mix with them. I was dissatisfied for a few years. Then arrive to the second turning point of my life when I was in matriculation, and my friends invited me to join their Christian gathering, which was conducted weekly. I joined their activities and was again touched by the Holy Spirit. I attended every gathering there and went to church regularly even if the members of the church consists mostly of girls as I do not feel embarrassed in front of them anymore because I know we are brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ.

I was baptized 3 years ago, now I am most happy and relaxed when I go to church and I am drawing closer to God day by day. If it wasn’t because of Jesus, I think I will not be here in USMKK. If it wasn’t because of Jesus, I think you would have seen my photo in newspaper photographed as gangster, thief, robber and any other law-breaker. Jesus Christ is the Giver of my life because He turned my life and gave me a new life. How about you, who is your Giver of life?

Trials and Tribulations

Heartfelt sharing by J. Ding

For most of us, we must have read about Joseph’s story. Basically Joseph was Jacob’s favourite son, because of his brothers’ jealousy towards him; Joseph was then sold as a slave to Egypt and was subsequently bought by Potiphar, the King’s official in charge of the palace guard. There Joseph was put in charge of Potiphar’s house but was sent to prison after Potiphar’s wife failed to seduce Joseph and accused Joseph of rape. In prison, he met the King’s personal servant and chief cook and helped them interpret their dreams. Later, when the King of Egypt had a strange dream, Joseph was brought forth to interpret it and in the end was made Governor of Egypt second only to the Pharaoh.

For us, knowing the ending of Joseph’s story, it is a happy story. However, what if we were in Joseph’s shoes? He faced challenges after challenges. At times when things were looking better, he suddenly found himself to be in a worse state than before.

I recently just recovered from chicken pox. Due to the disease, I was on medical leave for 10 days in my 6 weeks posting in the medical department. During the time I was sick, I had high grade fever, persistent headache, difficulty in swallowing food and vesicles all over my body. I also faced a risk of disfigurement because my face was swollen and covered with pustules. The scars from the pustule of adult onset chicken pox are very deep. But to cut a long story short, I finally recovered and managed to return to USM with minimal disfigurement but to without consequences.

Firstly, my medical leave meant that I missed some important lectures and had to self study them. Second, I was late in handing up my reports and had to do all the work within one week. Third, I missed an exam that I was supposed to have in the medical posting. Luckily, the lecturer allowed the exam to be postponed until I was back in USM. Fourth, I had to sacrifice my holiday with my family planned for the convocation holiday.

With all this misgivings, I was mad at God at first. I asked why this had to happen to me. But later I realized that everything could have gone worse.

Things like diseases and accidents happen without warning. They disrupt our lives, make our routine stress free life chaotic, and give us anxieties and worries. These are the challenges that God throws at us to make us grow up in mind, body and spirit. I believe that God gave Joseph all the challenges in his life so that he could be prepared to become the Governor of Egypt and fulfill his life’s mission of saving his family and people when the severe drought hit Egypt and the surrounding lands.

So friends, do not be despair when u face troubles or challenges, may it be studies, family, relationship. Have faith that God will always be there for you and help you. My motto is ‘I do not know about tomorrow, but I know who holds tomorrow’.

For those who do not know me yet, last year I got dengue fever and was admitted on my 21st birthday. This year, I got chicken pox around the same month. I am eager to know what I will get next year.

A Word From An Ex-Advisor

Heart to heart with Asso. Prof. Dr. Phua Kia Kien

The PPK of CF as we call today, was already in existence in May 1986 when I first reported for duty as a lecturer in the department of Chemical Pathology, PPSP. Dr. Low Heng Chin, who joined the Department of Community Medicine in July 1984, had taken over responsibility for a small group of Christians at PPSP in the Penang Campus when Dr. Graham McCall (from the Department of Surgery) was transferred to the Kelantan Branch campus in 1985. The 2 CFs continued to exist as 2 separate groups until June 1990 when the two halfs of the Medical School finally merge to form PPSP as we know it today. Through the encouragement of Graham and Jenny McCall and the perseverance of the Christian student leaders then, the group was first registered as the Persatuan Pelajar Kristian Kubang Kerian (PPK KK) toward the end of 1989, which was also the year the McCalls returned to UK. By the grace of God the group grew in size as Dr. Low and I remain faithful to the calling. With the merging of the 2 halfs of PPSP and the opening up of new courses for diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (1992) and Nursing (1994), there were more students at the new PPSP complex in Kelantan. Later, it was called the ‘Health Campus’ (HC) when new schools, ie. School of Dental Sciences and School of Health Sciences, were formed in 1998 and 1999, respectively; and with it a rise in the Christian student population.

In its infancy the group was besieged with many problems, but by God’s grace, the CF survived and now stands as a towering witness to the power and wisdom of a might God. As part of the requirements of USM, Dr. Nick Jackson and I were appointed advisors to the CF. This we were willing to do as it would further the cause of the CF. There we serve as conduits for the CF to channel our request to the authorities. We were indeed blessed with facilities and opportunities that allow us to have an impact on the community in the HC. Personally, I felt much blessed by the comradeship of Dr. Nick and Dr. Alison Jackson (Department of Community Medicine). They not only took the burden off my shoulders sharing in the teaching ministry at the CF which Dr. Low’s passion and love for the students had sustained us for 5 years, but also encouraged me by their selfless sacrifices for others. As the population grew, we moved from our home-fellowship meetings to the lecture halls. Sometimes our gatherings were small and sometimes they were large, but we desired above all to meet with the Lord every time we got together. We saw the hand of the Lord in many projects we undertook, inspite of racial polarization problems that broke up in the campus.

In 2003, after 17 years at the CF, I relinquished my duties to Dr. Tee Meng Hun when I took my Sabbatical leave. I felt it was time to pass the baton along to a younger and more suited lecturer – for the responsibility and priviledge! One of my greatest joys as a member of the CF was being able to introduce people to Jesus and to help them discover of rediscover their faith. It has been my blessing to see young people turn to Christ, from a lukewarm heart to one that is full of enthusiasm and love for Him. It is indeed a joy to see people discover their potential to serve the Lord and be willing channels of blessings for others.

Over the years, I have seen many CF members come and go, and many have left behind a legacy of the love and faithfulness of an endearing God, our Lord Jesus Christ, who paved the way for this small group to grow and prosper even in the midst of real challenges. Indeed, many can testify that it is through those trials and tribulations that we grew as a community as remain faithful to the cause of the Gospel Message. To those of you who are new to CF of you have just joined as a student, do rest assured that God has provided the best for you, and you are precisely where you should be at this time of your life. Open your heart to the opportunities and possibilities around you that calls you to be His messenger. For it is in answering this call, to be His ambassador in this campus, that we will most satisfaction. If you have not been going to the CF, may I encourage you to do so, for there you will find enduring friends that will last a life time! Trust me, for I have been there….

Experiencing God in Christmas

Testimony by L. B. Liang

Hi brothers and sisters,
First of all, for those who have never heard of me, I am Lau Bik Liang, a 4th year medical student from Sibu, Sarawak.

Christmas night is coming soon. This is the biggest event for CF. I have been through three meaningful Christmas nights in USMKK that has brought me a lot of good memories.

In my first year, I was so excited about Christmas night that I wished to participate in a lot of performances. However I ended up with only joining choir. Haih… Maybe I really am not a talented person, haha! Never mind, I still enjoyed myself during that Christmas because I found something special about CF – love among brothers and sisters. CF had given me a sense of belonging and we are all like in a big family with lots of care and encouragement from each other. During that time, we spent a lot of time and effort in practicing choir. Despite feeling exhausted, we got support from each other. Besides that, many Christians who seldom turn up for routine CF meeting also came to help for Christmas night. There was a great deal of fellowship among us. It was a warmth Christmas night for me staying so far away from my family

The following year, I was surprised to be asked to take charge of Christmas night choir. In the beginning of our practice, we faced problems like a lack of musicians and song selections. We have a very limited number of musicians as compared to now during that time and most of the musicians were final year students who were very busy in their study. Thus, I feel quite stress at that time. Thanks to the Christmas night committee that year who prayed continuously for these matters and we finally got the musicians. I think God had answered our prayers and that’s why most of our problems were solved. Prayer is great!

Last year’s Christmas was a struggle to me, the most struggling, in fact. I actually felt bored after serving two years in Christmas night. However, David (our previous CF president) came to my room and asked me to become vice president for the Christmas night committee. At first I rejected because of my Pro 2 exam. I wished to focus more on my studies since that was my Pro 2 exam year. Previously we rarely see a Year 3 medical student taking such a heavy job in any CF event. Thus, that discouraged me in taking the position as the vice chairman for Christmas night. The thought of worrying about “others would have a chance to study much more than I do as they continued to stay in their room” had ruminated in my mind. Thank God that in the end, I did agree to become vice president and my results was considered good enough for me to enter my 4th year. Haha! I think this was the first time I struggle to participate in God’s work and I am glad that I had chosen the correct pathway

This coming Christmas, I wish I can continue to involve in the work of God and experience God’s work on me. For those brothers and sisters who still hesitate to help in Christmas night, please hurry to lend a helping hand. I am sure God will make this a special Christmas for you as He had made it for me in the past three years.

May God bless you all!!!