Watch from 5 Foot Way

The Covid pandemic has certainly made the performing arts planners creative.  Picture above shows a musical presentation inside a shophouse whilst the audience is seated at the 5 foot way. 

One person and two lungs

 

Retirement Home

This building belongs to the Perak Tuft Club. It is purpose built to be a retirement home. We have an interested church group which wishes to set up an independent living home using this premise. 

Kampar Student House

This house is ready for students. The common spaces will allow students to interact and network. Security systems are in place to provide a safe environment for study. 

Student's mentorship programmes are available. 

The basketball courts are opposite the house. Also a great place to hold barbecues nearby.  

Perak Chest Society AGM 2020

Presided our first AGM virtually.  It was easy and convenient to meet in the cloud.  The audio visual was good.  Used ZOOM platform.  Was able to share screen and even annotate on the slides.  We were using the free version and was cut off after about 45 minutes into the meeting.  We restarted the meeting by sending another meeting link from ZOOM.  Not much of a hassle in reconnecting.  But best is to buy a license.  

ZOOM seems to be easier to use than Skype.  Can also schedule a ZOOM meeting via Microsoft Outlook. 

Bloom's Taxonomy

Most school students are able to climb up to the 3rd level of the pyramid. University students and professionals are better able to analyse and evaluate problems.  But to be able to create something new, it will require a bright new idea followed up with a vision, focus and perseverance. 

Perak Tuft Club Meeting

Had a fruitful meeting with the Perak Tuft Club management regarding the setting up of a multi church retirement home at their newly completed building (located just beside the race course).

Need to come up with a written proposal with all the cost estimates for this not-for-profit project.  Prayerfully the Board of Directors of Perak Tuft Club will sponsor the building for the Churches to start the much needed project for the elderly in Ipoh. 

The 2 level building is purpose built with many halls suitable for community living.  

Success vs Significance

Success is generally defined in terms of achievement, fame, recognition, material possessions and wealth. In a word: outcome.

Significance, on the other hand, while less tangible, concerns the process. Significance is importance, meaning, essence, relevance and value. Success drives us by a desire for greater things; significance guides us by a desire for something greater than just what is tangible.

On the path of significance have a sense of 1 urgency, 2 whole of life and 3 defining what significance means.

The best is to build up both success and significance at the same time. However, one must not be prideful once successful. Need to be humble at all times.  Also to realise that one can channel whatever one has gained in success to significance. It's all in the mindset whether one places success or significance to be the more important element in one's life and what legacy one wishes to leave behind. 

The Mustard Seed

A small seed will grow into a large plant when nurtured.  So will be your well taught children who will grow to become great men and women.  A lot of effort in the beginning but it's all well worth the time and energy.  

Be still

Drawn with particle brush.  "Be still and know that I am God". 

We need to take time to reflect on our purpose in life.  What am I living for?

Watch your steps

Be mindful of your surroundings. Enjoy the sounds, light and smell. Also sense the hidden danger.

The Best Day

Malaysia recorded the best day with just 16 new COVID cases for the day three days ago. But recently the cases are up marginally again. I believe we have to adapt to a new norm by wearing face masks whenever we go out. Also to wash hands often and practice social distancing. The virus will rear its ugly head on and off whenever it likes. Pray we have the vaccines and anti-virals soon. Businesses will need to reopen gradually otherwise people will suffer without income and food on the table. 

5G and beyond.

Calling on God does not need more technology.  A simple honest prayer will do. Try it out!

Happy Mother's Day

Truly we need to appreciate the mother's who look after the children and the whole household.  They are remarkable in multi tasking. 

A bouquet of flowers specially for them.  

Be Happy

Drew myself this picture to reflect how fortunate we are despite the MCO and ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.  They're has been no new cases in Perak for several days now.  People are coming out slowly from their homes.  Pray this pandemic will be over soon so that the economic impact will be less severe.  

My first virtual Communion Service

Things have certainly changed with the COVID pandemic.  Cannot go to church because of MCO to enforce social distancing.  I believe our future lifestyles are going to be changed drastically. 

Tonight Communion Service at home with ready bread and wine (Ribena juice). Its a good experience with God in our presence. 

Making the tree fruit during MCO

Before

After

Mango tree pruned to lesser than 8 feet to make it more manageable. Will fruit better too. Learnt some tricks from YouTube.  

Havoc caused by COVID-19

In the past few weeks, millions of people around the world have started to fear the Covid-19 pandemic. The sheer horror of this fast moving infection is worsened by its sudden onset. There is panic, fear, anger, sadness, confusion and despair.

Why is this happening? 

The question is essentially the same that people ask when an earthquake wipes out hundreds of lives or when a single child dies from cancer. It is called the “problem of suffering” or “the mystery of evil” and it’s a question that people have grappled with for decades. The question of “natural” suffering (from illnesses or natural disasters) differs from that of “moral evil” (in which suffering flows from the actions of individuals like Hitler and Stalin). Is there any answer to the rising death tolls, struggle with stories of physicians forced to triage patients and photos of rows of coffins in this Covid pandemic?

Many answers have been offered about natural suffering, all of them wanting in some way.  For Christians the most common is that suffering is a test. Suffering tests their faith and strengthens it: “My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance,” James 1:2.

But while explaining suffering as a test may help in minor trials (patience being tested) it fails in the most painful human experiences. Does God send cancer to “test” a young child? Yes, the child’s parents may learn something about perseverance or faith, but that approach can make God look like a horrible monster.

Is suffering a punishment for sins?

Some people say God punishes people. But in Christianity, Jesus himself rejects this argument when he meets a man who is blind, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” says Jesus. John 9:3.

This is similar to why God did not heal St. Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” (which may have been an illness). Galatians 4:13, 15. Paul’s suffering was not a punishment for sin but an opportunity for God’s grace to be revealed. That’s why God told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”. 2 Corinthians 12:9.

In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus responds to the story of a stone tower that fell and crushed a crowd of people: “Do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem?  No, I tell you.”  Luke 13:4

Not every natural evil should be seen as a punishment for sin. In fact, God usually allows the world to unfold according to the laws he built into it.  Miraculous healing can occur but not the rule. Because we live in a world governed by natural laws, we should start with the presumption that any natural evil, whether personal and communal, is a byproduct of those laws and not a specific punishment for sin.

The overall confusion, for some, is in what is called the “inconsistent triad".  It sounds like this. God is all powerful, therefore God can prevent suffering. But God does not prevent suffering. Therefore, God is either not all powerful or not all loving.

In the end, the most honest answer to the question of why the Covid-19 virus is killing thousands of people, why infectious diseases ravage humanity and why there is suffering at all is: We don’t know. This is the most honest and accurate answer. Viruses are part of the natural world and in some way contribute to life's problems,  An important question for us in times of suffering is this: Can we believe in a God that we don’t understand?

Has Jesus Christ an answer for the sufferings in the pandemic?

Christians believe that Jesus is fully divine and fully human. Yet we sometimes overlook the second part. Jesus of Nazareth was born into a world of illness and disease.   The environment in which Jesus lived was “filthy, malodorous and unhealthy.” 

In his public ministry, Jesus continually sought out those who were sick. Most of his miracles were healings from illnesses and disabilities: skin conditions, “leprosy”, epilepsy, a woman’s “flow of blood,” a withered hand, “dropsy,” blindness, deafness, paralysis. In these Covid pandemic times, Christians may find comfort in knowing that when they pray to Jesus, they are praying to someone who understands them not only because he is divine and knows all things, but because he is human and experienced all things.

But for those who are not Christians they can also see him as a model for care of the sick. When caring for someone with coronavirus, one should take the necessary precautions in order not to pass on the infection. But for Jesus, the sick or dying person was not the “other,” not one to be blamed, but a brother or sister. When Jesus saw a person in need, the Gospels tell us that his heart was “moved with pity.” He is a model for how we are to care during this pandemic: with hearts moved by pity.

We don’t fully understand why people are dying, but we can follow the person who gives me a pattern for life.  Jesus  taught that some evils occur without any connection to sinful behavior. 

There is no evidence that Covid-19 is a divine punishment. Yet God always brings about good when an evil occurs, and this pandemic provides a reminder that we must repent from our sinfulness while we have time to do so.

In reference to the tower that collapsed in the Gospel of Luke. What mattered was not why the people died, but whether they were able to repent before they died, or as Jesus bluntly put it, “unless you repent you will all likewise perish”. Luke 13:5.

You and I may or may not contract Covid-19. If we do, we may or may not die from it. We also may never know why God allowed some people to get this disease and not others. But what we do know is that you and I will die one day and come face to face with our God to be judged.

In times of trouble and distress the Bible tells us how God can overcome our fears.  Here are some truths from the Bible which will give us peace while we wait for the pandemic to pass by

God will not condemn us. Romans 8:3
God works for our good.  Romans 8:28
God guarantees our good. Romans 8:32
God will never separate from us.  Romans 8:35, 37

Turning to gardening during MCO

Not sure how long this MCO will last.  Maybe extended till end of April or beyond.  This COVID-19 is causing a lot of harm to people and the economy. What else to do but to wait it out. Gardening is a good way to relax and get some exercise with sunlight.  

Personal Protective Equipment.

Donning and doffing PPE takes time.  Extreme care has to been taken to remove the PPE so as not to contaminate oneself.  

Social distancing

The recommended distance is 6 feet away. Decided to move the patient's chair some 6 feet away. Actually a good idea to follow. I now do the consultation standing and it gives me some good standing exercises as well. 

Every case a suspect.

There have been reported cases which are clustered and sporadic. Fortunately most cases are linked to a cluster.

Need to protect my nuse aids. Bought lab coats for them. Yesterday gave them a bottle each with 100 hypochlorite  effervescent tablets. Each tablet is 2-5 gm. 

Going to work in T shirt

It is recommended that  doctors change to scrubs while in hospital. They then change back to their own clothes on leaving the hospital.

For us doctors in private practice outside the hospital we may decide on T-shirts. On returning home we take off the T shirts and place them into a pail full of hypochlorite solution. 

Getting obsessive compulsive.

Wash, wash and wash again. And it has to be for 20 seconds with soap and water to kill the corona virus. Any time shorter may not effectively kill the virus. 

The other method to kill the virus is to use a sanitiser container 70% alcohol. 

This brand of foam alcohol sanitizer is agreeable to me. 

Lifestyle change

With the corona virus scare there is a lifestyle change. Not coming home when the clinic closes at 2.30 pm. Going straight to the hospitals to complete the ward rounds. A simple lunch in clinic as well. Making my own kaya sandwich to be brought to the clinic.

On reaching home I go straight to the bathroom for a bath and change of new clothes s. Then only to come out to rest in other areas of the house. These actions I pray will lessen the chances of spreading the virus at home to my family in case of accidental contamination in the clinic or hospital.

Mask or not to mask?

At Nu Sentral before going to KL Sentral to take train back to Ipoh.  Feeling safer with a mask when the train station was packed with travellers.  

Leong Sin Nam's 80th Anniversary

LSN passed away in 1940 in Port Dickson. Today we remember his life and legacy.  He led and extra ordinary life of service to mankind.  

Giving a speech to highlight LSN's involvement in education.  He was active in helping both the Chinese and English missionary schools.  

Took to opportunity to donate to Min Tet Chinese School building fund. They are raising funds to build a sun roof over a basketball court.  

 

Lynn Yew Evers performance

A memorable evening with Lynn, a world renowned pianist. She played very elegantly and awed the audience.  She now stays with her family in the US and are back in Ipoh, her hometown, for a short visit.  

Kampar

This famous tin mining town is now famous for education.  UTAR - University Tunku Abdul Rahman is located at Kampar Baru.  

Kampar - a town built on tin.

A Gift - Christmas musical presentation

A truly memorable night.  More details in Emily's blog.

Unforgettable Christmas Night - A Gift