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The Community in Christian Spiritual Formation

Community is increasing becoming prominent in the literature of spiritual formation. However, there are two ways of understanding community in relation to spiritual formation: the community that nurtures and the nurturing community.

|posted 8 August 2008|                                                                                                   read more
 

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Movie Review on The X-files: I Want to Believe

This movies The X-files: I Want to Believe is about faith. Its story telling is convoluted and at times confusing. However it asks some basic questions about faith for Scully, Mulder, the FBI agents and of the audience. First, Scully is a non-practicing Catholic who desperately wants to believe in a loving God but was unable to do so because of her rational mind and sufferings in her life. In the movie she is presented with a convicted homosexual paedophile defrocked Catholic priest, Father Joe, who claims to receive God's visions that will help to solve the case. To Scully's mind, it is inconceivable that God should forgive this paedophile priest who abused his power over his choir boys. What is more gulling is that God will use such a person to help them find the missing FBI agent. Even when Father Joe cried tears of blood it fails to convince her. She desperately want to believe but is not able to.
 

|posted 29 July 2008|                                                                                                      read more

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Movie Review on The Dark Knight

While the first film explores the reasons why a man will wear a mask and become a vigilant in Gotham, this movie explores a few themes. The first is Batman's resolution to continue to be the Batman. I guess the initial thrill has worn off and being the Batman is taking a toll on Bruce Wayne. He begins to realise that he has to give up a normal ordinary life. He starts to look for a way out. He beginning looking for a reason why Gotham will not need a Batman and found that in Harvey Dent, a fearless crusader for justice that the press dubbed as the 'White Knight'.

|posted 24 July 2008|                                                                                                         read more

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Child Health and Nutrition

I taught a module on Child Health and Nutrition. This is offered as one of the modules for Certificate in Child Studies, Malaysia Bible Theological Seminary, Penang, Malaysia.

Session One: Childhood Health and Nutrition

Session Two: Causes of Ill Health in Children

Session Three: Clinical Signs and Symptoms of Malnourishment in Children

Session Four: Basic Communal Health Care Skills in Ministering to Children for the Purpose of Community Development
 

|posted 19 July 2008|                                                                                                        read more

A Peace of God, A God of Peace (Phil.4:4-9)

 

|posted 15 July 2008|                                                                                                   read more

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Illness and the Human Psyche

Yet deep in our psyche (soul, mind, spirit), we know the truth. We live in a fallen world where death and decay reign supreme. In spite of all our medical and technological advances, we barely extend our death rate over the biblical three score and ten. Those who do so often live with severe limitations and poor quality of life. Dylan Thomas underscores our fight against our mortality by writing:

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

|posted 30 June 2008|                                                                                                         read more

Why the Hulk should be Red not Green

The fictional comic book character, The Incredible Hulk was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1962. The Hulk is the alter ego of mild mannered physicist Dr Bruce Banner who was accidentally irradiated by gamma radiation. Whenever he gets angry, he turned into the Hulk, a creature consisting of pure rage which is invincible and incredibly strong. The angrier the Hulk gets, the stronger and bigger he becomes. I guess he was green because of the gamma radiation. Why green and not red? The English expression of becoming angry is “seeing red.” A red Hulk will be more appropriate.

|posted 23 June 2008|                                                                                                      read more
 

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A Living Hope through the Resurrection of Christ
Text: 1 Peter 1:3-5
The highlight of my trip was to visit the monasteries in Meteora. 98% of Greeks belongs to the Greek Orthodox Church. In fact, religion is so closely linked to nationalism that to be Greek is to belong to the Greek Orthodox Church. To leave the Orthodox Church may be punishable by imprisonment and be shunned by the family and community. The Meteora is situated in the northwest Plain of Thessaly and is made up of numerous giant rocks amidst a flat plain. Often called a stone forest, these rocks became a wonderful place for ascetic monks to be so that they may be close to God. By the late 11th century, there were records of monasteries being built in Meteora. Meteora means ‘in the air’ because it seems to be suspended between heaven and earth. During the peak of monasticism during the 16th century, there were many monasteries. Today there are only six living monasteries left in Meteroa. They are called living monasteries because there are still monks and nuns living and praying in them. These monasteries are open to the public are the Great Meteora or of the Transfiguration, Varlaam, St. Stephen, Holy Trinity, St. Nicholaos Anapafsa and Roussano.

|posted 1 June 2008|                                                                                                         read more

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Literature Review on Spiritual Formation

Contemporary spiritual formation is difficult to study. It is a multidisciplinary subject involving psychology, sociology, anthropology, philosophy, education and theology. A review of the literature will show a large variety of definitions and practices associated with the subject. The language used, different philosophies and worldviews are different to different authors. Various authors differ in their approach to theology, anthropology and psychology. Others struggle between practice and theory. The fundamental commonality among the different authors is that concept of spiritual formation is about spiritual growth. However, their different basis of approach has lead to fundamental differences in their definitions and outworking of their concept of spiritual formation.

|posted 11 may 2008|                                                                                                       read more

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|posted 11 May 2008|                                                                                                    read more

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The State of Contemporary Education in Christian Faith Communities: A Paradigm Reconsidered

The challenge in studying contemporary education in Christian faith communities begins with defining Christian education. In October 1971, British social scientist Paul Hirst in an article titled Christian education: A Contradiction in Terms? puts forth what he believes to be a categorical error. He comes to this conclusion when he examines the relationship between theological and Christian educational thinking and finds no co-relationship between the two (1971).  In a similar vein, American theologian Rodney McKean challenged the usage of the words, “Christian education” when he quotes the graffiti, “Christian education is neither.” What the graffiti implies is that Christian education is neither Christian nor is it education. When used as an adjective, the word “Christian” mean many things to many people. Describing something as “Christian” does not mean it has to be associated to a church; nor because it is focused on the Bible or theological content. It does not equate with the United States of America; nor is associated with puritan social values or with western culture. In fact, McKean writes, “In turn, much of what passes for Christian education is merely a condensation of classical western thought and institutional structures with Bible content or orthodox theology (which was also developed and written with a Western world view)”

}posted 4 May 2008|                                                                                                            read more

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Death and Beyond

|posted 24 April 2008|                                                                                                     read more

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Towards a Theological Perspective on Christian Spiritual Formation

Contemporary spiritual formation is difficult to study. It is a multidisciplinary subject involving psychology, sociology, anthropology, philosophy, education and theology. A review of the literature will show a large variety of definitions and practices associated with the subject. The language used, different philosophies and worldviews are different to different authors. Various authors differ in their approach to theology, anthropology and psychology. Others struggle between practice and theory. The fundamental commonality among the different authors is that concept of spiritual formation is about spiritual growth. However, their different basis of approach has lead to fundamental differences in their definition and outworking of their concept of spiritual formation.

|posted 7 April 2008|                                                                                                       read more
 

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A Light in the Darkness

15 years old Tee Hui Yee made headlines last year when she received two heart transplants within a week. Prior to that, in 2006, she was on a mechanical heart for one year in IJN (Institute Jantung Negara), making a record for the longest period anyone is on a mechanical heart. Her own heart was too weak to work. It would not have been comfortable as the mechanic heart need a battery that weighs 9 kilograms. In October 2007, she received a suitable donor heart from a man in Perak. Unfortunately, her body rejected the donor heart within one week. On 3 October, a 20 year old mechanic was killed in an accident in Johor. The parents agreed to donate their son’s heart and Hui Yee received a second heart transplant. This time, her body accepted the new heart and she was able to be discharged in time for Christmas last year.

|posted 22 march 2008|                                                                                                    read more

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Worship Gestures

“What are you doing? Sign language?” asked disciple junior grade Ah Beng of disciple senior grade Ah Kong. “Making the sign of the cross,” replied Ah Kong knowingly.
“Why?” Ah Beng asked again, reaching out for the last piece of bread on the table. They were having dinner in a large wooden shed. The simple wooden shed is the site for the Annual Conference of Desert Fathers, Mothers, and Hermits. Usually the hermits attend by proxy.
“Abba Isaac is doing it, that’s why” replied Ah Kong with an air of superiority. “I saw him making the sign of the cross over his bread just before he eats it.”
“Does that make it holy bread?” asked Ah Beng with an air of innocence. “You trying to be funny,” Ah Kong asked suspiciously, rolling up his sleeves.

|posted 11 march 2008|                                                                                                     read more

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Transformational Learning
 
Transformational learning occurs through the processes of formation and transformation. Formation is the ordinary educational and discipleship activities we use in churches. Formation consists of the catechumenate process that leads to baptism followed by the discipleship process after.  Transformation occurs through what  Loder calls “the logic of transformation” and consists of five steps: (1) a conflict arises and persisted in spite of what the human spirit do to try to resolve it, (2) an interlude for scanning for solution involving both conscious and subconscious searching, (3) an insight arises and is felt powerfully, (4) there is a release of psychic energy built up during the search (an “aha” or moment), and (5) interpretation and a reality check of the insight. When the Holy Spirit is behind the transformation, Loder named the process “convictional knowing.” (Loder 1981, 217-220; 1989, 93-122) and transforming moments. Convictional knowing is when the self meets the Holy and is transformed. Convictional knowing is the work of the Holy Spirit (Loder 1989,93-122).

|posted 8 March 2008|                                                                                                       read more

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Practicing the Spiritual Disciplines
Developing Spiritual Habits for our Souls
Not for Monks
 
When Jesus of Nazareth was asked about the heart of the spiritual life, he summarised the Ten Commandments into “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark12:30-31). Love God and love your neighbours. That is the essence of our spiritual life or spiritual formation. However loving God and loving our neighbours are not something we do naturally. All of us have problems loving God because of our sinful natures; our rebelliousness against giving up control of our lives to God. All of us are control freaks. We too have problem loving our neighbours because basically we are too self-centred. Behind every ‘good deed of love’ is the question of “what’s it in for me?”

|posted 15 February 2008|                                                                                                 read more

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Text: Mark 12:28-31

 Spiritual formation is the process of growing into Christ-likeness; characterised by knowing and loving God, knowing and loving ourselves, knowing and loving other people and experiencing the Presence of God in our everyday lives. The basis of spiritual formation is the call of God the Father, the finished work of Jesus Christ the Son and is empowered by the Holy Spirit.

 |posted 10 February 2008|                                                        read more

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Abba Ah Beng's Durian Theology

“Going to the cinema to watch movies is sinful,” declared Disciple Ah Kow. “No, it’s not,” countered Disciple Ah Lek who loves to watch movies, “It’s educational.” Both disciples were washing toilets in the Sow-lin Monastery. The monastery has this policy that its disciples should share in the maintenance of the premises. The policy was instituted for building character in its disciples. The monastery also saves by not employing more janitorial staff.
“Watching movies corrupts the soul,” Ah Kow continued, “Did not the Apostle Peter said, ‘Do not love the world or anything in the world.’” “But the Apostle Paul said, ‘be transformed by the renewing of your mind.’ Going to movies will renew our minds.” responded Ah Lek. “Sinner!” shouted Ah Kow, “You just want to watch semi-naked girls.” “Do not,” Ah Lek shouted back, “I want to watch the movie The Passion of the Christ.” “Liar!” screamed Ah Kow pushing Ah Lek. Ah Lek responded with a well executed ‘drunken tiger falling down the hill’ roundhouse kick.

|posted 24 January 2008|                                                                                                  read more
 

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The Good Soil
The Matrix of Spiritual Growth in Shalom
Text: Mark 4:26-29

Sermon Statement
The Kingdom of God is shalom. In each of us has a spiritual seed which has the potential to grow. We cannot cause spiritual growth. Spiritual growth comes from the spiritual seed and a nurturing soil (environment). The church can be the nurturing environment for spiritual growth. The components of S.H.A.L.O.M. provides the nurturing environment –Story (sharing love), Heart (experiencing love), Action (Acting love), Learning (thinking love), Oneness (living love) and Maturity (growing love).

}posted 13 January 2008|                                                                                                   read more

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Our Utmost for Shalom
A New Year Resolution for 2008
Text: Matthew 22:34-40
 
Sermon Statement
Jesus taught us that the greatest commandment is love; love for God, for our neighbours and for ourselves. Love leads to shalom which is the fulfilment of love. S.H.A.L.O.M. is how a church practices love –Story, Heart, Action, Learning, Oneness and Maturity.

|posted 6 January 2008|                                                                                                    read more

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What I have Learnt in 2007

An unknown Abbot of Greve prayed, “Lord, may I be wakeful at sunrise to begin a new day for you, cheerful at sunset for having done my work for you; thankful at moonrise and under star shine for the beauty of the universe. And may I add what little may be in me to your great world.” I tried to live out this prayer for 2007. As in 2006, God taught me many lessons. However, I have never been a good student, often rebellious and head-strong. I am blessed to have the Holy Spirit, a loving wife and children, and wonderful friends to make sure I learnt these lessons.

Here are some of the lessons I have learnt in 2007

|posted 1 January 2008|                                                                                                     read more
 

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Recent Postings

Listen to the Silence in the Noise

The Divine Suffering of God

Hands

The Three Hardest Words in the World to Use

A Cycle of Light, A Cycle of Life: The Christian Calendar

Sacred Companions on the Way: Mentoring in Spiritual Formation

007: Licensed to Be

What I've Learnt in 2006

Claiming God's Promises

A Meditation on Rembrandt's Jeremiah

Christianity and Intellectual Freedom

Examining the Theology of Word-Faith Movement

The Need for an "Asian" Christian Education Strategy for Asian Churches

Let’s Talk about God-sized Projects

Let’s Talk about Commitment to God

Let's Talk About Discernment

The House with the Golden Windows

Barna, George, 2005, Revolution: Finding Vibrant Faith beyond the Walls of the Sanctuary, Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

An Analytical Integration of the Spiritual Theology of the Three Ways (Purgative, Illuminative, Unitive) and Action Science, Reflective Practitioners and Frame Reflection Theories of Learning.

Let’s Talk about Giving

Superman Returns

Spiritual Formation of the Disciples

Post Humans in Science Fiction

The Wisdom of a Desert Father: Just Do It

Ah Lek inherits Heaven and Earth

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Welcome! Come on in, make yourself a cup of coffee and let your mouse do the clicking. Look around and may you find rest for your body , nourishment for your mind and refreshment for your soul.

Join me in a continuing dialogue on Christian spirituality, spiritual formation and transformation, spiritual direction, theology, Christian education, biomedical ethics, Star Trek, postmodern parenting and science fiction. I enjoy reading and watching movies.  I write and preach in churches, speak in conferences and lead retreats. My other vocation is as a paediatrician.

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