JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME

Stations of the Cross (7)

JESUS FALLS THE SECOND TIME


The pain, the exhaustion, the love that drives Him on-but the cross is so heavy. Again He falls beneath the weight; and in bitter resolution-Thy will be done-and in fatigue, Jesus again drives Himself up against the cross, and carries it on towards the fateful Hill of Death.


Will it never end?
I'm not as sure as when I started.
I never knew it would be like this.
But this is my firm choice:
Lord, I will go on with You.
Lord, I will go on with You.

Lord, often I fall,
and the temptation is not to rise again
and continue with You.
When I fall and others watch and laugh,
or say, 'I told you so, you'll never make it,'
give me the strength to fulfil my promise:
Lord, I will go on with You.
Lord, I will go on with You.

VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS

Stations of the Cross (6)

VERONICA WIPES THE FACE OF JESUS

An act of compasssion. A woman called Veronica places a cool cloth on His hot and tired face. He feels the coolness of the cloth, and the love with which it was offered. And through His pain He smiles- a smile never to be lost, never to be extinguished. She reaches out to touch His face, and He leans His head into her hands, within her reach.

Oh, blessed day! The Master touched her life, her heart, her outstretched hands. What faith! What lovely face! What timeless meeting...O blessed Christ.

Christ of the human road, let us,

like Veronica, reach out to touch You,

and, sweet Christ,

show us Your lovely face.

Show us Your lovely face.

Legend or living person, Veronica, by example,

teaches us to be Your witness,

and others may gaze into Your loving eyes

and know Your smile.

Show us Your lovely face.

Show us Your lovely face.

As we see Your face by faith,

we learn to become like You, Lord Christ.

That the world may see Your glory:

show us Your lovely face.

Show us Your lovely face.

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THE CROSS IS LAID ON SIMON OF CYRENE

Stations of the Cross (5)

THE CROSS IS LAID ON SIMON OF CYRENE

Simon carried the cross of Christ. At first it was just a tiresome and unwelcome task he was forced into by the soldiers; only later did he recognise his privilege in shouldering the burden of the One who made the worlds.

He was compelled to carry the cross part of the way for Jesus. Simon, himself a stranger, an outcast, often misunderstood, perhaps identified with Jesus, and felt the gratitude of this Man above all men; and amid the pity Simon felt for Him, he felt a burning compassion flowing back to him from Jesus, a burning, life-changing love. Simon carried the cross of Christ.

As Simon took the weight of the cross from Jesus,

You have taught us that we must bear one another's

burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

May we carry Your cross.

May we carry Your cross.

Simon was one just passing by,

but suddenly he was compelled to change direction,

and, with all his strength given

to the carrying of the cross,

pressed through the crowds

to the place of the Skull.

Golgotha, Calvary

Sweet Jesus, like Simon,

may we carry Your cross.

May we carry Your cross.

 

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JESUS IS MET BY HIS BLESSED MOTHER

Stations of the Cross (4)

JESUS IS MET BY HIS BLESSED MOTHER

As Jesus again shouldered the cross and bore His burden, He glanced ahead and saw His mother. He could not stop to talk, to explain, to gather her in His arms and comfort her. All His energy was being soaked into that cross.

Who are My mother and brothers? Those who do the will of My Father.

Not My will, Father, but Yours.

Lord, You had to leave the security

of home and family, twice.

You left Your Father to be a man with us,

and left Your human family to die for us.

You had to pray to Your Father:

My God, I trust in You.

My God, I trust in You.

Lord, when we leave all and follow You
and it hurts those we love,

help us to know that You have been there, too;

but is more than rewarded in the end.

Help us to pray:

My God, I trust in You.

My God, I trust in You.

Lord, when Your cross pierces

our own desires, and make us call out,

let our cry be, through our pain:

My God, I trust in You.

My God, I trust in You.

 

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JESUS FALLS FOR THE FIRST TIME

Stations of the Cross (3)

JESUS FALLS FOR THE FIRST TIME

Jesus has willingly embraced the cross, but His physical body was weak from lack of sleep, from the pressures of arrest and trial, and from torture and beating.

The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Jesus say, Yes, but His holy body hesitated and He fell to His knees, determining to rise again even in His weakness.

Lord, You embraced and shouldered Your cross,

but Your body was weak.

Your Body is still weak:

Your people shrink from the weight of suffering.

In our weakness, Lord, let us pray:

Your will be done.

Your will be done.

Jesus, You were first a carpenter:

build us into what You desire,

and secure every joint tightly,

that we may hold together.

Plane the rough surfaces of our relationships.

We are Your workmanship-

Your will be done.

Your will be done.

Jesus, You said 'YES' to the Father's will;

and only Your body hesitated.

May we, Your Body, no longer hesitate,

but follow You in Your obedience, saying:

Your will be done.

Your will be done.

 

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JESUS RECEIVES THE CROSS

Stations of the Cross (2)

JESUS RECEIVES THE CROSS





Jesus was scourged. The whips cut His back until it was shredded and bathed in His blood. A crown of thorns was set on His head in mockery. Then they returned His robe to Him, and brought Him to the cross on which He was to die.

Jesus embraced the cross, resting it painfully on the smarting wounds on His back.

Lord, You were scourged and wounded;
You deserved no punishment.
but were punished in our place.
Thank you, Jesus.
Thank you, Jesus.

When You were already hurting,
You embraced the cross.
Thank you, Jesus.
Thank you, Jesus.

JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH

Stations of the Cross (1)

JESUS IS CONDEMNED TO DEATH

 

His accusers brought many false charges against Jesus,

but He spoke not a word in His own defence.

'crucify him!' they shouted.

Pilate washed his hands, to show the decision was not his own,

but he did not dare to side publicly with Jesus;

instead, he was willing to content the people.

So Jesus was condemned to death.

Lord, when You were misunderstood,

You silently forgave;

but we so often respond in anger.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord have mercy.

Lord, You gave us opportunity to choose Jesus,

but for so long we have chosen rebellion

that demanded Your death.

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

The Last Temptation of Jesus Christ

Despondency in Gethsemane

View more PowerPoint from Alex Tang

Sermon statement

Jesus’ temptation in Gethsemane is the crisis point in salvation history and encourages us to watch and pray.

read more

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Duck Sunday

Soren Kierkegaard told this story:

Every  Sunday the ducks waddle out of their houses and waddle down Main Street to their church. They waddle into the sanctuary and squat down in their proper pews. The duck choir waddles in and takes its place, then the duck minister come forward and open the duck Bible. He reads to them: "Ducks! God has given you wings! With wings you can fly! With wings you can mount up and soar like eagles. No walls can confine you! No fences can hold you! You have wings. God has given you wings and you can fly like birds!"
All the ducks shouted, "Amen!" As the ducks left the service they commented on what a wonderful sermon it was. And they all waddled home.

-Campolo, T. Adapted from Let Me Tell You a Story. Nashville, Tenn: Word, 3000, pp. 81-82.

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The End is Near : Chapter Three

Dr Philip Cheong is writing a book about the Endtimes. He has graciously allowed me to post it here.
Read Chapter One and Chapter Two


THE END IS NEAR but NOT YET

‘Prophecy is given not to satisfy our curiosity but to show that God knows the future and that He is in control.’

1 Chronicles 12:32

Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command.

Pray that all of us would become men and women who have understanding of the times and seasons to know what we ought to do.

Chapter 3

1/03/ 2012

YOU CAN KNOW  THE SEASON BUT NOT THE EXACT DAY OR HOUR

The Lesson of the Fig Tree

Mark 13:28-32 ESV

“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near.  So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates.  Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 
Jesus clearly said that you can know the season: that summer is near.

However, He did say “No One Knows That Day or Hour”

Mark 13

32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

We do not know the exact day or hour but that does not mean we are not informed of the season of His return. We can know the season of the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Disclosure to His bond servants

Revelation 1:1 Amplified Bible (AMP)

[THIS IS] the revelation of Jesus Christ [His unveiling of the divine mysteries]. God gave it to Him to disclose and make known to His bond servants certain things which must shortly and speedily come to pass in their entirety. And He sent and communicated it through His angel (messenger) to His bond servant John,

Here Jesus clearly stated that God will disclose to his bond servants the things that must soon take place. John was one of His bond servants, who was told to communicate to us ‘the future bond servants’ the disclosure of the future events:

Revelation 1:19 King James Version (KJV)

Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

Disclosure of future events is not meant for everyone; God will only disclose to His bond servants. The book of Revelation can only be understood by God’s bond servants. Do I qualify? Am I a bond servant of Jesus Christ?

As were the days of Noah

Matthew 24:36-39 Amplified Bible (AMP)

But of that [exact] day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

For just as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, [men] marrying and [women] being given in marriage, until the [very] day when Noah went into the ark,

And they did not know or understand until the flood came and swept them all away--so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Noah and family were told of the impending flood but the rest of mankind did not know.

Noah was ‘500 plus’ year old when he was instructed to build the Ark. Noah was 600 years old when the floodwaters were on the earth. He was given enough time to build the Ark and he and his family were told to get into the Ark seven days before the flood came (Genesis 7:10).

As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. This means that the servants of Jesus Christ will be informed of the season of His return, at least several years before his second coming. The exact date was not given to Noah but he knew the season and he made preparation. He was ready.

How about Jesus coming like a thief in the night?

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.  For you yourselves   are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.  But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.  For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.

Jesus will return like a thief in the night for those living in darkness. Those in darkness will be surprised at the sudden return of Jesus Christ.

However, God’s people will not be surprised because we know the times and the seasons of His second coming. We are children of light, children of the day, NOT of the night or of the darkness.

 
Detailed account of Jesus second coming

Matthew 24 (ESV)

Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple

Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

 Signs of the End of the Age

3 As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away[a] and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

The Abomination of Desolation

15“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. 23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you beforehand. 26 So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 28 Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.

The Coming of the Son of Man



29“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

 The Lesson of the Fig Tree

32“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

 No One Knows That Day and Hour

36“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

 45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant,whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants[d] and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.



COMMENTS

1.     Why would Jesus bother to give a detailed sequential account of the events leading up to His second coming if we are not supposed to know the season? He could have replied, “My return will be sudden and at any moment”.

2.     Why would He bother to give them several ‘Signs of the End of the Age’?  He could have said, “I am coming at any moment”.

Instead, from verses 3 to 14, Jesus told his disciples the following:

(1)    Deception - many will be led astray

(2)    Wars and rumours of wars

(3)    But the end is not yet (v 6)

(4)    Nations will rise against nations

(5)    Famines and earthquakes

(6)    Tribulation and death

(7)    Many will fall away

(8)    Lawlessness will be increased

(9)    The love of many will grow cold

(10)    This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the     whole world

(11)    Then the end will come

 
Clearly Jesus wants his disciples (and future disciples) to know the sequence of events leading up to the End of the Age.

He described in detail when it was NOT YET, and when the End IS NEAR; his return will not be at any moment. We can know the season but not the exact day or hour.

Jesus then spoke of the great tribulation which up to this time has not happen yet. He said he will return after the great tribulation. The great tribulation has to occur first.

29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days … 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Jesus Christ will come again after the great tribulation.

We are not experiencing the great tribulation yet, so we can be sure Jesus is not coming today or tomorrow or even at the end of this year (2012). We are entering the season that will quickly lead us to the great tribulation. After that, Jesus will return, however the exact day and hour no one knows.

But, how about Jesus telling his disciples that it was not for them to know the times or seasons as in

Acts 1:6-8? “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority…”

Acts 1:6-8 (ESV)

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”


Notice that the disciples were concerned with the restoration of the earthly  kingdom to Israel and not with the furtherance of the ‘kingdom of God’. Jesus was concerned with the kingdom of God. He wanted the Jewish disciples to focus on the expansion of His kingdom. He told them specifically to start in Jerusalem and then to the rest of the world. Only Jewish disciples can start in Jerusalem. Jesus knew that his second coming would be far into their future (about 2000 years from the time of the disciples). So, He told them to focus on being witnesses for the kingdom of God and not on the restoration of Israel. That is why He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority..” 

Furthermore Jesus had already told them in great length regarding the events leading up to His second coming before His death and resurrection (in Matthew 24).

 
Daniel had a similar reply from the Lord

Daniel 12

The Time of the End

 1 “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above;[h] and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”…..

8 I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” 9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand.
 13 But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days

In verse 8, Daniel asked,“… what shall be the outcome of these things?”

The Lord replied,” Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. … And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand.” The prophecy given to Daniel about 2500 years ago will be ‘unsealed’ at the time of the end. Daniel was told to ‘rest’ or ‘sleep’ and he will be awakened at the end of days.

The unsealing of the prophecy will occur at the time of the end. None of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. God will give wisdom to his bond servants to understand. “And those who understand will teach many” (Daniel 11:33, The Interlinear Bible).

 
Two signs preceding the return of Jesus

2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 Amplified Bible (AMP)

BUT RELATIVE to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and our gathering together to [meet] Him, we beg you, brethren,

Not to allow your minds to be quickly unsettled or disturbed or kept excited or alarmed, whether it be by some [pretended] revelation of [the] Spirit or by word or by letter [alleged to be] from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has [already] arrived and is here.

Let no one deceive or beguile you in any way, for that day will not come except the apostasy comes first [unless the predicted great falling away of those who have professed to be Christians has come], and the man of lawlessness (sin) is revealed, who is the son of doom (of perdition),

Who opposes and exalts himself so proudly and insolently against and over all that is called God or that is worshiped, [even to his actually] taking his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming that he himself is God.

The two signs are:

1.     Apostasy (great falling away)

2.     Appearance of the man of lawlessness

In the season of End Time, there will be a great falling away of those who have professed to be Christians. This is sad but it is what our Lord Jesus has predicted. The condition of spirituality during the End Time season is so bad that our Lord Jesus even asked, “Will I find faith on earth?”

Luke 18:8

 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Let us remain faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ until the end when He will return and receive us to himself.


Dr Philip Cheong
D.Min, B.Sc.,Dip.Ed

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Brave New World seminar

Had a great time with participants in this seminar. Loved this poster.

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Turmoil in the Spirit

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Rest in God's Heart

I slept, but my heart was awake. (Song of Solomon 5:2 RSV)

Our sleep will be peaceful when we rest in God's heart, abandoning ourselves to his providence and ever maintaining a sweet awareness of his mercy. When we do this, we are no longer seeking anything for ourselves, and our entire

being rests in him.

What we leave behind are our faltering and troubled rationalizations, our desires for ourselves, our impatience to gain a higher place. Then we find ourselves resting in the heart of God—for God is the one who has put us

there with his own hands, and he cradles us there in his arms. Can we be in danger where God places us—a place where we are as a little child who is rocked and hugged by its mother? Let us let go and give him the freedom to act. Let us rest on him and in him.

This confident, trusting rest, which quells every movement of our limited human reasoning, comes as we maintain true vigilance over our hearts. To place ourselves in God’s hands without leaning on any person or any thing—this is what it is to keep our hearts awake even as we sleep.

In this way love will always jealously keep its eyes open; it will always reach out to its Beloved. And when we do that we will not fall into the deadly sleep of our souls.

 

Francois Fenelon

Meditations on the Heart of God

Fenelon on One Thing is Needful

Martha, Martha! You are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. (Luke 10:41-42 RSV)

We think there are a thousand things we should be concerned with, but there is actually only one. If we take care of that one thing, all the others will find themselves done. And if we fail to take care of the one thing that is needful, all the others—no matter how successfully we may seem to do them—will fall into ruin. So why are we so torn between matters of the heart and our worldly cares?

From this day forward I resolve to give my total attention to the only thing on earth I ought to be concerned with. Illumined by God's holy light, I resolve to stop worrying and to do every moment, with all the strength of my mind and body, whatever God in his providence places in my path. I will not be grieved about turning everything else over to God, because it is not my work I am doing, but God’s. And I ought to want to do only what God gives me to do.

I resolve not to become keenly excited about anything, because it is dangerous to want to appropriate God’s work to ourselves. If we do that, then we do God's work in own strength; we turn good into bad and we allow pride to take over. And then we become flushed with the pursuit of success. We concealed our illusion by using the pretext of seeking God’s glory.

O God, give me the grace to be faithful in my actions, but indifferent to success. The only thing I ought to be concerned with is to desire your will and to quietly meditate on you - even in the midst of busy times. It is up to you to crown my feeble actions with such fruit as is pleasing to you—and none at all, if that is what you find best for me.

 

Francois Fenelon

Meditations on the Heart of God

Book on Professor Danaraj

There is a new book “T J Danaraj Doctor and Teacher Extraordinaire” by Professor Dr. HO Wong, on Professor TJ Danaraj, the Foundation Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya. Those of you who have had the privilege of being taught by this giant in Malaysian medicine would have no doubt this was an extraordinary individual, an exemplary and dedicated teacher and phenomenal clinician.

The Academy of Medicine has copies of the book and it is available for order from the Academy of Medicine. The cost of the hard cover is RM100 and soft cover RM50. The payment is to be made in favour of the Academy of Medicine of Malaysia. For more information contact the AMM.

The book will also be launched at the Academic Scientific Meeting by Tun Dr Mahathir, a student of TJ Danaraj himself, on May 5-6 2012 at Saujana Hotel Subang.

In the book you will read about a Giant who terrorized his medical students because he wanted them to be the BEST; read how he whacked, scolded, pushed his students to excellence.
Girls burst into tears, boys ran up and down to the library, the duster flew, the pointer poked and the tendon hammer whacked; yet all these same students now write glowing tributes to a man whom they grew to love and respect.

Read about how he grew up in colonial times to be a doctor, fighting discrimination and difficult times, how he transformed a piece of empty land on a hill at the University of Malaya into a Temple of Medical Knowledge and service, and where he was the High Priest of Medical Education till he was 80 years old. Only failing health stopped him from teaching his beloved students.

Random Thoughts on Theological Education

Seth Godin, an innovative thinker and marketeer gives a fresh perspective and reminds us what may be a problem with our pedagogy in Stop Stealing Dreams. He writes,

What is school for?

The economy has changed, probably forever.

School hasn't.

School was invented to create a constant stream of compliant factory workers to the growing businesses of the 1900s. It continues to do an excellent job at achieving this goal, but it's not a goal we need to achieve any longer.

In this 30,000 word manifesto, I imagine a different set of goals and start (I hope) a discussion about how we can reach them. One thing is certain: if we keep doing what we've been doing, we're going to keep getting what we've been getting.

Our kids are too important to sacrifice to the status quo.

Here, Godin questions the schooling instructional paradigm. It is interesting to note that while most disciplines (medicine, social sciences, humanities) have moved away from this paradigm whose main mode of pedagogy is the lecture, this seems to be the mainstay in theological education. There seems to be a lot of support for the lecture as the main mode of content transference. However there may be another agenda for the theological professors' support of lectures. Some professors have indicated in private discussions that their sole support for the lectures is that in preparing lectures help them in writing their books!

About the same time that Godin posted his 'manifesto', there is this interesting article in Christianity Today March 2012, The Missing Factor in Higher Education about whether 'secular universities' impart moral values. The implication by the author Perry L. Glanzer is that only evangelical Christian colleges do. While that is debatable as evangelical colleges become more and more like 'secular' colleges, Glanzer underscores his argument by stating:

Research shows that Christian, particularly evangelical, institutions demonstrate a marked moral difference in five areas: (1) faculty attitudes; (2) Bible, theology, and ethics in the curriculum; (3) measured or reported impact on character or moral attitudes; (4) students' moral reasoning; and (5) alumni views about moral education.

Is there a conflict in both views? If both authors are correct, then the implication to me is that theological education should be more than just the the pedagogy. Yes, I agree with Godin that the schooling paradigm as the main mode of pedagogy should be abandoned. But that is not the the whole answer to improving theological education. The key to theological education should not be only be content management but also role modeling by the teaching staff , the community ethos (culture) and relationships building in a Christian faith community.

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