Traditions, Memories and Examinations

Dear Diary,

It was probably the first time I heard the Canon subtly but clearly inferring the threat of false doctrines being perpetuated in the Christian circle. Speaking this morning in front of the usual Sunday congregation and two visiting groups (students of Trinity Theological College and students of the Roman Catholic St. Francis Xavier Theological Seminary), he spoke of the recent episode in which some Anglicans within the Cathedral that had succumbed to the “anointed teachings” of a possible deviant pastor in a nearby over-ten-thousand-strong church. Apparently, that questionable church had pointed out the errors of the churches that preach the need of sin confessions and absolutions. Obviously, Anglican Christianity which inherited the traditional but biblical teaching of incorporating corporate sin-confession into the liturgy, came under heavy fire for “holding on” to the remnants of the Roman Catholic traditions.

According to that church, to confess your sins regularly to God after you become a Christian is totally wrong. A direct contradiction of the Anglican ideology. That church claimed errantly that the 1st Letter of Saint John the beloved Apostle spoke about need of sin confession only to the unbelievers (namely the Gnostics) in 1 John 1:8 – 10. Unfortunately… their concept that a Christian no longer needs to confess and be repentant of his or her sins because Christ died once and for all sins on the cross for his / her sins, is plainly wrong! First… if 1 John was written for the Gnostics (non-believers), why is it in the bible? The bible obviously is the book for the believers! Furthermore, in the book of Revelation, God spoke of the churches that needed to repent! If they were “churches”, they were obviously believers of Jesus Christ (Christians). They still need to repent even though they are already Christians! Furthermore, in the gospel according to Saint Matthew, the Lord’s prayer which Jesus taught his disciples how to pray clearly stated “… Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us…” (Matthew 6:12). Jesus Christ unambiguously wanted his disciples (believers) to ask for forgiveness of their sins not once in their lifetime before conversion but daily!

Anyway, in the midst of the students of the two seminaries, I saw a former secondary schoolmate (Victoria School) amongst them. He is training to be a clergyman. Cool! Thank God that some incredible events occurred after my aunt passed away about a week ago. Another aunt is on her way to becoming a Christian. My paternal granny whom my Dad has been evangelizing to her since 1995, at last took down her idols and will soon be attending church. It is almost a miraculous turn of events! =) I pray that she will know the true and living God!

Over the last two days, I actually had a chance to chat with two former pharmacy classmates who really were once an integral part of my undergraduate life. One of them said she saw her former boyfriend whom she broke up 3 years ago, and they felt awkward. She said he would always have a place in her “heart”. I hope she meant “memories”, haha… Sometimes, it is just so incredible that a person can walk into your life and make an impact you will remember forever. Be it good or bad. As for the other former classmate, I am truly glad that she has gone on with her life well… I still feel comfortable telling her my dreams and future plans as before. She was someone whom I once felt so comfortable with, but that is the past. She will just hold special place in my memory… all I will do now for her is to pray that God will draw her to Him. We have to face it… people do walk in and out of our lives. What is left may just be memories which may fade over time. Sigh…

I have made the decision and declined joining the locum pharmacist in her Standard Chartered full-marathon (42.125km) run on Dec 3. Instead, I may consider the half-marathon… a former pharmacy classmate told me that she signed up for the half-marathon already but it will be suicidal to run with her. She was a former cross-country runner representing her school and college. Hahaha… Can’t wait for my 4-day leave to kick in… I have to find a place to study for my upcoming exams. Studying for the exams will be so different this time. I used to have a study partner and the study venue is usually the medical library in NUS. These days, you need to flash an access card to enter the library there. Now, I may have to find a place I can study alone. The National Library? We will see about that! Haha…

Pray for me… the 7.5-hour exam (excluding the breaks) will be held this coming Saturday 19-8-2006!

God Bless,

Andrew