4th Chemo & Comments

I just returned from my 4th Chemo, this time at the Ipoh Specialist Hospital. My doctor is still Dr SC Ng from Sime Darby MC, but he has agreed that I can continue the next 3 sessions in Ipoh with the supervision of the our oncologist, Dr Lum WW. The service in ISH is excellent since I am one of the own doctors there. Also no need to travel to KL. Though miss being with children and granddaughter in KL. Went on well, only slight nausea. Your prayers have been of great help. So eating porridge. Rather fussy about food - not keen on bread, fish or milky products. But enjoy fresh coconut water, barley (no sugar) and self-blended fruit juices with all sorts of blends: apple, starfruit, cucumber, carrots, orange,beetroot and a piece of ginger etc, of course not all together. Fresh fruits esp papayas for its enzymes. Compiled my email entries to and from relatives and friends in a small booklet (including my 6 poems) called Health Matters, and sent to those who have no internet. Also distributed to the Hospital staff and church members. Also attached are some comments from my friends and relatives. 

Health Matters” Booklet Comments Just read your pamphlet on Health Matters. I am touched by your courage and positive outlook. I have no doubt that you will live to your late 90's. Keep up the spirit and keep the creative juices flowing, Ienjoyed reading your poems. See you soon. Dr Fauziah Khairrudin I have been following the progress of your therapy from your postings and am glad and thankful that you are doing as well as possibly can. You have been an inspiration to us for your positive attitude and faith in God. Elsie Dunn (Wong) USA Greatly encouraged by your sharing in the Health Matters booklet. Indeed God is your strength and healer. You have presented a balanced view of having a strong faith in God and taking the chemotherapy and treatment with evidence based results. Some Christians have been misled NOT to receive any medical treatment as their faith is sufficient for full healing. Your "house arrest" has led to your writing memoirs and poems and these words that encourage us on the "outside" just as Paul wrote so many wonderful letters in his years of house arrest! May He continue to give you victory over those cancer cells and whatever comes your way.. that in all these circumstances, God will indeed be honoured and glorified through His wonderful work in your life. Adeline (Tan) & family You are so amazing. Even when you are on leave you are so productive in creating inspirational poems for all. My favourite is the tube drip jap. My kids would love it. With your great spirit, shows laughter is the best medicine. Happy recovery! Dr Jasmine Lau It was a big relief to know that you are doing well and you are ROCK! You are the example for many other cancer patients STRONG POSITIVE THINKINGS and PRODUCTIVE despite destructive chemotherapy. I thank GOD for showing us how faith can help a Christian to fight a cancer. Take care and live life to the fullest and be HIS instrument! Dr. Luis Chen Shian Liang Thanks for your booklet on health matters. It’s an inspiration for us. The Lord will take care of all things. Get well soon. Dr Lu Luan Glad that you seem to be responding well to your treatments. Your energy & positive spirit are most inspiring. Tang Hon Tat Hey brother, may the Lord be your strong tower during this time as He is always.andy shie Glad to know you are taking treatment well and recovering and in good spirits. If you can continue writing poems, it shows you are "cool" and you are assisting the functioning of your body's immune system. Chew Gim Hye Two good write up on your battle. Hope you will be winning the war. Dr Ting Sea Leong When I got and read your journal, I was shocked. But after reading through I am glad and happy that you & Nancy have been so strong and positive through this difficult period. You are such an inspiration to everyone. God bless you. Will be praying for your quick recovery. Karen, Chee Keen We read your "Health Matters" with much encouragement and interest. You take your affliction with such a commendable attitude. You also take time to pen your experience to help others along the way. I worked with Dr. Ng Soo Chin before and I have a great respect for him. He is good, bright, keeping up with the latest developments and is caring as well. You are in good hands. Our Lord is loving, kind and is our great Physician. We will see you bouncing around again yet. Tan Jin Huat & King Shen Many thanks for your booklet. You’re a very talented writer. Get well soon and God Bless. , Hugs from all of us. Josephine Song Thanks for sharing your way of going through your fight against cancer. It seems to be that you’re on the right path with the Lord on your side. Your devotion in Him this many years would have an easy passages to Him in your prayers. Thanks to your encouragement that I should come to Go. I shall be baptised in November. Dr Khoo Yee Leong Shalom! I came to know you are not well. May God touch and heal you. Joseph John I know you are depending on our loving heavenly Father for all your needs at this time. He saw me through a smooth treatment and I know He’ll do the same for you. Soong Pek Ling I am very encouraged by your positive self and cheerful attitude. They say in life, there are 3 choices. Give up, Give in, Give all you have got. You have made the right choice. Keep up the spirit because with the comfort you receive you are going to comfort others. Mrs Chung Thanks so much for sharing. For all the good things that you have done for others, may God bless you with many more wonderful years to come. Mrs CJ Liu TQ for your booklet “Health Matters”Glad to note you are using your time well. Much in our thoughts and prayers for a complete healing. David Manickam We’re very much encouraged by your personal testimony. God is great! In God we trust. Mrs Ng Moon Hing (Bishop’s wife) Glad you getting better. Kep it up my friends. Regards. Tang Kok Pong I am glad you seem to be doing well with chemo. Here is your chance to accumulate a bunch of cool hats! Do you have your booklet “Health matters” as a PDF file? If you don’t mind, I would love to share with the medical students as part of their training to be more compassionate physicians, to see an illness/treatment from the point of view of the patient. Lim Wan Cheng It would be nice to have the booklet as I can easily read it anywhere, anytime like the other booklet “Saved to Serve” Based on this latter book, I asked my very devout sister, now 88 to write her experiences of how when she was in difficulties her prayers were answered. I have tiled the book for her as: “The Power of Prayer: My Christian Faith.” See how you can move people? This new booklet will also inspire some of my very old friends and relatives to be strong in their will to recover from their illness. I am myself being treated for high cholesterol and narrowing of an artery by IJN cardiologists. The Zorco (40mg) is giving me some leg cramps and is actually tiring me easily. My nephew who is a doctor has advised me to take “half the pill”. JC Rao May you continue to remain fresh and faithful in/with the Lord. May the fortitude and strength you have shown be a source of encouragement to all.May Nancy and loved ones around you continue to be your pillars of strength. Ting CS & Wong CL God bless you and may you get well soon. NARINDERPAL SINGH Glad that things are going on well with you. Cont to trust in God for your every need. Phooi Har You are a great source of inspiration...keep it up... man... God helps those who help themselves...Seela RAJ Thanks for updating me on your treatment. And thank you for sharing your poems with us; you are such a prolific writer. Keep it up! Thomas Kok We are glad that you are doing well with the 4th chemo session. We will continue to pray for Dr Teoh. God Bless. Calista Glad you are taking your chemo treatment with such bright spirits. We had our ISH Medical Staff Meeting and I am delighted to announce that we had agreed to contribute towards your treatment in no small way. Our medical colleagues care for you. Hope it helps . David Yeo Dr. Teoh: good to hear from you. It is an excellent idea to put so many of your thoughts in the writing so that it can be shared. Fresh fruits and veg. are important, especially the dark color ones. Love papaya and I almost eat one 5x per week. Michael Lee Great to notice that you are active in writin Maybe at this point of time, you will like to write about your own journey of life since you still have lots of time with you. g poems and emails. Thus will certainly keep you active and alert and away from boredom. Bishop Ng Moon Hing Really happy to hear your treatment is doing so well. Keep it up! Liok Ee I have been following your progress these last months and it's so nice to see you being so positive and resourceful in your use of your time and energy during recovery from each session of chemo. You are really an inspiration for all of us. Thank you for putting together your poems, thoughts and comments for us. I look forward to reading it. All my best wishes for a successful recovery. Nelly You seem to be doing well going through your chemo. Bravo! This positive attitude is inspiring to all, whether sufferers or not. I am glad this extra rest time has given you more opportunity for reflection. We have to count our blessings. You are already doing that. There are many others less fortunate than we are. Even when we are 'down', there is still room to think about and care for others. I thank you for years of steadfast friendship, which I know many others also appreciate. Dennis Lee Glad to hear from you on updates of your treatment so far. I suppose you will more at home in Ipoh where home is near ISH and therefore more convenient. Do let us know if you need anything. Take care and God bless. Hean Joo & Jenny Our prayers are with you and your family Dr. Teoh. Appreciate the updates as we are able to journey with you. May God continue to carry you through. God bless you. Jesvinder Singh Glad to hear your 4th session went on well. Hope it just gets better and better each time on. Take it easy and rest well. Hope to see you soon. Nothing much going on in Sandakan, same old same old. Take care. Keerthan Happy to hear you are taking it well. Hope the good Lord will continue to uphold you in the following sessions to come. God understands your heartache He knows the bitter pain; O trust Him in the darkness, You cannot trust in vain. ------Smith The One who made you is the One who can mend you. May God continue to abide with you and comfort you. Dr Liew Ah Fook Most encouraging! It is very inspiring to see that you are using your 'forced' medical leave very fruitfully. God Bless. Manoharanee Do recover soon. You are one great guy. Ho Boon Theam

Poems: 1) CELL WARS 2) CELL RAP!

 CELL WARS

Cells which protect,

Now insidiously attack

From the DARK side

Cells amok, gone mad

Wanton growth

Invade tissues to destroy

War declared on the terrorist cells

Fight for life or death

Build up defences

Call up the B Brigade and T platoon

Multiply our white cell knights

March through the vessels red and blue

Battle stations with new weapons

Excise the enemies with surgical strike

Blast them with the chemo bullets

Target them with MAB missiles

Shoot Death Rays at the invaders

Restore the kingdom of the body

Let Health wins

Let Life reigns

CANCER  RAP!

Worries and fears

Down many tears

Faced with suffering

And pain recurring

The impending doom

The hopeless gloom

(Chorus)

Cancer don’t worry

Cancer, don’t be sorry

Cancer, not end of story

Cancer, fight with glory

Body being cut surgical

Pumped with chemicals

Shot with invisible rays

The vomiting days

Body pain, here and there

Head with disappearing hair

 (Chorus)

What to prohibit

Which foods inhibit

Stuck in the web cages

Googling the net pages 

All the confusion

Sometimes delusion

(Chorus)

Friends who mean well

Contrary advice they do tell

Who then to follow

For cure or to sorrow

Make the right decision

Go to the physician.

(Chorus)

Are Christians a Threat or a Blessing?

 Are Christians a Threat or a Blessing?

Why are Christians regarded as a “threat” by some Muslims, not only by extremists like Hassan Ali but even by the Johore Education department which is under the Minister of Education, Datuk Muhyiddin Yassin?

      Are the Muslims (including Datuk Sri Najib), who studied in many Christian mission schools established by the sacrifice and generosity of the Christian churches, being threatened or did they benefit from the wholesome quality education?

   Are the Muslims, who seek treatment in a number of hospitals run by Christian missions, being threatened or did they receive the healing touch of the medical and nursing staff?

   Are the Muslims with dadah addiction, who are being rehabilitated in Christian Drug Rehabilitation centres, being threatened or did they receive freedom from their addition?

   Are the Muslim HIV patients who received treatment in Christian homes, being threatened or did they receive compassion and treatment for their deadly disease?

   Are the divorced or widowed Muslim women, who received financial aid from Christian social organizations being threatened or did they receive useful support for their family?

   After all Christians are obeying the command given by Jesus Christ (called Isa Al-Masih by Muslims) to “love our neighbours as ourselves”, regardless of race or creed. Christians should not prevent anyone from receiving their assistance. Some years ago, Datuk Marina Mahathir said that “victims” are not concerned about which religion is helping them as long as the organization provides assistance to their needs.  

   It is possible that some of them are so touched by the compassion and care shown by Christians that they would like to be part of the Christian faith. Out of 16 million Malays, there could be a few who are attracted to the Christian faith, just as there are many more who are interested in the Shia and Sufi traditions or even turn to worldly pursuits. After all, the Christian faith started in the Middle East (just like the Islam faith), then spread to Europe and the west, and then came to Asia. There are still more than 20 million Christians in the Arab countries and another 20 million Christians in Indonesia.

   Christians would not be truthful to their faith if they believe that Malays should be “prohibited” from becoming Christians if they choose willingly. Of course, they should not be influenced by unethical or illegal means. Most Christian churches are aware of the laws in Malaysia which restrict propagation of other religions to Malays. However this does not prevent them, like all other Malaysians who have the freedom of choice in religion under Article 11(1) of the Constitution. This was declared in the Supreme Court judgment in 1987 in the case of Joshua Jamalluddin, Malay who was put in jail under the ISA for becoming a Christian.

   In fact, most churches in Malaysia are now hesitant to allow Muslims to receive their social and economic help for fear that their services would be disrupted or banned by the authorities. Recently in the “soup kitchens” run by some churches to feed the poor, signs are being displayed “for Non-Muslims only”! This would betray the all-inclusive commandment given by our Lord Jesus Christ to love all, even our enemies!

  Why was the “blurring of the faces and the use of false names” done in the video shown by Hassan Ali?  Has there been any threat from Christians or churches to those who have “decided” to return to Islam? Were there any threats from Christian families when their spouses or children covert to Islam?

    When churches were burnt after the High Court judgment in favour of the Church being allowed to use “Allah” in their publication, did the Christians threaten the country? Even the throwing of pig’s head into a mosque was probably done by Muslims.

   When Christian “bodies” were being snatched during the funeral mourning, did the Christians run to the streets to protest violently?

   When their Bahasa Malaysia Bibles were confiscated for several years, did the Christians threaten with violent action?

  All the Christians did were to pray - not only for ourselves but also for the government. Each Sunday, most churches would pray for the welfare and health of our Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, the Sultans, the Cabinet ministers and Mentri Besars. Yes we do pray for God to bestow wisdom on our government to rule the country with justice, freedom and welfare of the people.

   We also pray that the love and compassion Christian churches have shown to all who are in need, including Muslims, will not be considered as a threat but as a blessing to the country. Allow their services be part of the contributions Christians can share towards the betterment of the less fortunate, no matter what race or religion they belong to.

“You have heard that it was said ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you ‘Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”    Matthew 5:43-45

Allah in the BM Bibles

 Clearing the Misunderstanding on the use of Allah in Bahasa Bibles

Many Muslims and even some Christians have misunderstood the use of “Allah” in Bahasa Bibles.   To clarify some of the confusion:

• 1)      The BM Bible or the Alkitab is not translated from the English Bible but from the original languages, ie  Hebrew and Greek.
• 2)      The Hebrew word for God is El or Elohim (similar root as Ilah in Arabic) and YHWH or Yahweh for LORD. The Greek words are Theo for God and Kurios for Lord.
• 3)      Biblical translators all over the world have used the local language terms for Elohim and Yahweh eg God and LORD in English; Dios and Senor in Spanish, Shangti and Zhu in Chinese
• 4)      For 15 centuries, Arabic Bibles have used Allah for God and Rab for Lord (predate Islam)
• 5)      The first Malay translation of the Bible was made in 1612, and Allah was used for God and Tuhan for Lord in this and all the subsequent translations till today.
• 6)      Malay-speaking (and Iban) Christians have used the term Allah for more than a hundred years in Malaya and the Borneo states in worship, prayers and reading their holy scriptures.
• 7)      Twenty million Christians in Indonesia have used Allah for years without any misunderstanding or objection.
• 8)      English Bibles nor Bibles of other languages obviously do not use the Bahasa terms
• 9)      Forbidding the use of the term “Allah” by Christians, not only infringes their rights to practise their faith but also lead to confusion.  For example, is the “Tuhan” in Negara-Ku and Rukun Negara not the “Muslim God” or can Christians sing the Selangor Anthem where “Allah” is used?
• 10)  Theological  meanings between Christianity and Islam  will always be different whether the term used is “Allah” or “Tuhan” or “God
• 
  
• PLEASE CLARIFY “Allah for Muslims only”
  
  
  Some Muslims have insisted that kalimah “Allah” is only for Muslims. Can they please clarify whether kalimah Allah can be used by
  ·         20 million Arab Christians  who have used the term since 1500 years.  Are 200 Arab Muslims confused?
  ·         20 million Indonesian Christians since 400 years. Are 200 million Indonesian Muslims confused?
  ·         Bahasa and Iban speaking Christians have used the term for 100 years . Are the Muslims confused all these years?
  ·         Sikhs have uses “Allah” since 500 years. Are the 100 million Muslims in Pakistan/India confused?
  Why is it now some Muslims in Malaysia  can be confused  and want to prevent Bahasa-speaking non-Muslims from using kalimah “Allah” in the privacy of their churches and temples?
  
   Historical Use of Allah
  
  

  1. The word “Allah” is the correct Bahasa Malaysia word for “God” and in the Bahasa Malaysia translation of the Bible, “God” is translated as “Allah” and “Lord” is translated as “Tuhan”;

  
  

  2. For 15 centuries, Christians and Muslims in Arabic-speaking countries have been using the word “Allah” in reference to the One God.

  
  

  3. The Malay language has been the lingua franca of many Catholic believers for several centuries especially those living in Melaka and Penang and their descendants in Peninsular Malaysia have practised a culture of speaking and praying in the Malay language;
  
  

  4. The Malay-Latin dictionary published in 1631 had translated “Deus” (the Latin word for God) as “Alla” as the Malay translation;
  
  

  5. The Christian usage of the word “Allah” predates Islam being the name of God in the old Arabic Bible as well as in the modern Arabic Bible used by Christians in Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq,

  
  

  6. In Bahasa Malaysia and Bahasa Indonesia, the word “Allah” has been used continuously in the printed edition of the Matthew’s Gospel in Malaysia in 1629, in the first complete Malay Bible in 1733 and in the second complete Malay Bible in 1879 until today in the Perjanjian Baru and the Alkitab;
  
  

  7. Munshi Abdullah who is considered the father of modern Malay literature had translated the Gospels into Malay in 1852 and he translated the word “God” as “Allah”;
  
  

  8. There was also already in existence a Prayer Book published in Singapore on 3.1.1905 where the word “Allah” was used;
  
  

  9. The Bahasa Indonesia and the Bahasa Malaysia translations of the Holy Bible, which is the Holy Scriptures of Christians, have been used by the Christian natives of Peninsular Malaysia; Sabah and Sarawak for generations;
  
  

  10. The Bahasa Malaysia speaking Christian natives of Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah had always and have continuously the word “Allah” for generations and the word “Allah” is used in the Bahasa Malaysia and Bahasa Indonesian translations of the Bible used throughout Malaysia;
  
  

  11. In any event the word “Allah” has been used by Christians in all countries where the Arabic language is used as well as in Indonesian/Malay language without any problems and/or breach of public order/ and/or sensitivity to persons professing the religion of Islam in these countries;
  
  

  12. Islam and the control and restriction of religious doctrine or belief among Muslims professing the religion of Islam is a state matter and the Federal Government has no jurisdiction over such matters of Islam save in the federal territories
  
  

  13. The subsequent exemption vide P.U.(A) 134/82 which permits the Alkitab to be used by Christians in churches ipso facto permits the use of the word “Allah” in the said publication;
  
  

  14. The Bahasa Malaysia speaking congregation of the Catholic Church uses the word “Allah” for worship and instruction and that the same is permitted in the Al-Kitab.