Birth and Death at Christmas

We remember the Birth of Christ at Christmas. And with Christ, the salvation of sinful man, is now possible.

But the birth of Christ was achieved with many death.  As a direct result of Christ's birth at Christmas, Herod the king ordered the massacre of all male below the age of 2 during that time.  Hence many thousands must had died innocently when God implemented His redemption plan.

Therefore, knowing that so many had died in order for us to enjoy salvation through Christ, we too must embrace death to our former self. 

As Paul taught, "Therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things had passed away, behold, new things have come." (2 Cor 5:12, also Gal 2:20) 

Let our old sinful self be dead too.

Merry Christmas.

Signing the Advance Medical Directive?

I am considering whether or not I should sign the AMD.

2 weeks ago, I visited an aunty who was on wheelchair. Her husband passed away about 7 months ago.

That afternoon, my aunty told me that her late husband's sister had passed away 5 months ago too. Besides, another of her late husband's brother had passed away 2 months ago. Another brother was now in hospital, feeding through a tube and breathing through a hole through the neck. In all, 3 members in that family died within 7 months and another going going soon.

Hospitals are now quite good in prolonging life. A seriously ill person can be forced fed and forced to continue breathing. Life expectancy is getting longer, medical cost is getting higher, and quality of life during the disability period, is getting worse.

All of us want a 'rectangular life'. If we were to die, we hope die quickly, in dignity, not prolonged and die off so slowly that someone has to care for us for years and years. Having a helper to change your diapers, wipe your ass, bathe you and at most trying moments lose their temper on you is most un-dignifying.

I believe that the best way to die is through a massive heart attack. Life is gone within 3 minutes, without prolong suffering. It would be good if heart attach or pneumonia is the top killer disease and not cancer.

Well, how will the AMD help? Does it mean that I am refusing artificial respiratory aids after I sign up AMD? Does it help me to die quickly when there is 'no hope'? Who would decide that there is 'no hope', and give permission to disconnect the life-supporting apparatus?

I will like to know more. Do you know more?

Alzheimer's Disease - When a Person's Soul Hibernates

The Straits Times carried a report on Alz Disease Last Saturday, 27 Sep 08.

My mother suffers from Alz for over 10 years. This disease degenerates the mind, the soul and finally the physical body progressively. In fact, the mind and the soul is dead long before the physical death.

At the start of the illness, forgetfulness and absentmindedness set in. The mind fails, along with the nervous system fail gradually. The patient regresses to the mental state and the faculty of a 3 years old, then a 2 years old, then a 6 months old child. Finally, the patient does not know how to open her mouth to suck or swallow food, the stomach and intestines do not know how to digest food. And then, the body succumbs to malnutrition or failure to breathe...

Unlike other illnesses, the patient has to be cared for 24 hrs by 7 days a week. It takes one to two full-time caregivers to manage one patient at the ending stages.

Looking at the situation my mother is in, I could see the different entities of the human being -- the physical body, the mind, the soul and the spirit. My mother is a non-christian, so she may not have the spirit. With the mind 90% destroyed, she is only capable of basic involuntary functions like breathing, digestion, slow walking, and secretion of waste matters.

Since she is without a lucid mind, I would not detect her soul. There is no expression of joy or sadness, no thoughts of goodness or evil, no thoughts of love or hatred, no thoughts of earthly or spiritual things, no thoughts of right or wrong...

Without a mind capable of thoughts, I believe an alz person's soul is de-activated. One day, when the soul is liberated from this earthly body, it would recall or be aware of the eternity of life again.

Alz is a terrible disease. Honestly, it's a mystery why we are plagued by it.

Reincarnation Round 4: Is Reincarnation against Biblical Teaching?

Some christians feel that the concept of Reincarnation conflicts with the doctrine on Resurrection. Following is one such argument:

"If reincarnation is (or was) a central part of the original Christian gospel, then historic, orthodox Christianity has veered significantly from its original course. Historic Christian orthodoxy has vigorously denied reincarnation for two principal reasons. First, Christianity has taught a doctrine of resurrection: the human soul does not return to earth after death, but is resurrected as an individual personality to face judgment. Second, it has taught that God forgives and extends mercy in the face of human sin and shortcomings. There is no forgiveness and little, if any, mercy connected with the idea of reincarnation. Each soul pays the inevitable price for its own failings and misdeeds, in hundreds or thousands of existences. "

Somehow I am baffled by this view. To me, Reincarnation and Resurrection can co-exist perfectly, without conflict. Christ had promised me that he is my personal saviour, and through Him, I will be resurrected and have everlasting life with the Father. However, if I would like to be reincarnated and live another period on earth, there is nothing wrong with that. It does not go against the fact that, ultimately, I will still be with God the Father.

In Heb 9:27, it says "...man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgement." Some christians quote this verse to refute reincarnation, which implies more than one lifetime, and hence dying not once, but as many times as the number of lifetimes.

I do not have a good interpretation for this verse. I am puzzled because there are people, notably Enoch and Elijah, who did not die at all. Also Paul died twice. (He went to paradise and returned. See 2 Cor 12:1-4). Perhaps this verse suggests that man, in each lifetime, die once. Upon reincarnation, he is another man, and subject to death again.

So in Round 4 of this study, I could not conclude whether or not reincarnation is advocated in the scriptures. But I honestly do not see a conflict between reincarnation, which is the soul taking on another physical body; and resurrection, which is the soul dwelling in God's kingdom forever ultimately.