Detoxification

“Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.”  2 Cor 7:1 (NIV)

Recently my wife and I went for a full-body lymphatic drainage detox massage lasting an hour, which we signed up during an Expo sale promotion or similar to one that would be given to new credit card sign-ups. Prior to the massage by the therapists, our heights, weights and different girths of our body and limbs were taken. They used a machine, putting plates on our upper and lower limbs, to measure of our body fat, cellulite (for women) and the amount of calories burnt during resting phase (kind of like our metabolic rate). After the selection of relevant aroma oils to be used, the light touch massage commenced with our backs working from head to feet. The process is supposed to clear the body of toxins, reduce congestion and promote healing. Once the massage was over, they again measure girths of our body and limbs.  The consultant will give us a summary of our results including BMI and the rest, and of course asked whether we would want to sign on a package with them, which we politely declined.

In the scripture verse quoted above, God has promised to be our Father if we separate ourselves from the evil influences of the world that contaminates our body and spirit.  In the physical, God has created our bodies uniquely with a lymphatic system, which is our body’s first line of defense in fighting pain, inflammation and infection; detoxifying and moving metabolic waste and toxin out of the body. When the lymph nodes become blocked, fluids accumulate and cause the whole lymphatic system to become toxic, making us feel lethargic and more prone to illness. By stimulating this system through massage, the lymphatic system works more efficiently, which in turn boosts the immune system, clears blockages, eliminates toxins, transports nutrients to cells and increases the metabolism. 

Just as the gentle massage techniques adopted by the therapist with the aroma oils on our bodies stimulate the detoxification process, so likewise we need to allow God to work in our spirit man, saturating us with His Holy Spirit so that we may be quickened to respond to His Word. One of the ways to do this is to pray in tongues, allowing the Holy Spirit to pray through us because He intercedes on our behalf according to God’s will (Rom 8:26-27). Another way is to read God’s Word daily, allowing it to saturate our being in order that we may praise God aright and instruct one another appropriately (Col 3:16). The evil influences will come through our five senses and that is why it’s so important to guard our hearts and minds by keeping ourselves aglow in the Spirit in order that we may not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness but instead expose them (Eph 5:11).

When you read the mass media, invariably there would be news of people committing crimes against humanity. Among them, sexual sins are featured as well as people flaunting their bodies online without a care in the world, with a view to titillate and entice people into sin. It is as if the spirits of lust have been released en masse by the devil, knowing that his days are limited.  The apostle Paul warns us in 2 Tim 3:1-5
“There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,  treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God — having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” (NIV)

Unless we know how to detox our minds against the onslaught of evil, it is wise not to indulge our senses in such filth that are being portrayed in the online and printed media. Otherwise, spiritual bondage to sexual sins can only be broken through deliverance and counseling.     

What kind of people ought you to be?

"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming."  2 Pet 3:10-12a (NIV)

In the One Singapore Conversation (OSC), one of the questions asked was: "What kind of society and what kind of people do we want to be?  Living in a multi-racial society, we ought to be gracious and kind, according mutual respect and understanding to one another.  And as citizens of heaven, we are exhorted to be kind, tender-hearted and forgiving towards each other, just as God in Christ also forgave us (Eph 4:32).  It is not easy to be kind, tender-hearted and forgiving.  Our natural tendency is to return evil for evil - an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth (Mt 8:38-41).  In a society that is very much engaged in uploading information on the world wide web, an uncalled for remark or movie that denigrades others can certainly engender a lot of hatred, anger and violence.  It takes great courage to temper our response with grace and mercy, recognising that we have our own imperfections.  Neither do we want the perpetrators of uncalled for remarks or movies to get away scot free.  

The reality, as found in the scripture quotation above, is that this earthly life of ours would not last forever.  All of us would die physically one day whether we like it or not, unless the Lord returns to take us home.  Our physical body will go back to the dust, most likely either through burial or cremation.  Likewise, Peter prophesied that this earth will undergo cremation with intense heat when the day of the Lord arrives.  That would be a terrible day when everything in sight would be completely destroyed as if like a nuclear holocaust.  Fire, as symbolised in scriputre, is used to denote purging and refining (Mal 3:2-3).  As believers, our motivation to live holy and godly lives should come from within as opposed to allowing it to come from without to chastise and refine us.   

So what kind of people ought us to be?  The apostle Paul gave us the answer:
"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."  Col 3:12-14 (NIV) 

We ought to love and forgive one another - demonstrating God's unconditional love towards one another.  By this Jesus said will all men know that you are my disciples (Jn 13:34-35).  That's what we have been called to be - holy - set apart for God's service. 

Tuition

"The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher."  Lk 6:40 (NIV)

Tuition is defined as giving teaching or instruction for a fee.  The lucrative tuition culture has spawn in many countries like Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea.  This is in part due to the high-pressure cooker society children are being brought up in and the expectations parents have on their kids.  Many children would have at one point in time received tuition for academic subjects they study in schools.  Because of the one-to-one or small group dynamics that operate in a tuition set-up, children receiving tuition under such circumstances usually show great improvement.  I myself have also received tuition in my secondary school days for second language (parents didn't speak Chinese), which I managed to pass at O levels.   I also gave tuition when I started working - to primary kids and then A level students.  Many of the A level students that I taught improved on their performance at the national exams.   My own children also received tuition for Chinese before their PSLE, with one of them having Math coaching as well.  They did well enough in their PSLE to proceed to the secondary school they wanted.    

As can be seen, there's value in tuition but it comes at price, depending on the experience of the tutor hired.  The tutor who has the necessary knowledge and know-how to impart important skills to his/her charges would usually command a premium.  The scripture verse quoted above tells us that the knowledge and skill sets of the students would not rise above that of the teacher.  A mediocre teacher would produce students with mediocre results; likewise, an excellent teacher would have the potential to produce students with excellent results.  I want to say that if a child has the right attitude to learn in school then there is absolutely no necessity for him/her to be given tuition.  The teachers in schools are the best resource persons to consult when children have doubts or difficulties over their work.  Many teachers will go the extra mile to help their students if they see the children have a positive attitude towards learning and improving.  Once students have passed certain exams, they moved on to the next level, being taught by another group of teachers who can take them further in their cognitive development. 

In the pursuit of academic excellence, we must not forget to impart to our children important values like self-discipline, resilience and hard work.  Self-discipline is needed to enable them to prioritise their activities in life.  For example, those that are not so important can wait or be relegated to the last on the list.  When they don't do so well for certain test or assignment, they need the resilience to bounce back, learning from their mistakes or failures.  They also need to learn that success does not come on a silver platter; it requires hard work and effort.   My children are no longer receiving tuition; they have begun to rely on their school teachers by making appointment to clarify their doubts.  This too is an important social skill they have to pick up along the way.  Where Chinese is concerned, my wife would be in a position to help them.  What's more they are also immersed in a Chinese culture through attendance at Mandarin services and oikos meetings.  I would also play my paternal role to help them in Math or Humanities-related subjects.  By God's grace, they are not doing badly in their academic work.