Ministering at Hope Centre, Peacehaven

Today we did chapel service at HOPE centre. We arrived early and it was a joy to watch Nurse Charity from the Philippines leading the singing. She is very fluent in her Chinese especially Hokkien which she learned fom the residents.

The chapel service lasted for just half and hour - long enough for the folk there.Most of the time was spent in conversation with the residents and staff. Using the iPad I was able to take a photo of Noreen Chan chatting with my wife. Noreen was a fellow cadet in the Training College way back in 1954 and in 1958 she was the bridesmaid at our wedding. That was 54 years ago.

She has dementia and is well cared for at the HOPE Centre at Peacehaven.

As I interacted with these folk in our Nursing Home, my thoughts went to Jesus while He was on earth as man. He had no medical training. He lived in a day when many were ignorant of the cause and cure for disease. Demetian or Alzheimer's disease were unknown in those days. Superstition was rife and ruled for centuries before the winds of scientific knowledge could blow the those clouds away.

But Jesus certainly could work miracles in healing. But of course, He as man was limited to staying in a certain area. There were many living in Palestine who were not healed.

Today the healing ministry goes on. We thank God for the medical facilities here in Singapore. God's Spirit still heals - body, mind and spirit. We all need holistic healing. It is not for us to question why some are not healed physically. Pain, suffering, sickness still serve their purpose in God's kingdom.

In life there are many questions that must be left unanswered, but one day everything will be revealed when we meet our Creator face to face. I look forward to this glorious day. In the meantime, I take every opportunity by God's grace to bring healing to others to the best of my ability. If I cannot do anything, then I commit them to the Lord in prayer.

At even, when the sun did set,
The sick, O Lord, around Thee lay
Oh, in what divers pain they met!
Oh, with what joy they went away!

2. Once more 'tis eventide, and we,
Oppressed with various ills, draw near.
What if Thy from we cannot see,
We know and feel that Thou art here.

3. O Saviour Christ, our woes dispel;
For some are sick, and some are sad,
And some have never loved Thee well,
And some have lost the love they had;

4. And some are pressed with worldly care,
And some are tried with sinful doubt;
And some such grievous passions tear
That only Thou canst cast them out;

5. And some have found the world is vain,
Yet from the world they break not free;
And some have friends who give them pain,
Yet have not sought a friend in Thee;

6. And none, O Lord, have perfect rest,
For none are wholly free from sin;
And they who fain would serve Thee best
Are conscious most of wrong within.

7. O Saviour Christ, Thou too, art man;
Thou hast been troubled, tempted, tried.
Thy kind but searching glance can scan
The very wounds that shame would hide.

8. Thy touch has still its ancient power,
No word from Thee can fruitless fall;
Hear in this solemn evening hour
And in Thy mercy heal us all.  (Henry Twells)