Testing

Being a student, my life seems to often revolve around tests. As a result, I have been meditating over the last several days on the similarities and differences between spiritual and academic testing. In school, testing comes following a period of lectures and studying and is supposed to give an accurate depiction of how much you actually learned. Ideally if you studied hard and knew the material, you will end up with a reward of a good grade. Spiritual testing isn't really all that different. The Holy Spirit is our professor. God's Word is our textbook and we are commanded to "meditate therein day and night." When spiritual testing comes along, we must be prepared. God has given us everything we need to "ace" every test He brings into our lives (I Cor 10:13). Not only that, but every test He gives us is "open book." We must lean on Him and His Word and simply trust Him no matter how hard the test may seem to be. God always knows the end from the beginning and His promises have NEVER failed. Praise God that his reward for passing the test isn't just a grade. He gives us tests so that we may be purified and come forth as gold. God's testing brings forth eternal rewards and we can rest assured even in the midst of trials that He is ultimately working everything for our good and His glory. Not only is God's reward better, but His course material is better too! When we read and meditate on God's Word, we aren't just studying a subject, we are learning of and developing an intimate relationship with the God of eternity!! Lord, may I learn to love You more!

The Medical Profession

The Christian Physician's Oath:

With gratitude to God, faith in Christ Jesus, and dependence on the Holy Spirit, I publicly profess my intent to practice medicine for the glory of God.
With humility, I will seek to increase my skills. I will respect those who teach me and who broaden my knowledge. In turn, I will freely impart my knowledge and wisdom to others.
With God's help, I will love those who come to me for healing and comfort. I will honor and care for each patient as a person made in the image of God, putting aside selfish interests, remaining pure and chaste at all times.
With God's guidance, I will endeavor to be a good steward of my skills and of society's resources. I will convey God's love in my relationships with family, friends, and community. I will aspire to reflect God's mercy in caring for the lonely, the poor, the suffering, and the dying.
With God’s direction, I will respect the sanctity of human life. I will care for all my patients, rejecting those interventions that either intentionally destroy or actively end human life, including the unborn, the weak and vulnerable, and the terminally ill.
With God's grace, I will live according to this profession.


The medical profession is not to be taken lightly. For the rest of my life, hundreds of people will literally put their lives in my hands. It is humbling and incredibly frightening to think about. The medical profession also inherently contains the opportunity for corruption. How many doctors have gotten themselves in trouble for self-medicating, drug addictions, etc.? At the same time, what a joy to spend a lifetime studying the handiwork of God and His marvelous creation. As a physician, I want to be like the Great Physician - Jesus Christ. Through Him, I can offer my patients not only physical healing, but spiritual healing through salvation as well. My prayer is that my life will be (even in medicine) a reflection of my great God and Savior living through me.

What is Truth?

Last week we were talking about religion's role in the family and marriage in one of my classes. One of my professors stated that he thought religion and spirituality were a state of mind that was simply important for our emotional well-being. He said "It's just about doing good by one another." One problem with that.... who decides what is "good?" Is it government? -- I think they have enough problems of their own. Is it each of us individually? -- The Bible says in  Proverbs 12:15 "The way of a FOOL is right in his own eyes." Praise the Lord that I don't have to depend on anybody else or even my own wicked heart to tell me what is right or wrong. Rather, "my hope is in the Lord." My standard of right and wrong is based upon the standard of the God who governs the stars and planets. He created me and bought me back from sin through his own shed blood on the cross. As I go through classes in medical school, I am constantly bombarded with the "fact" of evolution and different philosophies of development from the great human philosophers (like the sicko otherwise known as Freud). The world thinks they have all the answers. Their pride leads them to believe that man is the pinnacle of evolution and they are ultimately accountable to no one. However, when I study anatomy, embryology or even childhood development, I can't help but see the handiwork of an almighty Creator. The complexity and perfection (though tainted by sin) of God's creation in all of us is awesome. I am His creation. His Word is TRUTH!!!