CHRISTIAN MEDICAL & DENTAL FELLOWSHIP of AUSTRALIA Inc.

of Christian Medicine & Dentistry Vol. 21 No. 3 December 2016

Doctors Who Inspire Us: The Life and Work of Three Famous Resume of Grace: Australians Luke’s Journal 1996-2016

Looking Forward by Learning from Past Experiences: Tapping into God’s Strength as a Junior Doctor Healthy Living Out Our Faith Hope in the Workplace

Meet CMDFA Family Members LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 | 1 www.cmdfa.org.au Contents editorial 4 Caring for this Frail Flesh: Theological Reflections on the Practice of Medicine – Andrew Sloane Published by the About Luke’s Journal 8 Resume of Grace: Luke’s Journal Christian Medical and Dental Fellowship of Australia Inc. This Journal is published three times a year by Healthy Hope 1996-2016 – Paul Mercer ABN 95 084 292 464 the Christian Medical and Dental Fellowship of 12 Luke’s Journal, 20 Years on Please submit all contributions to: Australia Inc. (CMDFA). The views expressed in the – Rodney Stephenson articles are those of the authors and not necessarily THE EDITORS Dr Paul Mercer 16 The Effect of Medicine on my Christian Ph: 07 3348 9940 those of the CMDFA. Articles are reviewed by the Life – Peter Ravenscroft Email: [email protected] editors and members of the editorial committee. 20 Intermed: Practical Preparation for Dr Catherine Hollier Material published in the Journal is subject to Vanuatu – John Fluit Ph: 02 4957 5242 copyright. Requests for permission to reproduce any Email: [email protected] 21 Meet CMDFA Family Members part thereof for purposes other than private study should be directed to the editors. Additional copies for – Grace Leo Subscription and change of address details to the National Office listed below. passing on to interested colleagues can be obtained 22 Looking Forward by Learning from SUB-EDITORS Sue Furby, Dr Winnie Chen and Dr Grace Leo from the national office or Branch Secretaries. Past Experiences: Tapping into God’s Strength as a Junior Doctor EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Professor Warwick Britton (NSW) Dr Richard Chittleborough (SA) Subscription of Luke’s Journal is given to members – Lorraine Cheung Drs David and Denise Clarke (Vic) of CMDFA. It is also offered to libraries and hospitals 28 Fruit Blooming in the Desert Dr Alan Gijsbers (Vic) at the price of $55 per year including postage within – Jacki Dunning CMDFA Australia. Enquiries and notice of change or address 30 Doctors Who Inspire Us: The Life and MEMBERS OF COUNCIL OF REFERENCE should be directed to the national office. The Old Testament records 27 times abortion. But what about issues of Work of Three Famous Australians Professor Graeme Clark, OA, MD (Hon), PhD, MB, MS, FRACS, FRCS, FTSE that males of 20 years old and justice: – Don Todman Emeritus Professor Louise Brearley Messer AM, BDSc, LDS, MDSc(Melb), PhD(Minn), GradDipDiv(ACT), FRACDS, FICD About CMDFA upward were counted as suited for 33 Living Out Our Faith in the Workplace Professor Philip Mitchell [NSW] MBBS, MD, FRCPsych, FRANZCP. Membership of CMDFA is open to graduates and war and the service of the House of • fair remuneration in our profession – Jo Ng Professor Kim Oates [NSW] AM, MD, MHP, FRACMA, FRCP, FRACP, FAFPHM, DCH. students of medicine and dentistry. Information the Lord (in our cultural context we – without being greedy 36 What does the Lord require of us but to Dr Michael Payne [NSW] BDS (Hons). about activities of CMDFA can be obtained from should not exclude females). • opportunities for training of junior Dr Geoffrey Pike [SA] AM, MBBS, DTM&H, FRACGP ‘Do Justly, Love Mercy and Walk Humbly Dr Robert Pollnitz [SA] FRACP. the website at www.cmdfa.org.au or from Branch doctors and dentists, and the with Our God’ – Anthony Radford Professor Ian Puddey [WA] MBBS, FRACP, MD Secretaries. Further information and application As Luke’s Journal now celebrates disruption of family life that such Professor Anthony Radford, SM (Harvard), FRCP (Edin), FRACP, FRACGP, details are available through the national office. reaching that 20 year milestone we training might bring 38 No Fire in the Belly? Sliding into Spiritual Apathy – Lisa Koo FFCM, FAFPHM, DTM&H (Liverpool) might ask: “Are we a journal that is • the distribution of medical/dental Dr David Simpson, MBBS, FRACOG, FRCP(Edin) 43 An Other-Worldly Sticky Hug – Jill Professor Laurence Walsh, BDSc, PhD, DDSc, FFOP(RCPA) Graphic design by Ivan Smith, Lilydale, Vic. either (1) useful for the warfare in services in underprivileged areas Dr Grace Warren, AM, MD, MS, FRCS, FRACS, D.TM & H (Syd.) Printed by Amazon Printing, Warrnambool, Vic. which we are all engaged, or both in Australia and overseas 44 Why Psychiatry? – Kuruvilla George Stock photos: www.dreamstime.com (2) which serves God?” CHAIRMAN 46 What on Earth did Jesus Say?! Dr Ross Dunn ...to take simple examples. – Geoff Francis Ph 07 3822 6459 Mobile: 0427 045 991 Back Issues “We have the Email: [email protected] Back issues are available for the following Journals: These are not always easy questions 49 Tribute to John Foley – Paul Mercer NATIONAL OFFICE BRANCH SECRETARIES responsibility to discern to resolve, and we have had vigorous 50 Disciple Making in the Hospital: A Pilot Unit 35A / 9 Hoyle Avenue NSW and ACT: Vol 19 No 2 Sept 2014 Integral Mission or debates about some of them. But we – Kelvin Chang Castle Hill NSW 2154 Richard Wong the Biblical precepts that PO Box 877 Email: [email protected] Holistic Transformation should not retreat from them. We have 52 Dying Healed: A Source of Hope Baulkham Hills NSW 1755 underpin our practice.” the responsibility to discern the Biblical – Doug Bridge QUEENSLAND: Ph: 02 9680 1233 Fax: 02 9634 2659 Vol 20 No 1 Feb 2015 “You are What You Eat” precepts that underpin our practice. TBA 56 The Visible and the Invisible – Part II Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] John Robinson, pastor to the Pilgrim – Joseph Thomas BUSINESS MANAGER Vol 20 No 2 Nov 2015 Standing Together in the Most of us receive a variety of medical Fathers on the Mayflower said: “I am SOUTH AUSTRALIA (and NT): David Brown Chrissy Lai Public Square journals whose articles maybe of verily persuaded the Lord hath more Contact through the National Office Email: [email protected] special interest to us in our profession. truth yet to break forth out of His Holy NATIONAL SECRETARY WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Vol 21 No 1 Apr 2016 Family Matters It is well known that prestige, and Word.” Dr Yvonne Lai BDSc(WA) Bianca van der Nest especially academic progress, is Email: [email protected] Email:[email protected] Email: [email protected] Vol 21 No 2 Sept 2016 Life Before Birth marked by the publications we have May we as a journal continue both VICTORIA (and TAS): authored. to celebrate what God has done, and NATIONAL TREASURER Elise Chen These back issues are free for financial members seek to discover and then apply what Dr Richard Allan (PHD Economics) Themes for Next Editions: Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] of the CMDFA. The cost is $5 for friends of CMDFA So how and where does a Christian the Lord has yet to teach us how to be or non-financial members (including postage). Medical Journal fit in? Do we too go true to our motto: Following Christ, Mentoring: Passing the Baton On ReGS (Recent Graduates & Students) – copy by 31st January 2017 Dr Joel Wight (recent graduates) Please write to the national office making cheques to war? There are several matters to integrating faith and practice. Email: [email protected] payable to CMDFA Inc. which a Christian journal should give Healthy Service Dr Jacki Dunning(students) attention – the obvious current ones John Foley – copy by June 2017 Email: [email protected] Other issues may be obtained from your being “safe schools,” euthanasia and Editor Email: [email protected] Branch Secretary or from the national office. Throughout Luke’s Journal look out for snippets from past editions. SNIPPETS 2 | LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 | 3 organisational culture, government investment in large social enterprises, and the role of bureaucracy and corporate management in health care institutions, these scandals raise issues Caring for this of the nature and goal of medicine.

Some issues are obvious: we are rightly appalled when vulnerable patients are neglected and abused by a system that is meant to be caring for them. How did Frail Flesh these institutions develop the kind of culture in which that kind of treatment was imaginable, let alone normative? What kind of institutional culture Theological Reflections on should be normative? That is, what kind of practice is medicine? the Practice of Medicine Other issues are less obvious. What role should bureaucratic control and a focus on ‘patient outcomes’ play in the practice of medicine? We want our by Andrew Sloane who tend to join CMDFA. Members euthanasia, ‘assisted dying’ and end-of- social resources to be used wisely and of CMDFA are concerned to practice life care. The growing prominence of as effectively as possible; however, Andrew is a Senior Lecturer in medicine within appropriate ethical the issue, and the arguments for and are efficiency and maximized health Old Testament and Christian limits – hence the extensive discussion against it, have been well-documented outcomes the aim of the medical Thought and is Director of of matters of the beginning and end of elsewhere.2 I would like to consider, game? While we want to make sure Postgraduate Studies, Morling life, for instance, or questions around instead, some of the underlying that the drugs we give work and the College. He initially trained as conscientious objection in medical questions of the nature and practice of surgical procedures do the job they’re practice. Equally, members of CMDFA medicine that are assumed or entailed intended to do, do outcomes really a doctor before moving into don’t limit their concern for their in the debate. capture the ‘heart’ of medicine? ministry and then theological patients (or their colleagues) to their education. His most recent book physical and mental and emotional The pro-euthanasia position implies For instance, what does ‘efficient’ is on philosophy and theology well-being, but have an abiding that medicine’s primary aim is to geriatric care look like? What kinds of medicine: Vulnerability and concern for their spiritual well-being, as enable people to choose the treatment of ‘health outcomes’ can palliative Care: Christian Reflections on the evident in the Saline Solution. that will alleviate their suffering (or care produce (other than ones enable them to pursue their life goals). manufactured to satisfy health Philosophy of Medicine, London: But that, it seems to me, is too narrow Suffering and autonomy are what bureaucrats – as Jeffrey Bishop has Bloomsbury T&T Clark, 2016. a focus. There are other big issues it’s about. And so, when a patient’s devastatingly shown)?3 We need to that we as Christians in medicine suffering (of whatever kind) becomes think better of medicine if we even ought to be addressing. We need to intolerable and they determine that consider that ‘outcomes’ are the right Introduction: thinking think Christianly about the whole of they would like to end their life, the of God’s compassion and a foretaste yardstick by which we should measure Christianly about medicine medicine – and we need to do so with doctor’s job is to provide this last “[Medicine] is itself of the coming Kingdom. And that, in geriatric or palliative care. – the very idea the same depth with which we care service. turn, makes medicine a deeply moral about it, and the rigour with which we a sign of God’s (and even theological) practice. For We should be concerned when the • Expanding our horizons practise it. The anti-euthanasia position compassion and a as soon as Christians see capacity, burden of reporting make General presupposes that medicine is about skill, knowledge, power, they see Practice more a managerial than a Christian doctors care deeply about Recognising the importance human communities providing care for foretaste of the coming responsibility to use it for the benefit medical practice. In all these areas, 1 what they do. For many it’s not just of theology of medicine vulnerable people. At the heart of that Kingdom.” of the vulnerable for whose sake we need to reflect on the nature of a job, it’s a calling, a vocation, to use Let me start in familiar territory, briefly care is a needy person whose inherent it has been entrusted to them – by medical practice and what it exists to an almost outdated term. While they noting that many of the questions that frailty is exposed by their physical or God and the community. Medicine do. care deeply, they don’t always think Christian doctors already think about psychological condition and whose is a profession, an inherently moral broadly enough about medicine would benefit from explicit and broad capacity to act in the world is limited desired end. We respond to God’s call practice. The role of ‘conscientious objection’ and why and how they see it as part theological reflection. Medicine is a by it. In this case, doctors are entrusted to mirror that compassion and provide in medical practice raises similar of their Christian calling, or in what rich and complex practice in which with the knowledge and skill to care for brief glimpses of that destiny. • The nature and goals of medicine questions. Outspoken critics like ways being a Christian might impact questions of what it is and what it is for them. This has implications for much more Julian Savulescu say that a doctor on their medical practice. have great bearing on what we do and • Medicine and the Kingdom of God than the question of end-of-life has no right to refuse treatment to a how we do it. Christians provide this care because So, medicine has inherent, not care. Recent scandals in the NHS in patient if that patient has exercised That’s not to say, of course, that we are aware of our limited creaturely merely instrumental, value in the Britain, nursing homes in Australia informed consent and the procedure Christian doctors ignore their Christian • Euthanasia existence, our fractured fallenness, and Kingdom of God – that is, it is more and veteran care facilities in the US is legal and available to them.4 This beliefs and values in their practice of I will start in a fairly obvious place: of the infinite care of our Triune God than a good way to make money and have echoed around the world. While medicine – at least, not those doctors the current debate surrounding who sustains us and draws us to his evangelise people. It is itself a sign there are complex issues relating to continued over page

4 | LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 | 5 CARING FOR THIS FRAIL FLESH raises important questions about the as to demonstrate our solidarity endeavours – any change we make to moral agency of doctors, but deeper with them as suffering persons and the world or needy people in it will be questions about the nature of medicine seek to enable them to return to a partial and temporary at best; we are are also at stake. Raising questions reasonable level of functioning in still subject to death and the world will about the legitimacy of a treatment is relationships. Theologically, medicine only be made new by the sovereign not a matter of importing our moral is an appropriate expression of work of God, not the labour of our qualms into the practice of medicine a well-formed community’s care hands. We build signposts to that or imposing our contested, ‘religious’ for vulnerable members of the final transformation, and occasionally judgements on those who do not share community, a reflection of the plant oases on the road towards it; the our faith. Medicine is an inherently character of God and an anticipation of garden-city for which we long, and to moral enterprise.5 the final transformation of all things to which we seek to witness by word and which God is drawing us and all things. deed, will be the gift of God. This moral dimension emerges from Such a view emerges, I believe, from the nature of medicine itself: at its the shape of the biblical story. • A Christian vision of medicine and heart is the exercise of knowledge and its practise power by doctors for the patient’s • A (biblical) theological rationale Physical and psychological illness, benefit. As Christians we see the Creation grounds our quest for injury or disability are problems holding of power as ethically loaded, knowledge and skill in the orderly because they adversely affect people and the notion of beneficence as character of God and the world. It and interfere with their ability to deeply moral. Again, however, this establishes limits on the kind of function in relationships, exposing depends upon a particular philosophy technical mastery we should seek – we their vulnerability and diminishing of medicine, a vision of what it is and is are finite creatures and always will be; their flourishing. Patients are in a flourishing, restoring people to proper rather, it aims at furthering the care of care for it. This has implications, of for – and so for Christians, a theological there is no faithful escape from the position of relative weakness, requiring personal and relational functioning. It is this vulnerable person. The information course, for both treatment decisions vision. exigencies of creatureliness. the doctor’s knowledge and skill in a primary expression of a community’s it delivers is only of value if it leads and public policy. commitment in solidarity to our to knowledge that informs care: that The more we think about it, the more vulnerable fellow humans, rather than is, if it bears a reasonable likelihood It also suggests that we need to work the moral and theological issues “The goal of [theologically-informed medical abandoning them in their frailty. of altering the way in which a patient towards developing an alternative multiply – an ageing population and practice]... is to embody that care-in-solidarity that will be treated. Such a reorientation culture of medical practice and projections of increased healthcare Such a perspective both articulates requires a shift in both medical and ‘consumption’ that re-humanizes costs; growing emphasis on a properly functioning human community owes its and enhances the moral character of patient culture – it would reduce the medicine and provides a different sophisticated medical technologies, vulnerable members.” medicine and enables us to resist the number of expensive and unnecessary framework through which we approach often at the expense of patient ‘technological imperatives’ which can investigations and, more importantly, questions of resource allocation, end- care; and so on and so forth. These overwhelm personal concerns for reorient doctors towards the care of of-life care and the moral practice of questions demand that we bring the sake of technical possibilities. persons. medicine. But these are large questions philosophy and theology to bear on the The brokenness of the world as it caring for their frail flesh. This power that must await another occasion. l complex world of medicine. is now limits our capacity to know differential generates a moral call, for Exploring some implications. However, while some shifts might References 1. This paper began life as an address to the Christian truly and to care faithfully, for we are in a Christian view of the world, power What then might this theologically reduce the cost of medical care, that Medical and Dental Fellowship of Australia, NSW Annual Outlining a theology as broken as the world we seek to and privilege generate a corresponding informed medical practice look like? is not the goal of a theologically- Dinner, 17/09/2015. The ideas are drawn from my work on philosophy and theology of medicine, for which of medicine understand. Yet it necessitates our responsibility to serve (Matt 20:25–28). informed medical practice. The goal of see: Andrew Sloane, Vulnerability and Care: Christian Reflections on the Philosophy of Medicine (London: Most theological discussions of the attempt to understand the world and Medicine as a social practice exists in It would re-centre the relationship that practice is to embody that care-in- Bloomsbury T&T Clark, 2016). nature of medicine are framed in shapes our efforts to change it – for and for a given community and aims to between a medical practitioner and solidarity that a properly functioning 2. See, for instance, Peter Singer, Practical Ethics, 3rd ed. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009); John terms of health and healing, and the the God who both made and judges care for people in their weakness and their patient. It is in the context of human community owes its vulnerable Wyatt, Matters of Life & Death: Human dilemmas in the light of the Christian faith (Nottingham: IVP, 2009). alleviation of suffering. I think that is the world also seeks to redeem and vulnerability; deal with the disruption that relationship that problems are members. As such, it may be more 3, See Jeffrey P. Bishop, The Anticipatory Corpse: Medicine, mistaken; but exploring the relevant transform us and calls human creatures caused by disease processes, injury or identified, possible solutions explored expensive care, for the focus will shift Power and the Care of the Dying (Notre Dame, IN: UNDP, 2011). conceptual and practical issues to be agents of God’s work of fixing a deformity; and return people to proper and, most importantly, medical from technologies to persons, and 4. See Julian Savalescu, “Conscientious objection in 6 medicine,” BMJ 332 (2006). While abortion has been the would take us too far afield. So let broken world. functioning in their relationships and knowledge and skill are used to care for the time and personnel that person- most prominent procedure involved in this debate, it is me articulate how I think we should as persons, as far as this is practicable. human frailty. This challenges current oriented care requires. not the only one. 5. Edmund D. Pellegrino and David C. Thomasma, The frame a philosophy and theology of In Jesus we see both the clearest pressures to reduce consultation times Christian Virtues in Medical Practice (Washington: 7 Georgetown University Press, 1996); Helping and Healing: medicine. expression of that transforming work This both justifies the existence of for the sake of greater efficiencies, Of course, not all services can be Religious Commitment in Health Care (Washington: and the anticipation of its final state. medicine and establishes its goal. as well as reorienting the clinical provided for all people, for constraints Georgetown University Press, 1997); Edmund D. Pellegrino, “The Internal Morality of Clinical Medicine: • The thesis In Him we also hear the call to be While fighting disease and improving relationship towards basic history- on resources, time, personnel and even A Paradigm for the Ethics of the Helping and Healing Professions,” in The Philosophy of Medicine Reborn: A Medicine is primarily an expression transformed and mobilised in God’s a community’s health are important, taking and physical examination and geography limit the kind of care that Pellegrino Reader, ed. H. Tristram Engelhardt, Jr. and of care for vulnerable human beings great free-making mission as we work they are the means rather than the away from investigations. people can access. Basic care needs Fabrice Jotterand (Notre Dame: UNDP, 2008). 6. For a recent, helpful articulation of a theology of health, whose finitude and frailty has been to see glimpses of our final destiny and ends of medicine. Medicine is a matter to be reasonably available to all; many see Neil G. Messer, Flourishing: Health, Disease, and Bioethics in Theological Perspective (Grand Rapids: exposed by physical or psychological His perfect future in our fleeting and of health care, not of health care. The aim of the consultation is then not specialist services will necessarily be Eerdmans, 2013). For my reservations about that (kind of) ailment and whose ability to function flawed projects. Medicine’s telos is to provide care to establish a definitive diagnosis, as restricted. But we need to remember project, see Sloane, Vulnerability and Care, Ch.6. 7. For more detailed discussion, see “Christianity and in meaningful relationships has for ‘this frail flesh’ and, where this is if the knowledge of pathophysiology that medicine cannot overcome human the Transformation of Medicine,” in Christianity and the Disciplines: The Transformation of the University, been compromised. Its goal is to Such a theological perspective requires possible and as far as this is practicable, is the goal of the clinical encounter mortality or finitude; there is no escape ed. Oliver D. Crisp, et al. (London: T&T Clark, 2012); care for such vulnerable people so that we understand the limits of our to remove impediments to human (an anticipatory autopsy so to speak); from this frail flesh - only appropriate Vulnerability and Care, esp. Chs.7-9.

6 | LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 | 7 Resume of Grace Luke’s Journal 1996–2016

by Paul Mercer This edition of Luke’s Journal tapestry of work recorded in pieces celebrates twenty years of reflection over the past twenty years is rich and Paul is co-editor of Luke’s Journal. and grace, generously recorded in beckons re-reading. material prepared by members of CMDFA and friends over this timespan. Dr Rod Stephenson gathered and When G K Chesterton1, the quirky produced the first Luke’s Journal in English wordsmith described I have spent the past month or so January 1996. Rod had honed his skills St Francis of Assisi, as ‘the only reading and skimming through every in a newsletter for CMDFA in Victoria. Christian’, was he genuinely raising past edition. I have experienced He then handed the baton on to Drs a universal surrender flag? When the “strange warming” of the Holy David and Denise Cooper-Clarke in it comes to integrating life, work Spirit captured in articles by doctors, 1999 and they handed on a more and faith, few can stand against dentists, students and others who have professional type journal to Dr John the little man of Assisi. Perhaps “put on Christ” and in good work have Foley and I at the end of 2005. Chesterton, with his incisive wit, was discerned grace and new creation in acknowledging that the integration their work. To this crowd of witnesses, As I made my way through articles, recommended. Francis was asked to father about his favourite son. When (medical) Howard Guiness started of life work and faith is a journey that many still living and working, we owe I came to a short piece by Dr Katrina place a burning hot poker against his a famine causes the family to seek the Evangelical Union student work most of us stumble along. thanks and beyond this, all praise to Phillips, who shared something of her lateral periorbital margins. It is reported aid from the ‘bread basket’ of Egypt, in Canada; then in the USA; and later, the One whose image we bear. The role at the Christian Medical College at he accepted this calmly and as the a sort of reunion occurs. Confronted in 1930, moved to Sydney, Australia. Vellore in India.2 She nominated five poker was about to be applied prayed with their sin, the brothers throw The Christian Medical Fellowship challenges in the training programme, that ‘Brother Fire’ would be gentle with themselves at the mercy of Joseph. was formed by the vision of Dr John SNIPPET to be addressed if graduates were to him. God undoubtedly used Francis as Joseph is now the Prime Minister in Hercus and others in 1949 in NSW continue on as “ministers of healing” a source of renewal and reform in the Egypt and he calms them with this and soon state branches developed • The goal of my medical practice is • I will endeavour to follow the – as doctors who integrated work and thirteenth Century Church. testimony: “Am I in the place of God? autonomously around Australia. the promotion of health and example of Jesus in serving the faith. You intended to harm me, but God well-being. poor, the weak and the vulnerable Scholars have noted a unique feature intended it for good to accomplish A story is told of a CMF Victoria in our society, including the very It struck me that these “challenges,” of the Bible – God’s self-revelation and what is now being done, the saving of meeting with the English cricketer • I will maintain great respect for my young, the chronically ill, the capture most of what our journal has the purposes for creation are given to many lives.” Genesis 50:19-20 David Shepherd. He then arranged for patient, and for human life from disabled and the elderly. been about as well. Katrina’s five were: us in the events of history.3 God’s self- a group of medical students to meet the time of conception, believing revelation occurs in the history of Israel with the whole English cricket team. that each one of us is created by • While committed to caring for my • Finding enough time and people to and then through Christ, in the history “Luke’s Journal has God in His own image. patients to the very end of their do all that opportunity presents. of new creation, and the now (but not Many doctors, and more recently lives, will not, with or without • Striking a balance between high yet) Kingdom of God. If we consider developed as a more dentists, who have made significant • I will offer to my patients those request, by act of commission or tech medical treatment and low the Old Testament book of Genesis, we robust, professional, contributions to health care in Australia forms of treatment which, omission, intentionally take the cost primary health care. find God speaking to establish creation. have also embraced the fellowship of according to my training and life of any patient. • Serving not just in the ‘spirit of With the rebellion and sin of Adam national journal.” CMDFA. Cliff’s paper concludes in this experience, I consider most likely Christ’ but in the’ name of Christ’ as and Eve, God’s direct communication way “sufficient to say that we all pay to benefit each patient. Even under • I will be loyal to my profession, well begins to recede. At the same tribute to those pioneers that have threat I will not use my medical and treat its members fairly. To • Arrest the gradual shift from time, God’s words are followed by The history captured in the past twenty gone before us. Thank you for the knowledge to cause harm. my teachers I will give the respect depending on God to depending on consequences, so that Abraham, Isaac years of editions of Luke’s Journal is heritage that has been given to us. May that is their due, and I will share my one’s credentials. and Jacob, and so on, know that God also God’s history being played out in God be honoured as we seek to build • For the benefit of any patient knowledge of the art and science • Empowering people to be witnesses means what has been said and that God the life and work of a particular group on that and press on toward the prize.” I will refer to or consult with my of medicine with my colleagues for Christ. keeps promises. of Christians – members of CMDFA. The colleagues when needed. and students to the best of my year 1999 marked the Jubilee of CMDFA Writing in 2014, Drs Anthony Herbert ability. With some certainty, we can discern By the end of Genesis, God’s direct in Australia. The story goes something and Frank Garlick published an article • I will respect the confidentiality of the integration of faith and life’s work speech has disappeared. However, we like this (quoted from a paper prepared in Luke’s Journal telling the history of my patients, and will take no unfair • I make these promises sincerely in the history of ‘brother’ Francis. are left in no doubt that God is involved by Cliff Smith): Earlier in the twentieth CMDFA in Queensland.4 They identified advantage of those who honour and with God as my witness. Apparently Francis battled with an eye in human history. In jealousy, Jacob’s century “There was a tremendous a number of important themes in their me with their trust. To Him be the glory. complaint. Chesterton was impressed sons had sold Joseph off into exile as impetus in student Christian work in with a story around the treatment a slave in Egypt, and then lied to their the UK. From this the Reverend Doctor continued over page Vol 6 No 1 Feb 2001 – Making a Statement “Themes in Developing Position Statements” by Alan Gjisbers

8 | LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 | 9 RESUME OF GRACE SNIPPET history – Christian unity in the face many discussions on why the Christian with a Board of Governance, a very sin and the assurance of salvation in the continue to influence our Journal and Spiritual issues encompass what of an increasingly secular workplace; Church was so divided and we took a intentional student-support ministry, Cross of Jesus. In the resurrection of we will adapt as we progress. Our plan is is most meaningful and central fellowship and prayer times for renewal very ecumenical approach.” developments around ethics, an Jesus, God has brought the future partly to be readership-responsive to format. in human existence. In times and inspiration; the importance independent HealthServe organisation, into the present. Jesus is the firstborn of crisis, illness and transition, of integrity; the value of Christian I have chosen a few threads of our a missionary support chapter and so on. of many ‘sons and daughters’. Christians There are times when the future spiritual issues are likely to come distinctiveness and an ongoing need to history as a Fellowship to affirm the receive the power to live a resurrection seems blanketed by the pressure and to the fore of human awareness for support students and recent graduates. work of God among us. We all take the As Judy recently stepped down, I was life as well as participating in the future burdens of the past. We trust that both patients and professionals. journey of life as Christians in the light drawn to a comment made by Paul:“So great resurrection, when all things will Luke’s Journal will be a companion for All health care professionals in One of the ways the Journal has of Scripture. Our journal is a simple that I may come to you with joy, by be recreated in Christ and Jesus will be refreshment in such times. The Journal different disciplines have distinct ‘owned’ our history has been to complement to that richer well. David God’s will, and in your company be Lord of all. makes a modest contribution to Public contributions to make in the publish obituaries of members who Simpson prepared the first Luke’s refreshed”. Romans 15:32. CMDFA is a Theology in Australia. We hope this way they use their training to have passed on. In our first edition Journal Editorial. His encouraging fellowship. We are drawn together in In today’s world, many hold a bleak, continues to grow. assess religious and spiritual an obituary for Dr Jean Benjamin words bear retelling: “As our new many ways, including through Luke’s apocalyptic view of the future. Many issues of patients. All health care was submitted. A sense of the unity Journal serves to bind our members Journal. Genuine Christian fellowship is others see the future limited to one In the first edition in 1995, a hymn professionals need to include the of our fellowship is captured in near and far, I appeal to you all to seek about presence, and, while a journal or flourishing life now. Now is all there written for CMDFA by Dr Ross spiritual dimension in assessment this sentence. “I was in the student prayer for your local problems from a Facebook page may sustain us for a is. As Wright observes, “Because Langmead was published. Ross is now and treatment of patients. There is Christian movement, so there were the whole of the Fellowship through while, Paul’s words capture the blessing the early Christians believed that with the Lord, but his words are, like thus a need for inter-professional the journal. I would encourage more of presence. He says to the Christians ‘resurrection’ had begun with Jesus grace, “a gift that keeps on giving”. dialogue and collaboration in women and more dentists to be active of Rome (asking them to join him in the and would be completed in the great The third verse is as follows: order to understand each other’s SNIPPET on our state and national committees struggle of gospel ministry by prayer) final resurrection on the last day, they perspective on the spiritual – your contributions are needed for a “so that I come to you with joy, and believed that God had called them to Sustaining God, spirit arising. dimensions of care. Sexuality Transposed (the balanced approach to our task.” His call together with you, am refreshed.” work with Him, in the power of the Heal your wounded healers as well, Doctrine of the Eschaton) for women and dentists to be involved Spirit, to implement the achievement as with new strength Therapists might utilise the The biblical drama of salvation in leadership of CMDFA has been to What do you hope for? of Jesus, and thereby to anticipate in a body made whole. patients’ beliefs to complement has a plot. The movement is some extent answered in Dr Judy the final resurrection, in personal How you move, who can tell? and facilitate the process of from old creation to new; from Fitzmaurice’s recent service and now By choosing the theme Healthy Hope, and political life, in mission and Come, refresh us with love”. psychotherapy. Where appro- garden to city; from tragedy to in Dr Ross Dunn’s (a dentist member the editorial team recognised that an holiness.” Wright points his readers priate, the patient’s spiritual comedy. In the world to come of our Fellowship). God has been good edition such as this needs to celebrate to 1 Corinthians 15 as a seminal text. This twenty year anniversary of Luke’s resources can be used to enhance there is no suggestion of endless to us. the past and remain faithfully open to Here Paul writes that “what we do in Journal is a celebration in words. It mental, emotional and physical unembodiment. The Christian the future. This openness is on the tip the Lord is not in vain”. And so Wright is a contribution that has resulted healing. While admittedly this does not believe in the Greek Various national and state newsletters of our tongues when we pray “your will reflects “that is the mandate we need from the unforced rhythms of grace can be difficult ground for notion of the immortality of the continue to promote needs for prayer be done on earth as it is in heaven.” for every act of justice and mercy, at work in our professional lives and the psychiatrist, and indeed soul, but rather in the resurrection and opportunities for Fellowship Christian hope, as the title of Tom every programme of ecology, every our fellowship. In this journal we can physicians, addressing spiritual of the body as presented in the and Conference events. Luke’s Wright’s 2007 book Surprised by Hope6 effort to reflect God’s wise steward document the joining of work and faith issues with patients is becoming Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15) and Journal has developed as a more suggests, is a surprising hope. Are image into his creation”. For dentists in the power of a ‘resurrection life’ and an increasingly accepted part of rehearsed in the creeds (Apostles’, robust, professional, national journal. there clues we can glimpse as we look and doctors, this would encourage our so we move forward hopefully. whole person care in medicine. Nicene and Athanasian). Centralisation was accelerated when forward? Wright argues that many of wholehearted participation in healing While clinicians will differ in the Judy became national chair. She us as Christians have undervalued the work in the world. Healing today is In June 2006 the life of CMDFA was extent to which they decide to The question is whether human has shepherded CMDFA into a more resurrection of Jesus. Our spiritualties a signpost of resurrection already amazingly enriched by hosting the utilise and delve into religious sexuality and expression continues nationally-focused organisation, have often grown from an anxiety about present in Jesus and caught up in God’s international ICMDA Conference issues with their patients, there in the new heavens and the new new creation for tomorrow. at Meroo at the base of Sydney’s is a minimal standard that has earth. Jesus cryptically said that Blue Mountains and Sydney’s emerged in this area. in the new world disciples would SNIPPET The future of Luke’s Journal will depend Darling Harbour. Many wonderful Vol 6 No 4 Nov 2001 Doctors and Disciples not marry. They would be like on the stories of healing coming from presentations were made, and some “Do Patients Expect Doctors to be Interested the angels (Matt. 22:30). John The developments in Western medicine that have arisen from embracing the members living in and through the found themselves in the third edition in Spiritual Issues” by Russell D’Souza writes that in the world to come scientific method together with Cartesian dualism have resulted in tremendous resurrection life of Jesus. Another way of Luke’s Journal in 2006. Of all my there will be marriage, but a scientific progress, as defined by the assumptions of the scientific method, and of saying this is that “nurtured hopes, reading through all our past journals, marriage between the Lamb and intensified by logical positivism. It has been offset by deliberately excluding lead to fruit”. For Luke’s Journal, this the words of Canon Gideon Byamugisha his bride, the church (Revelation from study many variables that do not easily fit the prevailing paradigm, in part means the emerging entry of a from Uganda, a world HIV Ambassador 19:1-10 and 21- 22). It seems that including the area of spirituality. The multiplicity of medical specialisations new development team in Dr Catherine for the UN, touched me the most. I now makes it difficult to communicate across from one area of science to human sexual expression in one Hollier, Dr Grace Leo and Dr Winnie share them again as a conclusion: References: flesh union is now transposed to another. This has allowed the pressure to attend to patients’ spiritual needs to Chen. Many professional journals are 1. Chesterton, GK. St Francis of Assisi. Doubleday 1924 2. Luke’s Journal, CMDFA. Vol 3, No 1. 1998 another plane. Human eros now be diverted to a non-medical specialist periphery, attended to by chaplains and a little uncertain about the balance “Love in any language, fluently 3. Rendsburg, Prof Gary A. The book of Genesis. other religious or lay figures. Doctors have been spared the need to address www.thegreatcourses.com.au 2006 has a Christological focus. Grace between the traditional paper-based spoken, heals. Love, fluently 4. Herbert, A Garlic, F. A brief history of CMDFA in has both redeemed eros and spiritual concerns in their patients, or indeed even within themselves, while the format and online options. Luke’s ministered, brings health, Queensland. Luke’s Journal, CMDFA. Vol 10, No 1. 2014 nursing profession has had to provide much of the emotional and spiritual care 5. Stephenson, Rod. Editorial, Luke’s Journal, CMDFA. Vol 1, transposed it. Journal is now available through brings hope.” l No 1. 1996 that patients actually long for. 6. Wright, Tom. Surprised by Hope. SPCK 2007 Vol 3 No 5 Aug 2000 the ISSUU platform, which is a step 7. Butterworth, Martin. UMN (United Mission to Nepal) News. Sexual Orientation and Medical Practice Vol 6 No 3 Aug 2001 – Spirituality and Health towards online access, although still Paul Mercer Issue 47, May 2015 “Sexuality and it’s Expression” by Graham Cole “Spirituality and Health – From Forgotten Factor to Reconciliation” by John H Court and Pemela C Court 8. Byamugisha, Gideon. Luke’s Journal, CMDFA. Vol 11, No 3. with limitations. IT development will Editor Luke’s Journal 2006

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newsletter commercially printed in I was grateful that others in their turn by Rodney Stephenson Warrnambool (yes, it is still printed were able to take over from me and there), where our growing family had continue the Journal. Thank you for Rod is the inaugural Luke’s Journal moved because I had the wonderful all the effort in chasing up articles and editor. He is a GP in Berwick, notion of having a country practice. meeting deadlines to get editions to Victoria, graduating from Monash print. I know how loop frustrating this in 1986. He has 6 adult children. He Robyn did editing on a fantastic edition can be but I also know how rewarding is a member of St Johns Anglican, on Women in Medicine in January 1995 it is to see students and young doctors which was very well received. taking copies of the Journal to read assisting on the parish council and with enthusiasm. How vital this Journal music team. He has had lots of In 1996 the first Luke’s Journal came is to the Fellowship in linking upcoming previous involvement with CMDFA, out. Other improvements such as a generations of doctors and dentists, including editing newsletters, two-colour cover, peer reviewing in and how vital that we continue our journals, assisting with the national 1998, and employing a sub-editor in Fellowship through the Journal in the constitution, and acting as a 1999 all helped my sanity. However, I face of real secular influence. reluctantly had to give away the journal pastoral worker and mentor for and become a more present husband May God continue to use Luke’s Journal students in Victoria. He is currently and father to my six children in 1999. for the teaching and nourishment of all on the organising committee for in the medical and dental profession. IMPACT 2017. Editing the Journal was as much a We all need to be able to say with Paul blessing to me as others. It was great to the apostle “I have fought the good be able to encourage members to write fight, I have finished the race, I have Yes, it is now 20 years since the first Front of first Fellowship News (then Front of Women in Medicine edition. Front cover of first Luke’s Journal. articles and it helped me to take in kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7) l

Luke’s Journal. The name coming known as CMF News). January 1995. January 1996. lectures when I was typing summaries Additional Reading: 1. From Small beginnings. Luke’s Journal, July 1997 p. 15 from Luke’s House which was the August 1991. for the Journal. 2. In Appreciation. Luke’s Journal, Feb 2000 p. 3 name of the CMF Korea office, and was used with kind permission of the Koreans.

But it didn’t just start there. I had “How vital this Journal SNIPPET SNIPPET been writing Fellowship News for 5 is to the Fellowship years previously. It was at a Victorian It concerns me greatly that in our As a comfortable rural GP I have a different relationship to the medical world Committee meeting in 1991 that in linking upcoming own country where we have so than in my days as a doctor in the developing world. It is easy to be jaded by the Eugen Koh suggested that I help the generations of doctors many opportunities and resources, drug seekers, the over reliance on medicine and the unreal expectations on us then secretary, Joanna Barlow, with the basic principles which we as a profession and consequent litigation fears we all confront daily. It is easy to the newsletter to ease her burden. He and dentists.” applied to health care in PNG are somehow feel hard done by, put upon, even underpaid, rather than privileged thought I would be good because I had not followed in a systematic way to work in a world where the death of children is a rarity, where if there is a been doing the student newsletter for in the Aboriginal health services. nasty disease it is more often than not treatable with medications that are both some time. I always find it easier to The basic principles of self- available and affordable to the health system. look in hindsight and see God’s hand encouraging. We (because Robyn, my reliance are largely ignored. There at work: from a compulsory year of wife, was ever by my side) tried to cover is inadequate communication Much as medical politics, financial returns, medico-legal considerations, the typing at secondary school (which us topics inspired by annual meetings, between the general health ongoing grind of patients to see, and medical education obligations can keep guys thought was a waste of time), to conferences and other areas of interest service and the Aboriginal health us occupied, the biblical demands of care for the poor, outlined starkly in a friend at Uni who encouraged me with titles like “Ethics”, “Influencing Our service with an incredible lack of Matthew 25 in the story of the sheep and the goats, will always place demands to get a computer in 1975 when they Generation”, “Sex and Family”. coordination and standardisation on our energy and attention. I am fairly sure that knowing the needs of the were still quite basic tools. of health care around the country. poor overseas puts us in the place of the sheep and goats who asked when As I now read back through my first There are good attempts being they had ever seen ‘the King’ hungry, thirsty, lonely, needing clothes, sick or My heart was not just in the technical attempts, I can’t believe I used such made to address some of these a prisoner. God did not give us the role of healers to assure us of comfortable side of the job, but it helped. an unreadable font. Thankfully, this issues, but so much remains to be lifestyles, social respectability or even great job satisfaction and the gratefulness With a low budget, I typed out the changed with the inclusion of Ivan done. of our patients. He will call us as healers to care for the suffering and that care articles on the word processor. We Smith, a wonderful graphic artist, who Vol 5 No 4 Nov 2000 – Justice in Health must extend to the under privileged at least to the degree it does to the more “A Personal Journal Viewing Indigenous Health Issues” printed, photocopied and folded the is still doing the layout to this day. by Clifford Smith privileged within both our society and the world. newsletters by hand. The feedback It became even more aesthetically “Social Justice and Medical Care Internationally” by Michael Langford from those who read first the pleasing with the introduction of Early days: Robyn and Rod Stephenson with newsletter, then the Journal, was very colour in 1993 when we first had the three of their children.

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Domains of Enquiry the salience of the thing they are Finding to Time to Pray Any form of imposition is unethical My Peace I Give to You She told the Christian specialist she Enquiry into a patient’s beliefs and addicted to. This may be alcohol Being a medical student is because it disrespects the You could tell she had been very wanted euthanasia. practices can be a start. We are or other substances, or gambling, challenging. Being a Christian autonomy of the other person. beautiful in the prime of her life, but interested in not just the content of shopping, entertainment, medical student opens many doors she would never have admitted this. The nurses sent the work experience belief but how their beliefs impact sexual thoughts or stereotypical of opportunity and brings new It is true that the concept of She was a very private being and as student to her bedside to sit with her. on their lives. I often wonder, “What behaviour, or even religious insight into the inevitable ethical autonomy can be overemphasised. she approached the ninth decade of The student’s father was a Christian sort of God do you believe in?” Is behaviour. Why are things out of issues doctors face today. Essential It has risen to the surface as her life she was again admitted to priest being persecuted for his their God a god of obsessive rules balance and how can balance be to standing firm as a Christian in the a result of the Enlightenment hospital for the global anxiety and beliefs in another part of the world. and regulations or an ‘anything goes restored? hospital setting is a firm relationship which elevated the individual depression that had been with her for Somehow she was comforted. She God,’ remote, uncaring. Others seem with God. This involves making above all else. I am aware of the years. went home. The palliative care team to worship an ogre. We of course long • What gives them joy and time for God every day, going to philosophical disaster of Descartes’ was involved. She wanted prayer for them to discover the God who enjoyment? The search for joy church and reading the Bible. I also cogito ergo sum (I think therefore No one could pierce the depths. every time I visited. We prayed the loved so much that he sent his Son to was, of course, the drive that led found that an important part of I am) because this elevated each Medication enabled a discharge after Bible, especially my peace I give unto die for us. CS Lewis to faith, but have our encouragement for me was meeting single human being to be the 2 months. I gave her a copy of I Dared you ... and nothing can separate you patients developed the joy of with other medical students. ultimate arbiter of truth. Such a to Call Him Father by Biiquis Sheikh. from the love of God. The anxiety Under practices we could enquire music or painting or a sunset, or claim is arrogant and false. She wanted more. She read a copy settled. Her devoted family saw about a person’s religious behaviour, the stars or other areas of wonder? Preclinically this required discipline. of how I had come into relationship something had happened. But would whether formal as in going to Once clinical years started it Nevertheless, l believe that there with Christ. As I was taking her she be in pain and would she make worship, meeting fellow believers etc, • What skills have people also required perseverance and is a Christian justification for the blood pressure one day, she asked that terrible noise (Cheyne-Stokes and informal by way of Bible reading developed to cope with stress and organisation. People were in respect of the individual and that if she could find Him. We prayed respiration) when she died? We (or of other holy books) or prayer, bereavement? Are they able to different groups, based at different disrespect violates the Imago Dei together, a prayer of repentance and prayed again. She said thankyou after meditation, alms giving, fasting maintain confidence, poise and hospitals with different timetables. (the image of God). Love does not commitment to Jesus and invited every prayer and she just slipped and pilgrimages. What brings them equanimity when under stress? Days were often very busy. Finding coerce or impose, it respects. The His Holy Spirit. She knew John 3:16. away in perfect peace. strength and comfort? What resources do they have? time was hard – but we did it. We stories of the Garden of Eden, and We prayed the prayer twice because I What supports within and from weren’t that regular; sometimes of God, Cain and Abel have as one went too fast the first time. Jesus returned to Galilee in the power There are lifestyle issues which lie on others do they draw on? only two of us met for prayer, of their themes the freedorn of of the Spirit ... and he went into the the border between wise conduct and sometimes more were able to meet. choice (even wrong choices) that My prayer partners prayed. She Synagogue ... and stood up to read ... spirituality. For instance: • How do people deal with I found this especially encouraging God gives God’s creatures. accepted a book of daily Bible “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me ... wrongdoing and forgiveness – during psychiatry and obstetrics readings by Corrie Ten Boom. My He has sent me to proclaim release • How do they cope with loneliness? of themselves and others? This and gynaecology when ethics hits I do not believe that God imposes House Group prayed because she to the captives ... and to set at liberty There is all the difference in the is an important dimension. As the fore. Godself on us. From what John felt unable to step out into the those who are oppressed.” world between loneliness and the romance of relationships is Patrick said to us at the National wider church. They were her unseen Luke: 4:14-2.9.

solitude. Loneliness is debilitating, replaced by cold hard reality, are I would encourage all Medical Conference, I believe he agrees fellowship. Eight weeks later she Vol 2 No 4 December 1997 Practice Under Christ solitude is nourishing. they able to accept themselves students to make the effort and with this. God leaves hints of God’s was diagnosed with terminal cancer. “My Peace I give to You” by Susan Selby and their partner, warts and all? find time to meet each week even existence, like lover’s flowers on • How do people cope with driven- Are they able to acknowledge if it is only two by two. I encourage our doorsteps. Because God is the ness? Some drive clearly is creative wrongdoing appropriately and you to pray, for our fellow medical Superb Lover, looking for our free and necessary to get things done with proper perspective and students need it. They need surrender, God never overwhelms but there are many patients who are they able to ask for and give Christ. It won’t always be easy, but us, but woos us into God’s care.

are constantly over-driven. forgiveness? Are they able to say persevere. Especially if you are “The Tension between Truth and Tolerance” sorry? going to start in clinics next year. by Alan Gjisbers

• How do people ensure they Vol 6 No 3 Aug 2001 Start well. If you leave it until later it maintain balance in their lifestyle? Spirituality and Health Outcomes may never happen. “Taking and Evaluating a Person’s Spiritual Story” One of the features of addiction is by Alan Gjisbers The other encouraging aspect was meeting medical ‘students from A Christian approach A Christian approach always offers sensitivity, we seek to understand the “The church” and “research” rhyme, but they are not spelt the same and many other year levels and those from A Christian approach to health is a hopeful, compassionate and values and expectations of each and would think they do not fit well together. Yet for me, as a questioning person both Monash and Melbourne. This strongly influential in our world, respectful understanding of the to understand how they understand who has been much involved with both, there is no problem, for I take comfort was done through CMDF. These both historically and currently. This patient. A Christian approach will their disease so we can contribute from Jesus’ saying, “Seek and you shall find” (Luke 11.9), and have tried to put meetings were helpful and gave Christian approach to health care is continue to bring compassionate care to their better health physically, it into practice. some perspective as well as putting in ways influenced by and influences into our world. We are called to bring emotionally and spiritually. Also we

Vol 12 No 2 Jun 2007 – Leadership forth challenges. I encourage you to both traditional and modern the best of our clinical knowledge bring hope. “The Church and Research” by Prof Charles Bridges-Webb attend and invite your friends. May approaches to health. Many of the based on appropriate evidence and Vol 19 No 2 December 2014 Integral Mission or Holistic Transformation God bless you in your study and world’s health systems have until the highest standards of clinical “Understanding Disease: Traditional, Modern and Christian beyond. (Hebrews 10:23-25 NIV) relatively recent times been founded competence which we are continually Approaches” by Michael Burke

Vol 1 No 5 Dec 1996 and greatly contributed to by Christian striving to maintain and improve, Around the Campuses “Finding Time to Pray” by Pieta Collins health services. to our patient. With respect and

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by Peter Ravenscroft school teaching and Crusaders during a state of shock because I had not Dr Braun and the team school terms and church and Crusader previously worried about examinations at Yagaum, 1965. Peter Ravenscroft AM, MD, camps during the holidays. When I was – I had passed them well. At that time, FRACP,FFPMANZCA,FAChPM in the senior boy’s class in the Sunday the Dean of Medicine at Queensland is Professor of Palliative Care school at Camp Hill Methodist Church, University was Professor Douglas gored by a wild pig and had about 200 Yagaum was a series of fibro huts ability and I found myself reading in at the University of Newcastle. Mr Greaves, our teacher, asked us to Gordon. He believed that entry to stitches in his lower body and legs and providing inpatient care for about 100 the hospital library late into the night. His main role now is teaching consider Christ’s call to us to become medicine should be available to all who the other had stood on a stone fish and patients in a clearing in the jungle. his disciples. He suggested that if we had the qualifications for entry and was in terrible pain. What I would have About 2 km further into the jungle Dr Braun and I would often sit on his medical students in the palliative wanted to do this we could do it in the the cut-off point should be the end of given for the advice of a good pain was a leprosarium that had a further front stairs in the evening and talk care programme. He is a former quiet of our own homes. I did just that. first year medicine. This would allow management physician! However, the 50-100 beds. The equipment for the about the mission, his love of English Chairman of CMDFA (Qld), of I went home, knelt by my bed and gave students to handle a year of university worst problems I had to confront were hospital was provided by General literature and his experiences. We CMDFA (Australia) and of the my life to Christ. An indescribable joy study before the cull. This we did. This two babies with Falciparum malaria MacArthur who, when pulling his worshipped together in the mission International Christian Medical & came into my life that day! I look back experience taught me the value of who were in status epilepticus. They troops out of PNG at the end of the church with all the staff. I saw a Dental Association. on that day as my day of commitment. adverse situations: helping me to learn team committed to the Lord and I have found it a great help to have a the power of prayer and to focus on very focussed on giving the best point of commitment that I could hold what I believed was God’s plan for my “The ‘ICU’ had two patients, one had been gored by care possible. When I was about to on to when things got tough later in life. I worked hard that first year and, a wild pig... and the other had stood on a stone fish leave, he gave me a couple of pieces At an early age, I recognised the life. with relief, picked up a Commonwealth of advice. He said to me, “Peter, importance of church in my life. Scholarship for the remaining years of and was in terrible pain. What I would have given for you will make a fine doctor”. It’s a In relating my life experience, In the latter years of high school, the the course. the advice of a good pain management physician! word of encouragement that kept Christianity has been a basic focus moved to obtaining a good me going through some hard times influence – guiding me into medicine enough pass to enter medicine at My first contact with Christian Medical and I try likewise to be encouraging which I saw as a way of serving God University. But I had other things on Fellowship (Christian Medical and to my students. He also said to me, and others. This journey has not my mind! In my senior year, I was Dental Fellowship of Australia, as it arrived in extremis and my attempts to war, gave Dr Braun the contents of the “Don’t think only of being a foreign been a smooth one. elected Prefect and School Captain, is known today) was when we were save them were futile. The other was a field hospital at Finschhafen. Dr Braun missionary, but think of being a as well as Captain of the Athletics doing paediatrics. We formed a Bible pregnant mother in her last trimester had equipment to do virtually all types Christian influence in the medical Early days team. I was a member of the Cricket study group that met in Professor with twins and a Hb of 2 gm/100 ml. of surgery. By using his furloughs and school.” I have felt that has been my Our family moved from Sydney to and Tennis teams and an officer in the Rendle-Short’s office at Royal Brisbane My speed to arrange an aerial transfer visiting surgeons wisely he had learnt calling, to be a Christian in university Brisbane in 1949 when I was seven Air Training Corps. I also developed Hospital. That was in 1965. Medical was matched only by my anxiety. My the techniques of them all. I had the departments of medicine, to have close years old. At high school, I participated a friendship with a girl, as you do at students were not then invited to the prayer life grew enormously in Bogia! privilege of assisting at lists of general contact with students and to witness to in the church youth group, Sunday that time in your life. On reflection, I CMF meetings. surgery, urology, thoracic, eye surgery, Christian values. would never pass up the opportunities I was then transferred to Yagaum, a neurosurgery etc. Dr Braun’s skills for those sorts of experiences that The student elective at the end of hospital about nine kilometres from as a surgeon and a missionary were Medical Graduation and beyond were so helpful in later life, but I was fifth year saw me heading for Papua Madang. I had often wondered what remarkable. As a first-year intern, I had hoped that brought to a grinding halt when the New Guinea as a Medical Assistant. missionary life for a doctor would be the hospital would employ me for a senior results came out. I did not get a I was first sent to Bogia Hospital on like and this was my chance to observe The catch for me was that Dr Braun said second year, so that I could get onto Commonwealth Scholarship. the north coast of PNG. I found out it. Yagaum was a Lutheran Mission he did not do medicine, so the medical the medical training programme. Alas, that the doctor had just left to have Hospital run at the time by Dr Theo wards were my responsibility! I did when the list of junior staff who had Entering undergraduate medical treatment in Port Moresby. Braun, an American surgeon. He had ward rounds when I was not assisting been reappointed for the following medicine I was alone, a 5/6 doctor with no been in PNG since the early 1930’s. He with surgery. I had not thought about year appeared, my name was not on My parents had different views on my functional experience, with the help had been imprisoned by the Japanese the skills of nursing staff until that it. I thought my dreams for the future future. My father wanted me to go out of indigenous staff. The hospital and released by the Australian Army. time, but I was very impressed with were dashed. I went to the Medical and get a job – my mother thought consisted of a galvanised iron shed He met his wife in PNG – she had been the skills of the German nursing staff – Superintendent’s Office to seek an I went home, kneeled by my bed and we could manage to pay the first year the size of a single garage as the “ICU” there before him. When I was there, probably the inverse of the impression explanation, and told him my dilemma. gave my life to Christ… fees provided I worked during the and a thatched hut as the “ward”. The she was in the hospital suffering with they had of me! The work really holidays to assist financially. I was in “ICU” had two patients, one had been tuberculosis. stretched my medical knowledge and continued over page

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He picked up the phone and rang own life, but I was working at Princess family. “Would I be interested in a job Current Perspectives the Director-General of Health. “We Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane with in Newcastle?” You bet I was! I was very In working in palliative care, I felt that I have left one of the juniors off the 1300 beds that offered no palliative excited. had found a situation that allowed me re-appointment list. Can I have your care. I was responsible for pain control to express my whole self in my work. approval to appoint an extra one?” in the burns unit and we were doing Beth and I moved to Newcastle in June, Never underestimate God’s hand in all your In other words, the work focused on Amazingly for me the answer came research on opioids. In addition to my 1992 to the Chair of Palliative Care and plans... the physical, psychological, social and back in the affirmative. Again, thanks role as the clinical pharmacologist, Director of the Palliative Care Unit, at spiritual aspects of patient care. There Lord, my career continued! I worked as a general physician, so I what is now the Calvary Mater Hospital. While on a visit to St Christopher’s was cross-stimulation between the had inpatient beds. I suggested that We recruited a palliative care team hospice in London in 1989, I met Christian and medical aspects of my I married Heather Moriarty in 1976. we start a palliative care unit. The and the new hospice was opened in with Dr Keith Sanders – the General practice. The spiritual aspects were She was a fine Christian person and a Division of Medicine were for it, but the 1993. In advertising for staff, we saw Secretary of CMF(UK) – who was often lacking generally in the practice wonderful mother. We, and our two administration were against it. I was God’s hand in it all. Dr John Cavenagh, also guiding the development of of medicine, particularly in hospital children, Kylie and Simon, left on a able to get the hospital administration applied and got the Staff Specialist job the International Christian Medical practice, and were rarely taught in National Health & Medical Research Francis Schaeffer. He taught us to take our to allow me to have a part-time and Dr Jenny Schneider, who had been and Dental Fellowship. I felt a real medical schools in this country. A Council Research Fellowship in faith and explore it consistently in all areas of appointment at Mt Olivet Hospice (now leading my research team in Brisbane, enthusiasm for this work. The group of us have worked to have 1976 and settled in San Francisco our life… called St Vincent’s Private Hospital) applied for and got the pharmacy job following year, Beth and I went to the spiritual care for patients included in for 2 years. During that time, we to learn the practicalities of palliative at the hospice. They both moved to International Congress of ICMDA in the palliative care curriculum of the worshipped at Aldersgate United continue to pray for Heather’s healing, care. I quietly let it be known that I Newcastle and we formed the nucleus Seoul, South Korea. I caught the vision Royal Australasian College of Physicians Methodist Church at Terra Linda in yet at the same time realise she may would see palliative care patients and of the academic/clinical group that of the international body and was and we are working to provide training California. Here we were introduced not be physically healed. Because of if necessary admit them to my beds we had dreamt about in Brisbane. I soon appointed to the Executive. In for supervisors to ensure it is taught to Francis Schaeffer’s writings which that thought, I felt a great weight lift in the University unit. Gradually, my thank God for His hand in this. I felt our Taiwan I was appointed Chairman of well. we devoured enthusiastically. After from me. To live with that paradox was beds filled with symptomatic terminal dream had materialised! the Executive Committee (2002-2010), the research fellowship, we went very liberating for me, both during patients. then Chairman of ICMDA (2006-2010). The spirituality we talk about in directly to Huemoz in Switzerland to Heather’s terminal illness and after CMDFA and ICMDA palliative care is defined as follows: see how the Schaeffer’s community her death. Others have also found this The head of the university unit was My contact with CMF (later CMDFA) The connection to ICMDA through “Spirituality is the aspect of humanity at L’Abri operated. Francis Schaeffer so.1 My faith in God was not affected, heard complaining about this and the began in 1965, and in 1977 one of CMDFA gave me the opportunity to that refers to the way individuals seek encourages all Christians to take our though I was at a low point in my life. junior staff gave me the award for the my friends offered to pick me up be part of a world-wide organisation and express meaning and purpose, faith and explore it consistently in I felt the Lord was beside me each step longest ward rounds at the hospital and take me to a home meeting of bringing medical and dental and the way they experience their all areas of human endeavour – in of the way. dinner. The final straw came when we the fellowship in Queensland. There practitioners from many nations connectedness to the moment, to medicine, science, the arts and family decided to make plans to amalgamate began my membership, which later together to work for common goals self, to others, to nature and to the relationships. It was that integration Heather died in 1986, aged 39 the university component of palliative led to becoming the Chairman of the and to share missionary aspirations significant or sacred”.2 Terminal of all these factors that captured my years. The impact of that diagnosis, care at Princess Alexandra Hospital with Queensland branch of CMF (1987- and support. To see God’s work in illness challenges all of us to seek attention and still challenges me today. management and her death were the Mt Olivet Hospice and Palliative 1991) until I prepared to move to many parts of the world was humbling some resolution of these issues in massive on our family. I regret that Care service led by Dr John Cavenagh Newcastle. I was appointed to the and inspiring. For the great fellowship our own lives. Including spirituality the children suffered greatly at that on a vacant floor at Mt Olivet Hospice. Executive Committee of CMF Australia fostered through discussion, prayer, in our patient care allows us to share time. I did not understand what they We produced a grant application and (1990-2000) and later became National sharing the scriptures and the laughter our own faith journey with all people were going through. I think I was went to the grant interview, even with Chairman (1991-1995). During my that I experienced through these that we care for, not only Christians. side-tracked by my own suffering and the Medical Superintendent of PAH term as Chairman, student work organisations, I am truly grateful to God. To anyone wishing to read how to grief. When I moved to palliative care, attending – that’s how keen they were was commenced (there had been CMDFA and ICMDA have given me lasting integrate spirituality into patient care, children of dying patients had my to get rid of us! The Cancer Council only graduate membership until this memories of how the medical and I can thoroughly recommend “Making special attention. did not fund the grant. We were time) and a mentorship programme dental professions can further Christ’s Health Care Whole”.3 Evidence suggests devastated. I decided I needed to think was implemented and encouraged kingdom in medicine and dentistry. that spirituality should rank with pain Beth came into my life courtesy of and pray about a move into full-time nationally. Dentists were included, the I would encourage any member of and symptom control in the medical medicine. Beth and I had been in the palliative care, possibly at another name changed to CMDFA and a new CMDFA to attend ICMDA Congresses and management of patients, at least in Some of the works of the Schaeffer family… same group, and in the same year of hospital. logo developed. be part of this great organisation. the palliative care context. Medical medicine, so we knew each other well. students are generally receptive to We were not home long when I had emerged from the confusion of Newcastle learning about spirituality and I find Heather was diagnosed with breast being single after Heather’s death, but At that time, David Allbrook, formerly SNIPPET the challenge of teaching them very cancer. Surgery, chemotherapy and she was a paediatrician hoping to go Professor of Anatomy at the University rewarding. radiotherapy followed, but were back to Korea, so you might imagine of Western Australia and a friend from The real test of whether ‘corporatisation’ is good or bad for health will depend unsuccessful. I grappled with why the discussions we had! We married CMF, had taken a job in Newcastle on the character of the people working in corporatised medical practice. If these In reflecting on my life, I cannot but say God had not healed Heather and what a year later. What a joy she has been as a palliative care physician in their people maintain ethical values that put patient care before personal gain, then with humility, in the words of the hymn I should do about it. One day in the in my life. Trust God, He can work palliative care outreach service. He and it is possible to improve health in the community. As such we can expect good writer, “How great Thou art!” l shower, I was crying over the situation miracles in the lives of those who trust others had lobbied for a new hospice to outcomes and bad outcomes. In fact this is not different from what is already when I realised that resolving this Him! be built on site and work was starting. occurring outside the corporate world in thousands of small practices across situation was beyond me, and I came He told me in a phone call that he had Australia. References 1. Rutherford G. A Little Book about a Big Story. Morning Star to realise that I needed to acknowledge Palliative Care developed leukaemia and felt that his Vol 7 No 1 Feb 2002 – The Corporatisation of Medicine Publishing. Australia. 2015. Pp 103-105. “The Corporatisation of Medicine” by Neville Steer 2. Puchalski CM and Ferrell B. Making Health Care Whole. my own finiteness before God. For The Lord was working within me. I had best course of action was to return Templeton Press. USA. 2010. Page 25. me, the paradox was that I needed to seen the value of palliative care in my to WA where he had the support of 3. Ibid.

18 | LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 | 19 Intermed Meet CMDFA Practical Preparation for Vanuatu Family Members

by Grace Leo

Even though CMDFA encompasses so many members with diverse interests, we are all part of one family in God’s great by John Fluit to commence his medical course and The four weeks were very full and we kingdom. Let’s meet a few of our members who reflect on what CMDFA means to them and how they have enjoyed being myself with a little experience in Zaire. even had lectures on Australia Day involved over the years: Dr John Fluit, MBBS Uni NSW, This year, for the first time, the course (after a respectful waving of Australian has worked in General Practice was being offered as an accredited flags and donning of appropriately in Newcastle since 1985. He is Graduate Certificate and Diploma in patriotic hats of course!). married to Anna, who was born International Health and Development. in PNG of missionary parents, Three of the group had signed up The most helpful aspect of the course to do this. The rest, including me, was that all the lecturers had significant and considers that wherever we choose to do the course for audit (no experience in their fields and were are (Newcastle or New Delhi) we assessments and no formal credit). able to present extremely abridged have our own personal mission versions of their topics, emphasising field provided by God. He is also The students numbered seven in total the common and practical aspects convinced that there is no such (a small group, more often fifteen to rather than just inundating us with Alice Schroers works part time as an Tim Charles is a GP Registrar in Brisbane Mimi Xu is a Resident thing as retirement in Christian thirty) and one of the best aspects of information. ED SRMO and joined the NSW state working with the Army. He is married to Medical Officer from NSW. the course was the bonding over the committee this year. Prior to that Kasey and father to Gabriel (almost 3) and She loves curling up with a service but simply changes in our period. Every day commenced with Following on from the course at Tabor, she worked in Alice Springs for two baby Grace (8 weeks). good coffee, the colour red, work and environment as we age singing, prayer and a time of sharing Intermed lead a team of medical years as a Tentmaker Encouraging found a medical elective in and follow God’s leading. and devotions in the chapel. The joy professionals on a Practicum to Aboriginal Ministry with AIM before “I was first introduced to CMDFA while I was India transformative and is of serving Christ, following His leading Vanuatu in October. We spent two heading to Sydney this year to study dating Kasey and she was in Med school at ANU looking forward to starting and seeking first His kingdom pervaded weeks learning about the culture a full time Graduate Diploma of in 2007/8. Tash Yates was a great leader to us Psychiatry training next I’m at a stage in my working life the whole course. Truly a foretaste of and delivering health care in context. Divinity at Sydney Missionary and then. We had a group at Flinders in 2009 led by year. that after thirty years I would like heaven! We visited villages in which we used Bible College. She thanks God for time Kelly Chugg (now Peterson) and Tanya Jones. I to reduce my general practice fact-finding tools (that we’d learned with her family, refreshment and His attended Vision in Jan 2010 and IMPACT / Recent “CMDFA is a family of people load and do short-term work in The coordinators were Dr Doug Shaw in theory) to best engage with the amazing creation of shrimp plants! Grads Retreat several times since. I was a student just like me who understand a developing world area of need. and Prof Anthony Radford, both of locals to identify and enable changes SA board rep in 2010. We assisted with starting the struggles of being Researching how to best prepare for whom had a wealth of experience in that were relevant to their needs and “As a member of the CMDFA I support a group in Darwin during 2011/12 with Chris a medic and the often- this I spoke to the late Dr Cliff Smith Primary Health Care in developing capabilities. We did numerous clinics the fellowship in what ways I can Symonds and Phil Morrow + team. We hosted challenging work-life-faith (who had been a great mentor) who countries and a godly mentoring in unusual places while being taught financially and in fellowshipping with the Intern Boot Camp 2015 with several junior balance that we have to do as recommended the Intermed course. attitude towards the group. by the Intermed doctors and nurses the body of Christ in Healthcare. It is a doctors in Adelaide and held a few junior doctor Christians. I’ve mostly been It’s a course designed to introduce already working in Vanuatu. At the privilege to participate in blessing and meetings that year. CMDFA has always been a involved in attending IMPACT health professionals to Christian The course covered a wide range same time we passed on some of our being blessed by the CMDFA family at group of like-minded Christians with a passion conferences and other NSW medical work in developing contexts, of subjects – from the common skills . Again there was a strong spiritual dinners, conferences and other informal for service and fellowship with the ability to share local events such as Intern anywhere in the world, including our diseases and health challenges in element. The best example of this that chats. This year I had the opportunity and support each other through small groups and Boot Camp. I love being own Indigenous communities. various communities, to strategies I can recall was a local man having a to join the NSW committee as they seek the larger meetings like Impact. I look forward to encouraged by those older for implementing programs in huge lipoma removed from his neck. under God to serve the CMDFA in NSW seeing CMDFA continue to grow and to be able and wiser and being able to So, during January of this year I did the remote communities. We learned Whilst this was happening, the local so doctors, dentists and students can be to share my experience, especially now I have encourage those facing a four week intensive course at Tabor, about tuberculosis, AIDS, malaria, pastor sat beside him explaining how encouraged to live lives that glorify God been working for a few years with those coming stage of work/life that we Adelaide, a Christian Tertiary College. For immunisation, malnutrition, worms sin is like a burden on our shoulders in the workplace. Officially I’m meant to through medical school/ junior doctor years. have already faced. It’s a the benefit of anyone who is wondering and parasites (many lecturers that can only be removed by ‘specialist’ be helping out with communications but I would encourage them to continue to stay wonderful community that whether they are called to short- or recounted personal encounters intervention by his loving creator! God I have also been involved in discussions motivated and connected to Christ during those feels like home. What is the long-term work in the developing with these!). We went to a pathology worked mightily during the two weeks about how to support students and busy years. most special is that IMPACT world, I thought I’d record some of my laboratory and learned to make and the team and locals were blessed. doctors in training, especially in their means you get to catch up observations about the course. microscope slides and identify all first few years in the workforce. As a A memorable moment from my time with CMDFA with people from all over the sorts of nasties. There were talks on There’s much more I could say. Check student, and now SRMO, I am grateful would be the connection with Dr Symmonds (the country that you only really My group consisted of a dentist going mental health, surgical emergencies, out their website www.intermed.org. for the ways CMDFA has helped me father of Chris who I met at IMPACT in 2011 and meet once a year, but boy, to Nepal’ nurses and a physician from resuscitation, suturing, inserting au. To summarise, I believe I left with to work through issues specific to the we lived in Darwin together in 2012) in Fiji at the are those catch ups precious! Texas, USA with experience in and plans cannulas, how to pull teeth , give a new enthusiasm for God’s work medical setting with regards medical Suva hospital emergency department while he It’s saying hello again to an to do more work in China, Indonesia, anaesthetics, as well as putting each in the developing context and the ethics, career decisions and how to live was there teaching medical students and I was old brother/sister.” l PNG, Sth East Asia; a young man about other in plaster casts, etc. empowerment to be useful! l as a faithful Christian doctor.” working with the Army post-Cyclone Winston.”

20 | LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 | 21 Looking forward by learning from past experiences “I was always told internship would be tough, but I never Tapping into God’s Strength knew what that meant, until as a Junior Doctor I started.”

by Lorraine Cheung ringing about the patient. “It’s the I spent the next few hours looking you to first realise your weakness. In 1. What does ‘weakness’ look like for wife again” she says, “she says his after this man. Each time I entered 2 Corinthians 12, Paul speaks to the a junior doctor? Lorraine is currently a resident speech is slightly worse.” “Is there any his room, his wife appeared disgusted Corinthian Church about a vision he SNIPPET weakness?” I enquire. “No, I don’t think at me. It crossed my mind to avoid was granted from God. His opponents 2. Why does God allow these and will be embarking paediatrics so,” the nurse answers. her, but I knew I had no choice. were always boasting in their spiritual weaknesses? Most of all, I would like to training in 2017. She is a child of experiences and Paul is very hesitant to encourage participation by God, a child at heart, and prays “She... began to hurl personal insults, boast of his vision. He writes: 3. How do we boast in our weakness Christian health professionals for a Matt-18:3-child-like, trusting to display God’s glory? in the broader sphere of faith every day. As a speaker at the questioning how long I had been a doctor “On behalf of this man I will boast, international health activity. 2016 CMDFA internship bootcamp, and telling me that if I ever continued my but on my own behalf I will not boast, First thing’s first. Let’s clarify what There are many groups in except of my weaknesses – though if I Paul means when he talks about his Australia engaging in this in Lorraine loves gathering fellow medical career, ‘I’d have a lot to learn.’” should wish to boast, I would not be a “weaknesses.” I think some might be some form or another, including: Christians in hospital together, to fool, for I would be speaking the truth; tempted to say that weakness refers to non-government organisations, encourage one another in spreading but I refrain from it so that no one may “sin,” but Paul clarifies what weaknesses both Christian and secular, God’s aroma on the wards. In hindsight, there were many things I decided to apologise to her formally, think more of me than he sees in me are. He talks about “insults, hardships, non-profit institutes, university at this point in time that I would have acknowledging that I should have or hears from me. So to keep me from persecutions and calamities.” departments, special interest done differently. But in the moment, come sooner. She was so acutely upset becoming conceited because of the These seem to infer that there are groups in hospitals, commercial How do we tap into God’s strength I was caught up on another ward that she was unable to process this surpassing greatness of the revelations, circumstances that are forced upon project management companies as junior doctors? In medicine, reviewing another patient and in my and began to hurl personal insults, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a you rather than sinful circumstances, and others. Christian health there are many times when God’s distracted state I said, “I’ll come and see questioning how long I had been a messenger of Satan to harass me, to which stem from our own hearts. professionals have much to offer strength is needed to carry us and him when I can.” Forty-minutes passed doctor and telling me that if I ever keep me from becoming conceited. here. We can unashamedly tap uplift us through both the joyful and by before I could attend the patient. continued my medical career, “I’d Three times I pleaded with the Lord When I asked some residents what into a special heritage and history sorrowful days at work. Let me share When I entered the room, I found his have a lot to learn.” about this, that it should leave me. But they wish they knew in internship, a of health care. We can offer a my own experience as an intern on wife perched on the edge of the chair he said to me, “My grace is sufficient recurring theme was, “I was always told counter-culture professional an after-hours shift. glaring at me, “Why have you come This was the first time I cried during for you, for my power is made perfect internship would be tough, but I never perspective that starts with round so late!?” I apologised for being internship. It was the first time I felt in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all knew what that meant, until I started.” the worth God places on each It was the first hour of a 15-hour shift, caught up on the other wards and the weight of responsibility of being a the more gladly of my weaknesses, Internship can be tough – physically, individual and does not value and I reviewed a gentleman who had started to assess the patient. I tested doctor. And to this day, I would have to so that the power of Christ may rest mentally, spiritually. It might not be the useful over the poor. And suffered from a presumed transient his power and discovered hemiplegia agree with what she said – I had a lot to upon me. For the sake of Christ, tough for everyone, all the time. But, all of us will benefit from closer ischaemic attack (mini-stroke) with (weakness) on his left side. learn. then, I am content with weaknesses, unlike the carefree days of being a identification with the labour, some residual speech deficits. During insults, hardships, persecutions, and medical student, it is easy to feel the often sacrificial and saving, of this morning review I assessed the My heart drops, and my stomach John Piper says, “Faith is not the boast calamities. For when I am weak, then burden and weight of the responsibility. Christians working overseas. patient, answering many questions flips. Have I delayed the window for of the strong. It is the cry of the weak I am strong.” There will be times when you have a Vol 7 No 2 May 2002 Broadening Our Horizons – Looking Overseas from the patient’s wife as best I could. thrombolysis? What if it’s me who in need of a saviour.” It seems obvious, lower urine output than your patients “International Health – A Rapid Appraisal” I then went about my day, performing leaves him with a residual hemiplegia? but if you were strong in the first place, There are three things we can learn or you become pre-syncopal with by Chris Morgan different ward jobs. Around an hour I feel my cheeks flush red, and duck why would you need to find strength from Paul’s letter which can be applied later, I received a call from a nurse, out to activate the urgent stroke call. in God? Finding strength in God calls to our work and struggles. continued over page

22 | LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 | 23 LOOKING FORWARD BY LEARNING FROM PAST ExPERIENCES hypoglycaemia. There can be difficult or because I feel like other people are perfecting and demonstrating the pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is Admit – Last year I was working in can cry out to God and be reminded of and seemingly unreasonable families judging me? Tim Keller in Counterfeit Lord’s power. You see, the fact is, our admirable – if anything is excellent Coffs Harbour and I had a wonderful our dependence on Him as our great to talk with. Even with the best of Gods talks how one way you can suffering reflects the suffering of or praiseworthy – think about consultant to work with who has great Heavenly Father. I pray we may be able intentions, we will make the wrong identify an idol is by tracking your Christ. God chose what is foolish in the such things.” Just a small word of respect for his patients and colleagues to boast in our security and hope in clinical judgements. You will get emotional response to different world to shame the strong (1Cor 1:27). encouragement to a fellow intern, a alike. One day, he came across a patient God, to have the humility to ask, admit judgemental glares, when you stand If we were actually “strong,” we would med student can express thanks. And who was a failed discharge. She had and apologise in the workplace. I pray up for a fellow intern who all the nurses “Let me tell you from retaliate when we face these situations. giving appreciation to your registrar or a GCS of 3 and needed transfer to a that in everything we do, for the glory are putting down. You will manage to We might return the insult, we might even to your consultant can go a long major hospital because this consultant of God, by always tapping into God’s disappoint your seniors. You will get experience, thankfulness turn back the hardships, we might way. had ceased her immunosuppressants strength. l dissatisfied shrugs when you choose and encouragement is cover up the calamities and use our a few weeks ago, and she had a relapse not to gossip with your team about co- own strength to get out of the distress. Sometimes I ask myself, why am I so of Hashimoto’s encephalitis. I received workers. You may feel overwhelmed countercultural. It has reluctant sometimes to give praise to a phone call from the immunologist by the workload. There will come a the ability to change the When we get down on our knees my colleagues, or to a nurse. When with strict instructions to “Please, don’t SNIPPET time when you get the gut-wrenching and plead to God for our sufferings I dig, I find it’s my own ugly pride stop the immunosuppressants for at feeling that you’ve made a mistake and dynamics of our work to be relieved, we demonstrate our which is stopping me. You see, when least 3 years, unlike last time.” To my People are put in prison because realise your incompetency. day, our team, and even dependence on Him. We should pray, we complain or put someone down, it surprise, my consultant said, in front of the judges had determined that not assuming he will take the thorn makes us feel as though we’ve stepped the whole team including our registrar, society needed to be protected You will feel overwhelmed with stress our ward.” away, but we pray and trust that God up another step on the pedalstool. two interns and a medical student, from people such as these. And so and guilt and inadequacy when you will listen, give us strength to endure And in our heads, we think that “Well, that was one of my mistakes the prison management rightly go find yourselves in such situations. They and even rejoice in tribulation. By maybe when we praise, it will push of 2015, that’s good to know for next about doing all they can to effect make us look weak. situations. He says, “pull your emotions doing so, we display the resurrection us down and the other up. But this time.” We were stunned, that this this charge. Rules and regulations up by the roots and sometimes you power of the Spirit, and Jesus’ victory is ridiculous! We are to be thankful, consultant admitted that he was wrong are a necessary part of this. In a And that’s the point. will find your idols clinging to them. over death. We are set free from the because that speaks humility. It speaks – it was so rare, so radical! What did it place where people who steal, rob, When I’m upset about a situation, I end shackles of the guilt and burdens contentment and appreciation, for show? Humility. kill, shoot up, fornicate, beat up This is why God grants us these up asking myself, where, or in whom, of our weaknesses. We can boast in the situation we’re in. Let me tell you, other people and regularly tell lies weaknesses in the first place. As people do my security, and hope, and desires our weaknesses to bring God the from experience, thankfulness and I realised how loudly it speaks when without batting an eyelid are all put working in medicine or dentistry (many lie? And why am I so anxious, upset or glory, displaying our reliance of God’s encouragement is countercultural. It others know you are a competent together, it is not surprising that of us with type A personalities), we disappointed about this situation? Who strength, and grace. has the ability to change the dynamics doctor, but you also are not afraid to the worst of humanity are brought can be bad at failing or have trouble am I trying to please? Man or God? of our work day, our teams, and even admit to your weaknesses, and boast to the fore. They do all the things responding to situations that make us John Bloom, co-founder of Desiring our ward. that you are also learning, just like that Christians consider sinful. But feel and look weak. So, saying, “When Secondly: God says to Paul, “My grace God lets us in on a secret. He says, “the everyone else. if we recall Scripture, and especially I am weak, I am strong,” is very radical. is sufficient for you, for my power more aware you are of God’s grace, Ask – Don’t be afraid to ask! As we are the standard that our Lord Jesus There are two main reasons why God is made perfect in weakness.” It is in the more humble, prayerful, thankful, junior doctors, we are expected to ask. Pray – Not only do we admit to those set in the Sermon on the Mount, allows these “thorns” to pierce us. these times when God brings us low, patient, gracious, content and joyful This is our chance to really learn and we might have wronged, but admit and take time to reflect, one that we realise his height. We realise you will be.” ask all the questions we have! We are our weaknesses, our insults, our quickly realises that we ourselves Firstly: We realise where our values our dependence on him, for every not expected to know everything. This calamities to one another. Remember are truly not much better. As Paul are held and where our identity is breath and footstep. After considering all of this, how can principal extends beyond internship as that in sharing in Christ’s blood, we reminds us, “All have sinned and found. When I become upset about we “boasting in weakness” look like well. Asking for feedback and accepting share in his sufferings. And we do fallen short of the glory of God”. If an incident, or a failing, I always ask What does Paul do when he receives in the workplace? Finding strength in criticism humbly shows that you are this together. The act of admitting we are now different, it is because myself, “Why am I feeling this way?” the thorn? He pleaded with God for God, amidst tribulation, plays out in 4 not someone who covers up their weaknesses to another, will allow the we have experienced the love of How much of my disappointment is Him to take it away from him. Paul’s ways, and it spells out “T-A-A-A-P” – for weaknesses, but shows that you are other person, when they are also faced God. Amazing grace! because my ego has being crushed weaknesses are the platform for “tapping into God’s strength.” Thanks, willing to learn, and ultimately, it is with weaknesses, to know that they Ask, Apologise, Admit. Pray because you care and want the best aren’t the only one who faces them. By I am glad that I work in a place for your patients. sharing with one another, and praying where have had the opportunity SNIPPET Thanks – A thankful heart speaks together, we can be vulnerable, honest of being regularly reminded of humility. Thankfulness speaks Apologise – Many a time, we will wrong to each other. When we share to one God’s grace and mercy. “But for The powerful mutual attraction that existed between Jesus and the sick and contentment. Thankfulness can be people. In our weak selves, we will another, we share as two very fallible the grace of God go I”. Lady Megan troubled was paralleled in his relationship with others who, for a variety of when we “consider it pure joy when succumb to temptation. We will follow humans, both humbly sitting at the Bull is quoted as saying, “The years reasons deemed by society as right or inevitable, were marginalised and we face trials of many kinds” – James the crowd, we’ll take short-cuts. When foot of the cross. Just as a warning, be I spent as a prison doctor were the ostracised. Not only did he not reject them; he frequently sought them out and 1:2-4. Think about it from the devil’s we’re tired we will become curt with careful to not let these incidents turn most rewarding of my professional embraced them. The gospel records are replete with example after example perspective. He wants us to complain, the nurses or the patient’s family. In into gossip. If you find yourself saying, life.”’ This too has been my of Jesus confounding or enraging his critics by such “deviant” behaviour, and hurl insults back, to retaliate. But our weaknesses, we make mistakes. “oh so-and-so nurse has insulted and personal experience. It has been and encouraging his disciples to similarly misbehave. Those who became how radical would it be if we responded The worst thing we can do is to cover it wronged me…” this is self-righteous my training ground in discipleship. companions and friends of Jesus found that this relationship led them also with thankfulness? up. Think about David and Bathsheeba. talk. May our words be full of humility, Each day find myself challenged to into the company of the poor, the dispossessed, the disapproved of, and those When we cover it up, one thing leads to honesty, thankfulness and joy. “act justly, love mercy and to walk pushed out of sight and mind. Why? Because, quite simply, to be a companion Thankfulness also applies to thanking another. We should apologise to God, humbly with God” (Micah 6:8).

of Jesus was to walk where he walked and be led into holy deviancy. other people. Philippians 4:8 reminds and we should apologise to the ones I pray that we will be able to Vol 1 No 4 September 1996 Care of the Incarcerated Vol 7 No 2 May 2002 – “Holy Deviancy” by Steve Bradbury us “Whatever is true, whatever is we wrong. acknowledge God in each day and each “Care of the Incarcerated – Reflections of a Prison noble, whatever is right, whatever is step we take. That in our weakness, we Doctor” by Chris Liew

24 | LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 | 25 SNIPPETS SNIPPETS

What is ‘Christian Wholeness So who am I? I am a surgeon in I have argued for religious voices to The chief concern of this article is The goal of healing? There remains much for the Counselling’? Psychiatry prides the Royal Navy, with over 20 be recovered from the modernist to consider [Peter] Singer’s defence So what is the goal of healing? One church to do in caring for the sick itself in an eclectic and holistic years service under my belt, and I wilderness. of infanticide in the light of refugee who had been receiving and dying and bereaved. approach. This includes the well- headed up the surgical capability recent events in Queensland, over help for a while said, “I feel good known ‘bio-psycho-social model’. afloat for the UK Forces deployed Religious voices, along with other which the philosopher’s shadow coming here, I appreciate the We are exhorted to call the elders However, as research has shown into Iraq earlier this year. marginalised voices, need to looms, which show the attempt to practical help I get, I’m sleeping to pray and anoint the sick. We over the last number of years, the be allowed access to the ethics move beyond theory to practice, a little better, and the massage are not promised miracles at our spiritual side of the equation is By virtue of my age, I am of the conversation table. introducing social infanticide on a relaxes me, but I’m not healed yet. whim. Thankfully the outcome of often left out. Generally, providers ‘old school’ of surgeons, having continuum with social abortion. I will know when I am, for then I our prayers remains firmly in the of mental health services are trained in the generality of surgery, The challenge to medical ethics, shall be free.” hands of our heavenly Father. significantly more areligious and rather than superspecialising at in particular, is to become more I write as a specimen of the old atheistic than the community. an early stage. Consequently, I inclusive of different voices tradition, for whom the sanctity Is not freedom a core element of One dear and faithful member This difference has resulted in am equally at home dealing with – including religious ones. In of life ethic, properly understood, God’s promises? That we shall be of our church with lymphoma the so-called ‘Religiosity Gap’. vascular injury and bowel injury, order for this to happen, the has not collapsed, and for whom free. Not just from persecution, had severe ieucopenia following Christian Wholeness counselling breast cancer and paediatric field of ethics must subject the “something better” heralded by poverty, and pain, but from sin, chemotherapy. The church offered attempts to close that gap. It can surgery. I received my trauma itself appropriately to a critique Singer gives no joy. and the final enemy, death. much prayer both corporately and be integrated with medication training in Johannesburg, South of its modernist assumptions at her bedside. and the psychotherapies, and Africa, which has the highest rate concerning the rationality of Singer has been laying the It is ironic that Australia, which acknowledges that the patient of gunshot wounds and stabbings religious belief. theoretical basis for infanticide- prides itself as a freedom loving My mobile phone rang in church has an extra dimension of change, in the world. I also happen to be an on-demand since at least 1979, country believes that locking one Sunday morning just after that a third person is present in ordained Anglican priest – and the It is at the table of public writing in Practical Ethics: If the people up is a long term solution the pastor had finished leading therapy, and there is an additional Professor of Military Surgery for conversation that all voices offer fetus does not have the same claim for indigenous and refugee in prayer for her healing and the family outside the doctor’s rooms. the Defence Medical Services, UK. themselves for critique. Only to life as a person, it appears that “problems”. Australia locks up more phone message was that she had

Vol 7 No 3 Aug 2002 An odd combination, I will admit. then can legitimate discourse the newborn baby does not either, people than any other country just died. Who Cures Souls? Christians and Mental Illness “Touching Heaven, Changing Earth” by John Warlow within medical ethics, a discourse and the life of a newborn baby is except China and the USA. For God was neither bolted on, nor an amongst equals, even begin to of less value than the life of a pig, a those asylum-seekers in the limbo Does God have a sense of humour? augmentee – He was there already. take place. Only then can we dog, or a chimpanzee... In thinking of detention centres, death can be Or is his kindness just so much Indeed, His representative – a naval move towards finding answers for about this matter we should put seen as the path to final liberation, deeper than we will ever fathom?

There have been some interesting chaplain – was integral to the ship’s some of the more serious moral aside feelings based on the small, the act of suicide the only act in Vol 5 No 2 May 2000 – Death and Dying “To Weep With Those Who Weep” studies on the beneficial role of complement, though he, too, was questions of our time. helpless and – sometimes – cute their power. by Richard Chittleborough prayer and of a religious affiliation only drafted in as an augmentee Vol 9 No 2 Jun 2004 – Religion and Ethics appearance of human infants... If Vol 7 No 4 Nov 2002 “Religion and Ethics: A Conversation We Ought to Have” “I was in Prison” – Refugees and Asylum Seekers on outcomes in coronary care, because we were going to war. by Edwina Vance we can put aside these emotionally “Reflections on the Refugee Experience” burns and even paediatric moving but strictly irrelevant by Martin Chittleborough oncology. (The Faith Factor by It is strange to note that it was aspects of the killing of a baby we Matthews). And there was some through the effects of the first can see that the grounds for not recent debate in Christian Medical Gulf War on the ship’s chaplain killing persons do not apply to The Gospel of Luke as a Lukan Jesus is a martyr par excellence. and Dental Association email then, that I began to explore my newborn infants. celebration of difference He is not prepared to compromise lines about whether or not RCTs own path to ministry and the From the very beginning Luke’s on the faith he is handing down, but were appropriate to explore this priesthood. The call to “put aside feelings” Gospel presents Jesus as the faithful instead of revenge he takes pity on

dimension. I can say from a “Study- Vol 8 No 3 Nov 2003 – Casualties of War recurs in Singer’s work. Gaita preserver of Israel’s tradition of his executioners, forgiving them as “Gulf War 2: A Time to Kill and a Time to Heal” of-1” that when I blew up*, my by Philip Barker saw in this “an impoverished hope for the nations. His mother will all the martyrs that follow Jesus’ wife emailed friends and relatives understanding of reason and is honoured as a prophet in the example. For Luke’s community, around the world and we both felt its relation to feeling, of the tradition of Hannah (1 Samuel 2:1- Jerusalem is not to be remembered uplifted on a bed of prayer from distinction between knowledge 10). The baptismal acclamation of as a place of condemnation, however, four continents, including those of the head and knowledge of the Jesus as Son of God is a literary link but as a place of new life and hope. of my Muslim cousins in Malaysia. heart.” CS Lewis, who may have to the Adam, son of God in Jesus’ There is no leaving for Galilee to find Robin says at no stage did she crossed paths with the philosophy genealogy. The proclamation of the risen Christ. he is in the region feel doubtful of the outcome nor student at Oxford, made the point Jesus in the synagogue at Nazareth of Jerusalem, will ascend to heaven was she ever laid low in her spirit Scientific and religious prophets have sounded the ‘clarion call’ for the distress in Men without Chests: “It is not reminds the reader of Elijah, whose from Jerusalem and his church will be during those first couple of weeks. being experienced by ecological and social systems. They are calling us to excess of thought but defect of beguiling narrative weaves its inaugurated in Jerusalem. In Luke’s It is salutary to contemplate to repent of current lifestyles and start living more in communion with the fertile and generous emotion that way through the tedious listings Gospel, the truth of God’s presence whom were my Muslim cousins environment. Decisions regarding our food, clothing, housing, and transport marks them out. Their heads are of Kings illustrating the heart of a is found in the midst of extravagant praying – to the one True God, I provide daily opportunities to consciously ‘live’ our faith. Our religious faith, no bigger than the ordinary: it is compassionate God who blesses hospitality offered to friends and believe. and deep love of fellow humanity and creation, will underpin the hope the atrophy of the chest beneath and heals Jews and Gentiles, males enemies alike.

Vol 11 No 1 Feb 2006 – In Health and In Sickness necessary to empower and maintain effective and sustained action. that makes them seem so.” and females, children and adults, Vol 9 No 3 Oct 2004 – Tolerating Differences “One Heartbeat Away from Heaven” “A Biblical Basis for Tolerating and Celebrating Difference” by Anthony J Radford Vol 14 No 4 Dec 2009 – Climate Change Vol 2 No 1 Mar 1997 – AIDS and Abortion and who cannot be confined to one by Merrill Kitchen *This is a quote after Anthony Radford suffered a “A Changing Climate: Some Christian Responses” “On the Sactity of Human Life” by David van Gend geographical space. Ultimately, the ruptured aortic aneurysm and was seriously ill. by David King

26 | LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 | 27 Fruit SNIPPETS SNIPPETS blooming in There is enormous support provided when people can hear each There is great value in getting We are all familiar with the mentor Before I ever met him, one of other’s stories. Those of us who have ongoing contact with people out of the surgery and taking concept so well described in the Melbourne’s leading oral surgeons with life-threatening illnesses should encourage them to tell, or a clean break from work, on a Paul-Timothy relationship in the was described to me as “a good the desert write, or paint their stories, even if the only hearers, readers or weekly basis, for my own sanity New Testament. I believe that oral surgeon and a good Christian”. viewers will be their families or friends. and mental health. There is today, more than ever, young Another dentist used the same usually a degree of isolation – it Christian dental and medical words shortly afterwards. When by Jacki Dunning It is somewhat ironic that the accounts proclaiming the fullness is unusual for me to see anybody students need mentors from the phrase was repeated a third of life discovered through facing death are nowadays to be found else at all, apart from my walking the profession who can provide time I realised that the life and Student worker for CMDFA not in Christian devotional manuals but in first-person accounts companions, on most of my a mature, balanced view of the actions of the oral surgeon published in palliative care journals and magazine articles. There walks. I find after a day out in the world from a Christian point of followed the teaching of Jesus are stories about how the imminence of death has led to liberation bush I feel refreshed and ready to view. At our own dental school, we Christ: “Let your light shine this At my first IMPACT conference, I met a doctor that people have avoided in the rest of their lives, stories about near face the rest of the week. have been blessed in having the way that people may see your who lived and worked in the Northern Territory death experiences that have transformed the way people now live. involvement of Christian dental good works and glorify your Father – in Alice Springs. It had always been my dream Stories about encounters with angels that have re-directed people’s In spite of all this, I am often fellowship members with the who is in Heaven”. (Matthew to work in Alice and I had already been there paths (and spawned the odd telemovie along the way). Stories you’ll reminded that God’s primary student group on a regular basis 5:16) Some time later we became on placement. In fact, every year I went back to find in the New Age section of your local bookshop, alongside a concern is for people and their over recent years. It has had an acquainted. He told me that he Alice as a student. dwindling remnant of Christian materials that also make their way eternal salvation. Although one enormous impact on the Christian often “shot up a silent prayer” there. can sense the presence of God dental students both individually during a treatment session. His Finally as an intern, I was offered two jobs – a big when in the wilderness, He is and as a group. Thus my challenge choice of words caused me to Melbourne hospital (the Alfred Hospital), and Alice Where then are the stories which emerge out of mature Christian especially to be found in people: to readers of Luke’s Journal is to reflect. If God works through His Springs Hospital. I took the plunge, shifted mine reflection? We have some catching up to do, even though it’s Heaven is often described in look for opportunities to become Spirit and prayer (Philippians 1:19) and my husband’s lives to the Northern Territory, Christian tradition that gives shape to this new literature in the first terms of a city, with buildings involved with the Christian student and Jesus commends secret prayer and haven’t looked back since. Who was the first place. and streets, full of people. The population in your local university (Matthew 6:6) should we consider doctor I saw when I picked up my pager at the Vol 5 No 2 May 2000 – Death and Dying ultimate picture in Revelation dental or medical school. Our the silent prayer to be as effective hospital? It was the same doctor who first planted “Death, Health and Medical Practice” by Bruce Rumbold is one of people: it is the praise students need and value your as the audible when we are being the seeds at my first IMPACT as a student! She was and honour of people that God input and witness! “workers together with God” there on my first day as a doctor to see the fruits ultimately desires, above and Vol 12 No 1 Mar 2007 (2 Corinthians 6:1) in the Medical Teaching and Christian Faith of her conversation with me, all those years ago. Once you’ve managed all the basics of stepping into another beyond that of the bush. “Dental Education – Parameters for Personal Growth” by ‘treatment room? culture, probably the next step is to earn acceptance. When others Vol 14 No 4 Dec 2009 – Climate Change Laurence Walsh Vol 12 No 2 Jun 2007 – Leadership “He Restores My Soul: Why I Go Bushwalking in “Witnessing Happens” by John Messer Today, I work with Indigenous Australians every realise that you’re also human and vice versa – despite the different Tasmania” day and can’t imagine doing medicine any other language, different skin colour, different life experiences – then by Philip Andrew way. God constantly uses people to challenge acceptance should come naturally. They key is that living and my faith, to keep me questioning, to shake my working within another culture is necessarily a two-way exchange complacency, to inspire me, to make my heart if it’s going to be successful: don’t expect others to share their burn, to flame my passion, to sharpen my skills lives with you unless you’re willing to reciprocate. So be willing The first is to show grace to all particularly guarding against the Keep going! Talking about ethical and harden my armour. My current burden is to share what makes you happy, what makes you sad, who is in your people. Grace is the one quality temptation to exasperation or a issues in the workplace can be my role as the oncology resident in Alice Springs family – these things are universal. that distinguishes Christianity cutting riposte. It is making time to challenging, but also extremely Hospital. Alice doesn’t have a specialist; there from virtually all other faiths, and be a listening ear when there are rewarding. It takes practice, and is just myself with a telephone, and a hassled Sometimes even I am pleasantly surprised at how this works out in certainly the self-centred, secular pressures inside and outside the some people will find it easier oncologist on the other end of the line. I feel so my own life. I have some very good Aboriginal friends with whom world around us. Grace has been course. It is the antithesis of much than others. Don’t give up! Ethical inadequate. Never before have I had to deliver I have very little in common: they may have never seen the ocean, described as receiving that which of the university culture, where discussion offers a window into bad news, so frequently, to patients. “Your let alone travelled abroad, who may have never known someone cannot be gained for yourself. God’s success is lauded loud and long, understanding our coworkers treatment has failed.” “We have tried everything, Chinese, who have not completed secondary education, who gift of Christ crucified to restore and everyone is exhorted to strive better than would be possible you have fought so bravely, but it is time to stop speak limited English, who do not have much money in their bank relationship between himself and us for the next grant or publication. otherwise, and into letting chemotherapy.” accounts, and who have never owned a camera. Not long after was the ultimate expression of grace. The two are not mutually exclusive, ourselves be better known. For I visited my friends and relatives in the United States, several of Showing grace in the medical school but Christians in that environment Christians, ethics is ultimately Yet every day I am reminded that this is not the these Aboriginal friends took great delight in looking at hundreds of demands showing as much respect must be continuously wary of being about living out our faith, and we end. There is always more that can be done photos of my American family and friends in big cities, by the sea, and honor to the first year students seduced by noisy adulation and should pray that conversations – and that more is to pray. I can pray for my and eating in restaurants! I didn’t expect them to be that fascinated! and the cleaners as to the Dean of demands to be productive. about ethics will also lead to patients. I can speak light. Yes, I am hampered In turn, one friend told me stories about travelling across the desert the Faculty. It means acting as a Vol 12 No 1 Mar 2007 opportunities to share what we Medical Teaching and Christian Faith by the professionalism of the job, by political on a donkey with her family when she was a child, another told me servant, making yourself available, “Medical Teaching and Christian Faith – A Personal believe and why. correctness, by time, by space, by emotion, and a story that her grandmothers and grandfathers told her – every making sure every question asked Perspective” by Geoff Mitchell Vol 16 No 3 Dec 2011 – Ethical Grand Rounds often by language. But that doesn’t mean I say week, I have more stories to tell of how my friends (with whom, is answered with respect. it is “Talking About Ethics at Work” by Justin Denholm nothing. I can at least say something with a touch on the surface, I have very little in common) share their joys and of the hand, a hug, genuine and from the heart, I sorrows with me, I share mine with them. can tell my patients I pray for them. And God can Vol 14 No 2 Dec 2009 – Cultureh and Professional Care water the seed. God will water the seed, in my “A Global Nomad’s Thoughts... On Living and Working Across Cultures” by Teem Wing Yip patients as He did with me. l

28 | LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 | 29 The publication of Catherine’s book, Christian faith. He was a practising patterns of neuronal activity. This belief The Hospital by the River, led to a Catholic and his Christian faith must be classified as a superstition…. greater international profile. As well as was central to his life and scientific We have to recognise that we are Doctors Who her many national and international endeavours. He challenged scientific spiritual beings with souls existing in honours, Catherine was interview materialism, which he regarded as a spiritual world as well as material by Oprah Winfrey in 2004 and after impoverished and empty, and sought beings with bodies and brains existing a donation; the hospital opened an to develop a unifying theory which in a material world’. Oprah Winfrey wing. The New York would account for ‘the wonder and Inspire Us Times has described Catherine as ‘the mystery of the human self with its Throughout his life his endeavours new Mother Teresa of our age’. spiritual values, with its creativity and were characterised by an extraordinary with its uniqueness for each of us.” energy and thirst for new knowledge The Life and Work of Three Famous Australians of the brain, but also a deep love for Eccles was born in Melbourne in 1903 humanity and Christian spirituality. and much of his early education was As well as his remarkable scientific by Don and Michael Todman Catherine was born in Sydney in 192. from his parents. After graduating in discoveries, he followed his mentor, After medical training in Sydney and medicine from University of Melbourne Sir Charles Sherrington in affirming the Don is a Neurologist in Brisbane, obstetric training at Crown Street in 1925 he travelled to Oxford as a Biblical worldview which is consistent and Michael, School of Medicine, Women’s Hospital, she married her Victorian Rhodes scholar. As a student with brain science. The University of Queensland. husband Reg Hamlin who was a medical he was fascinated by the mind/brain superintendent at Crown Street. problem and recounted that when Graeme Clark 18 years old he was struck by ‘an Graeme Clark is one of Australia’s All of us in the medical field have In 1959 they responded to a job awesome feeling of uniqueness’. His best-known clinician scientists. He mentors who have guided our paths advertisement in The Lancet for a sense of wonder at his own brain was has achieved international renown in clinical training. The process of short-term appointment in Ethiopia. the motivating force for his life-long for his life’s work; the development mentorship involves a personal Not long after arriving, the magnitude study of neuroscience. At Oxford, of the bionic ear (cochlear implant). relationship between teacher and of obstetric complications and Eccles joined the team of Sir Charles This device has brought hearing student. As such we can aspire to suffering became apparent to them. Sherrington, Professor of Physiology. and changed the lives of countless follow in the way of those who have They became aware of the problem Sherrington is regarded as the father recipients. Although his stellar taught us. of obstetric fistulae, occurring as a of modern neurophysiology and his achievements have brought him complication of obstructed labour, school was renowned, attracting many international recognition and success, Mentorship is part of our formal which in western hospitals would have John Carew (Jack) Eccles young scientists from throughout it is his unwavering Christian faith that academic study and medical practice, been treated with forceps delivery the world. Eccles was Professor of inspires us. but good teachers can instruct us in or Caesarian section. In remote parts John Carew (Jack) Eccles Physiology at the University of Otago, much more, for example: humility, Catherine Hamlin of Ethiopia, women with obstructed Sir John (Jack) Eccles (1903-1997) Dunedin from 1944–1951 where he service and dedication to work. We are labour could strain for days without was one of Australia’s most eminent continued his studies on the synapse. fortunate indeed if we have teachers the infant being expelled. The medical scientists and a leading His work was instrumental in proving who overtly express their Christian “[The Hamlins] have consequences were catastrophic neuroscientist of the twentieth chemical neurotransmission in the faith in their daily medical practice. successfully operated with loss of the child and, in a high century. He is best known for his work brain and overturned the previous view proportion of cases, women developed on the synapse, which led to the Award that electrical transmission was the There is a further level of inspiration on over 30,000 women a fistula between bladder and vagina. of the Nobel Prize in 1963, though his primary means of neuronal processing. that can come from leaders in our and the centre has research spanned 50 years in Australia, profession who have demonstrated The Hamlins decided to specialise in Oxford and the United States. During It was at Dunedin, where Eccles first high achievement and have publicly been a major base for fistula repair and established a clinic his career he was fascinated by the met the philosopher Karl Popper honoured Christ in their lives. One teaching surgeons from especially for this purpose. Since then, uniqueness of the human condition with whom he shared a life-long could think of many famous Australian they have successfully operated on and much of his work especially in his collaboration on the mind/brain Christian doctors whom we could all over Africa and the over 30,000 women and the centre latter years was devoted to the ‘mind/ interaction. The dialogues were esteem and in some way seek to developing world.” has been a major base for teaching brain’ problem. Throughout his life recorded and broadcast and led emulate. This paper will highlight the surgeons from all over Africa and the Eccles was outspoken in defending to the publication of his book, The inspirational lives of three renowned developing world. Self and Its Brain – An Argument for colleagues - Catherine Hamlin, John “[Eccles] endeavours Interactionism. Over several decades, Carew (Jack) Eccles and Graeme Clark. of the obstetric fistulas. The Hamlins The motivation for Catherine Hamlin’s Eccles and Popper developed an Their life and work demonstrate first left Australia in 1959 for what was work has been her Christian faith. were characterised by alternative theory of mind known as in different ways outstanding to be just a short-term contract in the She writes in her autobiography ‘I’m an extraordinary energy dualist-interactionism. His approach, Graeme Clark professional achievements, but also midwifery school in Ethiopia. Now aged sometimes asked how I have come rooted in Christian understanding, personal Christian attributes that we 92, Catherine still oversees the Addis to spend the greater part of my life in and thirst for new challenged the monists who advocated Graeme Clark was born in Camden could identify as ‘fruit of the Spirit’. Ababa Fistula Hospital, one of the few Ethiopia. The answer is simple. I believe knowledge of the brain, a purely physico-chemical explanation in country New South Wales in medical centres in the world dedicated that Reg and I were guided here by for human consciousness. ‘I maintain 1935. His father, a pharmacist, was Catherine Hamlin to relieving the agony of vaginal fistulas God’. Catherine’s early life was centred but also a deep love for that the human mystery is incredibly severely deaf and often struggled to Catherine Hamlin is an Australian after childbirth injury. Catherine Hamlin on home and church and from an early humanity and Christian demeaned by scientific reductionism, communicate with customers. After obstetrician who with her husband, Reg has received many honours in her life age she began her day by reading Daily with its claim in promissory medical studies at Sydney University, Hamlin, established the first hospital and is recognised as a great Australian Light, a practice that she still continues spirituality. ” materialism to account eventually for in the world specialising in the repair and a ‘living national treasure’. over 60 years later. all of the spiritual world in terms of continued over page

30 | LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 | 31 DOCTORS WHO INSPIRE US he qualified in ENT surgery and also From the life and work of these Living out our faith “The more [Clarke] saw completed a PhD on Middle Ear and three famous Australians there is Neural Mechanisms in Hearing and the of the wonder of human much that we could emulate. For Management of Deafness in 1969. In hearing and the human Catherine Hamlin, a life of sacrifice 1970 at the young age of 35 he was in answering the call of God on her appointed to the first Chair of ENT at brain, ... the more he life is evident from her long tenure in in the workplace the University of Melbourne. Although sensed the presence Africa. John Eccles, the pre-eminent he faced opposition from academics neurophysiologist of his generation, and colleagues, he persevered in his of a loving God.” demonstrated boldness in his research and efforts, which eventually unwavering advocacy for a Christian led to the development of the bionic worldview of the human condition ear. Together with bio-engineer, David distinct from the prevailing views Dewhurst, Clark performed the first this theme a number of times in his of scientific materialism. Finally, cochlear implant in 1978. Since then, Letters. Best known is 1Corinthians Graeme Clark, whose life and career the device has been widely used 11:1: ‘Follow my example, as I follow have brought hearing and hope to so by Jo Ng spent learning about pathophysiology, If you are a working professional now, throughout the world, often with the example of Christ’(NIV). Also many: a quiet humility epitomises his anatomy, the Krebs cycle and more, I I hope that you will continue to see dramatic results in bringing hearing to 2Timothy 3:10-11: ‘You, however, character and can inspire all of us. l Jo is a child of God and a final year found that the greater treasure still was others through Jesus’ loving eyes. I profoundly deaf children and adults. know all about my teaching, my way of medical student at the University the time spent growing to know Jesus hope that you will not be caught up Graeme Clark’s achievements have life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, of Queensland. in the company of others. in work, but that your work will be Further reading: been recognised with many awards endurance, persecutions, sufferings… 1. Hamlin, Catherine, The Hospital by the River. A Story of a means to share the gospel and to Hope. Pan Macmillan, Sydney (2001) including Companion of the Order of .’(NIV). In Paul’s example to others, he 2. Popper, KR, Eccles JC, The Self and Its Brain. An Argument Thank you for the opportunity to In His generosity, God has helped me live out your hope through Christ. I Australia, Fellow of the Royal Society, points them to Christ. Likewise, our for Interactionism. New York, Springer-Verlag, (1981) share about my time in Australia as a to think deeply about how the gospel pray that you desire for Christ to be 3. Worthing, M, Graeme Clark, The Man Who Invented the Florey Medal and the Lasker De Bakey inspiration from our medical colleagues Bionic Ear, Allen and Unwin (2015) medical student. shapes the way I live. I saw Jesus afresh king during each working day. May 4. Excerpts of biographies of Catherine Hamlin and John Prize. can point us to our Lord Jesus through Carew Eccles have previously appeared in Luke’s Journal through reading the Bible with others you desire this more than desiring to their faith, witness and perseverance. in the section Doctors Who Have Made a Difference. Before I came from sunny Singapore in the workplace. We worked out do your work well, furthering your The popular biography of Graeme to even sunnier Brisbane, I had some together that knowing Jesus meant training, or for the workday to end Clark by Mark Worthing gives a clear (and by some, I mean a substantial that we could begin to relinquish the quickly. picture of his committed Christian SNIPPET amount of) trepidation. I was leaving stubborn control we had over our life. It speaks of his humility in seeking the church in which I had spent most of lives and our time, and instead trust If you are a struggling student, I pray God for strength, whether just prior It takes a disaster to turn the minds are fundamental to a Judeo-Christian my life, my loved ones and my close- that He is in control and He is Lord. you will find hope. Continual, Spirit- to surgery or relying on Him in his of contemporary Westerners to God. belief. knit cell group. I was venturing into a Journeying with others required refreshing, strength-giving hope, not academic and public life. Sure, we dabble with spirituality, but completely new career. Much time was careful planning around schedules in your privileged role as a student a serious and genuine engagement We will look in vain to the Bible or spent in prayer – praying for a family and intentional conversations (heaped but in your privileged position as sons From early in his professional career with God, or the idea of God, seems theology for a neat solution to the away from home, and praying for God’s with a whole lot of prayer), but the and daughters of our living God, in Graeme Clark sought to reconcile to need an enormous jolt. The jolt dilemma posed above. The Bible continued presence in my life. result of that effort gave rise to Christ. It may not seem or feel that Christian faith and scientific medicine: may be personal, as when we or never tries to explain suffering: Job wonderful times of encouragement. way, especially when the world and “the more he saw of the wonder someone close to us is seriously ill, or receives not an explanation, but an During these last few years in Brisbane, Finding time to read the Bible in the the institution of medicine tells you of human hearing and the human when there is an unexpected death. overwhelming revelation of God’s God has reminded me of how workplace, and integrating faith with otherwise, but as Paul reminds us, brain, the wonder of nature and all Or it may be almost global, as when power and sovereign freedom. tremendously generous He is. The work were challenging. However, I “Once you were alienated from God its grandeur, the more he sensed the on St Stephen’s Day 2004, hundreds It seems what is important is not one who brings the jacaranda trees to learnt that God provides opportunities and were enemies in your minds presence of a loving God.” (p141) of thousands died and many more why (as if we could understand the flower (a reminder of exam season) is aplenty and have also found myself because of your evil behaviour. But were left homeless by the “Asian purposes of God anyway) but how the one who provides for my needs. gaining accountability partners at the now he has reconciled you by Christ’s In 1979 as a young academic Graeme Tsunami.” The response may be a we will respond to suffering. Will He is the one who loves to hear, and workplace! physical body through death to present Clark published Science and God: desperate cry for help, or it may be we continue to trust God, and allow continues to listen to, my prayers. At you holy in his sight, without blemish Reconciling Science and the Christian an angry accusation: “Why did God Him to comfort us? But even this can university I have fond memories of My student life has not been without and free from accusation – if you Faith. His personal and public advocacy let this happen?”, or “Where was God seem trite when offered as advice praying, giggling, and belting out songs its downs – from self-doubt, to seeing continue in your faith, established and for the Gospel has been a hallmark when this happened?” or “Why didn’t by someone who has no personal of praise with brothers and sisters in critically ill patients pass on, and firm, and do not move from the hope of his life and a wonderful example God do something to stop this?” experience of suffering themselves. my campus fellowship group. They fellow pilgrims turning away. God has held out in the gospel… – Colossians to all of us in the Christian medical Believers and non believers alike may So we have the personal testimony bear witness to God’s provision of a seen fit to teach and discipline me to 1:21-23” community. respond in this way. But the Western of David, of Jeremiah, of Paul and family away from home. be more like Christ, allowing me to secular press expressed it in the of Jesus himself, all of whom knew share with others in their suffering My experience with God in Brisbane Conclusion form of an ancient Greek dilemma: intense suffering. I clearly remember the excitement and death. Through these moments and in medicine has not been As Christians, our desire is to know if God is both perfectly good (or of watching my first colonoscopy of difficulty, and deep sorrow, exclusive. As I have been blessed and and follow Christ in our whole lives loving) and all powerful, why does The greatest miracle is that faith – seeing how the pink lining of the beautiful hope remains! Hope, in our encouraged, I hope this encourages including our working lives and evil/suffering exist? The tsunami survives in spite of suffering, and large intestine gave way to the villi- deliverance from the dominion of you to know that just as God has profession. Following or imitating was thus an occasion to question despite the lack of a neat explanation. covered small intestine. I smiled as I darkness into the kingdom of God’s worked and continues to work in my others who have gone before is the existence of God, or at least His Vol 10 No 1 Mar 2015 – Tsunami pondered on how imaginative God is beloved Son, in whom you and I have life, He does and will work in yours too. “Can Faith Survive the Tsunami?” l a thoroughly Biblical approach to goodness or power, both of which by Denise Cooper-Clarke in His creation, and how wonderfully redemption and the forgiveness of May He show you Christ! discipleship. The Apostle Paul develops made we are. As I look back on time sins (Colossians 1:14).

32 | LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 | 33 SNIPPETS SNIPPETS

Psalm 8 (NIV) Can we call our Health System, our What does being salt and light So then, what is it to be human? Trite but true, effective workplaces The names and histories of Lord, our Lord, how majestic is politicians, our administrators, our really mean in the hard world We are animated stardust, sharing have vision and passion. Clarity the children fostered by my your name in all the earth! teachers, our clinicians and even of medical practice? our physicality with the earth of role and business objectives grandparents have not been You have set your glory in the our patients to account at this and with the animals, sharing give staff focus and direction. passed down, but the adopted heavens. time? Why should we? • We need to stress the absolute similar genetic material, but being They are committed to the children are clearly family and we importance of people and of God. given the ability to reflect on our greater good. Personal agendas have made no distinction between Through the praise of children 6 reasons: • We can strive to show the emotions and drives. We are social give way to public service. God’s them or their children and those and infants you have established a 1. Patients are demanding more relevance of Christianity to all of beings learning how to interact wisdom endorses the importance born naturally into the family. stronghold against your enemies, and more, but the health dollar is the problems that surround us. through our relationships in family of a clearly articulated strategy They were ALL my aunts, uncles, to silence the foe and the avenger. shrinking. • Someone needs to help the and community. We are driven focused on achieving outcomes cousins, nieces or nephews. In our 2. Few are willing to say out loud that money counters see that we in the people. Some of these drives for others. After all, some of the large family gatherings there is a When I consider your heavens, the perhaps we need some limits to medical profession really do care are in conflict with others and in last words Jesus spoke on earth set group of people who superficially work of your fingers, the moon and what we can afford in Australia. about the budget. conflict with our best intentions. out a clear strategy for mankind resemble each other with fair hair the stars, which you have set in place, 3. We face ridiculous additional costs • We also should have no scruples But most deeply we broken, sinful in administering the resources and fair complexions, inclined to what is mankind that you are mindful to our economy through things about declaring that we care that conflictual beings are recipients God entrusted to us: “Go and be mesomorphic in build. There of them, human beings that you care such as class actions against Blood the community is not being told of the free grace of God in Christ make disciples of all nations, is noticeable diversity in the rest for them? Banks for Hep C which could not the whole truth about Medicare, by which we are empowered to baptising them in the name of of the group. However we all be reasonably protected against. about the real cost of delivering develop a new way of living in the Father and of the Son and of share a sense of belonging to this You have made them a little lower 4. The drive to cut costs is leading to health care in Australia and community and in the hope that the Holy Spirit and teaching them family, with shared memories, than the angels and crowned them worse staff handling than I have for that matter about the real one day we will be like God, when everything I have commanded and a shared inheritance, just with glory and honor. ever experienced. financial state of the nation. we see him face to face. you.” as those adopted into God’s

5. The belief that we can make life Vol 16 No 2 Aug 2011 – What it is to be Human Vol 17 No 3 Dec 2012 – Administrative Affairs family share in the inheritance of “Who Am I? Animated Stardust” “Godly Wisdom on Governance and Administration” You made them rulers over the works safe is leading to more and more I believe that this is what being salt – by Asoc Prof Alan Gjisbers by Norelle Deeth eternal life, of unity in the Spirit of your hands; you put everything costly precautions being taken at to preserve, but also to tickle up the with other believers, the benefit under their feet: all flocks and herds, a time when we can’t afford the system – and what being light – of Jesus constantly interceding and the animals of the wild, the birds basics in some situations. to show the way more clearly – really for us, the guidance of the Holy in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all We spend millions in our teaching means for us here and now. Spirit, assurance of salvation and that swim the paths of the seas. hospitals but only cents in our Vol 4 No 1 Feb 1999 Matthew 25:34-40 other rich spiritual blessings. God Current Thinking in the CMDFA rural outback. “Christian Health Professionals and Societal Values” The king will say “I tell you the truth, “I was in prison and you visited created the first family and gave Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your 6. People across the system are by Robert Batey when you did it to one of the least of me.” (Indigenous is highly over- us a pattern for living in harmony name in all the earth! unhappy. these my brothers, you were doing represented in prison – 2.6% of the with each other. Adoption is one it for me.” population and 21% of the prison way to make families stronger and population). happier and clearly echoes the “I was hungry and you gave me adoptive relationship believers something to eat and drink” I could add a few more that I am sure have in the family of God.

(Indigenous nutrition issues, food would be consistent with scripture... Vol 16 No 1 Apr 2011 Transplantation, Adoption and Wellbeing supply, access to fresh fruit/vegies “The Theology of Adoption” by Wendy Bourke are among the worst in Australia). I was hot and smelly after walking INSTRUCTIONS FOR CONTRIBUTORS five kilometres in the hot sun to “I was a stranger and you invited get to the clinic and you didn’t look Members of CMDFA are invited to submit articles or me in.” (Indigenous housing, down your nose at me but offered Regardless of how complicated letters to the editors for publication in Luke’s Journal. overcrowding, vagrancy, and home me the same service as anyone else. or complex are the needs of Articles may or may not be on the advertised theme. ownership is the worst in Australia). the person who comes to seek Writers may wish to discuss their potential contribution I had cardiovascular disease and you our clinical service, we can do with the editors or their state editorial representative before submitting. “I needed clothes and you clothed offered me a CABG. (See AIHW (MJA- little wrong and much good if me.”(Indigenous disposable income Cunningham) review on the odds we approach the person with Articles, letters, book reviews and lengthy news among lowest in Australia for usual of getting a principal procedure sensitivity and respect and seek items should be submitted (preferably in electronic necessities, National Aboriginal and at an Australian hospital if you are their permission as appropriate. form) to the editors with a covering letter requesting Torres Strait Islander Survey). Indigenous versus non Indigenous). The patient may or may not their consideration for publication. Photos supplied have a spiritual understanding. should be high resolution JPEGs. “I was sick and you cared for me.” The list could go on, but I am sure We as clinicians of faith, yet are Advertisements and short news items should be (Indigenous health is the worst you get the drift. called to be Christ-like, to be

submitted directly to the sub-editor. See page 2 for of any group in the country, with Vol 16 No 2 Aug 2011 – What it is to be Human competent, compassionate, contact details. “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Issues” shorter life expectancy – median by Mark Wenitong good communicators and to be age at death in Queensland for encouragers.

males is 53 years vs 71 for the rest of Vol 16 No 3 Dec 2011 – Ethical Grand Rounds Queensland). “Wednesday Morning at The Clinic” by Michael Burke

34 | LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 | 35 expert [sic] witness for a government to their definition in belated recognition the first course in topics such as ‘Death, commission addressing whether or not that most individuals and communities Dying, Loss and Bereavement’, Care of What does the Lord require public health physicians should be paid have some spiritual dimension to their the Elderly and ‘Counselling in Medical commensurately with ‘left and right’ eye lives which influences their level of Practice’. doctors. The person responsible for the health and happiness. maternal and child health services in my Another area where I was often at of us but to ‘Do Justly, Love state of more than a million people was There were parts of human behaviour war with myself, my colleagues and paid less than a neonatal intensivist. in medicine which were totally out of certainly the government, was the alignment with what I believed was a distribution of resources, especially On graduation I wanted to be involved Christian perspective. I could not be the over-allocation to hospitals and the Mercy and Walk Humbly in medical education and to get a part of abortion and euthanasia – very low level of allocation for public into the medical curriculum those working and writing, even preaching health-related research compared aspects I felt most lacking – especially against them. I argued that when a with molecular biology and its ilk. I with our God’ behavioural sciences, public health woman came to me seeking an abortion also firmly believe that society has a and general practice. These included I would gently point out that I was not role to play in such allocations, and not doctor-patient relationships, ethics, only her doctor but I was also the doctor merely the medical profession. This aged care, palliative care and care of the of the child developing inside her. To became more acute in my work among by Anthony Radford Like Timothy, I grew up on my mother’s (and father’s!) disadvantaged. As Osler observed at abort it or, as was often requested, to less-resourced countries – where the knee with a known relationship to, and later with, the beginning of the twentieth century simply refer them to someone else who centralised hospitals (providing care Anthony is one in a long line of doctors – his grandfather (a Christ. This didn’t make me better than anyone else, when it was proposed that all medical would do it was the same as doing it for a lot less than ten per cent of the surgeon), two uncles (both of whom became Presidents of far from it. But it gave me an objective in life – namely, education should be conducted in, and myself. population) received sixty-to-seventy the RACGP, and one of WONCA), an aunt who worked as a rural to ‘Love the Lord my God with all my heart and soul only in, teaching hospitals – “Cabined, percent of the health budget. These practitioner until she was in her eighties, a cousin…with a and mind and strength, and my neighbour as myself.’ cribbed, confined in the four walls of hospitals demanded, and as often as son and two in-laws to follow. A graduate of the University of A life call into medicine was confirmed one day as the teaching hospital practising the “Challenges were not not, got, for example, the installation Adelaide, he did postgraduate training at the universities of Paul White – ‘the Jungle Doctor’ - spoke at a school cloistered virtues of clinical monks of CT imaging facilities whilst the rural Liverpool, Edinburgh and Harvard. After finishing his course assembly. [and presumably nuns] how can infrequent when your district hospitals went without even a in Adelaide, he spent a decade in PNG as a sole practitioner for they forsooth train men [and again colleagues knew that basic X-ray machine. Similarly, when up to fifty thousand people and has returned on numerous Such a basis led me to work in areas where the need presumably women] for a race of dust headquarters acceded to demands of occasions, doing consultative medical work with the PNG and was great and resources few, and particularly with and heat, of which they know nothing you were a Christian.” centrally-situated hospital staff for third Australian governments and sundry NGOs. While there he more isolated communities. I become involved in and, this is a possibility, care less generation cephalosporins, peripheral established extensive undergraduate and intern programs medical education not only at undergraduate and [looking down their myopic corridors health centres were not supplied in rural health and conducted considerable research on postgraduate levels, but also with primary care workers at the total world of illness, which may with basic first-line antibiotics such as numerous clinical and public health topics. and communities. Much of this training was conducted contain the weightier particles but it is The case was similar with euthanasia penicillin or amoxicillin, and often basic open to question as to whether they are for those close to death or just wanting vaccines. As an undergraduate he was concerned that he had learned the more important.]” to die. I was trained to heal and to help little about himself, nothing about healthcare outside a “I have always believed it important and to comfort the sick, the distressed, Challenges were not infrequent when tertiary institution, and nothing about the environment and to be intimately linked to the My faith has been and is still regularly the dying and bereaved and those your colleagues knew that you were a its relationship to illness – especially the social environment. challenged in several areas. To me, in pain together with their relatives Christian. Once, when I described to a He also claims he learned very little about the relationship community.” the acceptance of the creation of the and carers. To deliberately intervene senior member of the bench that I was between doctors and their patients, and almost nothing about cosmos and the sequences of DNA to cease life was contrary to that – as having significant reaction against me the other professional participants in healthcare delivery and structures as chance happenings has with abortion, to ‘just do something’ at work, her immediate response was, what they had to offer. always been a greater leap of faith than as asked, was murder. There were “Of course. That’s because you are a outside hospitals, in the community – in ‘wards without belief in a Creator, though I cannot certainly times when it seemed that Christian.” At such times my wife would In 1974, he was appointed the foundation Professor of Primary walls.’ While most of this work could be labelled broadly always put together why He might have the contrary position was acceptable pray over me the ‘whole armour of God’ Care and Community Medicine at Flinders University. He has as ‘public health’ – it wasn’t the public health I learnt done that. That He should send His son – such as when the mother’s life was (from Ephesians 6) before going to spent fifty years as a consultant in primary health care and in medical school which had consisted of a few ad hoc to earth to show us how His human being compromised by the continuation work. international health to international organisations such as excursions and a pub crawl through the Adelaide Hills, creation could and should live in relation of the pregnancy or pain control was WHO, UNICEF, The World Bank, governments and numerous looking at primitive waste disposal systems and the to the totality of it was very rational. difficult. A greater challenge were the Would I do anything differently if I had NGOs such as World Vision and YWAM. After his retirement like. Further, as an academic, I have always believed it times when the growing fetus was my time again? Not a lot I suspect, in1994 he has spent fifteen years as a rural locum GP. He has important to be intimately linked to the community In teaching, I saw the need for a more forming abnormally. Was continuation except to offer prayer more often as written two books. One is about his life and work in PNG – and so have maintained a clinical role as a physician and comprehensive definition of health than of the pregnancy the lesser or greater part of my therapeutic armamentarium. Singsings, Sutures and Sorcery – and general practitioner throughout my career. the WHO standard of 1947. And so, in of two almost intolerable options? I On one occasion when I was addressing the other (in preparation) is about the 1970s I came up with “The health didn’t wear one of those wrist bands so a Christian medical group and I asked, his experiences over 15 years as a When I graduated, most of us entered general practice, of individuals and groups is the level common some years back on which was “How many of you have ever prayed locum GP in remote and isolated when there was a distinct reflection downward by most of to which we can adapt to and live in printed ‘WWJD’ (what would Jesus do?), with your patients”. Only a third South Australia – Have Stethoscope, the profession on ‘general practice’ and more especially harmony with the inter-related social, though I often sought counsel in prayer answered in the affirmative and none Will Travel. on ‘public health’, as if its practitioners were some lesser spiritual, mental (personal), chemical, – but not always with a clear answer. I had done so recently. I have never had a form of medical being. I became convinced that general physical and biological environments received precious little instruction or negative response to that question and He is a former national chairman practice was the most difficult trade in the profession in which we live, work and recreate, discussion time in my medical course often the affirmative response has been of CMDFA and International vice- and public health was the most important. One of my without disease and without dis-ease’. concerning these matters, but it became quite firmly requested, even by those President of ICMDA. first tasks on becoming foundation head of a department At the end of the twentieth century, one of the objectives of my department who acknowledge a different faith, such of public health and general practice was to be an WHO added the ‘spiritual’ environment that we did so, and established perhaps as Hindus and Muslims. l

36 | LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 | 37 right. I don’t feel very Spirit-inspired Was it because I had married a new can focus on relationships and feelings, at this moment. This is not an article Christian who wasn’t really into Bible rather than exegeting Scripture and written to dissuade you from being studies? (Isn’t it a Christian girl’s calling us to spring into action... but I No Fire in the Belly? a Christian. No – actually, I wish I was dream to find a godly man who is a digress! someone who was strongly convicted sensitive ‘strong Christian’, who is good one way or the other! I doubt my article at quoting and explaining Scripture, I think the main reason for falling will change your religious persuasion, who had attended Bible College whilst away has to do with conversational as much as talking about suicide does solving the world’s problems? These availability. When I was single, my Sliding into Spiritual Apathy not make someone suicidal. I hope that sort of guys seem to date and marry life was my own, I could talk to God my article will be a discussion point by their twenties…. they have so many any time of the day. In 1 Corinthians for how we might approach people Christian women to choose from!) My 7:32-35, Paul talks about being single- in a similar thought-frame. Maybe by husband Paul is not into sharing his minded for Christ. I didn’t used to think “ I have not made this reading this you might understand how feelings over cups of tea during Bible I spent a lot of time with God – but article anonymous. a non-Christian might think, and that studies, or singing lovey-dovey praise now,married with children – wow, when you talk to them about Jesus, and worship songs. He would rather be comparatively, back then I was a saint! This is not an account they probably think you come from a in his shed creating an artwork devised from some obscure different planet. out of his brain, going camping in the Home life went from having untouched beauty of remote Northern conversations with God (or random person you I never thought the day would come monologues with myself), to living with have never heard of. when I would doubt the existence of “Remembering to talk one, then three other humans 24/7. This could be you one God. Two and four year old girls never seem to a physically invisible to cease talking!! There is no off-switch. day. .” I was brought up as a second- Even after our girls go to bed, they are generation Catholic and went to Mass God is challenging. The still in our thoughts and conversations. until I was an intern. I had Evangelical visible people in front of Before I had children, I naively thought, exposure through high school, why can’t mums stop what they are university and work life, including me take priority.” doing to answer their child’s question? some Pentecostal experiences. CMDFA Why do parents only seem to talk about has been a big part of my spiritual life, their children? Answer – because their and I have at one time been a CMDFA Flinders Ranges in the camaraderie of pre-school child may ask fifty questions by Lisa Koo was because evolution, not creation religious activities. In the 2010 General State secretary, a National Secretary, other men, or loading up in a chicane on per day and constantly demand their was being taught. I was surprised in his Social Survey1, 15% of men and 22% a National Board member, and part a motorbike. Paul is also not too keen attention! It is so hard to hear my own Dr Lisa Koo has been a rural naïve reasoning. of women aged 18 years and over of the organising committee for two about playing his guitars to formulaic thoughts, let alone God’s voice! general practitioner in the Clare said they had actively participated IMPACTs. Praise and Worship. He would rather Valley for 11 years, working a 0.7 However, there may be a hint of truth in a religious or spiritual group. Even punch out harmonically daring funk, I am time-poor. I look back at my load. She is married to Paul, and in his statement. fewer (7.2% of men, and 9% of women) I did not understand how people could jazz or rock’n’roll numbers with musos bachelorette life and marvel at how they have two children aged 2 reported doing voluntary work for their be non-believers. To me, God’s Word who are in it for the sheer love of music. much time I wasted. Nowadays after In the Australian Bureau of Statistics church or organisation: was real, and His presence in my life Where is the creative challenge in our coming home from work, I make and 4. Social Trends, November 2013 Losing was unquestionable. I was single for churches? And besides, what’s the point choices between spending time with My Religion?1 article, rates of reporting There is a rise of people reporting no a long time (I married Paul when I was of attending church when you can’t my daughters, spending time with my ‘no religion’ was increased in people religion, and it has become the largest 36), so a huge proportion of my major hear what’s going on at the front when husband, having me-time, or doing An alarming number of medical and with higher educational qualifications. “belief category” in 5 out of 8 states life-changing decisions were made you’re out the back in the crèche getting household chores. The couple of hours dental students ‘fall away’ from their It’s not so obvious in people in their and territories.2 61% of Australians in solo. But I never felt unaided, as I knew cabin fever with two little daughters? between my children’s bedtime and faith sometime after they graduate. 20’s (comparing high-school-only to the 2011 Census identified themselves God was my constant companion and my bedtime is short and precious. tertiary educated) – probably because as Christians. Only 1 in 7 of these 61% best friend. I had grown comfortable Our churches can be so feminised. Do I have an adult conversation with I believe the reason of ‘falling away’ is younger people across the board are regularly attend a church. being single, and enjoyed the life that How did this happen when Christianity housedad/husband Paul (who is too multi-factorial. increasingly reporting no religion. It’s He had given me. I would perceive started with Jesus and a dozen tired to talk, and craving silence after more obvious in the over 65’s (high- This is a personal account of my ‘falling God in nature, God-moments through men? David Murrow explains this a day spent with two little wanting I think that we slide into spiritual school 3%, tertiary educated 31%). away’. I think it gets talked about in His Word, and God-moments in the phenomenon in his book Why Men children), or go for solitude? If I opt apathy. When we doubt, we are hushed tones, but no one ever seems everyday interactions with family, Hate Going to Church.3 Murrow says for me-time, do I upskill my medical agitated like the waves in a sea (James In the 2011 Australian Census1, people to go through it in great detail. Maybe friends and patients. I blossomed churches often use ‘Jesus-is-my- knowledge, read through multiple 1:6) – we know that we are struggling. who studied Bachelor Degrees in the it’s too shameful (I think doubt and through ‘hardships’ and always knew boyfriend’ imagery. It’s fairly common emails (many with long attachments) But when the waves die down to creative arts (37%) and sciences (36%) its cousins are still taboo subjects that by the end of a hardship there for pastors to describe a devout from various institutions, trawl the nothing, so slowly we don’t realise, or were the most likely to report no in the Christian community). I hope would be a lesson from God in it. In my Christian male as being “totally in love internet, sew, or read the Bible?! even care – this is far worse. We are religion, while those who had studied you understand why I and others weakness I drew on His strength. with Jesus”, or to describe “falling (Answer: my priority is to do something inexorably taken out by the cultural education (21%) or health (22%) were might drop off the circuit. I have not deeply in love with your Saviour”, that least resembles work!) tide – and only notice if we are actively the least likely to do so. Physics and made this article anonymous. This is So how did I get to the point where I phrasing that men would probably find trying to keep land in sight. astronomy had the highest rates of not an account from some obscure started to doubt His existence? rather creepy. It’s easier to talk about Remembering to talk to a physically reporting no religion (45%). random person you have never heard the docile Lamb than to call on the Lion invisible God is challenging. The visible I remember someone asking me if of. This could be you one day. Some God was very present and confirming of Judah with a controversial temper people in front of me take priority. the reason why there weren’t more Reporting a religious affiliation is not of my explanations may sound very whilst Paul and I were dating, but not that overturns tables and incites unrest Christians coming out of universities the same as actively participating in ‘unChristian’. Yes, you are probably so apparent after we were married. among the powerful religious. Sermons continued over page

38 | LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 | 39 NO FIRE IN THE BELLY?

I was used to praying to God for read for enjoyment. We are reading a Sundays are no longer sacred. Shops are world is more “grey” and proselytising colleague who has committed Do we avoid being hurt, and choose significant life-changing events: what translation from Hebrew, and Greek, open on Sundays. There are sporting is considered more offensive. It was suicide. career paths and billing practices that specialty to train in, where to work, written in a time and place so remote events and entertainment to attend and telling that we were now meeting in • when one has failed an important shield us from unpleasantries? what country town to live in, what from our own. There have been many participate in. We use Sundays to catch an inter-religious building which has exam. Again. church to attend, who – if any – would times where I’ve read and reread a up on work, go to work, or catch up on its own Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim and • when one is exhausted by working How does hope return when youthful be my life-partner. As a trainee, clinical passage and it doesn’t compute. I can our sleep before the (working) week Pagan chaplains, and runs meditation long hours, or is being bullied at enthusiasm gives way to realities of work was new and challenging and fall asleep reading a picture book to my starts again on Monday. and yoga courses. work by bosses, colleagues or life? I was often praying for wisdom and girls, so keeping awake is problematic. patients. guidance. Nowadays, I have gone I have resorted to reading Our Daily If we have had sheltered lives, as In the same weekend, I attended an • when one feels undermined or Does God calls us to be mediocre? from being consciously incompetent Bread on my phone whilst on the toilet doctors and dentists we are thrust into anaesthetic refresher course where demoralised in their workplace, or (Being super at everything is very time to unconsciously competent, so am – but even there I can get interrupted the fallen world at an early age. I came they had a session on leadership. The feels like an insignificant cog in the consuming!) confident at handling most situations. by a little person! I also have a memory from a sheltered middle-class life. In military acronym VUCA – volatility, wheel of a larger (often government This is another reason for praying less. like a sieve which does not retain my case, doctoring was my loss of uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity – hospital) organisation that does not How do we minister to men? (Read information that I have read or heard (I innocence. As a GP, I have prematurely has been used to describe our current seem to hear their voice. David Murrow’s book Why Men Hate King Solomon asked for wisdom and am a visual learner). discovered through my patients that world, with its dizzying change of pace. • when we feel like we are treating Going to Church3 for some suggestions discernment, and made some pretty life can get challenging, ugly and very How do we respond to a constantly the paperwork, not the patient. of what Jesus did!) As Murrow, difficult decisions. My daily decisions I don’t like the idea of God being unfair, early on in life. Sure, I learnt not changing world? • where one has experienced enough interviewing Mars Hill Church’s Mark are ‘Which daughter gets the pink treated like Father Christmas, so I have to take home my patients’ burdens, of life to become world-weary, or Driscoll states: “Start making little dinner set?’(and ‘Which one will end swung the other way and not asked but constantly seeing people who are News used to be just local – limited by cynical. changes. One song at a time. One unhappy from their illnesses does take horse and cart, a telephone exchange, • where one sees others being sermon at a time. One lace doily at a its toll. When we listen to our patients’ or television. The world’s woes were mistreated. time”. (See table over page.) “If I harbor doubts, I can’t be a sincere witness, and complaints, we can’t help but be contained mainly to a state or national • when one thinks they’ve done I don’t feel qualified to talk about the Good News. affected. level. Nowadays we have news from all something really awful or If I am redefining my life, what parts of the world, at any time. We are humiliating, or they’re not ‘as are my goals? Hence I am less likely to see God at work.” If we were missionaries overseas, more aware of other people’s suffering, super-spiritual’ as others, and we I enjoyed the South Australian power we would be set apart by language, and can feel like an insignificant human withdraw from other Christians. outage last September. No mobile culture and colour. Often missionaries being – emotionally shouldering or internet for twenty hours and my up in tears?’). Do I decide to tell them Him for help. I also have not asked, will socialise with other missionaries burdens of people in worlds we And for those who are not suffering workplace was closed. We enjoyed that poo-poo talk, or drawing on each because I think I need to find the within a Christian community and hardly recognise, and barely making a – how will they ever find God? the candles, cooking food camp-style, other, is inappropriate? Is God really solution myself. For example, when hence be ‘set apart’. But when we are difference. What is our role in the face Christianity seems to be marketed to being drenched in our raincoats, interested in what brand of nappies Paul was in agony with a prolapsed missionaries in our own backyard, of global suffering? Are we supposed to the needy, the poor and oppressed. splashing in puddles, and watching work the best?! lumbar 4/5 lumbar disc, we did not these distinctions between secular pray for all of them? Where is God in all So what about those who are already the power of the rising water carry a think to pray because we knew one and Christian are more subtle, and of this? Compassion fatigue sets in. socially, physically, emotionally and 150kg tree trunk down the usually dry I want to live authentically. I used to day he would improve, and were told therefore more easily blurred. The more financially content with their lives? Why creek through our town… what an pray with my patients and talk about it would take about six months (and we ‘blend in’ and empathise with our Suffering can draw us closer to God, would they want to become Christian? adventure! God with them. But if I harbor doubts, so it was). If we are wondering how surroundings, the more we can become but it can also make us question God. I I can’t be a sincere witness, and I don’t to parent, we read a book on raising like our surroundings. How do we be in think doubt creeps in when we become 15 to 40 year olds are under- I’d love: feel qualified to talk about the Good children. If I am not sure what to do the world, but not of the world? deeply disappointed; when we feel that represented in church. • to get out-of-doors, and to be News. Hence I am less likely to see with a patient, I will use a medical we aren’t in control of our lives; when refreshed and reminded of God in God at work. (I do sometimes admit resource or ask a colleague. Patients have their unique view and we are beyond breaking point and God His beautiful Creation. to select patients and work colleagues opinion of their world, and are from hasn’t answered our prayers. • to learn how to meditate on that my spiritual life is lacking, as some I get bogged down in the trivial and the different faiths and spiritual journeys. Scripture like an old century way of showing them that we can’t be banal, or get tangentially distracted by Sharing these journeys with my patients I am of an age: Catholic monk. super-Christians 100% of the time.) Pinterest and what people are doing on opens my mind to other worldviews. • where significant medical and • to not always be the serious Facebook. So if we get talking to the other 39% of mental illnesses statistically occur. responsible parent/doctor/cranky Am I doubting, because I rely more on the population who might be Buddhist, • where one can be debilitated by one prophet, and have fun. God experientially, than reading His We are interested in micromanaging or Hindu, atheists, or calathumpians, or more chronic illnesses. • to meet with kindred spirits face to Word? (When I don’t see God at work the world. Wiki or Google anything, we can start to question our own faith. • where one can still be single face, rather than on Facebook. in my life – I doubt he exists.) Am I and you have an answer. If there is a Which is the correct world view? Which and have waited faithfully for a • to feel joyful and hopeful again. still spiritually living on baby milk and fifteen-step process on successfully God is the right God? Is there a God? Christian life partner, but have been haven’t yet graduated to solids? buying the right digital television for disappointed so far. Suggestions of how to get out of your lounge, there is not a lot of time Recently I went to a Flinders (University) • where one has married a non- http://www.mccrindle.com.au/the-mccrindle-blog/ spiritual apathy church_attendance_in_australia_infographic 4 In the olden days, people were to think about the big questions in life. Evangelical Students 50th anniversary Christian. • Be honest and authentic – you have illiterate, so the priests read the And if you do question Christians on dinner. Someone representing my • where one suffers the sorrow of not permission to be grumpy... but try Bible to them. Nowadays we have no how can there be a God when there decade group spoke, and described being able to have children. How do we nurture our faith? not to wallow in it! excuse, right? Reading the Bible is is so much suffering in the world, the 1990’s as the last decade where • where one has experienced Do we only attend Christian events, • Thank God for what He’s done for hard work. I used to love reading as and they reply in one paragraph, the life was “black and white” and you separation and divorce. read Christian literature, and only hang you in the past. a child, but I think reading medical answer seems a bit too simple, bizarre, could tell someone about Jesus using • of feeling vulnerable when one out with our Christian friends? But then textbooks dampened any desire to illogical, or incomprehensible. the Four Spiritual Laws. Nowadays the knows a close friend, relative or we would not be missionaries. continued over page

40 | LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 | 41 NO FIRE IN THE BELLY?

• Acknowledge Him in the little things these people – the ‘fringe’ could • I thank CMDFA, my spiritual family An Other-worldly of the now, and be open to what become the norm! (One day the that nurtures and supports me with He may be showing you in the majority may no longer be third- gentle encouragement, collective everyday. generation white Anglo-Saxon wisdom, and shared experiences. • If you’re time poor, at least be Protestant!) We are treating patients I have found CMDFA people to be generous with your money. who don’t fit in a neat little box, and open and non-judgemental. Sticky Hug • Understand the need to make time neither do we. for God. You’re not going to be able • “Don’t stop meeting with one The 2015 National Graduate conference to get to that regular Bible study, another” (Hebrews 10:25) even was a precious time for me. Thank by Jill And I realised I was so glad to snuggle or church every Sunday. You can’t when you don’t feel ‘holy’ enough. you, CMDFA people, for sharing your with this sweet, sweaty, sticky 4 year wait for things to come to you; you Even when keeping up with the own honest stories with me – your Surname not published. Jill lives in old, dressed in her best Ramadan probably have to go looking for “Big Four” spiritual disciplines raw times of despair, the times of a big city in the Middle East. She is plastic sparkly necklace. Probably on them. (Read your Bible. Pray. Give. Go to transitions, the highs and the lows, the in the painful school of humility, her way to visit extended family during • Listen to podcasts of sermons from church) is an epic fail, at least try times when you’ve clung to your faith. studying Arabic full-time. Her this fasting and feasting month. In a around the world. to hang onto fellowship. For me, Your journeys, and the stories of your dream is to work with refugees small way, I could care for her, while • Music has the ability to touch your this means keeping in contact with interactions with your patients are the her mum was busy snoozing and who have flooded this region. She soul, when no words sink in. CMDFA friends, or people I have modern-day parables of life. l gripping her 2 year old brother, all of us • We tend to copy the attitudes and ‘had history’ with for twenty years. came here after a long journey crammed on this seat. And I asked G to behaviours those around us, so it’s If I’m attending CMDFA events and I of preparation in Australia and bless her. prudent to think who is influencing don’t have the headspace to absorb often thought, ‘Am I ever going to References: our lives; the 61% ‘Christian’ or the the seminar, at least I can pour out 1. http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/Lookup/4102 get there?!’ In God’s kindness, her The bus stopped. I followed the mum .0Main+Features30Nov+2013 39% ‘other’. my heart to a kindred spirit. My 2. The McCrindle Blog, “Faith, Belief and Churchgoing in preparation in Australia included with her sleepy toddler stumbling • CMDFA is attractive to the ‘fringe’ eyes see the faithful guys in their Australia 24 March 2016, http://mccrindle.com.au/the- behind her, to the door and handed mccrindle-blog/tag/christianity/ university student ministry, GP doctors and dentists – the non- 60’s and 70’s, who have walked the 3. Murray, David. Why Men Hate Going to Church. (Nashville, over the still-deeply-asleep little girl. TN: Thomas Nelson 2011.) training in Perth and studying the conventional, or those who Christian walk, have had their times 4. http://www.mccrindle.com.au/the-mccrindle-blog/ The veiled mum mumbled ‘shukran’ have had ‘dropped out’ of the of doubt, and are still in it. If they church_attendance_in_australia_infographic wisdom literature at Bible college (thank you) and the door closed. I sat 5. http://mccrindle.com.au/resources/Australian- mainstream. We need to embrace are still hanging around, so can I. Communities-Report_McCrindle-Research.pdf in Sydney. back down to a glorious double seat. All move’. I felt indignant. ‘But how will to myself. But to be honest, I felt a little I fit?’. He nonchalantly replied, ‘mish sad at losing my buddy. I felt joyful I peered into the waiting bus. It was mishkala’ (no worries). that I’d been ‘stuck’ with her. And then nearly empty. I concluded that actually, I had been So grumpily I moved. blest. Then I glanced over at the BIG Sigh. man with his head rolled back, snoring Typical. Women always have to fit on his seat, on my seat, and I felt like I was looking for a way back to the around the men here. the winner. city. It was a Middle Eastern summer. Knowing I’d have to wait in the sweaty I wedged half my bottom into the It was a little taste of that other- heat on my vinyl seat until the bus seat. My legs stretched out to prop worldly promise. That, in the life to was full before I saw any action … I me in. Hands gripping the rail in come, Jesus will reverse everything. went to investigate share taxi options. front ready for the 3+ hour journey. I The most important will become the There were a few shabab (young realised there would be trouble at the least. And those who… by abuse, men) loitering around a taxi, and I was 30 minute mark. Eyelids drooping… neglect, poverty, war, discrimination promised the front passenger seat. Not and then I jerked awake, finding my or injustice… have been treated as ideal culturally, but the best option in bottom sliding its way to the aisle. rubbish here, will be given great a car of mixed company. But then 5m Blast. I blinked sleepily, weighing my honour there, in His kingdom. behind us, the bus suddenly revved options… and picked up the sleeping 4 its engines and looked ready to go, so year old next to me. Plopped her on my Just chew over that for a while. I dashed back on. We rolled 10m down lap. Put my chin on her head. Encircled What a glorious day that will be. the road. Then stopped. And waited. her with my arms, and we drifted off What a glorious truth, that our broken And people got on, then off, lured to sleep together... I woke an hour world needs to hear. by the taxis. And then back on. And later and we’d slid right down the seat, maybe one and half hours later, the awkwardly into her mum next to us. P.S. Last week I visited a refugee friend bus was finally heaving with people. The little girl was sleeping peacefully, from Iraq. We read Psalm 139. She was Yay! But then… a big man poked his despite flies dancing around her lips. equally delighted/captivated with the head in the door. A BIG man. The ticket She was sweaty, with dark curly hair ‘bloodthirsty’ bit we try to avoid at the seller man pointed at me, then pointed sticking to her forehead. I was sticky, end, “O God, if only you would destroy at a tiny weeny bit of double seat on warm, very thirsty (and not allowed to the wicked!”, as with the bit that ends view, where a young mum and her two drink water in public during Ramadan). up embroidered on our walls, “I am Excerpt from http://mccrindle.com.au/resources/Australian-Communities-Report_McCrindle-Research.pdf 5 children had settled themselves. ‘You But we were both safe and content. fearfully and wonderfully made”. l

42 | LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 | 43 Why Psychiatry?

by Kuruvilla George and why the baby was abandoned at and protested. Interns in India do not and 2 trains to Kedgaon. It was an the door of the department. We could have much say or voice and so it was a experience!! Two inexperienced young only presume that the baby was born surprise to everyone when I stood up men caring for a newborn baby. Some When I opted to specialise as a to some poor village folk who were and protested. However the Professor of the nurses in the hospital were very psychiatrist the most frequently unable to look after the baby and who did listen and then put the challenge helpful in cutting up bandages into asked question from Christians thought that by abandoning the baby back to me to do something if I wanted nappies for the baby and preparing was, “Why psychiatry? How can at the hospital the baby would at least to save the baby. As a single 24-year old some bottle feeds. We had all kinds of a Christian survive in the field of be looked after. unmarried man, I had no experience in questions asked during our journey mental health?” looking after babies and my parents, about the baby and where the mother who might have been able to help me, was. By God’s grace we managed to get I did my post-graduation in Edinburgh, “In psychiatry one was were in Singapore. What could I do? the baby to the Mission where she was Scotland. Even in a developed country accepted, loved and cared for. The little like the UK there were few Christian not focused on an organ, There were a group of us Christians baby had to endure a lot of challenges Lisa Manyata psychiatrists in the 1970s. Christians or part of a being, but that belonged to the Evangelical without any limbs. She was named Olsen with shied away from mental health because Union. We prayed about the matter Manyata, which in Marathi means Kuruvilla George. of perceived conflicts with their faith. the whole human being.” and then I wrote to the Ramabai Mukti ‘Acceptance’. So why did I decide to specialise as a Mission in Kedgaon, Maharshtra. Mukti psychiatrist? Mission was a Christian ministry set This was the final and most significant her and brought her up to cope with a ministry called ‘Manyata Ministries’. The hospital did not know what to up by a saintly woman called Pandita incident which contributed to my all the challenges which she faced. She is a motivational speaker and As a medical student I was attracted to do with the baby. One day a major Ramabai. I knew a couple of the disillusionment. As I was considering Manyata accepted the Lord Jesus accepts invitations from churches and the specialty of Obstetrics and wanted case conference was held to discuss doctors who worked in the Mission. giving up medicine, I spend some as her Saviour at the age of 5 years. other groups to speak and encourage to become an Obstetrician. I loved the future management of the baby. After discussion with the management, time travelling and visiting medical She went to school, learned to read, people. watching babies being delivered as I After much discussion, the Professor they agreed to accept the baby into colleges in India with Dr Frank Garlick, found it a great miracle to see the birth of Pediatrics made the final decision the hospital section of the orphanage. a missionary doctor from Queensland, I met Lisa Manyata again after 41 years of a new life. However, my medical that the baby would be kept in the The next challenge was to get the Australia. Dr Garlick left his prestigious “We should be willing in September,2015 during a visit to career took a major and drastic turn hospital, be given half feeds, gradually baby to Kedgaon in Maharashtra from position as the Professor of Surgery to stand up for what is the US. It was such an encouragement due to some experiences I had as a weaken, catch a hospital infection and Manipal in Karnataka. A good friend of at the Christian Medical College in and a challenge to me personally to young intern in 1973/74. Three major die in a comfortable environment. mine, another young intern, agreed Vellore to work as a staff worker right and to be the Voice see and hear how God has looked after events made me disillusioned with As a Christian I could not accept the to accompany me. The two of us set among medical and dental students for the voiceless..” and blessed this lady who in 1974 was medicine as I saw it being practiced. decision and immediately stood up out on a 36-hour journey by 2 buses and graduates with the Evangelical a vulnerable little baby with no limbs The way the poor and those suffering Union in India. This ministry gradually and at the mercy of a hospital where were often treated was worse than grew over the years to become the she was almost euthanised. God works animals. I began to question whether Evangelical Medical Fellowship of India. write and feed herself. She learned in wonderful ways and always has our medicine was a career for me or Dr Garlick, with much wisdom, advised to swim and drive and competed best interest in mind. Lisa’s favorite whether I should go into full-time me against giving up medicine as a in games for the disabled. Lisa verse is Jeremiah 29: 11, “For I know Christian ministry. vocation at such an early stage of my obtained an undergraduate degree in the plans I have for you,” declares the career. He warned that I might regret communication and a post-graduate Lord, “plans to prosper and not to harm As I was considering my future in it later on in life. He suggested that I degree in journalism. She then you, plans to give you a hope and a medicine, the third incident occurred could continue my training and that I obtained a job at Regent University, future.” which finally changed my medical could still do Christian ministry at any Virginia as a Career Guidance Counselor career. I was working as a intern in the time in my life. I took his advice and am where she is still working today. I hope this story about Lisa will department of Pediatrics at a Medical still grateful for his spiritual wisdom. I Sadly, her mother who brought her encourage you that there is hope in all College Hospital in India. Early one began to consider psychiatry as I felt up developed dementia and after 10 circumstances. The other lesson is that morning, as the nurses opened the that in psychiatry one was not focused years of suffering passed away a few we should be willing to stand up for doors of the department, they found on an organ, or part of a being, but the years ago. This was a big blow for Lisa what is right and to be the Voice for the an abandoned basket. When they whole human being and as a Christian I Manyata as she lost the closest person voiceless. We do not realise how God looked into the basket they saw a small could also consider the spiritual aspect in her life. Lisa continues to have a lot can use even a little act of ours. What Manyata as a baby in India. bundle. As they looked closer they of a human being. of challenges in her life and depends God wants from us is our availability noticed a newborn baby with big brown on other people for many of her daily and not our capabilities. He will use eyes looking at them. When the nurses Coming back to the story of Manyata, tasks. However, through all this she is us to bless others if we are willing and began to unravel the layers of clothing in God’s sovereignty a lady from a a big-hearted, cheerful 41 year old lady available. l and got to the baby, they realised that Lisa Manyata Olsen mission in the USA decided to adopt whose desire is to help others and to the newborn baby had no hands, arms, with her adopted her. Manyata was given a new name share God’s love. She says that there You can view or hear Lisa’s story and American mother. feet or legs. The baby had only stumps by her mother in the USA and she are multitudes of people in the world read about her ministry if you were where there should have been limbs. Photos: http://dailyrunneronline.com/beating-the-odds-without-limbs/ was called Lisa Manyata Olsen. Her who do not have hope. God’s love is to Google – ‘Lisa Olsen – Woman born No one knew who the parents were American mother accepted her, loved the answer. To this end she has started without arms and legs’.

44 | LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 | 45 the image of a sports coach, and say; “Keep in step with me!” (Headline 33.) Jesus said, “If your hand causes What on earth did you to sin, cut it off!” This shocking saying resonates with the story of Aron Ralston, the hiker whose hand was pinned by a boulder in Ohio in 2003. After being trapped for five days, he Jesus say?! saved his life by cutting off his own arm! (Headline 42.)

by Geoff Francis enforcing the worship of the Emperor; just completed a degree in computing There is widespread revulsion at the the Jewish religious leaders were losing and website design! I was able to failure of the Christian Church to Geoff Francis retired last year the respect of the people, and “the employ him to design and set up the protect children from abuse by clergy. from general practice. He was common people” were longing to find website. I purchased the domain name How good it would be if this discussion active on the Victorian branch moral leaders whom they could look www.whatdidjesussay.com and the was followed by the obvious question, committee in the 1990s. In 1975, up to. Jesus was gaining a reputation fifty two headlines, with the Gospel “But what did Jesus, the founder of Geoff, and his wife Jenny, worked as a teacher who spoke with moral records and some background pages, “Jesus‘ the Christian Church, have to say authority, in contrast to the priests and went live. (In the last ten years, the about this?” If we were to translate his with Jim Smith assisting at the religious teachers. rapid spread of smartphones has made teaching headlines into three word slogans, Salvation Army Hospital in Turen, the internet and its amazing resources continues (and I have done this exercise and East Java, Indonesia. They then Can you imagine Jesus doing a instantly available in the palm of my posted it on the website!) his words lived in the Latrobe Valley, Victoria preaching tour of Australian towns and hand!) to have a would ring loud and clear “DON’T for fifteen years, where Geoff cities today? Who would go to hear profound HARM CHILDREN!” (Headline 41.) was a GP-Obstetrician. He stood him? What reception would he get For each saying of Jesus I started from cynical, secular Australians who writing brief comments. Then I started impact on the Are Jesus words more important as an independent candidate have no time for “waffle, nonsense and asking other Christians to write lives of men to me than Paul’s? for the Victorian State Seat of lies” (otherwise labelled “bulldust”)? If comments, so that the website would For ourselves, we must ask whether in Morwell in 1985, gaining a vote a reporter went to his meetings, how not be just one person’s response and women practice, we place more importance of thirteen percent. Returning to would the newspaper report Jesus’ to Jesus’ message. At first I asked of influence on the words of Paul than of Jesus. Melbourne in 1993, he worked at message, and what headlines would be people from my church and circle. Growing up in a conservative church, Knox Medical Centre for nineteen written to grab our attention? Someone suggested I could invite in our I sometimes felt that the words of retired Governor-General Sir William Paul were given priority over Jesus’ years, following in the footsteps of generation.” These ideas were on my mind in Deane to contribute. This seemed message. Indeed, many Christians John Cranswick. Geoff and Jenny 2002, the year after the September 11 a bold move, but I contacted him, followed the dispensational overview of live in Melbourne and have three hijacking in the USA. I imagined driving and he promptly replied with a brief Scripture laid out in the Schofield Bible, daughters and two grandchildren. down the road, and reading a headline comment on headline 51; “Hungry, largely Indigenous electorate, and was led him to translate the whole Bible. and relegated the Message of Jesus He enjoys running, woodwork, outside the Newsagent’s, drawing homeless, locked up… How you involved in proposing alternatives to My project is an attempt to translate to the “Kingdom teaching” that Jesus and assisting Jenny in the English attention to something Jesus said, treated them, you treated me!” His the Euthanasia law that was enacted Jesus’ message into “contemporary presented to the Jews. In this way of for example; ”Love your enemies. – comments, and the words of Jesus, in the Territory. He commented on Australian!” reading the Bible, the teaching of the Conversation Class associated Jesus”. I set myself a challenge: to read remain strikingly relevant to the Reconciliation; “Be reconciled to your Kingdom was then put on hold when with their church. The Bible through the four Gospels, and write ongoing debate about our treatment of brother before you worship God!” Jesus did not confine his ministry to they rejected their King. This scheme Study associated with this class some headlines taken from his public refugees. His willingness to contribute preaching in synagogues and in the sees Christians as living in “the Age of is called, “Let’s talk about Jesus!” preaching. Day by day, I worked my to the project in this way was a great Are Jesus’ words relevant for Temple. He also preached to crowds Grace” (The Church Age) and looking ([email protected]) way through Matthew’s Gospel, trying encouragement to me. Since then Prof secular Australians today? in the open air, beside the lake and on forward to the Rapture, when they to summarise the different things Graeme Clarke has commented on The wide range of Australian Christians, the mountains. He ate and drank with would be spared the Great Tribulation. Jesus taught in a few words. After six headline 39; “With just a seed of faith including CMDFA members, who have publicans and sinners. He touched There was, and remains, a serious risk We live in an increasingly connected months, I had only reached the end of you can move mountains,” linking contributed comments on Jesus’ words lepers, talked to prostitutes, and of being selective in our response to ‘global village’ and Australia is Matthew. Interestingly, I had written 52 this saying with his work developing suggests that Jesus‘ teaching continues challenged his disciples’ prejudices Jesus’ clear teaching. If Jesus’ call to becoming an increasingly secular headlines! the bionic Ear. Former world leader to have a profound impact on the lives by engaging in conversation with an be the light and salt of the earth is not society. of the Salvation Army, General Eva of men and women of influence in outcast, unaccompanied Samaritan central to our calling, it is easy to think What to do with 52 headlines from Burrows wrote a comment on headline our generation. As Christians, we are woman at Jacob’s well – in broad the problems of our age, - poverty, Tim Costello discusses this secularism Jesus?! 50; “Use your talents for God.” Tim at risk of living in a separate culture daylight! As health professionals, we inequality, climate change, a just and in his new book, Faith.1 He notes Costello has written on “Don’t neglect with different language, and jargon have the great privilege of meeting lasting Middle East peace process, that the secular society includes In 2003, internet access was reaching justice, mercy, integrity!” Former that is foreign to people who have not people from many backgrounds and and the refugee crisis - are not our ”the emptying out of religion and 50% of Australians, but this was via Liberal State and Federal politician been initiated into our tribe. Eugen different faith journeys, often in times responsibility. The popularity of Tim faith from public spaces.” In the first painfully slow dial-up service. ADSL Bruce Baird comments on double Peterson’s modern translation, The of need. We must strive to express our LeHaye’s “Left Behind” book series and Century, when Jesus was preaching was just starting to take off. I was not citizenship under the headline, “Pay Message began with his attempt to faith in the language of our culture. movie, and the close links in the USA around the county towns and villages a high-tech guru. I was interested in the taxes you owe, and give God his translate one of Paul’s Epistles into When Jesus spoke of “Take my yoke between many evangelical leaders, of Galilee and Palestine, the Roman starting a website, but knew very little due.” Neil Bell was the Labor Member “Contemporary American” for the upon you,” he used the image of the moral majority and the right wing Empire was connecting previously- about it. Evan Englezos was a young for McDonnell in the NT Parliament members of his Lutheran parish. bullocks in domestic service; ploughing isolated communities and cultures, and Christian man in our church who had from 1981 to 1997. He represented a The positive response he received or carting loads. Today we might use continued over page

46 | LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 | 47 WHAT ON EARTH DID JESUS SAY?! Tribute to John Foley agenda of the republican Party might in my Christian faith, and in integrating be seen as a symptom of this selective my faith with the science and art by Paul Mercer a revelation with historical character. A compassion and ethical behaviour application of Jesus’ message. But it was of Medicine, by contact with many weak sense of the history of revelation in practice today. “Original sin” does Paul is Co-editor Luke’s Journal. Jesus, not Paul, who said “Therefore members of CMDFA. John Cranswick is likely to correspond with a weak sense imprint the past and certainly impacts everyone who hears these words of worked in India with his wife Joy, John Foley and I have shared the of Christian hope for the future. He the present. History should assist a mine, and puts them into practice, is encouraging students at Vellore editorship of Luke’s Journal for argues a number of consequences of a sober reflectiveness, which John has like a wise man who built his house on Medical College to work among the some eleven years. It has been a robust engagement with history: advocated in our journal. the rock.” Matthew 7:24. For myself, I rural poor. He then worked in General productive partnership. Ageing, • Clouds and Rainbows. Exploring • History helps us recognise the place want to test my life and theology – and Practice, where he became a mentor health issues and time elapsed since the historical lessons of failure and of the church in the world, even the politics – by the teaching of Jesus, and Open Hands – a meditation; and example to me, and was active on clinical practice, have indicated to success will always inform our current worlds of medicine and dentistry. There not try to limit his teaching to fit into Honour Him, who holds in His the Victorian State CMDFA committee John it is time to let go of this role. practice. The dictum, “Failure to learn is space for robust debate. Our journal my theological system. hands your life and all your when Rod Stephenson was writing his His contribution has been very the lessons of the past contributes has grasped the hope God has graciously ways. Letting go – of the past, newsletter – the forerunner to Luke’s significant and reliable. The quality to our ability to repeat them,” holds chosen for the church and the role The Stats! In 2010, the website of things lost, taken away, or Journal. John Cranswick described of his legacy can be identified in the enduring credibility. John’s editorship of Christians in our professions. The underwent a major upgrade. Statistics never received, of bitterness over the approach of an Indian chaplain at editorial on page 3. has accepted this perspective. Russian communist leader Khrushchev once observed: “Historians are are now available. The website receives past hurts, of fear and anxiety, Vellore Hospital, working among the As I reflected on John’s legacy, I • Unlocking the present. History dangerous people. They are capable of over 100 hits daily, and has been receiving – the gift of life today Hindu patients, and respectfully asking stumbled across an article entitled “Past not only contextualises the original upsetting everything”. The role of editors accessed from most countries in the our daily bread, every good gift them, “Please, consider Jesus.” This Mastery”.1 It is an excellent description revelation but provides us with a robust of a journal is not to always confirm our world (211 to be precise!) One in five from the Giver, every ray of love, attitude impressed me as the right of John’s contribution, coming through sense of where modern medicine/ prejudices, but to engage through the visitors look at more than one page. offering – ourselves to the Father, mind for us to be in to encourage the journal. It acknowledges his rich dentistry has arrived and how we got Holy Spirit in the business of “upsetting 62% of visits are from USA, but it is our resources to bless others. people to investigate Jesus’ message clinical and academic career and the here. The historical nature of revelation everything” for the sake of true freedom. also accessed from many “restricted for themselves. My ambition is thus disciplined way he has helped produce challenges any clean slate view of access” countries. (I am encouraged This project has taught me that we to be a signpost to Jesus; whether each journal over the past decade. human existence. John’s commitment As a fellowship, it is right to honour one by the parable Jesus told about the can pursue our passions and hobbies, I am called to stand by a major In this final edition of our partnership, to the encouragement of the integration such as John Foley who has served us farmer who sowed the seed. Whether and in God’s hands they may become thoroughfare, or at a rural intersection the theme around faith and history of work and faith in his work is evident so well. For now, his wish is to continue he was awake or sleeping, the seed instruments for His Kingdom. with only an occasional passer-by! l in John Wolfe’s article1 provides a in the Luke’s Journal “product”. in the long journey of faithfulness through other pursuits... Praise God! was growing!) The website is not framework to wish John Foley well.Wolfe • History as escape. In the The baton is now free and the emerging interactive, but the occasional feedback As a student, and throughout my observes that for Christians, history is consciousness of mature human beings Reference: Luke’s Journal team are grasping. l I receive is encouraging. Some people career, I have been greatly encouraged 1. Costello, T. Faith. (Hardie Grant books, 2016.) a vital link between the past and the is the tendency toward nostalgia. future. The scriptures, which inform the Reference ask for the free bumper sticker. One History in this sense is an escape 1. Wolfe, John. Past Mastery. Third way Magazine. man wrote that he was challenged by integration of our work and practice, are from the real challenges of justice, 22 Feb 1989 headline 11; “Don’t cheat on your SNIPPET wife – not even with your eyes!” He CHRISTMAS said the headline helped him make If ever there is a period of • Trying to replace memory lapses the connection between his addiction contradictions and contrasts, this is it. with graciousness, forgetfulness APPEAL 2016 to pornography and damaging his Retirement – a period of anticipation with kindness rather than relationship with his wife. and regret, of confusion and clarity. querulousness, to myself as well as BACKGROUND Healthserve has had a long-standing commitment to the medical Most of all it is personal, yet universal. others. needs in Muko, South western Uganda. We have been the On Easter Sunday, 2014, the website It seems at times to blend in to the • Giving more time to prayer and chief source of funding for the building of their Clinic and their was featured by Rachel Kohn on mystical. Much is written and talked meditation, lifting up the many transport and equipment needs. Now, the Muko Clinic needs our help. Uganda is one of the riskiest countries in the world in which her ABC National Radio program, about retirement. That’s good, or is others to our Father. to give birth. Even more so when you are in a distant rural setting “The Spirit of Things.’ Four of the it? It is often easier to talk, or write, • Surprisingly there is the challenge like Muko. contributors including myself were than to do. And if there is one thing of deepening trust in God and His THE CHALLENGE interviewed. Several of my patients I find difficult, it’s having to do word – the inner journey needs The Health Clinic in this rural setting serves a population told me they heard the interviews! something about it, that is to retire, more nurture as the outer journey of 20,000. This Clinic runs an outpatient facility but needs completion of the in-patient building, to allow it to serve mothers gracefully! wanes. THE MUKO CLINIC wishing to give birth in the presence of skilled attendants. As an amateur woodworker, I carved a “Lord what a change within is one The nearest hospital is two hours away by road (plus some hours’ model of “Open Hands.” Around this Retirement – The period of learning, short hour Spent in thy presence BIRTHING UNIT stretcher-carry to Muko itself). Lack of a skilled birth attendant has resulted in many preventable deaths. The Clinic desperately theme, I wrote a meditation, including changing. In what areas? Here are just will avail to make....” needs funds to complete its birth facilities. the powerful idea of “letting go.” The a few that are important for me: meditation and image have been a • Learning to listen better, And the last lines of Archbishop THE GOAL Our goal is to complete the construction of the maternity ward blessing to me as a devotional aid. I differently, with the art of asking Trent’s memorable sonnet conclude: and improve birthing facilities. To do so we are hoping to raise printed some copies in the form of the right question – there’s a “Why should we ever anxious or $12,000 by December 31, 2016! bookmarks, and found that I could mutuality required in listening. troubled be when with us is prayer Please build your partnership with HealthServe Australia easily share them with many of my • The more I can encourage another, And joy and strength and courage are and the Muko community in making a difference for patients. They were well received, and the better – encouragement with thee.” women and children’s health.

I have now added the “Open Hands helps others to make their own Vol 15 No 2 Nov 2010 – Professional Life and The Lifecycle Meditation” to the resource page on discoveries. “Faith and Work in the... Lifecycle (Retirement Stage)” Just go to the website www.healthserve.org.au and press the please donate button in the top right-hand corner. by Frank Garlick HOW DO prayer – “Teach us to pray!” Go to the bottom of the page and select MUKO CLINIC. I DONATE? You will be taken to the GiveNow facility and can then give a life-giving gift this Christmas Season.

48 | LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 | 49 half page HSA ad.indd 1 18/11/2016 3:42 pm found that arriving at the hospital early around the hospital before work and Perseverance was a natural and effective way to pray asked her about it. This started an During our final week, we encouraged for the day ahead. ongoing conversation about faith. each other to persevere in the new Disciple Making in behaviours we learned and started to Transparent Spirituality Disciple-Making practice. We held on to this promise: In order to find those that are open and In order to see a multiplying movement “Let us not become weary in doing hungry to the gospel, we need to live of the gospel, we need to make good, for at the proper time we will fruitful and transparently spiritual lives. disciples, not just converts. A disciple reap a harvest if we do not give up” the Hospital - A Pilot It was amazing to watch as one medical obeys Jesus’ commands right from (Galatians 6:9). Through the laying on student start to meet with other the start – repenting from sins, loving of hands and praying for each other, Christians to pray for their classmates. others and sharing what they learn we commissioned each other into by Kelvin Chang When he was talking about this prayer with friends and family. We learned our mission field at the hospital, and time in the student common room, to disciple a person of peace using committed together to seeing the Kelvin is a final year medical other students began to ask questions, a simple, Bible-centred process hospital world reached for Jesus. student at Monash University, joining in with spiritual curiosity. From called the Discovery Bible Study Victoria. He is part of Praxeis, there, an unchurched girl asked if (http://praxeis.org.au/wp-content/ The question “What will it take?” a simple church planting she could join their prayer meeting! uploads/2013/07/DBS-explained.pdf), continues to echo in my mind as I look organisation that aims to see A nurse began to ask each new patient and practiced facilitating this process back on this pilot, and look forward to she cared for about their spirituality- together. Several of us have discipled the task ahead. But over these eight multiplying communities of Christ and was surprised at how many unchurched friends into obedient weeks, it felt like we tasted a glimpse of established in every city and town patients kept the conversation going! relationship with God using this the answer, and it’s enough to spur us on in Australia. He is married to Niro, A colleague of one of the trainees process, and we dreamed of this being to try to become disciples that can fulfil who works full time with Praxeis. heard that she was walking and praying repeated in the lives of every trainee. the Great Commission in Australia. l Together, they lead a team of young adults who make disciples that multiply. SNIPPET SNIPPET Kelvin and the Victorian Movement Equipping Team. When you are an administrator Suffering is a universal experience – alone, lost, adandoned. The four “What will it take to reach my explored five key aspects of the fruitful environment. Each week, we centred or department head you spend whose boundaries extend beyond great themes of suffering, variably hospital for Jesus?” We asked each disciple’s lifestyle: vision, prayer, our minds and hearts on this. Some a lot of time chairing meetings. the horizon of our understanding expressed in their intensity, are other this question week after transparent spirituality, disciple- of the trainees found crafting a prayer They can often be productive and its depth may be unfathomable isolation, hopelessness, helplessness week as we explored the Great making and perseverance. Each week a powerful way to be centred on this and can also be enjoyable but to our enquiry. According to Cassell, and loss. Concomitant with all Commission and its implications for we allowed the Holy Spirit to prompt vision each day. Others of us found the some of them aren’t that easy. In suffering “arises from perceptions suffering is some element of our work in the hospital. new steps of obedience – habits to act of “casting” this vision weekly gave contrast, to the Christian board of impending destruction of an fear because according to Reed, build into our daily rhythm in order to us a renewed focus during the week. or committee meeting, they individual’s personhood and “the patient’s world view and In early 2016, the small group of us that transform the way we live. don’t open and close with prayer. continues until the threat of sometimes his or her very existence comprise CMDFA Victoria’s “Movement Prayer At times Christian meetings disintegration has passed or the are threatened by the disease or Equipping team” sensed God’s heart Vision We learn in John 15 that “If you remain can also be quite challenging, integrity of the person is restored”. circumstances”. to see movement spread through the God’s vision is to see Australia reached in me and I in you, you will bear particularly when big issues are Life threatening illness represents hospital system in Australia – Christian for Jesus, to see the kingdom of God much fruit; apart from me you can being discussed. I was privileged an assault on the whole person, In conclusion, three medical professionals discipling come on earth in every sphere. As do nothing”. From the early disciples to serve as Board Chair of AFES, the physical, psychological and recommendations appear colleagues and others we encounter disciples of Jesus, we must set our gathering prayerfully on the day of the Australian Fellowship of spiritual. Furthermore, suffering appropriate. Firstly, understand and Pentecost, to the century long 24/7 Evangelical Students. When we is experienced by whole persons, appreciate suffering. As a result, “If we are to seriously hope for a movement prayer chain of the Moravian church, came to a difficult problem and not bodies. Coulehah suggests you will learn more about yourself. or John Wesley’s bold assertion that were grappling to find a solution that suffering “is the experience of Secondly, understand and appreciate throughout Australia’s health system, we must “God does nothing except in response we would often pause for a distress or disharmony caused by the stories that your patients need to begin, continue and end in prayer.” to believing prayer,” we see that gospel time of prayer about the issue. I the loss, or threatened loss, of what tell you. As a result, you may become expansion is always preceded by often had the feeling that these we most cherish”. The experience of healers. Finally, never underestimate passionate, persevering prayer. If we wonderful meetings were bathed suffering is idiosyncratic, mysterious the therapeutic potential of who in the hospitals, multiplying disciples eyes on no other goal. When we read are to seriously hope for a movement in prayer. But when you’re running and may vary in terms of intensity you are, whether student, intern to reach many! We set out to pilot a the Great Commission in Matthew 28 throughout Australia’s health system, a hospital, you can’t really call a and duration. Reed characterises the or senior consultant. In the words training module that would not only to “make disciples of all nations”, or we must begin, continue and end halt when a difficult or contentious intensity of suffering as a continuum of Remen, “who you are may affect teach the critical elements of a disciple- Jesus proclaiming “Good news to the in prayer. Again, the busy life of a issue is being discussed so that extending from distress, through your patients as deeply as what you making movement, but would walk poor… freedom for the prisoners and medical professional presents unique the assembled group can pray misery, anguish to agony. Perhaps know. You will often heal with your with trainees in accountability and recovery of sight for the blind…” (Luke challenges in living out a lifestyle of about it. However, I would often the major themes of suffering are understanding and your presence practice in order to empower them to 4), we learn about God’s vision, and our prayer. We spent much time exploring quietly breathe a silent prayer expressed most succinctly by Manon things you cannot cure with your live out this radical lifestyle. hearts are moved to be aligned with these unique challenges and asking for guidance in these difficult in Puccini’s eponymous opera, scientific knowledge.”

this vision. During our first training God for his ways for us to obey his call situations. when she tearfully declares herself Vol 17 No 1 Apr 2012 – Suffering “Therapeutic Use of Self and the Relief of Suffering” In August we launched the pilot session, we talked about the challenge to prayer. Two doctors working at the Vol 17 No 3 Dec 2012 – Administrative Affairs to be “sola, perduta, abandonata”, by John H Kearsley “Leadership for Clinicians and Administrators: A with a group of ten young medical of keeping this vision burning strong same hospital began to meet before Personal View” by Kim Oates professionals. Over eight weeks we in our hearts in the busy hospital work to pray. A couple of other trainees

50 | LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 | 51 At the end of my ten day visit, after numerous workshops and lectures, I was brought before the Chairman for his final assessment. The program was Dying Healed a success, he said. They wanted me to commit to a long-term relationship, to return every year for five years. And next year, to please bring my wife! Thus began a decade of annual teaching visits, during which I believe I learned A source of hope the most. Trenna never did accompany me, observing (correctly) that it was no fun travelling with a conference speaker who was totally preoccupied by Doug Bridge close family member or the possibility that your presentation was the best with conference business. of their own death – may be the event lecture we have heard all week. We After training as a general physician that finally forces them to reflect on would like to give you a gift. I need to Taiwanese pioneers and in tropical medicine, Doug the meaning of life, and the possibility explain the 12 animals of the Chinese Prof Chantal Chau, a professor of lived for two years in a Bangladeshi of life after death. Zodiac; we think that the best animal palliative care nursing in Taiwan, village. Upon returning to Perth is the pig, because it symbolises health interviewed Taiwanese hospice patients in 1979, he helped pioneer the The pig in the green box: a and wealth. We present you with this for her PhD research. She published The Australian and New Zealand Society for Palliative Medicine Spirituality Workshop, Totara turning point in my life box.” He handed me a large green her findings in a paper entitled “The Hospice, Auckland, July 3, 2016. development of Palliative Care In 2002 I received a request from cardboard box. I opened it with some essence of spirituality of terminally ill in Australia and Asia. He was the the Cancer Foundation of Western curiosity and trepidation. It contained patients.” She reported that patients context, but non-religious patients are particularly in search of spiritual Head of the Palliative Care Service Australia. Perth was hosting a ten day a brown hollow clay pig. Trying to sought wholeness and integration in demonstrate similar needs to their answers. Our medical students need at Royal Perth Hospital 1993- four dimensions: communion with self, religious counterparts: for love, for and deserve training in this difficult 2013. He is a Clinical Professor communion with others, communion meaning, for forgiveness and for area. “For many Australians, confronting the reality of 3 of the School of Medicine and with nature, and communion with a transcendence.” death... may be the event that finally forces them to higher being.2 After my third visit to Taiwan, I realised Pharmacology, University of reflect on the meaning of life, and the possibility of Inspiration from Canada that they were developing some very Western Australia. He was the English hospice developments In Montréal, Québec, Professor Balfour good concepts and teaching material. I President of the Australasian life after death.” In England, the Rev Dr Michael Wright, Mount has been the undisputed leader wrote to the medical school in Western Chapter of Palliative Medicine 2014 chaplain, researcher, and educator, of palliative care for decades. He Australia, suggesting that spirituality to 2016. His special interest is the conducted similar research. He promoted the concept of “healing”, should be part of the curriculum. The psychospiritual challenges of dying. visit – a group of doctors and other be culturally appropriate, I bowed reported: “hospices arose in a Christian as opposed to the standard medical Dean, CMDFA member Professor Ian health professionals from Taiwan graciously, and expressed my profound goal of “curing”. An editorial he wrote Puddey, gave me twenty minutes to wanted to learn more about palliative thanks for the gift of the pig. 14 years ago presents a profound address the curriculum committee. care services in Australia. SNIPPET analysis of medical practice, and the They approved the proposal, and so “For most of human history, death Two months later I received an need for a spiritual approach. His began my career developing a training was a common, ever-present I was happy enough to take two unexpected email. I was requested The local cerebral molecular scholarly wisdom invites reflection and module in spirituality for healthcare possibility. But now, as medical doctors on a ward round at Royal Perth to come to Taiwan to deliver my background to various aspects of discussion: professionals. I found Chantal Chao’s advances push the boundaries of Hospital. They were very interested and lecture “for 18 hours”. That request human mental function, including “four dimensions” and Michael Wright’s survival further each year, we have eager to learn, but their limited English required some clarification. Eventually I some phenomena that may fall “Healing is a relational process “four needs” very useful as starting become increasingly detached from language skills were a handicap. understood the message. Taiwan was a within the rubric of spirituality, involving movement towards points for lectures and workshops. the reality of being mortal.” This sophisticated, well-developed country, is beginning to be explored. An an experience of integrity and statement is from the back cover of Later, I was asked to give the final with a high standard of health service. ongoing watch should be kept wholeness, which may be facilitated Australian medical students today may Being Mortal, the recent bestseller by address to the whole group. I had Even their palliative care services were on the advance of knowledge by a caregiver’s interventions but is be “resistant to religion” but I have American surgeon Atul Gawande.1 no idea what topic would be of well-established. Yet there was one in this area, to see where the dependent on an innate potential found many of them nevertheless interest to them. On impulse, I gave glaring deficiency: they could not findings may lead. The data that within the patient. It is not dependent “thirsting for spirituality”. Over the past Contemporary Australian society a presentation entitled Dying – a face death. From my presentation in accumulate will always need to on the presence of, or the capacity seven years more than fifty students shares this illusion that we can spiritual journey. The presentation was Perth, they had decided that I had the be evaluated with scientific rigour for, physical well-being. Indeed, it is have taken my two week fifth year somehow overcome all diseases, and cumbersome, because it had to be capacity to work with them to develop and considerable caution. There possible to die healed.”4 elective in Spirituality, Suffering and even defeat death itself. Australia translated. When I finished, the group a “spiritual care training program”. will be danger that the unwary Healing. Among my most recent group has been a world leader in medical broke out into vigorous conversation, and the over-enthusiastic may Restoring the spiritual of five students, one was a Muslim, two research and innovation. The Australian in Mandarin. I sensed something was So, with much trepidation, I read the allow themselves to be misled, dimension to health care in were Christians, and two declared they spirit of exploration, freedom, wrong. How had I offended them? Lonely Planet guide to Taiwan, in and perhaps may mislead others, Australia were “SBNR”. ‘What was that?’ I asked? curiosity, and independent initiative preparation for my venture to Taiwan. by thinking that more than Professor David Tacey, of La Trobe “Spiritual But Not Religious”! has produced spectacular success. Then a cheerful, plump man in orange The guide was not encouraging. Beards underlying molecular physiological University, observed: “Australia has Sadly, this has been accompanied by robes stood to address me – “I am a were not appreciated – did I have to mechanisms have been explained. lurched in two directions: it is thirsting In 2000 the Royal Australasian College a steady departure from our Christian professor of philosophy, a Buddhist shave mine? Giving gifts was extremely Vol 11 No 2 Jun 2006 – Our Spiritual Brain for spirituality more than ever, and of Physicians established the Chapter cultural roots. For many Australians, monk, chosen to speak to you because important. Saving face was even more “A Molecular Basis for Spiritual Existence?” by MJ Eadie is more resistant to religion than confronting the reality of death – of a I can speak English. We have decided critical. One should never show anger. ever.” Patients confronting death continued over page

52 | LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 | 53 DYING HEALED – A SOURCE OF HOPE of Palliative Medicine. In Australasia “My ultimate dream is now a strong demand for more the priest and expect and demand “Anyone who has been description of the mystical events there are currently 140 postgraduate workshops, and a recommendation that he shall free them from distress. which often occur just before death. He students undertaking the three year is to have Spirituality that they be expanded to two days. That is why we psychotherapists present at the moment describes these as Death Bed Visions. advanced training program. This is Workshops available to An oncologist who completed the must occupy ourselves with problems of birth or death can These include vivid visitations by dead similar in many ways to the training Auckland workshop was so impressed which strictly speaking belong to the relatives or religious figures, clearly of cardiologists and neurologists. advanced trainees and that he recommended all oncologists theologian.”5(pp42-43) testify to the profound visible and audible to the dying person, One striking difference is the strong consultants in every to participate. mystery associated with but not to others present in the same emphasis on spiritual issues. Although Carl Jung illustrates a much less room. In pondering such mysteries addressing the patient’s and family’s medical specialty.” Poised for expansion reductionistic and psychopathological both.” we may glimpse hints of other worlds spiritual needs was listed as an After two years of negotiation, the approach [than Freud] to the beyond time and space. Our mortal essential skill for advanced trainees, RACP Chapter of Palliative Medicine understanding of the place of senses lack the capacity to understand. until recently there was no structured then discussed a set question for a has just approved the formation of a spirituality in personality. Jung’s clinical events. Birth is when a foetus begins teaching in this area. Our palliative period ranging from 5 to 20 minutes. Spirituality Working Party, charged with experience convinced him of the deep life independent of its mother. Death is I am reminded of a hymn from my medicine specialist society, the Throughout the day, the questions refining and expanding the workshops, interconnection of the spiritual and when all vital organs fail, consciousness childhood: “Immortal, invisible, God Australian and New Zealand Society became more sensitive. For example, and “training trainers” so that more psychological aspects of persons and of ends and the body begins to only wise, in light inaccessible hid for Palliative Medicine, has taken after a case presentation about a workshops can be held each year. My the crucial role spiritual considerations decompose. However, if we include from our eyes.” Astrophysics may give the initiative in sponsoring a full day woman tormented by long-standing ultimate dream is to have Spirituality played in psychological healing. It was a spiritual framework, birth is the us some clues, but these mysteries interactive Spirituality Workshop. I guilt, workshop participants were Workshops available to advanced he, for example, who asserted that awesome beginning of a new human are taught more by revelation was responsible for designing and invited to discuss this question: “In trainees and consultants in every among his patients over 35 years of being, created in the image of God. than calculation. We do not need facilitating the workshop. Drawing on your own family, do you have any medical specialty. age, there had not been a single one Death is the transition from this mortal to understand Einstein’s theory of my experience in Taiwan, and with broken relationships that need healing whose problem was not fundamentally world to the immortal world. For a brief relativity to grasp what Jesus taught us the medical students, I constructed before you die?” Psychotherapy and Religion that of finding a religious outlook on period a door appears in the wall that about the afterlife, as recorded by the a full day program based on small Facing death is an overwhelming, life. He went on: “it is safe to say that normally separates the two worlds. apostle John: group sharing. Participants were asked Thirty-two participants attended the terrifying prospect. For centuries every one of them fell ill because he Anyone who has been present at the “There are many dwelling places to form groups of three, who would inaugural workshop in Melbourne last religion has provided a framework had lost that which the living religions moment of birth or death can testify to in my Father’s house. Otherwise, I become an intimate unit for sharing, year. This year there was a second to confront death. Existential of all ages have given to their followers, the profound mystery associated with would have told you, because I am discussion and reflection. I used workshop in Auckland with more than psychotherapy has emerged as a and none of them have been really both. going away to make ready a place stories, images and quotations, and 40 participants – mostly palliative secular substitute. But is it really non- healed who did not regain this religious for you. And if I go and make ready sometimes included carefully chosen medicine specialists or advanced religious? Christian psychotherapist outlook.”5(p 56) Is there life after death? a place for you, I will come again episodes of personal self-disclosure. trainees, plus two oncologists, two David Benner urges us to integrate Australian palliative care physician and take you to be with me, so that In groups of three, the participants nurses, and two chaplains. There modern insights from psychotherapy If we limit our medical practice to a Michael Barbato has researched the where I am you may be too”. with the ancient wisdom of biblical secular scientific framework, birth mystery of death for decades. We (John 14:2, 3) truth. He writes, “The great paradox of and death are merely physiological are indebted to him for his sensitive therapeutic psychology is that instead This same apostle John, as a very old SNIPPET of replacing religion, in many ways it man on the island of Patmos, gives us a has come to serve as the functional SNIPPET glorious insight into the next world: From a personal viewpoint, the exposes one and one’s family to religion of secularised Western society. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new only one I have, it seems that being criticism and negative responses. Despite its packaging as a social I believe the wholesale rejection of evolved beings less worthy of our earth… And I heard a loud voice by nature a bossy person who As a Christian leader one’s children science, psychotherapy is much more God really began in earnest in our concern. from the throne saying: ‘Look! The wanted things done his way was a may be targeted at school and similar to religion than science – more society with the advent of Darwinism residence of God is among human good start. That may not be all bad. deterioration of relations with a matter of spiritual guidance for that made people think the Bible was Ashamedly this thinking has also beings. He will live among them, Leadership is undoubtedly a spiritual friends and colleagues can be problems in living than an empirically- no longer reliable. This belief system influenced the church over the years and they will be his people, and God gift, though not specifically quoted included in the price for standing derived technical treatment of mental also popularised the notion that and strongly influenced the way himself will be with them. He will by Paul. I guess I had that gift and I up publicly for Christian values. A disorders.”5 Writing in the 70s when the Aboriginal people were less evolved that missionaries and the church wipe away every tear from their eyes, have tried to use it for good. Christian leader should be unafraid cult of self-worship was at its peak in and indeed Darwin described them dealt with indigenous people in the and death will not exist any more – or of opposition. Christ himself North America, American psychologist as the missing link. early days and probably even now. mourning, or crying, or pain, for the In 1972 when my childhood predicted that his followers would Paul Vitz argued that psychotherapists I also think that many Christians former things have ceased to exist.’ ” Christianity bloomed into deep faith be subjected to hard times. The had become the priests in the new This affected government policy are reluctant to get involved in (Revelation 21:1, 3, 4) I questioned whether Christians quote “Blessed are you when men religion of selfism – a religion with until even fairly recently and it is indigenous affairs because of how should be leaders outside the persecute you for thus they also Christian roots but dangerously anti- reflected in some of the statements much missionaries have been That, surely, is our ultimate hope! l Church. I consulted older and wiser persecuted the prophets” does not Christian in its basic direction. around the removal of aboriginal demonised in Australia, emphasising References folk and was able to understand comfort greatly when one considers children now referred to as the the negative experiences and 1. Gawande A. Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in that Christian leaders carry special the high mortality of Prophets!! The The concerns patients bring to “stolen generation.” ignoring the role that many the End. US: Metropolitan Books, 2014. 2. Chao CS, Chen CH, Yen M. The essence of spirituality of responsibilities of example and statement “what doesn’t kill you psychotherapists routinely push missionaries played in protecting terminally ill patients. The journal of nursing research: JNR 2002;10(4):237-45. moral character. This may not be makes you strong” may be more service beyond what consensually- The ongoing emphasis on an ancient many Aboriginal people from further 3. Wright M. Spirituality: A developing concept within a winning combination in the big practical. validated scientific research has stone-age culture may only serve slaughter and destruction. palliative care? Progress in Palliative Care 2001;9(4):143- 48. world of capital and politics! To Vol 12 No 2 Jun 2007 – Leadership established. This fact was noticed by to reinforce the subliminal message Vol 11 No 3 Dec 2006 – Love, Health and Hope 4. Mount B, Kearney M. Healing and palliative care: charting “Leadership” by Digby Hoyle “Issues of Aboriginal Health” by Lara Weiland our way forward. Palliative medicine 2003;17(8):657-8. accept a leadership role of any kind Jung, who stated that “patients force of aboriginal people being lesser 5. Benner DG. Care of Souls: Revisioning Christian Nurture the psychotherapist into the role of and Counsel. Michigan: Baker Books, 1998.

54 | LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 LUKE’S JOURNAL | December 2016 | 55 The Visible and the Invisible - Part II The Visible Revealing the Invisible

by Joseph Thomas pregnancy that he reports is of an I assume, through her first trimester of older woman who was likely post- pregnancy and till Elizabeth is almost Dr Joseph Thomas is a Senior menopausal {Luke 1:7}.5 Dr Luke could 36 weeks pregnant and ready to have Specialist in Maternal Fetal have well titled it “Two cases of unusual her baby (add 3 months to 24 weeks) Medicine and Obstetrics at the conceptions.” The pregnancies in both {Luke 1:56}.12 Mater Mothers Hospital in Brisbane. cases were announced by angels. After training at the Christian To highlight the virgin birth, Dr Luke Labour and Delivery compares the events surrounding Elizabeth had spontaneous labour at Medical College Vellore, he worked the conception, pregnancy, and term and delivered a healthy boy baby, at the Bangalore Baptist Hospital delivery of Elizabeth with that of most likely under the care of a Hebrew and Asha Kiran Hospital, Orissa, Mary. John was conceived naturally midwife {Exo 1:15-16}13 in her own India till 2003. He subspecialised by Zacharias (biological father) and village {Luke 1:57}14 surrounded by her in Maternal Fetal Medicine in Elizabeth (biological mother), both own family and friends. Contrasting Adelaide after which he moved to of whom were well past their normal the two births, Dr Luke records the reproductive ages {Luke 1:13}.6 Jesus, arduous journey (100 kms by walk Brisbane. He is passionate about on the other hand, was conceived by a or on a saddle) that Mary undertook human formation and currently he 7 virgin {Luke 1:27} through the “Power from Nazareth to Bethlehem in late Mosaic: The Virgin Mary and Angel, Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, Israel. and his family worship at the Creek of the Holy Spirit” {Luke 1:35},8 with pregnancy {Luke 2:4}.15 We have no Road Presbyterian Church. See Part Mary giving birth to Jesus. Joseph is reason to believe that this journey and fathers, and surrogate mothers. father of the human race, not just the I in Luke’s Journal, Sept 2016. assumed not to have had a role in the caused Mary to go into labour or any Recently, the UK legalised three father of the Jews. The fatherhood of pregnancy – he is a “non-biological reason to suspect that the birth was parent conceptions (donor maternal “Dr Luke as a 1st God then becomes a reality for me as father,” as is stated overtly by Matthew preterm. To highlight the difference cytoplasm; maternal nucleus, and century physician put well as the brotherhood and sisterhood The unusual circumstances {Matt 1:25}.9 further, Mary had no place to give birth, sperm).17 How then do I view the of all mankind. This means that no surrounding the conception and and Jesus was placed in a manger. It Immaculate Conception in the 21st in all his knowledge particular nation, culture, or tribe can birth of Jesus Christ, as well as his The pregnancy could be debated whether Jesus was century? and understanding of lay exclusive claim to Jesus as a person. life, death, and resurrection are The recording by Dr Luke of the angel’s surrounded by farm animals at birth Yes, Jesus was by genealogy (family recorded in the gospels. These visit to Mary gives us the gestation for rather than by friends and family Immaculate Conception those days on record to tree of births) a Hebrew but not by 16 events give us an unique opportunity Elizabeth around 24 weeks. Though {Luke 2:6-7}. – a 21st Century revisit explain the immaculate way of genetics. Dr Luke in his gospel to see how “The Visible” (heard, seen, Dr Luke records ‘At that time Mary We are happy to accept that Joseph account traces the ancestry of Jesus all looked at and touched {I Jn 1:1}1) hurried to a town’ we do not know 21st Century conceptions was not the biological father of Jesus conception of Jesus...” the way to Adam, the son of God, as if reveals aspects of “The Invisible” when exactly Mary visited Elizabeth; we and families and that Joseph did not have any to emphasise the universality of Jesus (the radiance of God’s glory and the presume that Mary would have been in Dr Luke as a 1st century physician put contribution to the genetic make-up of Christ {Luke 3:38}.19 exact representation of His being her early pregnancy and Elizabeth over in all his knowledge and understanding Jesus. However, when it comes to Mary {Heb1:3}2). In this article we will look 24 weeks along in hers. {Luke 1:36}.10 of those days on record to explain the mother of Jesus, several theories Where then did Jesus’s genes In Genesis and in Hebrew we have at some aspects of the Immaculate Again attempting to highlight the the immaculate conception of Jesus are mooted. Even if the egg alone come from? the description of a man called Conception, pregnancy, labour, difference in the foetuses within their and it challenges me as a 21st century started a parthenogenetic process by I want to suggest that Jesus as well Melchizedek who was a ‘type’ of and delivery that resulted in the wombs, Dr Luke records the meeting fetal medicine specialist to see it in the some stretch of the imagination, then as the first Adam/Eve were created Jesus Christ without a genealogy or birth of Jesus, from a 21st century of Elizabeth and Mary with the fetus light of the knowledge that we now the resulting being would have to be with a perfect set of human genomes, a father or a mother. It states that obstetrician’s perspective. within Elizabeth ‘jumping for joy’ when have. We have made several advances female.P5 We know for sure that it was without any mutations or copy number Melchizedek was the “High Priest Elizabeth hears Mary’s voice {Luke in understanding reproduction over not from Mary’s egg since Jesus was a variants. If Jesus were to have Jewish of God Most High.”20 The writer of The Conception 1:41}.11 Obviously Dr Luke does not the last few decades. From Edward male. Mary, I theorise, had no genetic genes or perhaps Mary’s contribution, Hebrews reiterates this by emphasising The conception and the birth of Jesus imply any feto-fetal communication and SteptoeP1 to Dolly the cloned contribution to make to the formation they would have been flawed.P7 Paul “Without father or mother, without Christ have been recorded for us in this passage and the sequences sheepP2 and the elucidation of the of Jesus. Mary would therefore have in the letter to Romans refers to Jesus genealogy, without beginning of days in detail by Dr Luke, a first century of events imply a fetal response to human genomeP3 we have come a long been a ‘surrogate’ ‘a vessel’ in whom as the second Adam. Paul states that or end of life, like the Son of God he Physician. In the gospel report named maternal happiness communicated way. Genome sequencing and free the power of God created a whole new Adam was in the pattern of the one to remains a priest forever.”21 On the after him, he states that he arrived at through neuro-endocrine pathways. fetal DNA in maternal circulation for perfect human genome, an entirely come – who through obedience would one hand the historic, geographic, his report after careful investigation Even as Mary knew of the special prenatal diagnosis is becoming routine new set of toti-potential cells, ready bring life rather than the death that and cultural context of the birth of {Luke 1:3}.3 As an astute clinician circumstances leading to Elizabeth’s practice.P4 Definitions of marriage and for cell replication and organogenesis had come through disobedience {Rom Christ cannot be denied and needed to researcher, Dr Luke reports the first pregnancy, I suggest that Elizabeth family are changing – in the modern (de novo, in vivo embryogenesis).P6 5:14-15}.18 Therefore Jesus, as the occur in Bethlehem within the nation case of a virgin birth, prophesied already knew of the special family the reference to children as Indeed, Mary is the mother of Jesus one in the pattern of Adam, was fully of Jews at a specific time, place, and several centuries ago {Isa 7:14}4 and circumstances surrounding Mary’s yours, mine and ours has now given – the birth mother of Jesus, not the human with a full copy of the human context. On the other hand, we need records it in an open access letter to pregnancy, most likely through family way to numerous combinations with biological mother; with Joseph as the genome that the first Adam had before a man called ‘Theophilus’. The other circles. Mary stays with Elezabeth, single mothers, biological mothers adoptive father. the Fall. We believe that Adam was the continued over page

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Publications 2014/2015 7. Lk 1:27 – ‘a virgin’ pledged to be married to a man named to recognise that the birth, life, death, in contrast with the pre-occupation of The implications all the mysteries of the Godhead, we P1. P. R. Brinsden. Thirty years of IVF: the legacy of Patrick Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was and resurrection of Jesus Christ our modern humans with the phenotype. I believe this has more implications deceive ourselves. However, I must Steptoe and Robert Edwards. Hum Fertil (Camb) 2009; 12: Mary 137-143. DOI 10.1080/14647270903176773. 8. Lk 1:35 – The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will Lord is beyond genealogies or genetics, Jesus is known to have been conscious than I can fathom; it is not just the admit I am glad that even as Dr Luke P2. R. Weiss. Scottish scientists clone adult sheep: come on you, and the power of the Most High will technique’s use with humans is feared. Washington Post overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be beyond a time/place/context. It is part of his spirit ‘pneumone’ and the futile musings of a 21st century used his knowledge and understanding 1997: A1, A12. called the Son of God. of a cosmic event. constant fellowship he needed with the physician. Jesus is not a God of the to write the gospel, I with my modern P3. The Human Genome Project Completion: Frequently 9. Matt 1:25 – But he did not consummate their marriage Asked Questions. https://www.genome.gov/11006943/ until she gave birth to a son. ‘Holy Spirit’ so that he could continue Jews or of the western world; I don’t knowledge and understanding am human-genome-project-completion-frequently-asked- 10. Lk 1:36 – Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a questions/. child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to Genotype, Phenotype and to do the works of His Father in heaven follow a foreign God but a God of all able to understand why Jesus is a God P4. Y. M. Lo, R. W. Chiu, K. C. Chan and G. T. Chung. Free fetal conceive is in her sixth month. Pneumatype of Jesus {John 5 19-20}.23 There is therefore nations. For instance, it would make of all nations, why Mary is the “birth” DNA in maternal circulation. JAMA 2004; 292: 2835; 11. Lk 1:41 – When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the author reply 2835-2836. DOI 292/23/2835 [pii] 10.1001/ baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with What about the ‘phenotype’ of Jesus, clearer the role of Mary, the mother mother of Jesus, why Jesus as the “Son jama.292.23.2835-a. the Holy Spirit. P5. G. Benagiano and B. Dallapiccola. Can modern biology 12. Lk 1:56 – Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three since a perfect genome may not of God, who is most blessed of all of God” is the exact representation of interpret the mystery of the birth of Christ? J Matern Fetal months and then returned home. necessarily translate into a perfect women as the bearer of our Lord, but my Father God, and that through the Neonatal Med 2014. DOI 10.3109/14767058.2014.907264. 13. Exo 1:16 When you are helping the Hebrew women “...through the enabling P6. J. Thomas. If not parthenogenesis why not “In during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the phenome? There are numerous was possibly a surrogate birth mother enabling of the Holy Spirit, there is Vivo Embryogenesis” with Mary as a birth mother. baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live of the Holy Spirit, there J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2015; 28: 1850. DOI 14. Lk 1:57 Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord mechanisms of in-utero programming of Jesus. This is more fitting with the hope of restoration of the genotype, 10.3109/14767058.2014.970159. had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy and developmental origins of health truth of the gospel than what has been the phenotype, and the pneumatype P7. R. M. Lew, L. Burnett, A. L. Proos, K. Barlow-Stewart, M. B. 15. Lk 2:4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth is hope of restoration Delatycki, A. Bankier, H. Aizenberg, M. J. Field, Y. Berman, in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, and disease (DOHaD) that are proposed taught in some churches for the last for each of us. l R. Fleischer and M. Fietz. Ashkenazi Jewish population because he belonged to the house and line of David P8,9 of the genotype, the screening for Tay-Sachs disease: the international and 16. Lk 2:6 & 7 While they were there, the time came for the in human growth and development. two millennia. It also makes clear to Australian experience. J Paediatr Child Health 2015; 51: baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son One presumes that Mary when she many of our friends who accuse us Acknowledgements 271-279. DOI 10.1111/jpc.12632. 17. The UK approved the use of donor maternal mitochondria phenotype, and the P8. R. Uauy, J. Kain and C. Corvalan. How can the as reported by BBC news 24th Feb 2015 carried Jesus as a surrogate was of having a God who has a wife and a I want to thank my friends and family Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) 18. Rom 5:14 & 15 Nevertheless, death reigned from the pneumatype for each hypothesis contribute to improving health in developing time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who ‘protected’ from any abnormalities son. Indeed no! We are monotheistic at home, church and at work where countries? Am J Clin Nutr 2011; 94: 1759S-1764S. DOI did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is of in-utero programming. Could this with our God being a Trinitarian God. animated discussions have sown the 10.3945/ajcn.110.000562 ajcn.110.000562 [pii]. a pattern of the one to come. But the gift is not like the of us.” P9. A. Wojtyla. Application of the hypothesis of trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one mean that Jesus had a near perfect In addition, the pre-occupation of the seeds allowing abstract thoughts to Developmental Origin of Health and Diseases (DOHaD) in man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that epidemiological studies of women at reproductive age came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow ‘phenome’? This is debatable since 21st century with the material, visible crystallise. Thanks to Rev Phil Strong and pregnant women in Poland. Ann Agric Environ Med to the many! there are passages in the Bible {Isa world and the phenome, to the great with whom I was able to discuss some 2011; 18: 355-364. DOI 973086 [pii]. 19. Luke 3:38 … the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of 22 Adam, the son of God. 52:13-14} that allude to Jesus both no question about the full perfect neglect of the invisible spiritual world of these ideas. Special thanks to References 20. Gen 14:8 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out 24 I. Jn 1:1 – That which was from the beginning, which we bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High as attractive and as unattractive. This expression of the ‘pneumatype’ in and the pneumone , needs to change. Debbie Thomas for copy editing as have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which 21. Heb 5:6 And he says in another place, “You are a priest could also mean that the phenotype Christ or His perfect genome from It will be the invisible world that moves well as Drs Frank and Val Garlick, we have looked at and our hands have touched – this we forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” proclaim concerning the Word of life 22. Isa 52:13 & 14 See, my servant will act wisely; he will be of a person was less important and the the original creation, but the actual the visible world. Dr Don Todman, Dr Kuruvilla George 2. Heb 1:3 – The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as there were exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by many who were appalled at him—his appearance was so emphasis in scripture was more about expression of the phenotype is not and the extended Thomas clan for his powerful word. disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form the pneumatype (the spirit) of a person clear. If any of us claim to be able to explain reading through the manuscripts and 3. Lk 1:3 – With this in mind, since I myself have carefully marred beyond human likeness investigated everything from the beginning, I too 23. Jn 5:19 & 20 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I giving me their valuable suggestions. decided to write an orderly account for you, most tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do excellent Theophilus only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the The views expressed in this article may 4. Isa 7:14 – Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the SNIPPET SNIPPET not necessarily be supported by those The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him call him Immanuel even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed who read the manuscripts. 5. Lk 1:7 – But they were childless because Elizabeth was 24. The world has embraced the virtual reality of the Google not able to conceive, and they were both very old. glasses and the augmented reality of the ‘pokemon go’ All in all, the responsibilities Traditional morality, including individuals what is the good life, 6. Lk 1:13 – But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, however we have a long way to go before the reality of of a professional who is also a Christian morality, is or what human flourishing is for Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife the invisible world is embraced. Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him Christian can be complex. At the characteristically “thick”. Its them. Of course, there is some John heart of the matter is the need to conception of the good life is freedom, but it is freedom within defend the integrity of both of the complex, based on a particular the parameters set by the Creator persons involved in a consultation, notion of the goal of human life. God who genuinely knows what SNIPPET SNIPPET while recognising the specific Another way of thinking about is best for us and what attitudes, responsibilities which lie with the this is in terms of what it means to behaviours and qualities of character The Parable of the Good Jesus taught that God sees our we would do evil with the intention professional. It means respecting flourish as a human being in terms will lead to us living life to the full, Samaritan found in Luke Chapter intentions and our actions as of a good outcome in Rom 3:8. rights and acting responsibly while, of right relationships between both individually and communally. 10 raises the question of “Who overlapping. They are both to be Similarly it is not enough to have at the same time, maintaining people, between people and God, is my neighbour?” Who is my judged according to God’s law. good intentions and do nothing; the integrity of being a Christian and between people and the earth When we discuss ethical issues neighbour in a hospital? I believe Secular law will differentiate between James rejects this notion in Jas 2:16. and therefore viewing people (sometimes called shalom). What within the Christian community, it is we need to be on the lookout intention and act – for example the Both intentions and actions have holistically – and therefore makes for right relationships is in the context of this shared rich and for how God is working in our killing of an innocent human will be individual significance. The Bible spiritually – whether this is explicit revealed in the Scriptures, not only contentful understanding of what neighbour’s lives within hospitals. I judged as murder when the intention teaches us in Exodus 20:13 that or not. It is important to pay through rules and principles, but is good and what is right, ultimately would suggest that it includes our was to bring about death, but as the killing an innocent human is wrong attention to the social consensus through narrative, poetry, proverbs derived from the character of God. colleagues (both more senior and lesser charge of manslaughter when (one of the ten commandments – and the expectations concerning and parables. These show that some We won’t always agree, but we are junior), other health professionals it was not. In the case of late-term ‘Do not murder’). Biblical commands specific situations which are kinds of attitudes, behaviours and speaking a common language, such as nursing staff, as well abortion, where we are considering represent absolute values – there derived from it while also relationships are not conducive to, with a mutually comprehensible as other hospital staff, such as deliberate killing of an unborn child are some things we should never understanding that the expression or even compatible with, human vocabulary. We are singing from the orderlies. Finally, we need to show who is close to if not at the point do, whatever the consequences. By of the general principles can flourishing, with shalom. same hymn book, so to speak, if not unconditional love and mercy to of viability, God demands both this argument late-term abortion, by change from time to time. always the same page. our patients. good intentions and good actions definition, will always be wrong.

Vol 12 No 3 Nov 2007 – Faith in Practice Men and women are not entirely Vol 15 No 1 Jul 2010 – Plagues and Population Health Vol 12 No 2 Jun 2007 – Leadership for our choices. It is not enough to Vol 14 No 3 Nov 2009 – Abortion “Faith Sharing as a Professional” by Brian Edgar free to define for themselves as “Chicken Broth or Minestrone?” by Denise Cooper-Clarke “Sharing Faith in Hospital Practice” by Anthony Herbert have good intentions with wrong “The Ethics of Late-Term Abortion” by Megan Best actions; Paul refutes the notion that

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