In the midst of Christmas celebrations, surely we ask ourselves what is it that we are celebrating. Is it Santa Claus, the elves and the reindeer? Is it the beauty of natures or of the da? Is it the good food? Is it the year-end? Is it the magic of being charitable? Is it family values?

When did Christmas originate? It was probably originally a Roman festival that nothing to do with Christ. When the Roman emperor legalised the Christian faith in Rome in 313 A.D., the Romans kept the date of the pagan festival of 25th December as a Christian celebration, declaring it to be Jesus’ birthday. Jesus was born in the year 6 B.C. but actual birthdate is not recorded. Therefore, 25th December is a date taken to celebrate Jesus’ birth but the actual date is unknown.

For me, the actual date of Christ’s birth is not important since there is nothing powerful about dates and times. Whatever time of the year that Christ’s birth is celebrated, the important matter is that God actually became a human child in flesh and blood to reconcile man to God. I celebrate Christmas to thank God for his gift of his son Jesus for me.

Why should I need reconciliation with God? The answer lies in the fact I have sin in me that separates me from a God. Separation from God eventually leads to death. On my own, nothing I do could bridge the separation from God. God extends his hand to give me a free gift of reconciliation, and therefore, life. Jesus was born as human flesh so that he could die in my place.

Everyday can be Christmas for me because I can celebrate his gift everyday.

The Christmas season is here! Carolers came a-calling on Wednesday. Youths and children from St Patrick and St James Church in Sungai Petani finally arrived after a one-hour delay due to a flat tyre in one of the vans.

They sang our favourite carols, including “O, holy night!” and we had satay, jelly and choc cake before joining them to the next home.

Here’s the Christmas tree in the lobby of where I work:

My clinic staff is in a christmas mood already. She is going off on leave for the whole week starting tomorrow, but not before leaving me with a snowman on the side-counter in my room. It’s a simple gesture, but i guess it means she’s happy working here. Thanks, E. You have a Merry Christmas too!!

Update : and found on the X-ray viewing box was this.

“Milo” commented that “At last can see what cancer down there looks like.” The rectal cancer photo that I posted earlier is actually not a typical appearance of rectal cancers. It only appeared so because it is a locally advanced stage of cancer. Rectal cancers are usually not visible from the outside. They are found on endoscopy, i.e. colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy.

Here are some photos of more typical-looking rectal cancers. These are colonoscopy images.