EDU Trainer

09/06/2026

I think there is a profound truth in that quote.

Many people spend decades building a career, climbing the ladder, achieving milestones, and being known by what they do. Then retirement comes, redundancy happens, a company restructures, health fails, or the industry changes. Suddenly the question arises:

“If I am not my job, then who am I?”

That can be deeply unsettling because work was never just a source of income it became a source of identity, significance, community, purpose, and validation.

The danger is not hard work. Scripture actually commends diligent work. The danger is when work moves from being something we do to becoming who we are.

A surgeon is not merely someone who performs surgery; eventually he may begin to think, “I am valuable because I am a surgeon.”

A pastor may even think, “I am somebody because I have a ministry.”

When the role disappears, the identity collapses with it.

That’s why some retirees become depressed. Some executives feel lost after stepping down. Some pastors struggle after leaving ministry. They haven’t merely lost a position they’ve lost the thing that told them who they were.

The quote’s greatest insight is not really about companies. It is about identity.

A company values your contribution. Your family values your presence.

One day another employee will sit in your chair. Another manager will occupy your office. Another speaker may stand on your stage.

But no one can replace you as a husband, wife, father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, brother, sister, or friend.

From a biblical perspective, it goes even deeper.

Your ultimate identity is not in your profession, family, achievements, or ministry. It is in belonging to Christ.

When Paul’s ministry was flourishing, he was Christ’s.
When Paul was imprisoned, he was still Christ’s.
When Paul was preaching, he was Christ’s.
When Paul was waiting for ex*****on, he was still Christ’s.

The role changed. The identity did not.

Perhaps the healthiest way to view work is this:

Work is a calling, not an identity.

A career is a stewardship, not a source of worth.

Success is a blessing, not a definition of who you are.

People who understand this can work hard, lead well, serve faithfully, and yet walk away when the season ends without losing themselves.

Because their identity was never sitting behind the desk in the first place. It was anchored somewhere much deeper.
On Christ the solid Rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand.

09/06/2026

Convenience vs Conviction.
The world saw it and I’m sure by now there are myriad of interpretations to the interview. I like to look at this from another parallel perspective looking at Leadership. Spiritual leadership.

Have you ever noticed that some people love you for your honesty—until your honesty shines light on something they don’t want to change?

The Apostle Paul asked a heartbreaking question:

"Have I become your enemy because I told you the truth?"

Sometimes people celebrate truth when it comforts them, but struggle with it when it confronts them.

Not because they are bad people.

Not because they never cared.

But because truth has a way of touching places in the heart that we'd rather leave untouched.

Pride doesn't like exposure.

The flesh doesn't enjoy correction.

And conviction can feel strangely similar to offense when we're not ready to receive it.

The painful reality is that some of the deepest wounds don't come from enemies.

They come from people we prayed with, served with, laughed with, and loved.

People who once walked beside us.

If you've experienced this, remember: speaking the truth in love may cost you someone's approval, but it does not make you their enemy.

Sometimes the very truth that could heal a person is the truth they resist the most. And here’s what someone said about conviction that I appreciate.

Conviction.
Love him or hate him, there is something to be said about a person who knows exactly where they stand and is willing to stand there alone.
A leader without convictions will bend to every poll. A leader without boundaries will surrender to every demand. A leader without courage will compromise whenever the pressure becomes uncomfortable.
But true leadership requires something different.
It requires the willingness to say:
"This is what I believe."
And if necessary...
"This is where I draw the line."
Even if it costs you. Even if you're criticized. Even if you have to walk away.
That isn't weakness.
That's strength.

I will tell you what I believe.
I will tell you where I stand.
And I will stand there.
Not because it's politically convenient.
But because leadership demands it.
Our communities deserve leaders who possess both compassion and conviction.
One without the other is incomplete.
Where are the Daniels and Joshuas of our days?

08/06/2026

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn

Matthew 5:4
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

Explanation

This is not merely mourning over life’s losses. Jesus is speaking primarily about mourning over sin our own and the brokenness of the world around us.

Before there can be healing, there must be honesty.

Example

A patient who refuses to acknowledge a disease cannot seek treatment. Healing begins when the diagnosis is accepted.

Reflection

God’s comfort is reserved for those who recognize their need for it. The deeper our awareness of sin, the sweeter His grace becomes.

Challenge

When was the last time your own sin grieved you more than someone else’s?

07/06/2026

How to be happy and blessed? God’s way.
Beatitudes are not merely a list of virtues. They describe the kind of person God is transforming us into. They also turn the world’s definition of happiness upside down.

Day 1: Blessed Are the Poor in Spirit

Matthew 5:3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Explanation

Being poor in spirit does not mean having low self-esteem or thinking badly of yourself. It means recognizing your spiritual bankruptcy before God. It is the realization that you cannot save yourself, fix yourself, or earn God’s favor.

The first step toward God is not strength but surrender.

Example

A man drowning in the ocean does not need swimming lessons. He needs a rescuer. The moment he stops struggling and cries for help, rescue becomes possible.

Reflection

Many people approach God as consultants, seeking advice for a life they are already managing. The poor in spirit approach God as Savior because they know they cannot manage life on their own.

Challenge

Where are you still relying on yourself instead of depending fully on God?

05/06/2026

Cancer.
Some years ago, I had the privilege of being invited to speak at the Singapore Cancer Society. It was an experience that left a deep impression on me because speaking to cancer patients and caregivers is very different from speaking at a business conference or medical meeting. Behind every diagnosis is a person, a family, a story, and often a great deal of uncertainty.

Cancer is also personal to me. My elder sister succumbed to pancreatic cancer, and through that journey, I experienced firsthand the emotional, physical, and practical challenges that patients and families face. It taught me that while medical advances are important, understanding, compassion, and guidance are equally vital.

This is why I am delighted to see my former colleague from our Novartis Oncology days, Kwan M. S. Svetta, dedicating herself to supporting patients and caregivers through education and patient navigation.

Throughout the years I worked with Svetta, I always appreciated her ability to combine scientific knowledge with genuine empathy. She never saw oncology as merely treatments, protocols, or clinical outcomes. She understood the human side of cancer.

Today, she continues that mission as an Oncology Patient Navigator and is partnering with the Singapore Cancer Society to conduct two upcoming educational sessions:

📍 When Precision Medicine Meets Real Life – 16 June 2026

📍 Cancer Is Not As Foreign As We Think – 23 June 2026

These sessions go beyond explaining cancer and medical advancements. They help bridge the gap between science and everyday reality, empowering patients and caregivers with understanding, practical insights, and hope.

Having spent 35 years in healthcare, I have learned that knowledge informs, understanding connects, and compassion transforms. Svetta brings all three together.

If you are a patient, caregiver, healthcare professional, or simply someone seeking a better understanding of cancer, I encourage you to attend and support these sessions.

Wishing you every success, Svetta. The cancer community needs more voices that educate with clarity, serve with compassion, and inspire with hope.

04/06/2026

A text taken out of context becomes a pretext. This is one principle Christians must be mindful about. An example is:
Proverbs 18 vs 21.

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit".

The prosperity gospel often uses this verse to teach that believers can “speak things into existence” or “declare” health, wealth, and success into reality. However, the Bible never attributes God’s creative power to human speech. God can create by speaking because He is God. Human beings cannot.

The biblical pattern is not:

Speak it → Create it

but rather:

Trust God → Pray according to His will → God acts

Our words are powerful because they affect people, relationships, and decisions. That’s influence.
God’s words are powerful because they create and sustain reality. That’s creation. They are two different things.

Therefore, Proverbs 18:21 is a warning about the responsible use of speech, not a formula for obtaining wealth, health, or success through positive confession.

01/06/2026

31/05/2026

I enjoy watching Penn & Teller: Fool Us.

What fascinates me is not the big illusions, but the simple ones. A coin appears to move from one hand to another in an instant. I know there is sleight of hand involved. I know I’m being deceived. Yet even when I watch closely, replay the video, and scrutinise every movement, I still cannot see how it was done.

That is how deception works.

A scam never begins by looking like a scam. It sounds reasonable. It feels safe. It appears legitimate. Little by little, trust is gained until the deception becomes reality in the mind of the victim.

The same principle applies spiritually.

Rarely does deception arrive at the front door announcing itself. It comes gradually. One compromise here. One adjustment there. One truth softened. One conviction surrendered. What was once questioned becomes accepted. What was once accepted becomes celebrated.

I’m reminded of the illustration of a frog in cool water. The temperature rises so slowly that the danger goes unnoticed until it is too late.

I believe many churches around the world are facing this very challenge today. The shift is often subtle, gradual, and normalised over time. What previous generations would have recognised immediately, many no longer notice.

Can this trend be reversed? Perhaps in some places. But Scripture repeatedly warns that a great falling away and great deception will precede the return of Christ.

Our focus, therefore, should not be fear, but readiness.

Stay anchored in God’s Word.

Test everything.

Guard your heart.

Know the truth so well that when deception comes, you recognise it.

The greatest preparation for Christ’s coming is not trying to predict every sign, but remaining faithful until He comes.

29/05/2026

It's interesting how technology is rapidly advancing, yet at times, the core human experience remains stagnant.

In many relationships be it personal or communal conflicts often arise from unmet expectations. We look at the world around us, noting the flaws in others, and suggest that change is necessary for peace.

However, true transformation often starts from within. If we desire a shift in dynamics, it’s essential to reflect on our attitudes and behaviors first.

When we take ownership of our growth, we not only set an example for those around us, but we also create a ripple effect. It’s about striving to be the best version of ourselves, practicing patience, understanding, and empathy.

As we embody these qualities in our relationships, we inspire others to do the same.

Think about it: when we address our characters and attitudes, we create a more harmonious environment. It’s a tough challenge and requires a level of vulnerability and honesty that can be uncomfortable. Yet, embracing this discomfort is exactly what leads to profound change not just within ourselves, but across communities and nations.

So, let’s open the conversation about self-reflection and personal responsibility.

After all, if we want a peaceful world, it begins with the choices we make in our own lives. Let’s challenge ourselves to initiate that change within, and watch how it ripples out into the world around us. 🌍❤️

28/05/2026