Conducting a Native Engagement Ceremony

It’s been hectic in the past 10 days. Since the Passover and Resurrection Sunday services it has been non-stop for me. First, I attended the first home group last Thursday and this Thursday there will be another cell group. Then on Friday I led prayers on the weekly prayer meeting but an hour before that I met a young couple wanting to be engaged which happened to be the next day, last Saturday. I talked with them and wanting to be sure that they were ready to get engaged and married in 6 months’ time.

Fellowship of the Saints & Zeal

This morning I had fellowship with a couple whose new house I prayed for exactly two years ago. It was as if we met a week or a month ago but alas two years had passed. So there was much to catch up and they wanted to invite me to their daughter’s wedding reception in June and also invited me to speak in their village church in July. It was good catching up.

Birthday Today

I have always celebrated my spiritual birthday more than the day I was born. And also the day when I entered full-time ministry on 1st Dec 1994. These two dates mark two most significant events, the first my spiritual rebirth being found by Christ, dead in sin, now forgiven and raised to new life in Him. The second is equally important as it was the day I obeyed the Lord’s call to commit my life to Him in full-time ministry. After nearly 31 years I have not looked back. 

A Glorious Passover

In five days I felt like Christ Jesus my Lord, as if risen from the dead. Last Tuesday I was at death's throes, and very few would blink an eye if I were left to die. But in the end, I snatched victory out of the jaws of defeat. Perhaps those who wanted me dead had to see what the Lord was doing through His servant. For the first time in the church's history, we had big crowds on Good Friday and even more yesterday on Resurrection Sunday. Who says the pastor makes no difference? Pastors are lowly in our contexts, but I will not allow others to put me down, as if left to die. Even in death, God raises us up again. God put up a show. No one expected that every seat would be taken on Good Friday. Normally in our church, when it is long weekend, people return to their villages. Many tribal folks have attachments to their villages, and they take every opportunity to return to their hometowns or villages.

Departure Points Vol.2

I would not think of writing another volume of my autobiography at least until I turn 70 years old. But now I think I might do it when I turn 65 years old. I have much materials to share and this time my approach will be a psycho-analysis of human behaviour in Christ’s service. Even last night I experienced a whole range of emotions as if in a roller coaster.

The Success of David and the Jealousy of Saul

Yesterday I preached a 45 minute sermon on this topic based on 1 Samuel 18-20. It turned out better than I had wished for - all 10 point sermon in 45 minutes. I even joked that normally one gets a 3 or 5 point sermon but the church is doubly blessed because in this church you get a 10 point sermon. Three chapters in 45 minutes requires some skill to get all the points across with the context briefly explainee as I read 1 Sam 18:1-15 in full. Why do people get jealous at others’ success? It is perennial problem since the time of Cain and Abel, since the first born of Adam and Eve.

The Successful Suffers

If you want peace and quiet with no opposition, then do nothing. Once you do something for God, the devil will not be happy and he will stir up fleshly and worldly human beings to persecute you. It's the devil's envy, surely the "original sin". Abel's offering was accepted as he gave the best, the fats of the lambs, and he was killed by his elder brother whose offering was rejected. It was envy that led to murder. The first murder, a fratricide was as a result of envy. Whenever you do something or give something in God's glory, you will face opposition. When I reflected on 1 Sam 18-20, it was like the story of my life. I remember when I was elected to the Executive Council, many became jealous.

Success, Anger and Jealousy

The story of Jonathan and his father, King Saul and their relationship with David deserves much study which I have meditated on since last Sunday. I have read the text of 1 Sam 18-20 over and over again and every time the Lord showed me things that I might preach on this Sunday. I do not know how long my time with this church will be; it could be just for a short time, a year or maybe a long term pastorate but I would not think so far ahead. After the AGM last Sunday concluded, I felt in a way my job is done and I can move on, whether to stay or to go I leave to the Lord as He directs the heart of the king as He directs streams of a river.

Jonathan & David

In these three chapters of 1 Samuel 18-20, Jonathan as much as David is the hero. Jonathan takes up as much space in these chapters as David, the Lord’s chosen. First, Jonathan loved David as his own soul. Maybe David was about his own age, but most likely younger than Jonathan as David could not be older than 20 years when the events took place as recorded in 1 Sam 18-20.

Rule-Based Governance in Church

This morning I have somewhat recovered from the events of the past several weeks leading the Church's AGM last Sunday. From the first meeting that I chaired in mid December last year I had set the ball rolling and planned out the meetings, seminars, retreats leading to the recently concluded AGM. I conducted a seminar of our Church's constitution which somewhat remains an elusive document to many members and leaders. In fact, at the denominational level, I started the ball rolling in 2017 and gave seminars on the Church's constitution State wide three years in a row (2017-2019). A few hundred elders and candidates for eldership attended those meetings. And then the pandemic struck.

Preparing for the Passover and the Holy Communion

We conduct the Lord's Supper or holy communion first Sunday of every month, so this Sunday I am conducting the Lord's communion. This is especially significant as it will be a preparation for Good Friday or the Passover that we shall be celebrating on 18th April and Resurrection Sunday on 20th April. I shall be preaching in both services and conducting the Lord's supper on Good Friday as well. It's never easy. Although I am not preaching this Sunday even preparation to conduct the Lord's communion has taken me two full days as I shall be reading from Luke 22:1-30 a fairly lengthy passage this time to prepare the church to celebrate the Passover Feast on Friday the following week. It will be at least 10 minutes of sharing and then another 10 minutes members taking the elements of bread and wine (for us it is ribena or red cordial).

On the Verge of Giving Up

No man is unaffected by its surroundings, within and without pressures mount up until I felt like almost giving up. In fact, in the past fortnight I have given much thought of my ministry. Maybe I am not suited to this current place or pastorate, until to the point of giving up. My best friend in New Zealand when he heard about me teaching in Singapore, more than 15 years ago told me, "Intellectual compatibility" suggesting that Singaporean high educational standard would be compatible with me. In a way, I agree with him. It was in Singapore that I found my gifts appreciated the most, even the Singapore's government granted me and wife Singapore Permanent Residence on merits.