5 Sermons to Go

Yesterday, I preached my first sermon of six at a home group. It was not a long sermon, just about 15 minutes, but impactful. I talked about Paul claiming Roman citizenship when he was about to be whipped by a Roman soldier. I took that Paul knew his citizenship rights and I applied that to our rights and responsibilities as a citizen to vote and affect change for the better in our State and country. The State Election is just under a month away. I also spoke about the victory of Sabah Law Association's claim against the Federal government of Sabah's 40% entitlement. I even placarded a copy of the Federal Constitution and told them I taught to my students at the SIB College, two years running, 2017-2018.

Pay Disclosed

This is the first time that my pay was displayed and disclosed to the whole church straight after the sermon by a church deacon. Praise God that it was not awkward as the church treasurer was very wise and calm when he spoke. In fact I was the one who insisted the actual sum was disclosed instead of a pie chart showing my salary taking up 40% of the church expenses.

Friday Prayer Meeting’s Sermons

I preached a powerful sermon last night lasting about 10 minutes. I read from the Gospel of Luke ch. 24 where Jesus after His resurrection spoke of the the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms as being fulfilled in Him. Then, Luke wrote that Jesus opened their minds to understand the Scripture.

Still Travelling

I met my cousin and her husband at a supermarket. I stayed with them in their home when I was 23 years old, just started work as a lawyer. He worked in a law firm and helped to pass cases to me which his legal firm did not want to take up. I was a sole proprietor then. He was surprised that I was still travelling into the interior. In his mind, he must have thought I had retired from ministry or at least stop going into faraway places. I went to Tenom last weekend I told him. In fact another 2 hours’ drive from Tenom into a village without paved roads on top of a hill. Altogether about 6 hours in drive time.

Paul Planted. Apollos Watered.

I quoted this verse from Paul the apostle in 1 Corinthians in my second sermon in Alutok village (southern part of Sabah) two months ago. And last Sunday I was reminded yet again of my calling to bring refreshments to God's people, to water the planting of the Lord, His church. I was surprised how few people turned up in church on Sunday. There is always the excuse that it is school holidays. But along the main road to Tenom less than 1km to town centre stands three main churches, representing the three main denominations in Sabah, BCCM Basel, RC and SIB. The fourth big mainline church in Sabah are the Anglicans. I drove from town at about 8.45am knowing that I would reach the church 10 minutes before the start at 9am.

RM500.00 Saved

I did not think I could save RM500.00 this month. I made a pledge to myself that I would save RM500.00 per month in order to save up for my airfare to take up a writing scholarship in a far away land. But I sold about 10 books yesterday in church and that made me RM400.00 plus the love gift makes up just over RM500.00.

Murut and Lundayeh Wedding

I asked the Lord for fine weather from Thursday to Sunday night and until today Monday afternoon the weather is great and sunny in Tambunan. I spent two days travelling into this interior village to conduct a marriage between two of my church members, the bridesgroom is from this interior village 5 hours’ drive from Kota Kinabalu. It takes another hour to traverse 21km from Kemabong, the nearest town but at 2.07pm on Saturday we arrived at the village cultural hall and ushered in for lunch.

50 to 500

I believe in miracles. When I was short-listed for a writer's scholarship November 2026 I told my wife that I needed to save RM500.00 per month for the next 12 months just to afford my airfare should I take up the one-month's scholarship. But now I can't even save Rm50.00 per month, but have to rely on my itinerant ministry and book sales to make ends meet. Even so, I believe in miracles. I have experienced many miracles in my life, many financial ones. I remember going to South Korea about 10 years ago (July 2016) and I bought my tickets myself and wife by January 2016, knowing I had no money for the trip, registration costs, hotels, let alone 3 extra days in Seoul after the 4 day Conference.

Plan B Worked

Sometimes most of us have said to ourselves that we needed a Plan B just in case Plan A did not work out. Sometimes Plan A looks a certainty and there is no need for a Plan B, but in this world the only thing is certain is uncertainty. I was reading my book “Anak Panah” which I wrote a year ago and about my University plans, I was pretty certain that I was to remain in Australia as I was offered a place at Monash due to my above average grades in English, Physics, Chemistry, Pure Maths and Applied Maths.

Is it fixed?

Is our destiny fixed? Can we repent and change our destiny? Yes we can but increasingly it is rare. It is as if it is already fixed. Like the 7th month of the biblical calendar called Tishri, therein a tradition that the feast of trumpets (rosh hashanah) begins the call to repentance and getting oneself right with God in that 10-day period as on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) it is fixed whether one is forgiven and atoned for or not.

Middle of Sukkot

Today is the middle of Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles. At least now there is light at the end of the tunnel in terms of the Israel-Hamas 2-year war. It ended 2 years and 2 days after the October 7th massacre of 1,200 Israelis by Hamas which caused Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza. No country will sit idly by when citizens are slaughtered in broad daylight. Anyone commenting on the war without reference to Hamas' atrocities and horrific acts on October 7th against the State of Israel is simply unjust and is driven by extremist ideology. But now a ceasefire takes place and there may be peace in the Middle East at least for the next few years while President Donald J. Trump is in office. After Trump is out of office, no one can predict what will happen in the region and in the world. We live in troublous times.

A True Bilingual

Can someone truly master two languages in equal measure? Or there is one primary language which one is fully proficient to native level, but the second comes close to the first. I think Paul the apostle is a true bilingual. In Acts he seems to be equally fluent in Hebrew as well as in Greek. Sure his extant writings are all in Greek, at least those accepted in the New Testament canon.

Sabah's 17th State Election

The State's Assembly was dissolved on Monday by the Sabah's Chief Minister. It fell on the Mid-Autumn festival (Mooncake festival) and also the beginning of the Feast of Tabernacles, the 15th of Tishri (7th month in Israel) while in Chinese calendar it is now the 8th month. I told a couple of friends that the dissolution of the Assembly will take place near the presentation of the National Budget in the Parliament (10th October, this Friday) as the State of Sabah is expected to receive a higher portion of Budget allocation compared to previous years. It will be a campaign point for the incumbent to say that State government's good relationship with the Federal authorities will only benefit the State which argument I would agree. But that are many factors involved for the voters' consideration and decision as to who they will vote.

Injustice lies to itself

When people commit injustice, they will probably lie to justify their action so much so there is Scripture in the LXX that injustice lies to itself. To maintain some facade of “justice” a series of lies are concocted to deceive untrained people, unspiritual people. A spiritual person will normally sees through such lies and knows that injustice is committed. Why people become unjust?

55 + 61 More Travelling

I told myself that I must stop my long distance travel when I turned 55 years old and thus I returned to Kota Kinabalu after 4 years based in Ranau. I thought I had done enough of travelling, at least 150 times up and down the winding and hilly road of KK-Ranau. But now at 61 years old I am still doing it. Just over a month ago I travelled for 6 hours over two days to reach a village that I visited 29 years ago.

Time to Speak Up

Yesterday I sat at the back of a long table attended by 12 of our leaders with three absentees. But yet I spoke the most even from the back, and for the first time I spoke frankly according to what I think they could bear to hear. I told them it was ironic and paradoxical that in my prime according to my experience that I am still in good health, this is the first church that is experiencing decline in our finances after completing 10 months as pastor.