52 Days

Nehemiah finished building the walls of Jerusalem in 52 days. I completed my manuscript on the commentary on John’s Gospel 13-21 in 52 days from early Feb to mid April with about 3 weeks in the middle with no writing. It comes down to 52 days on intense writing, sometimes as early as 3.30am in the morning with about 4 hours of sleep. I put it down to the Lord’s favour for indeed I have received grace upon grace over these couple of months. I told myself after resigning that I must finish the commentary on John’s Gospel which first volume was published in Feb 2020 more than 6 years ago.

I have sold close to 900 copies of the first volume and I hope to print 500 copies of the second volume given my budget currently. But I am excited that for the first time in several years what I had planned is coming to pass and soon I will have my 8th book published. 

In the second half of the year, I hope to begin another book project. What I will write I know not, but there are several projects in mind. Sooner or later I will pull the trigger on the book of Revelation and I may write something on it soon. 

I trust in the Lord to bless my writing ministry and many of my dear friends whenever we meet up or they text they will ask what I am doing, and most of them think I am not doing anything in that I guess they have not considered writing as a full-time ministry. 

Not many people can write in two languages. Even writing in one primary language is difficult enough. Some people who work in Seminaries write for the sake of fulfilling a part of their job description. Sometimes the College will pay or reimburse the cost of publishing including giving them time off, 3 months or one Semester's sabbatical. But I can see most of these publications do not sell. They sell a few copies here and there. 

But I had sold hundreds for each of the 6 books that I had published. The first published by T & T Clark (2005) is found in more than 1,400 libraries worldwide in 50 countries. Last month in Tamparuli, I sold more than 30 books among the 86 participants at a Leadership Seminar in a small district of 7 churches. In fact, it was notable that so many of them were excited as I spent the best part of 20 minutes signing book autographs and chatting with the buyers of my books. May God's Name be glorified and the spread of His knowledge be like waters that cover the seas.