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.

On a Journey

There are all kinds of videos on YouTube or TikTok. But one type that I like and watch occasionally or on a binge are videos of travel or driving long distances like truckers in the States. Although there is nothing much to see, it is the journey that counts. There is calming effect just to see the road ahead of us. USA is such a vast place of 50 states, like 50 countries joining together to form one Federation, though it is not called as such in the USA as their Constitution is quite unique how the federal authorities have huge powers whose head is the executive branch of government vested in the President himself (or herself, maybe one day) and states having their own governors and legislatures respectively.

Looking to God Alone

My life and ministry is a life of faith. In my recent book, "Anak Panah" ("Chosen Arrow"), my last chapter of the book tells of nine different life changing decisions I had had to make in the past 34 years, a few would have led to financial ruin if it were not the Lord's leading and His blessing that followed. Except for one year in a local interdenominational Seminary, I have served my denomination in Sabah, all these 24 years in all and counting.

In Search of Fruitfulness

In search of fruitfulness seems to be my key interest in the past few months. I have been asking myself this question as of late, am I bearing fruits and much fruits in my current place of ministry. It is not a matter of impatience and my close friends sometimes are amazed that I am still serving with my Church since in the past decade alone, I had waited more than 3.5 years out of ministry for different appointments. While waiting, I am out of pockets, with no pay. With the little savings I had had (working in Singapore more than 15 years ago), there is as much as I can bear with, bear I do with patience and endurance. But there are times I ask myself, "am I bearing much fruits?"

Rain, Rain, Rain

It has been a long time since I experienced non-stop rain for 30 hours and it is still raining as I write. In fact, there was heavy rain on Saturday night almost causing a few of our worship team members from missing rehearsal but at the end they all turned up. But Sunday morning brought clear skies and we had a wonderful Sunday service celebrating Malaysia Day when Sabah gained independence through the formation of Malaysia on 16th September 1963. In fact I posted on instagram at noon that I was glad that we celebrated Malaysia early on Sunday morning because since Sunday evening about 4pm, it has not stopped raining until now. Many towns and villages are flooded with many reporting landslides throughout the State with the worst hit in Beaufort, Penampang, East Coast of Sabah and some parts of Kota Kinabalu.