Strike while the Iron is Hot ( A Summary of my Pastoral Work)

I may not have the opportunity again like what I have now - peace and quiet at home. I can get up when I want, eat when I want and sleep whenever I feel sleepy. No more active ministry, no more cell group meetings, no more prayer meetings and no more church council meetings. Only occasionally I receive texts from church members or pastors asking for advice and prayers like I did in the past couple of days.

Reading my Book

By God’s grace and for His glory, I think I have written my best book yet. I spent three days and three nights reading it from the beginning to end, all 214 pages of a commentary on John 13-21. I thank the Lord for helping me write the book as without the Spirit of Truth there is no way I could interpret and write the way I did, all praise and glory to His Name.

Wrestling with the Text

I listened to one commentator and author who has degrees from Cambridge and Oxford Universities who said that most things in life that are valuable are not convenient and she said, “like doing a PhD, reading a book or writing a book”. I would imagine writing a book is one of the most inconvenient things to do, let alone writing a commentary on a biblical book. I know of a former colleague also a biblical scholar who has written a few books in Malay, a couple of commentaries as well and he had taught in Sabah for almost 30 years before returning to his home country last year.

First Half of the Year

We are nearing the end of the first half of the year in a matter of weeks. If you had asked me in early February, the final month of my pastorate that I would be writing my second book in 2026, I would think it was something near impossible. But with God nothing is impossible. I prayed just before I started writing again on 5th February 2026 that just as Nehemiah finished building the walls of Jerusalem in 52 days, the writing of my commentary John 17-21 would also take 52 days at least for the first draft.

Solomon's Sorrows (Ecclesiastes)

I am about to finish my introduction to a commentary on the book of Ecclesiastes. It is just over 3,000 words. I think sometimes early next week, I will proceed with the commentary proper in the first half of chapter 1. It may take some time this proposed new book, unlike the commentary on John's Gospel that took less than 4 months in total written over two periods in 2024 and 2026. In between I pastored a church for 15 months and could not write a single paragraph during my pastorate. I will strive to finish this new proposed commentary before end of the year, God willing. Then I might proceed to write a Romans' commentary as I have a course to teach in West Malaysia next June 2027.

Good News from a Far Country

East and West Malaysia are separated by a vast ocean called the South China Sea. Shipment by ordinary shipping takes several weeks, sometimes over a month to cross the ocean, to port, to unload goods and clear customs. I might have spoken too soon. Just as I wrote the previous blog that for a fortnight, I had not heard from my printers and I did not even contact them so as not to rush them in anyway, late evening yesterday I received confirmation from my printers that my books would be ready by this afternoon (4th June 2026) and asked whether my former instructions about sending a few copies by courier still stood.

Many Holidays & Much Work

Malaysia has too many holidays. I could not get a few thingss done until tomorrow since Monday-Wednesday are public holidays. Even my book in KL has been delayed, as many took the opportunity to go on leave so they have a whole week without work. I received no news from my printers for two weeks already. I had a buyer of two of my books on Sunday but I could not send the books by poslaju until tomorrow.

A Pastor's Observations

After three days our Pastors' Conference, I was still thinking about what God was saying to the Church and to me specifically. I had several meaningful encounters with pastors, young and old, male and female and one has stood out because she said things to me that no one had said before. First, she told me she had known me in her teenage years, perhaps through her sisters who are also active in ministry. She said that it was essential for a leader to look out for the whole Church, and not just one particular race ("satu suku").

Next Book Project

After talking with my senior leaders, it appears that it is going to take a while for them to find me something to do, so in the meantime I will occupy myself with writing. Yesterday I rested from the hectic two full days and two nights’  Pastors’ Conference and I have been praying since I completed my John’s Gospel’s commentary in mid-May about which book should I commentate on next. I think I found the answer but when I start writing, I will announce it here.

Growth (Decline) of the Church

If attendance is any indication of church growth, this year's Conference was an eye opener. In fact, it attracted close to 300 pastors. Last year's attendance was sparse so much so the visiting speaker commented on it and said he hoped the numbers would double the next time he visits Sabah. His suggestion was great, if one pastor encouraged one or two people to become pastors, in 5 years the numbers would double. Why numbers matter?

Pastors' Conference

I attended in full our Pastors' Conference two full days and two nights and I only missed yesterday's afternoon session. I must say I enjoyed it, prepared mentally and spiritually for it. I learned a fair bit from it, especially encouraged to listen to my fellow pastors, most of whom are now my juniors and they did splendidly. This morning's session about how to pastor in the End-Time turned out to be my favourite. It went for one hour and five minutes but the anointing and his gift of telling a story won through.