A Glorious July

This has been a glorious July. I have turned 50, my first milestone of 2014. Nothing dramatic except that I have begun my Jubileeth year on sabbatical and expecting great things from God. I am staying in a new place and I am going to a new church. Everything is new as prophet Isaiah declares, remember not the former things behold I will do a new thing, before it comes to pass will you not know it? I have spent almost a month reading the Septuagint and everyday I am discovering new truths. This morning I read Zeph 3,4 (LXX) and it is said that the prophets are spirit bearers, not found in the Hebrew MT. The other mention of this word is found in Hosea 9,7 where the prophet is called a man of the Spirit or spiritual man. Could it be that Paul's teaching on prophets and spiritual men is influenced by Zeph 3,4 and Hosea 9,7? More on this in a later post. This has been a glorious July. My second sabbatical goal is to meet to fellow Christian brothers and have quality time with them.

Competition & Preaching Well

The book of Proverbs says that hope deferred makes the heart sick. I was beginning to feel sorry for Joseph Schooling as he lost several races until yesterday when he made a statement by clinching Silver in the 100m Butterfly. At one stage I thought he was going to get gold as Schooling went head to head with de Clos. And then I was treated with another great show, really icing on the cake when Jasmine Ser won 50m rifles at 1am, with the last shot, after 50 shots in all. I went to sleep happy. Why is competition important for excellence? Apostle Paul made this statement that "not everyone who runs wins the race, therefore run in a way that you may win". Is Paul condemning losers as second class Christians? I doubt it since Paul in another passage would extol weakness so that the power of Christ is made manifest. Yet Paul realizes that our spiritual walk is like a competition.

Mentoring Young Leaders

It is not often that I received two messages from Sabah at the same time. Both are from young pastors. One is preaching tonight in the biggest event of my homechurch, 5000 youths gathered for the Annual SIB Youth Conference. It must be the 34th or 35th edition. I must congratulate my denominational leaders for giving local talent a chance, a young man in his early 40s but with about 20 years of pastoral experience. I got to know this pastor in 1996 when I was the Executive pastor of SIB and when we visited our partner churches in West Malaysia he was one of the 2 pastors we took with the team. I am proud of him, obviously being given this huge honour to speak in this major event where normally big-time Indonesian preachers are invited. But we broke the tradition of relying on foreign talent in 1998 where the government refused to issue visa for foreign preachers during the Anwar Ibrahim saga.

Developing Local Talent

Last night I watched the finals between the Malaysian and Singaporean table-table teams for the Commonwealth Games gold. Which team did I support? Malaysia of course. If only Singapore had more local or Singapore-raised players, I would be torn between the two teams. I am not anti-foreigner. My point is that we must develop local talent. I am not into politics and I am writing about the church, Christian leaders and theologians. We need to develop our local talent. So much effort is wasted to get someone trained as a PhD and then you don't appreciate them. How many local scholars have published with prestigious international publishers and then they are loaded with teaching and preaching assignments that they have no time to develop their research and writing skills further? I really don't see much vision across the land. I got a friend, a brilliant NUS graduate, worked for a few years, pastored a church and then obtained a PhD from one of the top UK universities and then he got paid less than a new graduate working in a bank, let alone a new law graduate who can command $5,000 p.m starting salary in a multinational law firm. We need to develop our local talent in church.

The End Bits are Important (1 Cor 16)

Often when we read the New Testament's letters, we think that the end bits are not important. I wonder how many readers dwell on Romans 16 if they ever get beyond Romans 8 or 11. Today I read the end of 1 Corinthians. I have been reading this amazing Pauline epistle since I took upon myself to comment on 1 Cor 14.

The first part of 1 Cor 16 again informs us that Paul is consistent in his teaching and practice among the churches he founded. As much as the women's role in church is the same everywhere as in all the churches of the saints, likewise the practice of giving, especially to the poor is equally applicable in Corinth as it is in the Galatian churches.

Second, Paul seems to expect some financial support for himself from the Corinthian church when he said, "you can send me on my journey wherever I go." (V. 6). It is not entirely clear whether Paul's refusal of financial support is a blanket rule as far as the Corinthians are concerned or perhaps Paul did not want strings attached or regular support that might be seen as patronage but that occasional gifts for his mission could well be appreciated.

2.3 Billion Poor - Why I am not Poor

Almost 30% of the world's population is poor. That's a lot of people. I came across those stats when I was enjoying a muffin and cappucinno. That cost 4.50 Singapore dollars, almost double of all these 2.3 billion people have to live on for a whole day. I don't feel guilty but I ponder on what "fate" has dealt me and why I am not poor. I can think of five reasons. First, I was born into a good family with hard working parents. My mother worked 12 hours a day, giving tuition sometimes twice a day beside her job as a school teacher. They took care of their four sons. They never nagged us to study but gave us all the encouragement to excel. And excelled we did. Second, we live in a peaceful country where economic activity is possible and it is possible for those who work hard to prosper and get ahead. Third, I was naturally gifted as a student. Nothing to do with me (parents' genes) for it was a natural talent. But I also worked hard. I got up at 4,30a,m in the morning when I was Primary 4 to study for my exams. My dad had to ask me to get back to sleep once. Working hard is way to get ahead and good results matter. I got my first job as a lawyer in New Zealand after the first job interview. My grades were not that good but in the last 2 years of law study my grades improved and strangely taxation law was my best paper. Yes, I used to take up tax cases and won against the IRD.

False Witnesses of God (1 Cor 15,15)

I continued where I left off and read on to 1 Cor 15. In 15,15 Paul expresses his fear that he and his associates are found to be "false witnesses of God". This is certainly an interesting phrase and self-description where in the Greek the word is "pseudomartures" which is made up of 2 words, pseudo (false or inauthentic) and the word, martures for witnesses. The verb martureo is a key word in the New Testament and Paul later uses it to make the point that they have witnessed that God has raised Jesus from the dead. Interestingly, Paul could act as witness and he included others beside as witnesses to the fact that Jesus was alive or had been raised. Paul had earlier noted that that the risen Jesus had appeared to 500 brothers and to James and lastly to him as one born out of time. Paul could be a true witness to Christ and to God who had raised Jesus from the dead because he had encountered and seen the risen Lord.

"If You are a Prophet or Spiritual Man..." (1 Cor 14,37) Finale

I want to end the series on women's ministry by looking at the climax of Paul's teaching in 1Cor 14, 37. After listing several proofs and arguments why a woman is not allowed to speak in church (the Law says so, tradition in all the churches, Corinthian church has no claim to uniqueness and therefore should not innovate or deviate from received teaching), Paul concludes this section on spiritual gifts by issuing a challenge to his readers and hearers, if anyone thinks himself to be prophet or spiritual let him acknowledge what I am writing is the Lord's commandment. Paul is not giving his opinion as he did in 1 Cor 7 about the virgins and whether to stay single or married. Paul is stating the Lord's command, like in ch 11 where he said that his understanding and practice of the Lord's communion was by revelation of the Lord. Paul is putting his apostolic authority on the line here with regard to women's role and ministry in church. And Paul claims an authority higher than prophets and prophecy (1 Cor 12, 28 where apostles are first, then second prophets in the pecking order of leadership). In fact, any prophecy is subject to the test whether it conforms to apostolic teaching. If he is a genuine prophet, he will know (by the Spirit) what Paul is saying about women not speaking in church is the Lord's commandment. There is no two-way about this. If that person does not know or acknowledge apostolic teaching, that person is ignorant and therefore cannot be a true prophet. Paul's advice is not only given to the prophets or prophetesses, but directed to all men and women who claim to be spiritual.

"You are My Witnesses and I am also a Witness" (Isa 43,10 LXX)

In my last sermon at my former place of ministry, I expressed one regret in my 6 years as lecturer, that is never given the chance to teach Septuagint Greek, the Christian Bible for the first 350 years in the East and West until Jerome's translation of the Hebrew to Latin (the Vulgate) began to influence the Western church from mid 5th century onwards. But the LXX remains the Christian Old Testament until reformation when more of the OT began to be translated from Hebrew into the vernaculars like German and English, the later King James version (1611) is a famous example.

No matter how you see it, whether you are an OT or NT scholar, the Septuagint should be the mainstay of every biblical scholar. For the OT scholar, he or she must know Greek because the Bible (our OT now) of the early Church was in Greek. I am astonished to find that some OT scholars have little idea of the LXX, that only shows the shallowness of their scholarship. For the NT scholar, the LXX is equally important because the Bible of most of the NT authors including Matthew and Paul was the LXX as they invariably quoted from the LXX rather than the Hebrew MT when they cited Scripture though I have no doubt both Matthew and Paul were proficient in Hebrew.

Women Speaking & Evaluating Prophecies (1 Cor 14:32-40) Part 2

“And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. Let your women keep silence in the churches:for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home:for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Cor 14:32-40 KJV)

“and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But all things should be done decently and in order” (1 Cor 14:32-40 ESV)

Returning to this passage in 1 Cor 14 that concludes Paul’s teaching not just in ch. 14 but also for the whole section on spiritual gifts commenced in 1 Cor 11:1. First, we should note that in the Greek, the word, “subject” (verb) in relation to the spirit of the prophet to the prophet in v. 32 is the same word translated “submission” (noun) in relation to the women in v. 33. Just as the spirit of the prophet is subject/submit to the prophet, likewise a woman is subject or in submission to the man. 

Second, we do well to note that the order or peace that God desires in the church frames the passage from v.32 to v. 40. As God is not the author of confusion or disorder (v. 33), everything ought to be done decently and in order (v. 40). Paul has already mentioned about the order on how prophets go about prophesying and their ability to restrain themselves when called for. Now Paul addresses the question of women’s role or place in church.

"It is Shameful for a Woman to Speak in Church" (1Cor 14,35b) Part 1

I promised several blogposts ago to comment on 1 Cor 14,32ff in some detail. When I read the passage in Greek and English again, it is still as forceful as I first understood the true intent of Paul's words in April 1983, almost a year after my conversion. I have not changed my mind since, and I am more convinced than ever the truth of Paul's injunction that a woman should not speak in church. First, I will quickly deal with the argument that Paul could not be forbidding women speaking since in 1 Cor 11 he had earlier allowed women to pray and prophesy, both activities having to do with speech. Paul is not incoherent or self contradictory as some have claimed. Women praying and prophesying are regulated in that they must be covered (whether it is the veil or long hair as covering is another issue). The exception does not prove the rule. Praying or prophesying is permitted of women as these activities do not intrude into the authority of men. Women inspired to pray and prophesying are to be encouraged but it does not over-ride the limits of the women's authority as Paul sets out in 1 Cor 11 and 14.

Christian Retirement Villages

Now I have more than 3 weeks' experience of living in an HDB flat. I have all the time in the world. I can focus solely on God and had little human interaction. So I observed my surroundings and there are many seniors around me. I walked past many HDB apartments and I hear the TV on from early morning to late at night. I see older men (and lesser older women) wandering around aimless and listless. What a way to grow old - lonely and lonesome. I have an idea. Let's form a Christian Retirement Village Association. The goal is to build a Christian Retirement Village in Singapore. When I read early church history (esp. 3rd to 5th century), male bishops lived in communes with other men and sometimes with other women (separate quarters). There were no female priests let alone female bishops in the first 1,000 years of early church except if you take the sectarian Montanist movement (3rd century) which was ultimately rejected by the orthodox church. Augustine lived with his brother priests in his commune until the day of his death. Like Bishop of Ambrose before him, Augustine gave up everything, took a vow of celibacy (it was voluntary then and should be voluntary now) with his livelihood supported by the church. Ambrose in Milan and Augustine in Hippo would have managed millions of dollars (today's value) of church property and on occasions gold bars and precious stones. But they did not enrich themselves but distributed to the poor and gave alms to all and sundry. Unlike some of today's megachurch pastors who live in prime landed property that 97% of Singaporeans can ill afford. Back to the Christian retirement village concept.

The Greek of Mark 14:35 and John 12:24

I whipped out my tablet with my Olive Tree App that contains the Nestle-Aland 28th edition with critical apparatus. I was having lunch with my former MTh student (who is going for his PhD shortly) and we talked about the importance of the Greek New Testament. We were encouraging one another on our recent discoveries using the Greek NT. I was reading the Greek text of Mark 14 while listening to Philip Jensen's preaching at ARPC last Sunday on the Lord's prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. My eyes fell upon the narrator's words that Jesus "fell onto the ground" (in the Greek, epipten epi tes ges). Jesus, being sorrowful, fell upon the ground praying to the Father. It is here that Jesus' posture of prayer strikes me. I know that people fall on the ground to worship (bow down) and people kneel before the Lord in prayers. But falling to the ground gives prominence to the added dimension of urgency and desperation in the Lord's prayers to the Father. Falling to the ground points to Jesus' utter dependence on God and on his humility. It was when Daniel sought for understanding and humbled himself that he was heard by God (Dan 10).

Junia(s), Priscilla, Phoebe, Chloe and Daughters of Philip

I admire women leaders and politicians. My coming to adulthood was very much influenced by two women politicians. One was Margaret Thatcher and the other Benazir Bhutto. Now one of my favourite leaders is German Chancellor, Madam Angela Merkel. We may see the first woman President of the United States in 2016. However much I admire woman leaders in politics and in business, when it comes to the Church, the Word of God must govern our understanding of their roles and functions in relation to church leadership. Often my friends and scholars will interject and cite a number of women leaders in the New Testament. Let me quickly deal with the point that women leaders in Old Testament can't be used as examples of women in leadership unless it is also supported likewise in the New Testament. Thus there is not much weight given in this issue by quoting Deborah as the Judge of Israel or Huldah as the prophetess. We need New Testament examples to decide this issue whether in the church women could hold leadership positions and if so, what kind of leadership positions? Several names are normally mentioned when this woman in leadership issue is debated.

Flying & Evil in the World

I am still in shock. Lightning has struck twice for Malaysian airlines and Malaysia. I went to sleep 2 nights ago numbed when I heard the midnight news on MH17. I woke up yesterday and groaned and sighed before the Lord, the second occasion I felt such intense grief and anger towards the evil in the world. The first time I felt such anguish was the news on Benazir Bhutto's assassination from a terrorist act. Now 298 people on an airplane were blown to pieces within seconds. O! the evils and horrors of war. Humanity never changes. The heart of man is desperately wicked. Just for a piece of arid land, an island out in nowhere they will fight and kill. Even as Scripture says, for a loaf of bread man will lie. With modern weaponry, the world is a dangerous place. Nuclear accidents could happen, and wars are breaking out in various parts of the world. Since I conducted my last seminar on end-time in March at PJEFC, the world is spiralling out of control. In Iraq, Syria, Libya, Gaza, South China Seas and Ukraine. In fact I was speaking about air travel and people going to and fro in the end-time (Dan 12,4) when the news of MH370 gone missing began to filter through (10am 8th March). Now another airline is bombed into pieces by warring parties in the Ukraine-Russian border. Politicians make decisions that determine the fate of nations, the fate of individuals.

Women Bishops?

For the past week, I have great sadness in my heart. I expected the decision to come in favour of women bishops because what else can one expect in this day and age? The wheels of so-called progress, human rights, gender equality and tolerance turn fast, all these wonderful sounding words that supposedly only the backward or out-dated oppose. What is happening in the world and in churches that allow the spirit of the world to dominate its thinking is not surprising given its modern or post-modern culture or framework that rejects divine authority. What can one do when the foundations are destroyed? A man or a woman who rejects God is making a god of himself or herself because ultimately there is no reference point or external criterion with which to judge one's view except what feels right now according to the spirit and flavour of the age. It is here the Greek of Romans 12,1 matters where Paul the apostle exhorted the Roman believers not to be conformed to the age (aeon) but instead be transformed by the renewal of the mind in order to know what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God. Once God is rejected, everything goes. If there is no effort in determining where the divine will lies on any issue, then the spirit of the age takes over for the world apart from God is under the power of the evil one. He is the antichrist, for he denies the words of Christ that reveal divine will, God's heart and mind. When I put divine authority alongside biblical authority is because the century old tradition that the Bible discloses God's mind and God's will. What Scripture says is what God says. Scripture is the Word of God because the Bible is divinely inspired or God-breathed (2 Tim 3:16-17). Therefore, it is only right to go back to the Bible to search out whether it is God's will to have woman bishop. First, you won't find a single woman bishop in the New Testament. The word, bishop or overseer is taken from 1 Tim 3,1 and it is equivalent to the office of an elder in Titus 1. We can conclude that a bishop and an elder/presbyter does the same functions. It is only in the 2nd century as evidenced in Ignatius' letters that bishops were becoming monarchical as we see now in Catholic and Anglican churches. Hence, the bishop's chair is now known as the bishop's throne once the bishop's authority has developed way beyond what the NT bishops were meant to be. But women bishops are another issue altogether.

National Library Board's 3 Banned Books

I would not be writing this if not for unceasing media attention given to the NLB's banned children books depicting gay lifestyle. The media attention given to this issue is really overblown; soon Channel News Asia will be airing a special documentary on this. I must say there is unfair coverage on TV and newspapers where 200 or so gathered for reading at the Central library is given much time and prominence in the media compared to 25,000 signatures in favour of the NLB's decision. I support NLB's decision without question. I love our national libraries. In fact I am writing this from a library. I love books and I support all kinds of books and intellectual inquiry from various perspectives of scholars and authors. But we are talking about children's books. One can't even have sex legally with a girl under 16 years old even with her consent. This is heterosexual sex but the State rightly protects young girls and women under age from being preyed upon or in the State's view, could not give considered consent given their age. I am citing this as an example that the State has authority to sanction or prohibit certain activities by law. And it is still the country's law that sex between males is an offence, even for consenting adult males. The State's view is enshrined in section 377A of the Penal Code.

Sorting out Personal Documents

This is the first time in 7 years that I spent half a morning sorting out my personal documents. I have about 20 personal files, each file containing a specific area of my personal portfolios. I have no stocks or fixed deposits. I have 2 files on tax records, knowing that anytime in the next 12 years the tax man may call on the taxpayer. I have been a taxpayer for the past 6 years in Singapore. Even the half year in 2008, I had to pay some taxes in 2009. Singapore's tax regime is relatively benign and in terms of personal tax rates for individuals it is one of the lowest in the world. I have one file on the monies sent to my son from 2007 to 2011 before I got onto internet banking and the paper trail is less after that. I have spent half my fortune on my son, my only child.

A Break from Routine

A farmer more than anyone else knows about routine. He goes to the field and sows seeds during the planting season. He watches the seeds grow and tends the field, protecting it from weeds and harmful insects. As the plant matures, he prepares for harvest and once the plant is ripe he puts in his sickle and reaps his harvest. The crops he will gather into his barn, some for food, some for Roman taxes and the land owner and some for sale in the market place or to the middle man. Israel's cycle of Feasts centres around the cycles of agricultural produce. First, barley for Passover and Unleavened bread (March/April), wheat for Pentecost 50 days later and then olives and grapes for the Feast of Tabernacles in the 7th month. After a farmer has gone through the year-cycle, he celebrates the Feast of Tabernacles, also known as the Feast of ingathering, the farmer prays for rain during the Feast and prepares for the new year's cycle of sowing and reaping again. This he will do for 6 years and on the 7th year, the Law commands that the land to lie fallowed and the workers rest on the 7th or sabbatical year.

A Short but Glorious Life

I tend to pay attention to small details when I read Scripture knowing that even in its jots and tittles are nuggets of precious truths. In Acts 13,25 it is said that John's life course was being completed when he confessed Jesus as the Christ, the coming one and not himself. In Greek, dromos means a race, a course, or career even and John's career was a short one but most significant and meaningful. By all accounts in the four Gospels, John's public ministry lasted less than a year, some even put it as 6 months. He baptised others and evidently taught his disciples but his crowning achievement was to point people to Christ. At that, it is said that he had fulfilled his dromos.

"Ask of Me, I Shall Give You the Nations for Your Heritage"

Why are we not seeing more multi-cultural churches when the society around us is multi-racial? First, perhaps we are not praying enough. The house of God is a house of prayers and there is much cleansing work to do to restore the original purpose of the church even as Acts 2,42 states that they devoted themselves unto the prayers. Further, there must a concerted and constant effort to pray for the nations, pray for the salvation of each nation, not so much a political entity, a country but a people-group.

"My House shall be called a House of Prayer for all Nations"

When Jesus was asked to justify his action of clearing the temple from money changers, goat and dove sellers, Jesus quoted the verse from prophet Isaiah that God's house is meant to be a house of prayer for all nations. Apparently two things were taking place in the temple precinct. One is that the noise and clutter of trade and money changers and the bleat of sheep and goat would have distracted people from focusing and praying to God. God's sanctuary is holy and is meant for prayers, loud cries and heart-felt prayers along with quiet reflection and silent prayers of the heart. Second, the temple courts were meant for Gentiles/nations to come and pray to God. This shows that for Jesus the whole temple complex is holy and not just the sanctuary with the holy place and holy of holies.

Bringing Other Sheep into the Fold

Jesus prays in John 17 that he has other sheep and they will come and become one fold. The other sheep is often interpreted as the Gentiles or non-Jewish nations. Many nations will become the sheep of Jesus and together with Jewish believers become one fold. The prayer of Jesus is being answered as we see many nations beginning with Paul's ministry in the 1st century until today in the 21st century. But we may do well to consider that this Jesus' prayer is still being said and in many countries await fulfilment as we see the trend of churches dominated by one culture or one ethnic group (the Greek word, ethnos means a nation or a people/grouping). We see churches dominated by a single race even in places where society in general is multi-racial and multi-cultural like those in Singapore and Malaysia. Singapore as much as Malaysia as Robert Kaplan has noted consists of a convergence of civilizations. In many instances, Singapore is even more multi-cultural compared to Malaysia as the former being a city-State has within a small space of 700 sq kms in all as many as 20 different races intermingling, jostling one another for space, working, playing and living side by side. Why are then churches so monocultural?

Ecclesiological and Sociological Dimensions of the Gospel

When Paul rebuked Peter and company for not behaving according to the truth of the Gospel, two central principles are brought to fore. First, the truth of the Gospel is not only a matter of belief, or believing the right doctrine, but more importantly right behaviour arising from understanding the Gospel aright - the truth of the Gospel. But in this blogpost I want to focus on the second truth, equally important that is the truth of the Gospel has ecclesiological and sociological dimensions.

Extremely Zealous for the Traditions (Gal 1:14)

In Galatians Paul reveals his past and present conditions. Before he met Christ he was extremely zealous for the traditions of his fathers (Judaism) but how wrong he was, so much so he persecuted the Way thinking that his zeal had sanction in his religion. Today we see much extremism and violence committed in the name of religion and the traditions of our forbears. Even when violence is not practised in some circles, the traditions of the fathers seem to cause much division and hatred in the body of Christ. Each tradition and its adherents claim to have the truth or the proper interpretation of the truth. One can be a work-based devotee, going about promoting a certain diet and drinks instead of the gospel of salvation. One could preach grace so eloquently in the name of tradition, Reformed or Protestant but the life exhibited is anything but gracious.

A Tenting Community

Moving house in the past fortnight has taught me some invaluable lessons. Perhaps I was getting too complacent, too rooted in one place. Though for the past 6 years I have treated my College flat as a big hotel room, where one checks in and then checks out. When I look at the lives of the patriarchs in the book of Genesis, our ancestors were a tenting community. Why is that so? For God reveals himself as a tenting God, "I have dwelt in tents with you" and God had moved from one place to another, guiding Israel all the way to the promised land.

Men, Brothers, and Friends

Besides reading the Bible and increase my fitness levels, I have put high on my sabbatical agenda to spend more time, quality time with family and friends. I have started my sabbatical by honouring someone more than any other has determined the course of my life, especially the first half. But I know Christian brothers play a big part in God's plan for me. I am planning, God willing, a gathering of men to mark the first milestone in just over a fortnight.

1st Week on Sabbatical

When I looked out of the window this morning it was raining heavily. But the trees were gorgeous. It rained from 5am to 10.30am. I rested and thought about another item on my to-do-list on my Sabbatical, that is to get more active and do more exercises. In Sabah 3 weeks ago, I went biking with my friend. Here in Singapore I have to think twice about buying a bike. So I surveyed the land, the surroundings of Clementi. I saw what I liked, a basketball court about 3 minutes' walk from my flat. I went ahead and bought a leather basketball and hope to play tonight or early tomorrow morning.

Preaching and Gifting

The gift of preaching is a gift from God. When the gift is operating and flowing, it is one of the most precious because it has to do with communicating God's heart and mind to His people. There is only one thing needful that is to bring God's people to Himself, his will and purposes through preaching. Even when bad preaching happens one learns something if one is humble enough. But today was something else. By the time the preacher opened his mouth I knew it was not his calling and not his gift to preach.

The Breasts of Jesus (Rev 1,13)

This morning I continued to study more about the word, mastos and found out that the plural form appears in Rev 1,13 where John saw one like a son of man, wearing a golden sash/belt on his breasts. Thus, the breasts of Jesus seem to a prominent part of the anatomy of the Son of Man in John's inaugural vision of Jesus in the book of Revelation. What do the breasts of Jesus signify? Breast or bosom is the intimate part that shields the heart. Perhaps from the heart of Jesus lies his authority to rule over nations. His rule or authority signified by the golden sash comes from the heart, a loving, just and compassionate ruler unlike the Beast who rules with hatred, deceit and an iron fist. Jesus' breasts are the reservoirs of his love for the church and the belt or sash could be a symbol of the church, lying at the bosom of her Lord and Master.

"Breasts" in LXX Song of Songs

What do I do on my sabbatical? I kept two boxes of my books, some I have not read but some are the Old Greek or LXX. I will try to read the LXX as much as I can during my sabbatical. I started with the Song of Songs this afternoon. The shorter books before I tackle the heavy stuff. I remember reading the Song of Songs as a teenager only 2 years after my conversion. I studied the book for several weeks. I noted all the different flowers, the flora and fauna of Solomon's garden.

Sabbath is Timeless

I lost track of time today. I thought it was Friday. I missed the Brazil-Colombia match. Sabbath is timelessness. For a long time I have not experienced just the presence of God without any pressing concerns. God is a jealous God. No wonder He commands the Israelites to stop work in the 7th year. He wants us all for himself. He wants us to pay total attention to him and not to anything else. He wants us to spend all the time with him just as new lovers never seem to have enough time for one another. But my most pressing concern is to make sure all my bags and boxes stayed packed.

Honour your Father and Mother

Prime Minister-elect Modi visited his mother after he won the Indian election in a landslide. I visited my father on the first day of my sabbatical. I don't think I ever have had such a short stay, an 18-hour trip to Kota Kinabalu before flying back to Singapore the next day. My father was sitting on a chair waiting to be discharged. He was surprised to see me as I did not tell him I was coming. "Are you not here since 24th" he asked. I must have told him that 2 weeks ago but did not make the 24th June flight back to KK as there was so much packing to do. Apparently my dad has been waiting for me to see him since 24th and wondering why his eldest son had not shown up. How as parents we wait for our children to show up or to call. Now with whatapps (my mum on whatapps), is there any more excuse not to communicate with our parents?

I am a Free Agent

Today I am a free agent. I will look ahead to the future with great expectations and hope. I expect God will do great things because he is a great God. We are called to be eagles, to soar high in the sky and not be bound on earth. We are to move with the wind of the Spirit and not follow the ways of the world. I remember what a participant of a recent Church Camp told me as he alighted from the bus after a 6-hour journey from Malacca. He said, "tomorrow we have to face reality."

Two-Week Man

I preached a sermon 10 years ago titled, "2-Week Man". It was somewhat intended as a pun to "Too-Weak Man", knowing Lord I am a worm and no man and all my strength is in You, Lord. Today I completed my 10-day packing journey and have fulfilled what I have preached that given 2 weeks I can move from my place to another. It was not without hiccups and plenty of help from family and friends. Six months after my sermon in my home-church, a good friend and deacon (now an elder) reminded me of my sermon and told me that he could not move in 2 weeks but perhaps in 2 months. I have few possessions though in the last 10 days I realized I had accumulated so many things, from shoes, slippers, hangers and mugs.