Preaching Overseas

I found myself preparing two overseas’ sermons, one in KL next Sunday and at the end of August in South Korea. Yesterday I was so tired after four days of non-stop lecturing, all full three hours each that I slept in the afternoon for a whole hour. This morning I found myself preparing a short sermon for my Korean trip.

As Years Pass On

When time is no more, John writes in Revelation 10:6-7. That would be at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ for those who experience the first resurrection, time will be no more as in the new bodies we are no longer bound by time. But as long as we live in this earthly tent, we are bound by time, the ever passing time that waits for no one and I can’t imagine that seven months of the year are almost gone, and we are rushing into end of the year and a New Year beckons and we age one more year. Nothing happened yesterday, no flash from heaven and I was already tired before I started my 3-hour long lectures on Galatians and I must say I was surprised I felt energized at the end of it and one student at the end commented how the lectures had been so helpful.

Today is the Day

In a couple of hours’ time I shall be lecturing on one of my favourite NT books, Galatians. Exactly 27 years ago I was driving to Tenom and then walking for one and a half hours from Bakuku to Alutok, right down South of the State of Sabah. I celebrated my 32nd birthday that night by preaching a midnight sermon, starting 11pm and ending just before I turned another day old. But after 27 years I am still strong and serving the Lord. Can I go for another 27 years?

Turn of the Year

God is good. He did not allow another turn of the year without taking care of His servants. Tomorrow I shall be receiving my first official pay check from my new employers after more than 20 years on the payroll of SIB. Only God knows what I have gone through these 18 months. Plenty of ups and downs; rumours of appointment and then silence for months. I just read from Matthew’s Gospel that a worker is worthy of his food. Now I work 6 days a week from early morning to late at night. Do I bring work back at home?

Galatians Commentary 2nd Printing

I have sold out my first printing of 200 copies of the Galatians commentary in Malay. Even the first 40 copies that contained typos were sold out at a discount. I am printing another 20 copies for my students here. I might have to do another 100 copies soon.

Middle of July

It’s the middle of July. It is going to be the month of Leo. It is a month that I will turn another year older. It will be the last year for me to be in the 50s. Another year will see my golden years commence with rapid speed. I thank God that I am in good health. I could travel freely and without needing any form of assistance. But in 10 years’ time, as we enter into the perfect number of 70 years we have indeed reached old age, though some friends I know keep a busy life of ministry and service into their late 70s.

Preaching as Holy Encounter

Within minutes of returning to my office after Chapel, I received a message thanking me for the sermon plus the feedback that the audio was uneven and at times, inaudible what a shame. But preaching was what I did yesterday at the Seminary's Chapel assembly. I preached for exactly 30 minutes in English and translated into Malay which means my sermon was only 15 minutes' long. I spoke in English because I wanted a few of my international colleagues and visitors to understand the sermon direct and also as a way to encourage non-English speakers to pick up the language as it is the global language of our times. Preaching is really a holy encounter, an encounter with God through His spoken Word. Only the speaker needs to be anointed as God's Word will touch many lives.

40th Day

I read Romans 5-7 this morning. It's rare that I read Romans for morning devotions, though I make it a point to read Romans from beginning to finish at least once a year. Sanctification is hard work in that one has to die to sin and yield the members of the body unto righteousness. It's by God's grace and His enabling Spirit that we could put to death the deeds of the body by the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:13). Today marks the 40th day of my ministry in this new place. I am truly settled in that I do not feel the need of me returning to my old home. I have brought with me all that I need and whatever else I needed I had purchased in the past couple of weeks.

First Month at College

I have just completed my first month in my new place of ministry and I got most of my first lectures prepared for next week's start of the 2nd Semester. Coming in half way has its advantages and disadvantages. I had to pick up from  where others left off but thankfully I could contribute in the teaching of a number of New Testament subjects. Three days ago I gave a response to a thesis proposal on the book of Revelation and that was the new beginning of my new academic "career' second time round in my late 50s.