Reforming the Church

Today is Reformation Day. Reformation in the 16th century reminds us that the church needs reforming from time to time. Either it has become lukewarm or veer into falsehood or blatant idolatry the church is in need of reform. Today on the last day of the month I took a major step in resolving where I shall be serving long term. One thing is certain. I won't be long in my current place of ministry. I need to return to my family and to my clan.

"Prepare your work for your departure" (Prof 24:27 LXX)

This verse from the Septuagint (LXX) has come to my attention since July, one month after I moved into my current place of ministry. At the first time, I asked the Lord, "I had just arrived here, now you ask me to prepare to depart?". Yes, the passage in Prof 24 (LXX) has since come to me repeatedly, and with other forms of confirmation, it is likely I shall be moving on again. A week ago, I counted the number of times I moved since I left legal practice and went to Auckland to start my study of Hebrew and Greek in 1993. Not counting a few days of hotel or motel accommodation, it is a total of 21 or 22 times of relocation with a family!! But it is just half of what the Israelites went through the wilderness in 40 years, a total of 42 departure points before they crossed the river Jordan. So I can comfort myself that I am just beginning the second half of my journey and onto my 22nd place of destination, only God knows where.

Doors of Ministry

Suddenly within the past week, multiple Ministry opportunities opened up. I am travelling to the north only about 2 hours to a village which has a big church that can sit 700 people. Then on 12th Nov I am preaching in the city centre right here within 2kms of my temporary residence. Instead of one, suddenly three services require my preaching in two churches over the 18-19th Nov weekend. And this is followed by 2 more Sunday services in KK at the end of the month.

God the Trinity

My books on "God the Trinity" are here, all 500 copies of them. The first two copies went to my proof-readers, but there will be a soft launch next Thursday, the final Chapel Assembly of the year. I hope a few more people will buy my books on that day. Remarkably, last week a person from West Malaysia had bought 4 of my books published locally. And about 7 more people have ordered the book and I told them to wait until the launching before I sent it to them. Last night while I was invigilating the New Testament 2 exams, I read the first two essays in my new book. It took me about 45 minutes to read 57 pages. I am particularly pleased to read the essay on the One and Triune God which I presented as a public lecture over 2 sessions (one hour each) on 21st May 2016.

Leadership

My next book could be on leadership as it is probably the most misunderstood or neglected element in the church or Seminary today. In church you have pastors and elders but do you have leaders or a leader who stands out, like first among equals? Nothing gets done except someone has the vision or the leadership to lead change and implement it for the betterment of the church. Many people are in authority or hold positions of some significance but they are not leaders. Once there is no leadership, slowly and surely things will fall apart. In church, it could as small a thing as being punctual. As a leader and senior pastor, I remember saying the opening prayer right on the dot, at 8am sharp in all the three churches I pastored. During the duration of the pastorate I never wavered even on one Sunday. If the start time is slated at 8am, 8am it shall be when we start our service with the opening prayer. Obviously, leadership is vital for so many aspects of church life or Seminary life.

Commentary on Galatians (2nd Printing)

Within 6 months, all my 220 copies of my Galatians were sold out. I had to print extra copies to cater for the demand and I had just instructed my printers to print another 300 copies. I hope 30 copies could be sent in time for graduation by courier. On top of that, I had printed 500 copies on "Trinity. A Collection of Essays and Sermons" and I hope to receive all the books by month's end. It's incredibly hectic work getting two books up and running while dealing with delivering four courses within a week. Thankfully by next week, lectures will cease except one for my MTheol student whom I need to meet and give my final lectures during exam week. Then, there will be plenty of marking but my two books keep me excited that from mid-Nov when my itinerant ministry commences, I will have all my books ready for sale in churches that I shall be visiting and ministering.

Book Launch

I have published my 6th book. But it will be the first to have a sort of a launch. The Principal of the Seminary where I serve has so kindly agreed to pray at my book launch and I will have the privilege of speaking for a few minutes before the Principal dedicates the book in the name of the Lord. The launch will take place in the last Chapel's service before graduation. My new book is a collection of 5 essays and five sermons, all of which are in Malay except the sermons in English. I rarely wrote my sermons long hand in church and praise be to God that in my 29 years of ministry, I have three sermon scripts. Only one written sermon remains during my first pastorate in KOTA KINABALU twenty years ago. But the book will be promoted for its essays, two of which are the main pillars of the book, namely theological education in Sabah and the Triune God.

A Baby is Born. A Book is Published.

Making of many books is weariness of the flesh, says Ecclesiastes. But making books is my new found passion. And by God's grace, I published my fifth book in four years. But writing a book is like conceiving and being pregnant with a child with all its travails and trials over 9 months and when times comes, the labour pains begin and the baby is duly born. My labour pains are not just writing but editing and proof-reading and going through many drafts and changes before finalising everything and sending it to the printers. Even then, there is delay like this current book. It was ready and printed 7 days ago, but the first few copies were only delivered today by courier. But the delay is painful, after waiting for weeks like a mother suffering labour pains and the final act of giving birth is almost a struggle between life and death.

My Spirit Soars Again

"Weeping may be for the night but when dawn breaks, comes joy. After several days of introspection and solitude, today I roared back to life. Early this morning at 5am sharp, I was reflecting over several things and my heart was pained as I thought about my current situation. It is as if I was bereaved of my children, my church, and my community. Where are all my friends? When I look out, there was none who comforts. But as I opened my Bible as I usually do every morning, every dawn or pre-dawn and sit before Lord, my eye came upon the passage from Isaiah 49:20 KJV "The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, the place is too strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell." How incredible and how remarkable.

Rejoicing in the City

Chris Tomlin’s song, God of this City has proved to be one huge inspiration. I first listened to it on Malaysia’s Day 16th Sept 2023 just barely three weeks ago as I signed off my essay on theological education in Sabah centred in Kota Kinabalu, the capital city of Sabah. I believe great things are yet to come and great things will be done in the city. I rejoice as just a couple of hours ago I heard that my new book is ready for shipping and in fact 20 copies will sent to me by courier tomorrow.