Full-time Author

For almost three years now, I have considered myself a full-time author except this sudden one-year appointment which is coming to an end in a few months' time. Apart from teaching here in KK, I have one more teaching commitment to keep in May, then it will be free. I watched a couple of "early retirement" videos last night, but as for me it will be seeking the Lord's will, though no one is immune to human deliberations and planning. "Man may plan his ways, but the Lord's purpose will stand." I might return to full-time writing in the near future. 

Retiring Early?

I am a frugal person but my good friend may not agree with me because he thinks I drive a nice car. In fact, one walks by faith and not by sight. God adds wealth without sorrows as I bought my car three years ago with my EPF. The office was going to be closed for those without full doses of vaccination, so I thought I better take my money out. I regret it not a moment. I have been enjoying life and a car is just a vehicle of transport but since we spent many hours a week in a car, a good car is almost an essential in Sabah. There is no reliable public transport here in Kota Kinabalu. I am not afraid to retire early because I do not think I have worked a day in my life. I love serving God. I love serving in a full-time capacity, whether I am paid for my services or not. For 18 months, I lived on my savings with no fixed income, writing two books in the process that have become a blessing to many.

Doing Nothing, Doing Everything

In barely three months, this phase of my ministry will be over. One walks by faith and not by sight. Whenever I lecture with the wealth of experience and learning granted by the Lord, I felt there is no better place for me than in a classroom imparting my knowledge and expertise to all who come. One student even called me "sifu" ("master" in the sense of an expert in martial arts). I doubt he had known my own illustration of being a black belt with 6 Dans with each "dan" representing a book that I have published. But alas, this teaching ministry is short-lived. It is truly ironic that much lesser mortals will go on forever for they are the establishment, those who do the bidding of their boss and leader. But who does the will of God the Father and look after the interests of Jesus Christ?

Conscious during the Night

I have been experiencing something that I rarely do in waking up at odd hours and my mind fixed on my next big move or no move at all. I ponder and pray in my mind there would be time I need the whole hour before falling back to sleep. No move at all could be the best outcome because I am so familiar with so many things around me, all the creaturely comforts, my home, cars and cafes dotted around KK that I visit a couple of times per week. I dine out quite a bit which something I can't do if I live overseas as most places are expensive in terms of dining out. I spent a month's pay on food alone for the 4 weeks I spent with my son when he was at varsity in 2012. My son only cooked once, and I realised cooking, like his dad is not his forte. So I spent on lunches and dinners for both myself and son.

Decision Time

Every decade of my life there seems to a big move on my part. I started serving in 1994 and in 2003 the first big move of becoming pastor of our mother church in Likas straight after completing my PhD. Then the next big move in 2013-2014 in deciding to move back from Singapore to Sabah and now in 2024 it will be another big move, perhaps farther than just South East Asia, to the ends of the earth. From the land of my birth to the land of my spiritual birth.

Conferences?

In the past fortnight so many things had happened that the last thing on my mind was Conference attendance. But this morning I received an email a kind of reminder from my friend who wanted to invite me to Society of New Testament Conference in Melbourne. A few weeks ago Melbourne was farthest from my mind as I was planning for an European trip but suddenly circumstances changed that now the only possible conference attendance is in Melbourne.

Three Months

The end is just as the beginning. I wrote in my last chapter of Departure Points. This Lunar New Year’s break has given me a bit of a reprieve. I have time to think and make plans for the future. Now I know what to do come April. I do not want to leave it to May as my lectures will end middle of May. There are only three months left.

New Year’s Reset

There are distinct advantages of celebrating two new years; one Western and the other, the Lunar New Year that fell on Saturday, 10th Feb 2024 ushering the year of the Dragon. I received eight or nine CNY wishes from close friends, most of which were decorated with dragon themes. But do you know that even for Christians a dragon could be a good sign like the introductory passage in the LXX book of Esther that begins with the vision of two dragons, Mordecai and Haman contesting for power and we all know how the story unfolds in the biblical book? As Revelation 12 speaks of a great red dragon representing the devil, we should be careful not to extol dragon-like features or images too much over the course of this year.

Things are at Overdrive

When your mind is loaded, sleep will suffer. After three hours of the Song of Songs on Monday night where I spoke and lectured throughout with the exception of a few questions, I felt the burden of the Word of Lord on me and to have unloaded it to my students in a way acceptable to them, yet not compromising the truth is an art to behold, and only those filled with the Holy Spirit will know what I mean. I have stayed calm while the storm rages around me. When you are on your way out, you really know who your friends are. Twice over dinners for guests, the same few people came to talk with me while others saw me from afar. But I put up a steely front, always cheerful and kind to all I meet and am ready to help in a moment's notice. By your patience, you will inherit the promises of God.

Seeking the Lord's Will

I found myself at peace now. After several weeks of intensive struggles in prayers and pre-dawn rising to seek the will of God for my future. Last night when I was walking to a Mall for dinner, I had a sense of peace and joy. I felt joyful that I could say to the Lord that wherever You may lead I will go. How many people on this planet earth can say that? I am a totally free agent in submission to God's will. I could stay put in Sabah or I could go to the ends of the earth, including the place of my spiritual birth. I told a Kiwi friend that I am NZ bred and trained.