The Month of May 2024

In 20 days' time I shall be officially going on leave pending my departure from my current place of ministry and then moving all my stuff back to my house in Kota Kinabalu. I will put my 2-week plan into action that I could move all my things within a fortnight and settle into a new place. It's been a promise I have kept to the Lord since my first departure from my legal practise to flying off to New Zealand with a young family (my wife and our 2-year old son) to start a new journey in life, in preparation for ministry. Only in church just now, one church member, a senior civil servant told me he bought two of my books and he was blessed with "Departure Points" so much that he thought he entered into my world and was taken along the ministry I undertook.

Spiritual Birthday

Only one person commented that I should celebrate my spiritual birthday which is today, 24th April as I was born again or known by God on the 24th April 1982 in Christchurch, New Zealand. But everything goes back to the first time Jesus Christ appeared to me and called into His service a year later. Those two encounters in April 1982 and May 1983 determined the course of the rest of my life and I am determined to serve the Lord Christ until the end of my days. He is alive. He has died for our sins. 

Blogging highlights

I thought to myself why don’t I focus more on blogging since in the past two months it is reaching more than 10,000 readers per month. I know it will ebb and flow but blogging has given me some marvellous benefits including a full-time job in Singapore in 2008 and numerous friends whom I lost touch had reconnected with me through coming across my blog.

I am still Alive

After a bout with illness, one realises just how close we are to death where every one alive will meet one day. If I am still alive, it is because God still has a duty for me on earth. For He is the Lord over all the earth and He has His purposes for this earth, for every nation, tribe and language. When someone comments that my ministry revolves around kampung folks (village people) I felt a sense of pride, not unworthiness. Who will go and teach these kampung folks? Yes, there are many preachers and itinerants as well, but not many have the knowledge that God has given me. It is enriching for all concerned at least for someone with my background preaching to the village folks.

One Month to Go

Today I have gone past the one month's mark before I take my annual leave and move out of my apartment and await a new ministry. It is surreal. I did not particularly feel anything except a tinge of sadness as we met as a family group at noon. No one said anything when I told them one more month I shall be gone. I guess everyone has a life to live like Paul said, "many look after their own interests, but not the interests of Jesus Christ" (Philippians). With so many invitations coming my way (whole month of May is filled up) I had no time to reflect except to prepare for my classes and preaching engagements in the week-end. Might as well since I would not have much to time to feel despondent or sad that my time is cut short. Alas it is God's will and there is a greater purpose in all these.

Minimum Pay

In Malaysia it has been more than two years that RM1,500.00 per month minimum wage has been put into effect by law. But how come so many of my fellow pastors get only less than that and some of them only half of the minimum pay? I cried for them for those who faithfully serve You O Lord would You not look from heaven and help them? They do a wonderful job with 5 evening services a week which means only two nights of rest for family and self rejuvenation.

A Lifetime of Achievements

In the world it might be that a few ambitious individuals will want to live a life filled with achievements. But the vast majority of people will be content with a few highlights in their careers with few achievements to be proud of. It is called to survive in this ever challenging world. The sad fact of the matter is that most Christians will also depart this world with little fruits to show for, even among many full-time workers, pastors and the like in church. For many it will be like any other career, maybe they had the sensed of calling in their teenage years or early twenties when they entered Bible College but soon the run of the mill demands of ministry and complexity of working with people, leaders of the local church would dry up even the very persistent and only a handful can truly claim to retain its sparks and fire of God's calling in their lives and at the end of it claim to live a life filled with achievements.

Golden Triangle of Theology

To see the fulfilment of the "Golden Triangle of Theology" which I wrote in my "Tuhan Tritunggal" (God the Trinity) book, a collection of essays, I plan to visit these two places in the near future. Next year I plan to visit Sarawak our Bornean neighbour and the year after, Kalimantan to visit Indonesia's new capital and perhaps also Balikpapan and Samarinda, the twin cities of East Kalimantan. In two years' time with the new Indonesian President firmly in place in Nusantara, I pray that I will establish connections between the three major Bornean provinces, the two States of East Malaysia and Pulau Kalimantan.

Joy Inexpressible

It was exultation while it lasted.  But nothing lasts forever on this side of eternity. It went on for exactly three weeks, about mid March to 3rd April 2024. In the past couple of days I did not feel that joy inexpressible anymore. It was glimpse of heaven. It propelled me to preach 7 sermons in two weeks while having a full load of teaching on the side. Surely the joy of the Lord is my strength. We translated the passage last Monday that Jesus said “ask and you shall receive so that your joy may be full” (John 16). It was a line from the sermon on the Mount minus the part on joy.

Serving with Great Joy

I have come to a phase of ministry that I cna this sense of great joy whenever I minister, even in preparation and anticipation I rejoice greatly in the Lord. It is only three weeks ago that I received news that my brother was going to be elevated as High Court Judge and received his appointment from Malaysia’s king and swore his oath of loyalty to the Federal Constitution before a bench of Justices led by the Chief Justice and the Chief Judge of Malaya and Sabah and Sarawak.I watched the live telecast wuth pride as my brother took the oath of office and his list of work experience and qualifications were read out.

Anticipation Rises

In less than 10 weeks I am done here. It is welcomed with much anticipation as I am not meant for round the mill grind of teaching without leadership responsibilty. It is hard to imagine what I could have done only if people have eyes to see. My only sermon last July is telling. The knowledge of God is understanding but there is little of knowing God and hence the lack of understanding. Anyhow, it is no loss and no gain for the past 12 months. No loss because inevitably some students will be blessed but others are here just for the qualification.

2nd Quarter of 2024

Yesterday and today I feel a great sense of joy and hope for the 2nd quarter of the year. First, by middle of this year I shall be relieved of my duties of teaching three new courses which prevented me from writing and research. I plan to start writing at the 3rd quarter of 2024 or the start of the 2nd half of the year. I look forward to it with great relish at least to begin John 13-21, being the 2nd volume of my commentary on John’s Gospel. I may also write a book on Revelation, mainly thematic as a commentary will take too long a time.