Writing my Memoirs @60

When I wrote "Departure Points" some people called it a memoirs,  but it was not as there was no childhood, teenage or University years. Straight up the first chapter has me going to Auckland University for theological education in preparation of ministry. But "Anak Panah" is a memoirs, but somewhat truncated as many things are not told therein, but I hope to have included all the significant events of my life and ministry. Why write a memoirs at 60? It is a bit early for some, normally reserved for those who have long retired perhaps in their late sixties or even seventies. But I wrote Anak Panah for two main reasons.

This is the first Malay version of my story and Departure Points written in English has limited circulation among the circle of friends and church members that I minister with. Now there is a Malay version available for all readers of the Malay language. I call Departure Points (DP) a companion volume as several chapters in DP are not repeated in Anak Panah (AP) like my first pastorate in Kota Kinabalu and my leadership of the District of KK of 24 churches from 2004-2008. I wrote it anew without reference to Departure Points and my blog. Only this morning I came to a blogpost about my final weeks at the College in Ranau where I served as Acting Principal. 

If I included most of the things I mentioned in DP my AP will go beyond 400 pages. When I first asked for a quotation for the book, I planned it to be at most 220 pages but it turned out 100 pages more, so the price will have to go up this time. I have kept my books in the past 5 years all at RM40.00 each but Anak Panah I plan to sell for RM50.00 each. This is my first book above 300 pages after my dissertation of 340 pages published by T & T Clark in 2005. Next year is 20th anniversary of the publication of my monograph in Revelation and it might be good time to start writing a book on Revelation. I said a book, as a commentary is probably too demanding but I shall write a book as a guide to understanding the book of Revelation in both English and Malay, God willing.

And the second main reason why I wrote a memoirs at 60 years old is that my memory is relatively fresh and I can recall most events with clarity, though I noted one mistake in my forthcoming book where I taught a course on Hebrews in 2017 and not 2018. Otherwise I am happy with what I could recount all the works of God through His servant, unworthy as I am, He is pleased to call and use us mightily for His glory.