Writing for the Second Day

I have just completed my commentary on the last few verses of John 16 which I left off last October 2024.  I am writing for the second day running, having not written a single line since I took up my current pastorate a year ago. I am taking a few days to write in view of my lighter than usual preaching duties in the next couple of weeks. There are two visiting preachers and I am only preaching on 13th and 14th December when the church celebrates our Christmas before the exodus back home (villages) for some of the church members just before the actual Christmas Day on the 25th.

The Fight Goes On (A New David)

There are some basic assumptions that I think every believer should know - like who are the major prophets? and why are they called major prophets instead of minor prophets? Sometimes I suspect the teaching in Sunday School is very weak, like many children going through six or seven years of Sunday School hardly know much about the Bible. The battle for biblical literacy goes on. Yesterday I preached a sermon that requires much background knowledge of history, politics and wars during the rise of David and the reign of David over Israel.

Moral & Spiritual Clarity

I had a full 10 days to contemplate what I wanted to do in 2026 which is less than 7 weeks away. I prayed day and night crying out to God for spiritual clarity. There is much moral indifference in the world and as much as I can help it, I need to have a stance of moral clarity. A fortnight ago, a friend told me a famous preacher taught that polygamy was permissible. I dismissed it outright and stated that a sin is a sin, adultery is adultery, divorcing and re-marrying is a sin, marrying a divorced woman whose husband is still alive is sin (four places in three Gospels speak of all these), but alas very few preachers make it clear for the lack of moral and spiritual clarity.

Leaders & its Timing

I had had 10 days of rest and reflection since returning from Entilibon in the early hours of Sunday (9hb November) arriving in Kota Kinabalu just before 10am. I drove for nearly 5 hours with an half hour breakfast stop in Ranau, in the coffee shop I frequented regularly as it is one of the few shops opened by 6am in the morning. It was a perfect place for me to be 10 years ago in Ranau when I rose for early breakfast preparing to preach two Sunday sermons at 8am and 10am.

Why Departure Points

"Departure Points" is my second book published almost 6 years ago in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of full-time ministry in Christ. I chose the title from Robert Alter's translation of a verse in the book of Numbers where the Israelites made more than 40 departure points in their journey to the promised land through the wilderness of Sinai. I felt the same, having known the Lord for more than 42 years in Christchurch, following His leading, I have moved from one place to another in ministry, sometimes from one country to another. I had about 8 different appointments with two of my other posts being elected by delegates in an AGM, making 10 different posts or positions in ministry.

48 Hours

In two days’ time or 48 hours, I shall be travelling to a village, 4.5 hours’ drive from Kota Kinabalu. I just realized I had been invited a total of 12 times in the past 12 months since I took up my pastoral role in Kota Kinabalu. I was more than anything ready to stop travelling, but due to pressing needs I am still preaching in faraway places in my 61st year. I planned to stop when I turned 55 yo but added another 6 years to my exertions for the Lord.