New Tech 4 New Year

I am about set. This is my first blogspot using my new MacBook computer. I need to use it for two or three weeks to get familiarise with it, so I can get started writing my commentary on it by middle of February. It is already the final week of the first month. I need to get going and get working on my project. I dwell not on the past. The past is the past. At the end it is the Lord who judges as all of us will stand before the judgement seat of Christ at the last day.

Saying farewell

I attended my last council meeting last night. It was the first meeting in four months since September 2025. Perhaps that’s why I am leaving. I like to follow rules. I am intent in following the church’s constitution that says meetings must be held at least once in two months. You can’t get a united team if we meet so irregularly. As chairman in my first two churches, I chaired meetings every month, elders’ meetings followed by the church council meetings without fail for 5 years. Likewise, I did the same in Ranau, once a month meeting with the elders and then, the church council meetings without fail with all the deacons and deaconesses.

Pen of a Ready Scribe

In ancient times, it was the pen, a stylus for writing that was the instrument for writing for over a millennium. Then new ways or instruments are invented with pen and paper, type writers, and the like in the 20th century and in the past 25 years, it is the computer or the laptop that is the most popular form of tech for writing. Putting pen on paper is now typing on a keyboard on a desktop or a notebook.

Five Sundays

There are five more Sundays to go with four sermons and one Sunday’s break on 8th Feb. Soon I will be counting down days and not weeks. Only one church member called and asked me why I resigned. Cut to the chase, I felt vindicated with the events of last weekend. I am neither team A or team B, but I am ready to serve. I always give my best wherever I am. 

Meeting Delegates & Friends

I thank the Lord that I did not attend the first two days of the AGM. There was simply too much at stake, although I was unaware of what was happening. I received several text messages and even had my phone put on silence. Someone called me two hours before the close of nomination. This time I was unmoved by any pleas or advice by friends or delegates. I was not going to stand for any post. Even if I stood, my nomination might not be accepted. I did not know that fierce battles were being fought in the hall and outside the hall on Thursday night and whole day Friday until the early hours of Saturday when voting started at 8.30am.

New Leadership Elected & installed

Not many people expected the change of leadership during yesterday's election at our 18th AGM. We have a new President. I was standing outside as I did not want to pay the fees charged for observers. I was talking to friends and some delegates who came out after the vote count and suddenly someone whispered in my ears: "We have a new President!"

Money Matters

Every time I depart from one place to another, one of my first tasks is to reset every thing and look at my finances. I know it will be a long wait before gainful employment (if ever). My one year EPF (Singapore's CPF) while I served at a local Seminary was used up while I waited for 5 months to enter this current pastorate which I am about to leave in the next month. This is no EPF paid at my current place and I was told to deduct from my salary and save up myself. In fact, if not for itinerant ministry (6 times in 2025 outside of KK and three times within KK) and books sold, I would not have enough to make ends meet, let alone save up in my EPF account.

David in the land of the Philistines

David moved about for more than 10 years and even as the King of Judah he struggled for 7 and a half years more before the whole of Israel acknowledged his kingship. The anointing of David as king came about 22 years earlier as a 16 year old, a shepherd boy who would slay Goliath, become King Saul’s courtier and musician, a commander in Saul’s army, and then cast out to wander about in the wilderness, persecuted by Saul, and many of Israel’s enemies. On occasions, Israel’s enemies gave shelter to David for there is one Scripture that says “David spent in the land of Philistines for one year and four months.”

God’s Economy

38 years ago when my friend and I were admitted to the Bar and I asked him how much one needed to retire at 60 year old. We were both young then. He was 25 and I just turned 24. He said, “1 million ringgit”. In my heart, knowing I would enter full time ministry in Sabah, I said to myself, “if I could save RM100,000.00 by the time when I turn 60, I should be content”. A year ago I asked my friend the same question. He indicated that even RM2 million is not enough in current circumstances. 

Open Up Fallowed Land, Sow not among Thorns

This is basically the verse the Lord gave at the end of the year which led to me moving on from my current pastorate and doing what I love best. Just yesterday I thought to myself that if I started now, it might take 10 years before I complete my three or four book projects in mind. So I better get started. There will be no immediate start as my last Sunday is on 22nd Feb (220226) and then I will take a week’s break before launching my writing once more, by God’s grace.

A Burden Lifted

After the initial feelings of sadness of leaving the flock that I shepherded for 14 months, that sadness has turned into relief. For the first time, I did not feel I must attend the rehearsal tonight or worried about the spelling of the lyrics or the loudness of the music. In fact, twice I asked for the standing mike to be fixed but it fell on deaf ears, but I went ahead singing solo without the need of the mike - "I ask You for Jerusalem" during the Christmas Day service with about 55 adults present.

“Your Hands are Tied”

Sometimes it is not easy to discern God’s voice and His will, especially in leaving one’s place of ministry and launching into the unknown as far as my future is concerned. In fact, last April nine months ago I almost resigned abruptly and I had good reasons in doing so but I thought I just hanged on for a while longer for the ewes of the lambs, the little ones who just happened to be about 40 plus children who turned up for Sunday school in early April 2025.

A Meaningful Life (John 8:12)

I am looking forward to preaching this Sunday. Tonight I am leading special prayers, our church's turn once a year to pray in our HQ's prayer hall. Last Sunday I preached from the whole chapter of Proverbs 8. This Sunday it will be the whole chapter of John 8. By month's end, I will return to my 1 Corinthians series by preaching the whole chapter 1 Cor 8, then 1 Cor 9. Everyone wants to lead a life of meaning and purpose. 

Weighing Up My Options

In the past couple of months, I had been weighing up my options. If I leave my pastorate I will return to full time writing. I have at least two or three writing projects put on the back burner for quite some time now. I would love to write a book on Ecclesiastes, already two years playing in my mind. I could comfort myself by saying there are at least 20 other pastors who can do my current job just as well or even better, but I can’t name 2 persons who can write a theological book in Malay, at least not by a PhD holder.

Spiritual Man as Mad (Hosea 9:7)

I think it is in the prophet Hosea that it is said that a spiritual man is considered mad. Prophets as they come are seen as madmen. If one claims to be filled with the Spirit, to one who is natural or soulish, it seems sofoolish to him or her to behold such a spiritual man. Yesterday we had only half of the Christmas crowd, below 80 adults for the first Sunday of 2026. But I preached a solid message, a spiritual message from Proverbs on wisdom. I shared how God could increase our finances and treasuries. My congregation must hear that as many are bound by cycle of poverty, as if there is no release. I asked them to look to the Lord, for He promises the wise that He will fill their treasuries.

New Year 2026

Two hours before New Year 2026 ushered in, I preached an hour long sermon with three parts - the first 20 minutes giving an overview of the first quarter of the 21st century (2001-2025) from Windows XP in 2001 to DeepSeek in 2025. Then I spent another 20 minutes on Psalm 103:1-5 and not forgetting God's benefits and be thankful always. The final part was in using our talents and I emphasised that Christ gave us gifts and talents according to our ability, which means the greater ability or capability we have, the greater gifts and responsibilities that the Lord would grant to us.