Earthquake in Ranau: Sabah & Singapore

When I received news that the first fatalities were a Malaysian guide and a Singaporean girl, I am saddened that the Ranau earthquake had caused the loss of lives. Yet in my heart, whatever had happened, is happening or will happen, the fates of Malaysia and Singapore are bound together, not just because of its near vicinity but its shared history how together with Sarawak, Sabah and Singapore joined Malaya to form the Federation of Malaysia on 16th Sept 1963 which happens to fall on the birthday of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the founding Prime Minister of Singapore. Though after almost 50 years of separation, Singapore had forged ahead economically and sought to build a distinctive Singaporean identity beyond its former days (though I don't quite understand the theme of SEA Games opening act last night??), Singapore and Malaysia remain the closest neighbours linked to the State of Johore by the Causeways in Woodlands and Tuas. I have no doubt that through this natural disaster in Sabah, these ties will be strengthened especially between Sabah and Singapore. I have only praise for the local mountain guides who brought down the injured and the dead. If caught in a bind or disaster, Sabahans are always ready to help and they will go all out to extend hospitality beyond the call of duty. Many of those in charge of Sabah Parks are Christians and we pray for wisdom and courage so that they can search and rescue those who are still stranded along the trails of Mount Kinabalu (photo: at the entrance of Mount Kinabalu at 9am today)

Kadazan-Dusun Harvest Festival

This is the first time for some weeks now that I felt refreshed on a Monday morning. I only preached once in the first service yesterday and there was no meeting in the afternoon. My wife and I also spent a pleasant evening with another SIB church celebrating Harvest Festival (Kaamatan) which is a public holiday here in Sabah, a Kadazan-Dusun festival, essentially a thanksgiving feast for crops harvested in the past months. We feasted and danced the night away.

Quite a sight to behold with elders and deacons and their wives in their traditional costumes and Sumazau dance. I was given the honour to pray for those who brought seedlings before the planting season begins in a couple of months. I remember how the Israelites only pray for rain during the Feast of Tabernacles in order that they can start plowing and sowing in the October season.

Daily taking Delight in his Handiwork (Prov 8)

After almost a week of deep reflection accompanied by bouts of melancholy,  I felt alive again when I entered my church yesterday for rehearsals.  It was powerful and the two song leaders are the among the best there is. I was revived by the presence of the Lord nd received new strength to minister going forward.

Who am I? (1 Chr 29,14 & 2 Chr 2,6)

Both David and Solomon asked this question of themselves, "who am I?" I preached from these two texts last night at the Closing Service of the College. I told my audience that knowing the answer to this question determines our sense of mission and ultimately our fruitfulness in ministry. First, Solomon was the most unlikely candidate for kingship. David had many other sons older than Solomon and in many ways more qualified than him. Solomon was the son of Bathsheba with whom David committed adultery. Although David later took Bathsheba as wife, Solomon was born under a cloak of darkness and probably the most bitter period in the life of David as God judged him for his adultery and murder. But as 1 Chr 29,1 states Solomon was the one God chose to be king after David. Solomon was beloved of the Lord when he was born and given a name to reflect that, Jedidiah before he did anything good or bad.

Rooted in Ranau

There is no greater tonic than meeting fellow pastors and students at the Bible College. The SIB College celebrated its 50th anniversary since its founding on 28th May 1965. I had much encouragement from a senior pastor who served in one church for 21 years before moving on to another church. This is extremely rare in our denomination that practices an itinerant system for pastors. He spoke a word of comfort that he thought I should be where I am in the will of the Lord. I wish I could be as certain as he was. Am I rooted in Ranau?

Blessed are the Generous for they shall receive Generosity

This will be the first time I am missing the midweek service tonight. I am resting and recuperating. a broken spirit dries up the bones. I was in great dismay on Monday even as I reflect on events of recent days. But when I opened my house door I saw a leaflet from Singapore and it came as a breath of fresh air, I am with you, I have chosen you and not cast you away. Do not be dismay for I am with you (Isaiah 41,10). But the sadness remains. Love or loving people has its consequences especially those you love do not respond accordingly. Are not the prophets the voice of God spurned by his lover, Israel, sometimes threatening retribution, sometimes regretting and forgiving. Even when I speak against you, my heart is stirred within me; how can I forsake the child I have borne and raised up? I wonder how often foreigners and foreign countries have blessed me.

Learning to Stay Healthy

It has taken months for me to settle into my place of ministry in Ranau. I am not sure whether I have fully adjusted yet. After managing 2 Sunday services and chairing a council meeting until 5.30pm, I felt I was under the weather a little. It is not healthy to put 12 or 13 hours on a Sunday since I get up real early on Sunday to prepare for preaching and making sure everything is ready for the worship services. I tried to exercise every alternate day with bicycling around the block but that has not been that consistent.

Teacher's Day & Decision-Time

I have given it two months. But I only wrote one page during an hour I had on Monday morning. My schedule as pastor is beyond my control as much as I like to control what I do. Only yesterday I was asked to take over the preaching next Friday at our end of the month combined cell group meeting. This morning I preached in a Teachers' Day and Children's Ministry at the District level. The theme was "The Day draws Near" (Hari Semakin Singkat). It went better than I thought. I felt no inhibition as I spoke and I managed to deliver the message in the strength of the Lord. We ended with lunch and how often a point I made in passing became the topic of discussion. I told my audience that I joined SIB as an adult as I came to know the Lord in NZ as a 17-year old.

Taking Leave & Paul's Greek in Colossians

I am entitled to 35 days annual leave but I have only taken 2 days off thus far. I am planning for a mid-year break in early June for 4 or 5 days of leave. If it happens it will be the first Sunday I will miss in church. It is hard for the pastor to leave the church even for one Sunday. 80% of the church members see their pastor only on the Sunday despite on Wednesday service we get 40 or more adults coming to the mid-week service. But that pales with the number of Sunday attendees which exceed 300 adults for 2 services. Even with the occasional encouragement from the pulpit to attend other weekly services the numbers are still discouraging. Last night most who came were leaders and we thank God for a new member and his daughter coming to the Wednesday night service. I hope my preaching was to good effect and did not turn people off. It was not easy preaching on Colossians with Greek phrases like body of flesh and circumcision of Christ which need further explication.

Panting for Pentecost

As the deer pants for the water brooks so my soul yearns for Thee, Lord. Come Holy Spirit come and fill us afresh with Your living waters. Even as the Feast of Pentecost draws near, my heart yearns for Jerusalem. I often tell my students although I have not set my foot in the Holy Land, my spirit has often been there in the visions of God. I dream of Jerusalem. I sing the songs of the Lord concerning Jerusalem. We will sing my songs with the harps in the house of the Lord (Isaiah 38,20). LORD, how I long for the courts of the Lord. Did You not promise to measure those who worship between the sanctuary and the altar? (Rev 11,2). Count me as one of your worshippers. Build Your Temple, Lord. 

Keeping up with Reading

It was good to spend a restful night at home. I woke up late but felt rejuvenated for the week ahead. I went to the library of a local seminary, the best there is in Sabah. I read a few journal articles from Catholic Biblical Quarterly and New Testament Studies. When I told my wife I had an offer to write a commentary, her quick reply was, "you are a pastor now". A pastor at the edge of civilization in the wilderness where there is no access to good libraries. Alas! Woe to me the author.