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Advent: A Season of Hope

28/11/2022

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St Benet's Church, Cambridge.

​This year, I have the opportunity to spend a cold and wet Advent season in the UK. Advent is my favourite time of the year. In the church, the liturgy takes on a slightly different shape. The hymns carry the theme of longing, waiting, and expectation; the liturgical colour is purple; the Gloria in Excelsis Deo (Glory to God in the Highest) is replaced with Kyrie Eleison (Lord, Have Mercy); and the Advent wreath replaces the flowers. The lighting of the Advent candles reminds us to keep awake, watch, wait, for as we prepare for Christ’s coming.

In the Northern Hemisphere, Advent is also the darkest season of the year (and very wet and gloomy where I am at the moment). Perhaps this is an appropriate reminder of the broken world we live in, and how much more we need the light of Christ to shine in the darkness of our world. As we prepare ourselves for Christmas and celebrate the coming of the Christ child, we also look forward in anticipation of his Second Coming where he will come to reign as King and Judge. At the same time, we pray and long for a better Malaysia, especially after the recently concluded GE15 resulting in a hung parliament. We give thanks for the appointment of a new Prime Minister. Yet, we are reminded that our real hope is not found in the politics of the nation. It is only anchored in Christ, who died and rose, and who will come again.

Advent: a season of waiting, a season of longing, a season of anticipation. But it is never a season without hope.
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Interview with Our Daily Bread

21/3/2021

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Our Daily Bread Malaysia recently released a devotional booklet written by me, Following Jesus to the Cross: An Illustrated Guide with 12 Devotionals for Easter. This devotionals follow the final week of the life of Jesus according to the Gospel of Mark.

Following this publication, a short interview was carried out where I talked about the importance of Lent, the Holy Week, and my personal journey of faith in writing the devotionals. 

Check out the interview here, or by viewing the YouTube clip below.
Writing this devotional booklet has a profound impact on me. I share about this at the conclusion:
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"During the course of writing this devotional, I was by Mum’s bed as her breaths became shallower and less frequent over the days. On the morning she left me, she choked a couple of times, then slipped peacefully into the presence of God. Her departure left a void that only memories of her could fill. Yet, as a family, we have this hope that we will be reunited with her one day. This is because we believe in the most significant event in the course of human history—the glorious resurrection of Christ on Easter morning. The apostle Paul declares that if Christ has not risen from the dead, our faith is futile (1 CORINTHIANS 15:12–19). Our hope and faith in God lie in the very fact of the resurrection of Christ."
May this devotional be a helpful tool for you as you prepare for the Holy Week.

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If you like to find out more about my other book, Following Jesus: An Illustrated Guide to the Places of the Holy Land According to the Gospel of Mark, where there are more photographs of the Holy Land and further biblical reflections, please click here for ordering information.

Currently, there is a special Lent/Easter promotion. 
  • 1 copy: RM75 + RM5 for shipping = RM80
  • 2 copies: total of RM150 with free shipping 
  • 3 copies: total of RM200 with free shipping (for West Malaysia only. For East Malaysia, please add RM10 to the total).
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Devotionals for Easter by Our Daily Bread

19/2/2021

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"Following Jesus to the Cross" is now available from Our Daily Bread. This illustrated guide with 12 devotionals for Easter will guide our reflections on the passion, crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus this Easter season. Based on the Gospel of Mark, each reading contains reflection questions and prayers to commit ourselves to God. 

Evoke our senses with photographs of the sites where the events of the final week are believed to have taken place, and let this devotional make the Scripture come alive for us in fresh ways.
A sample chapter of this booklet is extracted below.
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If you or your church would like to have copies of this devotional booklet, please contact Our Daily Bread Malaysia.
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For those of you who might be interested in my book, Following Jesus, where more reflections from the Gospel of Mark can be found, please click here.

Join me in this book where we journey through the regions of Galilee, Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives, Bethany Beyond the Jordan, and many others in following the footsteps of Jesus. With more than 180 images and 13 maps and illustrations, readers will not only experience the sights and settings of the Holy Land, but also discover the biblical significance of these sites. Questions for reflection and prayers at the end of each chapter will help prepare readers for their own encounter with Christ.
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Free Online Public Lecture

16/4/2020

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In less than 36 hours, I have to close the registration to this public lecture as we received overwhelming response.

I plan on running the same lectures again, perhaps in the of May or early June. 
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MCO and Social Distancing on the First Easter

11/4/2020

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Christ is risen. He is risen indeed, hallelujah!
 
Good Friday ends in darkness and despair. But Easter is glorious. It gives us new hope. It gives us new meaning to our existence. It speaks of the victory of Christ against sin and death. Yet, Easter is different this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. For many of us who may be accustomed to Easter celebration, drama production, large-scale evangelistic campaigns, this year’s celebration certainly seems less triumphal, celebratory, and glorious.
 
However, if we go back to the first Easter, things seem less glorious too. In John 20 there seems to be no sense of rejoicing. No one shouted: “Christ is Risen!”, and no one replied: “He is risen indeed.” All the disciples were in hiding. They had their own Movement Control Order (MCO), practised social distancing, and locked the door for the fear of the Jewish leaders (John 20:19). They imposed on themselves some measure of self-quarantine. They were full of fear, anxiety, and worry.
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An example of what an empty tomb looks like today.
​It was not until the first Easter evening when Jesus appeared to the disciples in the place where they were staying that they were overjoyed. Yet, one of the disciples, Thomas, was not present and doubted the resurrection of Christ. The following week, the disciples were still under MCO, and continued to practise social distancing and self-quarantine. Jesus appeared the second time to the disciples, and Thomas had his doubt removed.
 
There was hardly any victorious celebration on the first two Easter Sundays according to the narrative in John 20. Although Jesus had already appeared twice to the disciples, there was fear, anxiety, worry, and doubt. All they did was to go into hiding for a whole week. They had their self-imposed lockdown. No one proclaimed, “Jesus is risen” despite Jesus appearing twice to them.
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Church of the Primacy of Peter by the Sea of Galilee, a site where according to tradition, the narrative of John 21 took place here.
​Moving to John 21, the disciples came out from hiding in Jerusalem and travelled to Galilee. Yet, there was no sense of rejoicing and celebration. Instead, there seems to be a sense of loss and confusion among the disciples. Peter and six other disciples decided to go back fishing. There are many speculative reasons as to why they did so. Some suggest that they were disillusioned. Others suggest that they were at a loss as to what to do next. Still others suggest that they were confused by recent events surrounding the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Whatever the reasons, the fishing trip turned out to be a fruitless effort. It was not until Jesus appeared for the third time (John 21:14) to the disciples and directed them to cast the net on the other side that they had a full net of fish.
 

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The altar inside the Church of the Primacy of Peter. The bedrock is believed to be the place where Jesus prepared breakfast for the disciples. Mensa Christi means "the Table of Christ."
Jesus then invited the disciple to have breakfast with him, with ikan bakar and roti bakar as the menu (John 21:9).

After breakfast, we read a moving account of the restoration and recommissioning of Peter after he came to terms with his own failure. Three times Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?” and three times Peter answered in the affirmative (John 21:15-17).

​Even though Peter had earlier denied Jesus three times, deep within, he still loved the Lord dearly. Jesus then recommissioned Peter by reminding him his calling: “Feed my lambs… Tend my sheep… Feed my sheep…” (John 21:15, 16, 17).  
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​After this, Jesus issued a final call to Peter: “Follow me” (John 21:19, 22). This is probably the most significant moment for Peter. Notice that these are the very same words used by Jesus in his initial calling of Peter and the other fishermen to leave their nets by the Sea of Galilee (Mark 1:16-18; Matthew 4:18-20). These disciples did so immediately. But after a series of failures to understand his mission and ministry at Caesarea Philippi (see Chapter 13), Jesus issued the second call to the disciples, including Peter, to deny themselves and take up their cross and “follow me” (Mark 8:34; Matthew 16:24; Luke 9:23). After the resurrection of the Lord, Jesus restored Peter by issuing the third call to discipleship by the Sea of Galilee: “Follow me” (John 21:19, 22). Peter took this third call to discipleship seriously. After Pentecost, Peter became one of the pillars of the church in Jerusalem. Years later, he wrote a letter to a group of persecuted Christians located what is now known as modern Turkey. He reminded them:

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The statue of Peter outside the Church of the Primacy of Peter, depicting Jesus restoring him.
To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. (1 Peter 5:1-4)

In exhorting the leaders of persecuted Church in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Peter reminds them the the words of Jesus to him: “Follow me. Feed my lambs. Tend my sheep. Feed my sheep.”
 
Peter remained faithful to his calling till his martyrdom in the 60s CE. According to the early church tradition, Peter was crucified on the cross upside-down with his head down on the ground and feet raised on high, asserting that he was not worthy to be crucified in the same manner as his Lord.
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These heart-shaped stones are known as the Twelve Thrones, commemorating the twelve disciples, some of whom Jesus called by the Sea of Galilee.
​For the disciples, Easter is a new beginning for them. While there may not be much celebration on that first Easter, the impact of the resurrection of Christ changed them. The narrative of the restoration of Peter is an inspiration and encouragement to us today. If we feel that we are not worthy to serve the Lord because of our past failures, this passage reminds us that Jesus is not finished with us yet. Jesus called Peter again for the third time, “Follow me” after his resurrection. He was patient with Peter, and he gave Peter all the time and space for him to ponder, reflect, and respond. Jesus is calling us again today. Our current situation may also offer us the time and space needed for us to pause, reflect, and respond to the resurrected Lord. Easter is a new beginning.
 
Like the disciples, we may be at the crossroads of our lives, feeling lost and not knowing the next step we should take. We may be confused by recent events we have encountered. We may be worried about the post-COVID-19 aftermath. Some of us may be concerned with our business, employment, and our financial cash flow. In moments of frustration, disappointment, and discouragement, we may choose to go our own way and do things according to our own strength and effort. Some of us may have gone back “fishing” because it is the only thing we know what to do. Despite our failures, Jesus wants to reinstate and restore us to serve him. Easter gives us hope.
 
Like the disciples, in moments like these, it is time to accept the invitation of our Lord to have breakfast with him (John 21:12). It is time to renew our strength in his presence. It is time to sit at his feet again to hear his voice and guidance so that we can be his effective servants: “Feed my lambs… Tend my sheep… Feed my sheep… Follow me” (John 21:15, 16, 17, 19). 
 
This year’s Easter may be a bit quiet, and is certainly very different from what we may have been used to. Nevertheless, as we remember the confusion, the sense of loss, and the anxiety and fear of the disciples on the first Easter, may we be reminded that Easter is a new beginning and it gives us hope. May we be renewed on this Easter day. May we be reminded afresh why we follow Jesus. May we hear afresh his calling once again: “Follow me.” And most importantly, let us not forget to have breakfast with the resurrected Jesus – he is waiting for us. 
 
Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Hallelujah. 
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Come, let us have breakfast with the risen Christ. He is inviting us and waiting for us (John 21:12)
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My Latest Book: Following Jesus

21/7/2019

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My latest book, Following Jesus: An Illustrated Guide to the Places of the Holy Land according to the Gospel of Mark, will be released soon by Armour Publishing under the STM Series.

There will be a launch for the book on September 21 at Luther Centre. More information will follow soon.

Tentative selling price is RM75 per copy during the launch for Malaysian market only.  The retail price is SGD$36 or RM110.

For those of you who would like to have a preview of the book, please click here. 
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Metaphors and Social Identity Formation: AUTHOR'S STOCK SOLD OUT

2/10/2017

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I am very pleased to inform that all copies of my recent publication (Metaphors and Social Identity Formation in Paul's Letters to the Corinthians) that are in my stock have all been sold. 

I would like to thank everyone in Malaysia for your continuous support for my work and ministry. 

For those who are still interested to purchase the book, please click here for options of how to order the book. I will not be holding anymore stock in future.

My other publication, Jesus the Storyteller: Hearing the Parables Afresh Today, is still available at RM45 per copy. Please get in touch with me if you are keen on purchasing this book.

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    Author

    Lecturer in New Testament Studies at Seminari Theoloji Malaysia. You can find out more about me by clicking here. 


    Blog

    My engagement in conversation with issues, reflections, and concerns related to my vocation as a seminary lecturer and theological education in general. Opinions expressed in this blog are strictly my personal views and do not represent the official position of the seminary


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