Five (5) Lessons That I Learned from Dr. Thomas Chung Kim Sun a.k.a. Tommy (16 August 1942 - 28 April 2023)

The late Dr. Thomas Chung Kim Sun (80 years old, 16 August 1942–28 April 2023) is widely known as Dr. Thomas Chung and, for those who are close to him, as Tommy. I think I'm close to him, not in the sense of the frequency of meetings but in the sense of emotional and spiritual intimacy. You see, Dr. Tommy has the ability to make us — those who have known him long enough - feel special. I feel like I'm his favourite staff in FES, but I know that that is NOT entirely true. I've observed his casual interactions with Timberland Hospital staff when he was a laboratory chief there. He would speak professionally at times and then turn into a father figure, asking about their well-being, interests, and family members. I've witnessed how people in the church were so comfortable sharing their lives with him and thanking him for the spoken word he preached. He would suddenly burst into laughter, then cry, then sing, then encourage, then end with prayer. The whole thing was fascinating for me to see. Some people might think it's an old man's behaviour, no doubt, but more than that, he is a man "who had been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13). He loves all of us genuinely (although not equally; he was just a man), just like the Master he serves.

Before I share further, I would like to first share his weaknesses and shortcomings, just to demythologize some ideas about him. Here are some: He was not a good Monopoly game player, he was easily distracted, perhaps not the best driver in town, and some jokes were not funny but delivered with confidence (that's funny!), forgetfulness (where are the books that you promised to give me?), overcommitting, over-giving, being physically weak, keeping most of his struggles to himself, impatient, having self-doubt at times, his Bahasa is bad, a bit secretive, and more. These are what make me identify with him. If we were the same age, maybe we could be best friends forever (BFF). Except I'm the dumbest one. Now, here are five (5) lessons that I learned from Dr. Tommy:

1. Loving God and His Word. He was a biochemist, a gemmologist, and a doctor. But first and foremost, he was a preacher, expositor, and teacher of the Word. He was a man of God on the pulpit as well as in the workplace. There were a couple of times when I visited him in the laboratory office, and once I asked if I could take a look at his personal Bible. It was a very worn-out Bible, and it reminds me of Charles H. Spurgeon's quote, "A Bible that's falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn't." Full of notes and quotes. He would read some and ask, "What do you think of this, Richard?" I said a few words, and then he immediately launched into a mini-sermon. Once I told him about my doubts about the existence of God, he would just listen, ask questions, and then proceed to encourage me through the Word and personal stories based on his experience with God. There are many things that I don't know about his personal life, but I know that he knows God not just intellectually but also emotionally and personally. He speaks from the depths of his heart. "Knowing God," writes J.I. Packer, "is a relationship calculated to thrill a man's heart."
   
   
2. 
   Passion to Preach the Gospel. It was in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, during the FES 5th National Conference in 2010, my first year as a staff, he was the main Bible expositor and speaker. Honestly, I don't remember much about the conference except for the fun I had in the swimming pool during leisure time and the burning within me when Dr. Tommy preached the Scripture from 2nd Timothy. As if he were Paul talking to me, Timothy, urging me to "preach the word!" (2 Timothy 4:2 has become my life verse and also for LEGASI.tv ministry). Out of the pulpit, he was like a lamb, but in the pulpit, he was a lion. "Light yourself on fire with passion," said John Wesley, "and people will come from miles away to watch you burn." Literally, I heard testimonies, some people came from miles away to hear him preach — and burn. I'm confident that others can also testify to the same thing about his passion for Christ. The power doesn't lie in his rhetorical skills or the wisdom of man, but in the Gospel through the power of the Holy Spirit.
   
   
3. A Man of Prayer and Tears. His opening prayer is like his closing prayer, and his closing prayer is like an open conversation with God. He cannot do what he does—fierce preaching and teaching many times a week—unless he is also disciplined in prayer on a daily basis. His favourite words to me are, "Bathed in prayer"; "Soaked in prayer"; "Love and prayers always"; "With you in prayer"; "Pray for His blessing and enabling." I believe they are not only words of comfort. They were his genuine prayers. He was a spiritual giant and a man of intellect, but he was also an emotional, sensitive, and compassionate man. He was man enough to weep for the lost and the brokenhearted.
   
   
4. Always Read Books, especially the Classics. I've figured there is only so much that can trigger Dr. Thomas's interests: God, the Bible, the Church, preaching, Bario Revival or Revival stories, classical music and hymns, gems and beads, our concerns and prayer requests, and books (or lately, YouTube videos!). "What book are you reading now, Richard?" he would ask. "John Stott's Between Two Worlds," and then he talked about his relationship with John Stott back in London. "Martyn Lloyd-Jones's Preaching and Preachers," and then he recalled his memories of sitting under the Biblical preaching of Dr. Jones. "David Pawson's Unlocking the Bible," and then he reminisced about the day Mr. Pawson invited him to dinner during the student's day. There were times when I would just mention names such as Calvin, Tyndale, Spurgeon, John Sung, J.I. Packer, A.W. Tozer, Michael Green, and William Barclay and sit back to listen to his takes on them. This was his WhatsApp message to me back in 2019: "The Lord continues to bless all you do to promote the reading of spiritual classics as well as books that inform and broaden the sphere of thinking of young people in the work of FES." One of the last times I met him, he said to me that he was reading the Christian mystics. I didn't get to know how it was going, and I'm curious about his book recommendations.
   
   
5. Last but not least, the Simplicity of Living. I'm not really sure exactly why he was so thin. Probably due to a health problem that I'm unaware of. But I sensed that he was practicing prayer and fasting continuously. Maybe, maybe not. Every time I would ask him about this, he would quickly change the subject (taking seriously Jesus' warning in Matthew 6:16–18?). Regardless, he was the embodiment of "godliness with contentment" (1 Timothy 6:6). He can be famous (he is!) but he doesn't want to; he could write books or compile all his sermons (someone should do this!) into books, but he didn't; he could just stay in London and pursue a high-income medicine career, but he returned home to Malaysia and became a humble itinerant preacher. In Christ, Dr. Tommy has two things that comprises inward simplicity (as Richard Foster puts it): the Divine Centre and Holy Obedience.

There are many things that I've learned from him. These five are the most impactful for me. I was shocked when I received the news about his sudden death, but somehow it didn't surprise me. Expected. I have no regrets or am sorry for any words that I said to him. Nothing but love, admiration, and respect. He was somewhat of a father figure, a grandpa, a mentor (actually, this year we planned to meet one-on-one every two months. So, we've met twice already), a teacher, a brother in Christ, and a friend to me. Like I said, he can make those who are close to him feel special. I feel special. But so do others - even more - who are closer to him. As for the living, I have words of wisdom from Dr. Tommy for all of us. In his slightly annoying British accent, the Queen's English says, "Press on, bebeh!" I think he was referring to Philippians 3:14, "I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." If you received it, type AMEN.

#ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #DrThomasChung #MyEulogy #FESMalaysia #HeroOfFaith #Preacher #ManOfGod #JesusIsLord #GodOfTheLivingAndTheDead #Goodbye

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

One (1) of the Ways to Overcome These Three (3) Problems #LeadersAreReaders April 2023

In my observations and conversations with young people (even older ones too) nowadays, I see these three areas of problem: comprehension ability, communication skills, and lack of depth. There are also admirable things that I see, but I want to focus on these three to challenge you to read books. I believe reading good books can overcome these problems. Why?

1) Reading Can Strengthen Your Brain. Reading gets your mind working across different areas. For starters, it involves comprehension to process the words you read (this is especially helpful when you read the Scripture because comprehension precedes understanding!). Beyond that, you can use your analytical abilities, stimulate memories, and even broaden your imagination by reading words off a page. Reading is a neurobiological process that works out your brain muscles. As you do so, you can help slow down cognitive decline. Paul was talking about the lack of spiritual comprehension in 1 Corinthians 3:2, but I think it can also be applied to mental comprehension: "I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger." Read!

2) Reading Boosts Communication Skills. Both reading and writing work to improve one’s communication skills. That’s why if you’re looking to become a better writer, a better thinker, and a better communicator, many of the suggestions that you come across will include reading more. Reading can open your eyes, literally and figuratively, to new words, insights, and ideas. I have a friend during Bible study who I sense has something worth saying but can't express it well because he is struggling to find words, phrases, and examples to communicate his points. If only he had the habit of reading books.

3) Reading to Become a Person of Depth. When you read a lot, you undoubtedly learn a lot. The more you read—good books—the more you can make it to the level of being considered a "well-read" or "deep person" (although to be a person of depth requires more than just knowledge). Having a diverse set of knowledge and borrowed experience will make you a more engaging conversationalist and can empower you to speak to more people from different backgrounds and experiences because you can connect based on shared information. Some people may argue that "ignorance is bliss," but the truth is that "knowledge is power" when it is rightly used. As Christ's follower, reading the Bible is indispensable for a deeper life: "For the LORD grants wisdom! From His mouth come knowledge and understanding" (Proverbs 2:6).

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #ComprehensionAbility #CommunicationSkills #BeAPersonOfDepth #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

To read my other book reviews/summaries, CLICK HERE

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Night (1958, 2006) by Elie Wiesel, Book Review

Have you read Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning (1946) or Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl (1947)? If you have, then Night will be a good read too. It's a good read because it shows the level of human depravity and the sacredness of life. When Elie was a teenager, he and his family were taken from their home to one of the most horrible places in the memories of Jewish history, the Auschwitz concentration and extermination camp. The Holocaust. Nazi Genocide. Mass murder. Infants are being tossed into the furnace. "It is obvious that the war which Hitler and his accomplices waged was not only against Jewish men, women, and children," writes Elie, "but also against Jewish religion, Jewish culture, Jewish tradition, and therefore Jewish memory."

Night is both a fascinating read into the human psychology and theology of suffering but also a horrifying read (especially if you can somewhat imagine what you read) into the face of evil and devilish ideological systems. "Never shall I forget that night, the first night in camp, that turned my life into one long night seven times sealed. Never shall I forget that smoke. Never shall I forget the small faces of the children whose bodies I saw transformed into smoke under a silent sky. Never shall I forget those flames that consumed my faith forever. Never shall I forget the nocturnal silence that deprived me for all eternity of the desire to live. Never shall I forget those moments that murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to ashes. Never shall I forget those things, even were I condemned to live as long as God Himself. Never." But then again, it is a story—or a memoir—of hope and faith too. Read it!

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #TheHolocaust #HolocaustSurvivor #ElieWiesel #Suffering #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

Perhaps you're interested to read my short summary review of Victor Frankl's Man’s Search for Meaning, CLICK HERE

To read my other book reviews/summaries, CLICK HERE

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Kingdom Come, Kingdom Go: Luke-Acts (2007) by the International Bible Society, Book Review (2nd Reading)

The Gospel according to Luke and the Acts of the Apostles is a two-volume work by the same author, Luke, and the same recipient, Theophilus. It is meant to be read together and continuously. And what makes this book Luke-Acts special is that it comes without those annoying chapter and verse divisions that disrupt the context, logic, and flow of the grand narrative (I used to have a whole Bible like this, but I lost it in the train station). Reading the Scripture in this format is like reading an action-packed novel, except that it is about historical events, non-fictional people, and an actual person, the Lord Jesus Christ.

While the divisions are, in my opinion, good for reference and quotation, they can cause some serious problems. There are instances where chapters are wrongly divided and verses are taken out of context. Men such as Zakir Naik looked like a genius to the Bible illiterates when he quoted Bible verses out of memory, but if you check them in their original text, you will find that they are always out of context. Another problem is that the divisions encourage people (even sincere Christians) to read only small parts at a time. How many of you can quote John 3:16? Well, how about John 3:15 and John 3:17? Exactly!

The Bible and each book of the Bible is meant to be read as a whole and straight through from the beginning. Try reading the Gospel of Luke (or the Gospel of Mark, the shorter one) in one sitting. Set aside 2 to 3 hours this week to go to a quiet place, bring a physical Bible with you, turn off your smartphone, and read through it. I bet you will discover many truths for yourself, and the words of the Psalmer will echo in your soul: "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalm 119:103)

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #TheGospelOfLuke #TheActsofTheApostles #TheScripture #ReadTheBible #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

I read this book two years ago and wrote something (sort of) about this issue too, READ HERE

To read my other book reviews/summaries, CLICK HERE

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The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable (2002) by Patrick Lencioni, Book Review

I finished reading this last week. Insightful and challenging book. The format is simple, just like the One Minute Manager Series if you're familiar with Ken Blanchard's books. It's a leadership fable (a short fictional story with lessons) about Kathryn Petersen, Decision Tech's new CEO, who faces a typical and dangerous leadership crisis that will bring down the company if it's not treated quickly, namely, a dysfunctional core team. The storyline seems quite realistic to me, and the context of the story helped get the lessons across nicely.  "Not finance. Not strategy. Not technology," writes Patrick Lencioni, "it is teamwork that remains the ultimate competitive advantage, both because it is so powerful and so rare." I've worked in companies and currently, in NGO and volunteer group. I say it's true. Teamwork is powerful and rare, often talk about but lacks examples.

The five (5) dysfunctions of a team model consist of: 1) ABSENCE OF TRUST. This is due to invulnerability. "Team members who are not genuinely open with one another about their mistakes and weaknesses make it impossible to build a foundation for trust." 2) FEAR OF CONFLICT. "Teams that lack trust are incapable of engaging in an unfiltered and passionate debate of ideas." So, team members resort to politics and guarded comments. This will lead to 3) LACK OF COMMITMENT. Why? Because there is no ownership and buy-in to the ideas or decisions. So, this naturally deteriorates to 4) AVOIDANCE OF ACCOUNTABILITY and 5) INATTENTION TO RESULTS. Besides invulnerability, the enemies are artificial harmony, ambiguity, low standards, and an unhealthy ego.

Well, being aware and in the know of all of these dysfunctions is not enough. Read the book to get a better picture of why teamwork is crucial today. Plus, the book also includes a team assessment and suggested tools to overcome obstacles and strengthen your team (I also would like to recommend At The Table and The Working Genius podcasts with the author). I wanted to try to apply some of them in my leadership field. But keep Mr. Lencioni's words in mind: "[The Model] is simple, at least in theory. In practice, however, it is extremely difficult because it requires levels of discipline and persistence that few teams can muster."

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #Teamwork #TheFiveDysfunctions #Leadership #PatrickLencioni #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

To read my other book reviews/summaries, CLICK HERE

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Five (5) Benefits of Reading Good Books #LeadersAreReaders March 2023

John Wesley was a man who had a great passion for reading. Most of his reading time was on horseback (so don't complain about your environment!). He rode a horse up to 9 miles per day, and during those times he consumed thousands of books such as on science, history, medicine, and one book above all that he always brings along was his Greek New Testament. He told the younger ministers of the Methodist societies to read or get out of the ministry! He was once quoted as saying, “Reading Christians are growing Christians. When Christians cease to read, they cease to grow.” Let me share with you briefly five (5) benefits of reading:

< Reading Is the Main Source of Inspiration > Most of my thinking, writing, and teaching for LEGASI.tv comes from reading books. They inspired me to create YouTube videos, encouraged me to share my findings on the podcast, and enlarged my understanding of the Scripture for Bible studies. Good books especially have helped me to think about things and frame some great thoughts that I would never have come near without them.

< Reading for Intellectual Growth > I always experience the thrill when I read some gems that were opposite and/or invite me to see matters from different perspectives. Books make me think, polish, re-imagine and re-examine my beliefs. They test my wits, provide fresh ideas, and challenge my assumptions. They help me to express my thoughts in words.

< Reading to Keep Yourself Updated > J. Oswald Sanders writes, “Read… to acquire new information, to keep current with the time, to be well informed in his or her own field of expertise." I think you can get more updates on social media. But what makes books unique is that the information that you'll get is generally better in quality, thoughtful, and selectively beneficial.

< Reading Is Having Fellowships with Great Minds > To read good books is like hearing the authors speaking to us. Their words reflect their thinking. Their minds project on every page. It is like a conversation with the authors. Do you want to have a fellowship with A.W. Tozer, Charles Surgeon, Adrian Rogers, J.C. Ryle, Jim Rohn, Zig Ziglar, etc.? Then read their books!

< Reading Books May Change Your Life >  I am convinced that the right books by the right authors in the hands and hearts of rightly motivated people could turn their world right-side-up! (Not upside-down, that’s negative!) Some books, especially spiritual classics, can literally change your life!

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #BenefitsOfReading #IntellectualAndSpiritualGrowth #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

To read my other book reviews/summaries, CLICK HERE

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What of Those Who Have Never Heard? (1986) by J. Oswald Sanders, Book Review

Whenever someone asked me, "Is Jesus the only way to salvation?" my answer is, "Yes." Jesus said, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). It's not a way or one of the ways but "the Way" and He emphasized on exclusivity,  "No one... except through Me." But what about those who have never heard about Jesus and the Gospel? My initial response is that, except for children and the mentally deficient who are covered by the blood of Jesus, everyone is morally responsible for the light that they have received and for the law written on their hearts through nature, tradition, and conscience (refer to Romans 1-2). So, even if they never heard about Jesus once in their lifetime, on judgment day, they will have no excuse. As for what will happen to them, I say, we can be certain that the God who exhibits His love on the cross will be absolutely fair and that the righteous Judge of all the earth will do right!

Now, where do I get a such conviction? Through the written Word of God, the Scripture, and with the help of books such as this one, that is, by divine revelation (mainly) and critical thinking. I'm all for originality but when it comes to eternal matters, I go to the Author of life and His (flawed yet faithful) saints. J. Oswald Sanders writes this book with compassion, conviction, and clarity. He cares for souls and set out his Biblical position clearly by quoting relevant Scriptural passages with context and supporting them with thoughts from recognized evangelical scholars. He begins not by answering the question directly but first and foremost, with the urgent call of mission and evangelism. Chapter 1: Why Mission? I love it! If you read books on an important topic like this one only out of curiosity, then, it is of no use. But if it's also out of concern for others, then, it will move you to action. This book is a great tool to do just that.

"If what is written in the foregoing pages is the Scriptural teaching concerning the spiritual condition of the unevangelized heathen - and I see no alternative to believing that it is - then how URGENT is our obligation to make Christ known to all men as speedily as possible. We should throw ourselves into the missionary enterprise with abandon," challenge Mr. Sanders to us, the receivers of God's gracious salvation. A student once asked Charles H. Spurgeon about this very same topic. He answered him very directly, "It is more a question with me whether we who have the Gospel and fail to give it to those who are lost can be saved." Amen.

Note: I would like to recommend another short book that covers this topic but from a different theological perspective (a.k.a. Calvinism), namely, John Piper's Jesus The Only Way to God: Must You Hear the Gospel to Be Saved? (2010)

#ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #LeadersAreReaders #JesusTheWay #MissionAndEvangelism #GospelOfSalvation #JOswardSanders #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

To read my other book reviews/summaries, CLICK HERE

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Unsur-Unsur Tradisi dalam Perlembagaan Malaysia (1985) oleh Tun Mohd Salleh Abas, Book Review

Mendiang Mohd Salleh Abas (1929-2021) ialah bekas Ketua Hakim Negara ke-6 dari tahun 1984 yang dahulunya sangat heboh dengan berita tentang pemecatan beliau secara mengejut pada tahun 1988 "tanpa mengikut prosedur oleh Perdana Menteri keempat, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad susulan krisis Perlembagaan 1987" (dipetik daripada Utusan Malaysia). Sebelum ini, saya tidak pernah mengenal atau mendengar apa-apa tentang beliau sehinggalah saya membaca buku ini. Buku ini sangat padat, jelas dan sesuai untuk pembaca seperti saya yang berminat tetapi kurang pengetahuan tentang undang-undang asas di Malaysia (mungkin dahulu semasa belajar Sejarah adalah tahu sedikit tetapi sudah banyak lupa).

Apakah yang dimaksudkan dengan "unsur-unsur tradisi" dalam Perlembagaan? Menurut Mohd Salleh, "Perkara-perkara yang boleh digolong sebagai 'perkara tradisi' dengan erti kata bahawa perkara-perkara ini telah pun diamalkan lama sebelum pemerintahan penjajah British di Tanah Melayu. Ia telah melalui beberapa perkembangan perlembagaan dan pembangunan politik yang turun-temurun dan akhirnya dikekalkan dalam Perlembagaan sekarang." Unsur-unsur ini ialah:

1) Kesultanan atau Pemerintahan Beraja
2) Agama Islam
3) Bahasa Melayu
4) Kedudukan istimewa orang Melayu

Pendahuluan untuk bab yang terakhir dalam buku ini menyimpulkan isi kandungan penulisan dan penerangan Mohd Salleh tentang topik ini dengan cukup jelas sekali: "Unsur-unsur tradisi yang telah diterangkan di atas hampir-hampir selari dengan definasi 'Melayu' iaitu 'seorang yang menganuti agama Islam, lazim bercakap bahasa Melayu dan menurut adat istiadat Melayu.' Perlembagaan memperuntukkan agama Islam sebagai agama bagi Persekutuan, yang sebenarnya ialah agama orang Melayu. Perlembagaan memperuntukkan bahasa Melayu sebagai bahasa Kebangsaan bagi Persekutuan, yang juga merupakan bahasa orang Melayu. Dan terutamanya, Perlembagaan juga memperuntukkan Raja-raja Melayu sebagai Ketua Persekutuan dan Ketua semua Negeri Melayu. Institusi pemerintahan beraja Melayu ialah asas adat istiadat Melayu. Maka dengan demikian dapat dikatakan bahawa unsur-unsur ini melambangkan satu ciri yang melaluinya Perlembagaan boleh dikenali."

Selepas saya membaca beberapa aspek daripada tiap-tiap satu unsur ini, saya lebih menghargai kenapa orang Melayu (terutamanya dari Semenanjung Malaysia) sangat bersemangat dan lantang bersuara tentang hak-hak dan keistimewaan mereka. Saya juga melihat betapa pentingnya unsur-unsur ini harus dikekalkan bagi menjaga kestabilan dan keamanan di Malaysia walaupun kurang bersetuju dengan bagaimana sesetengah pihak (lebih-lebih lagi ahli-ahli politik dan agama yang) mentafsirnya diluar konteks bagi menjaga kepentingan sendiri. Sebagai seorang bumiputera bukan Melayu dari Sarawak, saya menutup buku ini dengan satu persoalan: Sejauh mana unsur-unsur ini mempengaruhi undang-undang di Sarawak sekarang?

Untuk membaca ulasan-usalan dan/atau ringkasan-ringkasan buku lain yang telah saya baca, KLIK DI SINI

#LeadersAreReaders #ServeToLead #PerlembagaanMalaysia #AgamaIslam #BahasaMalaysia #OrangMelayu #Kesultanan #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.