Printed Pages, Lasting Benefits #LeadersAreReaders November 2024

 

For me, reading printed books daily is a rewarding habit that brings freshness and knowledge. You don’t have to read for hours or finish a book in one sitting—just a few pages a day, done consistently, can make a big difference. Printed books offer a unique experience. The feel of the pages, the scent of the paper, and the act of turning each page make reading more personal. Unlike screens, books don’t strain your eyes or distract you with notifications.

Start by setting aside just 10 minutes a day (once the habit forms, 10 minutes can be your minimum!). Choose a book you enjoy and keep it nearby. Whether it’s before bed, during breakfast, or during a quiet moment, make reading part of your routine. Over time, this small habit can improve your knowledge, focus, and mental clarity. A few pages today can bring lasting benefits for a more thoughtful life 😊

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Read Books with INTENTIONAL EFFORT #LeadersAreReaders December 2023

Perhaps the problem with our reading isn’t the lack of time or interest but how we approach books. Reading is a skill and it takes an INTENTIONAL EFFORT to read with a purpose. Eugene Peterson writes, “Among our ancestors reading involved a seeking after wisdom, becoming a mature person. With us, it is more likely to be a retrieval of information so that we can answer a question or do a job. Spiritual reading is not contemptuous of information, but it has wisdom for its goal: becoming true and good, not just knowing the facts of life...” (Eat This Book, pg. 241).

Reading for information may be necessary, but it won't make us mature. Reading, alongside spiritual disciplines such as prayer and meditation, can be life-giving! God will reveal Himself and His truth to us through these practices. Words have the power - especially the Scripture - not only to transmit information, but through the work of the Holy Spirit, they can supernaturally awaken our hearts and impact our lives. Books can draw us closer to the heart of God. So, read! Read with INTENTIONAL EFFORT.

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #ReadWithIntentionalEffort #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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Roaring Lion: Spiritism In Borneo Challenged by the Power of Christ (1968) by Robert Peterson, Book Review

Roaring Lion: Spiritism In Borneo Challenged by the Power of Christ (1968) by Robert Peterson

 
This is an exciting book by Robert Peterson, a missionary in Borneo (particularly in Kalimantan) who has seen the Lord at work in the lives of many Chinese and some Malays who settle there. During this time (and still is), there were many customs and practices common to the animistic tribes of the islands. Spiritism and demon worship occupied a major place in their daily lives. All this while, Satan, that adversary who prowled around like a “roaring lion” (1 Peter 5:8), boldly manifested his unchallenged dominion over them. But that won’t be long, because when Christ’s faithful servants like Robert Peterson went there and preached the gospel of peace, darkness became light and our true King, “the Lion of Judah” (Revelations 5:5), reigned mightily. George M. Steed writes, “We believe it is not just coincidental that when the Lord’s servants commenced openly to challenge the power of darkness and, in the name of our victorious Lord, command the demons to come out of the possessed ones, the gates of hell began to yield and captives were set free.”

Of course, we must not believe there are demons under every bush, but we must not deny the existence and influence of demons in our world today either. The supernatural is natural in the spiritual realm. If you believe in God, then recognizing the reality of Satan and demons shouldn’t be a problem. But the sad fact is that so many Christians have little knowledge of spiritual warfare, or even if they do, they tend to ignore it. Based on my experiences and, more importantly, from the Scripture, we must remember that: “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). As the author puts it, we must know a little better the ‘depths of Satan', and by knowing, we are able to ‘fight the good fight of faith.’

What I like about this book is that Peterson began the story by describing his failures in dealing with demon activities. After many encounters, risks, and mistakes, he started to examine the Scripture about the issue and progressively learned how to deal with it effectively through the power of the Holy Spirit and the living Word of God. The stories he told were very interesting because they reminded me of my own experiences during church mission trips to the interior parts of Sarawak many years ago. Read this book and know that God already gives us the weapons (for example, read Ephesians 6:13–20). The chief among them is that Christ is with and in us. “Many truths in the Word of God are a source of strength in our warfare against Satan, but the realization of the indwelling Christ and a day-by-day acknowledgement, acceptance, and utilization of this truth will set us on the victory road and keep us there,” writes Peterson. “Christ has never been and can never be defeated by Satan.” Amen.

#LeadersAreReaders #RoaringLion #TheLionOfJudah #Satan #JesusChrist #IndwellingChrist #RobertPeterson #BorneoForChrist #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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I Am N: Inspiring Stories of Christians Facing Islamic Extremists by The Voice of the Martyrs, Audiobook Review

 I Am N: Inspiring Stories of Christians Facing Islamic Extremists (2016, audiobook 6 Hours 12 minutes) by The Voice of the Martyrs

Most Christians in Borneo - Sarawak and Sabah - are very comfortable. We are too relaxed and have no sense of urgency. Lukewarm, soft, and dying. We tend to forget that Christian persecution is a very real thing for many people throughout the world, even our brothers and sisters in peninsular Malaysia. It's easy to get comfortable in a place that has fairly freedom of religion and little social stigma for believing in the Lord Jesus. We experience some persecution, yes, but it's nothing compared to others in closed countries. Read books, reports, stories, and videos about Christian martyrs and missions - and God's Word daily - to be awakened from spiritual sleep and ignite the passion to share the Gospel with the lost souls.

"I Am N" by VOM is one of the books that I recommend you to read and reflect on (if you're interested to read an ebook and listen to the audiobook, please let me know). What does "N" stands for? In northern Iraq, radical Muslims (ISIS) spray-painted the Arabic letter ن or “N,” on the homes and businesses of Christians. "N" represents the followers of Jesus of "N"azareth. They were then publicly exposed as Jesus-followers and offered the option to become Muslims a.k.a. convert to Islam, leave their home, or die. Over 100,000 brave believers left with little more than the clothing on their backs because they would not compromise their faith. This book is therefore a compilation of real stories of "N" around the world. You'll read about the stories of sacrifice, courage, joy, perseverance, forgiveness, and faithfulness. You may (as I do) get angry, sad, and mad at first, and then filled with joy, love, gratitude, and compassion, and be moved to pray. It's bitter and sweet.

We need to recognize these persecuted followers of Jesus as our brothers and sisters in the family of God and embrace them in that intimate unity: “Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body” (Hebrews 13:3). We will not be silenced. Write up, speak up, and pray up!

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #PersecutedChurch #Discipleship #JesusTheLord #FamilyOfGod #TheVoiceOfTheMartyrs #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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The Life and Ministry of John Sung (2012) by Lim Ka-Tong, Book Review

 The Life and Ministry of John Sung (2012) by Lim Ka-Tong

When I read Roland H. Bainton's Here I Stand on the Life of Martin Luther the Reformer, I was amazed. Luther had done many great things for God, His Word, and His people. I admired him, and he is one of my heroes of faith. But Luther was far from being a saint on earth. I learned about the German Peasant's War, the hatred of the Jews (anti-Semitism), and other dark sides contributed by Luther and his writings. Of course, Sung Shangjie (nicknamed Tian-En) or John Sung does not have the same level of dark sides as Luther, but he does have lots of weaknesses, especially in his younger years. He was hot-tempered, headstrong, impatient, and hard to be with. He was very critical of Western and even local missionaries. Because he traveled long, far, and frequently, he missed all of his children's births. Although his family never complained (he was a good son, husband, and father), early in his ministry his absence contradicted his sermon on the importance of family worship. But due to God's immeasurable grace, He used John Sung - and Martin Luther - greatly. This reminds me of Samson in Judges 13–16, a problematic and flawed character, yet his name is listed in Hebrews 11's The Hall of Faith. John Sung was indeed among "a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith" (Hebrews 12:1), encouraging and cheering us through his life and dedication to run the race God has set before us. Let us imitate John Sung just as he imitated Christ!

I've read John Sung's biographies by Leslie T. Lyall, Timothy Tow, and William E. Schubert. They are amazing! But this one by Lim Ka-Tong is a very comprehensive, well-researched, and fair account of a very important (but sadly, less known) figure of Chinese Christianity not only in China but also in Southeast Asia. Sung is variously remembered as the "Wesley of China", the "Billy Sunday of China", the "Billy Graham of China", "the Apostle of China", "the greatest evangelist China has ever known", and the "bright star in the crown of Hinghwa." A man such as John Sung, powerfully used by God, is worthy of being remembered by Christians around the world, and this book gives him such honor. I was very fascinated by the interesting details and facts that Ka-Tong found about John Sung that I had never heard of before from other authors. The first chapter on sociopolitical and theological background in early twentieth-century China helped me to understand what shaped John Sung's mind, and chapter two on his formative years helped me to see why John Sung's faith was genuine, contagious, and bold. In summary, Ka-Tong wrote: "John Sung's ministry was based on his intensive reading of the Bible and his reliance on the Holy Spirit. His conservative evangelical faith exerted great influence on the Chinese church, even to this day. This is remarkable because John Sung was not a trained theologian, his life was so brief, and he never founded any organization to carry on his ministry."

Indeed, his brief 12 years of public ministry, were divided into 5 periods - The Water Period: Re-Immersion (1927-1930), The Door Period: Openings (1931-1933), The Dove Period: Time to Soar (1934-1936), The Blood Period: War-Time Spiritual Warrior (1937-1939), and The Tomb Period: Pastoral Years (1940-1944) - have had a great impact that has endured through the years until today. For example, during the Dove Period around 1936, John Sung went to Borneo: "Sung's only visit to Sarawak brought great awakening to the cities of Sibu and Sarikei. He held 10-day meetings in each city. In Sibu alone, 1,583 confession letters were received, and 464 committed themselves to sharing the Good News weekly. He likewise saw a wonderful response in Sarikei, although he had to compete against a circus that was in town. According to a researcher who studied the church and mission in Sarawak, Sung's ministry brought on 'a time for renewal' which provided 'fresh impetus for witness and church planting.'" In this book, John Sung's life is portrayed in very colorful and realistic ways. Here we can see his humanness, his struggles with spiritual warfare (the world, the flesh, and the Devil), and his reliance on God's Word and the Holy Spirit. Here also, we can learn about the power of fellowship, friendship, partnership (Sung tends to be a soloist, but don't forget about the contribution of the Bethel Evangelistic Band to his ministry!), forgiveness, discipleship, prayer, revivals, and the blood of Jesus to change lives!

I fully recommend this book, especially for full-time workers, pastors, teachers, and evangelists in Malaysia. It's time for us to NOT ONLY look at famous Western Christian leaders like Martin Luther or John Calvin but also at Asian Christian leaders like John Sung, Andrew Gih, Watchman Nee, Wang Mingdao, Leland Wang, Chu Ki-chol, Sadhu Sundar Singh, Petrus Octavianus, Thomas Chung, etc. They are what Paul wrote to the church in Corinth: "Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world's eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you" (1 Corinthians 1:26). What makes them great is not their wisdom, power, or wealth, but because God is great. Perhaps they would echo the Scripture, "If I want to boast, I will only boast about the LORD!" I think that is a fitting summary of John Sung's life. Amen.

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #JohnSung #Biography #HeroesOfFaith #AsianChristianLeaders #ChinaRevivals #GodOfTheBible #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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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

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Secret Believers: What Happens When Muslims Turn To Christ? (2007) by Brother Andrew and Al Janssen, Book Review

My first introduction to the late Andrew van der Bijl or better known as Brother Andrew (1982-2022) was through his life-changing autobiography, God’s Smuggler. If you haven’t read it, I suggest you get a copy and read it before you die. In it, he told the story of how he became a Christ follower and was inspired to smuggle Bibles into Communist Eastern Europe to the persecuted underground churches. It was the start of a great adventure. His famous prayer has been my personal prayer too whenever I entered places where I shouldn’t be to share the Gospel with the not-yet-believers: “Lord, in my luggage I have Scripture I want to take to Your children. When You were on earth, You made blind eyes see. Now, I pray, make seeing eyes blind. Do not let the guards see those things You do not want them to see.” After the Iron Curtain collapse in Europe, Brother Andrew began to expand his ministry to Islamic nations, especially aiming at radical Islam. “We cannot win the war on terror with guns and bombs because everyone we kill is replaced by dozens more who seek revenge,” said Andrew, “The only answer is a total, radical commitment to Jesus Christ.”

Secret Believers is the next important book by Brother Andrew - and Al Janssen - in my estimation. Part 1 tells exciting yet terrifying true stories about men and women who are born as Muslims in strict Islamic states in the Middle East who have chosen - or rather, chosen by the living God of the Bible - to be the followers of Jesus Messiah, Lord, and Saviour. They are called Muslim Background Believers (MBB). The inner joy, living faith, glorious grace, inward freedom, and eternal life that they found in Jesus are not without their external costs and consequences. The Scripture clearly says, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). The MBB worships Jesus daily, and at the same time suffer persecution daily. The stories of Ahmed, Mustafa (killed), Hassan (killed), Kareem, Abuna, Brutos, Nadira, Salima, Layla (abducted and raped), etc. touched my heart, warmed my soul, challenged my faith, and resolved my mind. I was even moved to tears when I read about their situations. Sometimes my anger would arouse due to the injustice done by their own families, communities, and authorities, inhuman treatments, and killing that were done in the name of God (John 16:2b says, “…the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service”). But how the characters engaged with their challenges remind me of Christ’s love for the lost people. “Don’t curse the darkness but light a candle.”

Part 2 of this book is worth the price. Here Brother Andrew presents some Biblical principles, thoughts, and questions on how to respond to the challenge of Islam. “I believe the story you have just read presents us with four challenges,” explains Andrew, “to love all Muslims by giving them the Good News, to forgive when we’re attacked, to live lives totally committed to Jesus Christ, and to engage in the real war - the spiritual war.” These are very difficult challenges because it is very counter-intuitive to human nature. That’s why we need the grace, faith, and love of Jesus. Only He can create in us a new nature to love our enemies and forgive the way He does. As one of the MBBs said to Al Janssen: “Don’t bring Hollywood; bring Christ. Don’t bring power. Don’t bring just your money. Bring love. Bring the kingdom.” Amen!

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #SecretBelievers #TurnToChrist #TheLoveOfChrist #Evangelism #GoodNews #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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Jesus and the four Gospels: An Illustrated Documentary (1979) by John W. Drane, Sort-Of Review

 Jesus and the four Gospels: An Illustrated Documentary (1979) by John W. Drane

On the back cover: “Jesus Christ is a crucial figure of history. Today he is worshiped as God by millions, and his teaching continues to influence individuals, even whole societies. His life has been dramatized and written about many times; he is the star of film and musicals.” This book is 44 years old and yet this statement is even truer today! What’s the hype about The Chosen TV series? What’s the talk about The Asbury Revival? What’s up with The Jesus Revolution movie? You might have some thoughts about all these things (or have no idea at all) but I assure you I have both optimistic views and skeptical opinions about how the modern churches, the world, and the culture take interest in the person of Jesus. Either for goodwill or money, out of love or selfish ambition, sincere from the heart or with dark agenda, I stand with the Apostle Paul’s attitude: “But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice” (Philippians 1:18. Although I might quote this verse out of context, I just want to highlight his attitude that no matter what, at least, Jesus is known).

As a Man, Jesus’ personality, character, conduct, and teachings are amazing beyond description. As God, Jesus stands above all else in heaven and on earth. I sometimes tell people that the cure for most depression is the study of the Scripture, especially if we focus on the person of Jesus. Why? Most depression is due to overthinking about one’s own self. The key is to focus and think about something or Someone more glorious, beautiful, epic, amazing, divine, and great. Mere human beings - you and me! - are not. So, fix your attention on joy and the source of joy, Lord Jesus Christ, the God-Man. How to do that? First, I told you already, to read and study the Scripture particularly the New Testament. Then, read books that help you understand the Scripture (But then again, the thought of ‘reading’ books can make someone more depressed. I say, try to actually read).

Books such as this one are excellent companions to the Scripture. It's not boring. It is well-informed but not overtechnical. The main text is written in an easy-to-understand style for the general reader but there are dozens of heavier subjects also included that might interest you because as you know, Jesus is popular and yet controversial. There are some amazing photographs too that help to stimulate the information. The book is divided into three main sections and twelve chapters: 1) God’s Promised Deliverer (The world of Jesus; Jesus’ birth and early years; Who was Jesus?; Why did Jesus die?; The resurrection); 2) God’s New Society (The nature of the new society; Pictures of the new society; The power of new society; God’s society in action); and 3) Knowing about Jesus (What are the gospels?; The four Gospels; Are the Gospels true?). John Drane ends his remark like this: “If Jesus rose from the dead, then we must face the implications, the need to submit to the risen Lord and his demands over our lives. But it also assures us that both his demands and promises are reasonable, fair, and true because they can be vindicated by reference to the events of history.” The Jesus of history is the Christ of faith.

Here are some other books (of its kind) that I would like to recommend too:

1. Stephen M. Miller’s The Jesus of the Bible (2009). I read this a long time ago. Superb!
2. Donald L. Blake’s Jesus, A Visual History (2014)
3. Robert H. Stein’s Jesus the Messiah (1996)
4. R.T. France’s A Portrait of Jesus (1975)
5. Leon Morris’s The Lord from heaven (1974)
6. David Limbaugh’s The True Jesus (2017). I’m halfway through the book. Pause.

 #ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #JesusChrist #TheGodMan #TheGospel #HistoryFaith #JohnDrane #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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The Power of The Word and words #LeadersAreReaders January 2023

I was doing a house cleaning last week when I discovered my old notes with amazing stories in them. Let me share one about the transforming power of the Word. It is written by Peter V. Deison about a man named Ramad. Ramad was the most dangerous man in all of India. His gang attacked, plundered, and terrified the remote villages of the area. He was wanted dead or alive. While ransacking a small home in one of these villages, he found a small black book.

At first, he started to throw it away, but he noticed that the paper was very thin and just the right size for roll-you-own cigarettes. Each evening after a meal Ramad would relax with a smoke. He would take out the little book, tear a page out, and fold it over for the tobacco. One evening while folding the paper, he noticed the writing was in his own language. So each evening after eating, he would read a page of the little book - presumably the New Testament - and then smoke it.

One evening, by God's grace, over time, he was convicted! He knelt and asked Jesus Christ to forgive his sins and confessed Him to be his Lord and Savior. At once he turned himself over to the police, much to their surprise, and turned from a bandit to an evangelist for Christ in the prison! It became Ramad's first mission field where he led many other prisoners to Jesus.

I heard and read many real-life stories like this when God's Word - even His servants' words a.k.a. books about the written Word - made a change in people's lives. It's true: "Know it in your mind; Stow it in your heart; Show it in your life; Sow it in the world." Amen!

#ServeToLead #ReadersAreReaders #PrisonMinistry #ThePowerOfTheWord #Repentance #ChangedLife #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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Tortured for Christ (1967) by Richard Wurmbrand, Book Review

 Tortured for Christ (1967) by Richard Wurmbrand

I've read this book many times, on many occasions in my life, and have written a brief review years ago (in my blog). It still impacted me very much, the privilege of preaching the Word on social media, campuses, and small churches, the comfort (so far) of being a Christ follower in Malaysia, and the freedom to own as many Bibles as I want. God, through Mr. and Mrs. Wurmbrand, reminds me to: "Don't complain, pray"; "Rest is for the hard laborers in the Gospel"; "Win souls for Christ by all God-honoring means"; "Don't ask for persecution but always be ready"; and "The Father is on the move!" When I read the Book of Acts and John Foxe's Book of Martyrs alongside this one, I can hear the Spirit says, "Be strong and courageous" (Deuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 1, 1 Chronicle 28:20, 2 Chronicles 32:7, Daniel 10:19, Ephesians 6:10).

Let me share just two short stories from this book: #1 STORY: "A brother* [I suspect that this is the author himself, writing from a third person] was preaching to the other prisoners when the guards suddenly burst in, surprising him halfway through a phrase. They hauled him down the corridor to their 'beating room.' After what seemed an endless beating, they brought him back and threw him - bloody and bruised - on the prison floor. Slowly, he picked his battered body up, painfully straightened his clothing, and said, 'Now, brethren, where did I leave off when I was interrupted?' He continues his Gospel message!"

#2 STORY: "A Christian was sentenced to death. Before being executed, he was allowed to see his wife. His last words to his wife were, 'You must know that I die loving those who kill me. They don't know what they do and my last request of you is to love them, too. Don't have bitterness in your heart because they kill your beloved one. We will meet in heaven.' These words impressed the officer of the secret police who attended the discussion between the two. Afterward, he told me the story in prison, where he had been put for becoming a Christian."

These stories and more. Inspiring and challenging. Good endings, bad endings. But all for the glory of the living God YHWH!

#ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #RichardWurmbrand #TorturedForChrist #BeStrongAndCourageous #LeadersAreReaders #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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Simplicity In Preaching: A Few Hints on a Great Subject (1882, 2022) by John C. Ryle, Summary-Review

Simplicity In Preaching: A Few Hints on a Great Subject (1882, 2022) by John C. Ryle

 

For the past two years, I've been listening to and reading lots of material from John Charles Ryle (1816 to 1900). Currently, I'm reading his well-known volume Expository Thoughts on the Gospels on Luke part one. His books are very easy to digest and understand just like what this title hinted at. But it's not just simple, it's also profound and Biblical. There is no use in being simple if the essence is shallow and worldly. TikTok's 'Christian' video is simple but almost always has no depth. The aim, in the case of this subject, is simplicity in preaching Jesus Christ. So, it's true that the statement "Change your mind, change your life" is simple but there are no Biblical truths in that like the statement, "Having Christ in your life will change how you live." This is what I get from J.C. Ryle's book.

If you're thinking of reading this short book, the four (4) introductory remarks are good reminders of what he meant and don't about the subject. Read it! And here are five (5) brief hints as to what seems to be the best method of attaining simplicity in preaching according to J.C. Ryle:

1. Understand your subject.
2. Use simple words.
3. Aim for a simple style of composition.
4. Use a direct voice.
5. Use anecdotes and illustrations.

There are lots of juicy quotes that are worth remembering. Here are some as closing for this summary review: "Take care that you have a comprehensive knowledge of the subject upon which you are going to preach"; "It is appropriate to use fine words... before classical groups and in preaching before educated audiences. But you may be sure that when you preach to ordinary congregations, the sooner you... use plain, common words, the better"; "All the simplicity in the world can do no good unless you preach the simple gospel of Jesus Christ so fully and clearly that everybody can understand it. If Christ crucified does not have His rightful place in your sermons, and sin is not exposed as it should be, and your people are not plainly told what they need to believe and be and do, your preaching is of no use!" ⚡

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #SimplicityInPreaching #PreachTheWord #PreachChrist #JCRyle #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

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I Remember John Sung (1976) by William E. Schubert, 2nd Book Review

I read this for the fourth time because it is so inspiring and challenging book. Dr. J. Edwin Orr writes, "John Sung was one of the most colorful characters of all time, an evangelist of striking spiritual power as well as a prophet whose eccentricities matched some of those known through the Old Testament." Perhaps the last statement is putting John Sung too highly than he really was but it's not without merit. If you read this together with the other biographies and some of his sermon samples in the appendix, you can see why John Sung should be on your list of heroes of the faith.

Too often, churches and seminaries in Asia make much of the Reformation figures - yes, they are important and should be known - like Martin Luther, John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, etc. but lack excitement when it comes to Asian heroes of the faith like John Sung, Watchman Nee, Sadhu Sundar Singh, etc. People like these men (and oh, wonderful Christian women too!) must be rediscovered and highlighted because young Christians nowadays need actual heroes beyond the MCU and DCEU fictional superheroes! What's amazing is that, if you read Christian biographies, you can see how flawed women and men like John Sung can be used by God for His glory and to extend His Kingdom on earth. Their shortcomings can make you relate to them and their passion and zeal for our Lord Jesus Christ and His Word can put us to shame, which if you let the Holy Spirit works in you, can become a source of challenge and inspiration.

In the closing remark, William E. Schubert says: "As we remember John Sung, we pray that God will produce another, perhaps even greater, evangelist in this century. God often calls His leaders from the ranks of Jesus' persecutors. When this man, or men, come on the scene, then China and the Far East will be aflame for God with the preaching of the irresistible Gospel." In the same way, may God raises such leaders in Sarawak, Malaysia, Asia... again! #ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #JohnSung #HeroesOfFaith #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

Read my previous book reviews about John Sung here:

1) I Remember John Sung, 1st Review
2) A Biography of John Sung (2004) by Leslie T. Lyall
3) I also like to recommend Asian Awakening: John Sung (1988) by Timothy Tow

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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

The Blind Evangelist Who Sees! (China: Chang Shen) #PersecutedChurch

Before his conversion, Chang Shen had been known as a gambler, womanizer, and thief. When he was stricken blind in midlife, neighbors said it was the judgment of the gods for his evil doings. But everything changed when he heard about Christ for the first time. What happened next?

The story is taken from The Voice of the Martyrs Extreme Devotion Apps.

To watch other stories from this series, CLICK HERE https://bit.ly/LegasiPersecutedChurch

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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

 

From Shame To Witness (Vietnam: Brother K'Be) #PersecutedChurch

In this story, the police wanted to shame Brother K'Be, but they actually helped to further spread the Gospel message. A believer can be shamed or imprisoned, or even killed. A church building can be closed. A meeting may be disbanded. But the Gospel lives on. When you're under restrictions, would you still find a way to live out your faith?

The story is taken from The Voice of the Martyrs Extreme Devotion Apps. 

To watch other stories from this series, CLICK HERE https://bit.ly/LegasiPersecutedChurch 

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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

 

The Heavenly Man (2008) by Brother Yun, Audiobook

The Heavenly Man (2008) by Brother Yun

I've been reading with my ears for 9 hours 54 minutes about this amazing autobiography of Liu Zhenying, better known as Brother Yun. The story is very inspiring, challenging, and convincing. I admire committed believers in China like Yun, but quietly I pray to God that I don't have to show it with much pain and suffering like them. Not going to review this book. Sorry. I first read this book (physical book) many years ago when I was still working at the GSC Cinema. It's good to be reminded again.

P.s: My time of walking, cycling, cleaning, and cooking has been my activities of gaining knowledge too. Try to learn to listen to an audiobook; it will save you lots of time. I get most of my books from christianaudio.com  

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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

 

Extreme Assassin (Bangladesh: Brother Andrew) #PersecutedChurch

The evangelist, Andrew, stared into the gun, wondering why the man didn't fire. The assassin grew frustrated, then frightened, and finally, he fled from the room. Later he testified that he was offered a big reward to kill the evangelist. Why he didn't pull the trigger? What happened next? #ServeToLead #PreachTheWord #PrayForThePersecutedChurch

The story is taken from The Voice of the Martyrs Extreme Devotion Apps.

To watch other stories from this series, CLICK HERE https://bit.ly/LegasiPersecutedChurch 

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THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

 

Beyond AD 2000: A Call to Evangelical Faithfulness (1999) by Hwa Yung, Book Review

Beyond AD 2000: A Call to Evangelical Faithfulness (1999) by Hwa Yung

This is an essay by Bishop Emeritus Dr. Hwa Yung, when he was a principle of Seminari Theologi Malaysia (STM), addressing his concern for the Malaysian Church, especially the evangelicals, to “be the ‘salt of the earth’ and ‘light of the world’, to bear witness to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit in word and deed, and to proclaim to all humanity that the gospel ‘is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes.’” This essay was first written in a shorter form around 1994 and expanded into a longer essay in 1999 outlines six (6) agendas for evangelicals in Malaysia as he looked ahead toward the year 2000 and beyond. Bishop’s knowledge of the history of the evangelical movement is admirable. It shows clearly in Chapter 2: Evangelical Strengths and Weaknesses before he dives into the main issues. I have to admits that the cover and the title of this essay are unattractive (dear publisher, sorry), so it takes years for me to grab it and read (now you know how important is a first impression, right?). But when I take a second look at the table of contents, I was struck by the urgency and relevancy of the agendas that Bishop was so concerned about 22 years ago. Here are the first three agendas and my comments on each:

Agenda One: The Primacy of Scripture. The first strength of the historic evangelicalism was the sola scriptura (Scripture alone) principle. “Yet,” Hwa Yung observes, “there are clear signs that evangelicals in Malaysia are losing their grip on the primacy of Scripture in their life and ministry.” I agree. I’m a bookworm. In Malaysia or Sarawak to be exact, there are very few bookstores. And sadder still is that there are very rare Christian bookstores. And if you find one or two, you’ll be amazed by the kind of books that are available. “The books that really sell are those centered on experience, rather than on the Word.” The author said that this is a reflection of the spiritual state of our own churches. I would like to add: the decline of reading habits among Malaysian Christians nowadays is a sure correlation with the decline of reading Scripture for themselves. If Scripture is not read, then, the primacy of Scripture is non-existence. Besides that, “many Christians appear to accept rather uncritically the misleading and wrong teachings that have been often meted out to them, supposedly from the Bible.” Careless interpretation of Scripture as one of the products of liberal Christianity also contributes to the problem. Hwa Yung's advice is first, we must strongly emphasize again the sola scriptura principle today; secondly, we must make every effort to master God’s Word and be mastered by it; and thirdly, teach it properly and faithful to God’s people.

Agenda Two: The Holy Spirit and Revival. “The second great strength of evangelicalism has been its recognition of the place the Holy Spirit plays in bringing new life to the individual and revival to the church.” It seems to me, as a Borneoan, the East Malaysian churches here are very into the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the yearning for revival in our land. The good side of these emphasizes is that our understanding of Christianity should not just be about knowledge but also experience. But there are dangers too such as extremism, triumphalism, and anti-intellectualism. Added with the lack of the primacy of Scripture, our churches are exposed to the heresies of the hyper-charismatic, the prosperity gospel, and false teachings in general. Thus, we need to “hold Spirit and God’s Word together in proper harmony.” I have a copy of Colin Whittaker’s Great Revivals (1984) where he reviews revivals from the days of the great awakening under Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, and John Wesley, right up to the thrilling move of the Holy Spirit in Communist China. One thing I noticed is that the inseparable partnership of Spirit and Word that gave birth to genuine revivals. What God has joined together, let no one separate! At the end of this chapter, Bishop encourages this reader to learn from Asian Christian leaders of the past such as Sadhu Sundar Singh, John Sung, and Petrus Octavianus. Why? Because they, in his opinion, “combined outstanding demonstrations of signs and wonders in their ministries with a strong biblical stress on the holiness of character and sacrificial living.” Not to mention, as exemplified by one of my heroes Dr. John Sung, they were also Bibline. 

Agenda Three: Evangelism And Cross-Cultural Missions. This agenda is kind of obvious. What is being an evangelical if not engage in evangelism? But don’t be surprised that many Malaysian churches today, especially the natives in my view, have neglected the mandate to proclaim the gospel (Greek, euangelion, means good news) to the world. Most of the Christian events that I’ve seen nowadays are very inward focus, rarely do I see about witnessing to the unbelievers or the challenge to the mission. We need to commit ourselves again to the Great Commission as commanded - NOT suggested - by our Lord Jesus Christ in Matthew 28:18-20. “The first is the work of evangelism within our own country,” equips Hwa Yung, “The second is the work of cross-cultural missions overseas.” One question that stuck with me that the Bishop asked is this: “Are we really serious?” You and I might see the importance of this agenda but are we really serious about doing it? Do my finance, choices, and ministry agree with it? This chapter is an easy read but hard to swallow. The author gave the example of the Nestorian Church of Persia, despite the pressures and persecution it faced, during the early part of the 8th century up to the 14th, the church was the most powerful missionary force in the whole Christian world. Reason being? “Strong evidence exists to suggest that it was the missionary spirit of the church which fed back into the life of the mother church in Persia, to constantly renew its vitality, and turned it outwards instead of inwards as it did elsewhere. In other words, because it was willing to give life to others, it was itself given new life.”

Agenda Four: Social Responsibility In God’s World; Agenda Five: Personal Holiness And Christian Character; and Agenda Six: The Heart of the Gospel - The Cross. Again, although this essay was written about 22 years ago, the agendas that Bishop Hwa Yung outlines here are still reverent and all the more urgent for today to call us to evangelical faithfulness. I’ve been blessed by the message and am grateful for the reminder. I wish he would revisit this essay and write a full book about it with new materials, updates, and exclusively aim for the Malaysian church. He did a condensed version of his earlier book, Mangoes Or Banana? The Quest for an Authentic Asian Christian Theology (1997), to Toward an Asian Theology (2020), so it is possible, right? Come on Bishop!

#ServeToLead #LeadersAreReaders #GrowingLeaders #EvangelicalFaithfulness #BishopHwaYung #MalaysianChurch #LetsMakeReadingCoolAgain

To read my other #1Book1Week Book Reviews, CLICK HERE

To read my review of Hwa Yung’s Bribery and Corruption: Biblical Reflections and Case Studies for the Marketplace in Asia (2018), CLICK HERE

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