5 Annoying Questions My Fellow Malaysians Ask

There are many things I like being a Malaysian. But there are many things I particularly dislike about Malaysians, especially in the way questions are being thrown at me.

Let me just highlight 5 questions that are most frequently asked that I find rather annoying and tasteless, to say the least.

1) What is your salary like?

2) Why are you still single? Do you want me to recommend someone for you?

3) How much is your house worth now? Wah...that means you are very rich!

4) How much did you pay for this or that?

5) How much royalty did you receive for your book? Since your book is so expensive, you must be very rich, right or not?

What are some of the questions you have been asked frequently by your fellow Malaysians that you think would make it to the Most Annoying Questions My Fellow Malaysians Ask?

No Time To Blog?

I have not been blogging for a while - it's not that I have nothing to blog, but time just does not permit me to do so. Increasing administrative workload has taken much time away from research, writing, and critical reflection.

I hope to find some time in the coming weeks to resume my blogging activities.

Galloway & Porter: RIP

It was with sadness that I walked by my favourite bookstore, Galloway & Porter, in the city yesterday. The curtain has finally been drawn on May 31 on this store. There goes another shop where I could get theological books at a real bargain. As I look back, I must have purchased more than 60 books from this bookstore over the numerous trips to Cambridge over the past few years.

Wish for Coffee Places in Seremban

If only Seremban has coffee places such as these - that would make life in the seminary a little bit more "enriching" for a coffee lover like me....not to mention that they would be great places to hang out or chill out after a long day.

Chrsit the Lord is Risen Today...

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia....Χριστός Ανέστη! Αληθώς Ανέστη!

My Office Rejuvenated?

Someone has asked me why I moved the furniture in my office so that my desk now faces the wall. Two reasons: First, it is to create more space for my office so as to accommodate the weekly pastoral group that meets here and also a very comfortable beanbag (don't ask me what I do with the beanbag).


Secondly, it is for me to enjoy the poster of the Codex Sinaiticus, the painting and the pergamano paper craft mounted on the wall. The Codex Sinaiticus is a constant reminder of why I learn biblical languages and my passion for the New Testament. It speaks of my vocation and my calling. The painting and the pergamano craft are tokens that speak of friends and loved ones that are close to my heart. Despite my busy schedule, I am always reminded to make space and time for them. Frienship and relationship can never replace work!

I hope my office also makes it a little bit more conducive for students and friends to drop by for a chat or cuppa. You are always welcome - the door is always open.

Coffee....that's life!

Despite his busyness, the budding NT scholar still finds time to chill out with friends. A few weeks ago, together with my partners-in-crime, we checked out Espressamente-Illy at Pavilion for a real Italian brew. If only there is a Espressamente-Illy Cafe in Seremban, perhaps I might consider having some of my smaller sized classes there, just like what we did at Starbucks.

Where Have I Been?

I have taken a 3-week break from blogging. It's not that I don't have anything to blog about. Yes, I have been extremely busy, but that does not mean I can't find time to blog. I've decided that perhaps it's good to take a short break just to refocus a bit on a few things that require quite a fair bit of my attention.

So I'm back....So watch this space!

2009...2010

Suddenly, 2009 just seems to slipped by, and the new year has been ushered in. I spent my New Year in Sitiawan, preaching in the wedding service of Desmond and Lan Yin, former students of the seminary.

Next Monday marks the beginning of the Orientation week for new students at the seminary and the beginning of the new academic year. I am looking forward to meeting the new students, and also to greater challenges for the year!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Here's wishing all the readers of my blog Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

I've been missing from the blogsphere for sometime. This is partly due to the year end holidays. Ironically, it is supposed to be a holidy season, but we end up being busier than ever - the reunions, the shopping, the eating spree, etc! But it's been a good time catching up with family and friends, near and far!

A Little Walk Around Cambridge

Sometime last week, we had a very lovely and sunny day in Cambridge. So I decided to take some time off work and took a stroll around the city with a friend. Here are some photos taken around some of the colleges with my Sony Ericsson K530i mobile.

Can A Bibliophile Resist This?

I have told myself that I should resist buying books for this trip of mine to Cambridge. But when a bibliophile sees this, can he resist temptation?

Final Week of the Semester

This week marks the final week of the seminary's academic year. It is a busy week as we are ready for the final exams, the Commissioning Service for the graduating students, the Graduation Dinner and the Graduation Day. There will be streams of visitors to the seminary as families, relatives and friends of the graduands will be visiting the seminary for the graduation day.

As for the budding NT scholar, it is work as usual - there are papers to mark, report of my pastoral group to be submitted, the faculty development evaluation to be done, and preparation for the following week's faculty planning retreat.

For our long vacation, I will be spending 5 weeks at Tyndale House, Cambridge, to continue working on my book on Paul's Use of Images in the Corinthian Correspondence. This is something that I will be looking forward to, and I will be blogging about my book project in the weeks to come.

So, back to work again....even though it is almost 10.00pm already!

Office Makeover

Last week, I decided to do an office makeover. It's been almost 3 years already since I started teaching in the seminary, and I reckoned that perhaps it was time to give my office a fresh look. In addition, I reasoned that since I spend quite a fairly great deal of my time in the office, perhaps it would be good to make it a little bit more welcoming, homely, and cosy, not only for me but also for those who might want to drop by for a chat or a cuppa. So I decided to put some of my creativity to work.

So this was what I did initially by rearranging some furniture.


Then I realised it was not good enough. It still had a very formal look. I wanted something more informal. So I thought perhaps my office could do with a rag and beanbag. So this was how it looked like after adding these two items.


And Andrew, one of my students, found the beanbag to be irresistible, and so decided to give it a try. It was pretty comfortable, wasn't it?


Then I realised there was still something missing. So after having a chat with a partner-in-crime, she suggested that perhaps the office could do with some lighting and a bowl of fresh fruits. So I decided to head to Ikea to check out some decently priced reading lights and a nice salad bowl.

So here is how the final office makeover looks like. I am rather pleased with the final product!


So if you happen to be in the vicinity of the seminary, please do drop by for a cuppa.

Should I repaint the walls with some contrasting colour scheme to give my office a more lively and uplifting mood?

Caring for Parents

"You are still single, so you have more time." I have heard this saying countless time, and I really do wonder whether there is any basis to this statement. I often said that while I may still be single, it does not necessarily mean I have more time than those who are married and with family. Being one the primary care givers to my aged parents, I do have to look after their welfare too. For example, in the month of October itself, my parents have several medical appointments as follow:

Oct 2 - Father's doctor appointment for his frozen shoulder
Oct 5 - Mother's appointment with urologist
Oct 7 - Mother's appointment at the spine clinic
Oct 15 - Father's appointment at the orthopedic clinic
Oct 30 - Father's appointment at the blood clinic

Applying for leave during the semester is difficult. For example, how am I going to apply for leave on Oct 15, the day where the seminary will be having the commissioning service for our graduating students, followed by the graduation rehearsal? Since I am being appointed as the Marshall for the graduation service, my presence is needed at the rehearsal.

It is no wonder that those who run paid private services to bring the elderly to the doctor's appointment are having good business. The charges averages about RM100 per doctor's visit. That's decent money to be made, and it makes the budding NT scholar wonder why he has not changed his field yet! Not a bad idea in providing the services of bringing the elderly to the doctors. It could possibly be a good meaningful time ministering to them. In addition, the typical waiting time at the hospital is usually 2-3 hours, and that would give me some good moments to catch up with reading (while being paid for)!

Oh Gosh...Our English!

I saw this notice at a checkout counter in a prominent hypermarket store. Is this a reflection of our standand and command of English in the country?

Still Recovering from Preaching.....

To some, this might be rather strange. But to me, I always have this additional pressure whenever I preach in my home church. Yesterday, I preached on The (In)famous Amos: Why Didn't You Negotiate with God (Amos 7:1-9). It was so tiring after the church service that I slept for 3 hours after lunch yesterday. I feel like I barely recovered today, and had another 2 hours of sleep earlier on. I don't normally feel this way whenever I preach elsewhere. Strangely as well, the preparetion for my sermons in my home church is always a great struggle with many sleepless and restless nights.

I guess the more the congregation knows you, the greater is the pressure to preach? Or could it be that the expectation is higher in your home church? Just wondering.

Free Book from Emerging Scholars Network

Some time ago, I registered myself for the Emerging Scholars Network, a ministry of InterVarsity, and filled up an online survey form. And behold, I received the book by Marva Dawn, Keeping the Sabbath Wholly: Ceasing, Resting, Embracing, Feasting (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1989), as a token in the mail some days ago. Perhaps it is a good time for me to digest something on Sabbath as I my life has been on the fast lane this year.

Finished Examining D Theol Thesis

On the 9th of September 09, I finally finished examining a Doctor of Theology thesis from Trinity Theological College, Singapore, that has been sitting on my desk. I have picked up some insights from this thesis, "Paul's εὐαγγέλιον in Galatians 1-2."

By the way, my collegue, the Reb, seems to think 09-09-09 is an auspicious day, especially in his rush to finish his thesis! Maybe so, as I finished examining a D Theol thesis. I wish him all the best!

Intentional Disciple Making Conference, Singapore

Together with the pastoral team from my church, I am off to Singapore to attend the Intentional Disciple Making Conference at Covenant Evangelical Free Church, Woodlands, for the next few days. For those days that I will be away, blogging activities will take a break as I do not intent to carry along my notebook.

I will be staying at Trinity Theological College, and hopefully, will be able to catch up with Tony Siew and Sze Zeng.