STM 28th Graduation Service

God Remembers: Chapel Message

The following is the transcript of my short devotional message shared in STM's Chapel last tuesday.

STM Chapel
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Text: Isaiah 49:13-16
God Remembers

The past few months have been a very interesting journey for me. It is interesting because it has been a journey of discovery. It has been a journey that comes with a mixed bag. It has been a journey that is mixed with joy and pain, laughter and tears, and delight and frustration. It has been a journey where I am confronted with difficult theological questions. Some of the difficult questions that have been on my mind are: What happens when a person could, at times, no longer remembers God? How does this affect the person’s identity in Christ?

These questions arise because we have been caring for my father who is now advancing in his Alzheimer’s disease for the past couple of years. Caring for a patient such as this not only requires much patience and love, it also demands out constant attention and care. Some days, Dad would be able to recognise the family. In times like this, he would still be able to joke with us, tell us stories, and sings along with us. At some other days, he would not be able to recognise us. He would not be able to recognise my mother and my sister. Some days, he would look at me, and he would think I am someone else, and called me by some other name. At times, he would say to me, “Who are you?” About two weeks ago, I walked out of my bedroom and I greeted Dad. And Dad said, “Who are you? I know my son lives in that bedroom, and who are you coming out of my son’s bedroom?” Some days, he is a father I know. But on some days, he becomes a father that I never know.

Dad finds it hard to read the bible. Words do not seem to make much sense to him now. He finds it difficult to make sense of a sentence. He really struggles to read the bible. Some days, Dad finds it even hard to pray. One time, he looked at us and asked, “What is prayer? I don’t know how to pray.” At times, Dad surprises us about his faith. One day, Dad suddenly asked the family to prepare food on the table because he needed to pray to his ancestors. We assured him, and told him, “Dad, we are believers. We worship God. We don’t worship our ancestors.” Dad had, for a moment, forgotten that he is now a believer in Jesus.

That leads me to this question: When a person could no longer remember how to pray; could no longer read the Bible; could suddenly forget that he is a believer in Christ, and could sometimes forget God, how would you minister to a person like this? What would be this person’s identity in Christ?

As I was reflecting on this, my mind was brought to the passage we read earlier – Isaiah 49:13-16. I am comforted that despise Israel’s unfaithfulness, God remains faithful. Even in times when Israel laments that God has forsaken them, God reassures that he will not forget. He still remembers them even in their exile, and God promises that there would be restoration for Israel. Even if a mother may forget the baby at her breast, God will not. That is enough for me. God still remembers. Even though Dad’s in his condition may forget God, God will never forget my father. God has engraved my father in the palms of his hands. Dad forgets, but God remembers. I pray that this will be an encouragement to you. Despite what we have gone through, even when we forget God, God remembers. That is enough. And may we remember God while we are able to. This is the very reason we come to our Lord’s Table that has been prepared for us to that whenever we eat the bread and drink the cup, we do it in remembrance of our Lord Jesus. Let us come to the Lord’s Table, the table he prepared for us so that we could remember him

It Is Finished....All the Papers Marked

The past week has been a rather busy one. Most of my time was consumed by marking all the papers for our TEE students who took my course, Biblical Interpretation, and the research papers of my Master of Theology students.

I am still rather puzzled at the papers produced by the TEE students. Despite all my reminders not to do so, a large number of students still consulted dated popular commentaries by William Barclay and Matthew Henry. As a result, it is not surprising that only a very small percentage referred to semi-technical and technical commentaries in their exegesis papers. And even smaller numbers looked up journals despite easy access to ALTAS.

It seems to me that this observation only goes to show the extent of the influence of the writings of Barclay and Henry among believers, and these works appear to be the first port of call in looking for resources to aid them in understanding the text.

How can we encourage the students to leave these popular references behind and move on to consult recent academic works?

Another MTh Graduate

This morning, I had the privilege of chairing Sivin Kit's oral defence for his Master of Theology thesis on "A Trinitarian Public Theology: Malaysian Churches and Civil Society." Both the examiners, the Rt Rev Dr Solomon Rajah, Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malaysia, and Joseph Komar passed Sivin's thesis with minor corrections.

Congratulations, Sivin. We are very proud of you. We wish you all the best for your application for your doctoral studies.

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.

MTh Seminar

STM held its inaugural Postgraduate Research Seminar for 2010 recently.

The primary purposes for establishing the postgraduate seminar are:
1) to create a platform for students to present aspects of their research to the wider community, and to receive feedback for their work;
2) to provide fellowship among postgraduate students so that there would be mutual support and encouragement; and
3) to interact with supervisors and faculty members for feedback and support.

During this seminar, two papers were presented. Rev Sivin Kit presented a paper on “Ecclesiological Issues Confronting Malaysian Churches after the Mar 8, 2008 12th General Elections” and Pastor Wong Yuk Soo read his paper on “Paul’s Command to Silence in 1 Cor 14:34-35."

The next Postgraduate seminar will be held on Friday, March 12, from 2.00-4.30pm at the conference room. All are welcome.

High Pile of Papers to Mark

Today is a public holiday, but I guess it is work as usual for me. When I look at the high pile of unmarked papers sitting on my desk, I would not have felt at ease to take the day off. These are papers that have come in from the class I taught last year for both the Doctor of Ministry and the Theological Education by Extension programmes. I know that if I do not get passed marking the papers, I will be receiving an earful from the students pretty soon.

So it is work as usual.

Another LKY in STM?

Two years ago, I blogged about the existence of a Mini Kar Yong in the campus. This year, a number of students and colleagues have mentioned that there is now a Kar Yong look-alike. In fact, a few people have mistaken both of us.

Do we actually look alike? Or are we long lost brothers?

Now imagine this scenario in chapel. The real LKY is preaching, and the LKY look-alike is interpreting - would this cause confusion?

STM Latest Newsletter Now Available

The latest newsletter (Dec 2009 issue) published by the seminary is now available online. Click here to download the file and get updated with the news and happenings in the seminary.

Orientation Week

The campus is finally buzzing with some activities after a 2.5-month long vacation. Most of the new students have arrived for the Orientation Week that begins today.

This year, we hope to welcome more than 25 students, if all our international students are able to make it.

I look froward to interacting and getting to know the students in the next few days. I will be sharing a short reflection in the Wednesday morning chapel.

To all the new students, I wish you all the best as you begin your journey in theological education.

What My Students Think of Us

Sze Zeng blogs about his experience in Trinity Theological College after the end of his first semester there. He shares from three different perspectives as embedded in TTC's ethos of training: intellectual inquiry, spiritual formation and vocational training. Since I am not part of TTC's community, I don't think I am in a position to comment or respond to Sze Zeng. But I could certainly empathise with him on some of the issues he raised.

Closer to home, we also hear of our own students' lament about their seminary experience. The following is what one of our seminary students posted about his rather negative reflection about us as lecturers in one of his blogposts. Is this a case of unmet expectations of the student (whether these are realistic or not is a separate isssue), or we, as lecturers, are simply incompetent or 'beyond redemption'?

Lecturers: In many ways, being more competent than me, they have always challenged me to be ready to be a competent full time pastor. Unfortunately, I realised some of them just talked only ...they are good academically, not really that pastorally(not being patience by walking alongside with the students). On the other hand, some are really pastoral but not academically competent (do not update their information on their disciplines- they still use the 1990s materials for their lecture). Some even preached and don't practice what they preached. Sometimes, their preachings are bad model eg. Generally, most of them are busy and difficult to spend times with us or to nurture us personally. I pity those students in Chinese department where they have to bear the incompetencies of the lecturers who were neither pastoral nor academic. Well comparing to the Westerners, perhaps, at least Malaysian lecturers would try to be friends with us and are more compassionate towards us. These are the mixture of the characteristics of the lecturers there that make me as a student, need to be patient with and be challenged to pray for.

Another student blogs about his learning experience after one year in seminary. This is what he says:

Things that I have learned in lecture is (sic) very dry, spiritually dry, because it is just knowledge....I realised that when I understood something, it doesn't makes (sic) my relationship with God become more intimate.

Incidentally, Sze Zeng does have some good things to say about TTC lecturers - something that is missing from my students. Some food for thought for us as lecturers.

The Old and the New in England!

My colleague, the Rabbi, has safely arrived Oxford. He will be here for his pre-viva at the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies and also to get his thesis ready for submission. So both the Old (ie OT lecturer) and the New (ie NT lecturer) from the seminary are now both in England - and ironically, the former is in Oxford and the latter is in Cambridge. Hence, one of our students, SP, commented that the rivalry just does not stop in Malaysia!

All the best to the Rabbi. Hope you have a fruitful time in Oxford. Do drop by Cambridge for a visit. Tyndale House beckons you!

STM Annual Faculty Consultation - Part 2

Sometimes, things can get a bit heated in our consultation (well, it's friendly disagreement). So, here we managed to catch our Rabbi and Deaconess Margaret in action again - Rabbi is now under attack! What do you think that could have triggered Deaconess' action?

STM Annual Faculty Consultation

Yesterday marks the beginning of the annual 3-day faculty consultation where we evaluate the past academic year and also deliberate on the planning for the following year. It is a very intense consultation, and it is hard work as well.

But it is not all work and no play - we begin today's consultation with some hymn singing! Here is a glimpse of where you could catch our Rabbi in action.

Graduation Week

It's been a busy week, running from one event to another in the seminary since yesterday. We had the commissioning service for the graduating students yesterday morning, and this is followed by the rehearsal for the graduation service. Then in the evening, it was the graduation dinner, attended by more than 500 guests and family of graduating students and the seminary community.

Commissioning service

Graduating dinner

Today, we had our 27th graduation service where we witnessed 63 students receiving their degrees from the Rt Rev Ng Moon Hing, Bishop of the Anglican Church of West Malaysia, who is also the President of the Seminary Council.

Next week, I would be working on my office makeover and attending the faculty annual evaluation and planning retreat.

Berita STM Sept 09 Issue

The latest issue of Berita STM, the seminary's newsletter, is now published. Keep yourself updated with what have been happening in the seminary. Berita STM can be downloaded here by clicking here.

It Is Finished!!

It is finished! I have finally finished marking all the papers of the graduating students. So here's wishing them all the best for their future ministry.

Final Weeks of the Semester

We are now into the final couple of weeks of the semester. This means that I have to turn in the grades for our graduating students before the end of the week. As such, marking papers will occupy most of my time for this coming week.

Following this, it will be our graduation week and this is followed by the annual faculty planning retreat in Melaka.

I am looking forward to some rest after all these hectic weeks are over!

Readings in Greek Using Bibleworks

This semester, I offered an elective course on Readings in Greek using Bibleworks. Two M Div students signed up for the course. Throughout this semester, we read portions of Greek text from Acts, John, James, Psalm 2 (LXX), 1 Clement and the Nicene Creed. The primary focus of this reading course is to increase the reading proficiency of Greek, have a better grasp of the command of Greek syntactical analysis, and to explore extra-biblical literature in Greek. At the same, much of our grammatical analysis was carried out using Bibleworks, and this also helped the students to familiarise themselves with the use of the software.


Since this was a small group discussion, we all decided that classes should be held in our favourite coffee place off campus, Starbucks. This provided a very relaxed and condusive environment for discussions, debates, and discovery of Greek grammar and syntax, lexical analysis, and sentence flow and diagramming. In adiditon, extended conversation on theology became part of the menu as well.


One of the requirements of the course was to do a project on some form of analysis of Greek syntax by using Bibleworks. And my two students produced a rather impressive joint project on "A Computer Aided Investigative Study on the Grammatical and Syntactical Usage of the Aorist and Present Imperatives, their Similarities and Distinctiveness in the Epistle According to St James." I look forward to interacting with their paper later this week.

If there is demand, I might consider offering this elective reading course in the future for those who have done Intermediate Greek. But be warned, there is a lot of hard work involved. But to those who are willing to work hard and dig deep into the Scripture, great discovery of treasure awaits them.

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!