My short teaching stint at
Malaysia Baptist Theological Seminary is coming to an end and soon, I will have to move on again. As I look back on my journey (both literal and spiritual) over the last eight months, there were often times when I felt overwhelmed by the combined demands of ministry, change and travel. The terrain was rougher and more perplexing than I anticipated and I often deliberated if I could and should go on. But here I want to share two passages of Scripture that came as a relief helping me to map out my otherwise rather baffling journey.
The first is Psalm 84:5 - 7: "
Blesses are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs, the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion". The path of discipleship, leading to increasing intimacy with the One who invites us to himself, is fraught with hazards and obstacles. There are overwhelming terrains to traverse and individual limitations to face which may leave us exhausted, unrelieved, perplexed and disheartened. Yet, it was under a harsh and unrelenting circumstances that the persevering pilgrims were enabled to bring astonishing transformation and refreshment to the most demanding part of their journey, the arid Valley of Baca, and were miraculously strengthened, apart from their inner resources, to persevere in their journey towards God who was, is and will be with them all along the way (cf. 2 Cor. 4:7 – 12).
The second is Ex 16, especially Ex. 16:35. "
The Israelites ate the manna for forty years until they arrived at the land where they would settle down. They ate manna until they reached the border into Canaan." Manna was no luxury but God’s measured sustenance pointing to His faithfulness (Ex. 16:16 – 18). It was meant to teach His people the priority of life and the meaning of living, i.e. attentiveness and obedience to God (cf. Dt. 8:2 – 5). Reflecting on this exodus passage, I felt that my own little passage was meant to redirect my attracted and distracted desires on to the One who first desired me.
So I thank God that He has used my attachment to and service with the seminary as a context for His fatherly guidance and discipline. May He continue to do so in every context of our lives and ministries.
Peter, Tracy and Bak Kut Teh
Jenny on a Ferry to Butterworth 
