Lawrence & Daisy Goh - Christian teachers

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It’s been a good year in 2010, and Daisy and I will like to wish you all a Blessed New Year 2011!

As we look back on 2010 and embark on 2011, may we endeavor to follow more closely to examples (witnesses) from of old (Bible heroes, as well as our spiritual family members) and also to rid ourselves of sins which had clung on so tightly to us last year, and endeavor to follow Christ’s example much more!

Heb 12:1  Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

Heb 12:2  looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

My readings in the Old Testament past Jeremiah’s laments of Israel’s fall brought me to a good end in Ezekiel’s Eze 36:21. God’s concern for His holy name brought the children of Israel out of the holy land into judgment due to their idolatry and bloodshed which God cannot allow His people to commit anymore. The passage in context is Eze 36:16-21 in which judgment is valid for God’s name sake.

Today, if you are a Christian, God is equally concerned about His holy name. This is evident in His ten commandments about our speech as in Exo 20:7. Shall we exclaim so casually “O God!”, “My God!”, “Good Lord!” when our concern is just to “exclaim” with no such concern?  Let us in word and deed, seek to uphold God’s name instead of wearing a Christian name tag and profane His holy name.

Well, Daisy and I are two persons. But as it turned out, we moved 8 trips. It is really a very good lesson on what to buy and what not to. For truly we had lots more “stuff” than we expected and moving some of the HEAVY stuff is a good lesson. Thank God we had three very kind classmates, who helped on the first day (last Monday) with most of the stuff the first day. And there were four very strong bros and sisters. In total we moved: 5 bookshelves, 1 refrigerator, 1 HEAVY washing machine, lots of kitchen appliances, books, and stuff. There was also a very kind old neighbor with an electrical motorcycle (with goods space) and we moved four more times in his.

In the end, Daisy dared not say “My dear, I don’t think we have much stuff..we can move house in a breeze!” Right now, we both agree that we should be VERY wise in what we buy and keep as stuff and hope we live in this current house for a LONG while.. Pray for us will you?

Overall: 8/ 10
Content: 8/ 10
User friendliness: 7.5/ 10
Usefulness: 9/ 10


I received a complimentary copy of this book through Tyndale Publishers as part of my review efforts.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book because I am a recreational marathoner and know the pains that come with these long runs and the training that goes into it. The author, Meb did well to avoid too much technical jargon about the runs and the preparation involved, though it could have been minimized further (for non-running folks). However I like this book because of the central theme of “family”. From out of Eritrea, to Italy, then America. The family Meb was brought up in is an inspiration indeed to kids today. They managed to attain the American dream with real determination and grit, lots of hard work and truly God’s grace. Their faith in God took them to where they are.

In “Run to Overcome”, Meb humbly reveals his rise to success in long-distance running and how he got “there”. Beyond a God-given ability to run as an elite runner (not for most people), his book and his success drives us to succeed in whatever we have as God given abilities.

His book quotes “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. (1 Corinthians 9:24)” and I think he wants to convey the idea that whatever we do we must do to the best of our abilities.

If I may add to what Meb says, the Bible goes on with “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)”.  This tells us Jesus is who we should look toward when we run this race. Meb’s story reveals that right kind of faith in God and that really makes a difference in his race. We should also endeavor to do likewise!

Head on over to the book’s website where they are giving away one signed book per day from Nov. 1, 2010 – Mar. 31, 2011. There will be monthly grand prize winners that will receive a signed copy of the book, other free Tyndale titles, as well as Sony and PowerBar products.

Overall: 8.5/ 10
Content: 8/ 10
User friendliness: 7.5/ 10
Usefulness: 9/ 10

This book was given to me for June Camp 2009 by the camp master. We had lots of good memories from that camp and this book serves to give me even more insights to what we need to learn to be better leaders, especially better Christian leaders.

This books gives much insights into the practical aspects of leadership focusing on the “How” of many things leaders will face. This is seen from the simple chapter headings like “A leader - from the knee up”, “Preparation for a tough job”, “Knocked down but not knocked out”, Operation Intimidation”. Swindoll does a great job teaching practical leadership “dos and don’ts” and he does it well by taking lessons from the book of Nehemiah. Besides being a good leadership book, it doubles up as a good book to study this Old Testament book and indeed the man and great hero Nehemiah.

Read this book and don’t stop there, check out the original book of Nehemiah as well!

Overall: 7/ 10
Content: 6.5/ 10
User friendliness: 8/ 10
Usefulness: 7/ 10


This was given to me as a wedding gift from a friend and I must say this book is a good gift indeed!

What I like about this book:

Topics on what men should know is based on a survey of what women think or react in a marriage or dating relationship so it’s practical. From the design of the book (small coffee-table like design, big print, almost like a storybook, to attract the average men) to the simple language used is very user/ man friendly. The authors gave many other good books to read as well and as far as I know, treatment of the topics here have no major repetitions elsewhere, though main ideas have been presented in many other marriage/ dating books. Don’t miss out on the “Quick Start Guide” with major categories to get us men started on 6 major key areas to look out for and improve our dating/ marriage relationships.

What can be improved about this book:

This really is more of practical book, with insight for men about what women think. Though the authors claim it adheres to a Biblical world-view, there really isn’t much Biblical foundations for these insights. Except for the last part about the sexual purity that men should adhere to.

O LORD you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure. (Isa 25:1)

This verse stands out amongst the passage about God’s final judgment day, a day when even death will be swallowed up forever (that there will be no more death and eternity is either in heaven or in everlasting punishment in hell).

Let me point out some main points:

1. God should be my God.
2. I will (not shall, can, nor perhaps, nor maybe) exalt (magnify, lift up God, increase in reputation) and praise (say wonderful things, lift up my voice and sing) His name
3. because God has done wonderful things (for me, if I remember and keep remembering)
4. God’s plans are planned since the beginning (of old) and not just any plans but faithful plns (can be trusted) and plans that are sure (will come to past, will materialize)

If you are not firm in faith, you will not be firm at all (Isa 7:9b)

It is interesting that this is like a catchphrase. Can we say that we live a life firm in faith in God? If not, we are not firm at all, we do not know who we believe in, hence, we waiver so soon and all too often when life brings challenges and difficulties.

During the impending invasion of Jerusalem during the reign of king Ahaz, Isaiah gave the prophecy of the Messiah’s coming in Isa 7:14. This was after the Lord said that they will be safe from invasion. Ahaz was surely afraid even of asking God for a sign of this.

The prophecy/ sign bears two significance:
1) That we can have firmness of faith in God’s supernatural abilities (that of a virgin conceiving and giving birth to a son). This should not come as a surprise for God had often helped in the area of conception for barren women. In the Old Testament, as seen from Sarah’s conception (Gen 17:7, Gen 17:21) and Elisha’s dealing with the Shunammite woman (2Ki 4:14-17). In the New Testament, as seen from Elizabeth’s (Luk 1:13,18)

2) That we can have firmness of faith in God’s promise that He is with us (that Immanuel is God with us) and indeed that is the Word become flesh (John 1:14) for the purpose to save mankind. And today, we have God with us in the form of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-18) as a helper in all matters of life.

So, we can be firm in faith for our faith is placed in God. Then shall we be firm (in life).

Whether you are a Bible novice, or a serious Bible student we often wonder where the Bible places are today and this really helps understand where or what we read in the Bible.

This project (website) aims to map out from the Bible the locations on Google maps and it’s quite niffy! Try it out and be amazed! Check out some nice photos of modern day Jerusalem.