Recently, I was taking a walk at the cemetery, looking at some of the tombstones – some bright and shiny (clearly newly built), some were old but well kept, others completely forgotten. That’s where we’re all heading, back to the dust and will be forgotten sooner than later. Some though, left more than a tombstone. They have made a lasting impact and on more lives than they ever imagined.

So, that got me thinking, just who have benefited me much so far? 🧐

Many! 📜🖌 (hence, 2 parts on this to avoid too longwinded a post 😛)

Needless to say, we all are very much influenced by those closest to us as we grow up and the environment we are in (likely more than we realise).

Then as adults, there are those we’ve never met who significantly shape our thinking or even change our life. I mean, think dead people of the past. I am always thankful for the writings that have been preserved through the centuries that enable them to reach us from the past.

For the alive ones, today we have internet, and they reach us more so across space 🗺

Anyway, here I list down some who have influenced my thinking significantly or been helpful to me at different points in my life.

Disclaimer: Just because I mention their names, it doesn’t mean I agree with everything they say/do. Also, people change over time, so either they or I do along the way – but I’ve benefited much from each of them at the right time nonetheless.

Respectable old saints ✝🪦

One of the good things out of a certain crisis I faced about a decade ago was that I picked up reading (I was never a reader). I stumbled first upon writings of the Puritans. There’re many of them, but names popping up on my mind are:

• J. C. Ryle
  • His book ‘Aspects of Holiness’ is really good. One friend reads it repeatedly, saying, ‘I just have to read it over and over again because there’s so much richness in it.’
• J. R. Miller
• Jeremiah Burroughs
  • His book ‘Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment’ is a rare jewel itself!
• Thomas Watson
• Thomas Boston
• Thomas Brooks
  • I know, many Thomases haha..
• John Flavel
  • One of the first Johns I respect ~ many more to come 😄

They are all very good to read. If you want to check them out, here’s a great place to start:

https://www.gracegems.org/

Some contemporaries I first came across

Now it’s not just reading, but even more so watching and listening to them (thanks to technology!) 💻

About 8 years ago, I had serious doubts that subsequently made me question my fundamental beliefs. Interestingly, in retrospect I realised that while on the surface it appears like I had some intellectual doubts on my faith,

1. that wasn’t the root issue, but merely the end symptoms (instead, the issue that triggered the first domino of doubts was a moral one).
2. when it’s eventually resolved, I remained in faith not so much because the intellectual questions were answered, but because I experienced grace.

So, think about that the next time someone says their hurdle is an intellectual one. In my experience, it’s often a raw heartfelt emotional one masking itself as a neutral intellectual one (often subconsciously).

When I started picking up any convenient sticks I can find to throw at God – and in our culture, it being so-called science vs faith – it was John Lennox who quietened me down. Not so much because he’s a mathematician with a brilliant mind (which he has), nor that he’s a great Christian apologist (which he is), or that I’m impressed (which I am) he speaks English, Russian, German, French, and Spanish fluently, but rather it is because I watched him speak so graciously with people on the other side of the debate 🙂

I have watched many of his talks and they’re generally all very good. However, it’s his character that eventually shines forth in the way he treats his opponents that I find is the most winsome. That’s the most convincing evidence of the God reality he speaks about as far as I’m concerned.

Here’s a sneak peak into John Lennox (6 min):

Along the way, I came across Ravi Zacharias (as John Lennox was sometimes a speaker for RZIM) and found him helpful too. How things have changed since then on Ravi (in public opinion at least) following the scandal after his death – I’ve written my thoughts about it here – although the truth spoken remains the truth that shines light.

At the same time I was listening to RZIM, I also listened to John Piper‘s APJ (Ask Pastor John). I found many of them helpful. These podcasts became my morning routine companion.

Then, initiated by a friend, there was a period where we listened to John MacArthur‘s talks each on our own and came to discuss it afterwards. I remember that as hard work as it was a long solid hour each (or more), and quite condensed (not entertaining like many contemporary preachers – nor did he ever try to 😆). Just straight to the text and on and on he went, sometimes I fell asleep 😪 especially when I was tired hahahhh – but I would rewind back and do my homework properly before circling back to my friend on my take of it. Dang, that was work.. but a good exercise and experience to have.

In terms of talks, I think John Piper is about the same. I mean, I have the same feel about it – I will fall asleep too if you ask me. For these 2 Johns, I generally find their Q&A sessions to be more helpful than their talks / books. I suspect I’ll never finish reading ‘Desiring God’ in my lifetime hahah 😅

Some practical modern speakers

I started to listen to Tim Keller. Very easy to follow and was useful to me for quite awhile, especially on practical matters. Today I still use his resource as a guide particularly on how to engage with an audience.

Then through Christianity Explored course, I came across Rico Tice. Another very effective communicator of the gospel message.

I listened to Sam Allberry (a minister who is same-sex attracted) and Rosaria Butterfield (who used to be a lesbian) who are particularly insightful in sticky issues of gender and the likes.

Here’s one of the first talks I heard of Sam Allberry that’s great (click on the image to watch it on Vimeo). For Rosaria, just find any on YouTube will likely be a good one.

Then, there’s Al Mohler‘s daily commentary The Briefing. I’m amazed at how he does it so consistently for so many years, day after day, year after year. Although it’s mostly on public affairs based in US where he is, many of the issues are very relevant and that gives me a window into that other side of the globe. I still listen to him every weekday.

And, there are more: including some of my countrymen and several other present-day people, although some have passed.

(To be continued to part 2)