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My Read of the Month:

Title: Losing My Virginity – the Autobiography – Updated Edition
Author: Richard Branson
Published: 2007
Genre: Business leadership/Entrepreneurship
Ratings: 4.6 out of 5 stars

Richard Branson isn’t on my personal list of top CEO or leaders, but  there’s no denying that’s he has my admiration for building one of the most successful brands in the world- Virgin.

Albeit the brand has not being as prominent as it was years ago, but it remains  one of the most recognisable brands and company that started from scratch by the flamboyant and enterprising Mr Branson. And this is what mostly this book is about- a rags to riches story.

The book starts off during his growing up years as a young boy and his adversities especially with his learning disability of dyslexia. His early life provides glimpses of the environment and upbringing he had which were critical elements that made him who he was and is today in his entrepreneurial pursuit.

Interestingly, his first business started in a modest basement in London when he dropped out of school at the age of 16 to start a youth-culture magazine called Student. Then, his headmaster parting words to him were: “You will either go to prison or become a millionaire.”

And of cos, we now know which Branson has become, but not before getting himself close to imprisonment for tax evasion charges.

Growing up in 1969 and surrounded by the music and drug scene, it was commendable how Branson was always on the look out for business opportunities and not just following the crowd.

During that time, he had the idea to begin a mail-order record company  when demand for music was popular in order to help fund his magazine efforts. And that was the birth of the Virgin.

With that mail-order company sprung from one business to another which followed with record stores, then to a record studio and eventually a music record label. Subsequently, other Virgin companies also emerged such as his own airline and publisher which owns the copyrights of this book.

What I found useful were his honest sharing of his ups and downs as a business man and also his personal life with his family and marriage. These were invaluable insights that provided caution of the sort of challenges that every entrepreneur would encounter.

Branson is also well-known for his adventurous and wild PR stunts which earned him the title, “King of the Publicity Stunts”. Some of his ground-breaking or memorable antics were his attempts to circumnavigate the globe by balloon and donning a wedding dress after shaving his beard to promote his bridal wear store Virgin Brides.

Many have criticised him for his insatiable appetite for publicity for some of his outrageous stunts, but I believe his main motive is driven more by his appetite to push the boundaries and limits. The stunts are a mere reflection of his drive and entrepreneurial streak that has made Virgin the company it is today.

Today, Virgin Group holds more than 200 companies in over 30 countries including the United Kingdom, the U.S., Australia, Canada, Asia, Europe and South Africa. And for his contribution to entrepreneurship, Branson was knighted in 1999, and in 2009 he landed at No. 261 on Forbes’ World Billionaires list with his $2.5 billion in self-made fortune, which includes two private islands.

He is married to his second wife, Joan Templeman, with whom he has two children: Holly and Sam. And currently lives in London.

Who should read it: Aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders who need inspiration and a rejuvenated mind.

Why Vietnam?

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It may be a surprise to many, but my decision to live and work in Vietnam was not a recent one.

In fact, my plans to relocate to this country started as earlier as 2005. That was when I first visited Ho Chi Minh City.

It was during that visit that I fell in love with the people, culture and food.

Apart from that, it was apparent that there were plenty to do in socially transforming this country. Equally ample were the opportunities for economic growth that were just waiting to be uncovered.

Therefore, ever since my first visit in 2005, I had continued to visit Ho Chi Minh City almost every year for short-term community  projects. And every trip intensified my love and burden for this country.

However, relocating to Vietnam had always being about His timing and the right opportunity. And when that timing and right opportunity came together unexpectedly in June this year, it was not that difficult to accept the offer and take the leap of faith.

Now that I am finally in Vietnam, I’m convinced that it is He who brought me here. But for what specific reasons? I’m still finding out with each passing day.

Though I may not be super-rich, well-connected or multi-talented, but I do know that I’m blessed. And it is simply my desire to be a blessing in this land where I believe I can make some difference with Him and through Him.

My God is with me

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It has been two weeks since I have arrived in Ho Chi Minh City.

And I’ve settled in quickly and nicely.

Much of this smooth assimilation has been the people whom I had been  led  and connected to.

Some of them I knew before I’d arrived and some, after my arrival.

Even before I’d arrived, God assured me with these words from Acts:

“For I am with you (Paul), and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.”

Therefore, in spite of the hasty manner in which I had to relocate for my new job, I was at ease and at peace through out.

Interestingly, I believe it was not a coincidence that I  had arrived before Singapore’s national day.

Through a divine connection, I was invited to the national day reception organised by the Consulate General office in Ho Chi Minh City.

At this annual reception, I had the opportunity to meet the Singapore community who was residing in Vietnam in one swoop. And there’s no doubt that the introduction of these new friends has put me in good stead with a network to build on.

More importantly, I’ve also connected to a community of fellow Christians in this city.

God is good. I’m thankful for His favour and goodness; surrounding me with His people to remind me that I’m not alone and He is with me.

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My Doodling:

I can’t believe that in a couple of hours I’ll be leaving for Ho Chi Minh City to begin a long-awaited chapter of my faith journey with God. I’m excited and thankful! Indeed, when you take care of God’s business, He will take care of yours (c.f. Matthew 6:33)

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My Read of the Month:

Title: The Church in the Workplace: How God’s People Can Transform Society
Author: C. Peter Wagner
Published: 2006
Genre: Church leadership/ Discipleship
Ratings: 3.7 out of 5 stars

There’s no denying that there is a nationwide sweeping movement of the Holy Spirit raising up His people in the marketplace in advancing His kingdom in this 21st century.

In Singapore, it seems most of us in the Body are just beginning to acknowledge and understand what God is doing through this movement.

Because for the longest time, believers were mostly taught and encouraged to rise up in their churches and in the process gave lower priority to secular work over church work. This has eroded God’s influence in the marketplace.

In this book, Peter does an excellent job in addressing this self-imploding crisis. He presents the two forms of churches- the nuclear church and the extended church and their different characteristics with their rule books. This truly helps to understand both camps and how to marry the two forms in forging a formidable force in bring heaven on earth.

What I found particular insightful was Peter highlighting the lack of spiritual governance in the marketplace from Mondays to Saturdays or the 9 to 5 window. And unlike the marketplace or extended church, the (nuclear) church has established its spiritual governance. This can be observed by how people would ‘naturally’ behave to a set of ‘Christian’ conducts or culture in the church.

Therefore, it is for this reason that God is raising up marketplace apostles and pastors to lead and govern His sheep in the marketplace towards discipling a nation. But for this to truly take place, we need to understand that Christian ministry is not confined to the nuclear church. And our secular work is equally sacred and significant.

The only fault that a reader may find with Peter might be his take on the current state of the nuclear church which might come across as a tat harsh. However though his views on nuclear churches (in general) may be negative, but I find that he isn’t far off from his analysis.

So depending on how you look at it or receive it, this book is an awesome reference book for church growth. And for Christians in Singapore, we can be encouraged that he mentions Faith Community Baptist Church (FCBC) and City Harvest Church (CHC) as role model churches that have moved the Church into the marketplace.

Who should read it: All Christians, especially pastors and ministry leaders.

Riding on His wave

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Honestly, I do not know where to begin with this simply because I’m still in a state of awe with what has been unfolding before me.

But I’ll start by saying that this new job that will see me (and my wife) relocate in Vietnam is a miracle.

As I reflect how this was even possible in the first place, there’s no denying that it is all His doing.

There are just too many divine connections, circumstances and decisions made that worked seamlessly over the years to make this happened.

Aside from this being my dream job in terms of the role, industry and overseas market, this was also the country that I was targeting to work and live one day with my family.

In fact, my plan was to arrive in Vietnam by 2018. But I guess God had other plans for me on His time-table.

No doubt that this is a testimony attesting of God’s accelerated growth towards spreading His transformational love in Asia. And I’m riding on that wave.

Though I may not know exactly what this wave will take me through, but by faith I know it will take me to places where I will be able to see more of His glory in its fullness.

And that is all that matters to me; to be closer to Him and to be in the centre of His will in fulfilling His purpose.

Faith activates a response from God

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Most of us would have read or heard about the miracle healing of the woman who was bleeding for 12 years from the gospel.

For those unfamiliar, this story is about a sick woman who believed that she would receive her healing by merely touching the cloak of Jesus (c.f. Mark 5:25-34).

She did just that when Jesus passed by her and true enough, her bleeding immediately stopped.

Faith touches God

What is interesting about this miracle was the response of Jesus. He turned around in the crowd and asked,“Who touched my clothes?”

It is interesting because there were many others around Jesus who were touching him. Even his question caused his disciples to be puzzled.

But strangely enough, no one else but that sick woman received her miracle. And we can safely surmise that there were others possibly needing a miracle of some kind.

So why did Jesus responded only to her touch? And what made her so special? FAITH. It was her faith.

Have faith in God 

Similarly, many of us may pray to God just as many in the crowd were touching Jesus. But are our prayers made with faith or out of a religious habit?

Therefore, when it comes to answering prayers, it is not our needs that activates a response from God. It is our faith.

And in particularly, God responds in a real and powerful way to those who have the faith to believe in Him and expect results.

So today, are you in need of a miracle? Or is there a prayer that has not been answered for a long time?

Remember it is our faith that will get God’s attention amongst the crowd and activate a response from Him. So have faith and believe for your miracle.