Suffering For Christ

As I was reading the life story of Hudson Taylor, I can't help but be overwhelmed by the zeal & passion he had for the salvation of the Chinese people in the 19th century. A man who was contemporary & close friends with other mighty men of God such as George Muller & Charles Spurgeon - yet he was always humble & having his eyes focused on Jesus & Jesus alone.

Today, it is almost impossible for us (well, at least most of us who live such comfortable lives) to fully comprehend the kind of hardship, sacrifices & risks these early missionaries had to go through. Only by the grace of God.

In Mr Taylor's own words for those volunteers:

"Mere romantic feeling will soon die out amid the toilsome labour and constant discomforts and trials of inland work, and will not be worth much when severe illness arises and perhaps all the money is gone. Faith in God alone gives joy and rest in such circumstances."

What happened in Orissa India recently is a reminder of the suffering and persecution missionaries are still facing on a daily basis today. We might think our current state of civilization is faaaaar more advanced than those in the 18th or 19th century - it is ONLY an illusion. Pray we have not forgotten those missionaries whose head were cut off, or were tortured & shot point blank just because they won't deny their faith in Jesus Christ.

These martyrs died for love. Another died for hate.

These martyrs died for the hope that they will be numbered among those "Good & Faithful Servants". Another died for...virgins & rivers of alcohol. Go figure.

Some More Pix on Vintage Cambridge & Allan 5

Just a few more pix on the Vintage Cambridge & Allan 5.



If not because of the Full-Yapp, Allan 5 is actually similar in size as compared to the Vintage Cameo. Personally I love the Full-Yapp - it isn't just nice esthetically but also practical. I mean anything that helps to protect the art-gilt from scratches is definitely good!


One last one to give you an idea of the different sizes. And like Mr. Bertrand, I am getting to like "smaller" (not thinline) Bibles more & more. And what better options than these that don't compromise on quality binding, or font size, or not just having a regular concordance at the back but also a Bible Dictionary!

Now if ONLY Chinese Bibles are available with such options. Hmmm...

Smythson Bible in Black

Last December before Christmas Smythson ran a 50% discount on their Black pigskin Bible...and my heart skipped a beat when I first saw it...my mouth went dry...it was selling at a price only slightly more (or less!) than a goatskin Pitt Minion.



After waiting for ages, it finally arrived. As expected, it is gorgeous - in a low profile way. This Bible will be easy to blend into any environment without attracting too much attention to itself.



Since the Black version is using the same text block as the Brown Mara Croc-print Calfskin, their dimensions are basically identical...except the Black Pigskin is somehow thinner. Not so obvious from these pix but it is thinner in real life.


The black pigskin binding is beautiful.


As perfect as the Bible is, there is a minor "flaw" I noticed - the headband is skewed. Perhaps that explains the huge discount. Hmmmm.


So which will you choose? The Black Pigskin or the Brown Mara Croc-print Calfskin?


Let me put it this way...IF you are the Indy type who delights in collecting unique stuff then go for this exotic gem - Brown Mara Croc-print Calfskin.


However, should you be the Bond type - cool, dignified, clean, unassuming - go for the classic Black ;)

Praise the LORD for these quality Bibles.

Cambridge Concord KJV Black Goatskin

I guess for any KJV enthusiast Cambridge Concord is a MUST have.

This is a beautiful Bible. It comes with all the quality/luxury "features" - 2 ribbons, goatskin binding, art-gilt edge, gilt line...etc.

Nice as it might be, however, I must "caution" that this Cambridge goatskin binding isn't as "fine" as the highland goatskin from RL Allan. Though it is still gorgeous - beautiful grain pattern, limp, supple - but the FEEL/TOUCH is just somehow less luxurious.

And perhaps the biggest "disappointment" - it is totally void of SMELL! A BIG minus especially for those who have the the pleasure to sniff that first whiff of highland goatskin fresh out of the box...intoxicating... :)

But for some, the inclusion of the "Translators to the Readers" perhaps is the SUPREMO reason why they would choose this Cambridge over any other...at least thats what I read in blogsphere :P



In terms of size, it is quite a step up from the now out-of-print Cameo. Meaning, it is significantly larger than RL Allan's Clarendon or Blackface too. But it isn't so large or wide until you need both hands to handle it. Personally I do find it a tad wider than optimal (may be my hands aren't exactly large either.)


* Cameo has less "ghosting"! But the Concord is WAAAY better than many others considering how thin the paper is.

One key reason for buying a Concord will definitely be the spacious layout. The typeface are not just bigger, the prints are also more "spaced-out" - thus rendering a much more comfortable reading experience.

Because of the "bold-figure cross-reference system", the texts are not constantly punctuated/interrupted by small cross-reference subscripts thus making the text block totally "clean & clear". But again personally I myself prefer the "old" system as used by Cameo or RL Allan's Oxfords'.

Like the old Cameo, the Concord comes with Bible Dictionary at the back in addition to the normal concordance, which I think is definitely a big plus!



Like the smaller Pitt Minion & the best of RL Allans', Cambridge Concord is superlative in its "open flat/stay flat" category.

If you need a nice KJV Bible with sufficiently big typeface & quality binding - at home or in the church - this Cambridge Concord is an excellent choice. Few come close.



Lastly, I wish all my Chinese friends & relatives a most prosperous & joyous - Happy "Niu" Year!!!

Happy Chinese New Year!

Wishing all my relatives & friends around the globe - 恭 喜 发 财，新 年 进 步!

Me & Obama

Somehow I woke up at 1:20am this morning - praise the LORD - to witness this moment in history on TV (in the warmth of my home)...to catch the last few minutes of the inaugural speech with these ending words:

"Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."

America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested, we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back, nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

May the God of George Washington, the God of the Bible, the God of Israel, the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob - be the God of President Barack Obama.

There is NO OTHER matter more important than that.

Romancing Childhood Days...

Just a brief thought of my Primary School days brought back a FLOOD of my childhood memories... I am so blessed to have a SWEET childhood filled with so many wonderful things, loving family, awesome friends & the coolest grandma...

O how I missed my grandma (funny I don't miss my dad & mom so much).

And what better golden classic than these below to get a glimpse into my childhood days! Enjoy!

Romancing the Book

Imagine when this vintage Cambridge Bible was made in the '70s...I was still in my Primary School located 6,500 miles away...and yet one day in the distant future, by the providence of God, we are together.


And the journey it took for this Bible to get from the bindery in England...crossing the Atlantic Ocean...crossing the great land of the US of A...sitting idly & patiently waiting to be bought on a shelf...


...and 30 plus years later, as predestined, it would once more take another great journey... crossing the great expanse of the Pacific Ocean...to the island of Borneo...

An epic journey 30 plus years in the making :)


Who would have thought? Only by His grace. Praise the LORD for His provision.

So despite the age, it shall be used just as it was designed to be... And to echo the sermon I heard this morning, my heart was jumping with joy with the message - Living for Christ. We, a creation of God Almighty, are meant to glorify Him in all that we do. No matter how old you are, no matter how small you are, no matter who you are, where you have been & what you have done - when our Lord Jesus calls you... REJOICE!

The greatest blessing & privilege in this life is to know Jesus & to be used by Him.

RL Allan 5

Last year I got my wife an Allan 5 - a mini version of Allan's Longprimer. And like the Longprimer, Allan 5 is simply superb. The moment you pick it up from the box you just KNOW this Bible is DIFFERENT from "other" Bibles.


Allan 5 is basically an Oxford Brevier Clarendon with the gorgeous Highland Goatskin binding. The "Cyclopedic Concordance" stamping on the spine is misleading because this version only comes with the normal concordance, subject-index & dictionary of proper names at the back - which, by the way, is waaaay more than what "other" Bibles offer :)



One feature my wife appreciates much over my Allan Longprimer is its Full-Yapp feature. And as you can see from the above pictures, Allan 5 has that Full-Yapp treatment too - the overlapping of the leather covers all round the Bible.


Another important Allan hallmark which the Allan 5 fully inherits is the "Open Flat/Remain Flat" feature. Very few Bibles can do that right out of the box. And with one like the size of Allan 5 it makes handling/reading the Bible so much more easier...and pleasurable.



Last but not least, the superb Highland Goatskin is simply without comparison. It is stunningly beautiful, it is liquid-limp, it will protect the Bible for decades to come....and....it even smells good! ;)

Vintage Cambridge Cameo KJV

Last December I bought my first vintage Bible.


It was a vintage 1970s Cambridge Cameo KJV Burgundy Water Buffalo Calfskin. But it is actually more Red than Burgundy - which is exactly what I have hoped!



Again, I have Mr. Mark Bertrand to thank (blame) for this vintage Bible. Ever since I started reading his blog I have learned much not just in general book binding knowledge but also much in the appreciation (curiosity) for old Bibles...


And it seems people are especially "crazy" over vintage Cambridge Bibles... So I decided to find out "why"...


In a way, I think I know part of this "why" now... which will be a topic to be discussed in another day when my OTHER vintage Cambridge Cameo KJV Apple Red arrives :)

And lastly, thanks to my buddy Colin for helping me to courier this over.

Update @ Feb 09:
- Link to more pix on the Cameo Burgundy.
- Link to preview of Cameo Apple Red!

Game & Watch

I CANNOT believe these are still available!!! Man, those were the days!




I remember dad used to buy for all the siblings... These used to be THE ULTIMATE COOLEST BADEST ALARM CLOCK! ;)

And it is amazing these are still available for sell...thru eBay (where else?!)... with prices ranging from USD20 to USD300! Gulp!!! Man, if ONLY dad listened to me in buying MORE of these...

Wait a second, I JUST remember I brought one of these to New York City in the early '80s... so uncle Pete - in reading, could u PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE see if u could still find it????

AOIC, Class of 2008

Congratulation to Pastor Cheng, Tommy & Frank!


On behalf of the Care Group - CONGRATULATION, FRANK!!!

My prayers & blessing are best expressed in this song: