My dear readers,

1. "Far from the City's madding crowd"

Away from endless interruptions and demands of life in Singapore, my "Memoirs" are moving, at last! Thank God for His leading and enabling. We are about midway through our "sabbatical." Thank you for praying, and thank the Lord for answering. Here I share with readers my "Preface."

2. Why "Footprints"?

"Footprints" traces one man's sojourn of fourscore years on Planet Earth in its Odyssey through space and time. Lessons in life gathered in this experience of learning, are offered in these pages to those who would spare a thought for life's ultimate realities.

"Footprints" speaks specially to the "now generation" to get off their cybercraft and come down to earth, and grapple with the real life concerns and their eternal future. Questions such as, "Where did I come from?" "What am I doing on Planet Earth?" and "Where do I go from here?" demand an answer.

Reader, ponder these through.

"Footprints" is the story of one who has found the answers. From the day I heard God's call, it has been one steadfast following - not without its ups and downs - but the way is sure and the end certain. Countless others have successfully travelled that way before. It is a great race to life. Hear the words of one who ran it to a triumphant conclusion:

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses ... let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:1 , 2 ).

"Footprints" traces my travels from China - a babe in arms - to Nanyang, through growing-up years in Malaya, to the final settling down in Singapore, my "home penultimate." It has been a long pilgrimage, now in its last lap! Singapore, country of my adoption, is my last stop and home - for now.

"Footprints" tells of my eternal, and final, home beyond Earth and the reach of death. The same is offered to mankind's dying race, by the man Jesus who by His death destroyed "... him that had the power of death, that is, the devil" (Hebrews 2:14 ).

That this offer of life is no empty dream is substantiated by the historic event of Jesus' resurrection from the grave, having conquered death for you and me.

To the doubting reader, Jesus says,"Fear not; I am the first and the last ... and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death" (Revelation 1:17 , 18 ).

Jesus, risen from the dead, holds the key to the future, yours and mine. His offer is life, now and for evermore. That is Gospel.

For seventy years, since I received the call, it has been my one consuming passion to pass on the offer of the Gospel ("Good News") to others that the remedy for death is freely available, "on offer," to every man, woman, and child of our dying race. And death is never far away.

For why will you die? There's life for a look! Simply look in faith to God's Son and instantly receive everlasting life. This Gospel is conveyed to you by the best known verse in the Bible:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16 ).

Whosoever includes you. Believe and live! For why will you die?

Postscript

"Footprints" drew inspiration from America's beloved poet Longfellow's Psalm of Life:

"Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime;
And departing leave behind us
Footprints in the sands of time.

Footprints which perhaps another
Struggling o'er life's restless main -
A despairing shipwrecked brother
Seeing shall take heart again!"

Lovingly in the Lord
Dr SH Tow, Sr Pastor
Penang, 7 August 08