Sivin Kit’s Garden

Archive for February, 2004

~ both pictures from Spencer Burke

My heart desires to be in state of the soothing rose picture. The reality is often I’m led back into the dry cracked wilderness picture.

“The Lord with you … and also with you …”

I’ve always been slower when it comes to technology, but I’ve been thankfully quick to adapt and learn.

how I wish we could watch the movie of the year in Malaysia… I guess we’ll have to drive down to Singapore (if it releases there)

visited the new MPH at 1 Utama shopping mall last night and was impressed by the selections in the Bible reference and theology shelves! Not bad for a secular book store formerly known as Methodist Publishing House (according to reliable sources)

thoroughly enjoying what BLC members put up on their blogs, David Berry has been extremely prolific with 4 new entries today.

had a fast-moving time with two “good” men, I think it was quite a good disorganized time of listening and talking. Looking forward to see what might happen …

got a better grasp of FREEMIND and mindmapped my sermon preparation, council meeting tommorrow, and loads of other stuff, etc. The new “cloud” function is really nice and colourful, the way I like it.

wife calling … son sleeping …

Try throwing rocks at boys. I know it’s LENT, and I need some extra patience. But, this is a lighthearted game that allows me to laugh at myself when I take myself too seriously (thanks James Tan).

Jump in here *spash!*

Thanks Jason Clark who got this from Jordon Cooper.

In a discussion about some “touchy” matters between our American guests and Malaysian pastors over lunch. There’s a tendency in us to “over-rate” the value of our “conservatism” in Asia (most of us here would be considered evangelicals, pentecostal or charismatic – for lack of better terms for now … call yourself a “liberal” would be ministry suicide!) and “underestimate” the separatist-judgemental-exclusive attitude in the way we operate. Richard J. Mouw who is president of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California has something to say that’s worth listening here.

Tom Peter’s (refered to as … the father of the post-modern corporation … business’ best friend and worst nightmare) is coming to Malaysia on 3 March. For RM2995 you get to hear him on “I got (some of) it really wrong”. Would his “Off-shoring” Manifesto/Rant get closer to reality? Decide for yourself.
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From Maggi Dawn
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LENT, SHROVE TUESDAY, ASH WEDNESDAY
I’m interested to notice that a lot of people in this blogvillage don’t know what the significance of Shrove tuesday and Ash Wednesday is. When I was a child (several hundred years ago now) this stuff was taught at Sunday School (but nobody goes there any more) at Church (but we do alternative themed services now) and in school (but we’re too PC to teach relgion properly). So for all those of you who read this, don’t know, and would like to, read on:
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I was asked about Lent tonight … I don’t think my answer was very comprehensive. This one is better, click here. Thanks to Steve Gee.

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So we also retain Lent to this day, because we see it as a salutary outward discipline that gives Christians a wonderful opportunity for spiritual renewal, It’s a time to come face to face with whatever sin may be hindering our walk with Christ. But most profoundly, it’s a time where we come face to face with the Gospel of Jesus which forgives and removes that sin and gives us the power to live anew…
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I just thought about a fun conversation I had with a former pastor and now turned writer (plus “other stuff” I think). It was strange because we haven’t really seriously sat down and talked before. all our personal conversations have been on the phone and here and there through email and SMS. I’m really looking forward to spend sometime with him this week (if possible). One remark struck me then, when he commented that how he’s no longer in the mainstream and how there was a freedom to “see” things differently, and “say” different things (ok … that’s how I perceived his statement). Tonight as I write here after a long day, and some “unexpected” interactions I feel I’mean really feel I’m not in the mainstream as well … what is in the mind of some Christians I meet baffles me, what are their priorities trouble me, what is the interest of their conversations bore me, the low level of trust (a kind of automatic suspicion) hurts me, the lack of direction and clarity and focus makes me wonder in l sorts of directions … (I’m not talking about those who are stuggling .. but those who are so called “mainstream” strong ones or even leaders)

This is a beautiful picture (or icon?) from Spencer Burke, I’m going to carry it in my head and heart as I begin my Lenten journey. After reading his post, I thought why don’t I carry one picture (or icon?) with me each day.