Archive for November, 2004
I’m going to have a fun day today … just like Gareth in this picture. I’m introducing him from young to the pleasures of potato chips or “Crisps” (That’s the way I said it when I was in UK!)
when it turns December 1 tomorrow, the roller coaster ride of ministry will plunge into excitement … wedding rehearsals, speaking on Sundays (the usual), two youth camps, Christmas caroling atb MPH midvalley and Bangsar Village, visiting Rumah Hope, Emergent Malaysia Christmas tea party (on the 18th December, contact me if you are interested), our own new year and christmas party, etc. It’s ok to have more activity for a change, why not? Let’s enjoy the ride …
Will make my return back to Toastmaster’s Bangsar tonight … looking forward to reconnect with many of my friends who aren’t Christians. And of course, I need to pay up my dues! Hopefully, I can finish of another 10 speeches in 2005.
My understanding of humanity has deepened. For that I give thanks … and thus worth some celebration 
It’s been some time since I drove the little Kanchil car … and I was surprised by some noises coming out. I’ll refrain from trying too hard to make a life application here. It’s a random thoughts section.
Had a pretty good look at Baby No.2’s face through ultra sound last saturday. Awesome. Had another look at May Chin … and AWESOME too!
Nice to do a post without any links for a change ….
Got two emails yesterday and today. One from a new friend and contact who’s involved with holistic mission. Another from Gareth’s international Godmother who’s just started her Campus/college ministry. Will blog about them more another time … two people involved in two areas of that energize my passion!
I really appreciated some simple words yesterday … they somehow lifted me to a different place of serenity. Thanks to my friend in Sutton.
Thanks Jason for an amusing start for the morning from John Cleese (At times I think we take ourselves too seriously … I know politics is serious business .. I hope no one would take offense by this post *smile*)
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To the citizens of the United States of America, In the light of your failure to elect a competent President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective today. Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths and other territories. Except Utah, which she does not fancy.
Your new prime minister (The Right Honourable Tony Blair, MP for the 97.85% of you who have until now been unaware that there is a world outside your borders) will appoint a minister for America without th! e need for further elections.
Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire will be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed. To aid in the transition to a British Crown Dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:
Read the rest of this entry »
Thanks to Jason Clark for the encouragement (It’s never just about being called Rev. isn’t it?)! Here’s what he said …
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Something I posted to my doctoral cohort this week about why I value being ordained.
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Now I confess, I see things functionally. You are only a pastor as long as you are pastoring. But I’m not ready to give up ordination. Yes, a leader is leader, and no more valuable than anyone else, and I hold to the priesthood of believers.
Yes ordination isn’t in the bible.
So why do I want to keep it:
1. Pastors are valueless: in the UK there is an anti clerical move, to see pastors as parsites suckin the life and money out of church…I hear it regulary, but most pastors are not in it for the money but to servce christ.
2. When I marry people, bury them, pray with the terminally ill, they want a priest/minister, the role of a priest, and yes in theory anyone can do it, but why do they want me as an ordained priest/minster…there is something about the office of priesthood.
3. Right of passage: we have so few of these, and I look back to my ordination with fondness and it sustains me when I want to quit and go make a shed load of money without all the crap of church.
4. Calling: having people remind me like marriage that I made a committment to something for the rest of my life as best as I can…I am a pastor…
So I’m not arguing for the elite of ordination, I’m arguing that for some it is of value and for me life giving, and I don’t see it as making me any better than anyone else.
Jase
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Thanks to Christian Scharen for the link to what Advent is all about.
The past four years since I serving in Bangsar Lutheran Church and embarking on this what I call a “John 20:21 journey”. The Christian Calendar (or church year) has helped me “redeem” time and invite me to me “in Christ” even in time as I prepare during Advent, celebrate Christmas, start the year with Epiphany, move into introspection during Lent, walk to the cross with Christ during Holy week, and get surprised on Easter and then experience the resurrected Christ during Pentecost while being empowered by the Spirit! As the year ends, I’m already checking out the dates for 2005 the secular calendar (or to be more precise the Gregorian Calendar). We just celebrated Deepavali and Hari Raya that reminds me of the Hindu/Indian Calendar and Muslim calendar. Soon, the Chinese New Year celebration will plunge me into a new Chinese Lunar Year. All these different ways of “seeing” time keeps my feet on the ground in the world I live in. The Christian Calendar keeps me walking with Christ in this world.
Thanks Unedited Ravings for this one … I’m really into wise missionary insights right now!
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“I do not trust spectacular things. Give me the seed growing secretly every time.”
Roland Allen- English missionary to China [1933]
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I just realized It was Thanksgiving day for USA yesterday. Inspired by Tom Reindl’s list of 50. I’ll try 5 for this last week.
1. Had a wonderful time munching Pringles (the more authentic version we got at Jaya Supermarket) with May Chin on Monday night.
2. Gareth recovered from a scary episode of coughing, vomiting and nose/throat infection on Sunday & Monday. He’s happily pushing chairs again now!
3. I got a needed good sleep last night and I doubt I’ll be falling sick 
4. It was simply wonderful to just listen and pray for someone really in need this week. The chance to show & share God’s good news to dispell “burdensome” & “imprisoning” advice given by well-meaning but misguided individuals was liberating.
5. A two in one here – first, it’s great to get Two 2005 planners from STM (I can begin to look forward the next year while closing the chapters for 2004) and second, the music I’m listening to right now is bringing much wholeness and healing.
There’s something about one’s voice that communicates not only wisdom (which we can even read in books) but a kind of passion that is harder for a reader to get from the written format. So, when I got hold of the two tapes from Holy Trinity Brompton where Bishop Newbigin gave two lectures on “Bible Overview” in 1997, I immediately paid attention to his insights as I drove to pick up May Chin.
I was captured not only by his wisdom and simplicity in presentation but also the strength of his voice and the clarity of his thought (especially at his age! I’m deeply challenged here!) . And surely, the passion the surrounds each word and movement of paragraphs engaged even as I was stuck in the routine KL traffic jam.
There’s a whole lot of documents worth checking out a wonderful online collection that goes way back to 1937 at Newbigin.Net
The TransMission, Special Edition is worth downloading.
I got three of the results for my entrance exam for the Mtheol programme and at this point the only “A” I got is Missiology. I think reading Newbigin and the inspiration from him has something to do with that! *grin*
This young man searched the net for a puppy and he found one in the little fella he’s holding up here. He was so kind to let me know how this one is doing and I’m glad this puppy is in good hands. There are three more puppies left in need of new masters. They are growing fast.
It was good to meet up with an “old” Methodist friend from seminary today (more of a junior actually) and it’s just encouraging to hear of the positive response for the camp which I’ve been invited to be the speaker in. It’s always great to listen to the process and the passion that has led him and his team to this point. So, now it’s “hearing” from God what’s the message specifically to “encourage” more than 100 youth from the age range of 14-19.
I was encouraged again today … and grateful that my feeble meditations and words could be a source of encouragement to 2 people today. It was great for them to share their thoughts with me. So often, I wonder what happens in the minds of those who listen to my weekly messages.
I’m happy to finally finish Christianity Rediscovered yesterday. There’s a whole lot that needs to settle down for me to digest and reflect for my present context. Overall, reading a book that describes a totally different context strangely opens up a broader perspective for me this round. I’m looking forward to read the sequel.
I’m also re-reading Go Make “Learners” and revisiting some of the ideas and mainly Robert Brow’s attempt to re-look at “church” using “model” theology , this round working through the study questions really surfaced fresh and deeper insights even for my own pilgrimage.
One thing was good when I spend some time to look at the major learning steps I had in matters of faith, discipleship and ministry this morning. Having a “pause” helped make some space to listen and maybe even try to look into the future.
Thanks Johnny Baker for the hard work, and I’m delighted by the second series that’s already on the move!
Thanks to Tony Jones for the link and Adam Cleave a chance to peek into and eavesdrop what’s happening on the other side of the ocean at Central Jersey, here