Sivin Kit’s Garden

Archive for January, 2005

The 25 most influential Evangelicals in America
A round of applause for Brian McLaren who’s at No. 17 (nice red shirt too!). I think most people will find one of their favorites there. How about the 25 most influential Evangelicals in Malaysia? Anyone from Malaysia want to start that ball rolling …. I’ll mention (with no numbers) –> Rev. Dr. Hwa Yung (who’s now Bishop of the Methodist church in Malaysia)for a starters … a bunch of us who are now serving as pastors graduated under the seminary he was principal and sat through his Christian Theology and Asian Theology classes. Anyone want to add on your choice?

Preaching To Create Spiritually Inclusive Worship
I was first introduced to Tim Keller through DJ Chuang’s website. This should be an interesting read … after D.A. Carson’s running critique of “emergent” in one of his talks he ended by mentioning Tim Keller as a good “reformed”-”evangelical” example of reaching a postmodern context. It’s coming to Chinese New Year soon, if it’s good food I’ll eat it. Tim Keller has some good dishes I’ve tasted
(both links above via DJ Chuang)

Forging A Good Critique
My critics should read this. And so do I.

Tsunami Aid Day
a good collection of pictures of that day and a reminder of a song that kept me going when I was in “fear and trembling” figuring out how to plant a church.

Quick survey of the blogosphere
I giggled when I read who he thought was Malaysia’s no.1 blogging-pastor.

A series on “The Hermeneutic of the Gospel” Part. 1, Part 2, Part 3 & Final Part
Quality stuff coming from Prodigal Kiwi Blog – which I waited for the final part before posting the links. Quality stuff coming out from New Zealand here.

I met this young lad years ago (I think) at a National Youth Convention. His late father spend some time with me discussing matters of ranging from cell churches, metachurches, small groups to more personal aspects of ministry. The last conversation I had with his father ended with an invitation by him for a cup of tea before the accident that took his life. I’m not sure whether this slightly personal connection made me want to read his response to the question “Was God in the Tsunami?” even more. I was really interested with what’s going on in his head and heart here. It’s also refreshing to listen to a younger thoughtful Malaysian who’s studying at a seminary in the USA wrestle with this with words.

I’ll just let his piece – “I Don’t Know”–Faith, Hope and Love in the Wake of the Tsunami speak for itself.
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Thanks to my young friend Wai Nyan for entrusting me with the task of “facilitating the session”. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the five groups attempting to think through what’s going on in their own heads and hearts plus trying to articulate some coherent response. Of course, right from the beginning I wasn’t interested in doing a mere “intellectual exercise” in theodicy. I felt it was important to start where everyone was, provide a variety of understandings/approaches on how Christians have tried to “see” God, humanity and the world in the midst of tragedy, suffering and evil, somehow in the midst of searching for some kind of answer, I believed what is more important is for us as Christians to respond in action. I just couldn’t help but come back to Christ – his life, death and resurrection and how to be God answer is intimately connected to God’s action in and through Jesus Christ. And I strongly believe in the midst of the human cry for answers, I hear God’s call for action.

All in all, I’m happy to hear from the mouth of the Christian Fellowship president the meeting was Alright.
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Dialogue with Brian McLaren
My wife tells me that sometimes people misunderstand me when I try to explain something. Or at least they catch part of it or miss another part. I don’t deny that to be true. I realized that the way I think is very “weblike”, “lateral”, and I use “Mind maps” (so you can imagine *grin*). Anyway, usually my reply to her is I work best when people ask me questions and have follow up ones to clarify. I need to work on my patience bit and learn to slow down. Hopefully that will come with age as well as my daily practice with Gareth to walk slowly. Anyway, I enjoy reading these mini-dialogues between Brian and those who pose questions. Through his answers, it does clarify a little what he’s trying to convey. The questions actually help us locate where we are at too. Enjoy!

Tsunamis, tragedy, and God: Where is our Father when his children hurt? (via Joe Vestal)
Just in time for tomorrow’s interactive session with a bunce of future lawyers! I noticed less press coverage in the Malaysian papers on post-tsunami conditions. Hmm…

How Honorable! How Shameful! A Cultural Analysis of Matthew’s Makarisms and Reproaches
I know I’m supposed to do a shorter message this Sunday. It’s tempting to do a “discount” when it comes to preparation. But that’s not my style so this weighty paper is going to be fun …

Change, Conflict, and Missional Leadership
I see myself as one who enjoys the role as a Catalyst – agent of change. But Conflicts really drain a lot of emotional energy and enduring them is a pain. The quality of writing in Odyssey (Thanks to Chris & Alan wonderful partnership) is just phew! simply Fantastic … Lord, can I have more than 24 hours a day and extra energy for this.

Actually Listening to William Stringfellow as I Type This
aPoReTiC mentioned Stringfellow to me and I found this one and only book in one of the book shops. I love reading but listening does make a difference. It’s the tone, the rhythm, the passion of voice. Paul Fromont also has been writing very quality stuff. I looking forward to him posting the final installment for the Hermeneutic of the Gospel and then read all the posts in one sitting.

I wonder whether people have the impression that I’m more theory than practice because I mention much reading and reflecting in this blog Deep down actually I’m a practioner.

Lord, do something about your Church.
It is so awful, it is hard not to feel ashamed of belonging to it.
Most of the time it seems to be all the things you condemned:
hierarchical, conventional, judgmental, hypocritical,
respectable, comfortable, moralising, compromising,
clinging to its privileges and worldly securities,
and when not positively objectionable, merely absurd.

Help us to be what you called us to be.
Help us to embody you on earth.
Help us to make you real down here,
and to feed your people bread instead of stones.
And start with me.
~ authored by the Very Rev’d Dr. Jeffrey John
(via Dylan’s lectionary blog)

Brian’s Annotation to “The Emergent Mystique” – CT article
I’m still trying to find some time to do my own version by picking out some lines to dialogue with.

Reinventing the Church: An Interview With Brian McLaren (via Fred Peatross)
I was first introduced to this fellow traveller through the book “Reinventing the Church”. In fact, a friend bought it especially from the USA and sent it to me. Nice to read some of Brian’s older stuff.

My Pilgrimage in Theology
Two words I’ve grown to love .. Pilgrimage and Theology … of course, the behind the scenes autobiograhical bit of NT Wright is also attractive.

The Other Journal: An Intersection of Theology and Culture (via emergent-us blog)
A very interesting looking online journal, the content looks juicy too.

Planet Emergent
Emergent related blog reading on steriods

ldiot (Jonny)’s guide to starting a blog (via Maggi Dawn)
I’m glad my young philosopher friend is blogging. I miss two other friends blogs who vanished into thin air. I hope my private school teacher friend and Banker friend will get started again. They do have precious thoughts .. I know the world might want to hear them … at least I do.

I first heard of Godly Play by a veteran children’s worker and somehow was drawn to the phrase and the theology & methodology that comes with it. The UK Godly Play site has some good starter information and a cute lamb as well. I just finished the second meeting with those involved in our “ministry to children”. We’re stumbled and fumbled along the way the past few years.

Looks like I’ll plunge in myself to get things started once again. Lord, help me and please add extra strength and bring reinforcements!

The next step is to see how this Christian nurture emphasis can work out in families. One step at a time … baby steps even for a 32 year old like me who enjoys hanging out with children and tried teaching Gareth to walk slowly yesterday with some success.

I was delighted to pick up more than one new insight as I worked through parts of the book (e.g. the function of silence and the need for economy of words, and the need to pay attention to the sound and rhythm of my words). Insights that aren’t just for children but for all. I feel very humbled as I “wonder” through its pages and force myself to think in concrete terms. Good practice after so much of theological reading nowadays.

Missiological Implications of Dr. David Yonggi Cho’s Theology
I’m not too sure how influential is Dr. Cho’s teaching nowadays in Malaysia (apart from being respected as the pastor of the largest church and a man of prayer) but this is a very sympathetic paper.

Endued with Power: The Pentecostal-Charismatic Renewal and the Asian Church in the Twenty-first Century
I suppose Rev. Dr. Hwa Yung (now Bishop! Hmm… my former theology teacher and occassional sage resource *grin*))is addressing a real area that lacks airplay in most Asian Theologies.

Consciousness & Change: Don’t tell me, show me.
Ahh …. needed nutrition for my activist side …

New Way of Being Church in Asia
Saw the book version at the Roman Catholic bookstore last week … didn’t know the author was a Malaysian.

Contextual Theology : A Reading Guide
Nice Bibliography …

The Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC)
Now, I must admit the Asian Roman Catholic Bishops are working hard and with much focus … we cannot ignore them.

Asian Journal of Pentecostal Studies
The Asian Pentecostals are labouring hard too … I wonder how the grassroot pentecostals and their pastors view this endeavour.

Thanks to aPoReTiC who’s had the chance of meeting Wendell Berry in person (cool! He’s also met Brian McLaren and had supper with him ) I agree with him after reading this that Berry is indeed a prophetic voice (in the widest sense of the word) for the USA and beyond. where are the Malaysian prophetic voices? hello?

MANIFESTO : The Mad Farmer Liberation Front

Love the quick profit, the annual raise,
vacation with pay. Want more
of everything ready-made. Be afraid
to know your neighbors and to die.
And you will have a window in your head.
Not even your future will be a mystery
any more. Your mind will be punched in a card
and shut away in a little drawer.
When they want you to buy something
they will call you. When they want you
to die for profit they will let you know.

So, friends, every day do something
that won’t compute. Love the Lord.
Love the world. Work for nothing.
Take all that you have and be poor.
Love someone who does not deserve it.
Denounce the government and embrace
the flag. Hope to live in that free
republic for which it stands.
Give your approval to all you cannot
understand. Praise ignorance, for what man
has not encountered he has not destroyed.

Ask the questions that have no answers.
Invest in the millenium. Plant sequoias.
Say that your main crop is the forest
that you did not plant,
that you will not live to harvest.
Say that the leaves are harvested
when they have rotted into the mold.
Call that profit. Prophesy such returns.

Put your faith in the two inches of humus
that will build under the trees
every thousand years.
Listen to carrion – put your ear
close, and hear the faint chattering
of the songs that are to come.
Expect the end of the world. Laugh.
Laughter is immeasurable. Be joyful
though you have considered all the facts.
So long as women do not go cheap
for power, please women more than men.
Ask yourself: Will this satisfy
a woman satisfied to bear a child?
Will this disturb the sleep
of a woman near to giving birth?

Go with your love to the fields.
Lie down in the shade. Rest your head
in her lap. Swear allegiance
to what is nighest your thoughts.
As soon as the generals and the politicos
can predict the motions of your mind,
lose it. Leave it as a sign
to mark the false trail, the way
you didn’t go. Be like the fox
who makes more tracks than necessary,
some in the wrong direction.
Practice resurrection.

Manifesto: The Mad Farmer Liberation Front” from The Country of Marriage, copyright © 1973 by Wendell Berry, reprinted by permission of Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc.

It’s just a reality, it’s hard for me to have a Sunday siesta properly.

I read “Robbery, the Rich, and the Children Are Watching” and was challenged to see how all our desire to bring Gareth and No.2 up in the Christian faith can work out in practice. The emphasis on the word practice.

Even though there’s a kind of “casual” & “comfortable” atmosphere in our Sunday Worship (and we value and appreciate that accept people as they are approach since we started the church), but then there are times I think we’ve lost that sense of awe and respect (which we find in more liturgical settings). I think we’ve stepped over the line when we treat our common time of worship as just another time like we’re hanging out in a coffee shop or playing with the kids at home (there’s a place for that). Maybe I’m aging or this is simply culturally unacceptable for me. What happened to the word “reverence”? — Maybe it was highlighted even more because our 1st time Japanese guest for 2005 came with a suite and tie. sometimes, I feel we treat our time with our bosses with more respect then when we spend it in corporate worship with the Almighty. Why can’t I get this load off me that something is wrong with us when that happens?
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