Archive for July, 2005
How to learn from your mistakes
I’ve made so many of the them but I’d like to think I learn from them 
Most of the time I do, at times I lapse.
Kingdom of God article from Scot McKnight (pdf)
Thanks Scot for writing the posts and Bob for compiling it and making it available! REALLY good stuff. Ifind myself deepening in understanding “the Kingdom of God” and connecting with its reality and implications!
The Durham Tradition and its Exegetes– an Encomium
I meet a Malaysia NT scholar who did his PhD in Durham .. I found him very insightful .. I’d had some interesting conversations with a Hong Kong NT scholar also from Durham …. also good interaction. Maybe it’s just their character, but then again maybe Durham contributed a little too huh?
How to be Good (at Preaching)
good reading before preaching tomorrow!
strategic planning is stupid
I’ll need some time to digest marko’s thoughts here and perhaps interact. If I say this our loud in some denominational meeting the next coupld of weeks, or ven the upcoming denomination convention, or just in front of some fellow pastors… it would raise more than a few eye brows!
Mission First?
This reminder of Cosby’s statement … “That in all his years of service he has never (and he emphasized ‘never’) seen a group go from community to mission. Rather, he said one should organize around mission and community will follow. “ is still haunting me.
Post-Calvinism: Trinity Student Days
I don’t think I was ever a Calvinist .. so no post-calvinism for me. But, re-looking at Luther has been helpful for me, and Early German Pietism and Bonhoeffer. anyway, I liked the autobiographical approach in this post and look forward to finish the series. *note: it’s good to start here Post-Calvinism: College reading*
On the Drawing Board: Definition of Pastoring
“Pastoring offers and shapes an alternative reality in Jesus the Christ so that others reconnect with God as his new people for the sake of all creation.”
I’m enjoying John Frye’s blog as much as his book Jesus the Pastor I read years ago
Dear Jesus: A Heart-felt Letter of a Friend
This is one letter those who are not pastors who think they’ve been burnt by the church must read. I’m a pastor and I can also relate to a lot of what this letter says (I still recall the so many times I reconsidered this role and calling) … I didn’t walk out the door (and I don’t judge those who choose to make a change in vocation, I seek to wallk with them anyway).. so together Fr’nklin with I’m following Christ afresh! That to me is more important.
How do we measure?
This is so timely after hearing people choose to measure me based on numbers! for me the Mission field is where we are already situated as well as the traditional idea of overseas.
slow learner
good ideas to out legs on our values!
It’s been quite a while since I’ve posted any random thoughts.
I just found out in Japanese my surname is “Kaku” (originally it’s Kit or “Guo” in Mandarin) and “Kaku” actually means “stiff” in Malay .. so you guess Mr. “stiff”? Kasu san …
Nice to know that a church once hearing my name as a possible candidate to replace a pastor that resigned didn’t pursue it further .. apparently (now this is hearsay) one of their leaders felt that the church I’m pastoring now … hasn’t grown fast enough in numbers … hmmm … I’m secure …
So this whole “I’m not a pastor of a fast growing church” made me think what do people REALLY consider as success – how do people perceive what’s the issues that matter in their local church? what do we want? or more precisely, what does God really want? What does it mean to be faithful to the Gospel? Basic questions lah!
Getting back to some prayer journaling was good this afternoon. My physical body also hasn’t been able to be fully on tip top energy the last few days but somehow I pull through …
Facilitating Lectio Divina was good tonight for the groups that came for the “Beyond leading a small group” training I did for 2 nights. My friend Wolfgang did well to share some background and theological insights from Bonhoeffer’s classic Life Together.
Today I heard from the Bishop’s mouth … who are the nominees for the upcoming convention for the various positions. Hmmm … we’ll see what happens.
wow! we had quite a feast just a while ago … went back to the “Kung Fu” man’s Fried Noodle stall …
Some younger person told me today that some of the links I posted were too deep… then I got comments that they love it … well, I just post what I post naturally … everyone is at a different place .. and it’s ok. … there are times we Pause, other times we move … sometimes, we need to dig deeper .. other times we just need to relax … it’s not a pick and choose .. it’s about acknowledging the different seasons we are in.
Nice to see Elysia begin to roll over the side!
Direct Warrant Realism (via Steve Bush)
“foundherentism” now that’s a new word.
Missional DNA (mDNA)
I’ll be checking this out perhaps on Monday … to listen to stories and insights from Australia (not too far away)
The Personal M.Div
wow! 114. Book list …
The Needle’s Eye: Reflections from the Church Fathers on Wealth and Possessions
What can early exegetes teach us about our relationship with our money? …the church fathers always intrigues me
Choosing Christ over Culture
what would this mean for us here?
Servant Leaders, Servant Structure
I spoke to a person high up the ecclesiatical ladder the other day, ironically, he’s not to happy about the word “leader”. This made me take note of this book again. I have so many unfinished books 
Okay, I can take comfort I finished reading a paper two nights again … and a 31page reply (which was awesome!)
Music – http://inewage.com/
well … the sleep was short. Perhaps, this is a good time for prayer
The Presence of God
I can hear the wind from the fan spinning … just one car zoomed by.
Freedom
Hardly any noise … it’s pretty silent .. I turn off the music – getting distracting. Breath slower … “the Jesus Prayer” … “Lord, Jesus, son of God … have mercy on me”
Consciousness
A drink of warm water … pause … less frustrated … treasure this space … less burdened … at ease.
The Word
Matthew 13:44-46 (the message)
“Not just a single act of renunciation … priority all through our life, every decision we make”
Conversation
“I’m right now an accumulation of the many decisions (big as well as small) I’ve made … some were dramatic, nowadays less so but no less significant … at times more visible … mostly unnoticed … sometimes I’m unsure where one decision will take me … looking back whether through joy or pain … it’s part of the journey … I embrace the consequences … I learn again … I think there’s improvement or better discernment … one thing is clearer … my sinfulness, my humanity … your grace and your kingdom…”
Conclusion
some old burdens are still on when the sun rises … hope to relieve them, and move on … there are other priorities .. more precious stuff awaits .. Amen!
Miroslav Volf Spans Conflicting Worlds
This following statement caught my attention, “He is a Pentecostal among evangelicals, a mainline Christian among evangelicals, and an evangelical in the mainline. Growing up, he was a Christian among communists.”
A Reflection on the Spirituality of David Bosch
Seeing the relevance from a Korean-Canadian view in Philipines. Wow!
Salvation Theology in a Taoist Context: Examining and Traversing the Theological Bridge That Is “The Way”
Couldn’t resist the title …
“Culture, Contextualization, and Conversion”: Missiological Reflections from the Catholic-Pentecostal Dialogue (1990-1997)
These 3 Cs have been cropping up in my consciousness a lot.
Global Christianity is changing. How do these changes influence conflict and peace?
“As a translation movement Christianity is a religion made to travel.” … now with that in the abstract I’ll be reading this later.
Music is on from Cryosleep
Prayer from Today with the help of Sacred Gateway
Taking note of “the Presence of God” – the surrounding cars are a little noisy – busy people rushing from one place to another – in a house alone – had a cup of water … my thirst is quenched.
Moving to some level of “Freedom” … the noise level is coming down. I’m more a ware and yet less bothered. I’m entering a state of being where I’m more ready to listen.
Now it’s just in a mode of “Consciousness” where I can feel calmer – less burdened somehow … perhaps the nap (which I didn’t plan) allowed physical stress to just be released. My head is lighter … feel less entangled within … more space?
the “Word” is before me … I slow down a little more. Mathew 20:20-28.
“What do you want?”
“You do not know what you are asking …”
I sit before my Lord … and we enter “Conversation”
“I seem to have some ideas what do I want? but do I know what am I asking for? In the midst of wanting, I expose my desires and motivations, some noble others unsure, perhaps there are some self-centred, sinful … You show me the cup we are to drink …. I re-examine what I want … and what is REALLY before me…”
I step into a transition under the title “Conclusion”. A conclusion for now this moment where I pause, ponder and pray … entering a moment of contemplation is a moment of grace … and yet, life here and now steps back into the dusty roads I’ll be driving on in a little while … and the grace is not left behind … the presence has not evaporated …
Thanks to Chin Hor for taking this interesting shot during our Batman Begins guys afternoon out! Ben Ong wrote some good insights on Vulnerability sparked by the movie.
Thanks to JR WOODWARD for bringing up this timely reminder from Oscar Romero to start the “second” day of the week:
“christ became a man of his people and of his time:
he lived as a jew,
he worked as a laborer of nazareth,
and since then he continues to become incarnate in everyone.
if many have distanced themselves from the church, it is precisely because the church has somewhat estranged herself from humanity.
but a church that can feel as its own all that is human
and wants to incarnate
the pain
the hope
the affliction of all who suffer
and feel joy
such a church will be christ loved and awaited,
christ present.
and that depends on us.”
Review Written by Paul Harrison
The last two reviews in this amazon page really brings a further twist to this story … (via Dashhouse)
“What I can say about McLaren and what he taught of the past few days is that he believes in the authrotiy of Scriptures and that they are true. Our interpretations, however, may not always be. A woman asked, “How is someone saved or born again?” McLaren answered, “Through grace, by faith, plus nothing.” He gave a clear presentation of the trinity, a clear presentation of the deity and lordship of Jesus and the importance of being His disciple as opposed to being just a “convert.”
He spoke cleary against relativism and defended the concept of truth being known, and I can honestly say I didn’t get one red flag from anything he taught in those six hours. His position on homosexuality was that it is not accepted as a biblically valid lifestyle, but that we are still to love and embrace them in community with us. His position on “belonging before believing” was clearly that we are inviting people to follow Christ and know Him by doing what he says. There is a distinct difference between those who are saved and those who are not yet, but the seekers are invited to walk in the way of Christ with us to see that He is Truth. They can then receive Him and make Him Lord. He by no means taught that people are saved by following Jesus as a guru, but must make a confession to receive Him. “
Reviews Written by B. Mclaren
A statement like this, ”
I didn’t want Dr. Carson to be misrepresented by the other review on this page.” has made me wonder whether others have offered Brian the same grace … “straw men” are easier to get upset with … “real men” now that’s a different matter. “Straw men” don’t post reviews on other people’s reviews. Fascinating development
D.A. Carson and the Australians
I found it helpful to see how the “dialogue” in the comments progressed (my contributions were minimal)… there’s REALLY a lot of dynamism in this conversation.
The Emerging Church, Part One
The Emerging Church, Part Two
Although this is more “focused” on the USA context, it’s a good and useful intro to the subject matter, what are the issues raised, the concerns that have emerged, the criticisms, and the hints of the way forward … The interview transcripts are really the gems in these two pieces.
I hope to “enter into conversation” with some of the content the next few days … I’m not much into offering “critique” (though there’s a place for that), I found that I enjoy engaging in “conversation” what energizes me more
Responses to Recent Criticisms
the link starts with saying, “Dr. D. A. Carson has written a critical review of emergent, and of my work in particular. Dr. Al Mohler and others have praised and quoted Carson’s book in reviews and articles of their own. Unfortunately, in a number of ways their reviews misrepresent and misjudge my writings, thinking, and beliefs – and those of my friends.” How do we respond when another person considers themselves being misrepresented and misjudged? This does not mean there can be no disagreement but how can we better “represent another” even if we disagree? In more than 40 email exchanges with a friend on a number of important issues of faith, theology and ministry in the Malaysian context … I’m learning how this is ACTUALLY possible …
Rick’s plan to study the “emerging church”
wow! there’s someone actually having a Sabbathical to do this? Richard Laribee has a blog that describes his thoughts as he visits “emerging churches” (I was really delighted to stumble on to his blog and thoughts).The following comments struck me … if I replace the words “postmodern world” with “the context we live in today” or “21st century Malaysia” it’s still applicable. This is basic “missionary” thinking.
” I think the question at hand is not about “postmodern Christianity.” Christianity should not be considered ancient, medieval, modern, or postmodern. God became human and spoke with a Galilean accent, ate Galilean cooking, sang Galilean songs, danced Galilean dances, and laughed at Galilean jokes. The incarnation was within a particular historical and cultural context. But never have I thought that to “become like Christ” was to become Galilean. So I think it is with the Church and culture. The medieval Church would live and serve within a medieval world, clothed in medieval clothing and speaking with a medieval accent. Particularization requires contextualization. But to lose its medievalness when it modernized was not intrinsically a loss of anything eternal or essential. Always we wrestle with what is essential and what is coincidental. Always we will live and move within a culture, but it is in God that we live and move and have our being. It is not readily apparent which is which. So the question is not about how Christianity will become postmodern or resist postmodernism, but rather about how Christianity will best flourish and minister within the postmodern world.”