Archive for February, 2006
I arrived late for the lecture series by Prof. I. Howard Marshall on the “Aspects of Atonement” at Seminari Theoloji Malaysia (Malaysian Theological Seminary – which please should redesign their website for Firefox users like me!).
I managed to google one of the papers he presented today which I think is based on The theology of the Atonement (pdf) (I just found this fascinating Anabaptist Network feedback to the paper)
I must admit it was quite a challenge to follow the lectures more because of the style of presentation (which was clear but a lot of propositions). Thanks to wireless in the seminary 
I could interact with the concepts presented by some surfing, and then multi-tasked by catching up with some important emails at the back of the hall.
I have little to comment on the lectures … apart from I sensed an attempt to provide a more nuanced presentation of the “penal subsitutionary” theory of atonement for the first lecture. Later there was talk about Resurrection and Reconciliation. My German pastor friend appreciated Prof. Marshall’s scholarship
Some pleasant suprises came along today. Like bumping into a number of familar faces and new friends. One or two (and more I think) significant conversations. Of course, the special lunch by Rev. Ting Moy Hong was good … Sherman guided us to the special venue. And I went on about not knowing where to go and trusting the one guiding me (trying hard to be spiritual before Ash wednesday huh). I wonder how a new friend Danny thought about this strange theologian (refering to Sherman) and this odd pastor (that’s me!) And then the lunch … Curry Fish Head was the center of attraction and I was delighted y my personal order for Garlic Naan.
I had some interesting post-lecture conversations with a former seminary lecturer and a current one over some curry puffs and tea (which I didn’t take photos). Our topics ran all over the plac and shot into all sorts of tangents. I enjoyed it.
Overall it was a pleasant day … and I guess, it was a special bonus to manage to do the stuff beyond the just sitting and listening to the lectures. I’m not refering to the food!
Like the Wideness of the Sea?
This is a must read for not just the issue of divorce but also homosexuality.
Essential culture for theologian
Perhaps Sherman, you could come out with one for us here in Malaysia? Asia?
Remarks at a reception to mark the inaugural meeting of the Christian-Muslim Forum (via Aporia Falls)
When Archbishop Rowan Williams quotes Brian Mclaren this makes an interesting read.
Jesus and Homosexuality
Jordon Cooper gives us the compilation from Scot McKnight which I should spend some time reading at some point.
I survived last week! Thanks to the Pantocrator (Greek “Παντοκρατορ”) literally means “Lord (or master) of Everything (the universe)”! It was a great chance to introduce this amazing Eastern Orthodox Icon linking it to the text I used for the message yesterday, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6.
” If the Good News we preach is veiled from anyone, it is a sign that they are perishing. Satan, the god of this evil world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe, so they are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News that is shining upon them. They don’t understand the message we preach about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
We don’t go around preaching about ourselves; we preach Christ Jesus, the Lord. All we say about ourselves is that we are your servants because of what Jesus has done for us. For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made us understand that this light is the brightness of the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
Suddenly I’m wondering how to slip back into my normal routine. Wait! There’s no normal routine for another two weeks!
Looking forward to lead/facilitate our first Ash Wednesday Service in BLC based on this liturgy : Fire and Ashes. I don’t think I can manage everything but I’ll try something
I hope to slowly settle into a mode where I can walk through this Lent season with a heart and mind open to the work of the Spirit in my own formation. I feel that increasingly the demand on me from others or mostly from myself is more and more challenging. It’s important to “center”.
Didn’t blog much last week or post comments. That’s ok.
Last night’s wedding dinner was interesting. I was refreshed mentally after spending some time with people whom would be considered “unchurched”. I found it helpful just to be in touch with them. It’s easy to forget what’s it is like or what do they think. Quite a number of interesting moments there. The food was ok, the state of the art video camera set up was impressive. The conversations was what I treasured. Yes, one more thing. We do live in a small world.
I was tickled by the idea that I wrote “mediations” for “meditations” in the Lent Meditation Preface I and a group of friends were contributing in
This morning didn’t start very well as I slightly “bumped” into someone’s car. Perhaps I was tired or plain careless. The man was just standing there but he wasn’t nasty and I arranged for someone to repair the damage. It’s just I hate “spending” money to for these unnecessary errors.
It’s strange whenever you want to have a good day, you might end up starting lousy.
It was nice to just stay a little longer and see how Gareth sits obediently while his teacher is teaching in school. I’m pround of my son. I’ll be off to pick up Elysia in 30minutes time, she will be turning One next week March 8 on International Woman’s Day- “International Women’s Day is the story of ordinary women as makers of history; it is rooted in the centuries-old struggle of women to participate in society on an equal footing with men.” wow! Indeed, Elysia is learning to stand up even now
It’s wonderful to see Rev. Dr. Richard A. Jensen again and this time with his wife Rev. Dr. Bonnie Jensen. His classes on preaching a number of years ago before my ordination I think, and the three books he gave me (which he was the author) really helped me along the way. Most of all I enjoyed the conversations we had especially when I was driving him around in a van I borrowed from another congregation. Of course, it’s was more than his vast experience and knowledge that impacted me, it was also his character, “wonder”-full posture towards learning and exploring, and a genuine generous orthodoxy that encouraged me tremendously.
I’ve been blogging very little for my standards the last week. It’s really a “busy” season even though I try to be an “unbusy” pastor. I suppose it’s a mixture of many factors how things got stacked up but then again. I’d like to see it as a season not as a permanent feature.
I’m in awe of God’s grace at work the last one week. With devotionals written, prayer guides done, catechism material sourced, Sunday message work in progress, supporting another through crisis, juggling the family responsibilities, …. the list goes on. I’m no super human, I’m most surely one fragile man amazed by God’s grace which empowers indeed in moments when I’m most in need.
time is flying… I need to go. A delightful “present” today is the opportunity to see Jason Clark’s Dmin Dissertation which will surely be part of my reading during Lent
I’m looking forward to a simple Ash Wednesday service at BLC 8pm, which will be our first.
Elysia’s “Papa” calling is improving day by day. May Chin has been wonderful in shouldering an extra load during my “crammed” schedule this week. Hers is no less “crammed”. Thank God for our parents.
So the theme for this morning is finalization … and hopefully I can operate the video cam properly this afternoon and the Mp3 player/recorder. I’m still in need for much help Nice to have John Cheah assisting in some administrative details for the preaching classes. He’s a God-sent “angel”
I really found this temporary work space I have (in the picture above) to be pretty inspirational the last two days … perhaps it’s the new surroundings, perhaps it’s the air-con (which works better than the one in the thinking room), perhaps it’s just being in our worship hall which we call the Living room and there’s an aliveness there, perhaps being in this environment connects me more with God’s presence.
I’m happy to finish my assigned readings for the Lent Meditations. I went for simplicity and honesty. Of course, being a creative person it leaked out into the way I wrote these short devotionals. I pray that those who use it will find help.
I’m also glad to have finished the BLC prayer guide with pictures and all. Sent it for printing, so looking forward to the final photostat copies. It took quite a but of work … thanks to Moh Foong for typing a big chunk of it. I think the value of the guide would actually be practicing the prayer exercises and enabling that practice without unrealistic pressure to open space for an “encounter” with God. Pray for that to happen.
Then I’m also telling myself. These past days and in this week plus next week and the other one. Three in a row will be a strange way to enter the season of LENT. i.e. Busyness. 
Nice to see the renovations coming to some closure. The carpet cleaners are coming tomorrow. And we’ll be fresh and ready for a weekend of seminars and worship gathering.
Walked into two Christian book stores today for a little while. Interesting contrast. One had a whole row of commentaries and Bible tools. The other only two shelves the most. One is owned by one whom would be aligned with the Malaysian Charismatic movement I think. The other would be closer to the Evangelical wing. Hmmm … made me think of the other Christian bookstores we have. I’ve got a favorite which is linked to student ministries because of the bid range of indepth theological, biblical stuff they have with good prices. I go for another one which is linked to our denomination in some way because they give me 20% discount. Then when I can’t find stuff there I’ll go to the secular bookstores. Sometimes I find surprises there.
had some good reading lately. Some heavy stuff on “postfoundationalism”. some more pastoral stuff on being a “Good Shepherd”. Lots of scripture because of the Lent mediations. Some on prayer because of the BLC prayer guide.
Cleaned the fan for mom today. Which was a little funny.
Nice to hear Elysia calling me “Papa” with a variety of tones.
Gareth and I are setting mini goals daily to arrive at school earlier.
Interesting conversation with the landlord today. From Rick Warren to Billy Graham to Norman Vincent Peale. Then there were stuff on miracles, on the Holy Spirit, on the temple next to his house, etc.
Miss a good swim alone.
Still got lots of unfinished work. Trust that I will be energized the moment I step into my temporary work space (which might become more permanent?)
*this is one of my favorite pictures of Elysia lately and I think her new Godpa agrees too!*
I love this quote by Martin Luther and it has helped me a lot in terms of reading the Scriptures and encountering Christ in the process, Luther’s famous words are … “The Bible is the cradle wherein Christ is laid”
I think Christ himself puts it right before us with these words …
“You search the Scriptures because you believe they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me!” ~ John 5:39 (NLT)
As I’m completing a series of mediations for Lent, in spite of some unforeseen circumstance that has made the writing more challenging. Meditating on the assigned passages and allowing Christ to speak through them to me first and foremost before I attempt to connect with other concerns or the wider community is thoroughly nourishing. But more than that, it’s where I encounter Christ in ways that are beyond pre-packaged ideas and fancy opinions I may have or imposed/influencd on me (mostly people with utmost sincerity, some maybe misled but that’s another issue or may be a bit of both.) Of course, there are those who have helped instorduce and instill important “foundations” built into my walk thus far that I think helps me to appreciate Luther’s quote above and what Christ is saying about the witness of the Scriptures. I’ll have a chance to host one of them these two weeks. For them I am thankful.
I pray that May Chin and I (with the support of the greater Christian family .. from Godparents to the church local & global) will play our part as best as we can to nurture our kids in their interaction with the Scriptures – get in touch with God’s story within and thus encounter Christ too.
“People brought babies to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. When the disciples saw it, they shooed them off. Jesus called them back. “Let these children alone. Don’t get between them and me. These children are the kingdom’s pride and joy. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” ~ Luke 18:15-17 (The Message)
Yesterday February 19 Sunday was Elysia’s baptism (interesting to note from the ELCA lectionary on February 18, we commorate Martin Luther, renewer of the church, 1546) … it was nice to have our new Bishop Philip Lok come and conduct the baptism (thanks to my friend Scot for the beautiful pictures!). He spoke from the OT passage for the day Isaiah 43:18-25,
“Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland. …”
May Chin and I & Gareth are delighted that Elysia has two wonderful Godparents one who has been May Chin’s friend since primary school days Wai Mun (we’ve also been together during our student fellowship days so that’s a long time) and another one Chin Hor who became a Christian and got baptised in BLC a number of years back. I just noticed last night … that both their surnames are “Wong”
For me (who was baptised as an infant and made my return to the faith as a teenager, May Chin was baptised when she was a teenager), I’m amazed by God’s grace upon my life these years and am assured that He truly holds Elysia in His hands and will continue to do so. I know Christians have been “divided” in their understanding of “infant baptism” and the biblical, historical, and theological discussion can be complicated and there’s a place for each person and church to work through these matters. For me, the baptism of Elysia is not only a powerful picture of God’s choosing of her, and including her into his presence & purposes, it’s also receiving her into the community of faith past, present and future and commissioning us as a family and church to nurture our children to walk with us in/with Christ starting now … As parents and a pastor, I find these words from the last century an important challenge (of course, the language is less inclusive – I’ll read the “he” with a “she” in mind as well *smile*).
“What is the true idea of Christian education?-I answer in the following proposition, which it will be the aim of my argument to establish, viz: That the child is to grow up a Christian, and never know himself as being otherwise. In other words, the aim, effort, and expectation should be, not, as is commonly assumed, that the child is to grow up in sin, to be converted after he comes to a mature age; but that he is to open on the world as one that is spiritually renewed, not remembering the time when he went through a technical experience, but seeming rather to have loved what is good from his earliest years. “ ~ Horace Bushnell, Christian Nurture, 1876
emeRging::conneXion
wow … a site dedicated to “aggregating global conversations on the emerging church”
The Future or Fad? : A Look at the Emerging Church Movement (pdf)
It’s good to see the final edition of Scot’s sympathetic and careful piece.
Resonances with the Emerging Church
Two paragraphs that stand out for me:
“… my participation through the years in the evangelical church had left me with the impression that it was believed we pretty much had all of our theological i’s dotted and doctrinal t’s crossed. But in more recent years, I’ve come to the conclusion that my personal theology is generally an outline and not an exhaustive encyclopedia. There are known items in the outline but there’s much that’s not filled in.
… I’ve come to believe that spiritual change only occurs in the context of relationship – either vertically with God or horizontally with others or – perhaps usually – both. This is not, of course, an apropositional context, but it is a transpropositional context. There is something conveyed in a hug, a shared meal, the sharing of service experiences, the presence of another, that is not entirely capturable by lexical symbols. This, of course, has large implications on question of praxis, leadership development, and spiritual formation.”
Seven Habits of Successful Emerging Discussions
I’ll pick two paragraphs again to highlight:
“… in spite of his readership and influence, try not to equate Brian McLaren’s nonfiction and fiction with exactly what he believes and exactly what that is, is exactly what everyone, young and old, far and wide, here and there, who considers himself or herself connected to the emerging movement or emergent believes exactly. This is unfair to Brian and to everyone else.
… please do not assume that everyone, everyone, everyone in emerging circles is postmodernist in epistemology, or assume that all postmodernists deny truth completely, or assume that postmodernists deny all metanarratives, or assume that metanarratives include the gospel, or just keep saying that emerging folk deny absolute truth. This in spite of many, many, many who have said over and over that none of this is accurate.”
emergent does not equal postmodern
Interesting two paragraphs:
“… the term ‘emergent’ is in no way synonymous with ‘postmodern.’ emergent is a spirit, and (more specifically) that spirit embodied in conversation(s). it’s a new (or at least re-embodied) idea that longs for a church that is emerging, not stagnant; for a church that embodies the gospel and lives into the kingdom in fresh ways as culture changes and as new challenges present themselves. the spirit of the movement calls us to grasp our own culture lightly, that it not become an idol as we seek to perpetuate it at all costs.
… if postmodernity is not something that you feel you are dealing with, leave it alone. it’s emergence has little to do with you. don’t feel like you need to be doing what pastors and christians in the states are doing. do the things that you must do. emerge where you are.”
A pre-trip interview with Brian McLaren
now this is from South Africa … so it’s getting exciting now.
“… I am always glad to be in settings where people are less polarized, more open, and committed to being more diligent to preserve the unity of the Holy Spirit in the bond of peace.
… Christians in the West need to hear the stories of “integral mission” that are emerging from the global south. They need to see how the formerly colonized are making Christian faith their own and are dropping some of the Western trappings – most notably, the Western dualism between “spiritual” on one side and “almost everything else” on the other – sociological, justice, peace, psychological, economic and related issues.
… A lot of conversation about theology, ministry, and mission is taking place through blogs, and it makes global conversation instantaneously possible.
… the first few people who became my mentors introduced me to spiritual disciplines or practices – from “practicing God’s presence” to keeping a prayer journal to spiritual direction/friendship to tithing to solitude and silence. These practices have sustained me and are part of my life every day, helping me make room for the Holy Spirit in my heart and helping me, to use Jesus’ beautiful image, be like a branch which abides in the Vine. As Jesus said, apart from that connection, we can do nothing. But with God’s empowerment, all things are possible.”
Happy Valentine’s Day … Dear
(this is a special post for May Chin whom if I recall correctly some one I met when I was 9 years old:-) Started kind of as a couple around 18. Thus dated for 10years before we got married!)
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