Archive for May, 2007
Random Thoughts after taking a Vitamin C pill
May 24th, 2007, posted in Random Thoughts
The LCMS Exam committee meeting went well this afternoon. I’m thankful for a good team. Good discussions. Excellent decisions. Looking foward to the direction we’re contributing towards as far as “ordained pastoral ministry” is concerned in our context.
I’m down with the flu … an act of kindness to me was shown by a fellow pastor … a bottle of vitamin C pills which he claimed “saved his life” … wow! I offered to pay him back for it … he said it’s free. Nice to be cared for .. by a fellow colleague 
Before I left the headquarters, another more senior retired pastor started sharing his secret recipe which included burning coconuts with coal to treat my neck … wow! double wow!
I survived the day .. it was hard. My body is aching. Eyes are teary. And I do not … I DO NOT want to start sneezing … because one I start one … it goes for about more than 5-7 times. It’s under control now.
The Chinese Yee Mee for dinner was a disappintment tonight.
Baby no. 4. in BLC is born today .. welcome baby Erin! 4 more to go for this year .. or is it 5? Lost count-lah!
Must drink more water tonight. …
I got my first “advance uncorrected proof — not for sale” book today … thanks Mark Scandrette! I feel so happy to get one that it made me feel physically better. Reading the first pages is already healing! Awesome …
How do we teach our kids to be kind and respectful? Sometimes we succeed, most of the time we struggle.
Elysia, Gareth and Mummy are enjoying some ice cream now … what a joyful scene!
I have about 2 days to recover from this Flu …. water, sleep … rest … decent meals .. relax …prayer .. reading … maybe some chips might help? 
Random Links 154
May 24th, 2007, posted in Random LinksThree cheers for Luther and another one for Kierkegaard. I can relate to this “simplex” post.
Revelation: A Survivors’ Guide in Empire
I survived many many “doomsday” prophets … I’ve been reading the book in a new light the past years. John Fyre has it right here:
“Citizens of heaven are not dead people, but living people who courageously pray “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” These loyalists to Jesus and his reign refuse to confuse the kingdoms of this world with the kingdom of our God and of his Christ. They don’t wave flags and send armies as if their King needs those things to get his job done.”
Chinese Perception of God as Punisher-Rewarder
We talked about different pictures or models we use for GOD last night and how that affects the way we live and believe.
Ron’s points here are helpful especially for storytellers of today:
“Jesus is the master storyteller captivating the masses with parables, allegories, and illustrations. Here are five pointers toward a new rhetoric for post modernity:
1. Words will have to be authenticated with a life-story. Authenticity is necessary in the crucible of the experiential 21st century. Practical transformation is “story” proof.
2. Truth will be just as important but it will be clean, simple and with an earthiness often illusive in today’s cumber-some techno-babble and christianese.
3. Our new narrative will allow others to enter in and tell their own story and see how they are part of God’s overarching story. This will allow a left brain/right brain balance and be more inclusive, compelling and creative.
4. We will seek to move away from the propositionalizing tendency that reduces the biblical story to a bunch of biblical stories with the same weight as Bill Bennett’s Book of Virtues or Aesop’s Fables.
5. We will recognize the power of the biblical narrative is to invite us to constantly reinterpret our life story, with all it’s brokenness, pain and incompleteness against the wholeness and hope bringing narrative of the biblical story. It is this that makes Christianity unique.”
The plain truth on the multitasking myth
I’m going to practice single tasking this week rigorously! starting now…
Me … weird?
May 23rd, 2007, posted in Fun stuff, Personal“People who are tagged should write a blog post of 6 weird things about them as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave a comment that says ‘you are tagged’ in their comments and tell them to read your blog.”
I got tagged by weird Al … so I shall try to think of 6 weird things about myself (this is going to be hard!)…
1. After a good morning cup of Nescafe, I find much pleasure “downloading” in the toilet … it takes less than 5 minutes for the whole exercise!
2. I’m a Malaysian who can’t stand the King of the Fruits – Durian.
3. I must read in order to fall asleep …
4. I carry a green bag which is a gift from Myanmar wherever I go.
5. I enjoy doing Generators to relax …
6. I will eat potatoes at least once a week .. (ok .. let’s make it twice!)
I got some help from my wife … but there are some stuff that can’t appear on this blog!
now I tag:
Are there Facebook addicts out there? This wikipedia entry is a good read.
It’s a been a fun and useful ride so far. I’ve started the “Bangsar Lutheran Church” Group and joined a load of others…
Community or Institution?
May 22nd, 2007, posted in Church, Meditation
“Maybe today some people see opposition between, on the one hand, a seemingly barren, old, institutional church, cut off from the world, looking after buildings, and worried about membership and attendance, and on the other hand, new communities, filled with life, enthusiasm, risk, openness and welcome, concerned about the big issues of the world — injustice, torture, peace, disarmament, ecology, a better distribution of wealth, the liberation of women, drug addiction, AIDS, people with handicaps…. But we know that every community, with time, risks closing in on itself and becoming an empty institution governed by laws. The new communities of today can become the closed-up, barren institutions of tomorrow.”
- Jean Vanier, Community and Growth (via inward/outward)
It seems more popular today to “bash” institutions – and the “institutional” church is a favorite punching bag. In all honesty I suppose it’s really a replacement exercise where the self is set up as the “institution” and then the rest ranging from family to government, educational to religious structures, temples of consumerism and our media farms revolve around “me”.
I don’t support abuse in any form of institution – especially the church. I believe we can focus our energies and resources which support God’s agenda for the world’s good. I recognize some have been hurt and disappointed. My prayer is for those of us in leadership to be accountable and watchful of the steps that we take. But even before we are in “leadership” positions we are members – family members of the organic community which in many cases function within “organized” structures. That’s simply the fact that many of us chose to continue in. More and more these days, the critic I have from within the “institutional” structures while may have a tinge of so called self-coined righteous anger (then again it’s a mixed bag) … it really has been more of sadness lately. The road to cynicism and bitterness is wide and many are tempted to go there … the path way to humility and maturity is painful and narrow … I hope more will respond to the invitation to go there … the fact is few enter that “narrow” way.
Random Links 153
May 22nd, 2007, posted in Random LinksI wonder how many people have “forgotten” the incident by now … This particular “drama” managed to stir me to attend a forum on it and marked my first time hearing some opposition party politicians live! I left the evening thinking about while we may start or be drawn to a “particular” incident to be sensitized to gender issues but there is also other related bigger picture matters which cannot be ignored. I think it’s not a bad idea to have our parliament debates “live”, in my own idealistic mindset, perhaps the fact that the public is watching might help to keep our “elected” MPs in check? Of course, true leadership is more than looking good on TV …
Statistics Of Christianity In Malaysia
Another good one from “Bob the builder”… the numbers are a good springboard for conversation.
“One person can only do so much.” I need to hear this again and again.
“There’s simply nothing invisible or ambiguous about the kingdom of God. It always looks something like Jesus, dying on Calvary for the people who crucified him while praying, “Father, forgive them.” When God reigns, it always manifests Calvary-quality love. The kingdom is present whenever people are getting their life from Christ alone and therefore are increasingly looking like Jesus, doing what Jesus did, and obeying what Jesus taught.”
Evangelicals and Other Christian Traditions
Much that is said here resonates with me … even if I just replaced the word “Anglican” (and it’s related content) with “Lutheran” While I’m do not want to “glorify” denominationalism and surely not a “divisive” agenda, there is something about being plugged into historical realities and the particularity of each expression of faith at its best which is helpful rather than harmful.
I love … Ice cream!
May 20th, 2007, posted in Family, Fun stuff
I think I will be having fun with the LolCat Builder for many more days to come!
See Your Name in Lights!
May 20th, 2007, posted in Fun stuff
I got my name in lights with notcelebrity.co.uk
Holy Fool
May 20th, 2007, posted in Meditation
“The ‘final stage’ of the wisdom of faith is what we might call the Holy Fool. Ironically the Holy Fool is one who knows he doesn’t know, but doesn’t need to either. That’s the freedom. I’m not saying the Fool sits in some kind of dull ignorance. I am saying there is a state of inner freedom into which true wisdom comes….
If we can’t laugh after 50 or 60 years, we probably haven’t done it right. We’re taking ourselves too seriously; we have not discerned the mystery. Everything finally belongs. If we can’t laugh, we are probably holding our debts against ourselves and we haven’t accepted forgiveness. The person of prayer, quite simply, is a person who can cry from the heart and laugh from the belly…. God forgives the world for being broken and poor. God forgives us for not being all that we thought we had to be and even for what God wanted us to be. That is probably why we fall in love with such a God. Why wouldn’t you? You would be a fool not to – and you will be a ‘holy fool’ if you do.”
- Richard Rohr, Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer (via inward/outward)
I’m coming back for some blogging on steriods … at least on Monday there’s so much that has happened the past week. There’s 101 reflections floating in my head. When I saw the title of the quote above, I could relate. Not so much of the “holy” bit … hopefully more of that later … but frankly it was the “fool” bit I resonate a lot. I feel like a fool all the time. Perhaps I will approach the final stage of “foolishness” one day. For now, it’s learning to handle the whole feeling of being considered a “fool” or maybe it’s more like being treated like a”fool”.
To be fair, this morning it was wonderful it was encouraging to be welcomed with hospitality and respect as I was guest speaking at a friends’ church. And through the week there have been glimpses of when I felt that my contribution was of importance and people were genuinely listening to what I have to say. I celebrate those “gifted moments”.
But one wonders when is the next “you fool!”episode … and reality tells me this cycle will continue. And yet, this “Holy Fool” bit is pretty cool!
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Resonations
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