Sivin Kit's Garden

Random Links 61 (which was missing)

Bishop N.T. Wright talks about cultural engagement in RESPONSE
some articles and transcripts here .. wow the C.S. Lewis for our time?

Does Evangelical Theology Have a Future?
read this years ago during seminary days, interesting how it's more relevant now in my journey :-)

ok 2 links enough ...

Jesus' Fan Club

This statement struck in me coming from a young intelligent Malaysian who's not a Christian in our little interaction on his blog (which I didn't link just in case ...).

"I have no problem with Jesus, its his fan club that freaks me out""

A New Kind of Conversation

I'm a little left behind this "ongoing conversation" since it started. Partly because I'm "in transition" in a number of ways :-) I hope to catch up once things are more settled at least at our new place of refuge.

I personally find this "book project" fascinating .. first, in it's title and topic and second, in the way it's written with the aid of the medium of blogging.

Check out the following for a sampling of what's happening and ongoing ...

What is Postmodernism? - Bruce Ellis Benson
I've been asked this quite a lot lately ... Brian's response is worth checking out here

Spiritual Formation in a Postmodern Context -- Brian McLaren
It's not just about knowing the context, it's about how we relate this to discipleship and how all this affects or even refocused how we can do "spiritual formation"

Evangelical Faith & (Postmodern) Others -- Kenzo Mabiala
This is REALLY good and introduced the idea of "postcolonial" thinking ... which has been popping up in this blog as well.

Postmodern Ministry; In Search of A Living Orthodoxy -- Ellen Haroutunian
I've heard of a generous orthodoxy .. now how does all this translate into a "living orthodoxy". This is not just word play ... it's allowing words to shapre our reflection. I'm still cautious and concerned when the word "postmodern" may be misused as a "brand" name ... but then that's always the temptation if we are not alert.

Bible, Theology and Postmodernism -- Myron B. Penner
Ah! here comes something on the Bible ... Phew ... :-)

More from eMo meeting ...

I realize that many have not yet been initiated "carefully" into the subject of modernity and postmodernity in our Malaysian context (as well as what all this means to us) ... this is so true after observing and listening to some reaction at a session in the latest youth consultation organized by NECF (more on this important consultation in another post) . It's still very fuzzy for many and even totally unknown. Hmm ....

after that in hindsight I think Alwyn did a pretty good job trying his best to communicate what he understood as he grappled with the word "postmodern" and all that surrounds it. Here's some of his powerpoint slides and extra thoughts on Mo vs Pomo?

"... Anyway, I'm pasting two of the slides presented at last weekend's EMO/Pomo meeting. I find such comparisons helpful, if a little far from exactly 'reality-depicting' i.e. it's only generally true and all thinkers of whatever stripes would have surely some bones to pick with at least some of the pairs.

As I mentioned during the session, the asterisk-ed items are those pomo elements I find particularly helpful/beneficial for church, spirituality, theology, etc. This is not to deny the value and extent of "modernity's" contribution, only to suggest that maybe in this 'new world' we're in, it may be wise to go beyond them."

I'm glad that Kevin (a first time new comer for a meeting) gives us a feel of his impressions and feedback from this post My First EMO Meeting!

"So finally I become a participant… Well, still not really a participant! I was more trying to listen and see what I could learn from it rather than sharing my thoughts and views (not that I had much to say anyway, knowing nothing much about philosophy or postmodernism). I’m a little too shy for that! Plus, having all those pastors and seminary students around were quite intimidating for a first timer layman like me! But it was good to finally meet up with some of those bloggers in person! I also learned a few things about modernity and post-modernity, especially on their respective histories and contexts in which they came about.

One thing that really struck me was how the discussion would always be dragged back into our own context and practice as Christians here in Malaysia. Someone would always remind the group, “How do we apply that here?” or “How will that affect us?” I think this is a good way to go about these discussions, because they are always in danger of becoming detached from Christian praxis, or from our own Malaysian context (both of which I have been guilty of countless times in some of the discussions that I’ve been in!). It’s good to see Pastor Sivin and Emergent Malaysia moving towards that direction. I'm looking forward to the discussion on post-colonialism.

After "Mo-Pomo" eMo Meeting thoughts ...

(is there something subversive about this picture? *just in case some are wondering ... I'll note the Cross is still central ... grin*)

I'm not sure whether I'll have time to blog about a fruitful feeble attempt we tried last saturday at the emergent Malaysia open (eMo) meeting. so I'll let one of the presenters Alway share from Henry IV, Leaves & JFK

"I think the EMO session on Saturday was helpful to everyone. Whilst there was maybe some slight discomfort with the postmodern-oriented deliveries and 'agendas' (smile) of both Kia Meng and me, I think people generally brought home a richer perspective of post-modernity, its context, its implications, some misunderstandings of it and one or two ways the Church can 'milk it' for the kingdom. (Of nice added value was perhaps the fact that our EMO venue was also used as a trading-point for book enthusiasts, a 'den of wisdom' as Sivin strategically phrased it, hehe).

Some of the words post-modernity sparked in the participants are worth recalling: "Duh?", "Huh?" Yes. Very pomo: conceptually vague, but spot-on in 'embodying' the favour/mood/spirit of people!

I certainly benefited from Kia Meng's introduction to the historical events surrounding Descarte's (the 'big-time' philosopher who dominates many an elementary Maths textbook!) thoughts, Henry IV's preceding reforms and the impact of his conspiracy-soaked death. I confess I'm a nut in matters of medieval European history. Thanks, Kia Meng, for showing its link to "I am thinking, there I exist" (and for correcting the more popular, "I think, therefore I am" - he also noted how D.A. Carson today's society as one built around, "I shop, therefore I am"!).

Minor tension arose around Kia Meng's expressed rejection of the Basic Life program. But I think we can hold together both the value of a Western program transplated/imported to the East its occasionally uncritical use by over-enthusiastic (but no less God-loving) practitioners.

General principles are probably indispensable in our world and Church, but caution is needed to avoid blanking out completely the differences and individual uniqueness among and of particulars.

I'm glad Kia Meng highlighted this as it was then easier for me to explain Nietzsche's gripe with thinking during his time. The concept of a 'leaf' violates all leaves. And if our Basel professor had a problem with that, imagine his quarrel with the categorisation and 'grouping together' of ideas like God, Man, Society, Knowledge, etc.

My session was a blur to me (as it usually is whenever I 'evaluate' my own presentations). Most people looked as if they understood(!), but I didn't get many questions and I had to leave early so I couldn't quite gauge how most people felt.

I hope, at least, the books I put on the slide were helpful. Maybe I'll try to get an outline out soon. (Those interested to see the outline of my Hell talk can find it here).

Lots of work needed, surely, to reap spiritual fruit from these exchanges. The main issue is whether or not we live in a substantially 'new' world from that mainly characterized by modernity, what this new world considers important, worthy of attention, how this new world thinks, lives, feels, etc. and whether our former approaches need to be rethought and even replaced. Sivin and Yew Khuen's responses cum rejoinders to me and Kia Meng focused, if I'm not wrong, on the need to reconsider how and why we do what we do, in light of the whole pomo debate, whilst giving full credit to the contributions modernity has bestowed (and continue to bestow) on us.

Looking at my students, my church, my community (even in 2nd-world Kuala Lumpur), I certainly think the time is ripe for a new paradigm of truth and life (sorry if this sounds corny, summaries always do, don't they?!).

And if you're STILL wondering what the JFK pic is doing there, well, watch the movie and ask yourself: Is it a 'motion picture' or a documentary or what? Is it truth or fiction or some kind of hybrid? And, most importantly, do these distinctions matter?

Okay. There's a multi-player Half Life session going on around me. Time to party (grin)."

A new comer college student Doulos had these interesting to say from pomo which has an insightful twist at the last sentance ...
"Went to BLC today to listen to a discussion organized by the Emergent conversation of Malaysia headed by Ps.Sivin Kit. The topic was on Modernity, Postmodernity and what it means in Malaysia. More than two hours of hard stuff I must say. Understanding history and culture is important and I must say I got out of the session much more enlightened. Postmodernism is a very engaging topic. Introduced to this word in the beginning of the year and it continues to grab my interest. The only problem is that I have not fully understood what is modernity. So I will turn backwards a bit. hehe"

more when I can sqeeze some time ... I'm off to Genting at 12noon .. very little time.

Random Links 62

Under the Spell of Good Intentions
I think it's good to read something from Mr. S.K. on Saturday evening!

Franke’s Character of Theology 1, -2-, -3-, -4-, -5-
I'm following Scott's summaries and feedback with interest and hope to get the book when it arrives!

Toward a Proper Christian Response to Postmodernity -1-preface, -2-mapping, -3-local, -4-MetaNarrative, -5-Reason, -6-Reality
Here's another series I want to start checking out ... wow! I'm REALLY catching up with these guys who write in series!

the 4 Spiritual Truths
we mentioned the 4 spiritual laws in our eMo meeting for an illustration ... I thought having a look at a anabaptist version would be helpful.

“unhomed”!
This caught my attention (something we alluded to at the eMo meeting as well) - the reflections based on the excerpt here from Lois Tyson’s Critical Theory Today is facinating...

"Postcolonial theorists often describe the colonial subject as having a double consciousness or double vision, in other words, a consciousness or a way of perceiving the world that is divided between two antagonistic cultures: that of the colonizer and that of the indigenous community. …

This feeling of being caught between cultures, of being to neither rather than to both, of finding oneself arrested in a psychological limbo that results not merely from some individual psychological disorder but from the trauma of the cultural displacement within which one lives, is referred to by Homi Bhabha and others as unhomeliness. Being “unhomed” is not the same as being homeless. To be unhomed is to feel not at home even in your own home because you are not at home in yourself: your cultural identity crisis has made you a psychological refugee, so to speak.

Double consciousness and unhomeliness persist in de-colonized nations today. So among the tasks formerly colonized peoples face is the rejection of colonialist ideology, which defined them as inferior, and the reclamation of their pre-colonial past. (368)

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Packing

Packing and unpacking this will occupy our minds for a while ...

Moving is always a hassle and gives us substantial headaches... but it has been very much part of my own life especially for my childhood - Malaysia --> Forlong - UK --> London - Brighton - Leicester - Malaysia --> Taman Forlong - UK--> Leicester - Malaysia --> Taman Forlong (P.Ramlee) - Kampung Pasir - Taman Maluri - Shah Alam - Ampang - Wangsa Maju - PJ --> ? :-)

Gareth wasn't born yet when we moved here this home in PJ 5 years ago ... He's going to be Three in October. I recall my first "move" was slightly after three on a plane to the UK to reunite with my Dad. Life has never been the same or "still" ever since.

New memory lanes in the making!

Elysia responds quickly to her Dad's voice. I noticed she responds even faster to her mum's smell. she's been growing exponentially when it comes to her interaction with us lately ... she's experimentating with a variety of expressions - e.g. bright oh-you-are-here look, frustrated-pick-me-up yell (or yells), I'm-REALLY-having-fun giggles, tata-ta conversations, etc.

packing our stuff this last week has made me more aware of the immediate moments right before my eyes.

Down memory lane ...

May Chin showed me an old photo of us probably just after form 5 (high school) ... wow! I was REALLY skinny! She's ever pretty ...

Post Mooncake "EMO" meeting

When I mentioned "EMO" in a recent meeting with a bunch of varsity students I heard some "Aws" and "Ahs" :-) so when i realized what we've been calling our emergent malaysia open meetings can be called EMO meetings I thought that would be fun. But seriously, the guy who works with the National Bank wrote the following (I think he does a better job):

__________________________________________________________________

Postmodern Investigations

What is postmodernity? Where does it come from? What has it got to do with the church & Christianity? How are we to respond? Some believe it is a scourge to be challenged at all cost. Others welcome it as an opportunity to engage with today's culture. Yet there are those who think it is the latest fad in a series of methods to increase church attendance.

If these are some questions that you've been thinking about, come on down and join us in exploring this theme and its possible implications on the how we view and live out our faith.

Date: Saturday 24 September 2005
Time: 10am-12pm
Venue: Bangsar Lutheran Church, 23 Jalan Abdullah, 59000 Kuala Lumpur.

(For a map to the venue: click here)

We will listen to some sharing on the following areas, after which there will a time of interaction and discussion:
- History of modernity & its development
- Reaction of the church to modernity
- History of postmodernity & its development
- Reaction of the church to postmodernity
- Responses on what does all this have to do with us (or doesn't have to do with us)

Organised by a bunch of friends known as emergent Malaysia :-)
(as you can see I had a hand in the last line on organisers)
__________________________________________________________________

we were discussing about since often people associate "emergent" with the word "postmodern" .. we might as well give it a try engage this topic ... it will be a feeble and honest attempt by a bunch of Malaysian Christians (admitting all biases right from the start *grin*)... I'm looking forward to listening to how Mr. Gmail Theology and Mr. Appreciate Coconut Tree can help us get started.

Hopefully next we can engage with the word "postcolonial" in November before Christmas ... Sherman and I will have a trial run at a local private university setting on this :-) I'll leave that for the next "EMO" meeting ...

Don't know what to title ...

Found this old piece while trying to clear a room (I think it's an artistic impression from one of the youth I used to pastor)... not too sure what to make of it. It's seriously funny or funnily serious?

we just take ourselves too seriously don't we?

The Conversation continues ...

“What is Emerging?: A Conversation about a New Kind of Church”
I've downloaded all the mp3s ... looks good .. I'm listening to Brian's talk now, glanced through the powerpoint of Dr. Mike Wittmer this afternoon while I was downloading the rest. Interesting.

Brian McLaren and the Emergent Conversation…
Steve Argue lists down the questions he used to facilitate a panel discussion .. good questions. I liked his brief summary of the event, "The conversation, in my estimation, was really a conversation rather than a debate. What I experienced were three people, passionate about the gospel of Jesus and the church sharing their dreams, concerns, and critiques. Something was communicated beyond the “presentations” … a message that Christians of all types can truly dialogue with one another. I hope that spills over into all corners of Jesus following communities."

McLaren, Wittmer, Dobson...
an insightful comment on the audience in contrast with the presenters, "Really? Is this what God has called pastoral brothers and sisters to be? We are either for or against one another based on the writings of McLaren, Dobson, and Wittmer? The frustrating irony was that these guys were not the people who were trying to drum up the ranks to choose sides. It seemed more like acid reflux. Some of those within the audience couldn't help themselves."

Random Links 60

Chuang Tsu(Chuang Tse in ‘the Lathe of Heaven’)’s ‘a butterfly’s dream’(胡蝶之夢 )
since last night I'm in the mood for Chinese stories :-)

The Traditional Church Foundation Model & The Missional Church Foundation Model
I like diagrams they help me think ... see .. re-think and re-look!

The Trailblazer: The first evangelical missionary to India set out to prove that the gospel does not destroy culture but transforms it from within
Lutherans aren't known for being very "missionary" minded ... the early pietists breaks that stereo type :-)

What is "Postmodernism"?
Here's this "pomo" word again .. :-) next saturday morning some of us will have a go at it too

Spiritual Formation in a Postmodern Context
I'll have a chance to facilitate a course of spiritual formation and discipleship (in the context of youth ministry)... this looks helpful.

Random Thoughts after Mooncake Festival Party

I didn't eat any mooncakes last night.

Had fun using Remembering Chang-O's Flight for a kind of trivia session.

I think my brother John Kit had the final say in terms of closing entertainment. He's got the hair-sytle to go with it :-)

There are some fun photos ... and moments I captured on the Canon A70 ... will try to organize a blog or two either here or the Waiting Room.

Starting to pack books in boxes now ... some for sale ... most for transport to new home (which I'm really looking forward to)

I'm happy to meet with my potential Master's supervisor on wednesday ... I found some help in focusing my thoughts ... (helps even in how I pack my books too!)

It was good for the 4 of us to meet up and work out some details for the upcoming emergent malaysia "open" meeting on Saturday, September 24, 10am. Hope we can have some thing on for the website by then too ...

Skimmed through some of the "the Gospel and Our Culture Network" stuff before a brief nap ... and will be toying the idea to do it as a module ...

I had loads of fun talking with a "Brethren" John Yip and his wife today .. I find myself very comfortable with some of the "Brethrens" that cross path with me the past 2 years. The coffee and lunch was pretty good too!

as much as good things are happening, there are always others matters lurking in the shadows that might require attention.

I found myself increasingly uneasy when I find myself "forced" into frameworks that don't allow me to experiment with other "frameworks" of dealing with matters at hand .. especially in terms questions related to life, God, humanity, church and ministry.

The past week has been packed ... and I hope to have some "space" to blog on a number of "procrastinated" posts ... and I can't catch up other blogs too ... anyway, I am in the midst of some "transitions" whether it's moving to a new place, adjusting (again!) to new roles, etc. Nothing to be guilty about ... I know "grace"!

An African Creed

I'll be starting to read Vincent Donovan's 2 books slower ...

"We believe in the one High God, who out of love created the beautiful world and everything good in it. He created man and wanted man to be happy in the world. God loves the world and every nation and tribe on the earth. We have known this High God in darkness, and now we know him in the light. God promised in the book of his word, the bible, that he would save the world and all the nations and tribes.

We believe that God made good his promise by sending his son, Jesus Christ, a man in the flesh, a Jew by tribe, born poor in a little village, who left his home and was always on safari doing good, curing people by the power of God, teaching about God and man, showing the meaning of religion is love. He was rejected by his people, tortured and nailed hands and feet to a cross, and died. He lay buried in the grave, but the hyenas did not touch him, and on the third day, he rose from the grave. He ascended to the skies. He is the Lord.

We believe that all our sins are forgiven through him. All who have faith in him must be sorry for their sins, be baptized in the Holy Spirit of God, live the rules of love and share the bread together in love, to announce the good news to others until Jesus comes again. We are waiting for him. He is alive. He lives. This we believe. Amen"

"Emerging" ... emerging again!

What Is The Emerging Church? (mp3)
Brian McLaren starts by saying why he doesn't like the term "The Emerging Church" (I like the emerging edge *grin*)... so it's not about church, it's about mission ... these two words (church & mission) came up in a conversation yesterday I had in my discussion about my Masters :-) it's good to hear what's more important - i.e. following Jesus! counting the cost ... losing our lives ... etc. I'm looking forward to following this series.

What is Emerging?
Here's an earlier attempt to try to put words into what's "vibrating" inside many ..."Do not be surprised if you discover the emergent conversation includes thoughts and feelings that have already occurred to you. Perhaps we forget that when we talk about “the” Reformation, there have been many reformations in the Christian church, and its nature is self-reflexive and committed to correction and renewal."

The Emerging Church circa 1970
Interesting to hear what the recent author of the book "The Emerging Church" Dan Kimball says here, "Emerging in 1970, or emerging in 2005. I hope we are more concerned about Jesus and His thoughts of our service to Him than anything else."

Emerging Movement
I'm still trying to catch up with Scot McKnight's profilic blogging and input. The recent "Purple Theology" posts are adding "colour" to the discussion.

AN EXPLORATION OF THE EMERGING CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES: THE MISSIOLOGICAL INTENT AND POTENTIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR THE FUTURE (pdf)
some hard work went into this ... thanks Aaron!

Immersed in emerging
Interesting Aussie-in-USA immersion.

How is Emerging Church different?
a U.K point of view ...

The Emerging Church: Ancient Faith for a Postmodern world
"Emerging church evangelicals comfortably draw on the rich traditions and practices of the diverse streams of Christianity, believing that by genuinely living where our common faith intersects, we can surpass the efforts of even the most successful ecumenical programs." ... this comment came in 2004.

12 Tension Points in the Emerging Church
A good checklist to keep us on our toes ...

Random Links 58

Parables and their Social Contexts
Bedtime reading for tonight?

Lesslie Newbigin: A Postmodern Missiologist?
finished reading this to and fro the journey to pick Elysia up ...

Brian McLaren - closet Lutheran? and More Proof that Brian McLaren is part Lutheran
as a Lutheran I couldn't resist reading this :-) surprise surprise ...

Woo me, sister; move me, brother! What does Pop Culture Have to Do with Preaching?
What has U2 got to do with religion? What has popular culture got to do with the gospel?

The Unexamined Organization
"The unexamined organization is not worth leading." ... food for thought.

The Spirituality of Blogging
Blogging a spiritual discipline...?

The Perils of Blogging?
The shadow sides ...?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Postmodernity and Christ the Center
Bonhoeffer and his theology as seedbed for postmodern theology and faith....?

DIETRICH BONHOEFFER AND THE ETHICS OF PARTICIPATION (pdf)
with a quote like this how could I not download and read ...
"I discovered later, and I’m still discovering right up to this moment, that it
is only by living completely in this world that one learns to have faith . . . . By
this-worldliness I mean living unreservedly in life’s duties, problems, successes
and failures, experiences and perplexities. In doing so we throw ourselves
completely into the arms of God, taking seriously, not our own sufferings, but
those of God in the world—watching with Christ in Gethsemane. That, I think, is
faith; that is metanoia; and that is how one becomes a [human being] and a
Christian."

A Prayer for the Beginning of the Day

"O Lord, grant me to greet the coming day in peace, help me in all things to rely upon your holy will. In every hour of the day reveal your will to me. Bless my dealings with all who surround me. Teach me to treat all that comes to throughout the day with peace of soul and with firm conviction that your will governs all. In all my deeds and words, guide my thoughts and feelings. In unforeseen events, let me not forget that all are sent by you. Teach me to act firmly and wisely, without embittering or embarrassing others. Give me strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all that it shall bring. Direct my will, teach me to pray. And you, yourself, pray in me. Amen." ~ St. Philaret of Moscow

Sports Day 2005

Here's a quick glimpse of an eventful sports day for Gareth (and the rest of the Kit Family) on September 10, Saturday morning 2005 ...

The morning started with some excitement .. and anticipation :-) especially for our family! Gareth got his name tag and he's part of the orange team.

Gareth's number 1 fan apart from the parents of course is Baby Elysia!

Wow! I was impressed when Gareth carrying his flag (with some help from the teacher) joined the march.

I was even more suprised and delighted when May Chin and I saw him do a choreographed exercise with music.

The MC for the day commented that Gareth is carrying a heavy load of favorite toys!

Run Gareth Run!

Dash Gareth Dash!

now relax a bit-lah!

Mummy May Chin had to run too!

Papa Sivin had to blow up a balloon ... wow!

even Granpa Long (May Chin's dad) showed his stuff!

and of course, the prize giving ceremony was chaotically great!

checking out the prize with mummy is fun!

our number 1 fan Baby Elysia cheers for everyone! Everybody's a winner!

Random Thoughts before Sports Day

I thought Elysia REALLY wore a cool hat last Sunday. It took me almost a week before I posted it up. It's been a busy "adjustment" week.

There's so much to drink in this week ... great time at MMU CF (especially the supper), some insightful chat sessions, visited one LiFE Group (eavesdropped another), met up with a number of people (long overdue but better late than never), fixed up some new appointments, participated in my first denomination Executive council meeting ... no wonder I'm physicially pretty worn out.

We're suppose to start packing ... wow! There's a lot to do ... need to start my part :-P

Excited for Gareth afterwards, the Canon A70 camera is ready ... the weather is great, the Sun is shining.

I still haven't blogged about the recent Lutheran denomination convention yet .. .

I need a haircut ... it's getting hot!

More ... later.

Random Thoughts after some encouraging posts

James (when are you going to blog agani?) said I should take these pictures (when my A70 Canon digital camera was acting weird and producing these "pretty fuzzy" photos. I suppose the "redemptive" part of me just could resist ...

A certain Mr. Khoo came to this garden dropped a comment and probably didn't realize that it was comment no. 1000 here. So, a present awaits you :-) surprise!?

Reading Didn't go to church ... and I don't wanna go ... but yet I do helps me see what's going on inside one who's part of our church family ... I guess there's no point in denying the stuggles and the messiness - it's there .. I like the realism that's birthed though .. and most importantly - Hope .

Read a quote in line with the paragraph above from Kyle Potter's post "Community is hard to come by".

" I'm not moving again. People here grudgingly accept us, and that's rare.

- overheard on "King of the Hill"

Need to get back to reading the dead Mr. S.K (Danish) again.. and engage the living Mr. S.K (Malaysian).

I was almost moved to tears (and with a lummp in my throat) when I stayed back a little and hid at a corner and saw Gareth (who's just going to turn 3 in October) join in with the older kids for a choreographed flag dance. He was REALLY good! There was one moment when he turned around ... and saw his papa - me look at him, I smiled in affirmation and pride. He looked like he kind of knew what I meant as by my smile and carried on. It's mornings like this that makes one believe in a God of love even more.

So, even though our lives often aren't picture perfect, and might even become "pretty fuzzy" for whatever reason or even no reason ... it doesn't mean there is no beauty, or can't be anything worthwhile, or all complaints and frustrations ...

I found these words from a young friend simple and yet profound (wisdom beyond his age!)...
"Life, well.....there are just so many beautiful things bout it. Look around you, feel, savour. Beautiful.

What bout life.
Life is beautiful beautiful."

Humble Answers to Honest Questions

I came back pretty late last night. Kelvin and Kia Meng joined me last night for this invitation to facilitate at MMU Christian Fellowship (I'm really happy that what I desire very often like Bangsar Lutheran Church members coming with me in CF engagements came true to some extent yesterday - most of the time its hard because of timing).

I didn't know what to fully expect apart from perhaps there would be newcomers even those from other faiths as well as perhaps even friends who would see themselves as non-religious. I found it very helpful that some of the committee members actually met up with me earlier last Friday to give me some context on what is the climate and direction of the CF and their members. I found it interesting and noteworthy that for some and it seems many are beginning to ask more "questions" and moving in and out of re-examining their faith.

This may be unsettling for some, and downright scary for others ... and yet, deep down I was happy that they are "working through" rather than "evading" the questions. Now the promo invitation card looks very "apologetics" and I was quite tickled when I was invited (because I'm NOT known to be an "apologetics" expert). But what they wanted me to do was to facilitate "conversations" and more of a "dialogue" (as opposed to debate) .. ah .. that I can do! So, I was pretty excited about last night.

During our pre-meeting last friday, they past me a list of questions "itching" their members. I actually re-catergorized them yesterday and saw some interesting patterns ... I'll just post up the one under the catergory of Christ as a sample:

"1. So, all other religions go to hell? Why doesn’t all good people go to heaven? 2. There is Heaven & Hell and Jesus is the only way to Heaven, why is God so cruel to let those unsaved go to Hell? Why Christian is the only way? Why not other religion? 3. If you believe in God, but do not believe in Jesus is the only way then how? How about people who believe in God generally but not particularly Jesus? 4. Do babies/kids who do not know Jesus go to heaven?5. Is it once you believe in Jesus, you can go to heaven? But after that, didn’t do anything as Christian cans still go to Heaven? 6. What is the significance of the cross? Are Christians praying to the cross? 7. What distinguish Christianity from other religions?"

For me it wasn't just that these questions were asked. I digged deeper and am trying to understand why these questions were asked and what is the story behind these questions. Seems to me that the Gospel is presented in a way that the questions are framed in these ways. so, apart from taking these honest questions as it is, I was also thinking about how new questions could be introduced. I was also thinking about introducing ways of understanding the Christian life beyond the limiting "heaven/hell" approach. Well, we didn't manage to talk i detail about the above questions in the session (because it was not raised) but we did at some point after the meeting during supper :-) isn't that typical Malaysian (or perhaps it's the same worldwide or it's just human)?

Back to the meeting ... after a little intro sharing that we are here to gather questions people have and then give space for everyone to contribute (especially the Christians to share their answers) I was delighted to see the non-CF members/friends/guests also participating.

Basically, we broke out into 5 groups - under the topics: Christ, Church, Ethics, Bible & any other questions. After gathering the questions, we exchanged the questions with another group and then they would share their responses and answers to the questions given and present them to everyone. After each presentation, I'd chip in my comments and suggest further thought/questions.

I tried my best to respect the "others" amongst us ... and present and facilitate the sessions "humbly" because even though there were differences (and some points interesting similarities) we need to model how to honor the "other" person unlike us and prayefully IMHO allow the Spirit to do his work. It felt like "inter-religious" dialogue at a very grass-root & informal level for me last night, and to see how the "good news" can be presented without any pressure to "convert" people prematurely (and definately not manipulatively).

We just shared our story ... our concerns .. our values ... even our struggles ... our limitations ... who we are, what we are called to do .. where we have failed, where we need to move on etc,... and in all this authentically trusting in Jesus' presence with us to guide us and lead us. It was awesome for me and very heart-warming (of course, due to minimal air-con physically it was warm too). At a deeper level, it was more than a change in style ... like it wasn't a lecture and more participatibe .. it's was actually a change in our attitudes, or in other words, a more intentional way to listen, share, and interact in the way of Jesus.

I was reminded yesterday when we were driving to the meeting of something I shared at a camp recently - that We are learning to Converse with the REAL people before us rather than the IMAGINARY stereo-types which may or may not exist. There’s more to apologetics than giving well argued answers. and we need to consciously integrate our mediums with our message and allow space for mystery and model maturity.

Random Links 58

Reality Church?
Useful way to think through where one is in relation to "church" ... and perhaps offer hope? (This Nouwen Reflection on forgiving the Church is worth reading again!)

Thank You Josh McDowell (sort of)
The usefulness and not usefulness of apologetics ... finding it's appropriate place?

Faith & Science: Opposition or Necessary Complemantarity
I spend two days listening to some of his talks on other subjects last Monday and Tuesday.

The Current State of Lutheran Systematic Theology
interesting overview ... tempts me to get some books.

Virtual theology
I downloaded everything ... I prefer the hand written notes - somehow it's more human and personal ... hmm..

A Big Idea for Pastors

A couple of things struck me in the following quote. First, is the simple focus in disciple making. Second, my personal life verse John 20:21 is mentioned (and it's also the focus verse for our church). Third, is when Brian mentioned about the benediction - that is exactly what's in my mind when I announce it EVERY time EVERY Sunday for me, my family and all those present. I'm REALLY looking forward to return to BLC after being away for 2 Sundays :-)

"Our job is to make disciples. Our job is to actually make people who are followers of Jesus and who have a role in this world similar to the role that Jesus had in this world. Jesus said, “As the Father sent me, so send I you.” We’re actually preparing people to be sent into the world.

Every Sunday when we say the benediction, we’re sending them into the world as representatives of Jesus. And so what did Jesus do? Jesus taught, Jesus asked questions. Jesus loved people. Jesus healed. Jesus spoke up about injustice and exposed hypocrisy. If we had a sense that what the Christian project is all about is actually about sending people a little better prepared week after week to represent Jesus, I think that would be a tremendously exciting thing. And in many ways this is really what this whole emergent conversation is about. How we can actually rise to that mission of making disciples." ~ Brian McLaren, A Generous, not Suspicious, Orthodoxy

Catching Up with Emergent Stuff and more...

I haven't been posting a lot relating directly to the Emergent Conversation lately ... but I'm still catching up with the it myself after quite a busy few weeks :-)

Unraveling Emergent
here are some of Doug's phrases that caught my attention:
"As Christ-centered people, many of us understand the Gospel in terms of Jesus’ radical, profound, and expansive message of the kingdom of God. "

"Emerging churches are often vigilant in their assertion that what they are about is not merely changing the methods of their faith; they are seeking to be full theological communities. "

On Emergent
So it's more than just about relevance ... read on ... "... providing a space for the conversation is messy and feelings get hurt. But for the many youth pastors who suffer angst over what they are doing -- that it falls short, that there must be more than simply a relevant church service with a large stage, candles, painters going at it, tables, videos, and irreverent banter, Emergent provides hope. ... Emergent provides a place for these travelers to tell their stories, to deconstruct, and yes, eventually to reconstruct their faith. For those who listen carefully and long enough, it is not about Christians losing their faith, but finding it once again as well."

Knight Ridder Piece on the Emerging Church
Stephen is right on this, "I think I read once that when you are deeply involved in something and then the news media covers it, that you see how sometimes major news media miss the nuances." That's why second hand news even if it's in print (and especially if it's on the web) can be misleading ... but we need to rise above these weaknesses and limitations in media with mature discernment. After reading a news piece (or even a statement which troubles us), sending an email or giving a phonecall to clarify first before jumping into conclusions (or before fossilizing our views on others) isn't that hard nowadays isn't it?

Brian McLaren is the real thing...
Ryan Bolger does a good scan of Brian's books and shares his admiration for the man.

There's A Bigger Story: Brian Mclaren
Here's a cool quote, "one of the amazing things about the Bible is that it does not try to say, “Either choose our story or choose the other guys story.” What the Bible does again and again is it outflanks the competing stories and in some ways tries to redeem them."

McLaren: 'Finding the Right Words Is Difficult'
""I don't like the term 'emergent church,' " says the pastor of the non-denominational Cedar Ridge Community Church in the Washington, D.C. area. "It sort of sets up a division like there is this church or that church. I like to talk about an emergent conversation."" Now that's a fantastic opening which I fully say AMEN ! to ...

A Generous, not Suspicious, Orthodoxy
On A lot of people have trouble explaining or understanding what the emergent church is. (*note*: personally I'm still uncomfortable with the term "Emergent Church" here but Brian's reply is pretty consistent with the word "conversation"), "The reason people have trouble is because all of us have trouble with this. There is a lot of diversity of opinion about any issue you could raise. People feel I am being evasive when I say this, but a conversation is the best word for it. In a conversation you have people saying different things about the same thing. A statement, a counter-statement, a question, an answer. Everyone is not just saying the same thing, but they’re dealing with the same set of problems. And what the emergent conversation is about is people dealing with the problems of living in a post-colonial, postmodern, post-enlightenment and maybe post-denominational world."

and more ....

"It’s not just having conversations, but about practitioners who are trying things and talking about what’s working and not working and trying to tell one another about some advice about how to deal with this. So it’s people engaged in church ministry, working with the poor, working internationally, and that sort of thing. So we’re sharing in that practice of theology."

Who Has the Last Word? An Interview with Brian McLaren
This is an engaging interview ...
"Dan Knauss:
Does loving one another as Christians across confessional boundaries mean never discussing or taking seriously our differences, or even acknowledging they exist?

Brian McLaren:
I would never say this. My books are attempts to open up space for respectful dialogue about our differences. In fact, it is our differences that give us a lot to talk about. The key, it seems to me, is that we do so not as enemies but as brothers and sisters … and that we do so not in attack but in mutual edification."

Interlude: What's Next?

I thought I'll just dwell in a little "interlude" before more reports & reflections of the recent events. Resonating what the new Bishop Philip Lok of the Lutheran Church in Malaysia said in his speech last sunday, I too am still in a stage to allow the implications of our corporate decisions to settle in. More importantly, I find myself opening up space for imaginations to emerge. What are the dangers and opportunities before us?

*side story: before the convention the frame for my glasses snapped and broke, and I needed to dig out my old pair from years ago to get through the convention and this week - that's why I look strange if you notice - but this little incident made to "redeem" the discomfort as a sign that before "looking forward" with new pairs of glasses (I got two pairs made - perhaps signifying multi=perspectives) I want to understand our denomination backwards before living forward together (Thanks to Kierkergaard for this insight)*

When Gareth and I were having breakfast yesterday, he enjoying bread and cereal while I was having my coffee. These words from Miroslav Volf caught my attention in his pieace "Theology, Meaning and Power" in the Future of theology (it''s quite a long quote but worth it - which I also see has relevance for ecclesiology in our context):

"A theology appropriate to multilingual people living in a functionally differentiated and culturally pluralistic societies should be conceived primarily a nonsystemic and critical intellectual endeavor ... In a time of "increasing interdependence cultural diversity and historic change, Stephen Toulmin argued, the intellectual task before natural and social sciences is "not to build new, more comprehensive systems of theory with universal and timeless relevance, but to limit the scope of even the best-framed theories, and fight the intellectual reductionism that became entrenched during the ascendency of rationalism." We shoulld "pay less attention to stability and system, more attention to function and adaptability". The same, I would argue holds true for theology. The more systemically rigorous and timeless our theologies are, the less useful they will be in the diverse situations of our fast-changing cultures (which by no means entails the claim that the least systemically rigorous theology --a haphazard conglomeration of theological assertions -- will be the most useful). Does theology so conceived forfeit its universal claim? To the contrary: It is because "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever," it is because Christian faith is for all times and all places, that our theologies need to be nonsystemic, contextual and flexible."

I'm chewing on this for a while especially when in our context where faith often is less reflective and to some extend we are rationally not so rigorous, the temptation is to move towards becoming over rigid in order to gain an illusory or even utopian stability in the life of the church assuming this is a higer order compared to a so called "baby faith" or even "blind faith". And yet, I do not propose we become "irrational" or "haphazard".

What I sense is a better way forward is to recognize the role of "reason" or more linear kinds of rationality its rightful place without over accenting it (often unknowingly downplaying the experiential and what I call "different kinds of rationality" that's non-linear). What is true for theological construction in our context would also be true IMHO for ecclesiological construction (or reconstruction or renovation) where we give up an illusory and not-realistic expectation or even obsession with thinking framed by words like "stability" and "systems" (but not ignoring it's role as well as limitations and contribution) and get on with dealing with what's before us with more attentions on "function" and "adaptability"

(note: it's a matter of what gets more attention while keeping a keen awareness of the other aspects in mind).