Sivin Kit's Garden

Friends 2007: A Letter to those Registered [3]

Dear Friends,

Thank you so much for making the time and space to join us for this conversation, We have received your registration and thought it would be good to send you a letter with some final details. You might want to print out this e-mail for your reference.

1. Registration will be opened from 8.00am on Saturday (3 March 2007) If you have pre-registered but have yet to pay the registration fee of RM 55.00, you can do so at the registration desk manned by Laurie Toong and her team.

If you are bringing friends who are not pre-registered, a registration fee of RM 65.00 is payable.

2. The map to the venue of the event, Christian Life Gospel Centre (CLGC), is reproduced below :

For your reference, here are some photos of the building where the venue is located :

Alternatively, you can also phone CLGC's office at 03.7955.0084 for directions.

3. Accomodations near the venue can be found at :

* Petaling Jaya Hilton
Website (Phone : 03.7955.9122)

* Hotel Singgahsana PJ (Formerly NPC Hotel)
Website (Phone : 03.7956.2100)

* Shah Village Hotel
Website (Phone : 03.7956.9322)

* Lisa De Inn
Website (Phone : 03.7955.3636)

4. Lunch will be provided on Saturday (3 March 2007). There will be simple refreshments served during the breaks.

5. Session 3 on Discipleship is open to the public (refer to programme schedule below). Please feel free to invite friends. We will collect a special offering for our speaker Brian Mclaren to show our appreciation on this night.

6. The Sunday Worship Service is not part of the programme as some may need to be back at their home churches. However, all are welcome to join us in worship at CLGC at 10.30 am. The event will resume at 2.00 pm in the afternoon.

7. There will be a book counter set up by Glad Sounds, our sponsoring partner for this event.

8. Please feel free to go to the following links to get some more information and preliminary reading :

* emergentMalaysia
www.emergentmalaysia.org

* Sivin Kit's Garden
Friends in Conversation

9. You are also welcome to join the lecture and interaction at Seminari Theoloji Malaysia (STM) in Seremban on Monday, 5 March 2007, at 10.00 am. This is event is free and open to all interested. More information about the lecture can be found at www.stm.edu.my.

Finalised Programme Schedule

Come with a relaxed mind and an open heart. We look forward to seeing you face to face and joining you in exploring where God is leading us in the future.

Feel free to contact me by e-mail (friends@emergentmalaysia.org) or by phone (013.3507.246) anytime if you have any further enquiries.

God bless.

Rev. Sivin Kit
on behalf of the organising team

Friends 2007: Warm Up [3]

Giggles and laughter ...

Behind the scenes details ...

in deep thought ...

Another round of laughter ... it's good medicine.

everyone contributing to "make it so"

Prayer

Watchwords for Today are:
"Therefore we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God" - Joshua 24:18

"We, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us." - Romans 12:5-6

After-Taste

" When Ignatius Loyola was recovering after breaking his leg in battle, he used to enjoy the romances they gave him to read; but he found that their after-taste was empty and unsatisfying. When he read the Gospels, the after-taste was of solid food, something he could live on. He learned to discern the after-taste of experiences. That is the way the Holy Spirit can shape our lives. It means listening to our hearts to discover the path of God and of the Holy Spirit through us, and to recognise what blocks we place, consciously or unconsciously, to God's work in us." - Sacred Space

Random Thoughts before another Shandy?

I confess the more I read some excellent blogs and reflections the more I feel inadequate. I think being an encourager is so much more less pressure than being an expert.

someone asked me why I like to do or coordinate projects like Nails and Thorns 2007 (more meditations already posted up). Maybe it's because though I found the study of theology very rewarding, and reflecting on ministry and mission constantly moving me into new territory in terms of action, I find the place of prayer and meditation with the Bible open before me, and my prayer journal at my side (occasionally with help from others in the form of notes like these Lent meditations) a "sanctuary" crucial to keep me anchored in my relationship with God.

Tried to get some rest today. It's been pretty stressful. A lot of unfinished tasks ahead. Alluding to a Chinese saying, I'm not a person with three heads and six hands.

More and more, I find face to face encounters a must. Reading someone behind a computer screen is ok to a certain extent - but not useful to read the motivations of another (unless it's clearly stated). Guessing tends to send us off tangents which might hinder progress in understanding. Perhaps this is where a posture of risk and trust is a needed antidote to a tendency to be suspicious. Maybe it's because we live in a world where trust is so fragile and we are in an environment which breathes more fear into our psyche.

how do we react perhaps reflects (1) The way we view our present because of our past, or (2) The way we view our future either due to our perceived fears or a vision for future change. I'm sure it's not just 2 factors, but this is the two areas occupying our mind.

someone asked me about "Baptism in the Holy Spirit" in a class last Sunday. I tried to approach the question in the best way i think I could considering where the person asking is coming from as well as my own back ground. I thought about that a lot after the class because, looking back my experiences, and lessons and ways I've interpreted my experience and the way I read the various Biblical texts has changed (or at least become more nuanced). And then at the same time, even while I was trying to teach about the Holy Spirit (with the help of the Apostle's Creed, Luther, and more) my mind was also thinking about how we relate to the Holy Spirit into the future as a Christian and the church.

Gone were the need for me to dwell on the controversies of the past (even though during the short time we did discuss a little on how people view their experience of the Holy Spirit), and there was also a conscious choice not to be closed to the work of the Spirit in the future. Of course, during this process, I think it was important not just to have a basic grasp of church history, but going back to the relevant biblical texts (which often are used to justify various positions are needed). Of course, one will arrive at least one way of interpreting the texts or even a number of ways where we can say it's a faithful reading. And yet, there are experiences or opinions we have that we cannot deny but perhaps need a little bit longer to process them. What I valued especially for our time together last Sunday, is the need to emphasize we do it together (and not as isolated individuals detached from community - or to use the biblical term which I like - "the body of Christ).

Elysia prayed with me a short prayer before we ate dinner tonight. That was a precious moment. Then she bowed her head for another short time of prayer with my mom before Mom started her dinner. And later, she was the one also who was chasing me to bring her home. How often, the children lead us ... not in childishness but in childlike reminders ...

With that I'll skip the Shandy ... and go for some warm water. Some contemplation. And reading before I sleep.

Friends 2007: Encouragement [5]

As we move into the final stages preparing for the upcoming event on Saturday and Sunday (plus other bonuses!) It's wonderful to get some encouraging emails. Please allow me to repost two:

"Hello to all of you in Malaysia, Singapore and elsewhere who are gathering for the Quiet Revolution of Hope conversation! I've been following the progress of Sivin and others organizing this and I'm so excited for you - it surely does bring hope to gather with others who are dreaming big dreams for the future of our communities of faith. I find hope every time I discover someone else who also feels a desire to see the body of Christ progress to the next place God has for us - what excitement we talk with! - When God does something locally, it's one thing, but when you see it happening all around the world it really makes you wonder what God is up to. Blessings to you all from those of us on the other side of the world, here in New York City, who gather to hold this conversation.

Jeff Kursonis, church planter and Emergent Village Coordinating Group member"

and another one from my good friend Jason Clark who's walked with us since day one.

"Dear Sivin & our brothers and sisters in Malaysia,

It has been wonderful to watch you gently and lovingly move people
into discussion and friendship, incarnating the very nature and hopes
many of us have found through our relationship with Emergent.

When I am asked me what Emergent is, I try to point to people who
embody, a 'lived theology' of our conversations/hopes/aspirations.
Thank you for being
people we can do that with. We esteem your desire to see people
connect at this time/space in ways that will deepen their faith, and
grow the body of Christ.

Be blessed, and we look forward to hearing your reports.

As ever,

Jason Clark
London, UK"

Short one for tonight. Need more energy when the sun rises tomorrow.

Friends 2007: Focus [5]

Looks like a lot of last minute registrations coming and for those of us directly involved more fine tuning. So it's good to get some focus. I think especially in the light of some buzz surrounding the event ranging from "fantastic" to "compromising" (I'll leave it to your imagination *smile*).

I thought I'll pick out some lines I read some time ago from Brian's website and fuse in some personal thoughts sparked by his Note to Readers

"1. Please do not cause dissension, division, or trouble on my account (or any other account!). If others say or write unfair or inaccurate things about me or my writings, please do not respond in kind. You may wish to offer some words of personal testimony by telling people how God has in some way helped you through my work, or you may want to offer your personal observation if you have met me in person, but please, please do not respond with harshness, counterattack, or defensiveness. ..."

This requires a lot of self-discipline, restraint and maturity ... and a couple of friends to unload first. If there aren't many friends who are able or available to help process through the "stuff" ... I've resorted to journaling (with God as my audience of one) when I'm frustrated with what I read. I think a lot done in the privacy of our communion with God does wonders.

"2. Please do not make me or even my books the issue. Make Christ and his teachings the issue, and make a right understanding of the Scriptures the issue. ..."

I think this is a very important piece of advice. So often we get carried away ... Lord have mercy. This Lent season is a good reminder on who is our ultimate absolute focus.

3. If you have become convinced of something from one of my books, and you hear a preacher or friend say the opposite, if at all possible, just let it slide. Instead, try to hear what they’re saying in a charitable light and learn whatever you can from it. Affirm whatever you can and don’t argue about the rest ... "

I've never been good at arguing anyway. I like conversations (even those where people can disagree respectfully). I participated on two debate teams during school days, one for the Chinese society and one for the English society .. in both cases our opponents were girl schools, we lost both times. My conclusion is either girls are smarter than us boys and can out debate us or my calling is not in winning arguments with flowery rhetoric or densely formulated impressive logic (For the record: I am not anti-rational or think there's no place of a reasonable discussion or well crafted argument which enhances understanding and learning). For now the focus for me is to encourage and facilitate the upcoming conversations with a team of wonderful friends. Uncharitable arguments don't energize me, intense respectful conversations do. I'll focus on the latter.

"4. Please don’t recommend my books to people who aren’t ready for them. I wouldn’t have been able to handle some ideas in my books twenty years ago, so I am sympathetic to people who can’t handle them now. The book that means the most to you may be a distraction to one of your friends, so please be careful and prayerful in this regard. Timing is, as they say, everything."

Food for thought on this one .... I do think twice on which book to recommend Malaysian pastors or leaders. And I confess, the NKOC series is not my first choice (even though I personally enjoy them). Usually I go for The Church on the Other Side, Finding Faith and the recent The Secret Message of Jesus. At times, I'll suggest A Generous Orthodoxy. It depends. I think Brian's interviews and articles are pretty good conversation starters.

5. If you have become convinced of some things from my books which put you at odds with your church or organization, please do not undermine the leadership there. Please! People often ask my advice in these situations. I don't think there is a universal prescription (except love your neighbors!), but when I was a senior pastor, here's what I wish people would have done if they had differences with my leadership or teaching: First, I wish they would have come to me (or written to me) in private and in a friendly and nonthreatening way told me what they have come to see or believe (not what they think I should see or believe!). Then I wish they would have asked me for my advice on what they should do. Would I like the opportunity to present them with counter-arguments? Would I prefer that they leave and find another church? Would I prefer that they stay and share their ideas, gently and patiently of course, with others? Would I prefer that they form a small group to dialogue about these matters? Or maybe I think that they're on the right track, but this congregation isn’t ready for their ideas, so perhaps they should consider finding or forming a new faith community? Third, I would have appreciated a promise that they wouldn't cause dissension in the congregation, but would instead pursue what makes for peace and mutual edification.

If it turns out that you should leave, please write a letter of thanks to the church leaders – without even a hint of criticism – and leave them with a blessing, so that whenever you see one another in the future, they’ll have a good feeling about you and gratitude for your mature spirit. I think it is a good gesture to give a generous financial gift as part of your goodbye. If you have duties at the church, don't leave without finding and training a replacement. Above all, don’t even get close to a church split or anything like it. It’s better to quietly withdraw than disturb the peace of a faith community in any way. Again echoing the apostle Paul, as far as it depends on you, be at peace with everyone, and be diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

As the only pastor of my congregation, I thought this was worth quoting in full ..

"6. If you are a pastor or other leader yourself, please do not impose on your congregation or organization ideas you have become convinced of through my books. Change is a process that requires wise and patient leadership. To rush new ideas into a sermon is often the very worst way to bring about change – apart from a change of address and employment, that is! If your congregation is open to new ideas and seeks a transformation in its identity to a more missional and emergent vocation, I would highly recommend you begin by finding an experienced consultant that you trust to guide you in this process"

As the only pastor of my congregation, I thought this was worth quoting in full too ... change indeed is easier said than done. And it can be lonely.

"7. If you are mistreated simply because you agree with ideas in my books, then by all means seek out some friends who will understand. You’ll need some people with whom you can be open and honest so that you can process the pain and grief of mistreatment. You may need to seek a professional counselor or spiritual director’s help. Whatever you do, don’t let the mistreatment of others destroy your faith or make you lose heart. Doing so will in the end empower the people who have behaved badly. Instead, let their mistreatment drive you deeper into God’s compassionate care."

It's advice like this that moves one forward. It's just to tempting to either fall backward into some kind of whirlpool self-absorbed depressive state or simply being stuck into inactivity or even apathy. I suppose it's understandable why some of us would land up there for whatever reason. But for me, I always sense deep inside in whatever circumstance ... a gentle whisper calling me forward.

"8. An idea: if you're excited about something you've gained from my work, instead of turning it into discussion, first turn it into action and invite others to get involved with the action."

Talking about it is always easier. But this is such a good and simple idea. I'm growing weary even of my own words at times.

"9. If you see people who have been helped by my books doing the opposite of one of these requests, please encourage them to read or re-read this letter."

This is not easy, but we can try. As long as people are willing to listen, I guess there's still hope :-)

"It has been my policy to avoid defending myself. Occasionally I have offered some clarification, and I am in the process of writing a friendly note to my critics, asking for their cooperation in raising the quality of dialogue in our Christian communities. But I do not want to become defensive, nor do I want to get anywhere close to counter-attack, aggressively or passive-aggressively. If I do that, I have violated the message I’m trying to live and communicate."

I hope to participate in raising the quality of dialogue too ... there's still so much to learn.

Random Links 138

REVISITING THE CRITICAL ASIAN PRINCIPLE
I need to have a fresh look at the CRITICAL ASIAN PRINCIPLE again. Then walk through the process of Rethinking Critical Asian Principle. And then the more important question: What does all this mean for me a pastor? and as a Christian now?

Developing Theology
Accidental delightful discovery! VERY delightful indeed.

Roy Bhaskar Interviewed
Hmmm ... this is heavy for brunch!
" Q. Can you tell us what is distinctive about critical realism as compared with other realist epistemologies and philosophies of science?

A. The answer to this question would take an interview in its own right! But very briefly, it used a transcendental method of argument, which most philosophies of science didn't use, and then the transcendental argument became a dialectical one in which the force was immanent critique. Secondly, it had the various propositions about ontology, about the necessity of ontology, about the particular place or shape of ontology - that the nature of the world is presupposed by science – which it explicitly thematised, and it was shown that rival philosophies of science tacitly secreted or implicitly presupposed some distinctive, normally Humean, ontology that was quite inadequate to the real nature of being and the true character of science. The sort of ontology I was arguing for was the kind of ontology in which the world was seen as structured, differentiated and changing. And science was seen as a process in motion attempting to capture ever deeper and more basic strata of a reality at any moment of time unknown to us and perhaps not even empirically manifest.

So this created a radically new world view and this world view was taken into the philosophy of social science, into ethics, into politics to a small extent, into other branches of philosophy, into the history of philosophy, and above all into the area of dialectic.

Now there is a third thing besides the content of the particular thesis at issue at any particular stage in the development of critical realism. Through and through critical realism has been critical of what we can call the nature of reality itself. Not the nature of absolute reality, or the absolute structure of being - to be critical of that is to put oneself into the position of God or the creator of the universe - but rather it is to be critical of the nature of actual, currently existing, social reality, or of our understandings of social and natural reality. It has always taken epistemologies, philosophical thesis, etc., as reflections of the society in which they are generated and sustained. And as far as these theses are misleading, they point to deep categorial confusions and errors inherent in the very structure of social reality itself. So it was natural to find an identification between people who were influenced by critical realism and left-wing socialist, Marxist and other critical currents of thought in the 1970s and through on into the 1990s.

And so I would say that the three major distinctive things about critical realism are: its transcendental and dialectical character; the content of its particular theses; and the fact that it is critical of the nature of reality itself, in the first instance social reality, including the impact of human beings upon the natural world in which they are embedded and in which they are at present creating so much havoc."

Friends 2007: One more Week! [7]

We had a good time of prayer tonight. After all the talk on final preparations and further fine tuning in planning, and then some level of laughter and updates on the "buzz" surrounding the event. What for me I found precious was the time we prayed together. The language of prayer is where we connected with the One who we entrust ourselves to especially one week before the event.

We're grateful to Mike Foong and his team in helping us get the audio-video set up ready. I'm totally blur when it comes to technical stuff like this. And yet, those like Mike blossom in this kind of tasks. I'm curious to see how the potential DVD will turn out. Maybe a director's cut? :-)

We're grateful to Pastor Raj and Reuben and everyone at Christian Life Gospel Centre for the logistic support they are giving.

We're grateful to Laurie from Council of Churches of Malaysia who's been working behind the scenes making sure the registrations and payments are in order and helping us to keep track on the latest sign ups. She'll also be welcoming all who are coming.

We're grateful to Bob Kee who's revamped the emergentMalaysia website. He's also coaching us with relevant tips when it comes to communications matters.

We're grateful to Adeline settling various quotations for us to decide on and keeping an eye on how people can be fed in the coming weekend!

We're also grateful to Yew Khuen our chairman who's guiding the group gently in spite of his own heavy schedule. He makes sure the details are checked from the budget to various check lists. I'm looking forward to see how the small group questions and guide can help the participants "personalize" their learning and be open to listen to others.

We're especially grateful for all the conversation partners and facilitators. I have heard from some "interesting" conversations they have already been part of simply by having their name printed on the same brochure with Brian McLaren! Others talked about different reactions and eyebrows raised because of their participation in this event.

I'd only wish those who may have questions to come for the event, at least the open night meeting. Meet Brian for themselves and hear the conversation partners interact. I'd be happy to say hello! :-) Moving from a more distant stance to a more face to face posture does us all much good. Furthermore, I think we have a pretty good framework to get ourselves thinking together. I don't think it will be too technical or very academic sounding or with high flying rhetoric. I foresee a very human encounter of minds and hearts of followers of Christ which will desires to benefit all who participate.

Oh yes ... We're also grateful for all those who have already signed up. Especially those traveling all the way from Singapore (thanks for the phone call), from the east coast and islands, as well as the historic city of Malacca. The schedule is a little tight, but let's see how this intensive time together might generate missional possibilities.

We have not achieved much yet (depending on perspective), but nothing should stop us from expressing gratitude. All thanks ultimately goes to God.

Tonight, I valued very much our time of prayer tonight. I felt the Spirit move amongst us quietly and gently. This convinced me once again the need for an authentic spirituality to be at the heart what often are 2 opposite poles - reflection and praxis.

They like Jesus but not the Church?

Thanks Jason Clark for voicing this out here The whole post is worth quoting in full with some thoughts I picked out in the comments which I found helpful.

I’ve had the idea of “people like Jesus and not the church” as blog post in my ideas box for a while. Seeing that Dan Kimble has his new book out on this topic got me to drag it out and put it here. I’m sure Dan’s book is as great as his previous books, I haven’t read it yet, and what follows it not a critique of his book but a reference to the idea of people being into Jesus and not church.

Since the day I became a christian I have heard people say people like Jesus but not the church. I can remember when I wasn’t a christian and liked the idea of Jesus but not of church for sure. I’ve heard variations of this, along the lines of “if Jesus came back today do you think he would be visiting any of our churches?” with the reponse that of course Jesus wouldn’t be caught dead (excuse the pun) in our churches.

Now for certain the church has gotten in the way of people knowing Jesus. Nothing new there just read the New Testament, seems the church was a stumbling block to many people who were interested in Jesus. And we do need to look at how the church, supposedly the body of Christ can too often be the thing that keeps people from Jesus.

Yet lets also umask the myth of people being into Jesus and not the church. Are people really into Jesus? Maybe in the way we are into a celebrity. The Pope, Mother Terressa can be media celebrities that millions adore, but when it comes to believing and doing what they do, people are far from interested in them.

Maybe people are into Jesus the celebrity, it would be cool to meet him, see a miracle, maybe have him help me directly away from those pesky church people to meet my needs. But to follow him, believe in him, do what he did, lay down my life for others, is that really the Jesus people are into?

We see in the New Testament, Jesus unmask the church of his day that kept people from knowing God, yet as people followed him their numbers dwindled, as they realised that jesus the celebrity and Jesus as lord and master of my life was something very different. And utlimately where was the explosion of people that really connected to a life devoted to following Jesus? It was in the church in Acts.

We still like binary opposites, of Jesus to the church but without the church there is no Jesus, and without Jesus there is no church. I imagine Jesus on a cold rainy sunday in London, would walk into the dead local anglican church and sit next to the 80 year lady, whose whole life had been lived around a rhythmn of worship, who quitely and completely unknown had done more mission through her faith through that dead church, than most people who talked about and aspired to mssion. I imagine he would turn to her and say ‘well done’. Church is one place we might still find Jesus.

some extras below from Jason:

"... when people want to say they are into jesus, and not church, they are not into Jesus at all, and would like the people of the new testament decide not to follow him.

And I prepared to give the rest of my life pursuing Jesus with others in His church, rather than construct him on my own terms, with the church in all it’s mess, rather than some idealised notion of having Jesus without the mess of other people who know him too.

... …and for christian the church is the body of Christ, something dear to us that we find Jesus in in all it’s mess. The notion of a non mediated, non incarnated jesus who is available without the church is the myth of consumer media culture.

... I am the first to talk about how the church gets in the way, I’m not arguing for the church to do nothing and not change it needs to desperately, but so do the people who set themselves apart from it, as if it doesn’t concern them when it comes to Jesus.

... today you’d think church was the last place for Jesus, and certainly to dare to hope that church might a place where jesus is found, and to aspire for it to to do so seems more than a little like swimming against the tide.

... what happens if we get rid of the church, and just let Jesus meet people, how do they learn about him, and grow to follow him, on their own? Or do they do that with other people? And what do you call a new bunch of non church people trying to help each other follow Jesus, maybe church? And that new group/collection/gaggle will be full of people, just like the rest of people in other churches.

We have too idealised a notion of church, and an idealised version of jesus, that involves not needing to explore that with others in the real world."

My little comment which I tried to post:
"Thanks Jason for this post. We need to hear this. I think when there's too much church bashing, we are the ones who get hurt in the end ... in the long run.

"I prepared to give the rest of my life pursuing Jesus with others in His church, rather than construct him on my own terms, with the church in all it’s mess, rather than some idealised notion of having Jesus without the mess of other people who know him too."

I'm joining you in this pursuit! Looking forward to see others come along."

Emergent Mandarin Oranges

I submit the following Mandarin oranges in the form of these links (HT: Tallskinnykiwi)
as Chinese New Year refreshments! The context is different but the lessons are useful.

Is Emergent Heretical?
"The so-called emerging church is not a monolithic, single-minded, doctrinally united, movement that can be either embraced or rejected as if it everyone in it thinks the same thing. I’m sure there are individuals within emergent who, in the eyes of fundamentalists and some conservative evangelicals, hold to uncomfortable and perhaps even erroneous positions. But the movement itself has no doctrinal statement because it is not a church, or even a para-church organization. It started as, and continues to be a forum for conversation for emerging leaders who are struggling to respond missionally to a post-Christian culture, which by the way is what Chuck Smith did 40 years ago when he reached out to the Jesus people and introduced contemporary music to his church. I fear that Chuck Smith’s statement rather than contributing to the new conversation about missional effectiveness simply shuts dialogue down."

Does Emergent Promote Pluralism? -1-,
"If you follow Schliermacher then you can easily argue, as does John Hick, for theological pluralism. But that’s not the message I’m hearing in emergent. Are there individuals within emergent who believe and teach that? Perhaps, but on the whole I’m not hearing it. However, I am hearing dissatisfaction with the traditional evangelical view. I am hearing unease with how some evangelicals have answered the question, “What is the destiny of those who die outside of Christ?” I hear a desire to change the way that question is answered, but the new approach is not pluralism, but something else."

-2-,
"What is the destiny of those who die outside of Christ? Some are saying that the emergent church movement is promoting a form of pluralism in response to that question. I don't agree. I do sense dissatisfaction with the traditonal view, but I don't think the replacement view is pluralism.

...Dissatisfaction with some of the aspects of the so-called traditional view is not limited to the emergent movement. In fact, there has been increasing movement away from some of these ideas within evangelicalism as a whole. I sympathize with Christians who with Erickson hold the traditional view. They are disturbed by voices that challenge that view, believing that any change in any of the six points constitutes a watering of the potency of the gospel and capitulation to cultural relativism.

My experience, however, is that those who have questioned some aspects of the so-called traditional view have done so as a matter of theological and biblical study and reflection and not as an emotional cave-in to the culture. They have also done so because of a rediscovery of the Church Fathers and variants in how the early church understood the saving significance of Christ. "

-3-,
-4-,
" So far I've answered the question, "Does the emerging church movement promote pluralism?" with a hardy, "no", if you define pluralism as theological relativism where every religion is said to have saving significance. At the same time, many leaders in the emerging church are re-thinking the traditional evangelical view on the ultimate destiny of the unevangelized. They aren't replacing the traditional view with pluralism or universalism, but with inclusivism, which is a very different animal.

... Indications of inclusivist thinking are found in a wide variety of Christian leaders and theological parties, including Billy Graham, J. I. Packer, C. S. Lewis, The Westminster Confession, John Wesley, fundamentalist forerunner William Shedd, and the Roman Catholic Church."

-5-
Lots of quotes to reflect on.

-6-
Not sure whether he will go on ... but the whole discussion now has broaden beyond whether "does Emergent promote pluralism?" The 6 post slow down and unpacking does us much good.

especially during this season of Lent :-)

Friends 2007: Coming up Next Week [9]

Join the conversations on:

GOSPEL - more than we imagined it to be

What are the "versions" of the gospel ... in the minds of church members and pastors today in Malaysia? What are the consequences of believing these "versions"? Where do we get our influences and what do we need to take note?

CHURCH - ways forward beyond forms and technique

How do people Christians and non Christians view "Church"? What occupies the minds of our pastors and church leaders? How do we wrestle with institutional as well as non-institutional aspects of church?

DISCIPLESHIP - tired of shortcuts and superficiality

How do people see their Christian life today? How is discipleship and/or spiritual formation happening now in our churches? Are their any new directions, paradigms or practices Christians are experimenting? What are their strengths and weaknesses? Where is the role of the Bible in this process? what is the place of church history or traditions - east or west?

WORLD - being ready for active engagement

How do we view our world - e.g nation? what role can we play in terms of transformation? What is transformation? What does it look like? Where do we get our ideas of what kind of transformation needs to take place?

For the first time in Malaysia, influential speaker and author Brian McLaren and Conversation Partners touch on challenges and opportunities facing the 21st Century Church.

Date & Time : March 3-4 (Saturday & Sunday)

Venue :
Christian Life Gospel Centre , Petaling Jaya
3rd Floor, Kompleks Kemajuan,
2, Jalan 19/1B, 46300 Petaling Jaya,
Selangor, Malaysia.

Registration Fee :
RM55 (Walk-in Registration RM65) - inclusive of handouts, tea and one lunch.

Organised by emergent Malaysia in collaboration with:

* Council of Churches Malaysia (CCM) Faith & Order Committee
* Initiative for Theological Reflection in Asia (IN.T.R.A)
* Seminari Theoloji Malaysia (STM)
* Glad Sounds Sdn Bhd

Conversation Partners:

* Rev. Fr. Dr. Jojo Fung Jee Vui, S.J.
Coordinator, IN.T.R.A
* Sherman YL Kuek , O.S.L.
DTh Candidate, Adjunct Lecturer in Christian Theology at STM
* Elder Chris Leong
Elder, Bandar Utama Chapel
* Dr. Ng Kam Weng
Director, Kairos Research Centre
* The Rt. Rev. Philip Lok
Bishop, Lutheran Church in Malaysia & Singapore
* Rev. Dr. Hermen Shastri
General Secretary of Council of Churches Malaysia
* Dr. Tan Soo-Inn
Author, Speaker, Grace@Work
* Dr. Alex Tang
Director, Spiritual Formation Institute
* Elder Tan Kong Beng
Elder, Subang Jaya Gospel Centre, Co-founding Director of Oriental Hearts & Minds Study Institute
* Steven Wong
NECF Research Commission Chairman
* Rev. Wong Fong Yang
Pastor of City Discipleship Presbyterian Church , Vice-Moderator, Gereja Presbyterian Malaysia
* Dr. Voon Choon Khing
Lecturer in Christian Spirituality & Pastoral Counseling at STM

Conversation Facilitators

* Rev. Sivin Kit
Pastor, Bangsar Lutheran Church & Coordinator of emergent Malaysia
* Pastor Raj Singh
Pastor, Christian Life Gospel Centre & Director, Soul Survivor Malaysia
* Alwyn Lau
Researcher & Teacher at Fairview International School
* Tricia Yeoh
Senior Research Analyst, Centre of Public Policy Studies

Emergent Ang Pows

[A Critique of Criticism:] A Response to Reactionism Against the Emerging Church
After reading this: "What I am interested in is a discussion of the knee-jerk reactions; the critical responses that arise out of a spirit of superiority, disdain, fear, etc. It is with that aim in mind that we at Precipice launch a new feature called: A Critique of Criticism: A Response to Reactionism Against the Emerging Church. Over the next few weeks we’ll be directly addressing these particularly ungracious, destructive and dismissive examples of criticism, one by one." ... I'll be watching this series closely.

Superficial Church: The Loss of Real Church
Nice to see Jason Clark jumping into the discussion even more.

emersion
finally some activity on this site.

LTTBOEC Clarification of the intent
I like questions ... especially good ones. Have a look at these:

ZONDERVAN QUESTIONS:

* How did you come to be involved in church ministry? (Brief summary of your calling/story).

* What is unique about how you do church? What do you believe about the nature and purpose of the church?

* What is your view of worship including the nature and purpose of preaching?

* What is your view of Scripture?

* Are there basic doctrinal affirmations that you think are essential to authentic Christianity?

* What is your view of the person and work of Christ including the atonement?

* What is your view of the relation of Christianity to other religions and the doctrine of eternal punishment?

* How have your views changed over the past decade?

WEBBER QUESTIONS:
* How do you regard “the story of God” as a place to start theological thinking?

* What is your attitude toward “communal reflection” as opposed to individualized theology?

* Do you subscribe to “post systems theology?”

* How does truth get embodied?

* How do sign and symbol communicate truth?

* How do you view the ancient creeds, especially the Apostles Creed, the Nicene Creed, the Chalcedon Creed?

* How should we approach the issue of unity and diversity?

* What role will tradition play in the Emerging church?

* What cultural revolutions of recent years shape your way of thinking? i.e. scientific; philosophical; globalism; communication theory; historical analysis; sociological shifts; relativism.

Listening to the Beliefs of Emerging Churches. Part One.
awaiting part two.

Frustrations with Being Emerging
Nice short post.

Random Thoughts after Ash Wednesday Service

Ash Wednesday services has become one of my favorite services next to Good Friday (and perhaps Easter). Then again, after embracing the Christian year as integral to my life ... all the major Christian festivals as well as little minor ones has become a life shaping force for me.

Reading an email when i came back really lifted my spirit ... thanks to "you know who" for these kind words, it's nice to get some encouragement. Stuff like this energizes me to "blog on" (to the tune of the U2 song "walk on"!):

"I just want to tell you that your website has been a source of inspiration and encouragement. I am appreciative of the BLC family and your work there. In the morning, before I start work, I will usually read a piece of reading recommended on your site. During the day, I am streamming on to the songs that you now have on your site. Today, on Ash Wednesday, I resonate with this prayer, "Lord, I am not worthy Lord, I am not worthy, but speak the word only" as I journey through the day here at work, sitting at my cubicle. Perhaps, the main issue here for me is that I found that your website has helped me reconcile workplace and faith. Thank you."

We had a simple and short Ash Wednesday service in BLC based on the liturgy here from Philippines if I'm not mistaken Away with All Masks. The prayer before the "imposition of ashes" was profound:

Bless + these ashes, Lord,

as the sign of conversion and penance,

as the token that we want

to discover your Son today

in the silence of our prayer

and in our neighbors,

whom we encounter in their needs.

Let the sign of the cross,

given in the name of the Father,

and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

encourage and heal us,

so that we may serve you and our neighbor

by the strength of Jesus Christ our Lord.

The closing blessing was also one which I appreciated much.

Only God can make us whole again

from our brokenness.

Only God can give us the insight

to discover how often we are alienated

from him, from people, even from our true selves.

Only God can give us the strength

to change our ways and to become all new.

May the living and loving God bless you:

the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

I feel at peace right now. I know the short afternoon nap helped physically and emotionally.

I enjoyed spending the afternoon at my aunty's place. Gave away nearly 25 An Pows. That's how many kids were there. But when I heard my 45 year old cousin who's in hospital now still battling cancer. The whole celebration and laughter was put in perspective. And it aligned me back to the season of Lent and suffering specifically. Thus prayers like this one:

"Only God can make us whole again

from our brokenness."

means so much to me nowadays compared to when I was younger and especially when I had a more limited vision of who God is.

Friends 2007: Introducing Brian - the writer III [10]

I noticed there are people like me who like to read and those who REALLY read (with more of a researcher and reviewer bug!). My friend Alwyn is one of those people. I thought I'd post up his thoughts on Brian McLaren's latest book taken from his post Sharing the Secret .. Enjoy.

"The radical revolutionary empire of God is here, advancing by reconciliation and peace, expanding by faith, hope and love - beginning with the poorest, the weakest, the meekest, and the least. It's time to change your thinking. Everything is about to change. It's time for a new way of life. Believe me. Follow me. Believe this good news so you can learn to live by it and be part of the revolution." (The Secret Message of Jesus, p.32-33)

I liked almost everything about The Secret Message of Jesus. I liked the casual, creative and/yet humble tone. I liked the borrowing from N.T. Wright's work on the historical Jesus, reemphasizing the Jewishness and political-ness of Jesus (and how "to be unpolitical was to be irrelevant" in 1st cent. Judaism). I liked the firm location of Jesus within the Jewish story of the covenanting, rescuing, authentic people-producing Creator. I loved the targums scattered all over the book, like the opening one above from the lips of Jesus Himself. And of course I welcome the challenge for the church to be all it was meant to be.

Not too heavy on theology, sprinkled with contemporary examples and stories and filled with questions, I get the impression McLaren wrote SMOJ so cell-groups could study it all year round, chapter by short chapter.

Which is fine because the books addresses such 'Gospel 101' yet indispensable questions like: Why did Jesus speak most often in vague and easily misunderstood parables? What was the purpose of his miracles? How did the kingdom he wanted to inaugurated compare/contrast with existing kingdoms? How can we get a grip on the Sermon on the Mount, that radical "kingdom manifesto" as McLaren calls it? What did Jesus mean by asking people to repent and be born again?

"Once you can trust God to 'make a save', it's a lot easier to admit your own misdirection." (p.108, the summation of an interesting story involving a hockey-player unknowingly attempting an own goal!)

McLaren shows us a Jesus whose intention was not to steam-roll over His opponents' arguments, creating a beyond-doubt intellectual edifice for His new kingdom. Violence of any kind wasn't the way.

Subtlety, an embodied narrative, powerful symbols, daring vulnerability and radical selflessness (don't even think this word fits) was used to inspire rethinking (McLaren's substitute word for 'repenting') and subvert entrenched prejudices and oppressive values (which are usually extolled as the way things 'should be').

"Human kingdoms advance by force and violence with falling bombs and flying bullets, but God's kingdom advances by stories, fictions, tales that are easily ignored and easily misunderstood. Perhaps that's the only way it can be." (p.49)

There are also some very moving examples (from Tony Campolo hosting birthday parties for prostitutes, from a cab driver organising redeveloping projects in Africa, etc.) of how one can be effective agents of the kingdom wherever and whenever opportunities arise.

I think we need more books like SMOJ and writers like McLaren, giving just the right amount of Biblical grounding and depth (unlike many non-evangelicals or 'Christian/inspirational' writers), isn't overly contemplative (like Philip Yancey or Dallas Willard perhaps?), nor too glitzy and high-techy (like how Leonard Sweet can get at times) nor half-demand a theological education of its readers (like over 80% of evangelical writers out there with a Ph.D).

Not that one is expected to agree with McLaren entirely on everything he writes. Even an enthusiastic recommender of the book like meself can find one or two pages to side-note with a question mark, such as McLaren's (drawing on Dallas Williard's) take on the 'tear out your sinful eye' section in Matthew 5:29-30, which I felt was dealt with better by writers with a more coherent structure of Matthew 5-7 (e.g. Gushee & Stassen, 2003).

McLaren also doesn't miss the opportunity to discuss issues like the Just War and Pacifist perspectives on war (I'm no pacifist but McLaren has definitely got me pondering), new models/language for the kingdom of God (Dream, Network, Dance, Party - lovely stuff), the mainly preterist interpretation of the book of Revelations (heads up, fans of N.T. Wright, Greg Boyd, etc.) and life (or longing for glorious life) after death, where he draws heavily from C.S. Lewis' 'weight of glory' theme.

Read SMOJ (more than once!) if you're looking to jump-start waning interest in Jesus and his agenda, if you suspect you need to focus a little less on the abstract dogmatic stuff and work on making a kingdomly impact on your everyday world, if you'd like some sparkling new vocabulary to reach your listeners (all numbed with Christian jargon).

Most importantly, don't keep the secret to yourself.

Alex Tang one of our conversation partners for the "Discipleship" topic also chipped in his own thoughts on the book here.

Another angle on the book here written by Craig Carter who did his Ph.D. at the University of Toronto School of Theology under John Webster (I thought it was cool that there are PhDs who are reading Brian's books which aren't dense academic dissertations!).

Ash Wednesday: Away with All Masks

We'll be having simple service tonight themed "Away with All Masks" at 8pm, at the Father's House (BLC premises). Please be our guest if you'd like to start the season with other Christians together in corporate worship.

I confess a sad news marks my start for the season. That's the "cross" I bear. And this will be a good time for seeking to walk in the way of Jesus.

Words from this meditation written by my young friend - O LAME WHO WALK, HEAR YE! - helps to keep the focus.

"Today’s passage reminds us that our focus must be on Jesus (vv. 2-3). "Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men," the writer of Hebrews says. Jesus calls all His disciples 'fishers of men' (Luke 5:1-11), and although we often fail in this, yet He shows up for breakfast and delivers more we'd ever dare imagine (John 21:1-12).

Aware of our mortality, of the mere ashes of which we are made, He nonetheless breathes His life into us and gives us our very being. He is the one who called the lame to walk, and He still does. Let us learn to throw off the sin that entangles and follow Him, that His grace to us may not be in vain (1 Corinthians 15:10). Praise Him."

There was link to a poem by T.S. Eliot, Ash Wednesday. It's long but these following phrases stood out for me right now:

"Lady of silences

Calm and distressed

Torn and most whole

Rose of memory

Rose of forgetfulness

Exhausted and life-giving

Worried reposeful

The single Rose

Is now the Garden

Where all loves end

Terminate torment

Of love unsatisfied

The greater torment

Of love satisfied

End of the endless

Journey to no end

Conclusion of all that

Is inconclusible

Speech without word and

Word of no speech

Grace to the Mother

For the Garden

Where all love ends."

and this shorter one has become by prayer for today:

"Lord, I am not worthy Lord, I am not worthy

but speak the word only."

Pancake Day (Shrove Tuesday)

It's the third day for the Chinese New year celebrations this year, but it's also Shrove Tuesday. Thanks to Ian. we tried some pancake flipping! Enjoy our performance by clicking on the pictures ... you can vote who is the winner for our very own "Pancake Idol"! (which doesn't include the master who does a demo himself at the end)...

Nails and Thorns 2007

The initial email conversations are noteworthy:

"... I haven't been very holy/righteous lately, to say the least... still can contribute?

By the way, I notice I've been assigned Heb 12:1-14, one of my favourite Bible passages, and also the letter to Titus, which I've barely touched. This is going to be interesting!

...I feel totally unqualified, but in the upside-down Kingdom perhaps things are different.

... dear friends, we have only one qualification for this project … sinners saved by the grace of God."

I hardly needed to edit the meditations contributed by a group of young writers mostly in their twenties. I think the youngest should be 17 (ok I include Alwyn and myself in this category even though we are in our thirties!) Maybe it was more of the preference for the "rawness" of their reflections to come through without too much cosmetics - authenticity is a strong value here. But when you read on you'll find more then that: a genuine love for God, a submission to the authority of Scriptural truth, the responsiveness and willingness to obey, a desire to grow, an honest admission of weakness and brokenness, a big dose of grace and much more.

I hope to be able to get a link for those interested to get the whole pdf booklet soon. For now you can start with the group blog I set up for the season of Lent starting tomorrow.

http://nails-and-thorns.blogspot.com/

Friends 2007: Discipleship [11]

11 more days to go ... for more information go to Friends in Conversation 2007

One of the topics for the event is "Discipleship" (which will be an evening meeting open to all interested even if they did not register for the event). Here's how we are framing the evening conversations:

DISCIPLESHIP - tired of shortcuts and superficiality

How do people see their Christian life today? How is discipleship and/or spiritual formation happening now in our churches? Are their any new directions, paradigms or practices Christians are experimenting? What are their strengths and weaknesses? Where is the role of the Bible in this process? what is the place of church history or traditions - east or west?

I left this extended comment on a blog today where underneath the surface words is actually a belief that the spiritual formation thing has something to say about how we view ourselves as men and women as well as in the way we relate to each other .

"As an occasional beer-wine drinking Lutheran pastor, I'm amused with you on the liquor discussion. But I shall not comment more. Maybe when we talk face to face :-)

As a man, I think this stereotyping of men and women by the book industry drives me nuts while it sells more books and distracts people from simply learning to relate to each other rather than a wasteful use of energy battling with all this "prejudices" in their head (and then forgetting how to understand the human being in front of us!). I meet with 2 other men monthly for a time of sharing and prayer. So far we haven't played any sports together.

As a married man (now with 2 kids), I agree with you that "when it comes to pursuing Christian women and wooing a life partner", it seems that many are scared to make the first move. Maybe it's more of being part of a culture that is afraid of making mistakes which really is the root. On top of that, there's this "manly myth" now even promoted in the church! Lord have mercy ... how many more superimposed expectations do we need?! Lord have mercy.

I suspect it's less about being "manly" or "womanly" for that matter then getting free from the reigning model of "romantisized" view of courtship and marriage (can I say illusions!?). Now, this is worth doing a solid Bible study on, throw in some historical stuff like how Kattie Von Bora pursued Martin Luther (ok my Lutheran bias is showing here!), and some "alternative" stories of how people ditch the "norm" of how marriage stories are supposed to be, then maybe each person can have some fresh confidence to co-author their story with God with more spice and surprises. (disclaimer: I am not anti-romantic ... I simply think the "romance" defined by most people is a little over-rated?!)

A good dose of healthy self-acceptance, an ongoing self-discovery in "safe relationships" (cf. community of friends) and also learning how to relate and take risks in relationships is a good step. For example, the important "foundation" of friendships (even fore husband and wives) ?

as for your complaint to Mr. B, "nobody tells you that the Christian life is going to be a struggle, that you have to surrender to God, and trust Him even when it doesn't seem logical to do so, and all that other stuff which involves challenge and adventure and risk...", I don't mind being the "nobody" who will tell them. I think I've been a "nobody" doing it for years .. is anyone listening?"

I think underlying the concerns embedded in this kind of discussion is a pull away from "shortcuts and superficiality".

On a worthwhile post here Comparing Dallas Willard and Brian McLaren, I think my comments are a little more basic.

"I see Willard as a "scholar" willing to engage in the realities spiritual formation needed for our time and age. He's a good example of how scholars can contribute to the maturity of the church beyond the academia.

As for McLaren, I see him as a pastor or now more like a "practitioner" reflectively drawing on and integrating (even "popularizing") insights often confined to the academia or non-mainstream evangelicalism (cf. thus the appreciation of other traditions). He's a good example of how pastors and practitioners can creatively use resources to enrich church ministry and mission.

Both come from different vantage points (from a vocational point of view) and yet contribute under a common theme of "making disciples" and "the Gospel of the Kingdom."

I have some thoughts from a more "political" point of view. But that's for another day."

A little comment here in UNDERSTANDING SPIRITUAL FORMATION reveals a little more from me. It's still basic maybe because I tend to be a big picture person first before getting sucked into details. And I think in the Malaysian context we're either too busy with getting the "discipleship" program right (whether in choice or implementation) or thrown in a whirlpool of theoretical discussions and then overwhelmed until we are powerless to start the process with freedom (yes, freedom even to make mistakes!!)

"...based on your response, it appears i read your article from a very different set of assumptions than those from which you wrote"

Dear Alex and Wilsford, this statement itself is worth the interaction with the article and one another. What's important today as we discuss any subject matter is the "awareness" of the assumptions we bring to the material we interact with.

We seem to be walking along the same road in terms of moving away from spiritual formation as a mere checklist like formality to a process of transformation of heart, mind and soul - the total of life here on earth. "

I like the word spiritual formation, or in some cases, Christian formation. But I don't want to surrender the word "discipleship" to a program (even though it's tempting for most churches today to reduce it to that). There are many good words (which in a deeper way has much formative content - when understood rightly and faithfully) - for example, "Grace" (I decided not to use the phrase "grace period" because it misses the point), "evangelism" (I always try to unpack it and addressing our tendency to program it), "commitment" (where most people hear legalism, I see love and mission), "church" (the number one word being bashed around these days sadly), "spiritual disciplines (which doesn't sound very appealing but is simply human and part of life. e.g. various disciplines for studies, the simple disciplines or rhythms of work, sleep, play, etc).

Is it mere semantics? I think not, I think our language can help or hinder us. Especially when some words may have lost their meaning for us, or even been abused by others, and then there's the most basic - perhaps we have misunderstood what it means and how the reality behind these words actually relate to our everyday lives?

As for what's in my "toolbox" or "treasure chest" (depending which metaphor resonates with you) - here's a sampling(nothing fancy):
- Scripture (The Old and New Testaments), sometimes a peek at the Apocrypha (for extra value like reading historical texts or devotionals though not authoritative!)
- the Creeds
- the small and large catechism (cf. learning from the reformers?!)
- Pia desideria (cf. spiritual writings in our common church history)
- The losungen (cf. moravian daily texts)
- the Liturgy - whether ancient-future, or creative and contemplative
- Theology
- Church history
- Reflections from missionaries
- reactions from the context both classic and current.
- music
- movies
- add to the list (I got to go and help get my kids out of the bath tub! Now! did I mention "context"? *grin*)

until the next post!

Eye on Malaysia

It's been quite a while since we had a family outing, so it was refreshing to pay the eye on Malaysia a visit. May Chin visited the London Eye when she was in UK, so it was informative to hear of the comparison.

I noticed that Taman Titiwangsa (a park where I used to come often as a kid) has been revitalized by the existence of g this new "toy". And as we were walking on the pathway to the ticket booth, I was reminded that this was exactly the place my dad took some wedding photos for an old friend when I was in primary school. Other memories include Sunday School outings here and also family walks.

I probably wouldn't have come alone or even with friends. But as parents, the criteria most of the time for outings is for our children. And I think they had a good time. When they did, so did we.

Prayer and Parking Space

"Prayer for me is much more a sense of trying to get into fellowship with God. I'm trying to figure out what I should be doing rather than telling Almighty God what he should be doing. Look at the Lord's Prayer. It says, "Thy will be done." It wasn't, "Our Father who art in Heaven, please get me a parking space." - Francis Collins, Francis Collins: The Scientist as Believer

Random Links 137

The Best Bible Study Tools on the Web
This is a good place to start having an appetizer of what's available.

Detailed Bibliographies for Alister McGrath's Christian Theology: An Introduction
The downloads here makes one's mouth water ... or makes you thirst for more!

Open Forum Audio: Is God a Delusion? Atheism and the Meaning of Life (mp3)
I saw the video of Richard Dawkins confronting Ted Haggard once. While at that time I was intrigued by how Haggard responded, I was not too impressed by how Dawkins approached the subject matter. If people want to accuse Haggard of being a religious fundamentalist, then I think Dawkins would be a scientific fundamentalist. That is just my intuitive guess not a researched opinion. I trust Prof. McGrath's researched response would be more helpful.

The Long Road to Full Inheritance: Anglican Communion, Anno Domini 2007
There's enough provocative statements by Dr. Poon to make one sit up and listen :-)

Mission in Humility and Hope
Once scanning through the first part, the list of excellent questions that needs answering contained in this paper will get the brain juices bubbling.

FORMS OF MISSION ENGAGEMENT
Good update for me ...

CSCA: Style sheets, Writing tips and Bibliographic tools
some good tools here to keep me on track as far as my studies is concerned!!

Random Thoughts on the 2nd Day of CNY

It's after 3:00AM ... I thought I'd unload some "stuff" off my chest.

I've been thinking a lot about Gracious Christianity (i.e. an ideal focuses on Jesus's directive to love God with all our hearts, souls, and minds, and to love our neighbors--all of them--in the same way we love ourselves) lately. I hope to start a class soon on this perhaps walking through the themes with those whom are contemplating on these matters. I know going through a class or reading a book won't fully "make us" gracious. But it's a starting point and/or part of the journey.

A comment at a recent theology class where I visited struck me. The "feeling" behind this comment conveyed is how one feels "put down" and "talked down" when she's talking with so called "smarter" people. She may not use highly intellectual arguments, but obviously she desires to deeply think about the questions at hand and is in the process of learning. This reminds me how easily we can be excited to acquire new knowledge or tools to reason and even debate, that it is tempting to move towards an elitism where we may assume we know better. Lord have mercy especially on those we talk to and ourselves who need to guard our hearts.

It was nice to be with May Chin's relatives. Some conversations over a beer and some snacks helped me catch a glimpse of another world. Watching basketball together on TV was pretty exciting. Then the football match wasn't :-P

I've *sighed* quite a number of times the past 2 days at some futile sentences.

I've *smiled* quite a number of times the past 2 days at some fantastic sentences.

I'm looking forward to see how the Nails and Thorns 2007 Lent meditations would be helpful to those using it. I had the pleasure of reading all of them before they will be posted up one by one (and the whole pdf should be available for download soon). One thing I noticed is how "gracious" the tone of the writing is which to me was a tremendous blessing. But beyond the "tone", the content was of good quality and authenticity. I can really relate when one of them shared how she was ministered by her own writing. Sometimes, I'm surprisingly confronted by my own writing.

Nice to have a little date with May Chin today. Short but sweet.

2 more relatives appointments - one tomorrow and another one on Wednesday. One covering Mom's family and the other covering Dad's family. It's going to be noisy ... but that's ok it's Chinese New Year (CNY).

The mission history reading was helpful to inform my message on Sunday. somehow, CNY is a season where I'm drawn to think about the Gospel and our culture a little bit more.

Sometimes I wonder what is going on in people's mind. they may be wondering what goes on in mine too. There are times when certain acts and words are meant to build bridges and does it well. The reality is its not always the case. But an attempt is made. But one thing is for sure, there are certain acts and words that burn bridges. And after a while, it's just plain sad and tiring.

Centering. ... is needed especially when it's tempting just to let go during this holiday season. The discipline levels are usually low. The guard is down. One easily slacks. Centering... reordering .. listening .... and all these needed practices awaits for me.

I thoughts the Elvis Phone I saw at May Chin's relative's house was pretty cool ...

Random Links 136

How To: Humanize A Worship Space
To the question: "Have you ever intentionally transformed a physical space for worship?" .. the answer is yes ... :-)

Personal Tribute to Bruce Manning Metzger
John Piper's Point number 5 was especially helpful since I heard advice to pemulate Metger's practice by one of his former students: "5. He quoted a Chinese proverb: “The faintest ink is more lasting than the strongest memory.” Accordingly, he said in his Memoir (Reminiscences of an Octogenarian, p.229) that he made notes of noteworthy sayings on 3 by 5 cards as he read throughout his life. There are over 20,000 of these which were left to the archives at Princeton. One of them from R. W. Sockman says, “Time is the deposit each one has in the bank of God, and no one knows the balance.” (Until the note falls due.)"

Ten propositions on theodicy
Strange food for thought when most people are not thinking about this during Chinese new year!

Evangelical? Obama's faith too complex for simple label (HT: Andy Rowell)
I wonder how many people increasingly resonate with these sentences: "... for many of us, faith is complicated, messy, a work in progress.

And, if we're honest about it, the standard labels just don't fit."

God's Already Decided - Why Pray?
The combination of humor and hidden research made communicated in simple language made me giggle and think at the same time. Alwyn has a way of doing that!

Things We Have Come to Accept in Youth Ministry (HT: Marko)
Once upon a time I was a youth pastor.

Dudley Woodberry and Dialogue with Islam
"... meaningful dialogue does not require that the participants relinquish a witness concerning their faith. Nor does it mean we can't disagree about how they understand their history and faith. But it does require that we listen and learn what they really think. "

Saying Something Theological
Let's hear what a president who's also a Calvinist has to say ... "I am no universalist. I believe that refusing to put your faith in Jesus is something that imperils your soul for all eternity. There is no salvation apart from Christ. But how Jesus gets a hold of people and how he brings them into his heavenly Kingdom is surrounded–for me at least–by a lot of mystery. I’m glad the verdict on who is in and who is out is not up to me, but to the Spirit who is described by the Westminster Confession as the One who “who worketh when and where, and how he pleaseth.”"

A Christian Celebration of Chinese New Year (HT: Bob Kee)
While I think "contextualization" is more than giving new and fresh Christian meanings to existing practices, I do applaud attempts like this one. I see them as baby steps. I used it as a sermon opener today. Interesting reactions.

Friends 2007: QRoH Notes [13]

[STM Chapel Video]

wow we have only 13 more days until the Friends in Conversation event and after that the STM lectures.

I visited the seminary last Thursday. It's been quite a while since I actually sat in for a whole chapel service which was good for me to be in the congregation rather than upfront.

Before the service I had about 5 minutes to give an anouncement for the 2 events mentioned above. In order to give some context on where I was coming from and why I thought engaging in such conversations are important I used the following diagram to illustrate:

in short, I shared how before I stepped into seminary how my Christian life was mainly shaped by the popular Christianity fed to me either by my local church or whatever that was available - e.g. usually promoted at bookshops or conferences. These were important phases and input as far as who I was before I checked into the seminary dorm or started my first class.

Then I was plunged into a whole new world of academic and critical thinking which was quite foreign to the popular Christianity feeding I was familiar with. And I remember for some of my seminary mates it was very hard because at times they felt that some of their treasured beliefs whether to them were essential or non-essential was going through severe test as best, or even being torn apart at worst. For me, I was fortunate to have a bunch of good friends to walk with me as we processed many questions together, I think it helped when we did not feel we were alone. In addition to that, many of us theological students continued to opened our eyes to the strange world of church and Christian ministry, it was easy to become cynical and numb if we were not careful (some did go that route). So it was quite a lot of "stuff" cramped up for some who who felt they were called by God to serve him and required to work through in 3 or 4 years! Especially, if you are expected to put everything back together again before the day of graduation so you'd be ready for ministry!

After graduation, some of us were tempted to just revert back to the "popular Christianity" mode and carrying our certificate signifying we had some qualification jump into the ministry realities before us. Others who actually felt liberated in the "academic and critical world" would wait for the chance to walk the scholars route depending on available opportunities. What about those who are ordinary pastors who are "left behind" and yet want to do some serious theological reflection and ministry praxis integration? Is there any way for us to move forward?

with that question, I shared a little of my own baby steps I managed to take the last 7 years which would require another post.

Last night I was engaged in a fruitful email exchange with a more senior church leader in our Malaysian scene. The process was helpful for someone like me who finds it harder just to think inside my head. I think what I wrote represents what pushes me or pulls me depending on who's point of view. here are some edited excerpts:

"...I guess I'm one of the more "lucky" (I'mean blessed) ones who have this ongoing educational conversation with you. I appreciate your willingness to engage in respectful and guided dialogue. Part of the reason for me personally, to get the event in March going is to bring this kind of engagement we are having here into the "mainstream" of the Christians and leaders but perhaps with less technical and academic language.

... in our Malaysian context and here I am speaking more as a younger pastor. I'm increasingly finding:

(1) Most people are unable to connect with the way we formulate the Christian faith - often it's (a) either at the popular level where the pulpits or the pews regurgitate without due "processing" what's exported to us , (b) or at the academic level, scholars or lecturers are using language and approaches which do not relate to the common people and pastors, and worse when there is a certian "we know better" elitism, Whether it's approach or attitude, this troubles me. The question I've been asking since graduation till now, and the quest I make for myself and hopefully beyond, is ... how can we integrate it better in theory and praxis? how can the best of theological educationand the local church for example, nourish each other? and there's always more ...

(2) We seem to still be locked in the conservative and liberal divide in terms of our church relations and partnerships as well as theological categories. There are signs of moving forward, whether it's organizationally through official organizations or organically through various networks . And yet, there are also real signs of moving backward when groups like XYZ ministries are setting their base here, or ABC ministries having a stronghold on the Malaysian church mindsets. This would also include within our denominations where there are forces pulling us apart either in terms of ministry philosophy or theological leanings. My gut feeling is our churches tends to be more"rigid" whether organizationally or theologically. And I wonder whether the fear of liberalism and anarchy has paralysed us from encouraging guided genuine attempts in healthy reform or even theologizing.

(3) The last year has been quite an educational learning experience as I spend time listening to the dechurched, the burnt out, the doubtful, the frustrated, as well as the lazy, the proud, and the consumeristic Christians of all shapes and sized.. The added bonus is meeting Christians who desire to intergrate their social activism and their faith but feels there's no place in the normal church for them because everything is either about what goes on in the church or marketplace ministries (usually meaning business). This particular concern arose mainly as the seeds of the more holistic gospel begins to take root and blossom in my own ministry journey. Especially when I ask what does all this mean for me as a pastor and servant in the church? Does the church at its most grassroot have a role to play? and how?

(4) There's more but since it's Chinese New Year, Let's enjoy our family and friends and food! We'll talk another time.

So, the above (3) or (4) concerns are the underlying motivations for what I invest in whether it's as a local church pastors as well as side support and partnership efforts with theological institutions, more ecclesiological structure opportunities, dialogue with people lwho are not from my tradition, etc. And the context forces me to ask REALLY hard questions about my own theology, spirituality and ministry. I'm thankful I can survive by God's grace and his gifts through good friends and mentors.

I hope I have not been too longwinded before the eve of CNY. And I appreciate the opportunity maybe to clarify my own thoughts catalyzed by your email.

"

Being Artistic - Happy Chinese New Year!

"There is nothing more truly artistic than to love people." - Vincent Van Gogh, Letters of Van Gogh (HT: Inward/Outward)

It's supposed to be natural but then after all these years knocking on walls, falling over the edge, being punched in the face ... I think the word intentional fits better. Now let's get really artsy during this Chinese New year holidays. ...

We'll have our reunion dinner in about 2hours time with both May Chin & my family. So often, we learn our artistry of loving in the context of friendship when in actual fact our families shape us more than we are willing to admit. It's good to come together tonight. I think we need it.

I thought this pair of shoes by Van Gogh would keep us on the ground while we engaged in more "prosperous activities" of eating, sleeping, laughing, gambling (I'mean playing cards!), drinking shandy, giving Ang-Pows (red packets with money in it!) to the kids, reconnecting with friends and extended family ...

Happy Chinese New Year, everyone!

Friends 2007: Introducing Brian - the writer III [16]

A friend told me I'm starting to sound like Brian McLaren's press secretary with this series of posts. :-) Well, the initial impetus was more of introducing him as a friend to those coming (or considering coming) for the Friends in conversation 2007 event.

Gradually, it became like some lite book reviews which is more of book reflections. And now, it's evolved more like what has been resonating in my own thinking plus new directions I had not explored. I confess framing it more personal as introducing a person is more appealing to me than just talking about a book ... less detached, more real.

Ok and now on with it ...

The New Pantagruel posted up Who Has the Last Word? An Interview with Brian McLaren in response to the book. I think it's useful because it's not in fiction form :-)

"I believe that God is good. No thought I have ever had of God is better than God actually is. True, my thoughts -- including my assumptions about what good means -- are always more of less inaccurate, limited, and unworthy, but still I am confident of this: I have never overestimated how good God is because God's goodness overflows far beyond the limits of human understanding.", p. xi

somehow Anselm keep popping into my mind. This Saint Anselm piece is will stretch one even more.

Good and Goodness ... and God - worthy to invest time in contemplation! This is even more important and counter-cultural when everything around us seems to be collapsing!

"As I see it, more significant than any doctrine of hell itself is the view of God to which one's doctrine of hell contributes. William Temple once said that if your concept of God is radically false, the more devoted you are, the worse off you will be. So this book is in the end more about our view of God than it is about our understanding of hell. What kind of God do we believe exists? What kind of life should we live in response? How does our view of God affect the way we see and treat other people? And how does the way we see and treat other people affect our view of God?", p. xii

This way of framing the question does good for the popular mind. We tend to over-focus on one aspect while missing the bigger picture when trying to talk about doctrines and dogma. So often our discussions feels either the sharing of our ignorance (or misinformation) or a display of our intellect and education without making the needed connection to the personal God whom we claim to believe.

"Is there a better alternative to either of these polarities: a just God without mercy for all or a merciful God without justice for all? Could our views of hell (whichever extreme you choose) be the symptoms of a deeper set of problems -- misunderstandings about what God's justice is, misunderstandings about God's purpose in creating the world, deep misunderstandings about what kind of person God is?", p.xiii

When one is served a series of questions in consecutive order and well crafted questions, it feels like something is digging deeper. Strange but this is one process which helps us to add depth in our capacity to handle more complex and complicated issues which bug us.

I've always found 2 important dimensions in my own pilgrimage (1) Learning "new" language or "vocab" to help me have tools to describe what's bugging me (2) A good set of questions to poke me in directions which I might have missed if left to my own devices!

"I am not a fan of controversy. As a pastor, "the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace" is a precious thing to me; no one should disturb the peace unadvisably or lightly. I would prefer that my books be banned than have them cause destructive conflict in churches or trouble for pastors, who face enough problems without needless controversies being stirred. I would not go down this road at all if I did not feel, deep in my soul, that the issues raised here need to be raised for at least some people to consider, for the good of the individuals who seek God, for the good of the church in all its forms, and for the good of the world at large. It is my belief, hope, and prayer that any short-term controversy will lead to longterm benefits that are truly worthwhile.", p. xiv

This truly is not an easy path to walk ... it's kind of carrying a cross. how many of us can recall the struggles and pain at different phases of our lives? And how now in hindsight we see and experience the benefits ... But when we were there, it was no holiday ... it was about holiness, character, and the need for centering to survive which later we might thrive. Time is one classroom that defies our own fix it quickly timetable.

"... we often seek clarity at the expense of truth: we would rather have something simple and clear than continue to search beyond convention for a truth that won't resolve to a neat formula, label, category, or pat answer. ... I am more interested in generating conversation than argument, believing that conversations have the potential to form us, inform us, and educate us far more than arguments.", p. xv

Of course, we cannot and must not stop at mere conversations. Conversations which enrich and expand us generally leads us into some form of action. And yet, ironically for a generative conversation to happen requires some active participation from our total being.

"I look forward with eagerness to see what creative Christian leaders -- especially young ones, previously unheard ones, and ones from the global South -- might do in taking the ideas and questions raised in the book and working with them further so that we all will see and celebrate the ultimate goodness of God more clearly and so that we may more joyfully and fully do justice, love, kindness, and walk humbly with God.", p. xvi

Another challenge where some have already taken the plunge, others still testing the waters ... others pushed in without fully realizing what they are getting into.

"The word destructive is often associated with the word deconstructive but the association is erroneous. Deconstruction is not destruction; it is hope. It arises from the belief that sometimes, our constructed laws get in the way of the way of unseen justice, out undeconstructed words get in the way of communication, our institutions get in the way of the purposes for which they were constructed, our formulations get in the way of meaning, our curricula get in the way of learning. In those cases, one must deconstruct laws, words, institutions, formulations, or curricula in the hope that something better will appear once the constructions-become-obstructions have been taken apart. The love of what is hidden, as yet unseen, and hoped for gives one courage to deconstruct what is seen and familiar. This book, in a sense, attempts to deconstruct our conventional concepts of hell in the sincere hope that a better vision of the gospel of Jesus Christ will appear.", p. xviii

I think it needs to be noted that this is a delicate process and needs to be handled with care. Much caution is needed and a safe community is a must But on top of that, a wise sage walking along side and/or a faithful discerning friend does wonders, and redirects us to hope just in case we are lost or at lease feel lost! An important ingredient of course in all this is simple humility and a teachable spirit.

"Is anything undeconstructable? someone is asking. Obviously, while God and God's mysteries would be beyond human deconstruction, it makes sense that anything constructed by humans would also be deconstructable by them -- including human formulations about God and God's mysteries. Perhaps, deconstruction, then could be seen as the search for God and God's mysteries when human constructions may be obscuring, them: it is an endeavor hoping eventually to fail, for when it fails and reaches the Undeconstructable, it has reached the goal of its pursuit.", p. xvii-xiii

The distinction between "deconstruction" and "destruction" is crucial for people who are honestly facing the "stuff" within them. The theme of hope for a better vision of the gospel needs to be emphasized too. In many ways while we are used to being "pushed" into the future or into action. The picture changes here when it's Hope which is "pulling us" forward.

As we approach the end of this preface and this post, once again it's not about the "stuff" we are working through or the refinement of our understandings, it's about the one whom is calling us forward step by step - relating to the Triune God more than relating to the ideas of a Triune God. It's good to take all this talking and thinking not just human wrestling but in the context of Worship.

Ash Next Wednesday Service

We at Bangsar Lurtheran Church be having an Ash Wednesday Service on the 4th day of Chinese New year. Which is fascinating for me since during this festive season, there will be some joining me to consider more human mortal matters in the light of God's grace.

it's at 8pm, on 21 February 2007, Wednesday at the Father's House.

I love the them guiding our time together ... "Away with All Masks"

Here's the Scriptures for the day:
Joel 2:12-18; Ps 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 12-13, 14 and 17
2 Cor 5:20 - 6:2; Mk 6:1-6, 16-18

Friends 2007: Introducing Brian - the writer II [17]

One thing I liked about the NKOC series is the cover art and design of the books. Especially this one I like the feel of "movement" and heading somewhere by the characters running at the side.

Now back to the second book in the NKOC series. While it was not as an engaging page turner like the first book. I found the attempt at re-telling the Gospel in a fresh articulation helpful... Scott Pederson, who is pastor of the Greenwich Vineyard in London, put together this retelling of the biblical story for based on Brian McLaren’s book here in The story... we find ourselves in and here's a helpful Course outline (originally written for teenagers)

Now, back to the preface:

"I started getting nervous when A New Kind of Christian was released. I'm not temperamentally a controversalist, not polemical, not a fighter. I don't like arguments, especially religious ones. (Among other things, in religious arguments I find myself becoming a worse kind of Christian.) ... I hoped that the book would quietly find its way into other hands where its main effect would be to inspire hope rather than stir contention. I suspected that there are a lot of "Dan Pooles" out there -- people who love and seek God but feel that something in the way we're "doing Christianity" is not working.", p. ix

As for "Dan Poole" the character, for me I think as a pastor I related with him partly because as one of the main characters especially one who is asking a lot of the hard questions he was one too. So, it was more than "people who love and seek God .." , it was also "pastors who love and seek God (and serve God!)" too... very often people do not know what are the inmost thoughts, struggles and battles of doubts and questions pastors genuinely wrestle with.

As for controversy, well time has proven that the "unintended consequences" are part and parcel of the package no matter how much we try to focus on "inspiring hope" and attempting to move us along forward in the way we perceive is best. Listening to Brian's talk (mp3) at the recent National Pastors Convention 2007 in the USA gave me some insight into how he deals with it as well as inspired me to keep a watch on my own response.

"With all my ambivalence about the term postmodern, I have always been clear that my confidence was in the Christian gospel (appropriately understood), not in any cultural framework, whether modern, pre-m or post-. The more I have written about postmodernity (and so on), the more I have wanted to get to the point where it no longer needed to be written about so much, I wanted to start writing more directly about the Christian gospel itself, from the vantage point within the emerging culture, without always having to describe, validate, and defend the vantage point.

... Someone might argue that one's goal as a Christian should not be to describe the gospel from the vantage point of a cultural matrix, but rather to describe one's cultural matrix from the vantage point of the gospel. To do justice to that critique, however,would force me back into the old territory of a conversation that I am trying to extend into new territory. so, I'll have to leave that conversation for readers to imagine on their own, indulging myself only in this short bit of wisdom from Lesslie Newbigin: "We must start with the basic fact that there is no such thing as a pure gospel if by that is meant something which is not embodied in a culture. ... Every interpretation of the gospel is embodied in some cultural form." (The Gospel in a Pluralist Society, 1989), p. x (underlined emphasis mine)

it's not an easy distinction to make and yet it's an important one. Taking and listening to culture seriously while keeping a self-critical eye, does not necessarily mean one is on the slippery slope sliding away from the Gospel. It just makes us more self-aware and open to understand our environment and unseen influences better. Spinning in circles with cultural analysis or paralysis of course becomes an unhealthy sport if unchecked. What's important is to be "centered" again and again to confidence in the Christian Gospel which we are always in progress of making sure we understand it appropriately and are willing to live by it faithfully!

My first introduction to a more "contextual" approach to theology was during those Asian Theology classes where a whole new world was opened before my eyes. Both the frustrations and well as a hope towards a better construction and articulation of theologies which not only arises from engagement with culture and context but also theologies which ultimately serves the church and blessed the world. And this is not confined to academic elitist exercises, it needs to resonate with people who don't speak such long syllable jargon, and hard to follow paragraphs. There is surely a place for that kind o exercise as long as we do not despise the poetic, the pictorial, and even the playful - and surely not despise the theology acted out in prayer!

"... in these dangerous times, our whole planet now needs more than ever a good story to live in and to live by. There are a number of stories competing for the hearts and imaginations of humanity as we emerge together into this new century and millennium: the regressive stories of fundamentalist Islam and fundamentalist Christianity, or the progressive stories of secular "scientism" or American consumerism, for example. Once taken to the heart of human culture, each of these stories will produce its own kind of world. If the story explored in this book (or something like it) wins enough hearts, yet another kind of world will emerge. The story we believe and live in today has a lot to do with the world we create for our children, our grandchildren, and our descendants one hundred thousand years from now (if?)", p. xii

I confess, it's painful and sometimes one feels powerless when right before our eyes we see people buying into regressive stories which appears to promise them 101 successes and a dreamlike paradise. Painful because nightmares are around the corner, powerless because it's hard to get through to them with the liberating story of the Christian gospel ... it's very competitive ... the lies and illusions are real .. the distracting self-talks and noises in our head are hard to be silenced so we can truly hear again ... and yet, we need to hear the liberating story somehow ... it needs to, it can, it will breakthrough to us ...

I'm glad the messengers of this Good news did not give up in history, and even today a midst many challenges they persist.

"Neo and friends raise and ponder what may seem to you dangerous questions and dangerous answers in the pages that follow. Please do not assume that their answers are always mine, you may, however, safely assume that I think that all their questions and answers deserve consideration. If you are dissatisfied with some of the answers you find here (as I am), there's a good chance you're right. So I hope that you'll use your dissatisfiction constructively and attempt to articulate better answers yourself. I'll continue to try to do the same thing. Let's be respectful colleagues, not critical adversaries.", p. xiii

The last 7 years especially has been quite a ride in efforts to "use my dissatisfaction constructively and attempt to articulate better answers myself". It takes one to a variety of routes which sometimes scares my wife as much as it scares myself. But thankfully, our lives are not confined merely to such endeavors ... there;s also the daily grind of raising up kids, learning to live as husband and wife, figuring out what's the best budget for the Chinese new year reunion dinner. And then there is the stuff we engage in whether or not we have everything sorted out theologically - corporate and personal worship, solutude, silence, fasting, encouragement, study, celebration, prayer, meditation, etc. Living the life through the peaks and the pits (someone told me they keep hearing armpits when I say that word *smile*) and the plain ordinary seconds and minutes ... does not require having all the details neat and tidy ... in the midst of our mess we still trip over meaning ...

The joy is when there are friends who will hear us when we're fumbling along the way (the bonus is to actually have mentors and even pastors who will do that too) ... celebrate our discoveries, cautiously and respectfully correct us when we're off track (or offer alternative views) and all in all ... stick with us through thick and thin. I like the title of the book it's not "the story I find myself in" it's THE STORY WE FIND OURSELVES IN!

Random Links 135

Oliver Crisp on Robert Jenson
What caught my attention is how one critiques those they may not agree ... "Certainly this is one way of critiquing a writer; but it’s not a very interesting way, since such a critique has not yet made the necessary imaginative effort of entering into the writer’s own thought, in order to critique that thought from within."

10 Propositions on Certainty & Theology (HT: Ben Myers)
My favorite for today is ... proposition 6: "Faithful theology incorporates doubt but does not revel in it. Theology is not only suspicious of overly-protective truth claims but also of overly-zealous doubt claims. Theology is not so frivolous to assent to scorning “disproofs” (ala Da Vinci Code)." I like this phrase "Faithful theology".

What Did You Go Out to See?
Brunch for thought ...
"By focusing our attention on Western look-a-likes rather than the God-breathed expressions of ekklesia, we miss the joy of participating with the global church. We also miss the blessing these networks and ministries can offer us. But even more tragic is the reinforcement of our western stereotypes as superior models, each one another mega-brick in the colonial tower of Western Christian supremacy. Any attempts at finding a third space, where their world and ours could meet, are thwarted by our search for what appears successful in our own eyes."

Advice for Barack Obama
I was intrigued and listening interestingly to a Malaysian speaking with much excitement about Barack Obama :-) Here;s some advice that would make people sit up and there's more (perhaps we could use this piece as a springboard to think of our own politicians in Malaysia? "Please don't lie to us. Please forego both the repulsive, deceptive, and twisted lies and also the flattering lies we like to hear. For example, I heard a fellow candidate recently trot out the tired old line, "America is the greatest country in the history of the world." This makes Americans feel good and gets applause. Maybe it wins votes. But it is a lie."

Paying Respects to Anna Nicole Smith
Reading this makes me reconsider the way I'm tempted to make comments or criticisms to lightly on public figures ... as the adrenaline pumps in our system as we launch into cheap shot statements, it does damage to our soul. This last paragraph made me pause and now pray: "As the television blared every detail of Anna Nicole’s life and death, titillating viewers with lurid tales of her paramours and drug use, I could only think of those baptism vows. A woman dies. A mother leaves behind a child. She was not a joke; she was a wounded sister in the human family. Yet even in death, she is offered little respect for her innate dignity, her humanity."

National Pastors Convention 2007 Webcasts (USA)
Looks good and I've heard session 1 which is VERY good especially for pastors!

"The liturgy is itself a kind of music"
This statement rings so true: "The fact there you can't have a conversation about worship in church without music intruding its way into the conversation within the first 30 seconds is evidence that we've all been taken hostage to a medium meant to be worship's servant not master."

Atonement and Cultural Anthropology
I'll save the link for after I finish reading a book on the atonement.

Praying with Fr. Jacques
Great quote from Luther, "Learn from me, how difficult a thing it is to throw off errors confirmed by the example of all the world, and which, through long habit, have become a second nature to us.". I'll read this later again.

Andrew Walls: Don't Know Him? You Should!
While I can't remember the whole lecture he presented, I do remember sitting and listening to him and making a mental note - one day I will read him. Now I regret not buying the relevant books at a mission conference in Singapore years ago. Then again... we will have another chance. By the way, I fully support the following: "While some scholars such as Philip Jenkins emphasize a shift of power from Western churches to those south of the equator, Walls sees instead a new polycentrism: the riches of a hundred places learning from each other."

The Scripture Principle

Sometimes I get these little pleasant surprises when I walk into a Christian bookstore. And seeing the book above at Glad Sounds was one of them. In Malaysian ringgit before the special discount it cost RM76.95.

I recall during theology classes during my seminary days, we took some time reading significant paragraphs from Clark Pinnock's 1984 edition. So, when i saw the appendix: The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible: Thoughts since 1984, I was drawn to read the book from the back (which nowadays I often do).

Before I went into seminary, I had never heard of the word "inerrancy" but I read the Scriptures as often as I could for nourishment and guidance for my Christian life. I don't recall ever questioning it's authority. I suppose it's tempting to be more "sophisticated" in my understanding of Biblical authority after more "education" and I know the question and use of the word "inerrancy" is a hot button issue for some. I confess very often hair-splitting debates to tire me. But that's my bias perhaps influenced more by my appreciation of Lutheran pietism and suspicion of Lutheran scholasticism which is a story for another day.

The following paragraphs leaped out as I scanned the book:

"Rather than the hard rationalist approach to biblical authority and interpretation, I had come to appreciate the story and mystery of Scripture, the key role of the Spirit's ministry in original inspiration and current illumination, and the need to listen as well as to reason.

My core conviction had become one of certainty of truth arising more from the work of the Spirit through the biblical text than from a tight rationalism rooted in supposed human theory of biblical errorlessness of the text per se. I nonetheless saw retaining the word "inerrancy" as a possible path of wisdom given circumstances in the evangelical community (admittedly more a political than a theological stance. I also saw the need to carefully nuance the implications of this word given the circumstances of the biblical text itself.", p.268

The final words might raise the eyebrows of some ... but let's read this slowly before we sleep.

"Now, concerning the hot button issue, biblical inerrancy, the item for which some battle most vociferously, it is not our preferred term for rendering the concept of biblical trustworthiness. Why? One reason is that inerrancy begs clear definition (which is why, ironically, we can continue to use it), and more importantly because it suggests a degree of technical accuracy that is foreign to Scripture. It places, in effect, a modern standard of accuracy upon the text and is then forced to explain away the phenomena of scores of minor flaws. The Bible does not use the term "inerrancy" but places emphasis upon its own saving and sanctifying power as witness to Jesus.

What really disturbs us with regard to the term "inerrancy" is the harm that it does. It almost makes one afraid to open the Bible lest some flaws in the text might overthrow confidence in God. It places the church at a perilous and unnecessary risk. ... We think it better to use a term like "trustworthiness" or "infallibility," which speaks of Scripture as reliable and never failing in its intended purposes. Is it not true that in the Bible we hear the Master's voice in spite of scratches of the needle on the record? The issue is not whether the Bible is totally accurate as we define accuracy, but whether it leads us to the truth of God as all evangelicals believe.", p. 272

For me it's important to keep as closely the relationship between the Bible and Christ. I also believe it's important to be open to the Spirit's illumination of the texts read and reflected upon especially in community with others for mutual encouragement, learning and discernment.

More and more, I see the Scriptures challenging my own values or views which I bring to the text. And the moment I humble myself - I begin to "see" myself better as I study the text better. All the scholarly insights are helpful as part of the more "communal" paradigm I have adopted while not feeling an unhealthy lack of confidence because I am not an expert. Scholarly study then becomes a support rather than speculative exercises.

As a pastor and ultimately as a Christian, I believe one's spirituality plays a crucial role in the process of reading, reflecting and responding to God's voice as one engages with the authoritative Scriptures before us. And not forgetting, the missional direction the texts especially within the overarching narrative from creation to consumamtion - somehow keeps the whole process being privatized or merely part of religious consumption.

Just some immediate thoughts ...before I sleep. I'll throw in an extra interview Ma href="http://www.christianweek.org/stories/vol14/no05/story4.htm">Clark Pinnock’s uneasy journey which might give a richer context to the discussion.

Friends 2007: QRoH Notes [19]

It's Monday and it's my "sabbath" ... and yet, it's good keep the countdown updates ...

"To a Pentecostal, it is hard to believe that there is anointing when God's people performed a liturgy. But what I observed on Sunday was really a move of God and the anointing was certainly unexpected. There were those who experienced joy and release as they stood waiting for their turn to partake the sacraments. Many, if not most, were awed in the holy presence." - Surprised By Liturgy

When I first heard and read about the "Liturgy" post, my heart was warmed because this whole "conversation" we're participating in is most surely not just about high flung (and very often perceived as erudite) discussions, it's really at the center how does all this relate to the local church (and of course the wider church). And corporate worship is one good place to start. That's why I left a comment entitled "This is good"

"I found it refreshing listening to how a church who's self-identity is less liturgical is enriched by what may seem to many as a irrelevant practice. In recent years, more and more I feel the debate on forms or personal taste is misguided. This is where a broader appreciation of historical resources rather than pulling us back into some form of heartless traditionalism can actually FREE us towards whole-hearted-whole-life worship especially in the context of community."

Of course, we still have some stuff which requires slower reading :-) But it's been great to slowly compile and bring to one place the various input and wisdom of those who have spend much time working through these issues.

"If we can meet Christ in the church then we can sustain discipleship only within the community. Bonhoeffer goes so far as to say that no man can become a new man except by entering the church and becoming a member of the Body of Christ (CD 270). Bonhoeffer is particularly sensitive to the problem of the human ego. He had earlier defined sin as "the will which principally affirms itself as a value and not the other, and which acknowledges the other only in this perspective" (CS254f). So he characterized the new man, i.e., the church, as the fellowship and communion with the Lord wherein we are delivered from that individualism which is the consequence of sin, and retrieve our solidarity with the whole human race. Bonhoeffer certainly goes beyond the sanctification of an isolated believer. Sanctification is the church taking on the form of Christ.

"'Formation' consequently means in the first place Jesus' taking form in His Church. So the Church is not a religious community of worshippers of Christ but is Christ Himself who has taken form among men" (E 83)." - Christology and Sociality in Bonhoeffer

Later in response to the conclusion by Dr. Ng Kam Weng (one of our conversation partners) in his piece above, my less smarter mind wondered out loud ... "our inability as a church to seriously deal with "why people are hostile to the church?" with self-critical robust ecclesiology as well as ministry praxis seems me creating serious barriers towards genuine seekers and fellow pilgrims on this side of heaven."

There are more articles that might be of interest to those especially coming for the Friends 2007 Event. In no particular order ...

Dominion Of Co-Creators "God is the creator who exercises a just and nurturing dominion over the earth. What then is the role of humankind in relation to God? I propose that we think of humankind as co-creators. Creation is an unfinished story. As a work of art, it is an ongoing 'project' for God who has covenanted Godself to humankind. God continues to extend God's invitation to humankind so that we can collaborate with God in the fulfillment of God's dream for the universe"

Practicing Love
"This is the most difficult question of all. How to practise love in a society so full of hatred? I think this is one of the primary issues that strike deep into the heart of a Christian. This is the crux of the matter, isn't it? The true mark of what differentiates us from others. How different would I be, if I too, like all other sheep in the country, continued to criticise and bark hollow at the government and people whom we dislike?

I would be no different, says the Bible. Without love, we strike at a gong and find we are equally hollow. Shallow waters that do not correctly reflect what God has chosen for us to be. "

and of course the more spiritual formation related meditations (which we will gradually add). This is important because the conversation is fed by at least two other angles apart from theology, there's the important dimension of spirituality as well as ministry/mission, for now something more personal:

I'm A Sinner
"I do not like it when someone points out my mistakes. It’s worse when my sins are exposed. My first reaction is to hide in shame and guilt. And yet, what is needed is to face myself. What have I done? Whom am I responsible to? Where do I go from here?"

Dogmatics in Outline

Here's 2 confessions (which I may have made before).

First, There are many times when I post up a book which I think is worth reading ... most of the time I haven't finished reading the whole book yet. It's more of saying this is a book I plan to read or has caught my attention. I do have at least 4 books which I have finished reading which I hope to post up in due time - perhaps during the Chinese New Year holidays (we'll see). But I though the introduction grabbed me so much I need to let it out!

Second, I have not finished reading a book by Karl Barth before. Heard and read a lot about him but somehow 160 page book seems more managable than his 13 volume magnum opus Church Dogmatics. My motivation is simple ... since he's considered by many at least one of the most important theologians of the 20th century, I should at least read a little bit :-) A book review helps to wet one's appetite.

Third, and this is not a confession. I'm teaching catechism to a new batch of adults for baptism and affirmation soon. One of the basic intros or reintroductions to the faith is using the framework of the Apostle's Creed. I thought reading this book will enrich my own deeper education.

And now, excerpts from the foreword to the Torchbook edition which kept me awake a little longer last night:

"... Is not the term "Systematic Theology" as paradoxical as 'wooden iron'?

... A 'system' is an edifice of thought, constructed on certain fundamental conceptions which are selected in accordance with a certain philosophy by a method which corresponds to these conceptions. Theology cannot be carried on in confinement or under the pressure of such a construction. The subject of theology is the history of the communion of God with man and of man with God. This history is proclaimed, in ancient times and today, in the Old and New Testaments. The message of the Christian Church has it's origin and its contents in this history. The subject of theology is, in this sense, 'Word of God.' Theology is a science and a teaching which feels itself responsible to the living command of this specific subject and to nothing else in heaven or on earth, in the choice of its methods, its questions and answers, its concepts and language, its goals and limitations. Theology is a free science because it is based on and determined by kingly freedom of the word of God: for that very reason it can never be 'Systematic Theology.', p. 5

And the following surely redeems the words "dogma" and "dogmatik" for me :-) and challenges me to go deeper than superficiality. Of course, I admit I still do not see myself as a detailed researcher or strong on details. But that does not deter me from plunging deeper into a better understanding or appreciation of the subject matter at hand.

"...He who is interested in only the superficial impression given by unpleasant catchwords cannot and will not able participate in the truths (of the dogmas) or the truth (of the dogma) ... He who, after learning a little about the meaning of 'dogmatics,' undertakes to delve more into detail, will, I promise, discover (regardless of the method he may employ) in this theological discipline and in theology in general a great amount of necessary, thrilling, and beautiful tasks which are fruitful for the Church and for he world.", p. 6

Friends 2007: QRoH Notes [20]

[This is a previous post with a worthwhile update at the end]

Well it's nice to get some "extra buzz" on the net for the event.

Ph D in Bluffology (who also serves as the General secretary of Fellowship of Evangelical Students Malaysia and is a good friend) says, "Hey people, Brian McLaren is not to be missed. A pastor with a heart to have conversations to our, ooops your generation. Listen, digest and be challenged to rethink!"

Nice of Emergent Village USA to encourage their contacts to keep this conversation in their prayers and to support these efforts.

Tricia Yeoh one of our conversation facilitators has put up post encouraging friends to come. Thanks Tricia.

"I've had the privilege of reading through, in the last few months, excerpts of this amazing guy's mind. His name is Brian McLaren, from the States - and has given Christianity a whole new meaning. He has cynically criticised the American model of Christianity, saying many of the things I myself have long thought. That the evangelical model the modern church is so used to, is very much a shallow and unthinking process. One that has reduced the greatness of a relationship to Steps 1, 2, 3: Believe in Jesus and you will be saved!! There’s your passport to heaven! And conveniently forget about everything else on earth."

Her post has generated some comments which I participated a little :-)

" 1. Sivin said,

February 4, 2007 at 4:48 pm

I think Brian is a welcome self-critical voice towards American evangelicalism which often gets exported to our shores (the good, the bad and the ugly). While we are not in anyway obliged to agree with everything he says (but then when do we ever even agree with everything we say to each other?), the process of engaging in a civil, thoughtful, respectful (and hopefully theologically as well as contextually informed) conversation is an important commitment we need to have towards one another and those who would like to participate in the "emergence" of a better tomorrow for ourselves, our churches, and the societies that we live in. That's the goal of the event in March and we’re looking forward to see what’s possible!

2. Hedonese said,

February 5, 2007 at 10:00 pm

To be precise, i think much of mclaren's criticisms wud hit nicely the ugly side of fundamentalism but wud be a strawman critique when levelled on evangelicals like Carl Henry, Bernard Ramm, Harold Ockenga or Francis Schaeffer… i wud love to see an intra christian dialogue which contrasts or complements the BEST from each tradition than an overfocus on the obvious, easy targets. The same applies to interfaith dialogues too, compare the BEST not the worst, ugliest in the other :)

3. egalitaria said,

February 6, 2007 at 2:32 pm

hmm, that is food for thought hedonese. thanks for bringing that up. it makes it a more difficult challenge to criticise the best of evangelicals, because we have to define this first. what is really the mark of an evangelical then? can you clearly classify that?

4. Sivin said,

February 9, 2007 at 11:45 pm

Good question Tricia. And i think there are different flavours even when it comes to UK evangelicalism, to USA evangelicalism or even Canadian Evangelicalism. This makes us wonder about our own backyard.

Hedonese is right .. "i think much of mclaren’s criticisms wud hit nicely the ugly side of fundamentalism " and I think that is his target group and also the lurking fundamentalism in all of us - which is very much a self-critic as someone from within - perhaps facing the ugliest in ourselves. A simple plain reading of him at least for me conveys that. Perhaps I haven't read enough of the evangelical heavyweights mentioned above to comment on whether it’s a strawman critique on them, but my sense his "target" is the kind of "evangelicalism" perhaps in the popular imagination of most evangelicals/pentecostals/charismatics even in Malaysia.

As for the Evangelical heavyweights, at least I remember Brian quoting very favorably of Schaeffer in his first book and at least a nuanced comment in one lecture I heard. Perhaps we can ask him about it when he’s here :-)

For now, I think many have tended to "strawman" Brian. And I think we can do better.

5. Bob K said,

February 9, 2007 at 11:57 pm

'.. i think much of mclaren’s criticisms wud hit nicely the ugly side of fundamentalism but wud be a strawman critique when levelled on evangelicals like Carl Henry, Bernard Ramm, Harold Ockenga or Francis Schaeffer'

I agree but I don’t see why that’s necessarily a bad idea. Fruitful dialogue already occurs among what we would term as the "best" from the various traditions. That’s one of the reasons they’re considered the "best" anyway, because of their willingness to be open and discuss issues.

Unfortunately, in many occasions it is the worst expressions that seem to be mainstreamed. The large majority of laity and probably quite a number of clergy (irregardless of whether they would consider themselves as clergy or not) do not have the privilege to participate in the "higher" discussions at the various theological "menara gading"s and in many cases laypeople are encouraged to have an unthinking faith.

And because these voices represent the most public face of the Church, ie. the ones that everyone else meets on a day to day basis, I see an urgency to tackle the bull by the horns and force people to think hard about what they really believe."

*UPDATE: a comment from a wiser and older man!*
# Alex Tang said,

February 10, 2007 at 6:59 pm

"To be precise, i think much of mclaren’s criticisms wud hit nicely the ugly side of fundamentalism but wud be a strawman critique when levelled on evangelicals like Carl Henry, Bernard Ramm, Harold Ockenga or Francis Schaeffer"

Actually I do not think that McLaren is aiming for the "ugly" side of fundamentalism as for the closing of the evangelical mind. If you wheel out the heavy artillery like Carl Henry, Bernard Ramm and Harold Ockenga, you may find that we are fighting a conventional warfare with guerilla warfare.

McLaren is not attacking evangelicalism as a theological construct but evangelicalism as a fossilizing institution. And he is not critiquing all of evangelicalism, only the ecclesiological portion of it and even then, a small portion in how to be a church in a changing world. In fact I believe that Carl Henry, Bernard Ramm and Harold Ockenga will have no objections if they truly understand what McLaren is doing and saying.

As for Francis Schaefer, he would have been best with friend with McLaren because McLaren is continuing on where Francis ends.

It is time that theologians stop spending their time defending their turfs and instead look at where the church is and think about and develop theological systems for this present age. I challenge them to move from systematic theology to systems theology. And that is no straw man.

Blessings

<*i>I couldn't resist to chip in a little ... *
#Sivin said,

February 11, 2007 at 12:28 am

"Actually I do not think that McLaren is aiming for the "ugly" side of fundamentalism as for the closing of the evangelical mind."

Now, that broadens the conversation …Alex, you stretched me further in this discussion by introducing this dimension :-) I can sleep with a worthwhile seed thought which will last me quite a little while.

Having said that, I do agree with the critique of the ecclesiological portion of our various traditions is often the starting point. And yet, we know that mere tweaking of forms won’t solve the problems. And this is where challenging the mind comes into play … which was what I was trying to allude to in my comments on "the popular imagination of most evangelicals/pentecostals/charismatics even in Malaysia."

"It is time that theologians stop spending their time defending their turfs and instead look at where the church is and think about and develop theological systems for this present age. I challenge them to move from systematic theology to systems theology. And that is no straw man."

Now that's a challenge worth taking up ... and I think the time is ripe for us to start getting our hands dirty in this "move" - not by throwing stones but by building new possibilities.

Friends 2007: QRoH Notes [21]

Seminari Theoloji Malaysia just put up the information on Brian McLaren's visit to the seminary here.

"There will be a lecture and conversations led by Brian McLaren in STM. The details are as follows:

Title : "The Church emerging in the post-al age"
Subtitle : Reflections on Ministry in a Globalized World
Date : 5 March, 2007, Monday
Venue : Seminari Theoloji Malaysia
Time : 10.00am - 12.30pm
(2 sessions with Q&A, discussions)

To register for this event, please email mclaren@stm.edu.my."

Friends 2007: QRoH Notes [22]

Let me return to some notes ... there's some interesting buzz coming from here on the upcoming event.

Allow me to quote some of the interaction from there.

Mr. D serves ...

"The Emergent Church movement has its share of critics. Here's one http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2006/june/17.72.html.

Also check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emerging_Church."

then Mr. B replies with a steady forehand ...

"Well, we don't get the same level of public debate in Malaysia as they do in the States, so it's pretty easy to get swayed by just one point of view. From what I can see, there is no one monolithic movement known as emergent. There are recurring themes and pastoral issues (less debate occurs on doctrinal matters) that are being discussed and are generally identified as emergent but there's no one body of opinion forming the agenda per se. Perhaps a read of Scott McKnights article in Christianity Today might give an alternate perspective (the transcript of the full presentation can be read here) :

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2007/february/11.35.html

Personally I feel we do a lot of honest discussion on issues and challenges facing the Church a major disservice by pre-empting such dialogue when we launch attacks based on certain presumptions like how Colson, Carson and recently McArthur have done. Arguably the most ardent critics may be betraying the extent of their allegiance to modernity (rather than to Christ). Perhaps before we read what folks have to criticise about "leaders" like Brian McLaren, we might wanna know what McLaren himself actually said in the first place. From the horse's mouth in a manner of speaking :

http://www.necf.org.my/newsmaster.cfm?&menuid=12&action=view&retrieveid=833

My personal participation with the emergent conversation within the emergentMalaysia context is minimal, having only actually attended one open meeting but I have had the privilege of participating in conversations on a personal levels with folks who are unchurched, de-churched, still churched, church workers, pastors et al and I find a lot of what is discussed both refreshing and in some cases crucial for me in retaining my faith."

Mr. D back tracks a little and does a lob:

"Well, I must confess that I don't know too much about this movement. At a glance, it does seem very refreshing. It's like getting down to the brass tacks of just loving God & loving our neighbour in the simplest ways possible. It will be interesting as well as helpful to be able to attend the seminar as there are people there whom I think are definitely "ok"; folks like Ng Kam Weng, Sivin Kit & Sherman, for instance.

The movement is probably too fluid & varied for one to define or even describe with any degree of certainty, much like the charismatic movement or Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do.

Anyway, if the seminar spurs some of our leaders to seriously re-think how we do church & reach out to the unchurched, then it may just be worth the trouble."

Now, as we take a break ... allow me to sing my immediate after midnight reactions are:

1. " ... there are people there whom I think are definitely "ok"; folks like Ng Kam Weng, Sivin Kit & Sherman, for instance."

Wow ... I'm "ok!"

2. "... Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do" .

.. cool! "Miao?"

3. "... I must confess that I don't know too much about this movement. "

I think most people in Malaysia would say this ... and I think this is a most honest comment: That is why I was asked to write this article (and to bring a Malaysian perspective on this). I'm no scholarly expert, but I've followed the conversation for at least 7 years and have been a participant somewhat. At least, I can say I've spent a great deal of time reflecting of many of the issues raised by the conversation whether it's in the UK, USA, Australia or New Zealand ... and throughout this time not ignoring the uniqueness of our Malaysian context. At times, I even had the chance to participate in a more global interaction (thanks to the internet). I think I've said this again and again on this blog.

4. "At a glance, it does seem very refreshing. It's like getting down to the brass tacks of just loving God & loving our neighbour in the simplest ways possible."

this is such an important observation ... because the whole way the event is phrase and designed is meant to convey that.

Apart from the word "emergent" mentioned in emergent Malaysia as the organiser. There's hardly anything directly mentioned about the "emerging church" specifically. And this is a deliberate choice - I know! Because I sat down with the copywriter to write the copy. And as a committee we talked about it together. The whole event was planned not with the mindset of (a) promoting something called "the emerging church" (whatever) (b) evaluating "the emerging church movement" ... i think there's already 101 talks and papers saturating the internet ... and we'll still be happy to talk about it for those who are interested.

But specifically for this Friends in conversation 2007 event, We felt our time and focus is with the help of our friend and guest Brian McLaren and a load of conversations partners to "create space" for those who are interested and willing to engage in conversations and thinking which connects to the realities we are facing. And in it's simplest (not simplistic) form this is what the event is all about ... isn't this what we should all be about?

In short, can we have an event where it's not about quick fix formulas, and methods to solve out problems? Can we have a place where a diverse of people can some together and talk in simple human lingo? It seems some are "ok" , some are not "ok" - but that's hard to decide and would depend on various preferences. But one thing is sure, to me they are my friends and in some cases mentors.. and that's a good start,. The bonus is they have much to offer in terms of wisdom and insight to the conversation and the shaping our common imagination of what we can be! And yes, I personally mad e a phonecall or met face to face to represent the committee to invite them. Many thanks to them for saying "yes!"

5. "Anyway, if the seminar spurs some of our leaders to seriously re-think how we do church & reach out to the unchurched, then it may just be worth the trouble."

It's nice to be appreciated for some of us who are taking the trouble to make this happen and those who are coming. What happens during and most importantly after the event is really up to us. Ok, to be more theologically correct it's up to how we discern and respond to God's still small voice amidst some much noise. I really do hope more pastors and church leaders will be present as well as fellow Christian who are concerned about who we are as a church - God's people - in this time, location and age.

Now the ball is in "our court".

Friends 2007: Introducing Brian - the writer I [23]

"Sometime in 1994, at the age of thirty-eight, I got sick of being a pastor. Frankly, I was almost sick of being a Christian.", p. ix.

Now, what a way to start an introduction in a book. That line itself made me finished reading perhaps Brian's most well-known book which brought also controversy into his life and the lives of those who are even caught reading it!

But the reality is I've been hearing different version of the above statement many times the past 7 years. And even when I did not mention my own feelings about being a pastor and a Christian especially during the lowest moments of my journey of faith and ministry, secretly where no one is looking the words were not far from my lips. But that's never always the whole story ... our lowest moments are not the end.

"... seven years later, I am still a Christian, still in ministry, and enjoying both more than I ever have.

But at that low tide of faith, my soul was trying to tell me something important, something I needed to listen to.", p. ix

I think the hardest thing in life is too actually quiet down and listen to what's going on inside us honestly ... especially when many of us are already busy with our lives (and for pastors busy with our ministries!).

This last week, I've already heard two different episodes of people who are paying attention to what's inside their soul for a change. And it's scary, and it's sad .. because at least one has told me that the church is not the place where she can ask these questions and work through them. The other person at least is asking, is there a church open enough for him to find his answers and learn.

Is it that tragic that the alternatives we have for people who are genuinely serious about their faith, about following Christ, about being human is so limited in our Malaysian Christian context? There's something in me shouting "No! it can't be! It mustn't be that way!"

"At that time I could only see two alternatives: (1) continue practicing and promoting a version of Christianity that I had deepening reservations about or (2) leave Christian ministry, and perhaps the Christian path, altogether. There was a third alternative that I hadn't considered: learn to be a Christian in a new way.", p. x

I too was looking for a third alternative since 2000 and when I read this book in August 2001, I wrote or more like I prayer: "Father God, what a breath of fresh air for me ... I think we are in a new kind of world that's pretty unkind. I want to learn how to be a a new kind of Christian." This process there has been pain and struggle as well as a load of misunderstanding and non-understanding thrown in the mix, especially when we're asking hard questions which Brian does in p. xi-xiii (This is all before the more fictional characters get started in the book ... so I'm sure Brian is asking these questions with what now I noticed his very helpful "What ifs?"!)

"What if God is actually behind these disillusionments and disembeddings? What if God is trying to move us out of Egypt, so to speak, and into the wilderness, because it's time for the next chapter in our adventure? What if it's time for a new phase in the unfolding mission of God intends for people (at least some of the people) who seek to know, love and serve God? What if our personal experiences of frustration are surface manifestations of a deeper movement of God's Spirit? In other words, what if this experience of frustration that feels so bad and destructive is actually a good thing, a needed thing, a constructive thing in God's unfolding adventure with us?"

In a world where we tend towards "get well soon" and "quick fix" ways of doing Christianity .... these words were words of hope and still are. Brian later mentioned Martin Luther as an example. And as a Lutheran pastor, I'll admit my bias and say I can relate.

And the questions Brian asked were good ones:

"1. Why am I not the same kind of Christian I used to be?
2. What might a new kind of Christian be like?
3. How might one become a new kind of Christian if one is so inclined?", p. xvi

of course, in the last seven years (interesting to note this for myself) it became more like I became an "old kind of Christian" in a way .. or I slid back into some more essentials in my faith compared to a lot of fluff I was accustomed to. Ironically, I found myself reading more church history and theology to nourish this quest I had and still have. I had already begun a steady diet of Christian spirituality since seminary days and as a pastor in our pluralistic contexts I began to re-discover insights from former missionaries in missiology. I know I wasn't and I am not that smart.

The last seven years have had many ongoing diverse conversations both local and global with scholars, mentors, fellow pastors, friends, young people and old people which have totally expanded and enriched the way I look at life, faith and the world. Many whom I never expected would even connect with me at various levels. For all of these relationships and conversations, I count myself blessed.

There are some who might pick up this book and get a little scared. In an interesting review by Bob Hostetler (who is an award co-author with Josh Mcdowell) he says,

"It will be exceptionally scary to some. If I had read this book ten—or even five—years ago, I would have been offended (like the main character of the book at one point). And many “modern” Christians will definitely find this book offensive and threatening. They will want to condemn its premise and argue with its claims…and in so doing, they just might show the extent of their allegiance to modernity (rather than to Christ).

It is also exceptional in tone. McLaren manages to present his case—for a new kind of Christian that is not blindly loyal to modernism, scared of postmodernism, nor unfaithful to God and his Word—in a way that (to paraphrase another reviewer) eschews 'control, condescension, and smug certainty [in favor of] incarnational faith.'"

And "incarnational faith" is REALLY what at least for me at that time and even till today is what I'm looking for. And I think underneath many of the complaints and struggles of Christians after slowly uncovering the layers frustration and questions they bring up ... what we really want to say "yes!" to.

The Navigators US has another helpful pdf review of the book which I'll pull out some excerpts:

"... one may be tempted to jump to the conclusion that McLaren is "going liberal", sacrificing Biblical orthodoxy for the sake of cultural relevance, or even guilty of syncretism. Nothing could be further from the truth.

... This story/dialogue format makes the book much more enjoyable to read than an academic volume on post-modernity. In addition, this form is consistent with one of the fundamental aspects of post-modernity, which favors story telling over propositional argument. The author insists that the story is not autobiographical, even though he has undergone a "mid-life pastoral crisis" in real life much like Dan does in the book. The difference is that McLaren probably did not have a personal mentor like Neo to help guide him through the transition from being a modern Christian to being a post-modern one. This is not an easy transition to make, of course, and it may be easier for a post-modern non-Christian to become a Christian than it is for a modern Christian to become a post-modern one.

... In my opinion, Brian McLaren has done an outstanding job of highlighting many of the opportunities and pitfalls offered for the advance of the Gospel by post-modernity. His critique of modernity and the syncretism of evangelical Christianity with modernity is disturbing, but largely accurate. He correctly observes that post-modernity offers many advantages for the advance of the Gospel, and to have a "knee-jerk reaction" against it is both shortsighted and counterproductive. On the other hand, he does not advocate a naive view of post-modernity that overlooks its unbiblical aspects. He also notes that someday we will see the shortcomings of post-modernity as clearly as we see the shortcomings of modernity today."

Personally, I don't think we need to be over-locked into the more academic side of the modernity/postmodernity discussion to benefit from the book. Now there are already many more resources which deal with those more nuanced discussions which a New Kind of Christian is not aimed at dealing with. Some might not like the broad strokes in the book, others like me may find it helpful to give some space to re-configure how we look at our faith and live it in todays often fragmented world. But as an Asian, and Malaysian dealing with the "debris of modernity", and a very USA influenced Christianity .. I was not surprised to resonate with many of the concerns and questions raised in the book. But then, of course, that is just a starting point ... there's still more work to be done on our end. Which is another story we hope will continue after the Friends 2007 event (and of course with others who have already gone before us!).

Brian does carefully mention three points of orientation when we read this book, and I think these points are very crucial in reading his NKOC trilogy. It's very easy to misrepresent Brian's personal views if one in a hurry wants to equate it with the characters in this series.

I think the basic rule of reading is to appreciate the intention and the genre of the literature at hand, for me reading the series was a fun and thoughtful way of exploring the ideas and questions very often I may have had for myself, and most definately have heard from others. Perhaps we are just not used to this kind of writing, whatever the case read on before you read further into the series and even more especially if one seeks to be fair, before reading nto the mind of Brian Mclaren :-)

At least we can try the golden rule, "do unto others what you want them to do to you". The Confucius Chinese version is in my own rough more direct translation ... "What you don't want people to give you (or do to you), don't give to others (or do to others)" :

"First, as you'll see, I'm going to blur the lines between fiction and nonfiction in the pages that follow. I think you will understand why I have done so as we proceed. This book started as a work of nonfiction but evolved steadily toward fiction with each revision. Knowing that I was not trying to commit a work of artistic fiction from the start will help lower your expectations about character development, plot, and other artistic concerns. Things will go much better for both of us if you consider this more in the category of a philosophical dialogue than a novel.

... Second, you will soon meet Neil Edward Oliver, Dan and Carol Poole, and Casey B. Curtis. Please don't assume that any of these characters can be fully identified with the "I" who wrote this Introduction.

Third, this book is just a beginning. There are a number of other questions, and important questions that follow on from these, that I will only nod toward in this book. Please don't be disappointed that you didn't get the last word.

... It is my hope that these imaginary conversations will prompt you to engage in real-life ones and that those conversations will take you where these cannot."p. xviii (underlined emphasis mine)

Random Thoughts before Pastor's Prayer Meeting

I couldn't resist the temptation to put the above photo up (please don't be offended). But when I saw it in a Christian bookstore it raised my eyebrows.

Finally, I think I'm having a little bit more discipline in reading the always insightful Lesslie Newbigin as a springboard for my own thinking. The Gospel and Culture our Network input also has been useful. Skimming through an excellent article written by my previous lecturer in islam and now fellow pastor in the neighborhood Rev. Dr. Albert Walters, "Issues in Christian-Muslim Relations: A Malaysian Christian Perspective".

Gareth did well today as far as speeding up the breakfast eating. he told me to remind his grandpa "gong gong" to come early to pick him. I think it's because the last time my father-in-law was a little late and the feeling of being one of the few "left behind" when his friends went off wasn't a pleasant experience.

had some conversations with a number of people lately ... and it's sad that the word "church" has no immediate relevance to them. I'm still waiting for some responses to "What cheers you up about Church?" which was after "What cheeses you off about Church?" ... the responses are very educational.

I think my friend Jason Clark has also hit the nail when he talked about the need for self-critique on Christians as well since so much critique has been leveled on the "church" (especially the structures and institution). Like Jason, I agree that we need to seriously re-examine our churches and leadership - and also with more theological reflection. And with Jason, I too feel that Christian let themselves off the off the hook on a healthy self-examination and charting some humble ways to move forward. That's why I look forward to hear what are the answers to "What have you done/are you doing about Church?" Listening to the MP3 while waiting for Gareth at school did me much good.

There's perhaps 10 more minutes before I need to go ....

I've been hearing the buzz about the TV show Heroes the last 2 weeks. ... my entertainment life is not in a hi right now ... more time in books and articles... and I've hardly turned on the TV!

Need to pace myself this week ... there's a number of things lined up even until now.

I enjoyed visiting the LiFE Groups thus far ... one more to go to complete my round for BLC. Looking forward to hang out with the "sinners" next tuesday before Chinese New Year. Wow ... Chinese New year is coming so fast like a bullet train this year!

the weather is getting very dry and very hot! And now ... a shower and off I go ...

Friends 2007: Introducing Brian - the evangelist [24]

I must confess I'm glad they subtitled on the cover at least in the new edition of the book "The power of everyday conversation" replacing the "evangelism as dance in the postmodern matrix". Now, before I go on I need to say that I like the picture of "evangelism as a dance". What I like better about the new title is bringing the whole discussion back to the ordinariness of what I learnt most from Brian through this book ... the value of the ordinary encounters - especially the conversations we have with people. I think this is not whether it's modern or postmodern (even though some may argue the general cultural shift in terms of postmodernity would make it even more important), it's about being human.

One of my treasured little email conversations I had with Brian years ago (which I don't know whether he remembers) is when I innocently asked him as a young pastor & church-planter is "How do you preach during your sunday services when there are 'seekers' as well as 'believers'?" (during that time I was working with this "seeker sensitive" way of thinking with the intention to be more outreach oriented in all that I do - including preaching. I'll never forget his reply which in my paraphrase is ..."I speak to humans ... and I don't see them as 'seekers' and/or 'believers' first they are humans. And even the so called seekers and believers essentially face the same human problems ...." That made me think about what I asked for a long time and has changed the way I view people and see preaching in general.

More Ready than you realize is I think one of Brian's least known books (perhaps that's why some misunderstand him as one who doesn't believe in evangelism which again intrigues me). And yet it's a wonderful book describing how he re-looks at the whole idea of "evangelism" (which some of my friends find it hard to use that term anymore) and repaints a fresh vision and connects us to what I see as more biblical values of relationships, conversation, process and patience back into the bigger picture of "disciple making".

As usual in this series, I should let Brian speak for himself ...

"On the street, evangelism is equated with pressure. It means selling God as if god were vinyl siding, replacement windows, or a mortgage refinancing service. It means shoving your ideas down someone's throat, threatening him with hell if he does not capitulate to your logic or Scripture-quoting. It means excluding everything from God's grace except those who agree with the evangelizer (a.k.a. evangelist).", p. 12

I can't help but have flashbacks on some of the "evangelistic" efforts that I've done - and they were out of sincerity and a noble heart no doubt ... but even then I recall a sense of uneasiness but then I supressed my questioning because I thought there was only certain fixed ways of "evangelizing".

"Consider for a moment if it is not evangelism, but rather late twentieth-century styles of evangelism that deserve our disdain and avoidance. What if evangelism is one of the things that our world needs most?

After all, most people want to talk about things that really matter -- their sense of God, their experiences of meaning or transcendence, their attempts to cope with their own mortality, their struggles with guilt and goodness, their dreams and hopes and deepest longings. They want to talk about these things because without them, all that is left in life is reruns and shopping, copulation and digestion, earning and spending and saving, culminating in estate sales and probate.", pp. 13-14

The question was so liberating for me ... because even as a guest speaker at "evangelistic meetings" where I was expected to give altar-calls which should result in "decisions", I recall very often having so much "pressure" on stage to see "something must happen." What really happens is perhaps we have missed the whole point of what evangelism at its best is really all about. Lord have mercy!

"Let me offer this better vision of good evangelism and good evangelists: Good evangelists -- the kind we will talk about in this book -- are people who engage others in good conversation about important and profound topics such as faith, values, hope, meaning, purpose, goodness, beauty, truth, life after death, life before death, and God. They do this, not because they like to be experts and impose their views on others, but because they feel they are in fact sent by God to do so. They live with a sense of mission that their God-given calling in life is not just to live selfishly, or even just to live well, but to in fact live unselfishly and well and to help others live unselfishly and well too. Evangelists are people with a mission from God and a passion to love and to serve their neighbors. They want to change the world. They are mutants in their planet's spiritual evolution, if you will -- good mutants whose new genes are desperately needed by the gene pool at large.", p. 14

I've always seen myself as an "evangelist" (this was what excited me about being a pastor in the first place - sharing Christ and leading people to him). And yet, so often I know that I've done a mixed job at it (Ok! many a times I've done a lousy job or have not done anything). There were times when I was wondering whether "evangelism" was one idea I needed to forget about and I hear from many people their guilt of not "evangelizing". But, if what is needed is first really to not get too stuck with the methods which often clouds the essence of what evangelism is really about (so eloquently re-described by Brian above), and when it's truly in the context of genuine relationships ... and part of God's revolution of hope and love then this really is what our world needs most ...

Then, the altar call today is a call to alter the way we think about, the way we talk about and the way we go about - evangelism. And that starts with us hearing the "Good News" as Good again ... afresh!

And the big take away for me is to not get locked into an either/or way of thinking when it comes to "evangelism" - whether it's about styles or methods, but to go deeper into the bigger picture of "disciple making" and the "message" I'm actually sharing with those whom are engaged in conversation with me.

Oh yes ... BTW, here's a book review, an pdf interview, and a pdf sample excerpt.

emergent Malaysia Open meeting February 10, Saturday

When? 10am
Where? The Father's House (BLC premises)

After some thought, I know it's easier for most people to see the conversations revolving around "emerging" churches, "emerging concerns" and "emerging theological conversations", but all this is meant to cut the fat eventually and get on to what matters most. As far as we are concerned we want to "create space" for conversations to happen ... and be open what will generate from there :-)

The focus for this meeting is more like a pre-conference warm up before the March event. We hope to invite some of those who have already signed up to come if possible.

Invite anyone you like. The focus would be on questions and observations. I'll throw in some to get going. If our group is small then we can all do this together. If we are bigger, then we will divide into the four groups in two sessions. So people can at least contribute for two.

Our agenda this saturday will be based on the 4 topics.

1: Gospel - more than we imagined it to be > -- What are the "versions" of the gospel ... in the minds of church members and pastors today in Malaysia? What are the consequences of believing these "versions"? Where do we get our influences and what do we need to take note?

2: Church - ways forward beyond forms and technique
>
How do people Christians and nonChristians view "Church"?
What occupies the minds of our pastors and church leaders?
How do we wrestle with institutional as well as non-institutional aspects of church?

3: Discipleship - tired of shortcuts and superficiality
>
-- How do people see their Christian life today?
How is discipleship and/or spiritual formation happening now in our churches?
Are their any new directions, paradigms or practices Christians are experimenting? What are their strengths and weaknesses?
Where is the role of the Bible in this process? what is the place of church history or traditions - east or west?

4: World - being ready for active engagement
>
HOw do we view our world - e.g nation? what role can we play in terms of transformation?
What is transformation? What does it look like?
Where do we get our ideas of what kind of transformation needs to take place?

Friends 2007: Interview with Brian McLaren [25]

Many thanks to Siew Foong, the research secretary of the NECF Research Commission for preparing the questions for this interview and Brian McLaren for sharing his thoughts and motivations with us.
______________________________________________________________________

What are the emerging trends that you have observed within the Christian world community? Are they threats to Christians' spiritual health at large and how?

I was in 20 different countries last year, and many more in recent years. Of course, each culture is unique, and each context brings specific challenges and opportunities. But what has struck me in my travels more than anything else is the similarity of our struggles around the world. In one way, this shouldn't be a surprise. Christian faith has gone global in three main waves. First, the Catholic wave brought Roman Catholicism from Europe to many parts of the world. The Protestant wave followed, quite often in areas previously evangelised by Catholics. Next came the Pentecostal wave which is still advancing. All these forms of Christianity are Euro-American, while the Protestant forms are more or less modernist.

By modernist I mean that they reflect the values and assumptions and ways of modern Western civilisation - ways of organising information and people; conducting inquiry and argument; educating, motivating, and so on.

What I see happening around the world could be summarised like this: Where pre-modern people are entering the modern world, Christianity is thriving and growing. Where people are living in modernity, Christianity is somewhat stable, or even stagnant. Where modern people are moving into postmodernity, the Church hardly exists.

So that leaves me with two dominant impressions. Firstly, where Christianity is growing most rapidly, it tends to be a form a pentecostalism associated with modernist American televangelism and megachurch methodologies. This form of Christianity has much to commend it, but it has notable weaknesses. It tends to make converts, not disciples. It tends to focus on individual salvation, individual health, and personal prosperity, not personal and global transformation. It is often described as an inch deep and a mile wide, with more hype than substance. Many of us fear that the rapid growth will be followed by a rapid descent into nominalism or even secularism – like the seeds in Jesus' parable.

Secondly, as people move from a set of modern assumption to a postmodern mindset (or in some places, such as in parts of Asia, where a modern Western mindset has never been accepted), we have a crisis of evangelism. Do people have to be converted to a modern Western Euro-American mindset before they can become followers of Christ? Or does the Holy Spirit want to enter people where they are, and begin transforming their lives and cultures from where they are?

These are some of my top concerns - and hopes.

The general perception of the Malaysian Church on the 'emerging church movement' is heavily shaped by Western critiques, and many see you as a staunch proponent or even a controversial voice in such 'movement' (if there is any). Your comments, please. How shall the Malaysian Christian leadership be prepared to respond to such 'movement'?

Yes, it has been unfortunate that some Christians in the West, especially in the US, have taken a combative stance toward the emergent conversation. I find it sad that in defence of "the truth," we can misread, misinterpret, and misjudge others in an untruthful way.

I think that the Malaysian Christian leadership should take a "Berean" approach (Acts 17:11) – to prayerfully engage in conversation and in light of Scripture. They shouldn't see the emergent conversation as a finished "programme" ready for "marketing" but as a conversation in its early stages of formation. They shouldn't see it as another American export, but as a conversation in which they can, if they desire, become active participants. I hope to represent a conversation that is truly global, and a conversation from which Americans have much to learn - perhaps more than anyone.

Please share your idea of ministry and serving. What does it mean by 'missional'?

The simplest way to explain this is to ask another question, "What is the church for?" If the church is primarily for saving individual souls and protecting them until they can be delivered to heaven, that is certainly a noble purpose. But if the church is to be an agent of God’s mission - of God's kingdom coming, of His will being done on earth as it in heaven - that’s a very different vision. I don't believe these visions are contradictory, but the second one includes the good elements in the first. The church exists to form disciples who are agents of the kingdom in every sphere of their lives - family, work, neighbourhood, political, ecological and economic involvement, and so on. Many churches already understand this, but I think this is a special emphasis in the emergent/missional conversation.

It has been observed that church leaders emphasise 'big,' 'wealth' and 'number' as growth, but there is an increasing number of Christians (particularly the youths) who are seemingly restless and probably lost in church. Faithfully attending cell-groups, Bible study, prayer meeting, or church service may be mere rituals for some. They become conformists rather than growing spiritually. What you do think?

I think this is a widespread problem globally. People engage in a lot of church activities but don’t experience deep transformation. In the end, I believe that the "why" question is more important than the "what" or "how much" questions. Instead of asking: What activities are you involved in? How much prayer or how many hours per week of Bible study? - attractive questions to the modern mind because they are quantifiable - I think we need to ask: Why are we here? Why does the church exist? Why do we gather on Sundays? What are the purposes? Then we can ask: How can we best fulfil those purposes? How can we become the kind of people who live for God’s mission in our world?

"It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men"(Frederick Douglass). Jesus is serious about the spiritual wellbeing of children (Matt. 18:6). However, children ministry is generally not prioritised in many churches. Today we see that we may be losing a generation to the enemy. What do you think about this?

I cannot agree more. There are many levels to this problem, but one level relates to this transition from modern to postmodern. In the modern world, we developed approaches to education that were suitable to the world of industrialism.

Education was like a factory - raw material goes on the conveyor belt and is "processed" through a linear process into the finished product. Chairs were lined up in classes and children listened, took notes, and took tests. But in the post-industrial world, all of these methods are up for re-examination. We are free to reflect, for example, on the way Jesus taught.

Our great opportunity, with both children and adults, is to teach what Jesus taught in the manner that He taught.

While committed to carry out the Great Commission of "go therefore and make disciples of all the nations," the Church today faces great animosity in both the West and the East. The act of evangelising, preaching or social out-reaching has become more sensitive than ever. In your opinion, how should the Church today re-look at the Great Commission?

I've written several books on this deeply important question. If I were to focus on three or four points, here are what they'd be:

1. We need to think in terms of forming lifelong disciples rather than simply counting decisions or conversions. Our call is to disciple-making, not decision-counting.

2. Disciple-formation is a process, not simply an event. Of course, as a process, there are many milestones in discipleship - including important ones like baptism. But one of our problems in the conventional approach was that we immediately needed to classify people as "in" or "out." As we emphasise discipleship, this in-out thinking must be modified, enhanced, moderated. For example, if I take an interest in the game of golf or the sport of cricket, when do I say I'm a golfer or a cricket-player? It would seem presumptuous for me to say so the first time I play. But with experience and practice, eventually I begin to see myself as a golfer or cricket-player. How can we make room in our churches for people in this category – what we often call "seekers?"

3. Disciple-formation involves a community and requires relationships in real life. It can't remove people to an artificial environment (or "non-environment" – which is what laboratories and traditional classrooms were, in some ways). It must take place on the road, in the home, at work, in conversation.

4. But for any of this to happen, we need, in a sense, to "convert" our Christians from people who tend to isolate in little Christian enclaves and who may judge and even fear non-Christians, so that they become people who, like Jesus, eat meals with "tax collectors and sinners," build relationships with friends and neighbours who are not yet in Christ. C. S. Lewis spoke of the gospel as "a good infection," and we need to get our people out into the general population more - as friends, as neighbours, as lights in darkness and salt in culture - so that our "infection" can gently spread.

Coercion, manipulating, threatening - these are the marks of a desperate and unhealthy movement seeking to scare people into compliance. Neighbourliness, hospitality, genuine conversation, appreciative listening, invitation - these are the marks, I believe, of the early church, and they can characterise our churches too.

Obviously, the shape of these characteristics will vary from Kuala Lumpur to Stockholm to Buenos Aires to Seattle to Kampala, but I think more and more of us are realising that it's a new era in evangelism. We've moved beyond the colonial era where Christianity and Western civilisation spread hand in hand. We're entering an era in which the way of Jesus is a truly global community coming together in one Spirit, one mission, one purpose, and one gospel, with the possibility of joining Jesus in His mission of bringing good news to all people.

Posted Feb 6 2007 (also published on Berita NECF Jan-Feb 2007 Issue)
______________________________________________________________________________

For more information on the March 3-4 event go to --> Friends in Conversation 2007: A Quiet Revolution of Hope

UFC Retreat Videos III

Here's the last batch of video for a very pleasant and memorable retreat to start the year!

[Happy Birthday Ling Ling! video]

It's always precious to celebrate someone's birthday.

[Football Fun Video]

The field was perfect for the kids and adults to run around ...

Emergent-UK Tea

Jason Clark has been my top encourager when it comes to getting some conversation going on here in Malaysia and keeping some dialogue open beyond our shores. He's also got wonderful insights when it comes to theology, church and cultural concerns for today. So, I decided to put up some links form the Emergent-Uk resource list. I must confess (which I think I've done more than once), that he's very much a key reason how we landed calling our little network emergent Malaysia :-) That's another story .. and now the links.

Michael Polanyi - Tacit Knowing Truthful Knowing (MP3s)
Expands one's horizon on all things "knowing"

New Kind of Christian Conference 2002
A small group of dark haired Malaysians were in this conference, most of them I think have never been the same since :-)

San Diego - Emergent Convention 2004
With titles like this "God is Always Found in the Most Godforsaken Places - Alan Roxburgh", "Great Omission from Great Commission - Dallas Willard" and "What Makes a Church Postmodern Stan Grenz" - download away!

Alan Jamieson stuff
I told a friend yesterday, Alan's stuff rightly used will do the church much good especially in getting church leadership to reconsider our ways.. if abused then that would be sad and tragic especially if it's taken to sanction "self-custom-made" individualistic faith (which I don't think is Alan's intention).

Conrad Gempf
Interesting how he does Narrative and explanation.

Deep Church - MP3
I'll be listening to this while I'm picking up my daughter ...

Asian Reflections

When I was asked to be one of the writers for Asian Reflections Year 2 by Scripture Union. I felt very honored to be given this chance to contribute. It was a lot of hard work ... writing the reflections I mean. But I found the whole process very helpful for me to connect the context where I am in with the content of the Scripture passages assigned to me which was a good chunk of Psalms from 51 -72. Somehow, this "space" set aside for the act of thinking, praying and writing open up myself to encounter the Triune God!

I learnt a lot about myself too for example, I need a good editor. I know my English is mediocre and I don't have a flair for fancy writing. I feel what I write is very ordinary but I try to keep things as honest as I can with some hope from a Gospel centred approach. I confess the Lutheran "Law and Gospel" Grid is very much alive in me :-)

Here's what I wrote as a short over view for the meditations I wrote (it's pretty much kind of my second thoughts on prayer too in between the lines):

"Overview of Psalms 51--72

Psalms 51--72 give us a window into how one’s faith wrestles with the realities confronted by a variety of life experiences, especially in 'seasons of disorientation'. In fact, many 'cursing' or 'imprecatory psalms' (Psalms 58, 69) confront us throughout these devotional readings. There are also prayers where one deals with the inner and outer conflicts of sin (Psalm 51), feelings of betrayal (Psalm 55), insecurity in the midst of danger (Psalm 56) and deep abandonment (Psalm 62). And in spite of the more apparent individual focus of these psalms, there are also themes which place the individual in the wider context of God's work corporately in a nation (Psalm 72) and even, further globally, amongst many nations (Psalm 67). Many of these psalms give us the language of prayer in times when we have lost the words to pray. Even when we are at the lowest point of our faith journey, these ancient prayers direct our hearts to be open to God's surprises and to hope beyond our limited horizons.

The Christian martyr, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, calls the psalms the prayerbook for Christians. He says, 'Not the poverty of our heart, but the richness of God's word, ought to determine our prayer.' As followers of Christ, not only do we have these rich psalms (including all their rawness) to guide our prayers, but more importantly, we are able, through them, to pray them with Jesus because, as Bonhoeffer encourages us, ‘only in and with Jesus Christ can we truly pray.'"

If you are interested to get copies of the Asian Reflections (which has a host of many other Malaysian Christians, Pastors and Leaders who have contributed) please go here.

UFC Retreat Videos II

More from our time in Selesa Hillhomes last week.

[Master Chef Ling Video]

He's a man of few words .. but when he's cooking ... he's COOKING goodies!

[Taboo at Selesa Video]

I enjoyed laughing out loud... "curry kai" (in Chinese) hahahahhah ...

UFC Retreat Videos I

Here's a glimpse of our recent "refreshing" LiFe Group retreat - our group was "named" by a bunch of youngsters in the church as UFC = Underground Fertility Clinic. We embraced the "name" and have since had fun with it.

[River Beach Walk Video]

The little walk was a nice intro to the place after a "fulfilling and cheap" lunch at the nearby restaurant. But it was sad to see the stream so muddy (perhaps due to construction works)

[Feeding Time Video]

Of course, an important highlight was home cooked meals as well ... yummy!

Friends 2007: Introducing Brian - the Spiritual Guide [27]

"... as soon as I talk about faith, I know many readers find it hard to relate. Make believe, self-hypnosis, manipulation, group hysteria, anti-intellectualism, obscurantism, closed-mindedness, backwardness -- for many, the images of associations related to faith are the very opposite of what I was thinking about ... For you, faith is perhaps like death, a subject you know you shouldn't deny or avoid, but one that is profoundly uncomfortable. You wish, and I wish for you, that faith could be a subject of joy, vitality, hope and healing.

It is for people like you that I have written this book. If it can help you who struggle the most, I know it can help many others too, others whose struggles with faith are not perhaps as radical or extreme, but who struggle nonetheless. (The people for whom faith comes easily and whose faith is never called into question probably would never pick up a book like this anyway, although I wonder if it might do them some good if they did.)"
- pp. 9-10, Finding Faith: a Self Discovery guide for Your Spiritual Quest (The link is the new version, the one I have is the earlier edition)

Here's a pdf sample chapter and an interview on what I heard Brian mentioned once as that this is one of his most favorite books he's written thus far. And yet, it's one of his lesser known or unknown works.

I first read the book in August 2001 and I wrote in the book, "In many ways I'm still a spiritual seeker, Lord invigorate my faith as I walk on with you." And reading the book did help a lot ...not just to put into words my own struggles (perhaps not as radical as many others) but also give me some language to engage in conversation with those who have more radical struggles.

I googled an interesting book review written in 1999 about the book. Here's some excerpts from the reviewer which I found myself nodding in agreement:

"... What I found most refreshing about this book was the author's ability to put himself in the shoes of the unbeliever or seeker, and not polarize the issues that are often hang-ups for post-modern people. For example, he tackles the idea "It doesn't matter what you believe, just so you're sincere" with respect rather than ridicule. He does this by suggesting that what people really mean when they say that is that the quality of one's faith is as important as the content of one's faith. He recognizes that the unbeliever is much more interested in the effect of one's faith (does it make one a better person?) than in the accuracy of the propositions that one believes. If my faith puts a chip on my shoulder, this is not going to win many adherents, despite my brilliant intellectual arguments in defense of it.

I confess I still struggle and consciously need to confront the "ridicule" model when engaging with people of other faiths or skeptics of the Christian faith. It's not easy to genuinely show respect for the other person especially when one feels they are under attack and we slip into a defensive mode. I wonder whether it shows more of my insecurities whether personal or in regards to the way I view my own faith. It was refreshing to read an author who modeled a respectful and proper confidence when confronted with hard questions.

... Another example would be the way he addresses the question of whether truth is relative or absolute. He gently points out that "when we say that everything is relative and no one can know anything with certainty, (we) conveniently ignore the fact that we seem to believe that we know with complete certainty that everything is relative." (p. 56) This is not a new observation, of course, but I have seldom heard it made with such respect for the relativists we are seeking to win.

I never could understand how critics misunderstand Brian as a relativist after reading a statement like the one above -- unless it's more about "eisegeis" rather than "exegesis" of his works. But that's for another post to talk more in depth if we have the chance! Ok, I need to remind myself to be more respectful and not slip into "ridicule" mode. Lord have mercy :-)

... He writes in a respectful, conversational style as if he were actually in dialogue with an atheist or an agnostic or a struggling believer. In fact, he even asked several of his atheist and agnostic friends to review his manuscript. He does not try to back his interlocutor (i.e. the reader) into a corner, but gently leads him or her through the implications of each choice one can make in thinking about God. For example, he devotes a chapter to the proposition that there is no God (atheism), listing 9 reasons for atheism and six reasons for continuing the search for God (i.e. 6 reasons for questioning atheism). He gently points out that atheism is a faith commitment just as much as theism, but he does it in a way that respects, rather than ridicules, the atheistic reader."

What I liked about the book was the honest explorations of our faith commitments entails. And the key point must be made, this can be done with respect rather than ridicule.

"... it is clear that the author is much more interested in winning people than he is in winning arguments. He has the rare ability of seeing things from the other person's point of view. In this case, it is the point of view of the spiritual seeker, be he or she atheist, agnostic, or doubter. I would heartily recommend this book to any friend who is unconvinced or doubtful about the veracity of the Christian faith. It may or may not answer all his or her questions, but it will help the person to know how to go about finding answers."

After my own little adventures and misadventures in trying to converse with those who hold different beliefs than me, or question my beliefs ... sometimes it's truly easy and tempting to forget the person in front of me and get sucked into the whirlpool of "winning arguments". Of course, I'm not advocating irrationalism or anti-intellectualism or a warm fuzzy subjectivism, but it's good to keep things in perspective while passionately sharing our points of view and at the same time being attentive to the other's point of view.

As I shared from the start of this "Introducing Brian" series (especially for Malaysians), it's imperative to read the prefaces and introductions of his books. Check out the following in his introduction for Finding Faith which to me is one of the most encouraging paragraphs I've read on inviting someone to a quest for authentic faith - it's an holistic and honest approach which i would recommend anyone:

"Though a healthy faith is bigger than the intellect, the search for faith is cannot bypass the intellect. The sincere spiritual seeker must engage the mind fully, even while transcending cold and calculating rationalism. ... the search for faith also involves non-cognitive parts of us -- emotions, longings, aspirations, dreams and hopes and fears, drives, intuitions. It often forces us to face some ugliness in ourselves, some hard facts about life, requiring courage, honesty, and determination. Faith involves admitting with humility and boldness that we need to change, to go against the flow, to be different, to face and shine the light on our cherished illusions and prejudices, and to discover new truths that can be liberating even though they may be difficult for the ego, painful to the pride. The search for authentic faith must be the most life-changing quest anyone can ever launch.", pp. 13-14

Random Links 135

Pluralism and the Witness of an Open Community (with more academic details)
Pluralism and the Witness of an Open Community: Take 2 (For mortals)
"I wish to contend that John Howard Yoder shows us all the way forward as how to be missional in the tsunami of pluralism we find ourselves in. Yoder tells us we should not seek first one on one arguments based upon a common reason with folk of other religions (especially if they are coercive), neither should we seek tolerant conversation where we encourage the pursuit of each one's own spirituality (especially if said spiritualities are demonic), rather we seek to be open non-violent, hospitable and humble communities which seek to engage "the other" vulnerably in order to both learn from them and display the gospel before them all the while entrusting the world's salvation to the Sovereign Lord." Lots to chew on.

cultural distance
"loving attentiveness " and "all our attempts to communicate the gospel are now cross cultural." ... this is enough to sit down and put on our thinking cap and also explore some new models for our mission.

Amos Yong Interview: Pneumatology, Hospitality and Religious Pluralism
Good interview .. here's one Q & A that stood out for me ...
"MM: Evangelical theologies tend to be strongly influenced by European and American perspectives. Is there something valuable to be learned by engaging a broader, global perspective on theology, particularly theological reflection from Asia and the Two-Thirds World?

Amos Yong: Of course; we can’t avoid globalization; we can’t be parochial; we can’t be in denial that we live in what I’ve called the “post-al age”: post-western, post-colonial, post-patriarchal, post-Enlightenment, post-Christendom (in terms of Christianity being at the center of political power as in the age of Constantine), etc. In this “post-al” time zone, then, to ignore the scholarship, etc., coming from the rest of the world is to be left behind the times and to become increasingly irrelevant. Of course, there is much out there that is immaterial – and we must be discerning about which voices and perspectives we engage – but that goes for whatever is being produced in the “western world” as well"

Forming a Scripture-Shaped Congregation
More and more I'm convinced that this is crucial ... Good questions to get us started:
"There are several questions which can serve as criteria to guide a theologically aware Christian community. The church should continually be asking itself:

· Where is Christ moving in our situation?

· What is God saying to us, now?

· What is the Spirit calling us to take notice of, to respond to, to discover or do, in conformity with Christ?

· What then shall we do—individually, collectively and cooperatively?"

Three posts on clergy life (1) - clergy stress
Three posts on clergy life (2) - "If you meet George Herbert on the road, kill him"
Three posts on clergy life (3) - visiting
I need to keep an eye on my stress levels. Ok ... breathe slowly ... relax ... get ready for a swim ... have a good nap .... breathe slowly again ... :-)

Random Thoughts after 3Days in Selesa

It was good to "de-tox" from the internet and blogging at Selesa Hillhomes the last 3 days. I think May Chin perhaps was pretty happy that I couldn't get access.

Then it opens up the time for us to truly enjoy pretty good weather and time together with family, friends, food, fun, fellowship, freedom and faith! This is what a friend of mine and I cooked up 10minutes ago - the 7F Model of retreats!

At times it was a little tiring because the kids were SO energetic ... more than half of the whole group consist of our children - from 6 families! And it was a little trick for two of them because of last minute school replacement days for Chinese New year holidays (aiyo!)

I got some sleep .. and detachment from KL which was good. And managed to start reading 2 books which I think I would finish this week (1) The Character of Theology by John R. Franke which is actually a very good short book as the linked review says, and and managed to skim a little (2) The Wild Man's Journey Reflections on Male Spirituality - which has a great title!

I also realized once I came back that I forgot some stuff and have loads of work I need to catch up but then I'm learning to "let go" a little more and "take it easy". I know this might drive people up the wall .. but then I'm more relaxed nowadays when it comes to these matters.

This trip gave me a glimpse into the "soul" of a number of kids in our families - their uniqueness as well as their struggles. I ate a lot too .. and enjoyed it. The Taboo game just got us warmed up but it was a little too late last night and we were all pretty tired. The wine was good though - helped with my sleep.

I thoroughly enjoyed the time we spent at the Rabbit Park with the kids as well as two very fruitful sessions running around, kicking the little blue football and playing with the children at the open field nearby our apartments.

Last night, there was a precious moment where some random questions gave all of the adults a chance to share more about ourselves. I find it true that retreats like this gives us a good environment to open up.. there's something special about have a "mini-communal-monastic-like" life together even if it's a short one.

Looking through the emails I've got is a little overwhelming. But I thought I should return to some blogging ... and do a not so "cheem" post :-) one which I promised to do.