Sivin Kit’s Garden

I haven’t updated my blog roll for a long time… but I’ve discovered and have been following these blogs with interest.

Krisis & Praxis: To Understand Truth and to Attain the True
Dr. Ng Kam Weng “clearly” states it’s more of a resource page with a blog format than a “REAL” blog … I always enjoy our little chats (which can be pretty long). With titles like “JESUS CHRIST AS ESCHATOLOGICAL PROPHET AND INCARNATE SAVIOR” and “Christian-Muslim Dialog in Malaysia: Terms of Engagement” … I frequent here but need more time to digest his writings
Random Musings from a Doctor’s Chair
Dr. Alex Tang’s blog is REALLY a blog and he replies and engages in mutual comments. So that’s nice. We met once face to face in a Singapore conference. It’s amazing that we’re in conversation more lately.

Our Reason For Being: An exposition of Ecclesiastes on the meaning of life and how to experience it”
A Malaysian OT Scholar’s offering in a blog format.

Egalitaria: :: speak up :: judge fairly :: defend the needy ::
Before this post is dominated by male voices, allow me to introduce a young female voice which is often refreshing, insightful and challenging. And unlike the more senior sages above, I can at least say I’m older than her (but that doesn’t mean I’m smarter. There’s a difference *smile*)

[Mashed Potato Making Machine Video]

I’m speechless …

The following quote has been ringing in my head since I saw it the first time. I thought I’d share it since it was a Christmas gift and we’re still in the Christmas season. Good to have the focus.

“Let us, then, meditate upon the nativity just as we see it happening in our own babies. Behold Christ lying in the lap of his own mother. What can be sweeter than the Babe, what more lovely than the young mother! What fairer than her youth! What more gracious than her virginity! Look at the Child, knowing nothing. Yet all that is belongs to him, that your conscience should not fear but take comfort in him. Doubt nothing. To me there is no greater consolation given to mankind than this, that Christ became man, a child, a babe, playing in the lap and at the breasts of his most gracious mother. Who is there that this sight would not comfort? Now is overcome the power of sin, death, hell, conscience, and guilt, if you come to this gurgling Babe and believe that he is come, not to judge you, but to save.”
-Martin Luther’s Christmas sermon (via Sarcastic Lutheran)

Why Don’t More in the Emerging Church Respond?
postmodernegro has a wonderful interaction going on with Stephen in this post. The following comment made me sit up … “While I agree that postmodern skepticism can lead to a profound subjecitivism I also believe that postmodernity illumines (at least the more Continental versions) for us the various ways we are disciplined, discipled, and formed by the socio-political matrices we inhabit. For instance living in America many North American Christians privilege a white aesthetic when presenting a ‘biblical’ version of Christianity. I think this speaks to the Eschatological tension in just one of many areas. The ‘powers’ bring havoc in our socio-political formations influencing us to be more wedded to the present age. Specific Christian counter-cultural practices and habits can give us the ability to hold on to the age to come while we wrestle our lives away from the present age.”

A Conversation with Brian McLaren on Epistemology
wow … stuff like this was already going on in 2001! After reading the following, you might want to have a look at the line of reasoning:

“For me, this line of
thought pushes me to realize that narratives are far more profound than
propositions, because without the narrative to give context, the
propositions are just kind of floating and up for grabs and up for anyone’s
interpretation.

So, faith (which is wrapped up with personal trust and a sense of a story,
narrative) is more “fundamental” than knowledge (i.e. propositions which can
be rationally debated). “

Emerging Liberals?
Great questions ….
” 1. To begin with, Emergent and the emerging church aren’t one and the same. Are you more comfortable with one over the other? If so, why?

3. If you are willing to write off Emergent or the emerging church because of examples you’ve heard about or come across that you think are heretical, do you do the same thing when you hear of segments of mainline denominations that have this same problem? Why, or why not?”

Understanding Church in Emergent/Emerging Conversation
Another fellow Malaysian who is giving the conversation a sympathetic hearing. I’ve been enjoying some interaction with Dr. Alex Tang on this matter and more.

Letters to Emerging Christians, December 19, 2006
I noticed the word “missional” is also entering our Malaysian Christian publication vocabulary. So what Scot wrote here caught my eye –> “Yes, you are right that “missional” is one of the emerging movement’s favorite terms and, yes, you are right that there is no official definition. But, I think I could take a stab at describing how it is used and maybe answer the question you ask about whether they are really saying anything new and valuable with this term. I will answer these last two questions first.
No, it is not something new; the emerging movement didn’t invent this term but they have undoubtedly given it a new currency. But, yes, this is a valuable insight and I’m so glad the emerging movement Christians are doing their best to find their way into a “missional” worldview.”

I love the picture above. Elysia amazes me …

This has been quite an “eventful” Christmas … not so much in being busy but in the variety of events. Friday we were at the Rumah Hope children’s home, Saturday I was at the last BLC council meeting for the year (good wrap up), afternoon Christmas eve practice and then an evening party, Sunday was my Aunty’s baptism, and the evening was the BLC service and then the next day I took Elysia to visit a friend’s church (giving mummy and Gareth some space), and in the evening we had a family dinner,. On tuesday a meaningful farewell lunch and in the evening I had to go for a “crisis/conflict resolve” meeting which ended alright with a peaceful prayer and we await what’s next …

I don’t feel drained …. it’s been good. A pretty good Christmas …

chatted with 5 people at one go a while ago … havent done that for some time.

I’ve been noticing Gareth’s caring nature these days …

Looking forward to some time of solitude and closing the year. Lot’s of things to bring to some “closure” …

Did my blood, urine and ECG test this morning. It was fun to bump into a fellow pastor from our denomination. I was goofing around as usual. Rewarded myself after the pre-test fasting with 3 cans of Pringles. I just finished one!

Hope the broadband speed gets back to normal so I can upload the videos.

The car has been giving some trouble. Glad to get one of the leaking pipes changed. But will need to watch the fan.

Need to fix up my new bookshelf … and relocate the books in my library. I think getting it done will also help orientate my mind to get my part-time Master’s program moving!

While I’m preoccupied with myself, I just want to remember those whose Christmas has ranged from unpleasant experiences to a disaster.

“Father, watch over them.”

“Jesus, hold them close to you”

“Spirit, comfort them..”

“… it can be intoxicating to inordinately focus on our brokenness and pain, but at some point we have to avert our gaze and let ourselves be lost in the beauty of Jesus …”
- A Christmas Day Surprise - A Christmas Eve Reminder (thanks Stephen Shields for highlighting Bruce Marcey’s message at Warehouse 242)

Here’s some pictures I managed to take before and after the service. For pictures during the service we’ll have to depend on Chin Hor. I’m also taking this chance to try out my Picasa Web Albums

BLC Christmas Eve Communion Service 2006

The children are sitting on the floor checking out the presents and learning how to say “please” and share with each other what they have opened (including the presents for the parents!). May Chin is completing her masterpiece. I’ve had a cup of coffee … Anyway, here’s the piece I wrote for our church seasonal newsletter … Hope it’s helpful Have a good holiday, and for those who are already back to work … slow and easy, ok? And for those who like me who might take a little more time and space for year end contemplation, let’s be open to His still small whisper!
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HOW DO YOU FEEL THIS CHRISTMAS?
Sivin Kit

I came across this link HOW DO YOU FEEL THIS CHRISTMAS? with a title that grabbed my attention and relevant scriptures to me process through my feelings this Christmas. Indeed as the opening paragraph says,

“Christmas is a time of mixed feelings, or a maybe it’s a time when our feelings catch up with us. Pausing for a day or two and looking back over the past year has a way of making you face where your life has got to, and how you feel about it.”

I’d like to invite you to walk through the year with me, I offer these “confessions”, “testimonies”, “complaints” and “random thoughts” (just a sampling) to encourage you to look back over the past year for you …

… when I sat across the table at a McDonalds with a re-fill-able Coke and heard these words, “I would like to be baptized and follow Jesus, what’s the next step for me?”

… to once again say “Good bye” those whom have been such a blessing to our community in BLC – this years it’s the Berrys. And yet, the Chinese farewell probably would fit better, “See you again!”
Read the rest of this entry »

{note: this picture of the altar at our church was taken at our 2006 Christmas Eve Communion Service}

Jesus, Name above All Names
Beautiful Savior, Glorious Lord
Emmanuel, God is with us
Blessed Redeemer, Living Word.

Let us create room in our hearts to encounter and re-encounter … The Mystery of Christmas.

[BLC Choir Practise Video]

After coming back from Germany I was delighted to see the BLC choir 2007 progressing quite well. Vickly from Korea who’s worshipping with us did a wonderful job getting the BLCians organized. We are not know as a “choir” kind of church so it’s fun. The funnier thing for the practice above the keyboard tuning was accidentally tuned higher +22 I think. We found out later and had a good laugh!

We did one more practice last week … and I was amused by the “overtones” contributed by the crying babies and/or kids who were looking for their parents. We did sing the songs during the combined service with Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. But I think we’re very happy to have a chance to sing on “home ground” in BLC tomorrow night at our Christmas eve event starting at 7pm.

The scene is typical and “vintage” BLC … a little messy, with no pretense, and ready for surprises. We aren’t a “great”, “professional” choir … we’re just trying to harmonize and communicate what we feel is important.

[BLC Choir 2007 ]