Archive for the ‘Blogging’ Category
I was reminded of one of the early songs I heard David Crowder sang before they were known as the David Crowder Band.
“All I can say” was one song that carried me when entered into a totally unknown territory 10 years ago.
When some expected me to be the next hip mega church pastor, I was stumbling and taking baby steps with lyrics like this:
Lord I'm tired So tired from walking And Lord I'm so alone And Lord the dark Is creeping in Creeping up To swallow me I think I'll stop Rest here a while
In a world where rest is often seen with suspicion or plain lazy wasting time, it’s hard for anyone to voice out their need for genuine rest. But for us to walk far can we expect to do anything less? We are not machines right? Even machines can’t keep on working with no pause and some needed maintenance.
It’s been good to return back to some blogging. “Random Thoughts” has always been the easiest way for me to reengage. I noticed too that the fresh return to music has been refreshing too. I’m a little surprised by this.
Driving through the old main road bringing Gareth and Elysia to their holiday camp was nostalgic. Every twist and turn brought back so many memories. The main road finally is getting widened. But the little replays are still strong.
Loads of images flooded my fresh Monday mind – passed by the Christ Lutheran Church which totally looks different after the renovation – passed by the building which was the “bird shop” cycling to school when I was about 10-11 years old for Chinese Kung Fu lessons, then returning to pack Wan Tan Mee (double) – Oh yes, that was where I used to get my haircut from the Indian barber – and so on.
Places are so fertile for pondering.
The bright sunshine this morning is beautiful. The early drive without heavy traffic was so pleasant for a change. There was a feeling of leisurely movement and expansive space.
So far so good .. the Sabbath has started well. I’m not that tired today, I am pretty refreshed. 
Since I started blogging, it’s not an uncommon experience for me nowadays to meet people whom I have only corresponded by email or interacted through blog comments. Joshua Woo is one who has made this list .
So, it’s interesting to see myself afresh through his eyes. Who is Sivin Kit? Who are we? Who were we in 2002? Who are we now in 2010? Who are we to our family? our church? our nation? our friends? our enemies? .. How have we changed? How have we remained the same? Once a while (not too much), it’s good to have a fresh take.
It was fun to meet Joshua, and he was so kind to pen down his thoughts on two encounters which I had the privilege to be one of them. He writes well and it’s not just because of the subject matter. So who is Sivin Kit to you? I’m still so tickled with the “leading Protestant pastor” bit. ROFL. Because, I’m so aware how fragile and ordinary I am.
One of the "leading Protestant pastor[s] in Kuala Lumpur," Sivin Kit, and I barely know one another though we know each other’s existence since the Agora days. At that time (late 2005 / early 2006) I was active in the Agora network and initially was suspicious of Sivin due to his connection with the Emergent movement. But who was to blame as I was worshiping Norman Geisler in those days? Then many events occurred that I gradually becoming more open to postmodern ideology. One of the events was when I attempted to woo a Roman Catholic girl.
My affection to her restrained me from condemning Roman Catholicism. (All Geisler worshipers have the tendencyto do so.) She introduced a lot of things to me that I was not aware of. There was a point in time when I was partially considering chanting the
blasphemous"Rome sweet home" mantra. Steven Sim knew about it and commented that, "Then both of you can meet in h.e.l.l." (LOL) Those were the days when we were still very much stuck to the er…….. Fundamentals.Anyway, last Sunday, I finally met up and conversed with Sivin. I went to look for him at his church, currently situated at the Lutheran Center.
I was surprised that his church was filled with young parents: A lot of young adults with babies. Actually I saw Sivin on 19 June 2007, when I attended a peaceful virgil at Dataran Merdeka for Revathi’s case. But we didn’t speak to each other at that time.
Sivin invited me for dinner in that evening. He reached my place to pick me up in his blue old Proton Wira. The car instantaneously betrayed the fact that this guy is not into ‘health & wealth’ gospel (which, by the way, is a good thing). We arrived at a nice eatery, sat on table number 56. And coincidentally, the bill was RM56. We spent about 3 hours conversing over many matters. I told him about my negative impression of one of his personal friend,Vinoth Ramachandra. In turn, Sivin shared about Vinoth’s critique on his thesis for his Th.M. Sivin has a bubbly and outspoken persona. I, on the other hand, usually appear more quiet than one expected.
We talked about the way to theologize. Sivin mentioned about his "in-between" approach. When I heard Sivin uttered the term "in-between," I thought of William Desmond’s in-between metaphysic. Anyway, Sivin mentioned about the inadequacy of theologizing on an arm-chair. He said that one’s theology is constructed differently when one has participated in public demonstrations and had been chased by the police. Sivin went through all that. I agreed in silent. If not, I wouldn’t have traveled all the way from Singapore to KL for a virgil alone. It was from such participation that one identifies with the subject one was contemplating. It is as if one wiped with one’s own hands the tears of Revathi.
Hence by "in-between" Sivin meant the space between the academy on one side and the daily struggles of fellow humans on the other side.
I also told Sivin that I used to have a negative view of him last time due to his connection with the Emergent movement. Hearing that, he demanded me to ask for absolution. I stubbornly rejected that by appealing to my innocence. Of course, humor was in the air.
I asked Sivin to give me three characteristics of a good public theologian. He gave like a dozen. I didn’t write them down. So it is better not elaborate here in case I misrepresent him. It’s better for him to share for himself. The one thing I remember vividly is his concern for a holistic approach to life. He mingles around with Christian and non-Christian people who fight for social justice. And what he finds unfortunate is that there are those within both groups who dichotomize their public life from their lives in their home. Sivin wishes that those who fight for just treatment in the society can also treat their family members with equal zeal.
The other thing that we have in common is our distrust of academic grades as the indicator of one’s intelligence. Sivin told me about someone who was previously one of the top students at Trinity Theological College, who now is somewhat disconnected. I agreed with him and brought up John Sung as another example. Sung’s average score in his theological studies at Union Theological Seminary was above 90. Yet he was warded into the Bloomingdale Hospital to receive psychopathic treatment.
Yes, I know, I’m behind my project 365 pictures. I have them but I just haven’t arranged the time to upload them. As for blogging, this is my attempt to make a transitional come back.
I was and I think will be at some level stuff with authors dead or alive and engaged in intense discussions. All part of writing my Masters of Theology about 30,000 words thesis.
the last couple of weeks has been a crazy experience. I’m only getting a breather right now.
I’ll be back. Slowly.
I’m exploring some blog themes for 2010.
Tell me what you like. The tentative one is called Green Light (my wife’s favorite color is green!).
Here are some other options (mostly from wordpressthemesbase.com):
Freedom
StudioPress
Aeros
Teams Rejoice
This is a great picture with some great guys with fitting t-shirts.
Confession: I know I haven’t been blogging much. The reason is simple. I’ve been tweeting 
Plus, I have been doing more writing academically for my Master’s papers. And the reality is I’ve been quite involved in more speaking, coordinating, and doing then writing
I’m reading for some coffee now.
The coffee is good.
I’m looking forward to reengage back into writing the final paper and finishing off the MTheol.
Kids are growing fast. Everyone of them.
2009 has been another more than eventful year with quite a number of memorable experiences.
I need to update my Facebook photo albums.
Looking forward to the arrival of the book on Trinity I ordered.
The interaction between different representatives from a variety of religions will be most interesting. At least one civil society point of view will chip in!
It will be great to have one more event at the Father’s house, Bangsar. I miss our original home tremendously.
2010 will be another fascinating year.
I don’t know the details but based on where I’m heading it will lack no boredom!
As for the life of blogging, let’s see what will happen.
Wow . and as usual I like this kind of presentation style!
I enjoy blogging but I haven’t blogged for quite a while. I’ve tried to keep things going by posting videos. But it doesn’t mean I haven’t been writing.
In fact, I’ve completed my 4th paper for my Master’s in theology module work. So I can give myself a pat on the back. Take a deep breath and starting writing another few more papers.
That’s life. Part of it.
Then there’s the getting into the new role of being the Dean of the Kuala Lumpur District for the Lutheran Church in Malaysia and Singapore. First thing I should do tomorrow is to settle some dates for meetings. Kyrie Eleison.
I’m still the pastor of Bangsar Lutheran Church by the way!
And we’ve been going through major changes as well. Nice to see the children’s ministry start Godly Play again. We started Sunday Bible studies last week too and also Pastor Naomi has jump started the Chinese worship gathering. So that’s some new stuff coming up.
I don’t mind newness. It’s always refreshing.
But then change also takes it’s demand on you – overall especially physically and emotionally. So, I fell sick on Monday after half a day of Mission Consultation with our Mission partners. My contribution? I think the theme “Friends in God’s Mission” stuck after I shared the morning opening devotion. That felt good.
Father of three kids and husband of one. That’s how I like to introduce myself. It’s cute but seriously it’s more to remind me of my primary responsibility apart from being a child of God. It’s not easy on the family when they have a crazy Dad and short attention span husband like me.
Hey . getting back to writing like a human being is nice. No footnotes mom!
Well, there’s a lot which I haven’t had a chance to blog about yet. Loads of pictures. tons of experiences. And bits and pieces of second thoughts here and there.
I guess, what drew me back was the fact that someone who literally “served” me and this blog will be delegating this responsibility. We’ve been together since day 1 of this garden. So, it’s a strange feeling to know of this particular change.
But then change is part and parcel of life. Some good, some not so good. But it’s going to be there.
I’m going get some Ribena and relax!