Skip to content

Sivin Kit's Garden

Planting Seeds for a Better World

Menu
  • About
  • Church
  • Disclaimer
  • Education
  • Writing
Menu

Clearer …

Posted on 13 August, 2005 by admin

IMG_3760_haze_telekom.jpg IMG_3767_haze_telekom2.jpg IMG_3819_haze_telekom3.jpg

Here’s a progression of “Haze-related” pictures from yesterday morning, to yesterday evening, to this morning which is much clearer and better 🙂 Both Gareth and I are feeling much better too … he still with a slight cough, my headaches gone and no longer sneezing …

Perhaps I could relate this a little to my reading of some “stirrings” that surround the writings of Brian McLaren, especially when i read some blogs or comments even by more “heavy weight” Christian personalities. Again and again I found it strange that why is it that I don’t see what they see especially at some point a claim that Brian has “abandoned the Gospel”? Ok .. perhaps I’m biased, or I could be blinded … but then, if we are honest .. maybe just maybe he’s really being misunderstood …

So, that’s why I appreciated Brian’s Becoming Convergent Series Part 1, part 2 and part 3 (here’s all thre combined pdf form). Hopefully, it gives most people who may have not read his writings in full (especially his earlier two excellent books on church, and finding faith), or bits and pieces here (usually without sufficient context), or just what they get online (in article form) to get a “clearer” picture as opposed to a “fictional” or “straw man” character from our imagination or others. Of course, some may still hold on to their conclusions and/or opinions. That’s just reality.

I’ve been very slow to be drawn into this matter. This is partly to avoid abusive comments – I must admit I got shocked and tired by what went on the emergent-us blog. I further didn’t want to be sucked into tiring debates which I see little relevance for us here. And this is definately not about whether one agrees with all the details of his writings … and not whether one agrees with his critics in total … which nowadays has become quite a “hazy” situation.

As far as I’m concerned, I’ll just echo Scot McKNight’s Thank You Brian –> “All I want to say is this. Brian, I am grateful for what you have done to me and for Evangelicalism. I see your work to be rhetorical wake-up for Evangelicals to start thinking about how to become a missional community for the world in which we live. Even when I disagree with you, I am glad you have brought up the issues you raise.” and John Fyre’s Getting to Know Brian McLaren –> “I am grateful that Brian McLaren took the time to tell his story. I consider Brian a pastoral artist; a creative, story-telling evangelist who is passionate about the “good news” of Jesus Christ truly sounding like good news to the ever-increasing postmodern West.”.

I think at least in Malaysia we can learn from someone like Brian and I would also add learn from people like Scott and John (in their generous responses). Of course, we can learn from those who disagree with them or us. Too often, we are tempted to operate with a “guilt by association” mentality which makes situations even more “hazy”. And this is the case not just about Brian McLaren or whatever that’s linked with “emergent” (which for me is very much still a “conversation” first and foremost!) … we need to move beyond face-less (often devoid of relationships) kind of engagements. In short, are we growing up as Christians in the way we handle theological conversations/investigations or more immediately pastoral or ministry situations as a group of post-colonial Malaysian Christians?

In addition to the above, we still wrestle with “uncritically” jumping on the latest “trendy bandwagon” whether it’s so called church growth or revival-promised movement or we usually in fear or combate mode (depending) retreat into a “fortress” mentality with our so called perceived “safety modes” (or “defensive” postures) and miss the beautiful scenary and open possibilities of doing our own contextual, creative and constructive work of thinking, being and doing. Is there risk involved? Sure! Are there dangers? No doubt about it. What about the opportunities? Just open your eyes to see, and ears to hear … but all our endeavour aren’t just individual exercises – there’s more to just our individual questioning or search.

I prayed for rain and wind during these past few hazy days – especially when it became hazardous. Yesterday morning it rained a little – I jumped for joy, then paused when it stopped raining. Later, I could feel the wind blow gently and took some photos of trees swaying a little … there was hope. I’m reminded of two signicant metaphors for the Spirit in Scriptures – rain and wind. Perhaps in days like this … we can have a greater confidence and trust in the work of the Spirit guiding us in community through immersing ourselves in God’s story in scripture (and understanding ourselves backward in history) – to live forward increasingly clearer day by day in our present day context – surely for the benefit of our worlds and the world. That’s my prayer especially for those of us here in Malaysian church and of course, beyond.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

  • Sivin Kit’s Adventures …
  • Moved to Medium
  • The End | The Beginning
  • I Will be Back …
  • It’s Been a While …

Recent Comments

  • Sivin Kit on Project 365: A photo a day for 2010 – Pilot
  • Malaysia: Government Vows to Review Web Censorship Law After Protest · Global Voices on STOP 114A: INTERNET BLACKOUT DAY
  • List of Participants in Internet Blackout Day! « #Stop114A on STOP 114A: INTERNET BLACKOUT DAY
  • Join Us and Support Internet Blackout Day « #Stop114A on STOP 114A: INTERNET BLACKOUT DAY
  • JB on Imagining My PhD Journey

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

CALENDAR

August 2005
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031  
« Jul   Sep »
  • Academics
  • Bangsar Lutheran Church
  • Beyond
  • Bible
  • Blogging
  • Books
  • Christian Year – Lent
  • Church
  • Conversations
  • Emergent/Emerging Churches
  • Events
  • Family
  • Five Sentences
  • Friends in Conversation
  • Fun stuff
  • Gracious Christianity
  • Ideas
  • Images
  • Leadership
  • Learning
  • Lists
  • Lutheran
  • Lutheran Church in Malaysia & Singapore
  • Malaysia
  • Meditation
  • Micah Mandate
  • Mission
  • Movies
  • Music
  • New Stuff
  • Norway
  • Norwegian Notes
  • Personal
  • Philosophy
  • Podcast
  • Preaching
  • Prezi
  • Project 365
  • Random Links
  • Random Thoughts
  • Random Tweets
  • Random Utterances
  • Religion
  • Resources
  • RoH Malaysia
  • Second Thoughts
  • Seven Series
  • Simple Steps
  • Spirituality
  • Technology
  • Theology
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Video
  • World
  • Worship
  • Writing

Archives

  • November 2023
  • November 2020
  • November 2014
  • April 2014
  • February 2014
  • April 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • August 2012
  • June 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • September 2007
  • August 2007
  • July 2007
  • June 2007
  • May 2007
  • April 2007
  • March 2007
  • February 2007
  • January 2007
  • December 2006
  • November 2006
  • October 2006
  • September 2006
  • August 2006
  • July 2006
  • June 2006
  • May 2006
  • April 2006
  • March 2006
  • February 2006
  • January 2006
  • December 2005
  • November 2005
  • October 2005
  • September 2005
  • August 2005
  • July 2005
  • June 2005
  • May 2005
  • April 2005
  • March 2005
  • February 2005
  • January 2005
  • December 2004
  • November 2004
  • October 2004
  • September 2004
  • August 2004
  • July 2004
  • June 2004
  • May 2004
  • April 2004
  • March 2004
  • February 2004
  • January 2004
  • December 2003
  • November 2003
  • October 2003
  • September 2003
  • August 2003
  • July 2003
  • June 2003
  • May 2003
  • April 2003
  • February 2003
  • August 2002

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Pages

  • About
  • Church
  • Disclaimer
  • Education
  • Writing

Social Media

© 2025 Sivin Kit's Garden | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme