"Listening to the Beliefs of the Emerging Church" Quote #1

In response to Doug Pagitt's chapter "The EC and Embodied Theology", Mark Driscoll writes the following:

"If both doctrine and practice are constant, the result is dead orthodoxy, which Pagitt is reacting against. If both doctrine and practice are constantly changing, the result is living heresy, which Pagitt is contending for. But if doctrine is constant and practice is constantly changing, the result is living orthodoxy, which I propose is the faithful third way." (page 147, "Listening to the Beliefs of Emerging Churches)

I am still processing Pagitt's assumptions regarding the theological endeavor, there are a few thoughts that intrigue me. However, the big MD shooting from the hip somehow always nails the bullseye.

Good Eats - not all that "cheaps"

Some good eats . . . but not particularly cheap . . . but still good. Alright, this is just my own list of where's to go when jonesin' fo' some eclairs and choco-ssaints.

Le Moulin de Provence (Ottawa, ONT) - located in the ByWard Public Market. Francais pastries? Provence? Yeah. Grab a cafe while you are there.

Le Panier (Seattle, WA) - across the street from Pike Place Market (across is where the foodies hang . . . not in).

La Baguette et L'Echalote Vancouver Bakery and Pastry Boutique (Vancouver, BC) - Granville Island's ultimate French pastry experience. When here, I go to Blue Parrot for a cup of java . . . and even the occasional raspberry mocha.

Pacific Institute of Culinary Art's bakeshop (Vancouver, BC) - I keep hitting "La Baguette" but PAICA is the bomb.

Draeger's Markets (Bay Area, CA) - I know, you say "what the?!?!" Hey, this is the Dunkin' Donuts of low end pastries . . . and my what a nice selection of wine they have.

Balthazar Bakery (Lower Manhattan, NY) - Mo' betta' butter babee!

Munus Triplex

Props to John Calvin for the concept of the mediatorial three-fold offices of Jesus Christ:

- Christ as Prophet
- Christ as Priest
- Christ as King

Something that we men might want to listen up and pay attention to (cf. 1 Timothy 2.5; Ephesians 5.25 - 26). As prophet, Jesus represents God before the people. As priest, Jesus represents the people before God. As King, Jesus rules by the authority of God. Men need to learn to lead well - in true Christ-likenss, as prophet, priest and king of our families. We don't lead separate from Christ, we are able to lead because of what Jesus did for us.

Wonder Working God

Toon with Andy Park doing their new song "Wonder Working God." Check sit out . . .

Currently I-tuning . . .

"Songlines" - The Derek Trucks Band (2006)

Gov't Mule-ish, Allman Brothers-ie - southern blues rock with a soul groove and twist. To describe this album as being musical is an understatement . . . Derek Trucks is one of the foremost masters of the slide (haunted by Mississippi bluesman Robert Johnson).

Here's a youtube of "Joyful Noise" . . . ah soulful riffs . . . "can I get a witness?"

My Top Bible Translations

Being Chinese this somehow makes more sense to me. I don't know where I learned this from, but essentially when looking at the endless number of bible translations available there are two things to consider. In the realm of translations there are a myriad of factors to consider when going from the original manuscript language (i.e. biblical Hebrew, Aramaic, or Classical Greek - none of which are used or spoken today; see? Just like Chinese) to whatever language you are translating to. Who is doing the translating? What theological persuasion do they represent? Are they just "hard-core ancient text geeks" or "diehard into Jesus"?

The two main considerations would be which translation would you require? The two main approaches to bible translation are "formal equivalence" and "dynamic equivalence". "Formal" would be your "word for word" or literal approach while "dynamic" would be your "thought for thought." I would argue that both approaches are quite useful for the serious bible student - "serious" would mean giving great care to being faithful to the original meaning and thought. Having said that, here are my picks for bible translations that I would use for bible study and sermon preparation:

Formal Equivalence:
English Standard Version
New American Standard Bible

Dynamic Equivalence:
New Living Translation (2nd Edition)
New International Version

I also keep a New Revised Standard Version around because my bible school professors prefer using it, while the "CEV - Contemporary English Version" would be the NRSV's "thought for thought" wingman which also maintains "gender sensitive" language. I also like the readability and flow of Eugene Peterson's "paraphrase" "The Message".

My music has slipped . . . and faded . . .

Here's Theo Chou, "pal-o-mine" from the early 90's ~ we played together back in the day. He has since graduated from Berklee and moved onto better things . . . like session work in Taiwan (c'mon, who goes there?).



Notice Theo's white Strat Yamagishi custom ~ I believe so. Back in the day, Jimi was Yoda to all the aspiring musicians . . . all the SoCal Asian Christian pop bands, how I dread the memories. But then, God did some hard love hooking me up with my crew. "Thank you Lord for love and fellowship, guitar strings that sing out to you . . ." (ala AACF Terasaki fame).

Some of my peeps who can stir me to motion ~ local BC/Ottawa flav:

Stephen Toon or here
Vania Levans or here

Post-script note - props to Yoda Yamagishi, "Nippon Hendrix Axe Grill Marinade Master." For a lighter shade of LA, check out my "dai low's" tunes here.

For the record, I still prefer Paul Reed Smith (electric) and Taylor (acoustic) guitars . . . I really can't stand anything else but the Kurzweil PC-2X (weighted 88 key with B-3 options) . . . I just can't get away from the Ibanez Soundgear look and feel (2 MK1's and that light ash or mahogany bod) . . . and some day I will enjoy either the Mesa Dual Rectifiers or that psycho Bogner amp with the 11 setting. "Some day" when I learn to play.

If I Was Back in LA . . .

If I was back in LA, I'd be doing this every night . . . Koreanz BBQ meets Taquería!





Check out Kogi here and for their next "truck stop" here.

The B-I-B-L-E

"This week I happened to be in the fellowship room of an A.M.E. church in Philadelphia and there was a Bible on one of the tables, so I opened it instinctively. I discovered that it was the pastor’s Bible, and on the cover page I saw scrawled vertically the word 'B.I.B.L.E.', written as an acronym: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.

It’s possible that I got overly excited about that. Maybe it’s a trite and hackneyed play on words old as the hills that I just never happened to come across before. I hope the man made it up himself."

Props to Sister Andrée Seu for that delightful insight. I believe there are roughly 24 AME churches in the greater Philly area.

Say What You Need to Say (ala Mayer)

Arrogance of Youth

One "pomo" take on the "pomo" generation . . . or the whatever they are called this second.

"There's just an arrogance to youth because life hasn't got a chance to beat it out of you yet" (Matt Chandler).

Seminary Survival Quiz

80%

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Favorite Movies of All Time . . . so far

For my own records, these are my favorite movies of all time . . . so far (in no particular order):

Kelly's Heroes (1970)
TRON (1982)
The Karate Kid (1984)
The Last Starfighter (1984)
Red Dawn (1984)
The Goonies (1985)
Ran (1985) - Akira Kurosawa on 'roids
Hoosiers (1986)
Top Gun (1986)
Heartbreak Ridge (1986)
The Mission (1986) - Jesuits versus Portuguese slave traders
Glory (1989)
Die Hard 2 (1990) - John McClane versus top-of-the-food-chain "spec-ops gone bad"
The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
Patriot Games (1992)
Rudy (1993)
Tombstone (1993) - "I'll be your huckleberry . . ."
Clear and Present Danger (1994)
The Rock (1996)
Armageddon (1998)
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Les Misérables (1998)
Three Kings (1999) - Kelly's Heroes remixed
The Patriot (2000)
Remember the Titans (2000)
Gone in Sixty Seconds (2000)
Cast Away (2000) - "Wilson!!!!"
Pearl Harbor (2001) - with the exception of Alex Baldwin's appearance at the end.
Blackhawk Down (2001) - 5 Stars
We Were Soldiers (2002)
Windtalkers (2002)
My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) ~ ethnic connection
Tears of the Sun (2003) - Bruce Willis, Navy SEAL Commander
The Last Samurai (2003)
King Arthur (2004) - Clive Owne's best "Gerard Butler" impression
Batman Begins (2005)
300 (2006)
Transformers (2007)
The Dark Knight (2008)
Kung Fu Panda (2008) - by far the best kung-fu flick for local-borns

Anything by Pixar is also quite entertaining and thoughtful; for the record I choose Star Trek over the Star Wars franchise.

Gun Safety Technology

Here are 10+ ways/methods of making guns more safe. These would include both the traditional locking mechanism and the newer technologically saavy fingerprint scan and radio frequency proximity sensor. Click here. "Gun safety" is an oxymoron on par with a perpetual "brain fart".

#1 Defensive Team in the NCAA

I never thought that watching football in HD (though it was still 1080i) would ever be that gratifying. Yesterday was an incredible experience of visual proportions. The Trojans stomped the Nittany Lions ~ yes, PAC-10 all the way! Mark Sanchez and his giant receivers (think average NBA shooting guard height) dominated in the 2nd quarter . . . as they say, "the rest was history." Sanchez even read the D during a pass rush and ran in for a TD! C'mon, USC has got to be in the top 3 - Big 10 was not even the same caliber.

Back in the day . . .

I used to hear this over the system at the local arcade back in the day . . .

Traveling with a Same-Sex Spouse

According to the 2008/2009 pamphlet put out by "Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada" entitled "Essential Information for Canadian Travellers" on page 9 is the following:

"Although same-sex marriages are legal in Canada, they are not recognized in many countries, apart from Belgium, the Netherlands, South Africa, Spain, and the U.S. state of Massachusetts. Same-sex civil unions are more widely recognized, for example, in Denmark, France, Iceland, and the United Kingdom. Attempting to enter another country as a same-sex married couple may result in refusal by local officials. In addition, homosexual activity is a criminal offense in certain countries and could result in a prison or death sentence. Counsult our Country Travel Reports or the destination country's embassy or consulate in Canada for specific information."

Wow, liberalism does exist within a bubble within the elitist industrialized world. When popped, the liberal emerges to only see that they are not only the minority, but they are in fact on the opposite side of natural law . . . sometimes punishable by death by the majority of the world's nations. Somehow, there is something present even in this federal document that warns against cultural relativism . . . the same type that Obama seemingly embraces in stating "we need to talk and dialogue with Iran, North Korea, etc." Yeah, it's all nice and idealic . . . until you get your a@@ handed to you in a sling.

In Glory with Our Lord Jesus

Remembering all the saints whom I've witnessed pass onto glory over all these years . . .

"And he said, 'Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.'" (Job 1:21 ESV)

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28 ESV)

"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." (Revelation 21:4 ESV)

The grace of God weighs heavily upon all people, Isaiah would remind us that the love of God pursues mankind relentlessly ~ but only for those who repent, will the fullness of God's love and grace be revealed to them. Only for those who repent and have faith in Jesus Christ . . . they will see God.

The "Historical Drift" Has Begun

Within my denomination (the C&MA), one of our past Canadian presidents - Dr. Arnold Cook - wrote an interesting book entitled "Historical Drift." Needless to say, the book addresses the issue of losing the anchors of biblical doctrine and the results of the shift that occur in the aftermath. Though Dr. Cook had a prophetic word to share, I believe that "drift" has already begun. Here are perhaps a few (bright men to say the least) who may be a sign of the things to come:

David Fitch (pastor/author, "The Great Giveaway" book endorsed by Brian McLaren)
Skye Jethani (pastor/author, "The Divine Commodity" book also endorsed by Brian McLaren)
David Collins (third culture kid turned social concern advocate)
William Young (C&MA dropout turned pomo fiction author, "The Shack" book endorsed by Bart Campolo)

Does "social concern" or the "social gospel" really stand on par with the proclamation of the gospel? Does Christocentric belong in the metaphor/allegorical category or perhaps the type/example category? Is any of this a throwback to liberal theology? Is the C&MA a "friend of emergent" or a "friend of missional" or maybe just "friend of sinners"? Obviously can't be the last one since "pyromaniacs" are freaking Calvinists - prevenient grace won't be out boxed by saving grace in the C&MA. I wonder if anytime soon there will be a need to start a "confessing movement" within the C&MA?

The Dawn of a New Age

"Divided we stand, united we fall." The privilege of living in a democratic capitalist society is that liberalism thrives . . . alongside with conservatism (those who are not in the industrialized elite tend to be autocratic, totalitarian, or authoritarian). Tonight was memorable, the first African-American man to be elected president ~ one who repeatedly stated that race was not an issue . . . but then again every other liberal American media outlet is quoting the now infamous "Booker T." invite to the White House. C'mon, would America cared if Obama was a white man? If some young, liberal, urban, social activist, white politician from Chicago with the same credentials ran . . . I don't think anything would have happened. Just to remind us of his stunning credentials of color, Obama (in probably the "dryest" Obama-cliched speech I've ever heard from him up to date) just had to tell the story about Ann Nixon Cooper. Yes, let's not play the race card now. It's one thing to attack the establishment and an entirely different thing to be the establishment. I pray that "president elect" Barack Hussein Obama will consider doing some McLaren-esque "deep shifting" soon . . . because contrary to what the TVoid is telling us, the country has not made some definitive statement on their choice for Congress or President tonight . . . the country is deeply divided.