"Jesus is My Friend" by Sonseed

Props to "MP" for the ska'lin, ska'listic, ska'frolicious, sounds of the "Sonseed".

Tainted White Rabbit Candy

This is the decade of the "Chinese Food Recall" . . . uh make that, the "Chinese Recall" . . . the collapse of the Chinese Economy. Everything is tainted, the Olympic Opening Ceremony, Thomas the Tank Engine, anything "made in China", and now the "White Rabbit Candy." Question: Why is Western media so surprised by all this breach of ethics from the manufacturing industry of the PRC/Chinese government? Answer: None of the western media giants had parents who remember running from the Communist ["Gung-chaan-dong"] . . . then the Japanese ["yup-boon-jai"] . . . then the Communist ["die-look"]. . . then what? If you're Cantonese you'll understand the phonetics and probably the politcs.

May We Never Forget

A Response to the Materialism Rant

I found a great article that thoughtfully articulates my anger and frustration towards many Asian-American ministries that I come across . . . including my own temptation to "sell out" to the consumers.

Skye Jethani over at Christianity Today posted a insightful article entitled: "How consumerism undermines our faith and community." This is by far one of the most succint and simple-to-read articles that I have come across to address theologically and critique consumerism within the church thoughtfully.

Click here for the down low.

RIP Kenny

Rest in peace Kenny ~ may the Lord have mercy on your soul. You always a good boy to me.

RANT: The Infatuation with Material & Technique

As an Asian-American/Canadian ~ yes a "dualie" (not the truck kind) ~ I've observed the subtle and obvious changes that have occurred within the North American Asian church over the past decade or so. I can't help but see the connection between our local-born addiction to technology and the lateral movement of it (in a Costco wholesale kind of way) into our spirituality. Is it just me or do local-born Chinese (in particular) still carry issues of identity into the 21st century? For instance, why are we so suspicious of the intentions of others? Why are we either too serious or too slack? Why are we either socially integrated or socially segregated? Why aren't there any "in between" to this madness? (i.e. local-borns either running in boatloads to the right or the left; Wallis liberalism vs. MacArthur fundamentalism). Perhaps, we ~ the benefactors of great wealth passed down to us from our hard working immigrant parents ~ are compensating by repeating the cycle taught to us from previous generations. Love = money, Security = material wealth? I don't know. The reason why I would point out the spirituality thing is that our theology - in particular because we are so affluent - is so similar to the same type of Southern Baptist WASP-ish tendencies that many of us grew up coping with (Chinese call you "gwai", White folk call you "those people"). As Ed Stetzer might ask, "how would we maintain biblical fidelity and faithfulness to the mission of God?" As a North American sub-culture, we are just so market-driven and crazy ~ we've sold out to middle-classism and the Southern Californian lifestyle. I feel like throwing up right about now.

What is required in a presidential candidate?

"We can change, yes, we can change" ~ crazy words of inspiration. But, is the character of a candidate revealed in their policy-making? Or lack thereof? Are we so commercialized as to believe that candidates have no "personal voice" of their own? Are they so "spun" that they are just the byproduct of the US Democratic Market-criven political machine? Today, we've got two candidates who are either consistently liberal OR consistently "inconsistent". One candidate is awe-inspiring, youthful and hopeful - but underneath, questionable values when looking at their political record. The other candidate is experienced, has tenure & the temper to go with it, but not someone I would trust to teach Sunday school to my kids (and in all fairness, the younger guy with his idealistic views probably wouldn't qualify as a teacher either). What is required nowadays in a presidential candidate? Does it matter whether or not a guy can hold done a marriage and really prove his toughness (which apparently can break even the hardness former Vietnam POW; the former POW returned to a loving wife who survived a life-threatening car wreck that left her "less than" perfect)? What about adulterous tendencies? Do we care about things like that? Do we sell out and choose the lesser of two evils? Does it really matter that a potential leader of a global superpower care about the right of a woman to abort a child growing within her womb? Or for that matter, care about the rights of unborn children?

I'm sorry Obama, "we can change, yes we can change" (McCain, you too) - the only changing that we must experience is sanctification.

What is Multi-Level Marketing?

Otherwise known as "MLM" or "Network Marketing", what is "Multi-level Marketing" anyways? I have heard it described as "the business concept: burn friends for business partners." Recently I found a insightful article revealing the "gospel-like" qualities of MLM and it's practitioners.

Four issues (called "problems") are dealt with:

- Market Saturation
- Pyramid Structure
- Morality and Ethics
- Relationship Issues

Click here for the "deal on the schpeal."


Why am I giving airtime to MLM? Simply because there is an increasing number of those from within my social network who are now double dipping their wage earning potential by hobby horsing on the side as MLM disciples. This grieves me deeply . . . 12 Gauge deep, not the Cheney bird shot type . . . I'm dreaming "slugs".

Obama ~ Jackson

I am so frustrated with this whack, try-hard, political b@$#&%$t! Okay, as an Asian Christian man trying to understand what the Rev. Jesse Jackson is trying to pull . . . now first of all, if he belonged to any Christian denomination of repute, he would have already lost his title "Rev." He also recieved his M.Div back in 2000 after years of putting it off - I wonder, what the hell did he learn in seminary? Come on already, has everyone already forgotten Karin Stanford, the former Rainbow/PUSH Coalition staffer who had an affair with the Rev. Jackson - the result of which was a daughter?

Let me get this straight Rev. - do you really think that Obama is speaking down to black people? Or do you think that he's speaking down to you? Or are you just so overwhelmed with guilt and depravity that you cannot even own up and "man up" to you own vices? Is this transference of denial in the form of anger projected upon another man? Perhaps, a good man (Obama) who actually cares about making good solid moral decisions and choices as a black man. Perhaps, because Obama experienced life without a Daddy - a young black man who grew up fatherless, raised by his white grandmother, only to end up as a strong black man deeply rooted in his faith (a black liberation theology kind - unfortunately, not the biblical Jesus kind).

I appreciate how the NY Times quoted the Rev. "In a statement, Mr. Jackson said, 'My appeal was for the moral content of his message to not only deal with the personal and moral responsibility of black males, but to deal with the collective moral responsibility of government and the public policy which would be a corrective action for the lack of good choices that often led to their irresponsibility.'" Click here for the NY Times post. Yes, it's "Mister" rather than "Rev" - thank you NY Times. Also, note how Mr. Jackson would like to further perpetuate the racist power structure by giving the responsibility back over to government and public policy VERSUS "young black males just need to 'man up'!" (paraphrase from Obama speech).

Why is it, that when a good black man, who (so far, up to this point . . . we'll see) makes good choices, makes a successful run at a race that no other black man has ever succeeded at, gets this close . . . brother just don't got no support from the higher ups. Is this what "black-on-black crime" looks like in the upper echelon? I am so sick of this, it's like a throwback to the East versus West Coast crap back in the day (ala. Biggie Smalls & Tupac). Can't we all just get along?

Jesse, please retire, go home, find another job in another line of work, you embarrassing your peoples. Find another job and support that extra-marital affair daughter of yours . . . get yours and get some child support sent to Cali. Quit hating and perpetuating fatherlessness. Please, just be a good black man (whatever that may mean nowadays).

Fortunately, the son is wiser than the father.

The Emergent Rock of Orthodoxy

"assurgent, convergent, divergent, emergent, resurgent . . . detergent, insurgent, preemergent" . . . current and future names of cool "pomo" or "po-pomo" or "po-po-pomo" movements. "Yee-ahh boyeee" (ala Flava Flav). Epic, just remember I thought of it . . . second.

Currently Playing on the Sansa E260

Each day I drive an average of 70 km (43.5 miles) round trip to church. Because of the side streets and location of our home to the highway, the average one way drive lasts 45 minutes. As a result, I have taken the opportunity to pack my MP3 player with tons of material for the drive (gargabe in, garbage out). I've spent an average of 36 hrs./month on the road or sitting in traffic ~ as a result, my richest learning so far in life has occurred.

Here's a shortlist of what's gone down so far:

- "The History of Christianity I" taught by Dr. Frank James III of Reformed Theological Seminary (33 classes)
- "Humanity, Christ, and Redemption" taught by Dr. Robert Peterson of Covenant Theological Seminary (38 classes)
- Various talks gathered from Together for the Gospel, Acts 29 Church Planting Network, Desiring God Conferences, etc.

Most recently and currently playing on the Sansa E260:

- "Old Testament History" taught by Dr. V. Philips Long (36 classes), formerly of Covenant Theological Seminary and currently at Regent College in Vancouver, BC
- One of the most incredible sermons on "the Holiness of God" that I have heard yet, preached by C.J. Mahaney ~ kudos to Adrian Warnock for reposting "old sermons" (though I sure don't think it's that old)
- Maria Kliegel playing J.S. Bach's Cello Suite No.1 in G Major (BWV 1007)

My Sansa's my new best friend . . . until my FM transmitter begins to act up.

NT Wright on the Colbert Report

Bishop Wright of Durham was talking new heaven and new earth with Stephen Colbert (6/18/08), click here.

"I'll see you in the afterlife and we'll settle it there . . ." (Colbert on Wright).

Signs & Wonders: John Piper Style

Back in the 80s, during my high school days, my sister - who was at Biola University at the time - had to attend worship services of differing styles for a class she was enrolled in. So we decided to go down to Anaheim Vineyard for an evening service one Sunday. All I remember was the Kansas City prophet Paul Cain - strange & weird (apparently, Cain has since been booted by Mike Bickle and Jack Deere). Don't know which was weirder, the testimonies themselves or the fact that 2,000 or so people sat through it with me. He shared about how Jesus showed up in his bedroom of his second story home - which was surrounded by a chain linked fence that was high enough to prevent climbing. Jesus showed up and sat down by his bed and the weight of the second person of the Trinity caused Cain to turn over in bed. Yep, we sang a few of the Vineyard classics that night too . . . feeling weird just thinking about it (80s Praise & Worship Charismatic EMO?).


There were the Kansas City Prophets, the Toronto Blessing, the Brownsville Revival, and now the Lakeland Revival (the last two being from Florida). I admit I had that one weird experience that I just can't shake . . . especially when I hear people sing "I Believe in Jesus" or "Refiner's Fire". But for real, how on earth am I to celebrate with the entire body of Christ?

I'm glad you are with me this far, 'cuz I gots to give props to Pastor John Piper for his opening prayer back in February of 1990 (not too long after my Vineyard experience).

"Oh, Lord, if there is a wind of true, biblical, spiritual power blowing in our day with signs and wonders and healing and prophecy, forbid that I should stand in the way! Don't pass Bethlehem by. Make me the leader you want me to be for the greatest blessing of this church, and the greatest missionary effectiveness. But then, on the other hand I pray, Oh, Lord, forbid that we should lose our biblical bearings; forbid that we become trendy or faddish and begin to substitute the sand of experience for the rock of revealed truth. Show us the fullness of the power of the gospel, Lord, and keep us from preoccupation with secondary things, no matter how spectacular."

For the entire sermon, click here.

Apparently, this guy was in Anaheim that night too. Gheesh, go figure?

What is good theology?

"Being God-centered in one's life is essential to being God-centered in one's thoughts. This God centeredness is the 'sine qua non' of good theology, for, without it, it is impossible to think our thoughts after God, which is what defines good theology."

Taken from the essay, "The Nature & Function of Theology" by Dr. David F. Wells

Good theology versus bad theology is a theocentric approach versus a anthropocentric approach to God, His Word (Scripture), Salvation (therapy/technique versus "gospel power"), Jesus (good teacher or 2nd person of the Triune godhead), etc. If Jesus Christ is not front and center in "the church", who the hell then is that guy we see every week?

"A church without theology and a theology without God are simply not options for the Christian faith. One can have religion without God or theology, but one cannot have Christianity without them." (R.C. Sproul quoting David Wells who in turn quoted Ian Ramsey)

"For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power . . ." (The apostle Paul)

WOW! I sure feel good.

Pastor John Piper said "If I tried to be like him [Mark Driscoll] . . . I would spiritually evaporate . . . I read slow, if I tried to read as many books as you [Mark Driscoll] did, I wouldn't be able to read the Bible . . . [in regards to being relevant] work real hard to feel this [Bible]."

Click here for the actual blurb.

I read real slow.

The Evolution of Dance

Examining Two Enemies of the Gospel

"I am Republican!"

And guess what? Brothers got my supports ~ subports ~ sub-worts! Ahem, yes, I am well aware that pastors ought not to be political ~ "we can change, yes we can." Peace. Honestly, I like him solely becuase he is black . . . not because he is not qualified, nor because of his differing values and theological convictions . . . I just like him because he's a brother. Is that really fair?



Postscript: Another video was made by will.i.am & company . . . "we are the ones" ~ google this video and you'll find an incredibly wide spectrum of opposing responses.



The last president who spoke like this was JFK ~ charismatic, a master "wordsmith". I wanna see where Obama takes us (think "Obamanation"). Unfortunately, someone who would rather speak and open "more" dialogue with the likes of Iran and North Korea might end up bringing it down to the line. I think that's what happen when JFK "talked" to the Soviets . . . we had nukes parked offshore from Florida. Yeah I know, that was a different time . . . but it sure feels the same today. Am I the only one who recognizes that liberalism flourishes in the industrialized nations? How then would the Obama negotiate with the fundamentalist regimes of N. Korea and Iran . . . with his liberal rhetoric? Supporting Obama is like supporting the slow death of our nation . . . "go ahead wit'cho selves."

Men Who Have Made a Profound Impact on Me

I have spent a considerable time the past year wondering "how in the heck did I come to be this way?" Well, with some reflection and thought, I felt that it would be good for me to put forth a short list (I hope) of names that I find myself either quoting or referencing (i.e. benchmarking or compare/contrasting and against/from):

- Rev. Bob Wiebe (retired, pre-Charter RCMP 25-year veteran, 2nd career minister with the C&MA, worked "homicide" among the toughest Indian Reserves in Canada, my mentor and former regional developer of the Western Canadian District of the C&MA, the toughest man I know)

- My Father (an old school Chinese church planter/pastor who "walks slowly and carries a big stick", God-fearing, well-versed in the old ways of the motherland, grew up fatherless, attended Alliance Bible Seminary in HK; Canadian Theological Seminary in Regina, SK, currently running with the name "Ambrose Seminary"; Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, FL; International Theological Seminary in Los Angeles, CA)

- Uncle Jack Yee (my god-father, a "man's man", taught me to "roll with the punches", self-made, self-taught, from GED to University he pushed himself, from sweat shop to one of the "O.G." supers at BART, taught me the ways of the Giants and Niners, a pillar at SFCAC - deacon for life, though we don't see each other as often now when we do there is always "the nod of acknowledgement")

- Rev. "Uncle" Louie Mar (my 2nd Dad, retired ATF special agent, 2nd career minister/missionary/church planter, taught me to love people and repent, showed me the value of transparency in leadership and accountability, softened my heart to see things "with the eyes of Jesus")

- Brian McLaren (helped me re-locate Jesus and re-imagine my journey with Jesus, gave me words to articulate my frustration, taught me the value of existing and embracing liminal space, introduced me to systems thinking)

- Dr. Stanley Grenz (rescued me from the Gen-X confusion and exposed the seismic postmodern shift in culture, connected with me using Star Trek Next-Gen speak, taught me to graciously appreciate different theological positions, introduced me to theological thinking, passed on the mantle of "post-everthings" to me ~ Leslie Newbigen, Frost & Hirsch)

- Dr. Tim Keller (taught me the gospel and the pastoral task of finding Jesus in everything, introduced me to biblical theology, passed on the wisdom of Dr. Martyn Lloyd Jones to me, taught me "generous humility", taught me how to preach)

- Dr. John Piper (taught me God's sovereign grace, passed on the wisdom ~ "religious affecftions" ~ Jonathan Edwards and the Puritans to me, taught me pastoral authority and pastoral humility in ministry, taught me why I should preach)

- Dr. R.C. Sproul (taught me to think deeper theologically - systematically and biblically, connected me with the early church fathers, taught me the importance of doctrine and orthodoxy, taught me weird Latin terms, made me passionate about "doctrine and life", taught me the weight of a sermon, passed on the wisdom of Augustinian Orthodoxy, John Calvin and the reformers to me)

- Dr. John C. Maxwell (taught me that Wesleyan-Ariminians do truly love Jesus, set the standard and bones of organizational management and leadership, the ebb and flow of trajectory-oriented leadership, the art of "keeping it together", passed on the wisdom of UCLA's Coach John Wooden to me)

- Mark Driscoll & Company (taught me to love the Bible, to love Jesus, to love my wife, to love my family, to love the people Jesus would love, to love the handful of "!@#$%*@#$@s" at my previous church, contextualized pastoral boldness and prophetic ministry, taught me the spirituality of the UFC ~ which I've always been acutely aware of, gave me clarity and direction in the ambiguity and blur that the Pacific Northwest culture is so fond of embracing and espousing)

There are definately other names that I could add to this list: my current senior pastor (a leadership guru), Rev. Daniel Cheung (my sifu/mentor/guide/Yoda figure), Dr. David Wells (who taught me the difference between technique and theology), Dr. Samuel Ling (who clarified my Chinese/American confusion), Rev. Jack To (my homeboy and sounding board currently in San Diego), and Mr. Chuck Johnson (my grade 8 social studies, softball coach, and pro "tough love" advocate).

Canada's 10 most dangerous cities include 5 in B.C., says Maclean's

Maclean's has come up with a list of the 10 most dangerous cities in Canada (pop. 50,000 or more) based on 2006 per capita crime rates. It might surprise you. Five of the top 10 cities are in B.C., although Vancouver comes in at a surprisingly low No. 9. The others are Prince George (4), New Westminster (6), Chilliwack (7) and Victoria (8). Regina tops the list, although it was in a virtual dead heat with Saskatoon and Winnipeg. Only one eastern city, Halifax, made the top 10. The study took into account six types of crimes: murder, sexual assault, aggravated assault, robbery, breaking and entering, and auto theft. According to Maclean's, the break-and-enter rates in Chilliwack and Victoria would put them among the top 10 per cent of all American cities.

What? No mention of Surrey? Gheesh! Actually, I must admit that Surrey is quite the pleasant place to live ~ currently the reigning "Culture Capital of Canada."

Here's the top 10:

1. Regina
2. Saskatoon
3. Winnipeg
4. Prince George
5. Edmonton
6. New Westminster
7. Chilliwack
8. Victoria
9. Vancouver
10. Halifax

What do you think?

The summary of the article is here and the orginal Maclean's link is here.