Stories are essential. Our ability to experience, process, and share our stories is one of the reasons that make us uniquely human and a reminder, in my opinion, of affirmation that we are created in the image of our loving God.
The Scriptures is a profound narrative of God – unfolding his identity, purpose, and commitment to His creation. It’s also a narrative about God’s relationship with humankind.
But when I talk about story, I’m talking about “all” of it and not just the nice parts. Before Christ and after Christ – which is why I’m so compelled by Paul’s ’sharing’ of his story (before and after Christ) throughout Acts but especially when he talks to the respective kings: Felix, Festus, and Agrippa. As a pastor, I am constantly reminded that with numerous hats I wear, the three I can never take off all involve ‘the story’: Read the rest of this entry »
Take three minutes to watch this video from the 2009 Sasquatch Music Festival from our very own, Washington State. One shirtless dude (his name & story below) is dancing all alone to the song UnStoppable by Santigold. After some awkward gyrations, another guy amazingly joins him in dancing; and then a third, and then a group of people. And before you know it, a full party and movement takes place. It’s a must see video: Read the rest of this entry »
It’s not like you need another Michael Jackson tribute or post but oh well… Clearly, there are more important things going on around the world but it doesn’t mean that we can’t pause to reflect on one of the most iconic figures of global pop culture. His shocking death is news all around the world. Amazing and yet, reflective of his status as a global icon.
He was brilliant; Truly one of a kind. There will never be an equal to the album, Thriller. I wish I hadn’t burn my Thriller vinyl album when I was told by some Christians early on in my faith that it was satanic! His work – particularly with Quincy Jones – was amazing in so many ways.
What are your thoughts of MJ? What are your favorite MJ songs?
And if many of us are honest, we tried and tried hard to emulate the king of pop. We practiced his dance moves; sang his songs; imitated his gyrations; wore that one white glove, did the moonwalk, got that red leather jacket, the white socks, etc. Read the rest of this entry »
Several months ago, I pondered making a change from a PC to a Macbook (and asked for your advice) but resisted the peer pressure from the Apple cult and nearly everyone on my staff using a Mac but after seeing this video, I confess I may have made a mistake. If there are any PC or Microsoft folks out there, can your computers/operating systems do this?
It’s in French and I don’t understand a lick of French asides from Bonjour but the video still kicks butt. Wait to see the full impact and you’ll know what I mean.
Earlier this year, I asked my readers for their opinion about the “most beautiful city in the world.” There were many compelling nominations. Having lived in San Francisco and having visited other beautiful places including Capetown & Johannesburg (South Africa), Vancouver BC, NYC, San Diego, Monterey/Carmel, London, Hamburg (Germany), Beijing/Shanghai, Bangkok/Chang Mai, Kagoshima (Japan), etc…
I don’t know if there’s a more beautiful place than Seattle…during the summer.
The weather is amazing as many will note but it’s in the summer when you really appreciate the amazing topography of the area. Within 30 minutes, I can be by lakes, oceans, mountains, trails, rivers, and camping by many of these natural beauties. I love the beauty of the area as it compellingly reminds me of God’s magnificent handiwork. So beautiful and creative.
Yesterday, Minhee and I took our kids to a local beach in Seattle called Golden Gardens to enjoy the Low Tide adventures. Here are some pics Read the rest of this entry »
Since I was intending to write some posts on marriage, dating, and some other issues related to relationships in the coming month, I thought I’d share a few personal thoughts about Jon & Kate’s announcement to proceed with divorce and end their marriage. Umm, this despite saying I wasn’t going to blog about them. Just this once.
Last night’s show was the first full show I’ve seen. I’ve seen snippets here and there. For whatever reason, I remember the episode where they were at church, sharing their story in front of their church community with their pastor, and recounting God’s faithfulness in their lives.
And now, it’s come to this… Last night’s announcement had no mention of God, covenant, church, community, or prayer. I wonder what kind of pastoral/spiritual care and counseling they are seeking and receiving. So, let me ask you:
If you were in Jon & Kate’s community group or was their pastor, how would you advise/counsel them?
I have no personal feelings for the Gosselins since I have no relationship with them but it is indeed sad to see their marriage exposed and explode in the public arena of reality TV. Let me also say that I really have no idea about all the details and gossip. I just know stuff is going on because of the buzz and all the magazine & tabloid covers. But I wanted to share three simple things with them if I was Jon and Kate’s pastor and was approached for counsel: Read the rest of this entry »
These are crazy times but I have a feeling that those words could have been said at every point in human history. These are crazy times because, in my opinion, it reflects that reality that “something just isn’t right with the world.” But nevertheless, we keep working and moving forward towards restoration and reconciliation. I just hope folks comes to realize that God is the author of Shalom and thus, we need to return to Him for guidance in this journey.
I’ve been mulling the situation in numerous part of the world but also keeping tabs with American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee. I have friends, even as I write this, that cross the border of North Korea and China on a weekly if not daily basis. When the whole news broke, I was absolutely confused:
How do journalists accidentally cross over to North Korea?
You don’t.
My suspicion all along has been foul play – somehow, somewhere, and some folks.
The 12 year sentence?
Didn’t really surprise me – but it still saddened me.
So what will happen?
For now, it’s all a guessing game but one thing I am convinced of is that the blame does NOT fall on Laura and Euna. We need to keep them in our thoughts & prayers; Continue to put pressure on our government and its officials to maintain dialgoue and pressure on North Korea. I am also convinced that they will return one day. And while it was not what they intended or planned, the words they will write and share will be more impactful than they can imagine. It will give the world a deeper glimpse of the darkness in North Korea and the change/revolution that needs to happen. For now, I want to encourage you to check out Nicholas Kristof’s article (below) about Laura Ling, Euna Lee, and North Korea.I agree with much of his assessment.
My ancestors are from North Korea. My father and mother was born in North Korea. Some of you have read my burden and heart for North Korea. Couple years ago, my parents trekked back to this part of the China and North Korea border in hopes of seeing their homeland – even from across the border. He was taking some pictures and captured the one above before he was “asked” to stop taking pictures.
If you’ve got a crazy idea, please do not dismiss it and please do not dismiss the crazy vision and ideas of others. Read the whole entry.
Take a few minutes to consider the difference between the concept or difference between a million and a billion. How would you explain that? Read the rest of this entry »
I don’t really like to talk about stuff about my past too much since I am a new creation after all.
But before much of what you know about me or about this singer/personality named Jessica Simpson, we were an item. But things didn’t work out. She had a very controlling father; she kinda liked another dude named Nick, etc.
But most of all, my parents didn’t like the fact that she didn’t speak Korean. Here’s proof: Read the rest of this entry »
I want to share the beautiful and inspiring story of Fatima bint Mohamed bin Uthman Al-Mutairi with you.
Fatima was a 26-year-old Saudi woman who was killed by her own brother in August 2008 simply because she followed Jesus Christ. I shared her story during last Sunday’s sermon (Acts 25:1-12) because of some parallels I saw with Paul’s life. There were other reasons why he was hated and vilified by the religious leaders but one of them was that by following Christ, he was seen as a traitor to his people, culture, and Judaic law.
I don’t have much information about her story. Couple sources cite that Fatima was a member of a major Bedouin tribe (Al-Mutair) and she resided at “what is arguably the most religiously zealous town in all of Saudia Arabia, Buraydah.
Her fellowship with other believers “appears to have been limited to Internet forums”. She composed her amazing poem (translated into English) before her martyrdom and it has deeply resonated with me ever since I heard of her death last year. Fatima was burned alive after having her tongue cut by her brother Read the rest of this entry »
I struggle with what to share or what not to share. You want to be transparent, simple, humble, God honoring, and all of the above. But somehow, somethings always rubs someone the wrong way. At the end of the day, you just have to check your motivation and be at peace.
Minhee and I are not trying to appear altruistic or draw attention. Minhee hates this kind of attention. I don’t mind cookies. If anything, we’re pretty desperate and are simply coveting your prayers and whatever connections. Who knows? Maybe you know of someone looking for a home in Seattle.
Last year, we tried for six months to sell our home and the market tanked & burned. We have a small window right now and are trying to sell it again (price reduced) with the hopes of using the equity to honor our pledge to One Day’s Wagesand pay off some debt. If it doesn’t sell, we’ll have to think of some other creative ways that don’t involve me selling drugs or going back to modeling Calvin Klein.
Here’s the home located in the Greenlake neighborhood of Seattle. It’s priced at $549,000 and we’re biased but we think it’s a beautiful home – just 3.5 blocks from beautiful Green Lake. You can find more details here or contact our agent. If we’re not able to find a buyer, we’ll rent it out again until another opportunity.
It’ll all work out in the end. God has been gracious. We’re thankful for the current home we’re renting to own, thankful we get to sell this property at some point and thankful that we get to birth One Day’s Wages and dream about collaborating with many of you, with thousands of organizations, and people around the world to empower folks to lift themselves out of poverty. We’re truly blessed.
Thanks for praying with us.
If you’re interested in making a donation to our organization, Amazon Payments (until Sept. 30) has zero surcharges for non-profits. You can donate hereand additionalinfo about donations. Here are some pics of the house: Read the rest of this entry »
Are you tracking with the developments in Iran? I’d love to hear your thoughts:
How are you processing the election protests in Iran? What are your thoughts & emotions?
The photo above (source: Boston Globe) is so beautiful and powerful. So much emotions. Make sure you check out all the pics from Boston Globe. In addition, here’s some other news sources to check out:
CNN // Hatred, chaos and savage beatings in Tehran
During my couple years in Korea in 1995-1997, I witnessed the ‘protest culture’ of Korea. There were protests nearly every day and on a few occassion, there were protests and marches that involved over a million citizens. I participated in couple of them and it was an incredible experience. When I asked some folks why Korean citizens were so prone to protests, I’ll never forget this one particular answer: Read the rest of this entry »
First of all, let me say a heartfelt, ‘Thank you’ to my blog readers and commenters. I started blogging in the summer of 2006 because I enjoy writing and desired a forum to share some of my ideas, dreams, convictions, life lessons & struggles, and thoughts. But I chose to write not just for my personal growth but with hopes of being an encouragement to others.
Thank you for joining me on this blog. Thank you for reading, sharing, and for contributing to the dialogue. Your comments are one of the reasons why so many read the blog.
As you can tell, I’ve tried to redesign my blog. I know nothing about HTML so things may look a little choppy on the blog I ask for your patience as I may eventually move it onto my own server and go through another redesign.
Also, after several years of blogging and mulling the decision for some time, I’ve decided to host advertisements Read the rest of this entry »
I really dislike these folks from Westboro Baptist Church – the folks behind the hideous website GodHatesFags.Com (I don’t even want to link it). Hate is way too strong of a word. And inappropriate in light of the sermon I preached this past Sunday about the sin of hatred. For the past two years, I’ve been teaching through the Book of Acts and while Paul had his issues and shortcomings, I spent some time talking about the “religious” folks that become the adversaries of Paul – that while they sought to defend their ideas of truth and proper doctrine, resorted to the ammunition of hate. Hate that leads them to plot murder.
I don’t care who you are. No matter your religious affiliation or allegiance (or lack thereof) or if you are a self-professing Christian: If hate is your motivation, you are far from God. And need to repent.
And while it may be easy to dismiss “hatred” to others, I would contend that ‘hatred’ can seep into all of our lives and impact our relationships – those far and even those in our inner circle of relationships.
My head has been buried in stuff so I haven’t been tracking with too much current news with the exception of the North Korea (and Laura Ling and Euna Lee) stituation.
First, heres’ the news about Letterman’s completely inappropriate comments/jokes about the Palin family (via ABC news):
Letterman’s “Top 10″ list Tuesday night focused on Palin’s recent trip to New York, and included several cracks: “Bought makeup from Bloomingdale’s to update her ’slutty flight attendant’ look,” Letterman said.
But it was a line in Letterman’s monolog that set off a firestorm: “One awkward moment for Sarah Palin at the Yankee game, during the seventh inning, her daughter was knocked up by Alex Rodriguez.”
Palin was in New York with her 14-year-old daughter, Willow.
I’m shared before on this blog that I don’t like Sarah Palin in that kind of way…but I completely agree with her and her husband. Absolutely unacceptable. David Letterman: While I enjoy the few occasions I get to watch your show, this is inexcusable. Shame on you. His explanation (apology
Technology amazes me. People amaze me. I think of some of the advancements of tech stuff and can’t imagine the future world of my grandchildren. One such example is the continual evolution of the “cellphone.”
Being a recovering gadget person, I took in the release and news in the recents weeks of the Palm Pre and iPhone 3Gs.
My inclination is to invest in a new phone by the end of the year. My Treo 755 just isn’t cutting it for me…way too many issues. I was hoping to get the Palm Pre but they simply won’t let me continue my grandfathered rates:
700 minutes. Free evenings and weekends. Unlimited data & texting. For two phones. Cost = $79.99 + tax.
Unfortunately, I have to go on a Pre plan which would bump the price to a minimum of $129.99 + tax for two people.
It so happens to be that my contract is up this month and so, I am wondering if I should move over to AT&T and finally take the plunge on the soon to be released iPhone 3GS. AT&T’s rates will be higher but if I lose by grandfathered rates, is it worth paying the extra?
Let’s first get the coffee espresso snob question out of the way:
What’s “your” espresso drink? Or are you a tea person?
In the face of some incredibly shocking statistics about extreme global poverty, it’s easy and understandable to feel paralyzed. I’ve often felt this way but instead of feeling the burden to change the world, just think about making an impact on one person, or one family, or one small village.
As some of you know, I also serve as the executive director of a non-profit community cafe called Q Cafe. I’m joined on the Advisory Board by Read the rest of this entry »
Stories are essential. Our ability to experience, process, and share our stories is one of the reasons that make us uniquely human and a reminder, in my opinion, of affirmation that we are created in the image of our loving God.
Take three minutes to watch this video from the
It’s not like you need another Michael Jackson tribute or post but oh well… Clearly, there are more important things going on around the world but it doesn’t mean that we can’t pause to reflect on one of the most iconic figures of global pop culture. His shocking death is news all around the world. Amazing and yet, reflective of his status as a global icon.
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