Friday, February 18, 2005

So, Mr. Burns is gonna make us all go on a stupid corporate retreat up in the mountains to learn about teamwork. Which means we'll have to cancel our plans to hang around here.

- Homer, The Simpsons

Gone to RyersonCCF Retreat for the weekend. Please pray for us that we will grow together in community and that we can desire a 'following Jesus' culture. Got my shipment of books from my aunt. Here's the list: The Younger Evangelicals - Robert Webber The Spirit of Disciplines - Dallas Willard Good to Great - Jim Collins Sacred Companions - David Benner The Life You've Always Wanted - John Ortberg The Challenge of Jesus - N.T. Wright The Contrarian's Guide to Leadership - Seven Sample The Book of God: Bible as a Novel - Walter Wangerin Okay. No more book purchases until the new school term.


Yu-Ling posted at 2/18/2005 12:07:00 PM

Thursday, February 10, 2005

The promise of Christian Scripture is that world history is proceeding toward a time when people from every nation, tribe, people and language will stand worshipping together before the throne of God and the risen, sacrificed, Lamb.

- Dan Sheffield, The Multicultural Leader

I have just finished reading 'The Multicultural leader', my second reading requirement for my leadership in pomo class at tyndale. Sheffield makes a good case for God's redemptive plan to have all the nations come together and worship Him. If this is true (and he gives good evidence as cited from scripture), then why are we not trying to have more input into multicultural churches (visible manifestations of redemptive communities). When I look around Toronto at the various churches, it's interesting to note how the 'white' churches have adapted multiculturalism into their ministry. Some churches, out of necessity, had to invite new cultures/people groups into their church or else they will fade away. Other churches have been purposeful in ministering to various ethnic groups, yet they mainly keep them separate based on their preference in culture/style/language. And still, other churches combine all ethnic groups together, bear with the burden of language/culture differences and worship God together. Sheffield's book offers a look at the various strategies and he also gives input as to how to change from a 'mono-cultural' church into becoming a multicultural church. So what am I getting at with this blog? Well, specifically my gripe about the chinese churches in TO. Midway through reading this book, I had a conversation with my classmate (who also attends a chinese church), and we sorta sighed and admitted that the chinese church could never move beyond being chinese focused. Some of you may be thinking that I'm just idealistic - thinking about a true multicultural church. I mean, if we can't even get our own 3 language groups (canto, mando, eng) in our chinese churches to get along, how can we hope to have a multicultural focus? Therein lies my beef with the chinese church. We've always had a built-in multicultural issue - the struggles between our asian heritage and the western heritage. We know it's not even that clear cut as china has many diverse people groups and even Canada is a land known for it's multiculturalism. How come as asians, we are unable to overcome the language barriers, the cultural barriers between CBC and FOB, or between father and son? And yet, looking down the road, a primarily white church is able to minister to many south asians and africans? I guess I always paint a pessimistic picture of the church, and yet I believe I'm always hopeful for the work that can be done. Let's paint a few pictures of the possibilities. What if our churches can suspend their cultural worldviews for just a second and invite other ethnics into partnership for ministry? The Gen-X asian-canadians are already doing that, as they have to deal with the customs of both cultures. What if we're more open to both ethnic backgrounds and allow for a freedom to worship within your cultural context? Another picture. What if, when students witness a wonderful, multi-ethnic worship in university and they come back to their asian churches, they are freely allowed to bring their styles and new manners of speech and tradition into the opportunity to serve others? What if instead of being disillusioned with the dominant form of rigid/strict worship style, they are able to teach the rest of the church just how wonderful it is to worship God freely, in whatever manner you choose. Last picture. What would happen if the many english leaders in the chinese churches would put away their angst/bitterness towards their cantonese counterparts and would desire to work together? What if, instead of desiring to separate and form another church due to cultural/language differences, these obstacles can be overcome by means of healthy communication and willingness to sacrifice for the other ethnic person. Can you imagine a time in the near future when people can look to the chinese churches in TO and see just how well we were able to transition from a monocultural church (cantonese) into become a tri-cultural one - or even a multicultural one? We have both the opportunity and the capacity to lead the charge in developing multicultural ministry. I know it'll be tough, and some people will think it's not necessary. But I think it's quite possible in the near future and it's a strategy that honors God. I know as an ethnic group, we have great difficulties in communication, so let's keep on praying that God will help us be gracious people desiring to love others. Tune in again when I share about my communication style.


Yu-Ling posted at 2/10/2005 03:07:00 PM

Thursday, February 03, 2005

Baby got Back... and the question of 'the one' Today, I finished my integration paper about Michael Adams' Fire and Ice. Adams is a sociologist and his book presents the argument that Canada and America have diverging social values. It makes for interesting reading and his website is full of survey data about the last 10 years - as polled by many Canadians and Americans. Check out the online survey to see how you compare to the rest of North America, and see how 'postmodern' you are. For my paper, I looked at 3 key ideas from the book: the rejection of authority, emerging identity of youth, and the ongoing divergence between Canadan and American society. Given these 3 ideas, how would Christian leaders respond appropriately? hmmm After finishing my paper I went browsing in people's blogs. I opened the link to Frank's blog and he posted a link to his pastor's sermon about 'real life dating'. It really is quite funny and has some kewl points, go take a look here. As an aside, I asked my mom about whether she (hypothetically) could have married someone else. She told me to ask my dad that question... then he went on this whole rant about how we should be honoring God with our relational commitments, and if we keep on asking this question - our relational foundation will go down the hole, and there's nothing worst then thinking about what else is out there if you're in a committed relationship... in the end, he didn't answer my question and my mom and I laughed. :P After listening to the sermon, I went to Lon's blog and stumbled across a Christian video parody of 'Baby got back' (a la Sir Mix a lot). You HAVE TO GO SEE IT. It's so funny. Check it out here. Have to help out with TC training starting this weekend, pray for me.


Yu-Ling posted at 2/03/2005 10:16:00 PM