“The only intuitive interface is the nipple. Everything after that is learned.” -Andy McMillan
So succinct, a bit crude, but none-the-less on point. We need to think of our LCU as babies, and ensure that the whole process has enough tangible latch points.
My friend Victor Huang has started to do a picture-a-day. Chronicling moments during his days. Motivated by his vision, I’m going to do the same (read: attempt to). I think this is a great way to not only use my skills as a photographer/creative person but acts as a great way to catalog my time here in Dallas. Something that I haven’t done very well.
It’s been almost 6 months since the last time I have posted something. I don’t think blogging is going to be my thing anymore. I remember my undergrad days when I used to blog on a pretty consistent basis, almost 4 or even 5 times a week. Now I have one blog entry every 6 months, not very consistent (unless I write another in November!)
Finished the first year of seminary this past friday. Unbelievable that about this time last year I was applying for DTS, and contemplating on whether or not I should be going. I can safely say that this has been the best decision I have ever made so far in my life. Before coming to Dallas, whenever I heard the word “seminary” I would associate it with academia, hardcore dedication, and a high level of spirituality. I never thought that I could be ‘good’ enough or ‘redeemed’ enough to be in a place like DTS. Yes, there is a lot of work, and yes you need to be dedicated to the task at hand. But the high level of spirituality is all a myth. It’s not to say that people here are not spiritual, it’s about coming to grips with your spirituality that’s most important. Spirituality cannot be manufactured or like a switch turned on, it’s a lifestyle. If God isn’t your primary desire when your feet hits the floor, then it’s all about you. And if it’s about you, then all the actions throughout the day will be reflective of that. If there’s been one thing that I have consistently been learning this past year, it’s been that I fail as a human being, I am in need of a Savior, not only for my fallen state, but also for the redeeming that must occur to glory God. I cannot be a changed person out of my own volition, it is an external activity worked out by the Holy Spirit residing in me.
Number 2 influence: my relationship with Holly has just been so amazing this past year or so. We’ve fought, laughed, cried, cooked, cleaned, smiled and got engaged! Being in a relationship that is solely based upon the foundation of Christ as Head, has revolutionized the way in which I see relationships altogether. Holly will never complete me and she isn’t “the one”. However unromantic I sound right now, I’m spelling it out plainly, Holly as a wife-to-be will never fulfill me in every possible way in which I need to be. I cannot expect that from her. Jesus can do all of that for me. But that doesn’t mean I don’t love her and try to be those things for her. But she cannot expect that from me either. This dynamic of love and expectation has really open my eyes to see how males and females work. It’s given me the opportunity to better serve and love Holly as she needs to be served/loved. It hasn’t been without hardship, miscommunication, or faults, but that’s the fun of it all. It’s an opportunity to embody the type of love that Christ has for the Church; a bonded, dedicated, sacrificial love.
If you’re reading this, can I ask you to pray with me? Prayer for Holly and I’s relationship and preparations for marriage, finances, opportunities to share Jesus with others, and for Christ to never leave the centrality of our focus. Thanks!
I’m currently in Cleveland, Ohio enjoying some quiet time at home. When I say quiet time, I mean a whole lot of time that’s quiet. It’s uncomfortable and it’s slightly annoying. Me and stillness are not cool, in fact we have been bitter enemies from the start of time. I avoid being still with all of my might, and right when I am depleted of my fight, Stillness is there coaxing me. He begs me to draw near and to sit with him, chat with him and tell him my story.”But I don’t wanna!!”
Well I succumbed today. Stillness and I sat down for some quality time. I even brought my friend NIV Bible along with me too, so we could all enjoy the time together. It’s ironic that I have been working on a worship presentation for my worship class on psalm 46:10 and yet I haven’t practiced what the text says to do. It says “Be still, and know that I am God.” “Be still” + “and know” 2 verbal commands. 2 rather simple verbal commands, but require an active participation. Being still is not easy, I mean starting it is easy, but not continually being still. Knowing involves seeing, observing and actively thinking about the concept in question. Every time I study, I need to quiet myself and my thoughts so that I can focus on the task at hand. Same concept, I need to be still before God so that I can know/understand what He has to say to me.
It’s interesting the combination of the two verbal commands as well, especially in light of the third part, “that I am God.” We are to be still, therefore in a posture to know that He is God. But more than that, I believe that the text is saying that we can be still, but apart from the action of knowing God, or recognizing who God is, that stillness does not achieve anything. God the integral part of this action plan, He desires for us to quiet ourselves, our thoughts, so that we can be in a posture to know and recognize that He is God.
A lot of the time, I place value and undue attention on menial things around me, e.g., my google reader, facebook, even my creative work. As I write these words, I am overcome with emotion just thinking about the wonder of God and my foolish nature of not wanting to commune with him and choosing all these other things instead. I love the second part of 46:10, “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” It’s a call and response, God calls for us to be still and know that He is God, and we respond with worship and adoration to the King of Kings. It’s an amazing thing God does here. I love you Lord.
In my Seminar in Worship Arts class, our final assignment for the class is to design and create a worship experience (i.e. a rundown of a worship service at a church (sat night, sun morn/afternoon). I’ve been thinking through different biblical themes, as well as how to include in the worship experience some practical ways to apply the message. The first couple of assignments that classmates have shown to the class have had great theological ties in the worship song selections, an interactive writing on pebble with sharpies to simulate confessing our sins and casting them on Jesus (pretty cool idea). I keep getting into this mentality of “I can do better” or “God really deserves to be glorified, therefore this worship experience has to meet that expectation.” It’s awful, somehow in the midst of planning a worship service, I’ve become prideful of the very act. Worship is a humbling experience, it’s to acknowledge that we humans are finite, and that God is infinite. To see and recognize that God’s thoughts and ways are higher than our own, and to come to a place of acknowledge; God is the Sovereign King of the Universe and of me. After all this preparation, big thinking, and grandeur idea-storming, I can’t move away from the simplicity of Psalm 46:10: be still, and know that I am God. It isn’t about the gimmicks, sure you will remember the sermon stunt, but will you come away knowing God more intimately? I hope so. But the take away, is that in the stillness (no loud music, no church choir, no sustained chords) will you recognize that He is God?
It’s been a whirlwind.
I last updated way back in September, now it’s the end of October. The time flies by so quickly when you are having fun studying very hard. The growth that has taken place in my life has been amazing and yet it isn’t like a dynamic paradigm shift, or a i-never-knew-that kinda moment, or a everything-i-know-about-the-bible-is-wrong kind of moment either. It’s studying how spiritual formation works and applying that with a circle of guys here that makes the difference and ultimately sets the tone for spiritual formation for life.
Seminary is such a growing experience in and of itself. I’ve learned that time management has to be your best friend or else you will be bogged down with work. Papers have to be written in Turabian format, and with more clarity than a laser cut diamond. I’ve learned that having a balance of school, church, personal, relational, social, and work is very very hard. But is so necessary to remain sane and on the goal. Most of all, I’ve learned that seminary is about Jesus. It points to Him being the centrality of what we do, no matter what kind of ministry we all end up in. There is no separation between the sacred and the secular, because Jesus is in the midst of all of that. If we don’t preach Jesus with our mouths, we have to at least have to preach Him in our lives by the way we live. It’s a hard statement to hold down and to digest. It’s hard for me today to do it. There have been many times that I’ve wanted to just quit and work in the “secular” world as a designer and not have to worry about these spiritual issues, but the reality is that i would have to anyways. Jesus is in the workplace. Whether I want Him there or not.
More than preaching Jesus, it’s preaching him crucified and resurrected. We can tell people all we want that we love Jesus, but without the suffering He had to endure on the cross, and without the hope that is attached to his resurrection, it’s a weak Jesus that we proclaim. We know better than that. Jesus humbled himself as a servant to this world, was killed at our hands, but he rose up and over all of that to proclaim and to solidify His claims of kingdom reign. Oh how I adore thee.
In other news, I haven’t been cooking much. Which is so sad. I mean I do from time to time, I made some awesome chicken noodle soup the other day. And thanks to Holly, am now on an artichoke binge. I put it in everything: pastas, pizza, ice cream, ramen noodles, etc. I don’t have a complete apartment either. I have a bed and a nightstand, but no desk or dining table, or even carpet (cement floors). So I’ll be getting those soon whenever I can break away from the cycle of school. ha! (or order it online)
thanks for reading, i gotta get ready for my spiritual formation group. peace!
or is there such a thing? Can there be an exclusive asian american only variety of Christianity? Or does the very nature of Christ do away with cultural and racial implications?
Don’t get me wrong here: I am not making fun of Christian Asian-Americans, nor am I criticizing Christian Asian-Americans, I am, in fact, one myself. I make my thoughts public as a means to flesh out what I am thinking.
Lately I’ve been thinking alot about the cultural practices of average Asian-Americans as of late and how they relate to a life in pursuit of Christ (or to act Christianly). As Asian-Americans there are certain tendencies that we naturally exhibit that counters that of the imitation of Christ that we ought to have. Case in point:
#1 – Keeping it square
I don’t know if it was from our parents, but I have always wanted to pay back somebody if they had done something nice to me or for me. Even if it was something so insignificant, I feel indebted to that person and become motivated to show them that I care and genuinely want to “repay” them. e.g. A family friend from out of town decides to take me out to dinner, and I know in advance, in order to show them I am grateful, I will buy something for them to give to them prior to the meal. Or here’s another example that’s a little bit more simple: A friend of mine lets me borrow his car so that I could go grocery shopping, so that I have food for the week, as a token of my appreciation I not only put gas in his car but I also invite him over for a meal.
I think this mentality of always wanting to pay it back, no matter what it is, big or small, doesn’t help our idea of grace. Grace is freely given and is actually given to us because of our undeserving natures. I keep wanting to pay God back by being holy, when my motivation should just be to obey him by being holy and grace is the process which I can be holy before God. There’s something there that Asian American cultural norms have impeded my ability to imitate Christ.
#2 – Passive Aggressiveness
I don’t even have to tell you what this means, Asian-Americans are notorious for being passive aggressive in almost every facet of their life. Dating relationships, friendships, family members, homework, you name it. We will do everything under heaven to avoid direct confrontation with the very thing that we are struggling with. Like right now. I am alone in my apartment because I do not want to confront my insecurities as a person and meet other people on my floor, but yet while talking to Holly I’ll tell her how discontent I am with my lack of a social life. haha. So ironic.
This attitude really doesn’t help in the walk with Christ, especially in the context of community. In the early church in Acts, people shared all their belongings and all of their food. They ate together and broke bread together, all the time. They shared who they were and made themselves vulnerable to one another so that they could live in a genuine community. It’s with this attitude that makes entering into small groups really hard. We will try to avoid confrontations about sin in our lives, dealing with the negatives things in our lives, and not allowing others to speak into our lives. While on the same side of the token say to others that we are not getting a whole lot out of small group because we aren’t “real.” ha!
Again I’m not making fun of Christian Asian-Americans nor am I criticizing them. I am just making light of the things that I am seeing a Christan who happens to be Asian American, dealing with his inherit sin nature and fighting for dear life to hold onto the Spirit to confront my flesh. These were only a few of the things that I’m thinking through right now. Have you yourself noticing anything that might be a hindrance in your walk with Christ because of your cultural background? Have you noticed something of a different culture that might help others see this?
I’m fascinated to hear your responses.
week 3 of seminary. I am indeed alive. Quite the contrary of what some might believe of a student in seminary. It’s been such a ride so far. In 3 short weeks, we’re covered topics ranging from the various types or subcategories of theology to bible study methods and hermeneutics. My head hurts thinking about all the different things we have looked at; characteristics of God, attributes of God’s grace, what is sin/sin nature, what does it mean to be human/fully human?
I’ve wondered many times since I’ve gotten here, whether or not I really do belong here. I wonder about forming friendships and ministry opportunities. Silly ol me, worrying about these things and pestering God about it all. He answered. oh boy did He answer. This past monday Holly and I had lunch with another dating couple (rare on seminary grounds, they are either married or single), and they were really genuine people, really love the Lord and chase after Him. It was nice to finally sit down for a meal and just feel like we belonged. It was the little things too, like watching television. Apparently not a whole lot of people (the people that I have met) don’t like to watch television or at least are not as enthused as we are about television. And just today, in my seminar in worship arts class, I met a guy who is about to start a ministry that provides media support for smaller churches that can’t afford to maintain a staff of media personnel. They are looking to provide services that are not generic, but specific to the individual church and what contextually fits for them. Whether that looks like video production, music recording, or graphic design work, this is what these guys want to do. He’s already extended the invitation to come along with them.
It’s the small things that happen during the day that really make me thankful that the God I serve, is so faithful to His servants. Like the opening prayer by Dr. Richard Allen Farmer for my Seminar in Worship Arts class: “Papa, thank You for the great many events that have happened already that we may give you the praise: for breathing life into us, giving us energy to physically get out of bed, to giving us sight as we drive, which you also give us the ability to do, thank for the might to pick up a spoon so that we may put food in our mouths, thank you God for your incredible dedication to the little details in life that we sometimes overlook”
What I like most about seminary isn’t the fact that I’m earning a masters degree, it’s that I am receiving a training rooted so deeply in the Word of God (Jesus as the Word of God, Scripture as the inspired Word of God and the preaching of the Word of God). There is a building up of something in my life that cannot be done in a secular graduate school, nor other kinds of training at other religious institutions. There is a spiritual molding here that takes it start here in seminary and continues to work itself out until the day of my death. A molding that implements the studying of scripture, intentional spiritual community and a deep personal prayer life.
If you are praying with me, and/or for me, here are my prayer requests:
1. I get a sound sleep. For some odd reason I keep waking up at like 5am every morning this past week. I don’t get it. Maybe it’s the Holy Spirit reminding me that i need to start my day in prayer and reading
2. Finances. There’s been a problem with my stafford loan application, apparently I didn’t fill in a 2nd reference on my application and it’s being drawn out even longer. I won’t receive my loan until mid October now, which might be longer with this 2nd reference thing. The problem is my rent is due the first week of that month and I definitely will not have the money by then. Pray that the housing office understands this situation and has mercy on me.
3. Employment. I need a job. I’ve applied to a few campus positions, but all of them have been filled. I don’t have a car so that really limits where I can work. And I live in a not so good part of town meaning that anywhere near by will not be very much money. Maybe it’s a pride issue that I need to deal with and just suck it up. I’m not entirely sure.
Thank you. Grace and Peace unto you.
Howard Hendricks: “Your assignment for class is this: Take Acts 1:8 and make 20 observations about it, make 5 more observations from the context v6-11.”
wow. really?
So I got out a pen and a paper and wrote verse 8 out. Left plenty of spacing between the lines and then had at it. It was like InterVarsity bible study again. Inductive bible study method. I mean wow, it was awesome. Brought back so many memories. Memories of highlighters and pens and scribbles and connections. It was so awesome. I was reliving a dream or something. haha.
It was so much fun just marking up that scripture and making those observations. Who knew seminary could be fun? haha ohhh it’s not? I have to do what? Read that many books?
haha yeah the reading is fun. Here’s to reading the night away!
In his letter to the Church of Philippi, Paul acknowledges that his friends are concerned with him and his ministry (Philippians 4:10a). He also recognizes that his friends have wanted to show their concern for him but have not the opportunity to do so (Philippians 4:10b). It’s in this spirit that I write this note today. You all know that I have been brought to Dallas Theological Seminary by God’s hand of providence and am here to learn, live, grow and develop into a servant for God’s ever-growing Kingdom. More specifically I am in the Masters of Media and Communication program. God has given me a passion to serve the universal Church (church, ministry, non-profit) by way of using my unique gifts of creativity to give Him glory.
Paul continues to address the Church of Philippi on the opportunity to give, saying that the reason to give is not because he is in need, because his need for him is not dire. “I am not saying this because I am in need, I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. (Philippians 4:11b)” Like Paul, I know what it is to be in need and what it is to have plenty. I’ve lived in those circumstances and like Paul I recognize that “I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)”
I am content, but there is still a need and here is the opportunity: I’m a little tight on the financial side of life. That was not easy for me to type. I write this with a heavy heart and with great hesitation. God asked me to write this last week Thursday right after our financial aid meeting during orientation. I’ve procrastinated as much as I could, and so here it is. I have often prayed in the last few days that my needs be met, and I believe that they will. I know this because God is a good God. He says “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:33).”
I am not asking for a lot of money, unless of course that is something God has put on your heart to give. More importantly, it is the prayer that I need the most. Please consider partnering with me in prayer, not just over the financial items, but also for a time here in seminary that is focused on being biblically trained, to have my heart set on God always, and to be a joyful servant.
If you would like to see an itemized list of needs that I have along with their associated cost, I will gladly forward that to you.
Of course the Asian in me wouldn’t allow for me to completely receive the money joyfully without giving something back in return. What I will do is this: I have chosen a few of my images that I absolutely love and I am going to make them into prints. If you do chose to give, I will send you a print of my work.
Love Collection:
Black and White Collection
Nature Collection
