becoming

…You know who I’m talking about. Numerous ministry leaders who are gracious, authentic, and engaging when talking with friends over lunch. But turn on the camera, or step into the pulpit, and they become someone else. Radio personalities suffer the same thing when they get in front of a microphone.

…Watch regular television and listen to the difference. Stop trying to be bigger than life. Be real. Speak normally. It doesn’t make you more anointed or powerful when you try to sound like God. Talk like everyone else, and you’ll be amazed at the connection.

[link: philcooke.com]

Yes, that’s the key. Try talking with your friends the way you shout/yell/scream in the pulpit, I am sure they will send you to the psychiatric hospital.

When we break down, God breaks through.

究竟西方基督教的學術研究是否適用於北美華人教會？

我受的是西方神學教育。但當我參與近日不同的conferences和其他討論時，我越來越發覺，所討論的，與北美華人教會的情況有很大差距（或說北美華人教會的處境，與我們討論得興高采烈的西方議題，有很大落差 ）。當我們熱心討論後現代和後基督教的信仰再想像（re-imagination）時，這是否北美華人的處境？華人真正經歷過「現代」的洗禮，或是基督教曾作為主流文化的影响嗎？甚至，我懷疑，這是否那些「仍然年青」的1.5，或是2nd generation的處境？我的一些青年工作同「道」人，在不能照單全收之際，你們又留意到甚麼？怎樣過濾和轉化？

當然，另一方面，以香港的牧養模式來牧養北美教會也是死路一條。第一代和第二代的張力就不用說，光是第一代中間就已經跟香港的生活很不一樣，怎可能將牧養模式作個移植手術，而自以為可以免疫於因處境而出現的排斥？

過去也讀過不少關於ethnic minority的神學討論。從exilic到marginal到sojourner一類的意像多的是。但覺得對這一階段的北美教會來看，總不適用。另外，這一類的研究，常將移民群體和他們的後代（信徒/非信徒一樣）作受害者來研究，這樣的出發點，局限了研究的可能結果。

當然，我沒有甚麼答案。極其量的，只在指出兩代牧者可能出現/已經出現的牧養張力，並他們所牧養會眾之現實，與他們所談過不亦樂乎的現象和出路，有極大距離。

I am so proud of everyone in this fellowship. I think presenting this hymn together is a wonderful thing as well. May Jesus’ sacrifical love constantly compels us in our lives, our fellowship, our families and our marriages.

耶穌捨身十架 主祢為我犧牲
誠然擔起我的憂患 背負我的痛苦
耶穌捨身為我的過犯受鞭傷，
流出寶血救恩湧流 讓我罪得赦免
祢被世人離棄凌辱至死不退縮
喝下那苦杯 全然成就救贖
我主犧牲的愛 祢為我的過犯
撇下榮耀尊貴 降下捨身拯救
十架犧牲的愛 眾罪已得潔淨
祢是奴僕君王 權柄尊貴屬祢

What is it that makes a bunch of Christians, who never met before in their entire life, sing and share and live together as a family in the bond of love?

Yes, this is communion of saints as it should be.

I am on the way again. My 5-day conference is over. Will hit the road soon. For my friends in Toronto, see you tomorrow!

Can you see it too?

I see the king of glory
Coming on the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes
The whole earth shakes

I see his love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing
The people sing

[Chorus]
Hosanna Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest [x2]

I see a generation
Rising up to take their place
With selfless faith
With selfless faith

I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and seek
We’re on our knees
We’re on our knees

[Chorus]

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart from what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdoms cause
As I go from nothing to
Eternity

[Chorus x2]

Hosanna in the highest

And so it begins:

It is midnight and I am finally in Greensboro, NC. No, nothing unexpected happened. Just that my connecting flights are hours apart…

But I do thank my sister for getting my battery charger and cell phone all the way from home to the airport!