Archive for August, 2001
NextDraft
NextDraft
nice collection of news items from pop culture and society, billed as items to talk about at the dinner party (or whatever party)
davenetics.com
davenetics
great collection of news clips about the web (clean design, fresh news)
i’m on vacation this week
i’m on vacation this week in Southern California (Orange County, Westminster area to be more exact), and sent an email out to a dozen friends, in hopes of getting together to hang out.. only one person replied back.. tragic- what am i supposed to feel?
was talking with my mother-in-law yesterday, and i was surprised by the transparency of the conversation.. it wasn’t exactly a dialogue where there was interaction both ways, but it was very open sharing.. i don’t know why it is that people feel like they have to hide behind facades, make themselves look like they’re strong and got it all together, when we all go through life with questions, struggles, challenges, joys, and sorrows.. that’s what life is, and we can share it.. i call this my open book philosophy, and i live my life in the open.. people can see what’s going on in my heart and soul.. i think i came to this realization maybe 5 years ago or so.. i’ve got nothing to lose really, by sharing all that i am and all that i have.. if people think less of me for being less than perfect, so be it- what they thought of me without knowing me wasn’t real anyways.. this is so liberating- doesn’t mean i say everything on my mind as a knee-jerk reaction, but it does mean being wide open with as much as i’m aware of.. makes for good poignant conversations, for those who are interested and can reciprocate..
visited 2 churches yesterday: Newsong (in Tustin) and Urban Mosaic (in SoHo), incredible experiences.. but in the back of my mind, I wonder to myself, how do these types of churches _demonstrate_ love to the newcomers and visitors.. i went in observation mode, and felt mostly out of place.. i don’t like that feeling.
Richard’s Dish
Richard’s Dish
www.rlew.com is an interesting interactive blog I just came across; (not often for me to find an Asian person with a substantive blog)… after some perusing, figured out he’s in the UK and doing some sorta professional Christian ministry..
Asian and Christian?
Question> Allrighty, being a South Asian and all (indian) and a Christian, it is really important for me to know if it is really possible to retain a native Asian culture and STILL be a Christian. For example, is it possible for one to celebrate Chinese New Year and be Christian or to celebrate Onym (an Indian festival) and still be a true Christian since both of these celebrations have roots in non Christian origins.
djchuang>> I think you can retain much of native Asian culture (or whatever culture) and still be a Christian.
The distinction to note is this: that culture is changing over time, and certain values that have been acceptable at one point in time becomes unacceptable later (for example: slavery, women’s right to vote, Prohibition). Christians are certainly a viable influence upon the cultures of the world, as much as they can be influential in society on the whole, and in individual relationships.
Many (or most?) holidays have roots in non-Christian celebrations, so the holidays themselves are legitimate occasions to celebrate. How much you participate in the holiday and its rituals is a matter of personal conscience. (do realize that there are some elements that may be spiritually oppressive)