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Archive of "People" Category
The Chinese Worker: TIME Person of the Year 2009?
CHINESE IN THE NEWS: The shortlist for the TIME Person of the Year came out this morning. You’ve got Steve Jobs, Ben Bernake, and “The Chinese Worker”… Blink. Blink. You heard right.
“They are an increasingly influential group in one of the world’s most powerful economies”
The magazine’s selection will be unveiled Wednesday morning on the “Today” show. You can vote on who you think should be Person of the Year. [via Huffington Post]
Jaeson Ma – “I Am Whole Life” Video
Jaeson Ma has really blown up all over the place online. His stories are captivating and his passion is contagious. He’s an ABC celebrity of faith. Can’t wait to hear more about the ways the Spirit leads him.
Here’s a recent short video that tells an incredible story of how he almost never came to be but…
I Am Whole Life is a campaign to promote “the intrinsic dignity of the human person”
Read more about Jaeson Ma – “Redemption of a Wild Child” [via 700Club]
Euna Lee & Laura Ling: Glamour Women of the Year?
Euna Lee, left, and Laura Ling, photographed by Brigitte Lacombe in West Hollywood, California
Glamour Magazine honors a number of interesting women this year in various categories. Rihanna? Serena Williams? Amidst the high-profile public personas are Euna Lee and Laura Ling, the journalists held captive in North Korea and sentenced for 12 years of hard labor. This incident sparked prayer vigils across the country. It’s interesting to read the range of comments on the Glamour site on whether these two deserve this recognition or not. Reporters take risks and Lee/Ling made their mark. Regardless of whether their methods were right or not they’ve helped raise more awareness for what’s going on in North Korea and human trafficking. C’mon. It’s Glamour Magazine…
Euna Lee and Laura Ling also support LiNK, which provides resources to North Korean defectors and raises awareness about the humanitarian crisis in that part of the world.Don’t forget about Sarah, Josh and Shane (the 3 Hikers in an Iranian prison. Go to the website and sign the petition (www.freethehikers.org).
Mitzie Mackenzie (1920-2009)
The community of Chinese Christian Church + Center will deeply miss Mitzie.
We’ve spoken about being “transcultural” or “Third Culture” on this blog. Mitzie’s life truly was transcultural. As Dave Gibbons (NewSong) would put it, she had the mindset and the will to love, learn, and serve in any culture, even in the midst of pain and discomfort. As we mature in knowing Christ’s character, we discover that he has called us to love and serve cultures and people unlike our own — may it be racially, or socioeconomically.As a 20 year old white girl she stepped into Chinatown and gave over 60 years of her life to serve this community never being fluent in Chinese. She always said she was Chinese at heart.
Respect. Imitate. Live.
(more…)Remembering Ralph Winter & Mitzie Mackenzie
As I’m returning home from a long stint of speaking and ministry I received news of the passing of two great and influential people. Last week we lost the great American missiologist, Ralph Winter. A giant. He was identified by Time Magazine as one of America’s most influential evangelicals in 2005. His book, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement is a formative read to reach the world’s “unreached” with the Gospel. I’ve held a Perspectives course for those interested in missions at my church and it was intense.I love this quote:
“You do not evaluate a risk by the probability of success but by the worthiness of the goal.” – Ralph Winter 1925 – 2009
Link: LA Times
The memorial service for Dr. Ralph D. Winter has been scheduled for Sunday, June 28, in the main sanctuary of Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena, Calif.I also just received news that Mitzie Mackenzie passed away this morning. Many of you will not know who Mitzie is but she is a hero in our church community here in Chinatown, Philadelphia. She was an advocate for the voiceless in Chinatown and under her leadership, our church opened its doors to them in 1941. She was 20 when arrived in Chinatown, a lone white girl with a heart and vision to reach the poor immigrants of this community.
The memorial service for Mitzie Mackenzie will be held at The Vine of Chinese Christian Church+Center on Saturday, May 30 at 8am
What hearts. What legacies.
Obama and the Kingdom of God
I was so overjoyed that my church was able to be a polling station this year. The line wrapped around the block. There were probably people that never even knew that a church existed on that corner. Perhaps many never even stepped foot inside of a church building before. I hope each person was able to experience the presence of Christ in some way.
Last night was pretty exciting. I went to an election day party and rushed off to celebrate a birthday all in my neighborhood. I stayed up to watch Obama deliver words that resonated deep within me. I would almost say I’m a believer. This was seriously a tough election year for me. I had tried to keep myself objective and emotionally detached. I’m glad it’s over.
However, I do feel hopeful like a new age is upon us. In the sense that it really does seem like the old guard is done. The face of arguably the most powerful man in the world is not like what we’re used to seeing. I think there will be kids now that will not look at themselves the way many of us did growing up because of the color of our skin or the shape of our eyes. They will be more confident and secure than my generation will ever be. Still for Asians we’ve yet to associate cool, power and status with a yellow face although it has gotten better. We’re still looking but Obama may help us feel more emboldened.
One of the remarkable things is that Obama’s message and campaign of change has really found a likeness to things I’ve been teaching my congregation on rediscovering what it means to be the church. Like Obama, our Christian message is one about change that has finally come and to the challenges we face our cry is also, “Yes we can”. (more…)
Don Miller’s Closing Benediction at the DNC
Just thought some of you may enjoy this. Be blessed.
I’m honored to deliver the closing prayer at the DNC. Evangelical voices have been scarce within this party, perhaps since the Carter administration. But as strides are being made on key issues of sanctity of life and social justice, as well as peaceful solutions to world conflicts, more and more evangelicals are taking a closer look at options the Democratic Party are beginning to deliver. There is a long way to go, but sending a message to Washington that no single party has the Christian community in their pocket, thus causing each party to carefully consider the issues most important to us, is, in my opinion, a positive evolution. I am glad that, for the most part, the dialogue has been constructive and positive. Will you join me in keeping the conversation thoughtful and not reactionary?
That said, I am honored to speak to, and especially pray with and for, the DNC. Here is the full text of the prayer:
Please join me for the next few moments in our Benediction.
“Father God,
This week, as the world looks on, help the leaders in this room create a civil dialogue about our future.
We need you, God, as individuals and also as a nation.
We need you to protect us from our enemies, but also from ourselves, because we are easily tempted toward apathy.
Give us a passion to advance opportunities for the least of these, for widows and orphans, for single moms and children whose fathers have left.
Give us the eyes to see them, and the ears to hear them, and hands willing to serve them.
Help us serve people, not just causes. And stand up to specific injustices rather than vague notions.
Give those in this room who have power, along with those who will meet next week, the courage to work together to finally provide health care to those who don’t have any, and a living wage so families can thrive rather than struggle.
Hep us figure out how to pay teachers what they deserve and give children an equal opportunity to get a college education.
Help us figure out the balance between economic opportunity and corporate gluttony.
We have tried to solve these problems ourselves but they are still there. We need your help.
Father, will you restore our moral standing in the world.
A lot of people don’t like us but that’s because they don’t know the heart of the average American.
Will you give us favor and forgiveness, along with our allies around the world.
Help us be an example of humility and strength once again.
Lastly, father, unify us.
Even in our diversity help us see how much we have in common.
And unify us not just in our ideas and in our sentiments—but in our actions, as we look around and figure out something we can do to help create an America even greater than the one we have come to cherish.
God we know that you are good.
Thank you for blessing us in so many ways as Americans.
I make these requests in the name of your son, Jesus, who gave his own life against the forces of injustice.
Let Him be our example.Amen.”
The Theology of Bruce Lee
Statue of Bruce Lee at HK's harbor-front Avenue of Stars (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
Thinking about the man, the legend, Bruce Lee, commemorating the 35th anniversary of his death (July 20, 1973, at age 32). Who doesn’t love this man? One bad@$$ ABC brutha. Yes that’s right, ABC! Arguably the singlemost influential ABC ever. Now only if he was a pastor. Imagine that?!
Also remembering David Gibbons on his excellent use of Bruce Lee-isms at Q and AALC speaking on third culture and adaptability.
Now you put water in a cup, it becomes the cup; You put water into a bottle it becomes the bottle; You put it in a teapot it becomes the teapot. Water can flow or it can crash.
Be water, my friend
- The Theology of Bruce Lee.Also Read:
Seattle Art Museum [SAM] event one of many tributes to Bruce LeeA Day of Remembrance: Virginia Tech One Year Later
April 16, 2008 is A Day of Remembrance
On this day, the Virginia Tech community reflects on the vibrant lives of the 32 students and faculty who were tragically taken from us a year ago. Through light, art, and music we pay tribute to each and every person we lost. [From the VT Remembrance Site]Last April, the world’s attention focused on a campus community ripped to its very core with the grief and pain of a tragedy unparalleled in the history of American higher education. And what they observed was more powerful than they ever expected… they saw a campus filled with energetic students and talented faculty that displayed grace, poise and fortitude beyond all imagination — a community fueled by something we know as Hokie spirit. That spirit reaches deep and spreads beyond the campus throughout our 200,000 alumni, and indeed across the entire globe.Take time to remember the legacies, remember the dreams and remember the talent that our community has lost.
I hope you are inspired to work harder to honor the 32. Share you talents with the world for the 32. Achieve your dreams for the 32. Be more compassionate, friendly and thoughtful for the 32. Be better, for the 32.
In 2008, we remember the 32; we are thankful for the survivors; and we are proud we share together that incredible Hokie spirit.
Tom Tillar
Vice President for Alumni RelationsLinkback
Aint The Way It’s Supposed To Be – Engaging The Virginia Tech Tragedy [i]
Aint The Way It’s Supposed To Be – Engaging The Virginia Tech Tragedy [ii]Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
Won’t you be my neighbor and wear a sweater tomorrow on Mar 20?
Thursday marks the day that would have been Mr. Rogers 80th birthday and people everywhere will be cozying up in sweaters to honor the man. It’ll be known as “Sweater Day.” It’s been 5 years since he has passed. Family Communications, founded by Mr. Rogers as the production company behind “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood” is sponsoring “Won’t You Be My Neighbor Week” in Pittsburgh also celebrating the city’s 250th anniversary.I love Mr. Rogers. Yes I do. People may think just because the Neighborhood was a kids show that it’s simplistic. He made sense of life for children in ways they could understand and grow through. He dealt with complex themes like death, divorce, body image that we fail to do from the pulpit. He understood his audience and better yet he didn’t put on a show. He didn’t act or perform for children. He communicated with children. He’s the best of the best.
Wisdom from Mr. Rogers
Profound. Perfect for Lent.
Mr Rogers on Fatherhood:
“Just be yourself. The best thing you can do for anybody is to offer one more honest adult in their lives.”Amen.
Events
"HERO" An EPIC MOVEMENT EAST COAST Conference January 15-18, 2010, Philadelphia
Verge Missional Community Conference,
February 4-6, Austin, Texas
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