After the death... the Lord spoke

1Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, that the Lord spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying, 2“Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.”
Joshua 1:1-2

Forty years before this, Moses started the liberation and led the Israelites slaves out of Egypt. They were on their way to the Promised Land. Forty years, which seems to be a whole life time of nomadic wandering. Finally they were getting close to the end. Finally they had a glimpse of the other side of the Jordan River, peering into the land of milk and honey. Anticipations built, dreams accumulated, joy was about to burst forth.

But suddenly all that anticipation ended when “Moses… is dead”. Moses, who always knew “where are we going?” Moses, who was “the servant of the Lord”.

And so what’s next now?

Have you ever felt that way? Lost. Confused. Fragmented.

Enroll in college with “Undecided” as major. Wander the lonely streets when the whole city asleep. Click through the Internet looking for nothing. Chanel surf to the wee hours on a fried-brain. Or wake up with a hangover, ashamed and depressed.

“Now it came about after the death… that the Lord spoke” – God is there, even in our lost and confused fragments.

Worse, have you ever felt the servants of the Lord dead in your soul?

What to do when Christians turn out to be mean people. What to do when the church overlooks us; when even our family seems to forget us. The Christian brother who is in an illicit relationship. The youth leader who is cheating in school. The small group member who is gossiping. The elder who is abusing his kid. The leader and even pastor who is disappointing us deeply.

“Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord that the Lord spoke” – God is there, even in our most angry, frustrated and dishearten times.

He spoke. No excuses or apologies. He simply confirmed the fact, “Moses - My servant - is dead.”

God is always here, and He spoke. The question is “Are we listening?” Spend the next few minutes in prayer with God. (You can write your prayer out on the back of this page too, that way you will be reminded later on). You can pray and…

- Presenting to God about the situations of where you are coming from. What are your lost, setbacks, disappointments and issues? Are they distracting you from hearing God’s directives for your lives?

- Asking God to addressing your situations. What would He want you to do: How are you to “arise”? What is the “Jordan” that you must cross? Who should be by your side? Where is God leading you?

Through out the rest of the day, find time to reflect on what God is addressing you here.

Growing your church with stocks or bonds?

Tony Morgan, the pastor of "Administrative Services" of a mega church recently post an interesting question, which solicited many comments from burnt-out volunteers, and sparked my brain in the process.

I have wrestled with church stuff for a while now, being pulled between many directions: the PDC, the Emergent camp, etc.

It was fascinating to watch the PDC mega-churches grow at the double-digits rate annually, especially with all the latest innovation to lust about.

But then now I realized this cross-polination: Unlike businesses, church should grow by its equity, not by its liability - by stocks and not bonds, using business speak.

While I was in the MBA program, it was surprising for me to learn that the preferred way to finance a company is through issue bonds, not stocks. Bond was considered "other people's money", it's called "leverage". It's the borrow capitals you get from lenders, not your reinvest-earning or saving.

Consider Home Depot - it was surprising for me to learn that this giant was borrowing money up the wazoo from some 30-years bond in order to have enough capitals to keep building big boxes fast enough to saturate the market.

On the other spectrum, there is In-N-Out burger, an excellent fast food chain which is limited to the four states on the Western U.S. because they didn't want to incur debt for expansion. They just want to grow in accordance to their equity growth.

Now let's talk churches.

Technically we could embrace rapid expansion (numerical growth) by borrowing (using what we don't have). Put people into ministry so that they get involved and grow more and keep the church running in the process (which in turn will draw more new people to different programs and services the church has to offer).

Or we could grow the church (even numerically) by reinvest-earning (using what we have). Wait until people matured and reap the fruit of Christian service from them. But this would take way longer.

But there will be less burnt-out, more sustainable, and it would be healthier, and the experience with God would be more enjoyable.

What do you think?

Thoughts about myself and "The Making of a Movement"

My adopted Net mentor Keith Drury passed on his recipe of The Making of a Movement, in which he discussed the components of... (verbs in [] are mine)

1. Initiating Leader
2. [Planning] Sacred Gathering
3. [Committing to] Worthy Cause
4. [Maintaining] Frequent Contact
5. [Creating] Abundant “appurtenances”
6. [Raising] Economic Resources
7. [Establishing] Multiplying levels

But first here's my check list against his first component on leaders... (italicizes are my reflection)

• Anointed by God—the leader senses a “chosen-ness” for leadership. Strength - I think I had no choice on this matter when it came to this role in Midway.
• Chance-Taker—not fearing failure. Weakness - I am very pragmatic, just want to do "what works".
• Change-Agent—dissatisfaction with the present; compelled to change things. Strength - but only somewhat since I don't want to break anything either.
• Commitment—eat, sleep, walk, talk, and dream about THE GOAL. Strength - commiment: definitetly yes; but what goal?
• Concentration—singleness of purpose; "This one thing I do." Strength - May be I am just lazy and don't want to do too many things.
• Conviction—unswerving in living according to own standards. Strength - I hope others would perceive me that way though.
• Destiny- sense that you have come to the kingdom for this. Strength - yes, my role is to bridge the gap for the next generation.
• Drive—working harder and longer than most others. Strength - but in working longer, I don't think I work as hard.
• Enthusiasm—so excited that others are attracted to follow. Weakness - I am too boring, analytical and introvert.
• Generous—the flow of leadership is to the people not the leader. Huh? I don't get this one.
• Goal-Driven—arranging day-to-day activities to achieve long range goals. Weakness - I have a day job to keep.
• Imaginative—not limited by conformity; drawn to new ways to do things. Strength - I try to be creative.
• Initiator—starts things, “initiates initiatives.” Weakness - I don't start things enough.
• Passionate—really cares about the cause; spins like a “small sprocket”. Strength - I do, but limited to my local church mostly.
• People-Person--regardless of my natural temperament. Weakness - I need to work on this.
• Persistent—just won’t stop even when coming up against barriers. Strength - Did I say that I stayed at this longer than most?
• Persuasive—you motivate, inspire, and challenge other people to action. Not sure about this - may be strength because I see more people growing to leadership in my church than other churches.
• Positive--insist on seeing the brighter side of all situations. Weakness - I am forever pessimisstic.
• Standing Alone—able to withstand the loneliness of leadership. Strength - Did I say that I am an introvert?
• Vision—seeing what God wants to accomplish through your leadership. Weakness - most of the time I have no clue where I am going...

What is your strengths and weaknesses based on this?

Butt-ugly Church

Did you ever see that handsome guy every girl on campus wanted show up at the alumni banquet with a real dog of a wife? You say under your breath, “how did she get him? That’s how I used to feel about Jesus and the church. Why would He select such a dog? Face it, the church is no hottie. I saw her warts, her limp, her scars and the open running sores on her face. “Seems like Jesus could do better.” Yet He chose the church to be His bride. He loved her enough to die for her. He died to make her holy, purifying her so that she will be “without spot or wrinkle” in eternity. She’s may appear drab and uncomely to me but to Jesus she’s a beauty. If anything proved the adage, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” it is this choice of His. Here’s what I’ve found through life. The older I’ve got the better I’m able to see the church like He does—as a thing of beauty. Maybe it is just a change that comes with aging. When I was a kid-preacher I wanted the church to be delectable sexy model of perfection in order to be worthy of Christ (and worthy of me too). But as I’ve gotten older I have come to see the church more like Christ must see her. I no longer compare the church to some air-brushed fantasy that doesn’t exist. Christ loves her “as is” and has tremendous hope for her. I suppose if you wrestled me to the ground I’d have to admit she is not very pretty—but I’ve decided she is a beauty for one reason—He thinks she’s beautiful.

 -Keith Drury

Would you still value what you didn't pay a high price for?

I am still thinking about baptism. It was something amazing.

Many brought their friends, family and relatives. Tons of people. No doubt most came from different belief background. Not all was very approving of the decision of following Christ from our friends. I know of disapproval from as close as a spouse, who wasn't there. But there are many other friends and family who were there to support, even they might question the whole thing...

Amazed by these bold public statement of faith, I couldn’t help but wonder: would the Gospel be perceived as less valuable to us – the one who grew up in a supportive Christian environment – because we didn’t have to pay a high cost for it?

One manager friend at my work place is tetering the edge of a divorce because his wife against his decision to follow Christ...

Top Ten Mistakes Good Leaders Tend to Make

Muc Su Thach shared with me a handout he picked up from his recent summit in Atlanta. These things MIGHT BE applicable to all of us.

1. Success without Successors This is the #1 leadership shortfalls for people... Think team and start planning your departure the day you begin.

2. Lone-Ranger Leadership (a lack of letting go) This is the #2 leadership shortfall for people... You are not superman (or superwoman), so stop trying to fly by yourself. Network, connect, and get others involved!

3. Visionless Leadership (no direction) Why is your group doing what it's doing... [Your] ministry have limited resources and you have limited time, make the most of it!

4. Trying to Do Too Much Focus on process-oriented, momentum building issues ONLY... then, run hard after the best ideas and implement them well.

5. Communication Chaos The larger and more spread out the group, the more attention must be given to communication... communication should be a passionate obsession for effective leaders.

6. No Room for Up-and-Comers Many people ignore, or are even afraid of up-and-comers... DON'T BE! If they're big horses, invite them to join you in plowing.

7. Passionless Duty Effective people must be leaders who lead, not managers who maintain... this is leadership, not duty.

8. Winging It Winging might be accepted on your home turf because of relationships and trust, but you will never have the same level of relationships or trust at the [upper] level... winging it just won't fly.

9. Misinterpreting the Corporate Culture [Upper] structures can be even more "corporate" than many churches... be a "politically savvy" leader; learn to respect your [upper] corporate culture and make changes from within.

10. Worrying about who's NOT Involved (instead of focusing on who IS involved) Design events to serve well the churches already involved (including YOUR church), then invite others to join you... if you build it (and build it well), they will come.

So what do you think? The reason I wrote that, "these things MIGHT BE applicable to all of us" because we should "evaluate all things, then hold on to what is good" - what if these are just conventional management wisdom and not Biblical? I will be doing some more thinking on these items in the next few days and post them here, feel free to do some thinking of your own too so we can sharpen one another...

Short update Nov.05

Dave Gibbons is now blogging from NewSongBangkok - how exciting! One more to glean from... (ht: djchuang) Tod has something profound to say about Christian community: that we would be known by how we fight and confront one another but without destroying each other.

On another note, Timmy turned 6 yesterday. I had to work last night but I made up to him this morning by taking him to see Chicken Little. Don't see that movie if you don't have a good relationship with your dad.

In regard to church, we will baptize 16 people from our English Congregation this Sunday, 6 of them didn't have blood relation to anyone else in church. Awesome!

The call of our church...

Mariners children ctr.Sometimes I lust after other churches.

After watching the videos from Andy Stanley's Drive Conference 05 (free on-line thanks to their generosity and the power of the Internet), my gut was swollen with desires: "Wouldn't it be great if the environment of our church would be as appealing as their, so that we could create an attractive place for people to come to Christ?"

My cousin Josh recently visited a few other mega churches in the region: Mariners, Saddleback and came back raving about how plush is their campus, and how prominent is their children ministry center. And I felt my gut swolen again.

Even my neighboring Vietnamese church down the freeway from us is doing a big building drive to add a gym onto their campus as they focus on the next generation at their church. I was drooling after the floor plan: "Nice!"

And here in our ghetto church, we sit - sometimes lusting after other churches.

If church was like business, the other churches would be our competitors, going after the same market for souls.

If church was like business, you want to differentiate yourself in the highend target audience and be the Nordstroms and Sak Fifth of the churches, where you could attract wealthy clients so that you could have better profit margin and more stable growth no matter if the economy was up or down.

If church was like business, you would draw more clients by give them what they ask for and pay attention to their needs, providing excellent experience according to what they are willing to pay for.

But church is not like business.

The body of Christ is here on earth to do the work of Christ. Some parts of the body seems to be highly esteem, and some parts seems to be lowly. But regardless of their different perceptions, all the parts would work together to serve a common purpose, directed by the head - Christ. Each church has its call to fulfill. Mariners church were surrounded by multi-million-dollars home; give it a ghetto's look and no one from those neighborhood would step through its door. In contrast, the previous owner of our church property wanted to expand the church to take up the whole block, complete with underground parking - and that plan was met with much resistance from the neighbors living around.

In our planning session a week ago between An and I, we realized that we won't be a "successful" church (in the 3B term of buildings, bodies and bucks). Have you noticed the recurring theme of people who God brought into our church? People who were broken and hurt, and people who were seeking hard after God.

I asked Hai last night in our career small group about why did he leave Mariner; after all it has everything a parents would want for their kids: top of the line children ministry complete with its own Disneyland style theme rooms. On top of that, they have great teaching and preaching and multitude of other programs and activities too.

And he said that God was leading him on his quest to serve Him in a community focus environment, and that's why he came back to our church.

We won't be big and we won't be plush. Somehow it pleases God to have us continue to be a community that care for one another and minister to the broken world around us. That's our calling even though it may not be an exciting vision.

Sometimes I lust after other churches. But that's not right.

I pray that God will help us grow in our faithfulness to our church own calling. At least until He call us to somewhere else.

People of God from this world form the next world

Recently I felt lost examining footprints in the desert of church philosophy. But perhaps I forgot about our own strength in the Vietnamese Church tradition.

Pastor Brad Hightower in Artesia lamented about the crisis among the American church where "the church is in a crisis because the limited role church plays in the life of the believer in North America." This crisis was big enough to set off the Emergent Church movement where people long to "do church" differently, namely by "do life together" more.

I believe that this modern crisis was brought about because modern progress. Generally, our society spins faster and faster. People are constantly on the move, especially for the metropolitans. A few decades ago we can count on the fact that people will stick around in the same community so that we can "do life" together. But today global economy made it harder to maintain relationship, let alone some deeper relationship. People moved to study, moved to get a better job. Constant movements produce shallower root in the community, especially in the community of faith.

In that fast pace and constant movement of the most progressive country in the world, the Vietnamese church was planted here 30 years ago from its background of a third world backward small country. And because of that tradition, our churches really known for its community aspect (and perhaps the same way with other immigrant churches). We are church-of-the-ghetto (using the original meaning of "ghetto" as describing Jewish quarters in Europe a couple hundred years ago).

Church for us become even closer than family.

I and my younger brother live in the same city. I live on the east end and he live on the west end, separated by ten freeway exits. We haven't seen each others since our cousin's wedding six months ago. He serve at a church different than mine; and at this point we would be closer to other people in church rather than our own brother.

If the church were to be a community that "do life together", it will requires more time than just the weekend service. It also requires us to cut out some other social activities to make time for "life together". The hyperactive life style of SoCal subculture and the pursuit of multiple extra-curricular activities for the sake of University preference would be harmful to healthy relationship with the community.

Interestingly the American churches was once like our communal ethnic churches (Keith Drury wrote that the traditional church community was actually like that). What happened? They got spinned by the culture around them out of balance, to the point that some American churches are focusing on "The Weekend Experience" for the people, and many other American churches are relying on Small Groups to build a version of community for the people.

The other day An and I was discussed about the concept of community. The plain concept of community involved geographical proximity: people live around a place, have the same school, like the same food, and celebrate the same festival. The concept of community in the American Christian circle has more commuting aspect rather than geographical proximity, they gathered together by common purpose rather than common place. And the ethnic churches like ours would be a blend of the two. We would be able to understand the common purpose aspects as well as the common proximity aspects.

In time our churches will probably lose its unique communal aspects as we get assimilate more and more with the spinning culture around us. Some would lament the loss of "the true community atmosphere". But many others wouldn't careless because they could not lose what they did not have (just like the average consumers could not know that the chicken they consumed at the local supermarket would not taste comparable to a traditional "ga di bo" farm raised/roam-around chickens). But on the other hand, new aspects of community will begin to emerge (like church website forums and xanga and blogs).

No matter what are the forms, the principles from Scripture would be the same: community is about the people gathered by God in this eon to prepare for the next eon; from this world to form the next world.