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china

Being Asian…

by Lon on February 4, 2009

Some thoughts that have been percolating on being Asian…

I’m Chinese. I don’t think I realized it till about grade three.

I have faint memories of myself squeezing my nose in the mirror in hopes that it wasn’t so flat.

Race itself can be a type of poverty

Is the asian model minority myth, a myth?

In Dreams of my Father, Barack Obama talks about not wanting to associate with the one other black classmate because it would only remind them further of their isolation. I feel that way sometimes when I’m surrounded by Asians.

Asians are rarely included in the black-white race discussions

I’ve heard people say where black and white are on the extremes, yellow and brown are ‘just right’.

Along with the color remarks, I’ve heard people use the term ‘banana’ for Asians that act white. I’ve always wondered if there was something similar for Asians acting ‘black’. Beef patty is the closest thing I can think of, yellow pastry on the outside, dark on the inside?

Labels are rarely helpful, but where else would we start?

When Asians are mentioned in conversations on reconciliation it seems to be merely for the sake of inclusion, not that there might be some form of weight behind it.

Being Asian typically carries more stereotypes behind it than an actual narrative

Many of the circles I travel in, from old-school pastoral gatherings to emergent networks, I’m the only Asian dude.

I wonder if I help validate the movement of Christ to all people when I show up.

Truth is, I long for a truly multi-cultural church as well

At my wife’s school, there’s typically only one token white kid in her classroom.

Statistics say that within a decade the majority of Christians in America will be non-white. What does that mean about our future leadership?

With the Chinese ethnic church booming over the past decade, black and white pastors have asked me, when will the Chinese church begin reaching back out to them?

We as a church need to have a better theology of the human person and of diversity.

God’s not colorblind, and when we avoid the discussions as we do in Canada, we’re negating a part of who God created us to be.

Is there affirmative action happening in our churches? Is that a good thing?

John Piper thinks that Asians might be the next great movement of missionaries

I wonder how China being an emerging superpower relates to the church of the future?

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Exponential Times…

by Lon on December 8, 2008

This is the latest edition of ‘did you know 3.0′.

How do we be Christ, move as the church, and engage culture in such exponential times?

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Stuff on Sex…

by Lon on November 18, 2008

Download Mark Driscoll’s latest e-book, Porn Again Christians

Ted Haggard breaks his silence

Keith Olbermann’s Special Comment Rant on Prop 8

New Directions Ministries Canada

Freakonomics – How to think about sex?

Gospel singer Ray Boltz shares coming out journey in this Blade exclusive

China’s sexual revolution

Thoughts?

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Creativity revolution in China

by Lon on February 3, 2008

china - creative class

I’m not as well-versed in the ethnic issues as many of my peers are, however I’ve been chewing on this article by Fast Company for a number of months now. Click on the caption below for the full article.

The Chinese don’t get creativity, right? Sure, they can stamp out a widget, or knock off a DVD, but when it comes to imagination, they just don’t have the gene. Well, keep telling yourself that.

The mindset that they’re countering has almost always been my perspective, and I’m Chinese.

China has increasingly been equated to a global manufacturing powerhouse due to the mass amount of cheap labor available… ie. the reason why you’re wearing and touching several items ‘Made in China” right this moment.

The article suggests that there is a revolution underway. Not just in terms of manufacturing, military, or the economy, but with creativity in China.

Could it be that God might be using globalization, technology, and the democratization of information, to liberate people like never before?

What would happen if the imaginations of 1.3 billion people in China were unleashed?

If its true that China and India (also known as Chindia) are emerging global superpowers – what implications does that have for Christianity?

As the developing world transitions from the Industrial Age to the Creative Age, what’s next for the current Creative Class?

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Randoms…

by Lon on April 11, 2005

A missionary was sharing about his experiences in China at our church yesterday. The one thing that got me was the heart of the Christian leaders there. Under daily oppression and persecution one of the Christian leaders he met there had been anticipating police raiding his home and taking him to jail that night. Unlike most of us, this leader’s response was that “the people in jail must be praying for a good preacher!” Amazing. Who is this King of Glory, that makes people so bold and joyous while under such trials?

This reminds me of “Jesus Freaks“. A collection of stories of Christian Martyrs I use to own. Someone broke into a friend’s car and stole my bag with the book in it. I hope whoever stole it read it. Now that I think about it, I wonder if that’s how God needs to work in North America. We hold on to the gospel so tightly, God needs to cause people to steal it from us. hrm.

I read two books this weekend. “The Alchemist“, a long overdue fiction about a sheppard boy following his heart. Incredibly poetic and philosophical. I also read Joshua Harris’ “Not even a hint” for some additional class material. I’ve also began Malcolm Gladwell’s “Blink” which looks to be as good as “The Tipping Point“, more on that later.

Other links,

There’s a new book interviewing Bono

Alex McManus has been doing a leadership series on his blog
The Mosaic Alliance Site is up – Thanks Tony
For those of you who don’t know yet, Vertias Forums – Exploring Truth and Life has been posting audio/video’s of their sessions.

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