Photo by Xinhuanet OK, all you Facebook lovers out there, I was reading up on this article about how a survey found out that people who use Facebook have lower overall grades. Hmm… I don’t know if there is a direct one-to-one correlation (the researcher is from OSU so we have to […]
Breaking the Routine
There is always something powerful that happens to us when we realize that we have been going through life in a mundane way. Sometimes we miss out on the joys of life and even in the little simple pleasures that brings a smile to our face. It is always good to have a heart […]
Underestimated But Undeterred
I don’t know if you have ever been underestimated for anything, but it is the best position to be in at times. The reason? Well, just watch this video first (CLICK TWICE). Some observations: 1) We all judge things by the externals and sometimes we don’t get it completely […]
2009 Easter Reflections
What a great Easter weekend we had at HMCC! It really began from Maundy Thursday as we focused on the last days of Christ on this earth and then His crucifixion on Friday. As I am getting older, I am reminded of the need of grace and mercy that much more in my life. […]
Optimism on Good Friday
Photo by “The Passion of the Christ” I have always wondered why they call one of the most gruesome days in history “Good Friday.” How about calling it “Shocking Friday” or “Horrific Friday”? Maybe that will put more of an emphasis on what Christ went through for us on the cross. I […]
The Power of Music
I have been a strong advocate of the universality of music and how it is an incredible medium to communicate a message. There is something powerful about music and how it speaks to the heart. It really does supersede culture, language and nationality. This is why I believe that the next great evangelist of […]
Passion Week Reflections 2009
Picture of Saint Joseph’s Cathedral As we have started the Passion Week (Jesus’ agonizing journey to the cross, hence “Passion” = “Suffering”), I realized that it is so easy to just go through the motions and forget the significance of it in the midst of our busy schedules. But the way we […]
Cultural Faux Pas
PA Photo Many of the British news outlets caught it right away, while some of the other foreign journalists did not notice it at all. Now, talk is circulating in the media that Michelle Obama made a huge cultural faux pas, when she placed her hand on the back of Queen Elizabeth II […]
Discipleship in Action?
Hmm… well, maybe you should check out the video first and then I can comment. As you can tell, here is a guy trying to teach the world how to use chopsticks. Now, it really doesn’t matter to me that this person is from the lighter hue (a.k.a. Caucasian), but […]
Staying True to Your Roots
I don’t know how many of you are Honest Tea fans, but I had some for the first time when I was down in Texas; and it tasted really good. They jumped out into the market with their branding of using organic ingredients and some funky combinations of flavors. This kind of explains their […]
From Lifestage to Lifestage
I was refreshed this week as I met up with some of our church members. One conversation in particular stuck out for me. As I was meeting with the member, we talked about going through various lifestages; and he shared some of his perspective on “how” he decided to go through the transition for […]
Lessons from Pandora
Photo by nowpublic.com I love Pandora. For those of you who have not tried it yet, you should. It is free music on the internet. I always have it on as I am working on my laptop. In fact, I have about 50 different stations that I have created over the years. The […]
Should We Be Controversial?
Photo by NYTimes Bill Ellis writing for ASSIST News Service wrote an article that asks the question, “Should the Church and its Ministers be Controversial?” Now, I know that there are pastors and church leaders who are controversial for controversy sake. They experience great joy from inciting controversy and “ticking” people off. Then […]
The Need for Evaluation?
Photo by Carmody Consulting John Ortberg wrote an article for Leadership Journal that was pretty insightful. He addressed the topic of “evaluation.” It is clear that there are many people who do not evaluate themselves and their ministry. Ortberg writes, “Some people refuse to ask any questions about effectiveness at all, on the […]