a new arrival October 2, 2008
Posted by peterong in Uncategorized.1 comment so far
the day arrived a bit premature but He is sovereign. our first baby, nicolas ong arrived on monday, september 29th in unexpected joy. read more about it on our family blog here.
convergence September 12, 2008
Posted by peterong in Reflections.Tags: 9/11, WTC
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on this day, is a day with its four syllables. nine. e. lev. en. a day that carries such gravity. it continues to haunt me. today was an absent day, filled with hollowness in new york. there was much activity, but inside, people were poured out. grief. melancholy. reflection. as the streets felt its first chill of the fall, i found it appropriate. the four syllables repeated through out. nine. e. lev. en.
i am taken back. of the silences that will remain. the empty chair of friends who once occupied them. voices that i can’t recall what they sound like. yet, it is the images of their faces that has marked clarity. today, with its four syllables, i am still stunted by grief. i wanted to remember but also on moments like these, i want to forget. but memory does not like cooperate. at least not consistently. it holds. it breathes. exhales moments of such profound release of mourning and inhales moments of hope. for another cycle (more…)
A Quote I Found on the Blogosphere September 5, 2008
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“…someone needs to remind Sarah Palin that Jesus Christ was a community organizer and Pontius Pilate was a governor.”
Religion hurts Asian American Youth? September 3, 2008
Posted by peterong in Asian American, Asian American Youth.4 comments
In this report from Ohio State that states that “…Asian American youth who attended church at least once a week reported 20 to 27 percent more symptoms of depression than their white and African American peers who attended the same level.”
I suspect this harkens to the Helen Lee’s “Silent Exodus” and the rigidity of the ethnic church and the conflict of mainstream American culture on that. I also have a strange suspicion could be the conflict of faith with the doubled facets of generational gap and culture. But also the leadership that could minister to youth has been lacking.
Would love to hear your thoughts.
Participating in religion may make adolescents from certain races more depressed from PhysOrg.com
One of the few studies to look at the effects of religious participation on the mental health of minorities suggests that for some of them, religion may actually be contributing to adolescent depression. Previous research has shown that teens who are active in religious services are depressed less often because it provides these adolescents with social support and a sense of belonging.
[...]
I managed to find an abstract of the research here.
“He Always Understands…I Love You” July 17, 2008
Posted by peterong in Uncategorized.Tags: boy, cowboy, gospel, star angel
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cardboard testimonies June 25, 2008
Posted by peterong in Uncategorized.3 comments
my good friend kenny sent this to me and i wondered if the Asian American church could survive this kind of authenticity.
surprised (blindsided) by compassionate Reformed Theology June 14, 2008
Posted by peterong in City Seminary, Reflections.Tags: Peter Enn, Westminster Theological Seminary
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I just got back from my week long intensive classes at Westminster Theological Seminary (WTS)as part of my City Seminary degree. I had a mix bag of emotions coming into this week; a part of it was the turmoil at WTS in light with Peter Enn’s dismissal due to his book Inspiration and Incarnation (a list of articles here) and the other part was of excitement to be at the school that has been part of Dr. Timothy Keller and my pastor, Stephen Ro.
I am an ambivalent Reformed pilgrim, there is so much good in the relentless pursuit of truth but somehow I am always moved to pause by the pride and corrective postures so many Reformed people take. They are spiritual naggers. But yet, I love the historical orthodoxy that it comes with and it has been part of my tradition through my years at Redeemer Presbyterian Church and also through my reading lists online as well as my home library that are riddled with Calvin, Murray, Owen, Luther, Van Til but yet I occupy this space where I am friendly to the emergent church, the postmoderns and I revel at Driscoll, Mclaren (much less so nowadays), Campolo. So I swing between two worlds of theological underpinnings…I feel like a spiritual mixed breed. or a traitor o sorts to both camps. But as I thought this out, I feel that there is a third way, and it is a conversation that will continue to mold me. Not to be polarized by the two but rather to focus on wrestling through the gospel. (more…)
model minority or minority model (denial of privilege?) June 10, 2008
Posted by peterong in Asian American, Rants, Reflections.Tags: model minority, race
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A report was released today regarding the state of Asian Americans in Academia as reported in the New York Times. It has this quote:
“The report quotes the opening to W. E. B. Du Bois’s 1903 classic “The Souls of Black Folk” — ‘How does it feel to be a problem?’ — and says that for Asian-Americans, seen as the “good minority that seeks advancement through quiet diligence in study and work and by not making waves,” the question is, ‘How does it feel to be a solution?’” (more…)
disguising the “inner life.” June 9, 2008
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i walked out of the apartment at 5:30 am and it was already 80 degrees as I got into the car. the heat was unbearable as i approached philly and made the turn into Westminster. it was hot. hot. hot. but to my delight, the classrooms are well air conditioned.
my first few hours at Westminster has already made me feel uneasy (not just the environmental heat but an internal friction) and it is not necessarily a bad thing. dr. ortiz stirred us to think that sometimes we are very happy in “darkness” because light jolts us and i reflected on my ongoing struggle with spending time in the mirror…here is my conclusion…
i have been in retreats of silence, i have spent focused time of meditation, i have been stilled on both walks on pavements as well as mountain stones, i have been guided retreats where doxology dances into solitude and focused listening. yet, somehow, i always remain with vacancy. i have been told that this time of solitude is one of great intimacy but i find that it is in conversation that i feel a deeper sense of god’s presence. it is not that i don’t like solitude with God. it is a discipline that i cherish each morning, each evening that i have a devoted of affection and seeking truth in knowing God but this depth of my inner life seems tragically shallow when i compare it to others. yet, i feel that i have plumed the depths yet i arise with no new missing treasure.
as i have conversations about “emotionally healthy spirituality” i wonder how much is this unpeeling has been upgraded to level of unnecessary complexity. is there something wrong with me if i can’t find shards of my brokenness. i feel that sometimes, i create these chronic paranoias about if i am not really going deeper. but how deep do i have to go? don’t get me wrong, i take caution and diligence in my pursuance of my depravity and my need for redemption but how deep do i need to go? how much is this a luxury of western christianity to create layers and layers of diagnosis.
so here i am…the first day of a week long intensive of seminary and already, i am confronted with a prick of discomfort and i wonder if the heat outside is somewhat a better alternative.
Tony Evans Coming to Town and you are invited May 14, 2008
Posted by peterong in Uncategorized.Tags: 2020 Vision for Schools, Adopt a School Initiative
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I first encountered Tony Evans when I first became a believer in 1996 and his ability to create stories that connected with scripture really brought me to a place where I believed that what the bible stated does bear in real life. Well, he is coming to town to promote and endorse 2020 Vision for Schools.
A night for all pastors, church deacons and elders, youth ministers, educators, community leaders, and congregants still uncertain about 20/20 Vision for Schools or not sure what to do next in adopting a local school. Come hear Rev. Dr. Tony Evans of the Urban Alternative, a nationally recognized faith leader and President of the National Church Adopt-a-School Initiative, share why public schools are the cutting edge of ministry in our city.
Pastors must RSVP by email for the 5 pm gathering.
The 7 pm gathering is open to all.
Watch what Dr. Evans is doing with the National Church Adopt-a-School initiative.
