θαυμάζω

          A couple of weeks ago, I turned up at church wearing the new outfit that I had purchased back in New York last December. Blue dress shirt with a Navy Tommy Hilfiger top, DKNY jeans, and a pair of Polo Ralph Lauren boots. That was the first time in a long, long, long, long time that I can remember being complimented for my clothing. No fewer than three people responded with some variation of "Dan! Nice shoes!" when I said hi to them, and Roy Wu actually saw me from across the whole hall and came over just to comment on my attire. It felt nice. It made me smile. It confirmed that I like it when I wear nice clothing and people notice.           Truth be told, I didn't acquire a single article of clothing that I was wearing that day on my own. My fiancee Jo picked out the shirt and jumper, I was assisted with the jeans, and my friend Phil Thai practically had to hold a gun to my head to make me buy those nice brown shoes. "But, wh...

       I really like words. I like phrases, I like wordplay, and I like finding out the origin of certain words and phrases. Well earlier this week, I found out where the term “falling from grace” comes from.        Nowadays, the definition of “falling from grace” is to fall from a position of high esteem. We often talk about celebrities who fall from grace when news of something bad they've done hits the presses. But it doesn't have to be celebrities. You can “fall from a friend's good graces" if you do something bad like betray him or deny him, or put up embarrassing pictures of him onto facebook. In my mind, the term “falling from grace” invokes this picture of walking on some tightrope way high up in the air. Every careful step you take is another chance you might slip up and come crashing down. The way that we use the term today, you have to work so hard not to fall from grace. You have to be good all the time, look good all the time, ne...

I've been meaning to get back into blogging this year now that I'm a full-time theological student again. Starting today I'm going to post weekly insights and reflections from my classes, ministry, or life in general. For one of my classes this semester I was assigned to develop and articulate my philosophy of ministry , which is a theological and philosophical framework that I would use to focus and guide my ministry. This project has been immensely helpful for me to order everything that I've learned over the last two and a half years. In a sense, I am drawing a line in the sand and declaring, "Here is where I am right now with all things in life. This is what I declare to be what my life and my work is about. So I think this would be a good place to restart my blog. My philosophy of ministry is ordered into two parts. In the first part, I establish my raison d'etre  by explaining the "who, what, why, and how" of my life and my ministry. Since G...

“ But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-falling stream” –  Amos 5.24 The following is a brief reading list for those who are interested in finding out more about social justice and what the Bible says about it. Originally put together as a pastoral note for GracePoint Presbyterian Church in Sydney, NSW, 30th Oct 2011. Books Generous Justice – Tim Keller It is commonly thought in our secular culture that the Bible is one of the great hindrances to doing justice. In Generous Justice , Timothy Keller illuminates a life of justice empowered by an experience of grace: a generous, gracious justice. Generous Justice is a book for believers who find the Bible a trustworthy guide, as well as for those who suspect that Christianity is a regressive influence in the world. Ministries Of Mercy – Tim Keller Tim Keller shows through Scripture that caring for the needy is the call of every believer, not just through church programs or church leader...

What is a feeling but a thought that one is too lazy to think about?

Last night, I went with some church friends to hear John Piper and John Lennox give a talk at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. Here is a thought I had based on something John Lennox said and a prayer that I wrote at the end of the night. John Lennox A five-year old child and a father are spending time together by watching cartoons. That's a nice occasion. Do you know what would be a tragic one? A twenty-five year old son and his father spending time together by watching cartoons. Why is that tragic? Because they should have other ways to spend time together! They should be going to a baseball game or to a Broadway theatre show. They should be sitting at home by the fireplace chatting about work. They should be sharing drinks at a pub chatting about married life and having children! They should debate politics or theology, share about finances or where they're going next for vacation! They shouldn't be watching Spongebob! Don't misread me. The problem isn't ...

I'm starting this blog back up again and this is the only fanfare for it. "You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace." Gal 5.4 "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.... But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law" Gal 5.16, 18 There are two ways to do things in a church. Well, actually, there are two ways to do things in the Christian life. There is the grace-based way , and the works-righteousness-based way . The works-righteousness-based way does things in order to secure salvation, whereas the grace-based way does things as a reaction to being saved. Those who do things by a works-righteousness framework are seeking to be justified by their works. There are two different ways you can do this. One is, you do things in order to earn the love of God. The thinking behind it is basically, "If I do this consistently,...