Picture Pages

Here are some photos that I have been meaning to post.

Above: A windy and brisk day in Athens for the G-Day game. This was my first real taste of football since I got back to the States. Below: My partners in crime, Jeff (L) and Jon (R). It was great to spend the day with my friends, watching the Dogs play and enjoying the SkyBoxes courtesy of the Lettermen's Club.


For those of you who read Little Lost Robot, this will seem familiar, but in case you don't... here I am next to one of the new R2-D2 mailboxes that are celebrating the release of Star Wars stamps due out in May.
It was funny because I spotted R2 and started walking toward it to get a photo; there was a family there- husband, wife, grandma and kids. And as I approached the wife said, "Do you want your photo with it?" I replied, "yes, would you." She said, "you must be a Star Wars fan like he is" referring to her husband. Busted!

Family Friendly

One thing I have noticed is that Christian music and radio stations have done little to... well, evolve in the past few years. I was a little worried that while I was overseas for 2 years, that I was missing out on a some new Christian music and bands, but as I have found out, I didn't. Honestly, I don't doubt that there are some bands out there doing something new & different, but I can almost guarantee that you won't here them on a Christian radio station- they are busy playing the same songs they have been playing for the past 6 years. In almost 3 months in the States, while listening to at least 5 different stations in 4 different metropolitan areas, I have heard less than a dozen new songs. I have been pretty disappointed and frustrated by the development... or lack of any. I think one of the problems is that most Christian stations position themselves as "family friendly" and "safe for the whole family". While it is a little refreshing and encouraging to find people who don't want to peddle sex, booze and Paris Hilton (I guess that was a bit redundant), it limits most of the selection to mostly Christian bubble-gum music, if you will. There is little creativity in lyrics or music and less willingness to try something new and daring.
I wasn't a big fan of Derek Webb's "Mockingbird", but you have to give Webb some credit for trying to push the envelope lyrically, which he has since his debut album (which I liked better). Also, Caedmon's call hasn't ever really been way out there, but "Share the Well" brought an international flare to worship and Christian music that had largely been nonexistent. Jars of Clay is also heading in direction that means less Christian radio play, but probably into a realm with more depth and exploration. And these are all examples of mostly mainstream artists.
But I guess my complaint is that Jesus wasn't "safe", He was and is controversial. Yes, He was a proponent of family and righteousness, but He also was provacative. I guess it goes back to the "I want a blessing and a comfortable life" mentality that I tend to see a lot in the West- where persecution isn't really grasped and suffering and sacrifice are viewed as something written about in the Bible, but not really expected to be lived out. But that is probably a different topic.
Russ, thanks for letting me blog in your comments.

Attention your language and fluid expulsion please

Below is an article about China preparing for the Olympics. Most of it deals with getting businesses and taxi drivers to use learn and use proper English so they can communicate with all the foreign tourists expected for next year's Games.

While I do think that China does need to be more English friendly, certainly in major cities, I do question the methods they are using. The article gives some funny examples of signs seen around the city; these aren't made up. It is very common to see signs like this in China. Furthermore, it seems like they usually use British English when making the signs, so they use "lift" (or "life") instead of elevator.

But I guess the funniest thing to me is the ban on spitting. For those of you who haven't been to China, that is probably a bigger task, that teaching the cabbies English. Many Chinese men and women can be heard hocking and spitting daily. I have heard stories of Chinese carelessly spitting at a street corner... only to land the loogie on the shoe top of the person standing next to them. So unless Beijing swaps their citizens with the Chinese population of Singapore (where spitting has been illegal for some time), I think there is going to be a problem.

BEIJING (AP) -- Along with spitting, run-down housing and bad manners, add unintelligible English to the list of things organizers of the 2008 Beijing Olympics want to ban.
Municipal officials promised on Wednesday to crack down on awkward, Chinese-inflected English, known as "Chinglish," and asked the public to help police bad grammar and faulty syntax.
With 500,000 foreigners expected for the Olympics, taxi drivers who can't speak English -- or signs that mangle the language -- could be an embarrassment and distract from the $40 billion being poured into rebuilding the city for the games.
Throughout the city, examples abound.
A store selling tobacco products advertises: "An Excellent Winding Smoke."
On the floor at Beijing's Capital Airport, a sign reads: "Careful Landslip Attention Security."
On a billboard, this mysterious message: "Shangri-La is in you mind, but your Buffalo is not."
In an elevator, parents are warned: "Please lead your child to tare the life."
Liu Yang, who heads the "Beijing Speaks Foreign Languages Program" for the city government, said 6,500 "standardized" English-language signs were put up last year on Beijing roads. But he acknowledged private businesses were not following the rules, which were handed to reporters -- a stack of glossy documents weighing 2 pounds.
"We will pass the message on to authorities in the advertising sector," Liu said. "If English translation is needed it must be subject to the standards set forth in the regulations."
Liu said a language hotline may be set up for the games to encourage the public to report nonsense English. China's diplomatic missions abroad are assisting, Liu said, "and our people working in foreign companies are helping with correct usage."
"In the future when we set up new signs in public places in English, we hope all these standards will be followed to avoid more additional mistakes."
Liu said Beijing taxi drivers must pass an English test to keep their licenses. But he acknowledged most speak only Chinese, and many are skipping language classes.
"The taxi training courses are not working effectively, and there is a problem of taxi drivers missing classes," he said. "Taxi drivers need to get their licenses renewed every year, and an English test is now part of that that exam. But the exam is not so difficult."
"Some taxi drivers do speak some English, and that's a big change from the past," Liu added. "But the overall level still needs to improve. Some taxi drivers speak no English; they understand no English."
Despite the problems, Liu said one-third of Beijing's 15 million residents speak some English, a claim that was challenged by a local reporter from China's state-run CCTV.
"I think 5 million is a big number," the reporter told Liu.
Liu stood by the figure, but conceded the vast majority of the English speakers fell into a category he labeled "low level."
"They can have very simply conversations, like: `Who am I? Where am I going?"'

Welcome to the Family

This week, Kwan joined the family of God... and became another one of the miracles at the Cheung Doi Church. It is so good to get to see my brothers and sisters... and to see them growing in Christ.

"What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Christ?"

A quote from Pilate as noted in Matthew (27:22). Mark also includes this question posited by Pilate, "What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?" (15:12)
Ultimately, that is the question that we are all asked- "what are we going to do with Jesus Christ?"
You see, most people have no problem swallowing the concept of there being a god or a higher power; Hindus, Christians, Jews Muslims, Mormons and most Animists can all agree on that. I recently heard that 2/3rds of Americans believe in the God spoken of in the Bible. In fact, most of the world believes in a god or gods. It is when we bring up the Nazarene that controversy starts and battle lines are drawn.
Why?
I read an article on CNN.com today about a scientist that is also a Christian, in fact, Lance Collins is also the Director of the Human Genome Project (he's pretty smart). Collins used to be in the minority, that vocal minority called atheist, but after trying to prove that there was no God, he ended up becoming a believer and follower of Jesus Christ.
The article garnered some reaction as you can imagine. Here are two of the responses:

John Borland, Waukegan, Illinois
"I am with Dr. Collins until he broaches the subject of Jesus... It seems to me that believing in Jesus, or any other divine prophet, requires an egocentric view of creation that goes far above and beyond Dr. Collins' argument for belief in God. To casually insert a reference to Jesus in this piece without addressing that issue seems to me to be an obvious attempt to blur the distinction. It makes the piece seem more like an advertisement for Christianity than a thoughtful discussion of spirituality."

Suzanne Spinelli, Middlebury, Connecticut
"I agree with the scientist in the report, however, why is it only Judeo/Christian creation myth that can be 'real.' There are many different creation myths from the past until the present. I think it is offensive to negate all those other myths for the "one true 'real'" myth (depending on one's point of view). After all, who is to say which one is right? Could it be that they are all right in their own way?"

See what I mean? Talk about God- no problem, talk about Jesus- and it's time to bring in the ACLU stormtroopers... or at least the overly-PC critics.
To address Mr. Borland's comments first, which is more egocentric the idea that a God who created the universe could in fact have a divine Son or that there is really a weak god that is just slightly better than egotistical people? This seems to be the prevalent thought that God is up there and He created things, but He lost control and we can work to make this a better place by being good people. Equality with God- such a lofty ambition, yet it has a familiar ring to it..."For God knows that when you eat of it [the fruit] your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:5, the words of the serpent). One of Satan's first lies and one that still is around today.
Second, Mr. Borland's other complaints that bringing up Jesus instead of either vaguely talking about God or going into a lengthy discussion of about "why Christ". First, when you read the title on the video player, it says, "What is a Christian?" Obviously, if Mr. Collins is a Christian then Jesus Christ has to be a part of any discussion and not just God. Furthermore, the piece is edited, certainly the video is. We don't have the whole story, just what CNN wanted to print or broadcast. I'm sure if Mr. Collins had the time and space, he could delve into "why Christ", but if he did, that part was edited out (we'll assume because of space and time, not other reasons).
Next, Ms. Spinelli rails against the thought that other "myths" could be 'real' also, not just the Judeo/Christian beliefs. First of all, there is archaeological and historical evidence that Christ did in fact live. Can the same be said about Vishnu, Neptune or Hera? Second, we have accounts from witnesses that Jesus was who He claimed to be. But finally, we have the claim of Christ: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Mohammed can't lead you to God. Buddha can't lead you to God. Tom Cruise can't lead you to God. And neither can Stephen Hawkings. I do believe that we should be better at learning about others beliefs, but I will not surrender to the thought that many different ways (which are contradictory) can all be correct.

But let's get back to the original question of "what are we going to do with Jesus Christ?" Is He going to be a myth? Is He going to be a great teacher or philosopher? Is He going to be a madman? Is He going to be just another historical figure? Is He going to be a Jewish carpenter? Or is He going to be Savior and Lord of our lives? For anyone that hears the Name and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, they must come to grips with those questions.
Pilate had just had Jesus beaten until He was almost unrecognizable. He had just let Barabbas go instead of a man He could "find no basis to charge". Then He asked a question to the crowd... and they made their decision. Like the curtain that was torn later than day when Jerusalem shook, this world was ripped into two camps- those that would put their faith in Christ and follow Him, and those who would forever deny Him and despise Him.
Even if we believe in the claims of Jesus as the Christ, the question still looms... what are we going to do with Him? Are we going to keep Him safe and sound in a book on our shelf? Are we going to meet Him once a week in a church? Or are we going to shoulder the cross- our cross? Are we going to share in His sufferings knowing that one day we will share in His inheritance? Are we going to listen to His teachings and follow them? Are we going to love God and our neighbor? Are we going to drop our nets and follow wherever He leads?
I can assure you there certainly was no great teacher- just read His sermon on the mount or His dealing with an adulterous woman. I can assure that there was never a better model of a merciful or obedient servant- just read about the Last Supper or the words He spoke to a criminal and His executioners while He was on the cross. I can assure you there was never another Emmanuel- just read how He commanded the winds on the Sea of Galilee. I can assure you there no other one that would welcome us into the presence of God- just read about the road to Emmaus or the road to Damascus.
So this holy season, like Pilate did almost 2000 years ago, I ask, "what shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Christ?"

Yellow Surprise

Today, I was just about to leave Greenville, South Carolina, to head back to Atlanta and I ran across something unusual... He was sitting with his back to me, in a bright yellow shirt with some writing on it... I immediately recognized the writing- not what it said, but rather what it was... Thai. I walked up to his front side and asked him if he had been to Thailand. He had- in fact, he just got back in December after teaching for a while in Northern Thailand. He quickly rattled off, "khun phud phasah Thai, dai mai?" I said, "dai nid-noi."
Joshua, a local college student, was sporting his yellow garb because it is Monday and in Thailand, you were yellow on Monday. He even had the yellow-orange rubber bracelet they made to honor the King.
It was refreshing to meet someone else who had lived in Thailand and was missing it a lot. He, like me, hopes to return sometime in the near future.