Pretty strong words by a respected columnist.
The thing is, in the world we live in, where economies and politics are interrelated around the world, we all depend on each other to do well. Although economies compete with each other, we don't want the other countries to fail, because ulitmately everybody suffers.
"Europe is in deep trouble. These days we all talk about the rise of Asia and the challenge to America, but it might well turn out that the most consequential trend of the next decade will be the economic decline of Europe."
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Helping the Healthy
Here are some insightful observations regarding the Prodigal Son and his Elder Brother. You know the story, right?
The Prodigal goes off and wastes his inheritance in wild living, then returns home repentant to be embraced and forgiven by his father. Meanwhile, the older brother, who has served his father faithfully the whole time, is angered by the injustice.
As in many of Jesus' stories, the point is about grace and a loving father. The point of Christianity is not to obey all the rules, but to love the Father.
Christian leaders need to look at those around us not as people needing to serve God harder, but in desperate need of his loving embrace - maybe especially the most responsible ones.
"Those who have not broken the rules may be farther from the Father's arms than those who've broken most all of them. Sin is anything that separates us from God, and nothing does that quite like not feeling the need for mercy. Again, the point isn't to be good. The point is to get into those arms, and grace is the only way there.
This means preachers are called to peel back the veneer of spiritual health in the elder brothers, and help them to see that beneath all of those years of careful living lies a soul that is as dangerously parched as that of the prodigals. Their right answers, dedicated volunteerism, beautiful families, and well-marked study Bibles can keep them away from the love of the Father just as much as the prodigals' wantonness."
The Prodigal goes off and wastes his inheritance in wild living, then returns home repentant to be embraced and forgiven by his father. Meanwhile, the older brother, who has served his father faithfully the whole time, is angered by the injustice.
As in many of Jesus' stories, the point is about grace and a loving father. The point of Christianity is not to obey all the rules, but to love the Father.
Christian leaders need to look at those around us not as people needing to serve God harder, but in desperate need of his loving embrace - maybe especially the most responsible ones.
"Those who have not broken the rules may be farther from the Father's arms than those who've broken most all of them. Sin is anything that separates us from God, and nothing does that quite like not feeling the need for mercy. Again, the point isn't to be good. The point is to get into those arms, and grace is the only way there.
This means preachers are called to peel back the veneer of spiritual health in the elder brothers, and help them to see that beneath all of those years of careful living lies a soul that is as dangerously parched as that of the prodigals. Their right answers, dedicated volunteerism, beautiful families, and well-marked study Bibles can keep them away from the love of the Father just as much as the prodigals' wantonness."
Sunday, February 12, 2006
When lovable doesn't work
Someone told me today, "I have discovered that there are some people who don't like me. Even though I am so lovable. They don't like my lovability."
Most of us figure out styles that work for us. They may be extremely effective, but there aren't any styles that work all the time, even being lovable.
We need to recognize that our default styles can be helpful much of the time, but still not work some of the time. At that point, our own success can be a liability because we can get stubborn, insisting that this way ought to work. We cannot conceive there is something wrong with us, our approach. It must be them.
But we all need flexibillity and an attitude of constant learning. We need to understand and adapt to our situations and to others' cultures and styles.
After all, lovability is in the eye of the beholder.
Most of us figure out styles that work for us. They may be extremely effective, but there aren't any styles that work all the time, even being lovable.
We need to recognize that our default styles can be helpful much of the time, but still not work some of the time. At that point, our own success can be a liability because we can get stubborn, insisting that this way ought to work. We cannot conceive there is something wrong with us, our approach. It must be them.
But we all need flexibillity and an attitude of constant learning. We need to understand and adapt to our situations and to others' cultures and styles.
After all, lovability is in the eye of the beholder.
Disappointment hits hard for Kearney
"She bit her lip and walked away, her goggles trying to hide the tears.
That was an Olympic moment, too. Sometimes, the medal contenders do not stand on the podium with smiles and tears of joy. Sometimes, tears of frustration, sadness and disappointment mark the day when years of hard work do not yield the desired result. There will be more athletes in Kearney's shoes than there will be athletes adorned in gold, silver and bronze. They had dreams, too."
So true. In all of life, when it seems things DO NOT go our way more than they DO, an essential skill is learning to deal with disappointment and defeat.
I think it is important to acknowledge the emotions, not hide them, then evaluate the situation - what should I LEARN from this, how do I adjust my understanding of myself and the world and God's perspective better, and then move forward with new insight and confidence in God's purposes for me
That was an Olympic moment, too. Sometimes, the medal contenders do not stand on the podium with smiles and tears of joy. Sometimes, tears of frustration, sadness and disappointment mark the day when years of hard work do not yield the desired result. There will be more athletes in Kearney's shoes than there will be athletes adorned in gold, silver and bronze. They had dreams, too."
So true. In all of life, when it seems things DO NOT go our way more than they DO, an essential skill is learning to deal with disappointment and defeat.
I think it is important to acknowledge the emotions, not hide them, then evaluate the situation - what should I LEARN from this, how do I adjust my understanding of myself and the world and God's perspective better, and then move forward with new insight and confidence in God's purposes for me
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Things People Said: Courtroom Quotations
Lawyer: 'Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?'
Witness: 'No.'
Lawyer: 'Did you check for blood pressure?'
Witness: 'No.'
Lawyer: 'Did you check for breathing?'
Witness: 'No.'
Lawyer: 'So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?'
Witness: 'No.'
Lawyer: 'How can you be so sure, Doctor?'
Witness: 'Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.'
Lawyer: 'But could the patient have still been alive nevertheless?'
Witness: 'Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law somewhere.'
Witness: 'No.'
Lawyer: 'Did you check for blood pressure?'
Witness: 'No.'
Lawyer: 'Did you check for breathing?'
Witness: 'No.'
Lawyer: 'So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?'
Witness: 'No.'
Lawyer: 'How can you be so sure, Doctor?'
Witness: 'Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.'
Lawyer: 'But could the patient have still been alive nevertheless?'
Witness: 'Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law somewhere.'
Friday, February 10, 2006
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Healthy Leaders Are Built in Community
The older I get, the more I realize that a leader's example is his most powerful tool. This seems obvious to us, but how many of us get caught up in spending our time working and trying to accomplish things instead of developing our character and building the people around us?
One area where we can see this disconnect is in the area of mentoring. We may believe in the importance of but still succumb to the temptation of outsourcing the mentoring of our followers to others (professionals), because the fact of the matter is that mentoring is time-consuming.
Yet how much impact will that mentoring have when the followers see that the leader doesn't have time for it himself? How important can it be? When you get to be the leader, it is not a priority?
Again, the truth is that lessons are more caught than taught. The example of the leader is his most powerful tool.
"existing leaders themselves must participate in the teaching and developing of emerging leaders. They should not merely delegate this role to others. Leaders must personally act as coaches, role models, teachers and mentors. They must share their lives with those around them – their mistakes as well as their victories. True leaders are builders of leaders."
One area where we can see this disconnect is in the area of mentoring. We may believe in the importance of but still succumb to the temptation of outsourcing the mentoring of our followers to others (professionals), because the fact of the matter is that mentoring is time-consuming.
Yet how much impact will that mentoring have when the followers see that the leader doesn't have time for it himself? How important can it be? When you get to be the leader, it is not a priority?
Again, the truth is that lessons are more caught than taught. The example of the leader is his most powerful tool.
"existing leaders themselves must participate in the teaching and developing of emerging leaders. They should not merely delegate this role to others. Leaders must personally act as coaches, role models, teachers and mentors. They must share their lives with those around them – their mistakes as well as their victories. True leaders are builders of leaders."
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Christians Fear Amid Worldwide Muslim Demonstrations - Christianity Today Magazine
In predominantly Muslim countries around the world, minority Christian populations are bracing for violence in retaliation for cartoons published in Europe that are offensive to Muslims.
Six Christians were killed by angry Muslims in the Philippines. In other countries like India, messages are being spread encouraging violence against Christians.
"Iraq's Christians are bracing for attacks on their ancient community, fearful that deadly bombings of their churches last month were linked to Muslim fury over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad published in Europe (Reuters)"
Six Christians were killed by angry Muslims in the Philippines. In other countries like India, messages are being spread encouraging violence against Christians.
"Iraq's Christians are bracing for attacks on their ancient community, fearful that deadly bombings of their churches last month were linked to Muslim fury over cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad published in Europe (Reuters)"
Monday, February 06, 2006
Evolution of my exercize
In 2001, after nearly two years living in Singapore, I decided to start exercizing.
From '97 to '99 in China, I felt I lived a pretty healthy lifestyle. We ate fresh vegetables and no processed foods for just about every meal, and I walked a lot and rode my bike every day. We also lived on the fourth floor of a building with no elevator, so went up and down the stairs several times a day.
When we moved to Singapore at the end of '99, I still kept walking a good deal because we had no car and I used public transport to commute to the office everyday. Walk to the train station, walk to the office, etc. But we also began to eat more processed foods, and the weather was so hot and humid that I didn't want to do any other kind of exercize like sports.
I realized I was getting lethargic. I'd sit on the sofa in our living room feeling hot and lazy. At that point I decided I needed to start exercizing in order to spur my energy.
First Stage
At first I started going to the gym near our house two days a week to lift weights. I wanted to gain energy and strengthen my bones so that as I got older I wouldn't get feebler. I noticed two immediate benefits. First, my energy level did improve, and second, I didn't have backaches when I woke up in the morning.
Second Stage
In 2002 after pretty regular exercize for a year, I decided to up my regime to three times a week. In my mind I set a standard of twice a week meaning that I was staying even, once a week meant slipping backward, and thrice a week meant improving.
Third Stage
When I first started exercizing I went by myself. Along the way a neighbor started joining me, and at some point Kimberly started going also. It made it more enjoyable and gave me accountability and support for going. However, if they were not able to go, it also created an excuse for me to skip exercizing if I didn't feel like it. In 2003 I decided I couldn't depend on them to join me, I needed to decide when I was going to exercize and if they could join me, fine. But I wouldn't interrupt my routine if they were unavailabe.
Fourth Stage
In 2004 my physical checkup showed a high level of cholesteral for the first time. I made a couple of dietary changes, and also ddecided to start making aerobic exercize a higher priority than weight training. I really don't like aerobics. I've never been a jogger. I don't like it, and I have bad knees. Two surgeries on my left knee took out most of the cartilege and it gets easily swollen if I run on it. But our gym has an elliptical trainer, like a cross-country skiing thing, and that gave me a good workout without putting too much pressure on my knees.
Fifth Stage
After a year of aerobic, I started paying more attention to my breathing and decided to always breathe through my nose, keeping my mouth closed. That was hard at first, feeling I wasn't getting enough oxygen! But it gave me more focus and discipline in my exercize.
Sixth Stage
In late 2005 I decided to add stretching to my exercizing. I am so inflexible! Always have been. I hate stretching. I'm too impatient for it. But now I'm taking time after elliptical and then situps and backrises to do some stretching before weights for my shoulders and arms. Still aiming for Monday through Friday, 5-6pm.
From '97 to '99 in China, I felt I lived a pretty healthy lifestyle. We ate fresh vegetables and no processed foods for just about every meal, and I walked a lot and rode my bike every day. We also lived on the fourth floor of a building with no elevator, so went up and down the stairs several times a day.
When we moved to Singapore at the end of '99, I still kept walking a good deal because we had no car and I used public transport to commute to the office everyday. Walk to the train station, walk to the office, etc. But we also began to eat more processed foods, and the weather was so hot and humid that I didn't want to do any other kind of exercize like sports.
I realized I was getting lethargic. I'd sit on the sofa in our living room feeling hot and lazy. At that point I decided I needed to start exercizing in order to spur my energy.
First Stage
At first I started going to the gym near our house two days a week to lift weights. I wanted to gain energy and strengthen my bones so that as I got older I wouldn't get feebler. I noticed two immediate benefits. First, my energy level did improve, and second, I didn't have backaches when I woke up in the morning.
Second Stage
In 2002 after pretty regular exercize for a year, I decided to up my regime to three times a week. In my mind I set a standard of twice a week meaning that I was staying even, once a week meant slipping backward, and thrice a week meant improving.
Third Stage
When I first started exercizing I went by myself. Along the way a neighbor started joining me, and at some point Kimberly started going also. It made it more enjoyable and gave me accountability and support for going. However, if they were not able to go, it also created an excuse for me to skip exercizing if I didn't feel like it. In 2003 I decided I couldn't depend on them to join me, I needed to decide when I was going to exercize and if they could join me, fine. But I wouldn't interrupt my routine if they were unavailabe.
Fourth Stage
In 2004 my physical checkup showed a high level of cholesteral for the first time. I made a couple of dietary changes, and also ddecided to start making aerobic exercize a higher priority than weight training. I really don't like aerobics. I've never been a jogger. I don't like it, and I have bad knees. Two surgeries on my left knee took out most of the cartilege and it gets easily swollen if I run on it. But our gym has an elliptical trainer, like a cross-country skiing thing, and that gave me a good workout without putting too much pressure on my knees.
Fifth Stage
After a year of aerobic, I started paying more attention to my breathing and decided to always breathe through my nose, keeping my mouth closed. That was hard at first, feeling I wasn't getting enough oxygen! But it gave me more focus and discipline in my exercize.
Sixth Stage
In late 2005 I decided to add stretching to my exercizing. I am so inflexible! Always have been. I hate stretching. I'm too impatient for it. But now I'm taking time after elliptical and then situps and backrises to do some stretching before weights for my shoulders and arms. Still aiming for Monday through Friday, 5-6pm.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Name that stadium
One of my favorite tools is Google Earth. Amazing! Endless fun and somewhat educational.
With the Super Bowl coming up, here's a fun Google Earth trivia game. See how many of the stadiums you can identify.
With the Super Bowl coming up, here's a fun Google Earth trivia game. See how many of the stadiums you can identify.
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Anger Over Cartoons of Muhammad Escalates
Wow, I am hearing this interpreted as a clash of civilizations. What does it say about how these civilizations view the world?
The contrast is protrayed in the media I've read as freedom of speech v. religious zeal.
I see more contrast between individualism and collectivism.
Muslims cannot understand how western societies can allow denigrating portrayals of Islam. Westerners look at individual freedom of expression as integral to human rights, and cannot understand how individuals in collective societies can allow political oppression of those individual freedoms.
Could it be that exporting individualism is what the west means by spreading democracy?
And could it be that people in collective cultures are not willing to trade away the security and other benefits they enjoy in their societies for the freedoms of expression that westerners cherish and want them to accept?
"'Neither the Danish government nor the Danish nation as such can be held responsible for drawings published in a Danish newspaper,' Rasmussen said following the meeting with envoys. 'A Danish government can never apologize on behalf of a free and independent newspaper This is basically a dispute between some Muslims and a newspaper.'
The prime minister added there could be 'unpredictable repercussions' if the protests escalate.
The Egyptian ambassador to Denmark, Mona Omar Attiah, indicated that Rasmussen should do more to diffuse passions. 'I want the prime minister to speak with Jyllands-Posten about getting them to give a real apology,' she said after the meeting."
The contrast is protrayed in the media I've read as freedom of speech v. religious zeal.
I see more contrast between individualism and collectivism.
Muslims cannot understand how western societies can allow denigrating portrayals of Islam. Westerners look at individual freedom of expression as integral to human rights, and cannot understand how individuals in collective societies can allow political oppression of those individual freedoms.
Could it be that exporting individualism is what the west means by spreading democracy?
And could it be that people in collective cultures are not willing to trade away the security and other benefits they enjoy in their societies for the freedoms of expression that westerners cherish and want them to accept?
"'Neither the Danish government nor the Danish nation as such can be held responsible for drawings published in a Danish newspaper,' Rasmussen said following the meeting with envoys. 'A Danish government can never apologize on behalf of a free and independent newspaper This is basically a dispute between some Muslims and a newspaper.'
The prime minister added there could be 'unpredictable repercussions' if the protests escalate.
The Egyptian ambassador to Denmark, Mona Omar Attiah, indicated that Rasmussen should do more to diffuse passions. 'I want the prime minister to speak with Jyllands-Posten about getting them to give a real apology,' she said after the meeting."
Friday, February 03, 2006
Digital camera revolution
OK, the revolution's over. Digital has won.
We weren't early adopters. In fact, we're probably early wannabes in everything, but too cheap to buy technology until it is widely accepted.
We got our fist digital camera three years ago. And it has totally changed the way we handle photos.
In that relatively short span of time, it's amazing to hear that companies are totally abandoning the film camera market.
"First, there's the astonishing collapse of the film camera market. By some tallies, 92 percent of all cameras sold are now digital. Big-name camera companies are either exiting the film camera business ( Kodak, Nikon) or exiting the camera business altogether (Konica Minolta). Film photography is rapidly becoming a special-interest niche."
We weren't early adopters. In fact, we're probably early wannabes in everything, but too cheap to buy technology until it is widely accepted.
We got our fist digital camera three years ago. And it has totally changed the way we handle photos.
In that relatively short span of time, it's amazing to hear that companies are totally abandoning the film camera market.
"First, there's the astonishing collapse of the film camera market. By some tallies, 92 percent of all cameras sold are now digital. Big-name camera companies are either exiting the film camera business ( Kodak, Nikon) or exiting the camera business altogether (Konica Minolta). Film photography is rapidly becoming a special-interest niche."
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Happy Groundhog Day!
To celebrate, we watched on of my all-time favorite flicks, appropriately titled...Groundhog Day.
The main character goes through a profound transformation over the course of the film, and the key truning point in his life comes when he recognizes the virtue in a woman he's been trying to woo unsuccessfully. He stops trying to win her and starts trying to become like her, with dramatic results.
A funny film with a good moral and a great lesson about the power of a role model.
The main character goes through a profound transformation over the course of the film, and the key truning point in his life comes when he recognizes the virtue in a woman he's been trying to woo unsuccessfully. He stops trying to win her and starts trying to become like her, with dramatic results.
A funny film with a good moral and a great lesson about the power of a role model.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
The Shrine Next Door
This review points to a book that looks very helpful in understanding Chinese religion.
For Christians, two aspects of particular importance:
One, we need to understand how other cultures perceive God and human relations with God. The Chinese understanding starts from a very different reference point from the Christian understanding.
It would be easy for a Chinese person to adopt the outward forms of Christianity because they see it working for other people, while at the same time their inner understanding of who God is and what he wants from them has not really been affected.
Understanding Chinese religion gets us to the inner motivation of how they perceive their relationship with God so that we can communicate the meaning of Jesus' life more effectively.
Two, learning about the history of religion and its practices in China will help us understand the Chinese government's attitude towards religion. My experience is that the government is not particularly anti-Christian, but is afraid of any kind of secret movement, and especially suspicious of religious ones.
"One stark continuity with modern China strikes those who have heard about the persecution of house church Christians: Government leaders have always feared popular religious movements. Not only because Buddhist- and Daoist-inspired uprisings have on several occasions nearly toppled the throne, but because local religion resists government control."
For Christians, two aspects of particular importance:
One, we need to understand how other cultures perceive God and human relations with God. The Chinese understanding starts from a very different reference point from the Christian understanding.
It would be easy for a Chinese person to adopt the outward forms of Christianity because they see it working for other people, while at the same time their inner understanding of who God is and what he wants from them has not really been affected.
Understanding Chinese religion gets us to the inner motivation of how they perceive their relationship with God so that we can communicate the meaning of Jesus' life more effectively.
Two, learning about the history of religion and its practices in China will help us understand the Chinese government's attitude towards religion. My experience is that the government is not particularly anti-Christian, but is afraid of any kind of secret movement, and especially suspicious of religious ones.
"One stark continuity with modern China strikes those who have heard about the persecution of house church Christians: Government leaders have always feared popular religious movements. Not only because Buddhist- and Daoist-inspired uprisings have on several occasions nearly toppled the throne, but because local religion resists government control."
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