Dad

There were always certain things about my dad that seemed unreachable to me. He would take me to the park in humid Hong Kong and he would run around the track for what seemed like hours while I would shoot baskets on the towering hoops at Waterloo street. Sometimes I would try to run with him but I could never outlast his endurance.

I'd work on my book reports for school while he plowed away on his doctorate thesis in the basement of the SUNY library. He would read and read and read and write and write and write and pick at his patchy beard and think and just keep reading. I would sometimes sneak glances at his stuff and think, "man, it must be really good, cause he spends a lot of time on it and I don't understand a word of it!"

I can remember I'd like next to him eating ice cream on the bed watching Bruce Lee movies and was amazed that my heart had to beat twice to catch the rythm of his.

It's funny that as I get older I can run longer. I still don't think I've ever run with him but I wonder if I can beat him. Even in my latest driver's liscence photo, my right eye droops in my smile in this strangely familiar way.

I'm a lot like my dad.

Tomorrow/today he turns 58! Happy Birthday. I hope it will be a great year. I'll catch up to you some day ;)

Hulu

My friend Dustin showed me Hulu tonight and I think I'm hooked. Free on-demand episodes is an easy sell to someone with a 13" TV with rabbit ears. Enjoy the season finale of The Office...

Accomplishments?

I'm starting to think I'm a glutton for change. Some friends of ours recently went on a 10 year anniversary and listed all the things that have changed since they were married 10 years ago on their blog. I laughed at myself when I realized our three year marriage has sustained the same amount of changes...maybe more.

Just for fun, here's a comprehensive list of jobs I could technically include on my 24 year old resume:

1. Schlotzsky's Deli - Food Prep.
2. Swanson Pool - Lifeguard
   
3. Gap - Sales
4. Subway - Sandwich Artist
   
5. Hoosier Cafe - Food Prep.
6. Read Front Desk - Clerk
7. Heckman Deckoration - Painter/Gruntman
8. McDonalds - Grillman
9. Starbucks (Woodruff Rd./Ironwood & 23/ Main St.) - Barista
10. Lieu's Chinese Bistro - Server
11. Papa Vinos - Server
12. House Dad - Slave
13. Southside High School - Teacher
14. CrossRoads Community Church - Intern

I am a jack of all trades but a master of none...

100 Posts

After 5 months of blogging okaywong has published 100 posts. According to our labels (found at the bottom of the blog) we have spent

26% of our blog talking about family
13% talking about life
12% talking about teaching

Perhaps this is revealing.

Water Day!

Thursday at youth group is going to be a water day free-for-all. Here's one of the ideas we found:

Dunk and Run
Description
This game is very simple yet very hilarious. All you need is 4 sleeping bags (preferably old ones) and 4 garbage cans (or something large to fill with water.)

Set the 4 garbage cans in a large square, perhaps along the perimeter of the field you are working on.

Fill each can with water and put a sleeping bag in each.

Split the kids up into 2 teams and then split each team into 2 sides.

The object of the relay is to get from one side to the other along the diagonal. When the relay starts, each kid has to grab the sleeping bag and put it over their head so that they can't see and can't move their arms.

Then they have to cross the field and get to the other garbage can. Whichever team gets side to switch places wins.

What's funny is when they are all running at once and they crash into each other. Plus, it's just hilarious to see these kids try to run with sleeping bags over their bodies.

Can't even wait...

In case you wanted to know...

Kyra's birthday is Aug 6th. A week from Wednesday. Send all greetings to okaywong@gmail.com. Make all checks to Oliver Leon Wong.

Name That Movie

Elephants don't have any feelings. They're made outta rubba'.

Inspiration

Sorry so many posts about movies lately but... saw "The Dark Knight" tonight. I won't talk so much about the movie except there is a type relating to Jesus at one point and it reminded me of something about the cross and that is what I will share.

To start out, if you've ever heard or if you like the worship song "Above All"...I'm sorry. I think it sells Jesus and what was done at the cross short. The line "like a rose trampled on the ground" steals the glorious act of bravery, hope, and all out righteousness that was accomplished by it. Jesus with all power, knowledge and will took his cross to his hill where he gave his life. To his death he took his power to save himself, his face, his possible fame and chose to be despised as a criminal is and said nothing to defend himself. To his death he took his knowledge of all hope and all evil, his knowledge of every mans heart and he chose his cross regardless of what evils those hearts contained. I don't believe he was trampled, he did exactly what he set out to do, and there he conquered. Any church I've ever been in has focused when addressing the cross mostly on the personal side of Jesus' motivation there, and I feel loved. So important. But when I remember just what options Jesus had and see the path he chose in the midst of a evil world... O Lord! I am inspired!

The actions of Jesus awaken the hope in me that I too could stand for goodness despite opportunities for mere justice. In other words, the world has no qualms about permitting justice but the cross suggests a love that is greater than justice.

John 10:11-20
11"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

14"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."

19At these words the Jews were again divided. 20Many of them said, "He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?"

August Rush

Every couple of years I see a movie that stays on my mind the days after I've seen it. Oli and I stayed up late Wednesday night to watch "August Rush" and it was well worth a sleepy Thursday morning. It's a beautiful movie especially if you love music so much that at times you can actually feel it in you bones as you listen or play. And if you think that's an oddball statement, that's okay b/c I know I don't stand alone in this... just watch the movie! Have any of you ever seen the film? felt this way about music at times?

Over-used quotes.

Oliver and I had a great time today revisiting overused and abused famous quotes. The perfect person to imagine saying these quotes is anyone like Michael Scott; inappropriate at times and undoubtedly awkward.

Enjoy:

Who let the dogs out?
Houston, we have a problem.
Run, Forrest, Run.
AAAAlllllriiiighty then.
Can you hear me now? Good.
Beam me up Scotty.
Cowabunga Dude.
Yeah Baby Yeah! (Austin Powers)
I'll be baack.
Hasta la vista, baby.
Luke, I am your father.
E.T. phone home.
I don't think we're in Kansas anymore.
Go _________ it's your birthday.
I'm the king of the world!
Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!
Show me the money!
You had me at "hello".
Mo' money mo' problems.
Bringing sexy back. (substitute whatever for sexy)

Feist on Semame Street

Restoration

Our church has been heading in a new direction. Monday night prayer has been touch point for healing, prophesy and miracles. Here is some of the theological dialogue that has caught my attention.

Many of my peers have adopted something of a restoration theology, which in my understanding has widened simple penal substitutionary gospel to a restoration gospel. The mantra of this thinking has been "kingdom come" - believers aren't waiting for the sweet bye and bye, they are praying for it to fall out of the sky today. I guess this way of thinking is not so much new but revived: God's glory is to restore a fallen world. We are invited to join his cause.

After a long season of wrestling I too feel passionate about all of these ideas.

This central concept is either a chicken or an egg for a generation who seems more concerned about poverty, the environment and social justice than their parents.

Though most of this dialogue is at least beginning to cement in the "main-stream" evangelical worldview and interesting question has been posed to me.

What about healing?

If our litmus test for holy social living is simply the question "does sex trafficking happen in the Kingdom of Heaven?"


No.


So the commission of the gospel/good news is that the Lord Jesus has empowered the church to eradicate it in Jesus name.

Are their leapers in the Kingdom of Heaven?

This question is pesky to a group of intellectual Christians who might frown at the extacies of the Spirit usually employed by a more heart-driven set of believers; to them these practices might be the fruit of a community plagued with instant gratification.

But how can we theologically separate social healing from physical healing in the story of restoration?

As a matter of fact, if God whispered in my ear that one of them was not a part of his commission for us, I would hesitantly have to choose the social element simply because Jesus healed so daggon much.

I Kingdom of Heaven is hear, you're healed.

They came to him by the hundrends and he healed them.

On and on.

What do you think? Is there a theological basis for my discomfort with the mystical side of God or is that just my personal taste?

A.C.

My friend Andrew sees something easily that I have to focus to see.

When my life tests me one thing for another I'm rather saddened by my preference for material over people and performance over experience. I think it causes me to miss out on a lot.

I admire Andrew for the premium he puts on experience and beauty for beauty's sake. One of my colleagues at work shared some wisdom with me about raising children. He warned me that kid's will only engage their world as much as you challenge them to - from there, engagement is a habit.

They will always choose video games to reading.

They will naturally chose to copy before risking originality.

They will naturally be negative unless you teach them to be positive.

Perhaps I should have Mary Chicoreli at the top of this blog post because you'll never catch Andrew checking on star tracks in People magazine - he's just too busy doing richer things.

I Wonder...

Maybe the most important statement for a student is: "I wonder...". It implies motivation to learn and both an expression of the known and the vicinity of something soon to be discovered.

Students of all ages are intimidated by the assessment questions that start: "What is..." This type of question of course usually demands a correct and definitive response that expresses understanding. To get there we have to start with "I Wonder..."

"I wonder what happens when a lot of people lose their job at the same time..."

"People become poor"

"Maybe what else?"

"People lose hope."

"What do YOU think, is that the case?"

This sort of dialogue creates space for students to explore what they know and find shelves in their understanding to place things they are about to find out. This process shouldn't be rushed so students can really soak in what they already know and develop curiosity about what they are learning.

In short, I think wondering is a powerful thing.

The Office Webisodes!

Name That Movie

"And dat's da one marve, dat's da silva tuna..."

Postmodern Faith

"Religiously, the majority of America's young are postmodern, which means they do faith like jazz: informal, eclectic, and often without theme. They have largely rejected organized religion in favor of a religious pastiche that works for them. They think nothing of hammering together a personal faith from widely differing religious traditions, and many acquire their theology the same way they catch colds: through casual contact with strangers."
- Stephen Mansfield in The Faith of Barack Obama

Thanks Pastor Beeson

Wal-Mart Must be Crazy

I'm sure of it now. We pile in by the millions to Wal-Mart because of the falling prices - there is no other explanation.

Does anyone besides me constantly catch guys with "How Can I Help You" vests on intentionally veer away from you when you have that "Can you help me find..." look on your face? I thought I was being neurotic at first but I'm almost certain now that it's a policy.

They're like the bad guys on PacMan when you swallow the white dot.

Top 10 Albums

When our friends visited, we spent some time deliberating about our favorite ten albums. Let me qualify that this means that the album must have some holistic quality from start to finish. Our conclusions not in order.

1. Third Eye Blind - Title Album
2. Damien Rice - O
3. Ryan Adams - Gold
4. Lauryn Hill - the Miseducation of Lauryn Hill
5. Postal Service - Give Up
6. Dave Matthews Band - Before These Crowded Streets
7. Sigur Ros - Untitled
8. U2 - Joshua Tree
9. Worship Circle - First Circle
10. Death Cab - Plans
    

The trick is that even though an artist might be really good like say, John Mayer, he simply doesn't have an album that hits it out of the park from start to finish. Can you think of any others?

Rose Speak

1. YAKE UP! (What I hear every morning when she is bouncing her soggy diaper on my head)
2. AYEO TYIN' (Leo's Crying)
3. Shop bee bru (Stop (crying) baby brother)
4. Na too ha' na too coolda me (not too hot and not to cold for me)
5. uuh uuhhh a too heaby for me (when trying to cary my work bag)
6. Oh sowwy (when she makes a miscaculation about something)
7. Oh white (when we explain somehthing to her)
8. A Be Right Back K?
9. Dood Night
10. Gimme a minute k honey?
11. he hmile me (He smiled at me)

Dominic

I've watched my brother grow up from birth to 15. He is a good man.

When he was little I would wake him up when I suffered from Jet-lag in Hong Kong. He would always smile and be ready to play or eat or whatever I was up for.

He used to have this stuffed dog which he affectionately call "Wo-Wo", the Chinese baby talk for dog. I would puppet Wo-Wo for hours which would make him laugh a lot. Some times I would throw the dog toward him pretending it wanted to kiss him. 9 times out of ten the momentum would push his head into the wall which would make him cry a lot. I don't think it affected him in the long run - he's a brainiac.

That was when he was about Rose's age in the featured picture.

Over the years he's grown older and taller - and outgrown me in some ways. He's provided me with old notes and guidance for preparing my US AP class for the coming fall.

It's funny because our age difference is becoming smaller and smaller and even now, he's practically my peer. I've loved knowing him and anticipate a great future for our relationship as adults and old fogies.

Kingdom Culture

I've been in downtown Greenville for the last two days at Kingdom Culture. We've been spending the week serving the city in practical ways. At night we get back to the church to eat and pray.

It's been great.

The speaker last night is the man behind the Frazee Center, Matt Reeves. The question he asked was would the Christian life be worth anything if it weren't for Heaven and Hell. His conclusion that if it wasn't, it needed to be. Our friends and family should find faith in God not because of our convincing arguments but because of our compelling LIVES. In other world's, he suggested that if some one decided they wanted God, it would be because they saw the real God in the Church's life.

Can you actually marry some one and love them and be in love with them for your entire life?

Do you believe God will provide for you in all ways and show that with your belongings?

I wondered last night what a kink that would put in some one's world view if these were the questions we answered with our life. People want these answers to be yes.

Pennies from Heaven

I'll just come right out and say it... last night Rose swallowed a penny.
While my sister Ashley and I were making coffee Rose walked up to us with red-rimmed eyes. After some length of serious questioning with no answers ("Rose are you okay!? Did you put something in your mouth? Rose what is in your mouth!?") I decided to play it casual,
"Rose, whatcha doin?" I said as cool and seemingly playful as I could.
"Where penny go?" Rose giggled.
I'll tell you my blog reader friends "where penny go", it go down a toddlers throat, into her belly, then out to an Elmo potty chair, into a sink of warm soapy water, into a mamma's pocket and then a Walmart cash register.
The moral of this story is money is dirty, so don't put it in your mouth.

4th of July

Seriously one of the best weekends of ever guys.

Visit from Friends

View Larger Map

Adam, Collette, Ashlee, Andrew and Emilee will visit TOday!

Classic

My favorite part: When he whispers "ho yeah" in the middle of his story.

Hope

During a recent car ride, I asked Kyra and important question I've been thinking about. What is the most hopeful thing you've ever witnessed? She replied with, "birth". Mine was the same.

Conversely, the darkest thing I've ever witnessed was in China. We were were catching a cab in a busy square where children were begging for money. Dad explained to me that the reason they were all crippled was because they were abducted at a young age beaten on purpose to invoke sympathy from passer-by's.

Our capacity for hope or doubt is fundamentally rooted in our most hopeful and dark experiences. We only understand Psalm 23's "valley of the shadow of death" with references from our life. Perhaps for a sheltered person like myself this darkness is not as great as it could be. Conversely again, my capacity for hope bears witness of my experience of hope. So our concepts of Heaven and Hell are limited by what we can imagine and what we can imagine is at least leashed by what we've seen.

What is your most hopeful experience?