My thoughts on weddings. . . (a series continued)

June 17, 2013 — 3 Comments
The wedding of Patrick and Patty Ku. . . good times.

The wedding of Patrick and Patty Ku. . . good times (not a great “hair day” for me, though).

Since June is all about weddings AND people rarely hear perspective on weddings from single men, I thought it would be fun to write a series on weddings.

I have been blessed to have been to 2,395,103,984 weddings over the years.  Also, I’ve been in the wedding party for many wonderful friends and family members.  I have seen and learned much from these experiences.  So, in this series of blog posts, I have written thoughts and stories along these lines.

I wrote most of this series last summer.  However, many people are now reading my blog who were not back then.  Therefore, I thought it would be fun to re-introduce it.

This past weekend, I attended yet another wonderful wedding here in Asia.  It was incredible seeing one of my best local friends celebrate God’s provision of a spouse for her.  It was a time of rich worship, strong fellowship with the others in attendance, and the usual pageantry and comedy which comes from wedding ceremonies.  I will write a post on this past wedding within the next week or two.

Here are the posts and articles I have written on weddings. . .

In Life
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I was nearly crushed by a car today…and 2 life principles observed

June 11, 2013 — 32 Comments
Typical Asian street, complete with pedestrians, cars, 3-wheelers, and workers in the man-hole in the middle of on-coming traffic.

Typical Asian street, complete with pedestrians, cars, 3-wheelers, and workers in the man-hole in the middle of on-coming traffic.

This morning, around 10am, I was helping my friend Rush Stuart with the TV he had just purchased.  We were in a very busy section of town, where there are many electronic stores.  Many people and cars and motorcycles and buses and three-wheel Asian contraptions were going every which way.  People were crossing streets talking on cell phones and carrying obscene amounts of “stuff” everywhere.  It was a typical Asian street scene.  In a word, chaotic.

After 11 years here, I have gotten used to scenes such as this.  Actually, I have become impervious to them.  They aren’t stressful or exciting or strange or colorful; they just are.  This morning was a scene such as this.  A scene I have lived in for much of my last 11 years.

Anyway. . . as Rush and I walked to cross this chaotic street, Rush in back and I in front, we were carrying his new TV to my car.  Nothing unusual.  Then. . . Continue Reading…

In Asia, Purpose
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Praying for my friend, Tracey. . . as her journey continues

June 7, 2013 — 39 Comments

If you have not read my post, Let me tell you about my friend, Tracey. . . and her current journey, you might want to do so now.

Tracey and Craig Clarke taken this year from their home.

Tracey and Craig Clarke taken this year from their home.

I’m currently sitting in the corner chair of the Starbucks closest to my apartment. I have an appointment here in a few hours, but came early to have a place to simply sort out life and pray. I’m pensive and contemplative. Mostly, I am just hurting.

I awoke to a text from dear friend and brother in Christ and life, Craig Clarke. See the actual message on the right.

Continue Reading…

In Pilgrimage ,
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The sex trade in my neighborhood…and fighting for the eternal TODAY

June 3, 2013 — 17 Comments
One of the posters of the "End it" campaign to go again human trafficking.

One of the posters of the “End it” campaign to go again human trafficking.

This morning, as I approached my car in the parking deck of my apartment complex, I noticed a “business card” was lodged on the window of my driver side door.  This is not an uncommon form of advertising here, so I didn’t think anything of it.

I picked up the card, glanced at it, and immediately realized it was a service that provided “pretty girls” for their clients, complete with a 24 hour service line to call.  Unfortunately, I was not taken back, because this type of service is also not uncommon in this part of the world.

There are many emotions and thoughts as I get “business cards” like this one and the world they represent.  Bondage.  Depression.  Desperation.  Sadness. Continue Reading…

In Purpose ,
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The death of a picky eater…and the Hotpot Challenge (video included)

May 28, 2013 — 37 Comments
Some of the participants at the first meal of the HOTPOT CHALLENGE 2013!

Some of the participants at the first meal of the HOTPOT CHALLENGE 2013!

I grew up as a picky eater.  Then I moved to Asia.  My eating habits had to change or else I would literally wither away to nothing.  Then I met “hotpot”.  It is a meal that espouses a wide range of opinions.  To some, hotpot is a “meal of the gods”.  To others, it is a culinary disaster.  This is my story and the “competition” we have created around this unique local food. 

Random facts. . . I had never had an orange until I was a junior in college.  I had never tried sweet tea until I was 27 and living in Asia. On my first morning during a trip to Croatia when I was 26, the host family informed my group that “since you guys are southern, I cooked you a southern breakfast”.  I walked in the kitchen only to find a pot full of creamy slop (best I know how to explain it) next to a pan with biscuits on it.  I immediately turned to Trent McEntyre and said, “what in the heck is this?!?!?”  Bewildered, he responded, “You have never seen biscuits and gravy???”  I had not.

Bottom line, I grew up as a picky eater.

When I moved to Asia, one of the biggest stresses I had was thinking through the food.  I had eaten Chinese food only a handful of times in my life and I didn’t really like it.

My first 5 weeks here, I lost 25lbs.  Seriously. Continue Reading…

In Asia
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5 “best practices” in singleness. . . your input desired

May 23, 2013 — 33 Comments
This was me in the Arabian Dessert. . . with an unfortunate goatee.

This was me in the Arabian Dessert. . . with an unfortunate goatee.

If you missed the previous article, you might want to read it first (CLICK HERE). It gives the introduction to this article and the motivation behind it. This article is the final installment of my series “My thoughts on singleness (a series. . . )”. At the end of this article, I would love to hear the thoughts and ideas you have regarding this article.

Here are five of the “best practices” I have learned (mostly the hard way) which have helped me thrive, not merely survive, in singleness.

Do activities that draw you into community

I have written often on this blog in the area of community (CLICK HERE and HERE for two examples), so I will keep it short here. However, I do seek activities which draw me into community with others. In Atlanta, I played softball on a team of old friends (old both in age and length of friendship with the likes of Pat Ku). Here in Asia, I try to only do stuff like scuba dive and dirt biking with friends with whom I want to spend time.

Side note to marrieds . . .

Continue Reading…

In Life
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Singleness, “becoming the right one”, and personal development

May 20, 2013 — 21 Comments
My brother-in-law, (Dr.) Kevin Bracher, and I at our graduations. It was fun that we happened to walk on the same day, he with a PhD and I with a master's. (We were TRYING to looks scholarly on the right. . . we failed.)

My brother-in-law, Kevin Bracher, and I at our graduation. It was fun that we happened to walk on the same day in 2004, he with a PhD and I with a master’s. (We were TRYING to look scholarly on the right. We failed.)

Well, I think I am FINALLY closing out this series “My thoughts on singleness (a series. . .)” with these next two posts. I honestly thought I would do a post or two on this subject of singleness, but now this will be my 10th over the course of five months. Thanks for being so enthusiastic about this series! I never thought I would enjoy writing on the subject, but this has been the case.

Since I have dealt with the theology, perspectives, principles, benefits, and even heartbreaks of singleness, I thought it might be helpful to jump into some the helpful practices I have adapted (or seen in others) over the years in order to thrive in singleness.

These “practices” are not unique to singleness, as many of them I would be doing, to some measure, even if I were married. However, singleness has both sharpened my intentionality in these areas and also given me the time and resources to do them with greater intensity Continue Reading…

In Purpose
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Thoughts on a fallen pastor

May 17, 2013 — 18 Comments

European churchIn December, I was sitting in a meeting when I received this message from a friend. . .

Please pray for our church.  Some awful stuff has come out about our pastor.  It is really upsetting.  Pray for him.  Pray for our church.  Very confusing.

At the break, I checked the internet only to read of adultery and other moral failures.  He had left the church and was unrepentant for his actions.  My heart broke.  Today, I read that it is not only this pastor, but two others from the same city (Orlando, Florida).  My heart breaks.

My heart breaks for the many people that follow these men.  My heart breaks for their families, their children, their wives.  My heart breaks because this is yet another example of churches whom will be marred in internal conflict, while the world around them is in need of the Savior they worship.  My heart breaks.

My heart ALSO breaks for these three men.

I am privileged to know and be friends with many wonderful Christian leaders; pastors and organizational leaders of all types.  Unfortunately, I have received a call on several occasions Continue Reading…

In Purpose ,
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Mothers, continuity, and the immutability of God

May 12, 2013 — 13 Comments
My entire family at Mom and Dad's 50th wedding anniversary last summer

My entire family at Mom and Dad’s 50th wedding anniversary last summer

This morning, I work up, got on my motorcycle and drove to McDonald’s for a McMuffin. This is actually what I do EVERY Sunday, at least the ones in which I am in town. I come here (I’m currently typing this in the corner of McDonald’s while beyond cheesy Chinese pop music plays in the background), read the Bible, journal some, catch up on the week’s news (mainly on ESPN.com), pray, blog, and generally just decompress. It really is one of the highlights of each week.

Continuity is a wonderful thing. For me while living in a country which is growing and changing at a breakneck speed, in a working environment where the people around me are constantly shifting, this little bit of continuity of Sundays being “me and God time” has kept me afloat.

It has looked different over the past ten years, as I have shifted cities and work situations several times. At times it has been open park benches and at others it has been tea houses. Since December here, it has been McDonald’s. However, every Sunday I try to get away and just do something similar to what I have just outlined.

As I think more about this subject of continuity, I see it all over the place.

In life, we all value continuity in relationships. Continue Reading…

In Pilgrimage ,
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The imperative of the “both/and” Christian mentality

May 5, 2013 — 69 Comments

Sundays here in Asia are a time when I try to read, pray, and generally emotionally unwind. Today is a little different. I started out the morning by reading an article forwarded to me by my friend Troy Coons and it has me thinking.

Cool world map from the 16th century

Cool world map from the 16th century

In World Magazine’s article “The ‘new legalism’”, author Anthony Bradley writes on “how the push to be ‘radical’ and ‘missional’ discourages ordinary people in ordinary places from doing ordinary things to the glory of God”.

In this article, the author criticizes David Platt and other Christian leaders in America for calling people to live out “radical” Christianity. David and others place a great deal of effort in calling their churches to live their lives consistent with the teachings of Christ. Embedded in this teaching is caring about issues such as poverty alleviation, orphan care, and people groups whom have never been exposed to the Gospel of Christ.

The author of this article claims that this teaching is leading to “legalism”, resulting in Christians feeling guilt over leading “normal, quiet Christian lives.” Specifically, teachers such as David Platt cause Christians “to experience an intense amount of shame for simply being ordinary Christians who desire to love God and love their neighbors.”

The heart behind this article, I think, is to free people up to simply serve and enjoy Christ where they are in life. There is no such thing as “varsity Christianity”, with the first-teamers being missionaries and pastors and the “b-team” being those lowly others whom are content to live “ordinary lives” in suburbia America. I completely agree with this point. There is no class-ism within the body of Christ.

However, while I appreciate the sentiment and agree with some of this article, I think the author completely misses the overall point of this teaching. Continue Reading…

In Purpose
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