Thoughts of a Fobby Calvinist
I was looking for ways to help people, especially Christians, in Haiti. I think I have found it. HOPE International looks like a good fit. It is trustworthy and already has ongoing operation.
Samaritan’s Purse is good as well.
more info at http://www.hopeinternational.org
Too often theology is done with unstated ethnic cultural assumptions from a Eurocentric perspective
- an well-known Asian American pastor
I am sure he believes that I am getting some white theology from Southern Seminary as well. No, I am not learning my theology from a Eurocentric perspective . I am learning the Gospel from a Israel/Christ-centric perspective.
My experience working with a Christian art studio in China:
I am done! I have been so quiet on this blog. I am done!
Now reading for my winter course.
Seminary is easier than I expected, then it became harder than I thought. It got progressively harder toward the end, especially when I was reading those heavy-weight dictionaries.
I am currently at a Panera in Columbus, OH. Right now I am studying philosophy for a hermeneutics test. This is an evidence of God’s grace because three years ago I could not possibly understand ANY philosophical and theological texts. I abhorred them. I would rather play starcraft than look “intellectual”. Thank God for this regenerating heart and mind!
My not-so-sharp mind is forcing me to labor though rationalism and empiricism at the moment. Not because I am interested in these stuff, but I want to be equipped to serve God’s kingdom 
. Actually, my indwelling sin is tempting me to play starcraft, the best game ever!
Anyways, I feel the Holy Spirit empowering me to understand these non-sense by Kant, Derrida and Nietzsche.
Before moving to Southern, I was really afraid of the lack of diversity at this school. I was really close attending Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Westminster Theological Seminary because of the Asian American population there. I just didn’t think Southern has “it”. I was afraid Southern might be too parochial and too American for me. (I actually learned the word parochial from this great sermon delivered by Rev. Michael Oh: Why I Didn’t Go to Westminster Theological Seminary by Michael Oh).
After spending 1 month at Southern, I have to confess that I was dead WRONG. I build up my own preconceived notion about how Christians are like in the South. It was my sinful to judge my Caucasian brothers and sisters here. My way of thinking was pretty racist. I did not think Southern Seminary cared much about the Chinese churches in America. But people proved me wrong here. It seems like every week at Southern, I run into a random American who speaks fluent Chinese. I keep forgetting what made Southern Seminary so special is its passions for international missions. I just feel so blessed already to have many conversations with my fellow brothers and sisters about missions to the Chinese, Japanese and Asian American.
Recently I found out many of my professors are involved with Chinese/Chinese American churches. I will give you my non-exhaustive list:
1. Dr. Hamilton: He is now my favorite professor at Southern Seminary. His passion for God’s glory gets me excited every time I sit in his class. He came to preach at Cleveland Chinese Christian Church in 2007. Too bad a lot of college students from Case Western Reserve University missed out on that event because of a schedule conflict. I am really touched by the fact that Dr. Hamilton took time from his busy schedule to Cleveland. People don’t understand how busy professors are!
2. Dr. Schreiner: He went to preach at a small Chinese church in Michigan last year. Now that is super amazing because if you don’t know Dr. Schreiner, he is one of the top NT scholar in the world! He is a pastor of a pretty big church here in Louisville. He really did not have to go preach at a small Chinese conference.
3. Dr. Pennington: I just discovered that Dr. Pennington and his wife lived in Beijing for a bit. He is fluent in Greek and Chinese. Wahhh! He told me he still wants to keep up with his Chinese!
4. Dr. Betts: He is the first professor I had conversation with at Southern. I recently discovered that Dr. Betts preaches at the pastor-less Louisville Chinese Christian Church.
5. Dr. Payne: In the beginning of the semester, Dr. Payne took all the Chinese-speaking seminarians for a lunch. He gave us encouragements and wanted to help us to churches in America.
I know that Southern Seminary is not perfect. But I think we are on the right trajectory. Our President Albert Mohler already kindly reminded us that SBC must be willing to change or face serious decline. I love this seminary! And my love for this seminary will only grow as I spend more time here .
After spending 1 month at Southern, I have to confess that I was dead WRONG. I build up my own preconceived notion about how Christians are like in the South. It was my sinful to judge my Caucasian brothers and sisters here. My way of thinking was pretty racist. I did not think Southern Seminary cared much about the Chinese churches in America. But people proved me wrong here. It seems like every week at Southern, I run into a random American who speaks fluent Chinese. I keep forgetting what made Southern Seminary so special is its passions for international missions. I just feel so blessed already to have many conversations with my fellow brothers and sisters about missions to the Chinese, Japanese and Asian American.
Recently I found out many of my professors are involved with Chinese/Chinese American churches. I will give you my non-exhaustive list:
I do not understand why there is a controversy surround Obama and his address to the school. I disagree with Obama but I think we, Christians, are being too caught up with politics. It seems like we treat Obama as the anti-Christ or something. How dare we think that Mr. Obama is a worse sinner than the rest of us! A near perfect Republican president will never save this country. The fact is this: only the Gospel will save this country because God wants to get all the glory!
I have lived in China under the “communist” regime. And I have also seen the persecuted churches thrive and grow there. Our Chinese brothers and sisters do care about government, but it seems like they care more about Jesus. I wonder what things would look like in the U.S. if we spend more of our time and energy loving the lost people…
I am again reminded by this super awesome quote from Francis Schaeffer, a great theologian and a philosopher:
The central problem of our age is not liberalism or modernism, nor the old Roman Catholicism or the new Roman Catholicism , nor the threat of communism, nor even the threat of rationalism and the monolithic consensus which surrounds us. All these are dangerous but not the primary threat. The real problem is this: the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, individually or corporately, tending to do the Lord’s work in the power of the flesh rather than of the Spirit. The central problem is always in the midst of the people of God, not in the circumstances surrounding them.
Of course I can’t end this entry without quoting a verse to keep things in perspective. “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Rev 5:11). Be exalted o God!
It has been 4-6 years since I really touched violin. I was never good enough to be a music major. But today I had the privileged to play with the Chapel Orchestra. I was rusty; but man it was an exhilarating experience to worship my King with my violin. It was soooo super exciting to play a few hymns and Keith and Kristyn Getty’s O Church Arise. I love seminary. And I love studying Hebrew. Its way better than my organic chemistry and Japanese class combined!
The video is now uploaded on the school’s website. You can find me at 2:57. It is kind of embarrassing.
update: I just listened to the clip. The organ and the male singer were so loud. It was not like that live! It must be a poor placement of the mic 
.
四海之內皆兄弟！
I guess Louisville Chinese Christian Church has found me. My mom is good at spreading the words out from Maryland. I end up getting two random phone calls from them. I feel so loved. I still don’t know if I will be attending a Chinese church. I really want to learn from American churches. Maybe I can fellowship with them on Friday
Sigh! I am getting nervous for my first day tomorrow. I have been studying Hebrew alphabets. Hebrew alphabets somehow look very Japanese to me. That is not a good sign because I did not do too well in my Japanese classes. こんにちは. わからない!!!
Tomorrow’s Schedule:
Chapel Orchestra
Introduction to Old Testament
Personal Spiritual Discipline
Elementary Hebrew
Kevin,
You were the winner of the Religion Saves book drawing. Congratulations!
Please tell me were you’d like me to send the book. I’d also love to hear your feedback on the book if you get a chance.
Blessings,
Mark Lamprecht
http://hereiblog.com
I am not boasting because there is nothing to boast about. It is not like I have read all the free books. But I must be a good steward of my books. Any suggestions?! I know I should stop signing up for the free books…
Oh by the way, I love Southern Seminary. This campus is beautiful. The gym is 10X better than Case Western, my undergraduate school. I love how I can exercise my spiritual and physical muscles. God is AWESOME!
