…in the outer…

Often the story about the other criminal who was being crucified along with Jesus slides into vigorous debates about what happens after one dies, or where Jesus went when He died.

In some of the gospel accounts, we read that the people around Jesus’ cross were all mocking and taunting Him, including the two criminals being crucified at His side. Luke tells us one of the criminals stopped and rebuked the other. He turned to Jesus and asked, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23: 42-43)

On Easter Sunday morning, while reflecting on this interaction between Jesus and the criminal, I was struck with an insight I have not noticed before. As I reflected on what Jesus told the criminal, I became aware that the Scriptures were silent about the death of the criminal. I had assumed that he died on that same day, yet historical accounts tell us that Read the rest of this entry »

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At church today, our pastor shared on the Parable of the Sower as part of the series on Church Without Walls (cWoW), the concept that church is not only about doing the traditional "spectator-sport" of going to church, sitting in pews, listening to good music, perhaps even singing along, and then listening to a good sermon.

Church is about being actively involved in living out your faith among a community of active participants who share the life of the Spirit and meeting the needs - physical, spiritual, social, emotional - of the wider community and drawing people to the loving Heavenly Father God.

One of the first steps of actively living out your faith is to first of all receive the Word and let it flourish in your life.

So, Pastor Dave shared some thoughts on the Parable of the Sower and then asked the congregation to interactively respond by offering their insights, reflections and sharing about what God is doing in their lives, and how the passage impacted them.

As I was reflecting on the passage, I was quite puzzled with the description of the types of soil. Jesus talked about the Kingdom of Heaven being like a farmer who went out to sow his seed. He says that the seed fell on different types of ground. Typically people talk about the four types of soil.

Some seed fell on the path where the ground was hard and there was no soil and the birds came and ate up the seed. The seed that fell among rocky ground, sprang up quickly but because the soil was shallow, when the sun came up the plants shrivelled up. Other seed fell among thorns which grew and choked up the plants so that they did not bear grain. And the seed that fell on good soil sprang up, grew and produced an abundant crop.

Read the rest of this entry »

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It’s been a long while since I updated this blog.

In fact, it’s been a long while since I updated any blog!

Well, I am gonna be back… real soon…

Currently, I am working on updating to the latest WordPress version.

So far so good. Now, I am checking all the plugins and upgrading those that have new updates. Almost everything is working again, and I should be able to start posting articles again.

If you have been a visitor before, or even if you are a new visitior to …in the outer… do please drop in a line of comment or two, just to say "Hi!" and let me know you have missed me and that you will be back again to catch the latest from the bloke! :) 

Popularity: 17% [?]

Each time I thought about the passage of Scripture that Jesus said to His first disciples, “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men,” I had assumed He was talking about evangelism and that evangelism was about telling the message and convincing others to follow Jesus. Similarly, I thought Jesus’ emphasis was about catching men, fishing for people and also that evangelism was about the bait, the content of the message, and about reeling men in, the delivery and so on.

“Fishers of men” might really have to do with going out to where there might be a lot men, and making the effort to bring them to know the Lord. But, the other day, as I was sitting and listening a sermon about the story of the young boy in the sixth chapter of John, there was a “connecting of the dots” in my mind. It occurred to me that the phrase “fishers of men” might have a lot to do with what happened that day about the boy with the fish and the loaves. Read the rest of this entry »

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NOTE: As I was writing this post, I surfed around a bit and found that, oh! joy! Messy Christian is back! And, she just post about Church too! Now, this is what you call colla-blog-aration at its best!

Of late, my church pastors have been talking a lot about this concept of Church Without Walls“>Church Without Walls or the Underground Church. He was referring to the practice of taking our faith beyond the four walls of the Church building and outside the structures of the traditional idea of “doing church.”

Too many times, when we think of being a Christian, or being part of a Church, we think in terms of the organization or a group that has a particular structure or organizational framework.

Yet, when we think of the disciples of Jesus in the first century, they really got it when they went to out to engage people in the synagogues, the temple and in other public meeting places, even to other sacred or religious sites. They went back to each other homes for fellowship, prayer and more study and learning.

So, what does this mean to us modern day Christians then? What does Church Without Walls mean to you and me?

Last night I witnessed a Church Without Walls. I went down to L.A. Skid Row where a group of Christians meet every Friday night and read and preach from God’s Word at the Corner of Wall and Winston right in the heart of Skid Row. Read the rest of this entry »

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The story of the encounter between Jesus, the Pharisees and the woman taken in the act of adultery in the eighth chapter of John contains powerful lessons for us today. Imagine being in the place of this woman, probably half-naked, baring your body and soul to the world, caught at the point of shame, misery and rejection. Condemned by society, outcast by community and condemned by the tribunal. There you are standing before the Holy One, in front of the world, alone, naked, and ashamed. Around you fingers are pointing, chins are waging, head are shaking. Sneered upon, pitied and despised.

In a powerful demonstration of unconditional love, the Christ shows the accusing religious mob what He is about. None of the accusers could do continue. They retreated one by one until it was just the woman standing there before the Savior.

“Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

Powerful words that touches the soul of the one who was tormented, outcast and defenseless only moments earlier. No longer is she accused. Isn’t this the experience of repentance?

Repentance is not solely a human response to God’s mercy and grace. It is a change in position from one under judgment, to one redeemed. It is a change to realize the full force of transformation love - for He has forgiven you and you no longer stand accused. Read the rest of this entry »

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There I was. At the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts, quietly enjoying the Vienna Boys’ Choir serenading a hushed, reverent audience basking in their unique brand of symphonic vocal ballads and serene “sacred Austrian hymns”.

As I sat there soaking in the harmonies from the boys’ melodious voices, wild images invaded the peace and quiet of my mind. For wild explosions of a completely different kind of vision burst into my my mind’s eyes and ears as I saw a rowdy group of street hip-hop artist descend onto the stage and start to harmonize themselves along with the Vienna Boys Choir..

Can you imagine that? Read the rest of this entry »

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Last night, Ehren Watada’s story caught my attention, and brought me back to this long neglected blog. Well, here is an update from someone who appears to be right there at the trial. I share the writer’s pessimism that Watada will likely be found guilty but also the hope that something might turn in his favor at the appeal.

Popularity: 17% [?]