I’m sorry if this post depresses, discourages, or disturbs you. It’s not my intent but a reminder of the arduous work ahead for all of us.

It’s the day after…

The day after this nation (and many in the global community) celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We march, share inspiring quotes, and listen to compelling speeches.

It’s a feel good day.

But today is the day after – and the awareness of reality. A reality of certainly a better world from the days of Rosa Park and Dr. King but a reminder of  the long road ahead. Oh,we have a long way to go.  Anyone that wonders if racism still exists in America simply need to look at our incarceration and education system. Broken would be an understatement.

But it’s not just merely an issue of race or more specifically, Black and White. Rather, it’s about the larger issue of Strong vs. Weak. Perhaps, it’s always been about this dichotomy and it gets played out via the arenas of race, class, economics, gender, age, orientation, etc.

The question for us – as human beings – and especially as people after the heart of God as Christians is to not merely understand the heart of God but to pursue and do the heart of God.

I often wonder if those Read the rest of this entry »

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Christmas is an amazing festive season.

How can it not be when we’re celebrating the birth of Jesus – God incarnate?! Certainly, there are other reasons that make the Christmas seasons so special: parties, food, carols, family gatherings, traditions, the Christmas tree, more food, re-runs of It’s a Wonderful Life, and of course: presents.

Who doesn’t like receiving presents? Seriously?

And while it’s hip and edgy to deconstruct the entire nature of gifts, presents, consumerism, etc…I also think that there’s room and space to enjoy giving, exchanging, and receiving gifts. It’s a beautiful thing or rather, it can be a beautiful thing – if we understand these gifts in perspective.

What do I mean “gifts in perspective?”

By that, I mean that we understand that gifts, goods, stuff, and consumption don’t define us, our worth, or the worth of others. If we’re not careful, it can grow in such a way that it reflects our hunger for more or to more uncontrollably engage in upward mobility. It becomes the anti-thesis of contentment. And when we prey to this kind of upward mobility, it can directly contradict the incredulous beauty of Christmas when God became one of us – or in other words, the most powerful example of “downward mobility.”

About two years ago, Minhee and I made one of the hardest decisions we’ve made thus far in our marriage and in our calling as parents.

In our hope to honor a conviction of the Holy Spirit to give up a year’s salary, we had begun the two year process of saving, selling, and simplifying in 2007. Our goal was to come up with our then year’s wages of $68,000 – in order to launch a movement called One Day’s Wages. With only a few months left to come up with the total sum, we were a bit short and decided to sublet our home for couple months and asked some friends if we could stay with them on their couches or their guest room.

Needless to say, it was a very humbling time.

Our instruction for ourselves and our children were very simple:

Each person gets one carry-on bag for their belongings. Read the rest of this entry »

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I love this video. so. much.

I just saw it this morning and its innocence and simplicity spoke volumes to my heart.

But it also got me thinking: Do you sometimes feel the pressure to project a certain image of adulthood, maturity, and the need to have all the answers. Or perhaps, to look very sophisticated.

Maybe Jesus was on to something very substantive about having ‘childlike faith.’

It’s obvious that we need to all grow up Read the rest of this entry »

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