eugene cho

Friday, November 7, 2008 • 1:32 am 40

let’s kiss and make up

I follow politics but I don’t go crazy.  Meaning, I’m not the kind of person that wears buttons, puts bumper stickers on their cars, and plant signs on their home lawns. I confess I do have one vintage Ronald Reagan shirt I picked up a while ago from a second hand store.  So, while I watched the elections with great interest and cried like a baby, it was hard to live vicariously with those who were celebrating like Kids Gone Wild in Seattle or those who were visibly upset about the doom and gloom news of impending socialism and Obamunism.

It’s not just because I’m an ‘independent’ voter but also because I feel like my voice in the City, Church, and Culture is to be a ‘reconciler’ or ‘peacemaker’ that I’ve been feeling torn over the growing division in the country between RED and BLUE.  When you see leaders tear each other apart, you wonder how anything be accomplished to remedy some of the national and global crises. 

Even more painful has been the division in the Church.  Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: politics, religion, , ,

Wednesday, November 5, 2008 • 6:38 pm 24

a picture says a 1000 words beginning with: “inconceivable”

Update:  Check out a call for the church to move towards post-election reconciliation:  Let’s Kiss and Make Up.

The picture below sums up why Obama’s presidency is truly historical.  Many of us don’t really know because we’ve only seen it or felt it through the eyes and stories of others.  As I shared in an earlier post, I wasn’t ga-ga about Obama but as a minority or person of color, I was overwhelmed and cried like a baby during his speech.  But I could tell that my tears were different that those that flowed down and kept flowing down from the eyes of Maya Angelou, Jesse Jackson, Toni Morrison, and others. There was a time when even the idea of a black person becoming the President of the United States was absolutely inconceivable.  

Let me rephrase that in another way: The idea did not even exist. Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: family, politics, religion, ,

Monday, November 3, 2008 • 6:29 pm 13

two pics that might change your vote

Here are two images I offer to my blog readers and stalkers for your consideration.  I’m sure it will impact the way that you’ll vote tomorrow.  What do you think of the pics?

The first reverses the skin color of John McCain and Barack Obama and encourages people with the words: 

Let the issues be the issues. 

Despite what some may say, ”race” matters.  I wish it wasn’t the case but it does.  Some will vote or not vote for a person simply because of the color of their skin.  I’m reminded of the powerful words of Martin Luther King Jr. when he said:

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: religion, ,

Monday, November 3, 2008 • 2:16 am 33

how i’m voting

My ballot still sits on my desk but I’ll be completing it soon and walking it in on Tuesday to my local polling place.  As I shared last week and again, yesterday during my sermon at Quest, I will not be divulging who I am voting for various reasons. 

Side question: Do you think “active” pastors [currently serving congregations] should publicly share who they are voting for?

Politics can get heated and messy.  You don’t just have to watch the various media and news outlets to know this.  You can also sense the tension within the Christian community which I think is perfectly normal and okay as long as we 1] engage in the rules of civility and 2] get off our righteous soapboxes and consider what it means for us to live out our faith and convictions beyond the election season.  Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: politics, religion, , ,

Thursday, October 30, 2008 • 12:01 am 102

the abortion conversation

Every presidential election, abortion becomes a tense issue and I suspect that will never change.  Let me first say I respect those whose commitment to the unborn extends beyond the election rhetoric.  I have a friend whose life long calling and job is to fight for the unborn.  Unlike her, I confess that while I am Pro-Life and against abortion, I am more talk than walk, more preach than do, more blog than [can't find a good word here].  But I still struggle with it.  While I was genuine in my quote in Sojourners that

“I don’t want to be defined by one or two issues”

I still care much about those one or two issues.  While I can’t honestly  come to agree that abortion is the greatest moral issue of our day as some are proned to say, I know that God cares immensely for the unborn and thus, we must care as well.  God also cares for the born and thus my “womb to tomb” ethic of pro-life.

Couple people [I know of] left our church because they disagreed with my view on abortion and I suspect that it may be possible that couple more may leave after they read this.  Like most Christians I know, I am against abortion.  However, I just do not believe we can legislate it.  Without going into all the details, the layers over abortion is so complex that even after extensive research, I can’t understand how a country like the United States can enforce abortion and pay for the enforcement - if it were to be turned illegal. Furthermore, I think we are fooling ourselves if we think abortion rates will be reduced significantly if Roe v. Wade was overturned.  I can certainly be wrong. Rather than legislating it, I wonder how abortions can be reduced by speaking and appealing to the Heart and Soul of a person and to make all necessary provisions if a person decides to have that baby.  In short, can we maintain choice but do all that we can to preserve and ensure the life of an unborn?  This is where most of us fall short. Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: politics, religion, , , , ,

Wednesday, October 29, 2008 • 8:10 pm 24

30 minute obama-mercial and the cost of winning an election

Well, what did you think?  I missed it on TV but saw it online via here:

I thought it was well done.  Certainly very compelling.  But to be honest, I still really struggle with all the money that goes into buying an election getting elected.  Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: politics, , ,

Tuesday, October 28, 2008 • 12:53 am 61

the next president of the united states?

Alright folks.  I’d love to hear from you.  On this blog, I would love to host an engaging, passionate, but respectful conversation on who YOU are voting for as the next President of the United States.  Since the elections are exactly a week away, I thought this would be great timing.  Some of your answers will likely be helpful for me as I prepare my sermon for this upcoming Sunday on the topic of ‘Faith & Politics.’ 

If you don’t mind sharing, share WHO you are voting for and WHY and for some of you, reasons why you are NOT voting.  [If you don't mind, tell us where you're from.] And let’s try to refrain ourselves from the ‘Obama is a terrorist,’ ‘Palin is moosehunter,’ ‘Biden is a plagiarist,’ and ‘McCain is so old that he farts out dust’ comments. Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: politics, religion, , , , , , ,

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 • 12:16 am 8

obama is a pumpkin head

We have some very talented people at Quest but I have a feeling I have no idea how talented many people are.  And to give you a perfect example, I had no idea that Jamie could make Barack Obama into a Pumpkin Head.

Evem if you don’t share her presidential inclination, this pumpkin carving is amazing.  This is crazy!   Not only has she created a social networking site called Listen To Your Wife, she’s now the creator of Obama Is a Pumpkin Head.

Read the rest of this entry »

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Friday, October 17, 2008 • 12:40 am 19

must see funny videos of the next president of the united states

I am proud to be an American.  I am excited that Minhee will vote in the presidential election for the very first time.  And I am grateful that our children are U.S. citizens; we’ve enjoyed speaking to them about the privilege and importance of voting.  It’s certainly not a perfect country but we spend so much time “breaking down” our faults that we sometimes forget that it is a special country.  And precisely for that reason, much has been given and much is to be expected.

One of the reasons why I think highly of my country is because of the two fine candidates we have for the President of the United States.  Watching every second of these videos from the Alfred E. Smith dinner [the day after the 3rd debate] not only made me laugh so hard but also reminded me that we have two solid candidates - even if they do have some “fundamental” differences.  These videos are funnier than ANY SNL skit I have ever seen!  Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: politics, , , , ,

Wednesday, October 15, 2008 • 7:32 pm 16

final presidential debate and joe the plumber

I wasn’t planning on watching the final debate tonight since the 2nd one was such a yawner.  But tonight’s final debate was actually very good. Kudos to Bob Schaeffer.  Both Obama and McCain were impressive and while, Obama fans won’t agree, I think McCain “won” this debate.  What were your thoughts?  Any undecided voters swayed tonight?

And speaking of the debate, I have a picture of Joe the Plumber from Ohio [below].  [update: here's the real scoop on Joe.]  And why not any love for Jane the Plumber?

Here are my status updates from tonight’s debate: Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: politics, , ,

Tuesday, October 14, 2008 • 5:06 pm 14

how NOT to pray for the presidential elections

Yes, it is true that I have been to Iowa for ”ministry.”  Several years ago, I had the great privilege of officiating the spectacular Anderson/Eisenlohr wedding. 

So, yes, I’ve been to Iowa but I want to reassure you that I was NOT the pastor who delivered this “invocation” couple days ago at a McCain rally in Iowa.  This post does not serve to be pro or anti McCain.  It simply serves how NOT to pray for a presidential election.

That’s my opinion.  What do you think?  And what are “the variety of reasons?”  I’m thankful that we have two solid candidates with different views but nevertheless, two solid candidates.  But geez, I can’t wait for November 5 to come around.

Sometimes the most interesting stuff happens before John McCain even arrives. At a McCain rally today in Davenport, a pastor delivered an odd invocation. Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: politics, religion, , ,

Tuesday, October 7, 2008 • 12:03 am 58

i like sarah palin…but not in that way

Sarah Palin is all the buzz nowadays.  Or at least since McCain startled the nation by naming her as his Vice-President running mate.  Till then, no one – outside of Alaska and diehard Republican political junkies really knew who she was. As you might have expected, the traffic on search engines on “Sarah Palin” have been through the roof.  Last week, the local Seattle PI paper stopped by Quest to interview couple of us which also led to a front page photo of our church sanctuary [and one of our pastors].

Maybe it’s the stuff I subscribe to but I haven’t read too many kind words about Sarah Palin so I thought I’d devote an entry on my blog to Sarah Palin.  Why?  Because I like Sarah Palin…but not in that way. Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: politics, religion, , , , ,

Thursday, October 2, 2008 • 2:43 pm 20

stupid awards: four george fox students and sandra bernhard

Regardless of your political or ideological views, what happened last week with the hanging of the Obama effigy at George Fox University was downright disturbing and disgusting.  All folks – including Christians – should have been quick to condemn the stupidity of the act AND consider once more, the important call of the church and Christ followers to the ministry of reconciliation and justice.

And let’s be honest here, it’s not just the Obama stuff…there’s been some vitriolic and outrageous things said of Sarah Palin that are downright outrageous and disgusting. But hardly a peep from the very ones that cry injustice over the Obama Hatorades. One that comes to mind is actress/bad comedian Sarah Bernhard’s “gang-rape” warning to Palin in her one woman show: Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: politics, religion, , , ,

Wednesday, September 24, 2008 • 1:52 pm 40

obama hung in effigy at christian college

This is hard to read.  Hard to swallow.  Hard to understand…especially when it happens at a Christian university such as George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon [20 miles SW of Portland].  From numerous respected accounts, I have only heard good things about the university so I share this news not in any way to condemn the university – the institution, the faculty, or the students.

Early Tuesday morning [September 23], a life sized cardboard effigy of Senator Barack Obama was found hanging from a tree in front of one of the school buildings.  Truly disturbing.  [h/t Jelani Greenidge]

While we ought to genuinely celebrate the historic elements of this presidential election year which includes Hilary Clinton, Barack Obama, and Sarah Palin, this horrible news is another reminder that we still have a long way to go.  Is it simply because Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: politics, religion, ,

Saturday, September 20, 2008 • 11:48 pm 21

are we “otherizing” obama(& palin)?

Nicholas Kristof’s column in the NY Times, entitled The Push to ’Otherize’ Obama is a worthwhile read.  While some of you may scoff, this isn’t my attempt to advocate for or against one candidate over another.  But in light of the “historic” nature of the primary and presidential elections:  Hilary Clinton [female candidate who garnered 18 million votes], Barack Obama [first Black-American Presidential nominee of a major party], and now, Sarah Palin [first Republican female VP candidate], I have been curious how folks in this country would respond to these candidates and the simple fact that they are mostly unlike what this country has seen before for the highest offices of the land.  And let’s not forget John McCain whose nomination is historic in itself as he is one of the oldest Presidential nominees.

Maybe it’s because I’ve been watching episodes of LOST on DVD but the labeling of “the Others” has been very fresh on my mind which is why this article really hit a chord with me.  Is it just politics?  Is it fear?  Is it part of the game? Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: politics, , , ,

Tuesday, September 9, 2008 • 7:12 am 21

do you prefer a christian president or not?

Here’s a simple question that I have been asked numerous times in light of the upcoming Presidential election:

Do you prefer a Christian president?

Obviously, we need to reframe that question since I can’t recall a recent candidate for the Presidency without some sort of Protestant or Catholic “faith” background [Romney incl]. Nowadays, when someone says that they’re a Christian, I’m inclined to ask in a tasteful manner, “What kind of Christian?”

Meaning…what does it mean [to you] to be a Christian?  How does one live out their faith in Christ?  Obama and McCain are both Christians but yet, they see some things very differently and we can assume on some level that their faith helps inform their decisions.  Doesn’t it? Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: politics, religion, , ,

Friday, September 5, 2008 • 1:48 am 41

my random thoughts about tina fey and the presidential/vp candidates

As promised, here are my wanna be expert but random thoughts on the respective candidates’ speeches and other non-linear stuff from the DNC and RNC.  As usual, remember to respectfully share your thoughts, opinions, and corrections.

SPEECHES:

John McCain: He was solid.  Not the greatest or fanciest orator but clear communicator.  Thought he handled the hecklers extremely well.  Enjoyed the way he thanked and congratulated Obama. Heard it often but was moved by hearing his POW story personally from him.  But grew very tired of the line, “rather lose an election than lose a war.”  Please…no more.  His demeanor, his story, his authenticity = Grade:  Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: politics, religion, , , , , , ,

Wednesday, September 3, 2008 • 11:40 pm 62

where are all the people of color at the RNC?

My expert thoughts about Palin, McCain, the RNC, Obama, and Biden are coming tomorrow.  But I’m throwing out this observation for discussion.  America is a diverse country and as every source corroborates, we are only becoming more diverse.  As a pastor with an ecclesiology for a multicultural and diverse church and an Asian with beautiful slanted eyes, the issue of diversity is of interest to me.

And so, as I was watching the Republican National Convention this week, I couldn’t help but notice the thousands of people and ask the following question:

Where are all the people of color?  Where’s the diversity? Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: politics, religion, , , , , ,

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  • We don't have to. We get to. #AttitudeMatters 4 hours ago
  • After 10 years, final day at Quest for Pastor DeAnza. Thank you for leaving a great legacy and...a power tool. http://t.co/GrPgUFj1 18 hours ago
  • Cheap Grace is the proclamation of forgiveness without the requirement of repentence. - Dietrich Bonhoeffer 23 hours ago
  • Boom. Check out what Eastlake and @ryanmeeks are up to with drinks4drinks.com | Beautiful example of faith + action. 1 day ago
  • Dear Seattle: Please put your guns down. Praying for the family members of deceased, wounded, & all impacted by recent shootings & violence. 1 day ago
  • Quest is hiring a full-time Director or Pastor of 'Glocal Ministries': bit.ly/K8TbXv | Challenging but sweet opp for right person. 1 day ago
  • My ODW staff (all 2 of them) are temporarily office-less. We're 90% there but need to get the final green light. Praying it goes through! 2 days ago
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