When I was in elementary school in mainland China, I learned a simple story titled The Little Horse Crosses the River. It was a children’s tale—short, clear, and easy to understand. At the time, I thought it was just a moral lesson about courage. But as I have grown older, I realize that it carries … Continue reading The Little Horse and the River: Learning to Discern for Ourselves
Leadership and Management
Why Education—and SOGI 123—Have Me Thinking Seriously About School Trusteeship
A Personal Reflection, Not a Declaration I want to begin with clarity and honesty. I have not made a final decision about whether I will run for school trustee in the coming term. I am also not certain whether that would be as an independent or as part of a group. These questions are part … Continue reading Why Education—and SOGI 123—Have Me Thinking Seriously About School Trusteeship
Stop Hammering the Wall
Why “Saying No” Isn’t the Key to Growth Coco Chanel once said, “Don’t spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door.” It’s a simple image, but a piercing one. Most of us know exactly what that feels like—standing in front of something that refuses to move. A pattern, a conflict, … Continue reading Stop Hammering the Wall
Building Bridges in Richmond: Groundwork for a More Compassionate City
Over the past year, Richmond has been navigating a season of tension and transformation. Public debates around housing, harm reduction, and community safety have stirred strong emotions, fear, grief, frustration, and hope. Council meetings have been packed. Rallies have been held. Voices have risen in protest and in prayer. But beneath the headlines and heated … Continue reading Building Bridges in Richmond: Groundwork for a More Compassionate City
Can Faith Be Separated from Politics?
This question has echoed through centuries, and it still stirs hearts today: Can religion or faith be separated from politics? As someone who reaches out and serves the community in many ways, through worship, outreach, and everyday presence, I find myself living this question, not just pondering it. The Ideal: Separation for Freedom In many … Continue reading Can Faith Be Separated from Politics?
Breaking Bread: A Vision for Community Meals That Transform and Unite
In our fast-paced and often fragmented world, the simple act of sharing a meal holds incredible power. A shared table can become a transformative space where barriers are broken, stories are exchanged, and hearts are nourished. This is the heart of our Creative Community Meal Initiative—a vision inspired by the timeless practice of breaking bread … Continue reading Breaking Bread: A Vision for Community Meals That Transform and Unite
That’s what it means to “be with someone.”
In her book, "Fierce Conversations: Achieving Success at Work & in Life, One Conversation at a Time", Susan Scott writes about the kind of attention we bring to our conversations: "Be really asking and really listening. By being with someone, even if only for a brief moment, prepared to be nowhere else". In order to have … Continue reading That’s what it means to “be with someone.”
Being subjective vs objective
Are you subjective or objective? How can we be more objective? I think what Elizabeth Thornton has offered in her book, "The Objective Leader", has offered us insightful descriptions and comparisons of subjectivity and objectivity: "Leadership effectiveness is measured by our ability to achieve results. We analyze the situation, make a decision, take action, and … Continue reading Being subjective vs objective
church ministry’s repetition vs iteration
In her book, "How To Lead When You Don't Know Where You're Going: Leading in a Liminal Season", Susan Beaumont points out that: "Unfortunately, communities of faith often behave as if past experiences are naturally repetitive. 'Out attendance was much higher when we advertised in the yellow pages. We should advertise in the yellow pages … Continue reading church ministry’s repetition vs iteration
Our restricted awareness
In her book, "How to Lead When You Don't Know Where You're Going: Leading in a Liminal Season", Susan Beaumont discusses the field of our attention based on Otto Scharmer's teaching. Beaumont points out that "The field of our attention is formed by learned patterns for the past. We pay attention to the reality in … Continue reading Our restricted awareness
good reminder, do not give people unlimited access to your lives
In his book, "a life having and doing enough", Wayne Muller points out and reminds us that: "There are few real, authentic emergencies that require our immediate, life-saving response. So why is this important? Because more and more people presume unlimited access to our lives, our homes, our time. Those who want something from us … Continue reading good reminder, do not give people unlimited access to your lives
Just for today, building instead of destroying
When I am reading "Just for today" (one of the textbooks for the Narcotics Anonymous group) this morning, I am reminded that "Though I may be feeling low, I don't need to tear someone down to build myself up...The way to build our self-esteem is not to tear others down but to build them up … Continue reading Just for today, building instead of destroying
making choices that are good for all
Ilchi Lee once said, "When you make choices, please remember: what is good for you but not good for others won’t be good for you either, eventually; what’s good for you and others but not good for the Earth won’t be good for you or others either, eventually; what’s good for you, others, and the … Continue reading making choices that are good for all
the power of your love and the problems of this world
Debasish Mridha once said " Let the power of your love change the world, but never let the problems of this world change the beauty of your love". This is a good reminder that the power of our love is greater than the problem of this world. The problem of this world, hatred, violence, anti-intellectual, … Continue reading the power of your love and the problems of this world
the power of love and the love of power
Do you know the difference between "the power of love" and "the love of power"? Do you know the consequence of these two? William Ewart Gladstone once said, "When the power of love will replace the love of power, then will our world know the blessings of peace". Looking at the world today (March … Continue reading the power of love and the love of power
Definition of Church Planting
I have been discerning and preparing new church initiatives, I got Aubrey Malphurs' book, "The Nuts and Bolts of Church Planting: A Guide for Starting Any Kind of Church". In this book, Aubrey Malphurs writes: "I define church planting as an exhausting but exciting venture of faith, the planned process of starting and growing local … Continue reading Definition of Church Planting
The most precious valuable gift you can offer
In his book "a life of being have doing enough", Wayne Muller wrote: "Perhaps the greatest wealth you possess, the most precious valuable gift you can ever hope to offer any human being, is this one, simple, true things: You. Your Presence. Showing up. Being in the company of another, undistracted, unhurried, with an open … Continue reading The most precious valuable gift you can offer
Church Marketing
I like the definition Richard Reising offers in his book "ChurchMarketing 101", "Church Marketing ... is 'the sum' of all your church does to connect Christ with your membership and the outside world. It is 'the sum' of things that done (including all that defines your product, place, etc.) to engage someone to respond positively … Continue reading Church Marketing
We need to assert ourselves
Stéphan Carnier's book "How to Think Like a Cat" is not about cat but us. I appreciate his reflection on being assertive, "Many of us find it hard to assert ourselves in front of other, either out of shyness or lack of confidence...if other people take up more space than you, it's because you let … Continue reading We need to assert ourselves
The Soft Overcomes the Hard
In his book, "The Tao of Daily Life", Derek Lin points out that "in our conflict-oriented culture, we have a tendency to counter force with force. If someone yells at us, we yell back louder. When we feel disrespected, our first impulse is give that disrespect right back...the conventional approach is all about confrontation and … Continue reading The Soft Overcomes the Hard