Another link:
Ethnic churches drawing crowds

Check this out - if you get a chance.... Its an article titled

"For Asian-American Churches, Integration Proves Complicated"

It doesn't look like there are any fast 'n easy solution to this, I guess we're kind of stuck in a generation that goes through it. However, I think this is an important issue - because whatever trend that we set right now might have huge impacts for the future generations. Do you guys think so too?

Well, I welcome any feedback. Please e-mail me at walnutchen@yahoo.com and share your thoughts on this issue with me!

-confused nut...

Here's an interesting question that has been on my mind today.....

As you know, I am chinese. Now, lets just assume that I get married and have kids. Do I want to raise my kids in a 'chinese' church or a 'Asian American' church? Or more of an 'American' church? I see advantages and disadvantages for each one, but as I thought deeper, there seems to be a struggle between 'culture' and 'diversity'... I haven't formed my conclusions yet, as it will require some more thinking....

'Diversity' is something we celebrate. Especially here in California, I think diversity is very important - because it teaches tolerance. Just take a look around here in California - we have all sorts of different ethnic resturants and stores, 'asian' towns everywhere. Not only that, we're able to goto Morroccan resturants, Ethopian resturants, eating all sorts of different food. I work with Iranians, Iraqis, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Caucasian, British, Indian...etc. All sorts of people. Because of this mixed society, I am able to learn about different cultures, what their society values, what sorts of activities they'd like to do...etc.

However, I am 'chinese'. As most of the people know, the 'Chinese' are rich in culture. Fong Shui, acupuncture, pressure points, the aroma of Chinese food, Moon Cake Festivals...etc. are all parts of the chinese culture. I definitely want my kids to not only learn english but also Chinese, to understand the chinese culture, and also to possess some of the Chinese traits such as Filial Duty, respect of the elders, and hard working traits. I hope my kid can learn the art of calligraphy, dizi (chinese flute), and other forms of ancient chinese culture.

However, I can't seem to see a balance. Rather, I see a struggle of being pulled one way or the other. In a chinese church, with the advant of chinese school and everything, the kid may be more pulled towards the Chinese culture side. But I don't want him or her to forget diversity - i.e. eventhough there are alot of chinese people out there, one should also learn about the other cultures and see the different people that are out there, the way they live and carry on....

hmm. interesting question. I will have to give it some more thought. stay tuned...
john

Well, if you haven't heard, we went to Death Valley this weekend. There were a total of 12 of us there. We went to all sorts of different places - places where there is one theme in common - desolation. Thus, the name, Death Valley...

1st off, the logistics. It took 8 hours to get there - me and Liz hopped in her Trooper and headed down at around 11:45AM. Stopped by split pea Anderson's along the way, and just kept driving and driving.... It took the whole 8 hours to get there. Then we had really expensive-and-not-worth-it salad bar and then went to find the campsite and pitched the tent. The rest of the gang arrived at 3AM to find the tents pitched and air mattress inflated (Courtesy of Me and Liz)!!!!

Saturday morning, we went to Dante's view for a grandview of the salt flats, Zabriskie Point to see the golden rolling hills, then to Furnace Creek Inn for lunch (which had rattlesnake meat!!!) then drove down to see the salts at the Devil's golf course, played in the salt marshes, stopped by Badwater to check out some 'bad' water, and drove back through the Artists palette, and back. Sunday morning we went trekked along the sand dunes before we headed back....

Boy. Lessons I learned: 1) its soo nice to have a house and a toilet within walking distance. 2) Its nice to have a kitchen to put stuff. 3) I can't believe how dependent humans are on 'stuff' to survive (pots, pans, lamps, heater, air mattress...etc.) 4) Going to Death Valley definitely makes me appreciate what God has given me already! Praise God.

john

I've always liked Apples. Both the computer variety and the fruity variety. Here's an article about the 2 men, and how they think. I've included the two parts that I really really like. I've always wanted a mac. But its just too darn expensive... *sigh*

Steve Jobs vs. Bill Gates: Excerpt taken from
http://www.pbs.org/cringely/pulpit/pulpit20020110.html


I especially like the last 2 paragraphs....
"But Gates is still right, that no matter how cool these new computers and their software are, they won't be enough for Apple to "win." And here is where we have to understand the difference between winning in Gatespeak and Jobspeak. When Gates speaks about winning he means WINNING, the whole enchilada, mastery of the universe. At this point in his career, every thought that comes out of Bill Gates' mind is grandly strategic. Steve Jobs, on the other hand, thinks solely in terms of tactics, not strategy. His wins are today, tomorrow, next week, next quarter. He revels in every little chance to push people around and make things the way he wants them to be. He can't help it. It was a bad strategy, for example, to snub Gates with Vanity Fair, but in the tactical mind of Steve Jobs, it was brilliant.

In Steve Jobs' mind, he has already won. Those of us who last for a few decades in this business find our own kind of peace and Steve Jobs' is best exemplified by the George Herbert quote, "Living well is the best revenge." Apple's future as a boutique computer company is secure. He dominates Apple completely. When he doesn't feel like being a high tech mogul, he can be a movie mogul, something Gates will never be. In Steve's mind, he has the best of everything. Apple software is cooler than Windows will ever be. Palo Alto, where Jobs lives, is trendier than Seattle. Even Jobs' plane, a Gulfstream V, is cooler than Gates' Challenger 604. It goes on and on. Gates has never even considered this latter point, but I'll guarantee you that Jobs has, and he revels in it. "

What is 'winning'? How do you define 'winning'? In the sports world, we humans make up all sorts of rules to determine who 'wins'. But that is only 'winning' in the sense of that particular sport. How about the people that had to overcome many many difficulties (injuries..etc) and are mediocore atheletes? Do they 'win'? Of course! They 'win' because they've beaten the injury or the disease that they are fighting for. This article has made me realize that 'winning' is really a relative term. Therefore, maybe that is why God called us to be humble, because when you win you've only won in one sense of the word - maybe, in another sense, you didn't win at all.....

Took a leap of faith yesterday. It wasn't easy! I decided to help out my friend financially with her intervarsity campus ministry in NY. I pledged to support her $200/quarter, on top of my contributions to the church and everything. Its scary!!!! I feel really convicted by God to support her, but my conscience is telling me that I should be more careful with my money with the way the economy is. Anyways, I prayed about it, and mailed out the letter. I'm still a bit anxious about it, but I feel that I know that is what God wants me to do. I've decided to overcome my comfort zones and really rely on Him to pull me through times like this. I think this is a good start. Next time, it'll be better!
john

Ordered some parts for my sick Altima yesterday. A power steering pump + all drive belts + valve gasket = $236. Not bad at all. That includes the core charge for the power steering pump. So when I mail the core of the power steering pump back to tony at PartsAMillion.com then I get another $45 refund for the core. I guess now I just have to figure out how to take all the belts off and remove the old power steering pump, and put the new one on. yikes! Still dunno where its leaking. Maybe its the pump itself. We'll see when I rip everything apart.

I was so excited yesterday that I found a wiring diagram in my manual for the cruise control that stopped working since 2 years ago. Now that I have a schematic I should be able to fix it. hehehe :-) It was cool! I was up until 2AM last night studying the chart. Now all I need is a ohm meter and an oscilloscope.... -nutster.

Friday Five - Thanks for the tip, Beej

1. What's your favorite vacation spot? I don't go on vacation enough to know, but I'd like to goto Australia and New Zealand

2. Where do you consider to be the biggest hell-hole on earth? Hell, of course. What else?

3. What would be your dream vacation? 5-day golf trip on a presonal jet from Mauna Kea to Pebble Beach, then Spanish Bay to Banff Springs and ending in Chesapeak Bay Country Club. *sigh* it'll never come true...

4. If you could go on a road-trip with anyone, who would it be and why? Lizzy bear - she can keep me company and also we get to spend more time together....

5. What are your plans for this weekend? Going to Junko concert at Tri-Valley Chinese Bible Church, help Liz buy a bible for her brother, sort out all the camping equiptment gear for next weekend, watch TV, help Liz buy a car, eat dinner with my parents, watch a movie.