Masterchef: seinfeld

whenever someone cries on masterchef, i really want one of the contestant to say the following (while crying):

Frank: Inchon, Korea, 1950. I was the best cook Uncle Sam ever saw, slinging
hash for the Fighting 103rd. As we marched north, our supply lines were getting
thin. One day a couple of GIs found a crate, inside were six hundred pounds of
prime Texas steer. At least it once was prime. The Use date was three weeks
past, but I was arrogant, I was brash, I thought if I used just the right
spices, cooked it long enough...

Kramer: What happened?

Frank: I went too far. I over seasoned it. Men were keeling over all around
me. I can still hear the retching, the screaming. I sent sixteen of my own men
to the latrines that night. They were just boys.

Kramer: Frank, you were a boy too. And it was war. It was a crazy time for
everyone.

Frank: Tell that to Bobby Colby. All that kid wanted to do was go home. Well
he went home alright, with a crater in his colon the size of a cutlet. Had to
sit him on a cork the eighteen-hour flight home!

Kramer: Frank, now listen to me. Two hundred Jewish singles need you. This is
your chance to make it all right again.

Frank: No. No, I'll never cook again! Never! Now get out of my house!! Get
out. Go.

The Trellis and the Vine... Chinese style

The teacher/scholar/elder person is respected in Chinese culture

These are all good things (after all, Jesus is a teacher, and the wisdom literature promote the wisdom of scholars, and older people are to be respected, as commanded in the pastoral letters (as well as other places)

However, at times this is skewed in the Chinese culture.

I am sure that a lot of people have read The Trellis and the Vine by col marshall and co

the application of those prinicples (i.e. pastor's role -A) training , not just ministry B) people, not program) is much harder in a chinese culture

I have seen two phenomena in some Chinese churches

1) some regard the pastor with a reverence in such a way they think they cannot do ministry
2) some regard the pastor with such disdain i have seen some people who think that a church is better off without a pastor.

Amongst many things, view 1 neglects the fact that we are a priesthood of believers and view 2 neglects that God does give some people the gift of teaching and equipping.

无欲无求 (no desire)

Those that are chinese will be familiar with a chinese /buddhist saying " 无欲无求"

Traditional Chinese/Chinese of a buddhist background still believe this.

However the post 80s and esp post 90s are used to be the centre of attention and are given everything they want. (my fiancee has been going to a chinese run play group and it's clear when every family think that their own kid is king then things are a bit chaotic!)

against this background, we are to understand that the Christan view is not to the suppression of desire (cf Col2, Phil 3) but rather to foster a desire in God (cf Psalm 37)

the implications are astounding... the former generation needs to realise that desire is good if placed in God, and the current generation need to realise that only delighting in the lord will give you the desire of your heart.