When I watched “Crazy Rich Asians,” I identified with the majority of the cultural elements portrayed. The movie not only raises awareness about Asian culture, but also about the ongoing enigma of the Asian American identity and experience. I’ll never forget a question that a professor posed in my Asian American Studies class at UCContinue reading “What is an Asian American?”
Category Archives: Musings of a Hollywood Pastor
Why We Need Beauty: Ideal
Beauty has value because people will pay for it, and yet beauty in our culture is generally perceived to be superficial and insignificant. Within this oxymoron, we’ve seen how beauty evokes substantial responses from people with the attention people give to beauty, the esteem people attach to it, and the price people pay for it.Continue reading “Why We Need Beauty: Ideal”
Why a Birthday is Important
As I am in between celebratory events, between the family picnic at the LA zoo and the dinner with friends at Universal City Walk, I decided to share my thoughts about the significance of a birthday. It’s true for most of us that there comes a point when we don’t see our birthdays the sameContinue reading “Why a Birthday is Important”
Designed for More Than Ourselves
Yesterday, the owner (Judd) of one of my favorite comic stores, Blastoff Comics, in North Hollywood told me why he sells comics. Every month he donates a percentage of his profits to a charity that’s announced on their FB page. We got into the importance of generosity. I said generosity not only impacts others butContinue reading “Designed for More Than Ourselves”
15th Anniversary Advice on Marriage
My wife and I celebrated our 15th Anniversary a few days ago with a dozen close friends. They enjoyed asking us a bunch of questions and one of them was after 15 years of marriage, what advice do we have. After thinking about it, here are my seven. Men honor your wives. While you mayContinue reading “15th Anniversary Advice on Marriage”
Thinking Deeply about Santa Claus
I like the character, story and decorative theme of Santa Claus, but you may hate me for writing this (or you may give me an amen). Our culture celebrates Santa Claus as the benevolent gift giver of children around the world during Christmas, spreading a message of warmth and jolly. But if you were toContinue reading “Thinking Deeply about Santa Claus”
The Thing About Aging
Aging is one of those things people dread most about life. When we think of aging, we naturally picture progressively wrinkling skin, sagging parts, greying hair, and aching joints. Beyond the physical though is also the spiritual side of aging—the feeling of weariness, regrets over unfulfilled dreams and the sense that time has moved forward. Continue reading “The Thing About Aging”
Foster Dad 11: What Do You Do When You Loved And Lost?
About 7 weeks ago our county social worker warned us about losing our lil guy to the biological parents. Then the social worker asked us if we would foster again. She told us that we did such a good job that she wants to see us do this again. Our initial response was not anContinue reading “Foster Dad 11: What Do You Do When You Loved And Lost?”
What is Freedom and Why We Want It?
Freedom is of non-negotiable importance to us because having it affirms the most fundamental dignity of our humanity. Many films, stories and historical events hail freedom as an indisputable quality of human life. Everyone wants it. People will even die to ensure that others get it. To deny others their freedom is to deny theirContinue reading “What is Freedom and Why We Want It?”
Ambition and Calling
Someone said to me, “Brian, you are ambitious.” I don’t know if I would consider ambition as one of my qualities. But I do believe in answering our callings. We only have one shot at life so I think we should make it count. Callings are not quite the same as desires. The two couldContinue reading “Ambition and Calling”
