Tag: culture
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Discipleship Is Our Greatest Protest
The AsianRoughRider challenges readers to move beyond surface-level activism by embracing discipleship, which involves a process of following Jesus that leads to transformation, system change, and fear of God. He contrasts this with performance-based activism, arguing that true protest must embody these biblical principles, embracing a life of radical obedience that reflects the love and…
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Reimagining Church: From Consumer Christians to Catalytic Called-Ones
The Asian Roughrider reflects on his 15 years abroad before reconnecting with U.S. churches, questioning their need for transformation. He highlights the critiques from Soong-Chan Rah on consumer Christianity and JR Woodward’s focus on active discipleship. Ultimately, he encourages a return to Scripture and genuine community engagement to fulfill God’s mission.
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My Story, God’s Story (Spoken Word)
The author has kept his identity private due to sensitive work, but now feels prompted to share his story…hoping his story will lead people to know Jesus.
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Deeply Rooted Churches
The New Testament church, or “ekklesia,” embodies God’s people called to reflect His image. The church’s purpose is to gather worshippers of all nations, living out the Kingdom of God. To fulfill this, churches must prioritize loving people, making disciples, and participating in the mission of God. Deep roots are needed for churches to flourish…
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Movement Leaders: Next Gen Catalysts (Spoken Word)
Someone once asked me this question,“What is a leader of the next generation?” Are they forged through the fires of social experimentation?Or are they found in the institutions of formal education? Neither… Movement leaders are formed by the Spirit of God First and foremost, God is the hostSalvation’s by grace through faith so that no…
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Jesus’ Answer to Racial Injustice
1. Perspective: If all you see is race, then you’re looking through a broken lens. Jesus didn’t see race…he saw people. People with names, stories, cultures, languages, and histories. Jesus saw and knew George Floyd before you and I ever did. Jesus knows every person who has ever experienced injustice and pain…and he cares more…
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The Millenial Minority Missionary
These two words, “Millennial” and “Missionary”, mostly contradict one another. When contradictory words are put together, it forms a figure of speech called an oxymoron, kinda like “jumbo shrimp” and “disgustingly delicious” ….it don’t make a whole lotta sense. Sorry to disappoint you, the millennial missionary doesn’t exist, at least, not in the way we…
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Things I Wish I’d Known: Reflections on 10 Years of Overseas Cross-Cultural Ministry
It’s a new year and naturally, it’s time for me to reflect and look back on all the good things God has done. Since the moment I came to faith as a teenager, I’ve been involved in cross-cultural ministry, leadership, and church planting – that was over 20 years ago! It’s only the last 10…
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How to Love White Evangelicals
Racial and cultural tension in the western church is at an all-time high. With all sides speaking into the issue without, it seems, a way forward. Minority voices in the church are beginning to rise above the supremacy of white evangelicalism, which historically has been in a place of power, prestige, and privilege. Love, respect,…
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Cultural Hijacking: Why You Can Longer Be Yourself
I love being Asian-American. I love devoting my life to cross-cultural work cause I believe God is passionate about all ethnic groups and cultures. I love hip-hop with heart, soul, and purpose. I love being from the streets. I love being poor. I love being a family on mission. I love America and I love…
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Denying Jesus With Pen & Phone
DENYING JESUS WITH A PEN Last week my friends were sitting inside a village office in a third world communist country. Local leaders and police with stoic faces sat around the room, one held an AK-47. On a table in front of my friends was a piece of paper and a pen. All they had…
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Modern Day Slavery, From Fear to Freedom
Slavery comes in many forms. It exists in every culture…even among tribes in Southeast Asia. I had never seen a tribe so remote. After 2 hours of motorbiking and 3 hours of boating we finally arrived in a small village along the river. The houses sat on stilts, the roofs were made of thatch and…
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The Way of the Ninja: 6 Ways to Define Our Missional Role
Every Asian kid growing up has one time played ninja. You take a black t-shirt, wrap it around your head, make some paper throwing stars and hide in the closet to get the drop on your unsuspecting brother or sister. Movies and pop-culture show the ninja to be a bad-ass warrior. But real life ninjas…
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Re-prioritizing Easter: 3 Ways to Share the Gospel and Collect Eggs
About 30 eggs filled with my wife’s “healthiest candies” lay hidden in the small patch of grass in our front yard. After a short reading of the Easter story in Luke 24 my three kids ransacked the green grass filling their baskets with the treasured eggs. I snapped a few really cute photos of the…
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Die to Swag and Live for Suffering
We want it all and we want it now. As a culture, we in the West are enslaved by a near-worship of comfort and convenience. I seriously just saw this app that digitally enhances your photos to make your face and body look slimmer. You can post your weight loss photos on Facebook and get…
The Asian Rough Rider 