Charles Lee

I just read a great blog entry by Eugene Cho about Radiohead’s new video (”All I Need”), in collaboration with MTV’s EXIT (End Exploitation and Trafficking) Campaign, that is spreading awareness about the reality of slavery.

I thought some of your may want to see the video…

Committed to bringing awareness, creating networks, and mobilizing people for people who experience injustice…

Charles

I just came across these videos on youtube about the creative and productive power of the masses (similar to Friedman’s book, “The World is Flat”). The speaker, Barry Libert (CEO of Mzinga), sheds light on the reality that communities of people (aka customers) drive ideas and grow companies… and not necessarily the experts.

I appreciated the emphasis on open-source idea formation and community involvement. I think there are definitely possible implications here for the formation and development of organizations like non-profits, agencies, schools and churches. Love to hear your thoughts.

I just finalized my speakers list for the social justice class I am teaching at Life Pacific College next week. Check out the incredible list of speakers and organizations below:

* The cost to audit the course is only $99 for the entire week. It’s still not too late to sign up for the class. Registration will be accepted even on Monday morning. Come for one day or the entire week…still an incredible price!

Monday May 12th

• Chad Mayer (Sharefest Community Development) | Community Development, Networking
• Invisible Children | Child Soldiers, Uganda Update

Tuesday May 13th

• Ruthi Hoffman Hanchett (World Vision) | Education & Advocacy
• Mark Kirchgestner (International Justice Mission) | Slavery
• Caroline Barnett (Dream Center) | Urban Ministry

Wednesday May 14th

• Kurth Dahlin (Water Wells for Africa) | Clean Water
• Jo Coles (OasisUSA & Stop the Traffik) | Poverty, Education, Slavery

Thursday May 15th

• Grace Yi (PATH - People Assisting the Homeless) | Homelessness
• Tim Morey (Opportunity International) | Poverty, Micro-financing
• Greg Russinger & Charles Lee (JustOne) | Poverty, Orphans, and Human Trafficking

Friday May 16th

• Keith Kalls (World Vision) | Non-Profit Work, Donor Development
• Eric Bryant (Mosaic) | Compassion

Hope to see you there!

I just got back to speaking again at New Hope South Bay yesterday. I took about a month off so I could catch up with my other responsibilities at Life Pacific College and JustOne. Special thanks to Ted Kang and Dan Cho for giving me a breather!

This message entitled, Vanity Affair, is the first part of a new series called, “Life Under the Sun” (A Study Through the Book of Ecclesiastes). Life under the sun describes the world under the realm of the gods. In this book, the author takes his readers through a vivid depiction of a world without God. The dark nature of this book invites us to take an honest look at life with all its imperfections and implications. Does existence really matter?

My keynote presentation is embedded below.

Click here to hear this message on the New Hope South Bay podcast (iTunes required). Just click on the “subscribe” button for download (even if you don’t actually see this episode yet…It’s there and will be visible in the next day or so.).

Please feel free to share your thoughts about this message after you have listened to it.

As some of you already know, Laundry Love Project (LLP) is one of JustOne’s local initiatives seeking to bring relief to people who are struggling financially by assisting them with doing their laundry. This simple act of care, now in over 15 locations, builds relationships and creates communities of common concern in a local neighborhood.

Several of our LLPs have extended their services to include tutoring for children, food giveaways, basic medical check-up, job placement, BBQ’s, and holiday parties. The following is a video of one of our earliest established LLP locations in Ventura, CA. Thanks Jesse Giglio for the video!

If you are interested in participating in a LLP or starting one yourself, please feel free to contact me at charles [at] just4one.org or visit our website (www.just4one.org).

JustOne also has several other projects/initiatives that may be of interest to you as well…be sure to visit our website…

For years growing up in the church, I thought my mission in life was to “convert” others to the Christian faith. This perspective was drilled into my psyche through messages, mission trips, outreach events, and skits. Some (not all) of the leadership I served under equated the level of one’s spirituality on how many people one had “led to Christ”. To be honest, for years, I bought into this perspective of “reaching” those poor souls in the world who had no life direction without Christ and were bound to end up in eternal damnation.

This perspective led me to engage several conversations with people for the sole purpose of leading them to faith in Christ. It would be not too uncommon for people in our church to be given X amount of hours during a missions trip or outreach event to “share Christ with someone”. I found myself using everything from guilt to manipulative conversations to sheer fear (E.g., death being immanent and around the corner) in hopes of someone buying in to my pitch. Whenever someone was persuaded by my presentation, I was overjoyed (in part because I knew I now had a “trophy” of victory). On the other hand, when people did not respond positively, we just labeled them as those “in darkness”, without “ears to hear”, and enemies of God.

My point???

I still believe that Christ is the ultimate source of meaning and life for humanity. Nevertheless, I am deeply repentive of how I have introduced him (if at all) to the rest of my fellow human beings. Regardless of how much good may have be produced through my previous methodology, I do wonder as to how much harm I also created in his name.

I think friendship should be the goal of any human interaction. When friendship genuinely develops, the deep sharing of personal passions (including Jesus) eventually do come to the surface. I think conversion is a great by-product of friendship, but a horrible goal. For me, whenever conversion has been my goal, it has led to artificial development of relationship.

Whenever I read the stories of Christ in the Gospels, I get a sense that he really loved people without strings attached. His focus was to live out the Kingdom, a Kingdom that was fully sufficient to draw people to God.

Just some thoughts…

I will be teaching a new course in a couple of weeks at Life Pacific College (private Christian college) entitled, “Social Justice and the Ministry of Christ”. It is actually open for anyone to take (either for credit or non-credit).

Here is the course description:

This is an introductory course that provides students with foundational understanding of social justice including its theories, practices, and integration with Christian theology and ministry. Several topics related to social justice will be introduces including poverty, HIV/AIDS, human trafficking (modern-day slavery), and gender perceptions, child labor, clean water, war and peace, power and oppression, political activism, and fair trade. In addition to interactive presentations by the professor, practitioners from various non-profit organizations and agencies will facilitate guest lectureships, dialogues, and resources, and opportunities for student involvement.

This course will feature presenters from numerous organizations including International Justice Mission, Invisible Children, World Vision US, Water Wells for Africa, PATH (People Assisting the Homeless), JustOne, Stop the Traffik, OasisUSA, Opportunity International, Dream Center LA, and a few more…

I would love to see you consider taking the course or forwarding the info to those who may be interested.

Here’s the info:

• Dates: Monday May 12th to Friday May 16th, 2008 (8am to 5pm each day)
• Location: Life Pacific College (San Dimas, CA - 35 minutes east of Los Angeles)
• Cost: Only $99 (non-credit); Those who desire to take it for college credit (WASC Accredited) will have to apply and pay additional (close to $600).
• Dorm accommodations are available for only $15-$30 per night (single/double occupancy).

Click here for the pdf of the flyer.

You could take the course for $99 (non-credit) and come in and out during the week as you please. I will post the class schedule shortly.

Please contact Life Pacific College Admissions to register for this seminar at (909) 599-5433.

Love to see you there.

For years, I have been searching for ways to “live a balanced life”. You’ve heard of this… a life that properly balances the various aspects of life including spirituality, personal relationships, physical health (diet and exercise), career, education, social responsibility, parenting, finances, etc. I have read books on the topic, attended seminars, listened to CD’s, and seen DVD’s from some of the greatest motivational speakers (both faith-based and not) in the world.

My Conclusion… Balance is Impossible (for human beings anyway).

Not only do I think this is impossible, but such unrealistic expectations blur our perspective on our human state of existence. In fact, I think living with this type of mirage can be counterproductive or maybe even, destructive.

My two cents about “Balanced Living”:

Life is not about balance, but progression.

• Life is unpredictable and meant to be lived in motion. I think balancing takes away from the natural fluidity and joy of existence. I don’t think our mission in life is to figure it all out and have “all our ducks in a row”. We will miss out on the mysterious beauty of imperfection and imbalance that makes life so colorful. We need to add the colors of life that are dark, tainted, mixed, and in progress..

Balancing one’s life requires too much control; control that no human being has anyway.

• To keep things truly balanced would mean that we would have to keep everything in check including complex relationships and unforeseen life happenings (e.g., sudden life transitions, tragedies, illnesses, etc.). Can you imagine telling your friend, family, and employer to not disrupt your life balance with their problems, needs, and input (even the constructive ones)? Life is not a machine to maintain or control.

Balance may be a projection of insecurity and fear.

• I wonder sometimes if some of us who frequently hold the banner of balance so proudly do so to hide our own insecurities of being human. The projection of an image of balanced living may be our covering mechanism to hide what we really are inside. I think many of us, especially those in places of influence, live life like the Wizard of Oz. Our lives may project togetherness and balance, but we are nothing more than an old man behind a curtain seeking meaning, significance, and communal acceptance as we really are. The fear of being discovered in our true state is too overwhelming to engage.
• Side Note: Can you think of anyone who teaches on the topic that has not experienced imbalance or burnout? Most of the people I am inspired by and look up to on this matter have experienced and confessed their failure with “balance”. Many have also gone into therapy to deal with the pressures of life.

Much more could be said…you’ll have to wait for the book - Anyone want to sponsor my book project?

Closing Thoughts (Just to Clarify)…

I am NOT implying that our response to this mirage of balance should be live life out whichever way we want. I think the guidelines of moral common sense responsibility should still be in place. We must continue to progress forward.

My hope is that this blog would remove some unnecessary pressures others may put on us regarding balanced living, especially pressures that paralyze us from moving forward while diminishing the beauty of being human.

Look forward to your thoughts!

Not too long ago, I had a conversation with Tina (my wife) about what impact looks (physical appearance/beauty) play in the workplace. We both agreed that being “really, really, really ridiculously good looking” (Zoolander) definitely does help people not only get jobs but also advance in their careers. Are good looks just an aid or a unwritten necessity to move up?

In fact, an article I read recently from Career Builder (by Kate Lorenz) stated that some are even going as far as cosmetic surgery to rejuvenate not only a sagging face, but also a sagging career (E.g., estate agents, lawyers, airline pilots and business execs). According to Lorenz, it appears that some companies are hiring more on “looks, speech, dress sense and personal hygiene than in how well they did at school or university”.

Now, this doesn’t come as a big surprise to those of us living in a cultural context of image and perceived social beauty. [This is all too evident in my context...I live in LA. :)]

In light of this growing reality, the above mentioned article suggests that people consider doing the following (a list formulated by work guru Catherine Kaputa):

1. Package yourself: Clothes will not help you perform but will help how your performance is perceived.

2. Emphasise features: Be confident about your looks and build a strong image.

3. Have a trademark: Think Bono’s shades or Sir Robin Day’s bow ties. Stand out from the crowd.

4. Focus on “soft power”: Use your values, style and point of view to attract others to you. Stand tall, and never slouch.

5. Hone your speech: The ability to sell yourself and your ideas is critical.

With all this being said, I wonder how (and if) those of us seeking to live out the ethos of embrace and inclusivism exemplified by Christ actually work in this reality of social image trends. I ask because I don’t necessarily think that followers of Christ are unaffected by these developing standards for advancement. For example, consider some of the following open-ended questions:

• Do you treat others differently based on appearance?
• Do you get treated differently because of your appearance?
• How does this perception on looks permeate (if any) in the life of an organization like the church?
  
• Do looks play any role in who get highlighted in your local business or ministry context?
• What are some of the major factors that contribute to our understanding and perception of beauty in our respective cultures? Is change even possible?
• Is there hope for the rest of us?

Love to hear your thoughts…

I just returned yesterday from participating in the Q Conference in New York City (see previous posts). Although I am still processing some of the thoughts that have stirred my mind from Q, I would like to share some of the following observations about the overall conference:

What I Appreciated About Q:

• Overall, I thought it was one of the better all-around organized and marketed conferences I have been to of late. The intentionality and creativity of the organizers was clearly recognizable throughout the 2 days. The gift bags and attention to details (e.g., welcome sign with everyone’s name on it) made a big statement of care as participants walked in.
• The flow and pace of programming had a great rhythm to it.
• The 18 minute running clock for speakers was a great idea (TED.com-like). I liked that the speakers really had to focus on which “big idea” they would share in such limited time. The intensity and focus of the presentations were great.
• The diversity of disciplines that were represented at Q was greatly appreciated. The mixture of church leaders, non-profit leaders, artists, business professionals, scientists, news reporters, musicians, political activists, etc. truly made this a unique gathering. It was refreshing to go to a Christian conference that had more than church leadership on the platform. Also, the caliber of presenters (not so much the speaking abilities, but rather, their life example) warranted much attention.
• The venue (Gotham Hall) was amazing and quite appropriate for the conference. Also, the wireless access at the venue was very helpful.
• The conference itself provided a great environment to form new friendships as well as nurture previous ones. Elements including lighting, sound, breaks in between sessions, close proximity of food vendors, list of all participants’ emails, etc. made it a great networking venue.

What I Would Suggest for Future Q’s:

• Although there was a diversity of disciplines, given our global context and the desire of Q for cultural creativity and impact, I would liked to have seen more cultural groups represented. There were very few Latinos, Blacks/African Americans, etc. represented both on stage and among the participants. I think the biggest minority group represented were probably some of us Asians. Also, there were only a couple of female presenters. I am hoping that Q would become a diverse expression of God’s creative mission in the world. It would be good for Q to incorporate some more diversity into its core leadership as long as it doesn’t compromise its purpose.
• Allow for more intentional time of networking with others with similar affinities for missional living. It would have been beneficial for people to meet up in a learning and networking forum of some kind to not only hear someone else present, but work through actual case scenarios of what participants are going through in their own context. I understand that this may be difficult to coordinate (especially in light of some who misuse these moments to promote their gig). Nevertheless, maybe there could have been a couple of meal time options to meet with like-minded people.
• More documentation of average (and not necessarily high-profile) individuals/groups making a difference in their world. I think I heard a few comments hinting at the tier difference between those who were presenting with those who were attending. Maybe consider highlighting a few people each year that are unsung heroes of living as cultural catalysts.
• Incorporate more visual media components into the presentation like Dave Gibbons and Shane Hipps. This would definitely help those of us who learn visually. I do understand that not all speakers communicate in this manner. Nevertheless, maybe consider having a creative team that can assist those speakers who would like this option.
• Create more spaces for spontaneous development of new ideas.
• Facilitate a social networking area with some highlighted organizations, ministries, and businesses where people could talk to these representatives in non-booth environment.
• Power strips and plugs would have been nice at the tables.
• Would it be possible to offer participants avenues to receive coaching by professionals in their field during the conference? Maybe 30 minute slots?
• Show some short films to engage ideas.
• Ideas for Future Topics for Presentation:
  • The Art and Skill of Networking
  • Nurturing Creativity
  • Globalization, Faith, and Culture
  • A Theology of Future
  • Human Sexuality and Cultural Identity
  • Social Entrepreneurialship
  • Missional Culinary Art
  • Grassroot Movements and Change
  • Open-Source Social Develoment
  • Multi-Ethnicity and Ecclesiastical Praxis

In conclusion, I would definitely recommend the Q conference to others. I think a conference like Q will definitely benefit those seeking to live out their faith in the culture they find themselves in.

To the organizers… Thank you for dreaming and moving to facilitate a great environment for awareness, collaboration, and mobilization.

Just some thoughts…