Man, like I said earlier, the older I get, the faster time seems to pass by. Next thing I'll know, I'm gonna realize that I'm 50 and screaming at children to get off my lawn...

One more thing about the Siswanto wedding back in Tulsa. Since it was the first time, and maybe the only time, that all 4 Siswanto children came together to play a few songs, I thought I'd record their sessions and try to record MTV-like-unplugged videos. Either case, a few of them are on YouTube, and a few of you have figured out the little video on the side of the page. For every one else, here are a few choice ones for your viewing pleasure.

    

One of their practice sessions, has most of the song to the end.



The actual performance during the wedding banquet.

So as some you of you guys knew, I was at Tulsa, OK for the first time to participate in Steven Siswanto's (my best friend's oldest brother) wedding this past weekend. It was good to get away from Boston for a little bit, and to be able to spend time with the Siswanto family for a couple of days. Plus, I did appreciate one aspect of growing older...time passes faster as you age I think. A trip of 5 hours which would have normally driven me insane with boredom as a child, flew by like it was only an hour to me. Of course, having a few magazines to read and a mp3 player helped.

Overall, my experience as being a groomsman for the first time went pretty well. It was interesting to observe the vast difference between the families as Steven's family isn't exactly a traditional Chinese family, while his bride-to-be came from a very traditional Vietnamese family. It was definitely educational as I never knew about some of the wedding customs and traditions that usually are associated with Vietnamese weddings. I guess Chinese weddings have similar trappings, but I don't think I've ever seen this kind of detailed planning and execution before. Seeing two different cultures meet was memorable to say the least, but in the end, the wedding went pretty much to plan, and all of us (groomsmen & bridesmaids) did our best to make our man and woman look good that day.

Probably my favorite memory though of the wedding was when all the Siswanto siblings (including Steven and my best friend) performed in front of all the guests at the banquet a song called "This Way" by Jewel as a gift to Steven's newly wedded wife. It was their first time ever performing a musical number together and it definitely brought to mind the Patridge family as we watched these siblings jam away.

Funny memories would have to include meeting all of the church members from my best friend's church in Tulsa. Though her family is only 7 people in total, her extended church family was definitely larger. In some way, you could say that she had many aunts and uncles who were very eager to meet me. Kinda strange, but funny, to publicly embrace that side of our relationship with people, but I guess the fact that I agreed to be Steven's groomsman communicated a lot of our possible intentions in the future. As for anything, she is more than a "special friend" in my opinion, but is and hopefully will continue to be my "best friend."

Finally, I guess I got a jump start to my annual summer tan as one of the bride's cousins went up to me and asked me from what part of Vietnam did I come from! Boy, if I keep up at this rate, by the time I come back from Montana, I'm probably gonna look like I'm from the Philippines!

Either case, some pics from the trip below. Will probably write a little more later.

Strange to realize that months of planning and preparation are finally here.  Last week started it with a trip to Gordon to help out with a conference, and today, in a few hours, will be flying for the first time to Tulsa.  I knew that this summer was going to be busy, esp. with travel.  Guess I need a little time to let that realization sink in.  

Either case, can't wait until July 4th gets here.  Anyone doing anything on the 4th? 

I remember years ago I was in a health/engineering ethics class wherein the professor (we called him Prof. Death) informed us the probability statistics of how many people would survive any type of biological attack onto the US.  This was way before 9/11, so though it seemed kinda creepy, no one was crying or having bad memories. 

Yeah, I know, I'm a bit geeky when it comes down to medical related stuff.  I don't think I could ever be a doctor or medical researcher, but it's good to see what happens when people take their God-given talent and abilities and use them to help others.  Definitely kudos to these innovators! 

So for a while, probably hailing back to my later college days, I found myself conflicted about my perspective towards Apple computers and their whole line of products. I think I can safely say that I was one of those PC guys years ago who was very adamant about never getting an Apple, and to be honest, was hoping the company would shut its doors years ago...before Steve Jobs came back in.

Alas, a reminder that even the best of them can have the case of the Mondays...

So I had recently jumped onboard with the movie rental service, Netflix, to rent movies and tv shows that I had been meaning to watch, but too lazy(or scared) to walk into a Blockbuster.  The service is pretty neat and you get two weeks of free service.  (End blatant advertisement here)

Either case, yesterday, my best friend and I sat down and watched the movie, Gattaca.  It wasn't a big hit when it came out years ago, but the concept was pretty interesting, especially in light of recent genetic advances.  The premise of the movie is that one day science will eventually have the tools and abilities to create humans that have the most "desirable" qualities of humanity.  In other words, families would be able to create "designer babies."  Children shaped and designed on the genetic level.  The downside of this kind of technology is that as more and more families choose this path, those who cannot afford or unwilling to change their children's genes, will find that their children will have less opportunities available to them vs. those who were genetically enhanced.

In summary, the movie follows a hero, who was born as a "God-child", ie. unaltered genes, as he cleverly tricks and bypasses the genetic-testing system of his day in order to obtain the dream of going into outer-space, a profession, if judged by his DNA, would have been impossible.  Of course, there's the usual drama, romance, and close calls, but the movie does end on a positive note with a definite stance.  One's ambition and desire to accomplish a goal, can push one beyond his/her "potential" and become something greater than what his/her genes say they will become.

I had a feeling that I might like this movie, and thankfully I did.  It does bring up some interesting questions in our day as when the movie was made, we still hadn't completely mapped the human genome.  However, in recent weeks, the completion of the GENOME project is here.  Scientists are already discovering the genes that lead to cancer and other terminal diseases.  This is a good thing.

I have to admit, however, that there is something scary and almost "egotitical" about the fact that we human beings have devised a method and interpretation on what makes us tick.  Even now there is talk amongst scientists that believe they can reverse the aging process now, or to significantly delay it by isolating or eradicating the gene that causes our bodies to age.  Crazy talk at the present moment, but who knows what they might find in the GENOME.

I think years ago, back in my atheistical/agnostic days, I probably would have assumed that we would be wiser and more cautious with this technology.  These days though, with all these news and this movie, I find myself of the  opinion that humans are always on a course to "reverse the curse."  We try to predict the future, set our destinies, yet in the end, we find again and again, that we can't control anything really, except on how we react.

For now, I'll just go with what I know & believe.

It's the strangest feeling when you realize that a topic that you once debated in high school comes back in the weirdest and scariest of ways. Back in my Wolfpack days, my senior year US History class had weekly debates because our teacher was prepping us for a big competition near the end of the year. One of these debates dealt with this topic:

1. 
   
   It could lead to overturning laws that say official government forms need to be in more than one language.  The option to have multiple translations of the same might still be there, but with the cost of paper and other goods, that can add up.  This would also lead to US citizen classes and tests being English-only.


2. 
   
   It could also mean no bilingual forms. No necessary need to have translations done for public school annoucements that students would need to bring to their parents.  No need to have bilingual classes in public schools.


3. 
   
   Government news, announcements, traffic signs, would only have English printed versions.

I can go on, but in the end, this is for me, another sign that there is a growing fear in the United States about those who do not exhibit all the trappings and signs of being "an American."  From what I could understand from our nation's history, the push to have an "official" language for the US was usually shot down because it was seen as a very prejudice-motivated forced move to a non-diverse nation.  It's only been in the last 25 years that law makers have attempted to push our nation down a road of one-language only US.

Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee is quoted saying, "I don't see how you can unify the United States of America unless we have a national language.  English is part of our national identity. It's part of our spirit. It's part of our blood. It's part of who we are."

I do not know about you, but I personally came from an immigrant family.  Grown up in an environment where "English" was not a part of my blood or who I came from.  Yes, English I use, it is the primary language I speak, but I am grateful that my public schooling involved no official language.  I'm glad that teachers and administrators were sensitive to the language proficiency of the parents who brought their kids everyday to school, hoping their children would grow up more learnt and trained.  I'm glad to see people who can only speak Toisanese, Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian, etc. holding US flags and declaring their allegiance to the flag in their own tongue.

One of the things that have made America strong is its ability to allow different diversities to exist.  Yes, I understand that it is VERY difficult to maintain and facilitate proper dialogue and peace amongst such diversity.  There will always be conflicts and disagreements, but a move like what the Senate has done, is showing to me something more sinister growing in the consciousness of Americans.

Considering that the vote was 63-34, I don't know what can be done now.  The House, mostly of Republicans, will most likely support this bill.  President Bush, who said that he believed that the nation anthem should only be sung in English, will most likely sign this into law.  There is just a sadness I feel about this whole thing I guess.  Never thought a silly debate in history class would ever become a real issue. 

Let me introduce you to...

So in about 2.5 months from now, I'll be heading down to Tulsa, OK to be part of groomsmen party with my best friend's brother's wedding (Try saying that 10 times fast!).  One of the things I've had to do was to get my tuxedo measurements.  So last Saturday, I drove down to a Mr. Tuxedo and got measured.

It was a strange feeling to be in a tuxedo shop again.  The last time I was in a tuxedo store was when I dropped off my tux after my high school senior prom years ago.  Don't know what is it about tuxedos in general, but there is definitely something very classy, formal, official about this kind of garb.

It's strange isn't it?  A tuxedo is really nothing more than a glamorized suit that shines in night light, has a bowtie (or if you're with it, a button), and is very limited in its uses.  Despite that, whenever one sees a man come out with a fully fitted and snugged tuxedo, you know that he is preparing to do something important that requires that type of officiality.  Maybe he's getting ready for a wedding.  Maybe he's going to be a lady's escort to a dance or a prom.  Either case, it definitely signals that something special is about to happen...

What's that on your breathe?  Altoid?

...but then again, the clothes don't always make the man.  No matter how expensive is his tux, or how shiny his shoes, the clothes aren't necessarily reflecting what is inside the man.  I think I've watched more than enough of my share of movies where a dude would come stumbling back home, covered in sweat and the occasional blood stains, right after he did something stupid.  No matter how well dressed he came in, the man inside was still as capable of causing and getting into trouble.  Unfortunately in those cases, the tuxedo is nothing more than a sheepskin for a wolf.  May be convincing for a while, but deep down inside, something will show whether it is a sheep or a wolf under there.

Do be do?  Be do be?  Beware of the penguins???

Over these years, I've come to conclude that probably one of the hardest truths that a Christ follower needs to somehow grasp, comprehend, wrap his/her mind around is the reality that who one was before meeting Jesus no longer exists, controls, has authority over life anymore.  Even in Paul's letters to the churches, one of the themes I've come to see in his writings is his consistent hammering of a follower's identity and new life in Christ.  How sad it must be for Paul when a follower like myself, 2000 years after he had penned the revealed mystery of God, still struggle with absorbing and living out such radical truth.

Instead, I think our U.S. church culture often goes down the path of least resistance and we become a people who are characterized by the words "Do be do..."  Translating that we attempt to prove to the world and to ourselves that we are followers of Christ.  The things we do define who we are, and since we want to keep proving that we are who we are, we keep adding on more "do"s, so we can just get the "be"s.  Help us should we ever mess up on a "do"... then how can we get our "be"s???  Well, you gotta make it up with another round of "do"s... and so on...

So, then, if with Christ you've put all that pretentious and infantile religion behind you, why do you let yourselves be bullied by it? "Don't touch this! Don't taste that! Don't go near this!" Do you think things that are here today and gone tomorrow are worth that kind of attention?
~Colossians 2:20-23 (MSV)~

So it's pretty interesting how Paul ties together the idea of who we are, and how we dress into an interesting word picture.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
~Colossians 3:12-14

Paul so clearly states who we are first.  We're chosen;  we're holy;  we're loved.  Those things won't change.  Those things can't change.  We have crossed over from death to life, from darkness into light, from having no eternal life to having it finally.  All of this because of Jesus' sacrifice & resurrection!  This is the gospel!

Everything after that is very much like being measured and trying on the pieces of a tuxedo.  The measurements aren't going to be perfect at first.  The clothes may not completely cover or look right at the beginning.  It will probably take some time to get used to how we look with a tux on, but as He continues to work in, with, and through us, these "pieces" of clothing will begin to sync up and work together, ending up with something that reflects and amplifies who we are.  The "clothes" truly don't make up the man or woman, but they can amplify and emphasis who we are.

The beauty of a "Be do be..." individual is that even when the "do"s aren't so great or they just don't fit at that moment, one still returns to the "be".  We can start over again with our "do"s, get new measurements, try out different ways, styles, but we will still be who we are.  He's done the greatest transformation already.  Let's keep that in mind as we keep putting on our tuxes in life. 

His grace flows down and covers us...

After the last three days of driving in the rain to and from work, I've just come to the conclusion that most Bostonians just don't know how to drive in wet conditions.

I just don't know what is it with rain in particular, but it seems every time there is a major rain downpour, people on the Mass Pike just drive recklessly...maybe their cars' tires are not as reliable in rain.  Either case, very frustrating realization while sitting in traffic 3 times in a row at the Newton circle area last few mornings while heading west... 

Either case, last thing I'll say before two primes become an even number.  Weird parallels coming up I can see, but have to wait till Sat. I suppose.

<Yes, this is a random entry.  >