The OMEGA to JAMA's Alpha!

hmm...have you worked the title out yet? hehe

Anyways, JAMA is back on! With a change of name and format!

It'll now operate under the name OMEGA - Operation to Mobilise and Equip the Generations in Australia

The OMEGA Jr conference will be January 22-25 2007, and the OMEGA Sr conference will be July 16-19 2007. Put those dates into your diaries now! :)

Here's the article that will be published in the Christian Review this week...

For the past 4 years, the Korean Christian 2^nd Generation community in Sydney has been well served by the ministry of JAMA. In particular, JAMA Jr has had an incredible impact among the youth in the Korean Churches. So often unable to connect with the wider adult congregation, not for lack of trying but especially because of the language barrier, JAMA provided a platform where the Gospel could be preached in the heart language of our youth.

The response was literally hundreds committing their lives over to Christ. A blessing far exceeding our expectations when we first met to plan for the movement itself.

Each succeeding year, the same outpouring and response was witnessed again and again. But among the leadership group, questions were raised. In particular, as we witnessed the miracle of saved lives before our eyes, we couldn’t help but ask, “Lord, to what end?”

This was because the Bible everywhere reminds us that salvation is not an end in itself, but an introduction – an introduction into the subsequent life of a committed follower of Christ. And so we felt the ever-increasing need to help equip and mobilise these young people for God’s work now they were saved.

The obstacle of language that prevented the Gospel being preached effectively to young people in the local churches was also limiting the rate and depth at which these lives newly turned over to Christ could be equipped and mobilised. Specifically, the lack of English speaking, ethnically Korean, Australian raised pastors and leaders meant that the local churches were limited in the scope and impact on their young people.

Historically, JAMA has its roots among 2^nd generation Korean-Americans. It is a movement of prayer and repentance, seeking God’s favour in pouring out revival amongst His people. This is something that all Christians should be engaged in and we should be reminded of that once more. However, as an ongoing ministry, the focus was too broad. Especially in the Korean-Australian context where, simply put, there are just not enough English speaking pastors who understand the Australian cultural context to link up in training and equipping God’s people at the level of the local church.

To this end, some 2^nd generation pastors assembled together to pray and lay the foundations for an ongoing ministry that would connect with and continue the JAMA ministry of years past, but move onto a more focused and specific ministry goal – to train and equip a generation for God’s work in His church. To be the culmination, the end-point of what God has begun and blessed through the ministry of JAMA in Australia.

And so was born OMEGA.

Operation to Mobilise and Equip the Generations in Australia.

Our name is long. But in our name, we carry with us the very reason for our existence. Our name points at once to the vision of the ministry – to mobilise and equip the generations in Australia. In fact, our name IS the vision that God has planted in our hearts for this ministry. In our functional role, we seek to be a ministry which links with the work that was begun through JAMA in the past, yet gives a particular emphasis to training and equipping and mobilising young Christians to be effective workers in their local churches for the future, be that as Sunday school teachers, members of praise teams, or even simply as members of a Bible study group.

As you read this, we thank you for all your prayer and support in making JAMA Australia such a fruitful and blessed ministry. And as you have prayed and supported us in the past, we ask that your continued prayers and thoughts and support be directed to this renewed ministry – OMEGA.

Review: Pen & Paper - Computer Style

ATENTION!!!
Before I launch into this, a word of warning. hehe I love tech gadgets, and this post is an extended review of such an item. If you have no interest in this area, then I doubt that this post would have anything you'd want to read! Of course, you're still welcome to read it, but if at the end, you find yourself shaking your head wondering what that was all about, don't say I didn't warn you! :)

Setting the Scene...

Those of you who’ve seen me working know that I don’t go very far without my trusty notebook computer. I’ve had my Toshiba Satellite M30 since December 2003, so it’s been a faithful servant for almost 3 years. Back when I first got it, the computer was on the bleeding edge of technological advancement – large 15.4” widescreen, 1.6GHz Centrino CPU with built in wireless, DVD burner to name just a few of the features.

Over that time, I’ve upgraded several components on it:

• Upgraded RAM from 512MB to 1GB
• Swapped out the 60GB 4200RPM hard disk for a faster (but same capacity) 60GB 7200RPM hard disk.
• Installed a new wireless mini-PCI card to connect to G standard wireless access points.

The Search

But since the start of this year, I’d been thinking about selling this unit and getting a new one. Not that it was too slow. Even though it was almost 3 years old, it could still hold its own against most average notebooks.

I almost did buy a new notebook (a Sony VAIO FE28) about 2 months ago, but didn’t go ahead with the purchase when I heard that the new Core Duo CPUs were going to be replaced in the not-too-distant future by and even newer Core 2 Duo chip (such imaginative names…).

So I decided to hold up on buying a brand new computer until the new models with the new chips started appearing on the market.

My thinking was this: If the new CPUs were not that much more expensive and provided much better performance, I’d plonk my money down and get me one of them. But, if they were overpriced and underperformed, then I’d still be able to get the one of the older units for significantly cheaper than they are now. I couldn’t lose! :)

But I still wanted to swap over my computer, simply for the sake of using something different for a while.

Fast forward to a month ago, and I was given the opportunity to pick up a Toshiba Portege m200 Tablet PC along with an external DVD burner for significantly less than its market value. This unit was newer, was still under warranty, and had better specs.

How could I resist?

I couldn’t. So I listed my old computer on eBay and sold it for a couple of hundred more than I was paying for the Tablet PC.

And so that’s how I ended up with an almost-new (8 months old) Toshiba Portege m200 Tablet PC.

First Impressions...

Here are the specs for the unit I got:

• 1.7GHz Centrino CPU
• A/B/G wireless network card
• 80GB 5400RPM Hard Disk
• 1GB RAM
• 32MB GeForce FX 5200 GPU
• 12.1” 1400x1050 screen
• LaCie Slimline external dual layer DVD+/-RW/CD-RW drive

Appearances Can Be Deceptive

Let me start by explaining exactly what kind of computer this is. To put it simply, it’s a computer where you can draw on the screen with a pen.

When you first open the notebook computer, it looks like any normal laptop – keyboard and screen in the usual places. However, all is not as it seems. The screen is on a special hinge that first allows the screen to be rotated 180 degrees so that it can be folded back down onto the keyboard, with the screen facing up. In this mode, it is like a pad that you can write on with the built in pen.

Tablet PCs have been around for about 3 years now, but have been way too expensive to even be a consideration for me. However, I’ve always secretly wanted one because of the added functionality of the pen.

Working Together...

This pen function is not simply a gimmick. Sure, you can get gasps of astonishment when people see you drawing on your computer screen with a pen.

But the part that really drew me was the ability to take handwritten notes on your computer that were not only stored as a file so you wouldn’t lose it. And get this, what you write, the computer recognises and files away SO THAT YOU CAN SEARCH THROUGH YOUR NOTES BY KEYWORDS!

Here's a picture of one of my recent notes. I've searched for the word "FIRE" and it's found it.

Something else that I’ve discovered is that I can use the pen to jot down notes on a Powerpoint slide while I’m preaching or teaching. Sure, you can do this with a mouse, because anyone can ink on a Powerpoint slide. But have you tried writing or drawing with a mouse?

Firm Input

And its performance as a simple notebook computer is not too shabby either! The keyboard is a joy to type on – nice and firm with just the right amount of bounce. Some of you may be asking why on earth I’m talking about the keyboard, because a keyboard is a keyboard…

Well, let me tell you. All keyboards were not created equal!

I really liked my previous computer, but the keyboard was just too mushy. It’d sag and creak and would a be a pain to use. Not so this unit!

Seen But Never Heard!

One part of this computer that is absolutely hopeless are the built-in speakers. Sure, they’re fine windows beeps and alerts. But playing music through them is pure torture – both to the music and to the ears of the listener! This computer is definitely headphones only if you want to listen to music at all!

It's a Keeper!

Overall though, I’m really happy I got this unit. I’ve used this computer while preaching once, and had a go at adding notes with the pen onto the slide while preaching. It worked a treat! :)

I’m getting to the point where after nearly a month with it, I think this Toshiba Portege m200 Tablet PC will definitely be a keeper, even after I get a new notebook, whenever that might be.

Beauty in the Broken

Some of you may have heard of a CCM group called Starfield. They're a bunch of young guys from Canada, whose first CD - Starfield - was a great way to launch their music ministry to the world at large.




They recently released their 2nd CD, Beauty in the Broken. And of course, I went along to Koorong to pick up a copy.




I've been listening to the CD for a few days now, and I must say I'm impressed. Their musical style has developed and deepened, while still maintaining the yearning passion for God that was so evident in their original CD.

Some favourite tracks are:


The Hand that Holds the World
I want to stand before the King
Join in the song that heaven sings
I want to hold the hand that holds the world
I want to know the mystery
Reach out and touch the majesty
I want to hold the hand that holds the world...

Son of God
Son of God
The Father's gift to us
You alone
Were broken on the altar of love
Precious Lamb
Our freedom's in Your blood

Great is the Lord
If You should speak
Or should remain in silence
Should give me light,
Or lead me through the dark
Whatever the cost
Whatever joy or sorrow
I'll worship still
Because of who You are



And here's a picture of some of the Australian team to JAMA USA in 2004 with Starfield.





In closing, I'm also looking forward to Chris Tomlin's new CD, See the Morning, which will be released late September. :)

Inking on the Computer...

Got myself a new notebook computer.

Well...not new "new", since it's a used one.

I've been thinking about getting a new notebook computer for quite a while. But with the imminent release of Intel's Core 2 Duo chips for notebook computers, I thought I'd wait it out a bit more.

Then I got a chance to pick up a 2nd hand computer that's a current model for significantly less than it's new value, it being second hand and all. So I decided to offload the notebook I was using before on eBay and buy this one. The best bit is, I get a newer computer with a funky added feature for the same price as my current notebook, effectively costing me nothing! :)

It's a Toshiba Portege m200

Of course, this means very little to most of you, so in simple terms, it's a tablet PC. It's one of those computers where you can twist and flip the screen, and write with a special pen on the screen itself.



I haven't had a chance to check everything out, but once I'll do, I'll post up a review (for those who are interested! hehe). :)

Sun Day Sundays

Dropped by Macquarie Chapel (Macquarie Presbyterian) yesterday. The pastor there, Richard Quadrio was one of Sunny's lecturers in a ministry subject, so we wanted to visit his church and see how his ministry was.

We were really challenged by what we saw. Everything about the whole service from beginning to end showed a level of integration into giving a complete and unified message. And even the sermon itself challenged the listeners by incorporating short, succinct testimonies from members of the congregation to make the topic more real and practical.

I then dropped by Onnuri to see how Hyung-Min was going about his ministry. I was glad to see he's settled in well and striving hard in ministry. :)

I then drove over to Sydney Han-In Presbyterian Church in Homebush to preach at their young adults ministry.

All in all, a challenging and uplifting day. :)

I'm Back - Really! :)

Hi everyone!

It's been a very, very, VERY long time! I'm sorry I haven't been updating, but I think I will be back at this on a more regular basis now! hehe

So, what's been happening with me?

Well, most of you know. But, for those who don't, my pastoral ministry at Saesoon has now drawn to a close. I resigned at the end of June, and for the past month, I've been relaxing. This is my 7th year in ministry, so it's a good chance to take a sabbatical of sorts. :)

It's kinda weird, actually. Not doing anything is not something I'm used to. But it's been a good chance to catch my breath and consider the big picture in terms of where God is leading me.

The first few weeks, it felt like what jigging would feel like! (BTW, I've never jigged, so I don't exactly know! hehe) But yeah, going through a Saturday without the thought of preaching the next day...very odd after doing it for close to 7 years!

Each Sunday, I've been visiting all the churches that I wanted to drop by but couldn't because of my own ministry commitments. It's been a refreshing time to see how other churches are carrying out their minstries.

I've also been asked to be the guest preacher at various churches this month. So I'm back in the routine of sermon prep, which is a good thing. :)

Another thing I've been doing is attending a lot of 21st birthdays! It's quite an odd feeling, as it's been a long time since I've been to a 21st birthday party. But as my old students turn 21, I've been lucky enough to be invited by them to drop by their parties. I feel really glad and special that I'd be invited, actually! hehe Anyways, as promised, I'll keep posting regularly now. Bye all!! :)

^ From Eunice's 21st - courtesy of Tina Lee.