Generous Asians

Co-hosts Jeff Lee and DJ Chuang share their closing thoughts as we wrap up season 1 of the Generous Asians podcast. We talk in the very moment while DJ is in the middle of an experience of generosity, and Jeff notices the difference it makes in real-time. Not to be missed!

Show Notes

Vessel Church vesselchurchoc.com (Costa Mesa, California)

Generous Giving generousgiving.org

“If money is your security, being asked to give sounds like you're being asked to give away your security, your future, your safety. But when Christ becomes your true security, giving money is just giving money. It becomes seed to be sown, not security to be guarded.” — Abraham Cho

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What can we learn from the Jewish tradition of giving and charity? Co-Hosts Jeff Lee and DJ Chuang takes a look at a list of eight levels of giving from Jewish tradition that exemplifies how generosity can be more vituous, noble, and altruistic.

The list comes from this article, Eight Degrees of Giving, by Chaya Shuchat—Rabbi Moses be Maimon (1135-1204) formulated a list of eight levels of giving, correlating to the degree to which the giver is sensitive to the needs and feelings of the recipient.

In an upcoming episode, we’ll share our reflections on this online event, Celebration of Generosity, from Generous Giving.

From Malachi 3:10—Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

Generosity Path podcast episode with Pete and Deb Ochs

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There’s basically 2 sides to giving: the spiritual and the practical. Often times, Christian and Bible teachings about the principles of money and giving and stick with the safer dimensions of the spiritual and theological. But many people struggle to translate those abstract principles into practical reality, as evidenced by the giving statistics of regular church attenders.

We don’t think Christian giving should prescribe formulas; real-life examples and stories would be much more helpful. We also answer the real questions that we personally have had to work through in getting to the point of being able to tithe. Co-hosts Jeff Lee and DJ Chuang discuss the ways to connect the spiritual to the practical, bridging the gap between why we give and how we give.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit generousasians.substack.com

Most of us know the right thing to do when it comes to faith and money. One of the most basic steps of obedience is the idea of tithing, giving back to God a portion of our earnings, as an expression of faith that God provides everything that we have. And yet the reality is that the typical church attender gives at the rate of around 2 to 3 percent.

To help people move from knowledge into action takes more than faith and inspiration. It also takes motivation and ability at 3 different levels. And that’s what co-hosts DJ Chuang and Jeff Lee will walk-through on this episode: the 6 sources of influence that will help Christians to grow in generosity.

Show Notes

* 76-year-old Asian American woman to donate GoFundMe money after fighting back against attacker (ABC7)

* Donate to support Atlanta shooting victims' families (verified by Gofundme)

* March 28th National Prayer Rally for AAPI Lives & Dignity (hosted by local partners and Asian American Christian Collaborative)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit generousasians.substack.com

On the money here in the United States are engraged the words, “In God We Trust.” What does that really mean? Co-hosts Jeff Lee and DJ Chuang discuss what those words mean for Americans and for those of us who are followers of Christ. Listen in to learn about the intricate relationship between trust and money.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit generousasians.substack.com

Jeff Lee and DJ Chuang discuss a recent discovery from a stewardship online event that reveals the real reasons why people don’t grow spiritually, according to Mark 4:18-19, where Jesus Christ explains the Parable of the Sower (also known as the parable of the soils.) You might be surprised too.

Mentioned on this Episode:

The Blessed Life by Pastor Robert Morris - series with 6 videos https://pastorrobert.com/series/the-blessed-life

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit generousasians.substack.com

One of the most frequently asked questions about Christian giving is whether to tithe (donating 10%) is based on net income or gross income. Co-hosts Jeff Lee and DJ Chuang discuss this topic from a biblical perspective using several points of reference. We also touch on some other related issues, like whether to give to only church and missions, or also to community needs, as well as how much to tithe if someone has financial debt and needs all of their income to cover living expenses.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit generousasians.substack.com

Jeff Lee and DJ Chuang discuss an article about the fear that rich people experience. Fear and anxiety are very real feelings that people have about money, whether they’re independently wealthy (having more money than they need to live on for the rest of their life) or if they’re normal “middle class” people that currently work for a living. Jeff also shares a poignant story of how one doctor is living by faith and being very generous.

I’m Rich, and That Makes Me Anxious: Being wealthy can make people believe they have more control over their lives, but it can also control them emotionally.(The New York Times, November 2017)

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit generousasians.substack.com

Jeff Lee and DJ Chuang talk about the meaning of philanthropy, the limitations of measurable results and metrics, how $200 saved a life, and the ways we can tangibly and practically participate with God in create a better future in the midst of a needy and broken world.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit generousasians.substack.com

We all know how good it feels to buy something new for ourselves and today’s marketing is constantly reinforcing that message through branding and advertising. But how can it be that the Bible talks about the joy of generosity and God pours out his love on cheerful givers?

What motivates true generosity that doesn’t feel like duty or responsibility? That’s what co-hosts Jeff Lee and DJ Chuang talk about on this episode.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit generousasians.substack.com