Thank You Lord

So I thank you Lord ...

I thank you Lord for Your GREAT LOVE !!!

The Unspeakable Gift of Peace

Some people give gifts because they don't need the items anymore, we call those gifts: unwanted gifts.

Some people give gifts to people they loved, we call those gifts: ordinary gift.

Some people give special gifts that require a lot of sacrifices, we call those gifts: extraordinary gifts.

But God has given man, a very special gift, the "unspeakable" gift of Peace, too wonderful to be phrased in words.

On Christmas, Baby Jesus was given to us, and He has brought us Peace with God - a reconciled life in eternity.

My Alma Mater, Franklin College

The front lawn of old Main Building is where I spent my first English 101 class at Franklin College of Indiana, my alma mater. Seems like yesterday, the smell of newly mowed grass and the warmth of beaming sun in early autumn are still fresh in my mind. I won't forget the dedicated effort of my English professor, Mrs. Kathy Carlson, who had tutored my broken English after class at her house. Miraculously, I improved my grade from D to A- by the end of my first semester. Without a doubt, I know God was behind all these good things. Thank you Lord!

Peace Exchange

Ever wonder if it is possible to package your peace in a bag? Wait no more this season. Let your imagination run wild to envelop a dose of peace in a gift wrap ... directly from the heart. Peace on Earth! Emmanuel!

Every Outreach Encounter is a New Project

Every time an outreach team encounters a new visitor, a new project is started. It takes warming hearts and steadfast attitudes to grow relationships. The secret ingredient is prayer. And God promised that He will be there wherever we gather in His name.

The Oracles of Prophet Isaiah

Prophet Isaiah was inspired with many oracles (literally means burden in Hebrew). How he prophesied and acted on them had indeed made history, unveiled through God's perfect plan.

Isaiah's oracles shout out centuries ago about God's
(1) Warnings - that none may listen despite his willing to be sent.
(2) Judgments - that nations near Judah cannot escape God's wrath.
(3) Promises - that the Messiah will bring salvation to all nations.

Thank God! These oracles were realized in His Son, Jesus. What a marvelous blessing to all mankind!

Be a Dreamer Who Thrives

Empty dreams just make noise.
Sound dreams live on and thrive.

The best ones are inspired by God.

Take time to dream, plan, and build with passion.

Recipe for a thriving life:
(1) Define your dream
(2) Develop your plan
(3) Track your progress
(4) Repeat

Be a Pioneer Who Tries

My tombstone shall read: "He Tried". Now go out and make it happen. May God show me what it is, should be, can be, will be, ...

Be a Leader Who Drives

Leaders take side and point to the direction towards the right thing. Never give up easily! When you quit a moment too soon, God will make a way.

Be a Teacher Who Guides

Discover your gifts by selfless giving. Whatever leaving your willing hands is indeed the hidden jewel lying deep in your heart for quite a while. Gifts are meant to be given.

Be a Christian Who Shines

Shine Jesus Shine ...

Bee-Inspired

BEE-losophy:

(1) Be a Dreamer who Thrives

(2) Be a Pioneer who Tries

(3) Be a Leader who Drives

(4) Be a Teacher who Guides

(5) Be a Christian who Shines

Fought a Good Fight

I thank the Lord that over 110 people (30 unbelievers) signed up to come to our Aug 18, 2007 BBQ and Movie Night, sponsored by CSAF. It was a hot summer day, but we were grateful for the cool air-conditioning inside the MPB gymnasium. The OJ Tea Station (OJTS) continued to operate at its usual spot, but this time under 90 degree outdoor heat. The sweaty faces of OJTS staff and helpers (Philip, Stanley, Pearl, Chris, Covinna, etc.) were visible. Bless their hearts! We whole-heartedly appreciated their cool and refreshing herbal tea very very much.

Though 8 unbelievers dropped out at the last minute due to car problems, personal travel, unforeseen obligation, etc., the workers prayed fervently in hope of a decent turnout that night. My heart sank a little, but was immediately lifted up by a sister's prayer who reminded us once again that we were doing this in God's name. God has His own timing and working.

CSAFers collaborated the best we can (along with some badminton friends, even unbelievers): setting up MPB, cranking up the BBQ grills, chopping food in the kitchen, battling with the audio-visual technology, warming up the initial icy atmosphere with songs and games, etc. We pressed on but quietly prayed that not too many needed to leave the premise early. God indeed answered our prayer. Except for a few who left midway during the movie, most guests decided to stay.

The C.S. Lewis movie, The Chronicle of Narnia, laid the groundwork for a spiritual discussion, while Minister Joshua did a fine presentation of the gospel, distinguishing the good from the evil. Though there were no visible fruits during the altar call, we are confident that some mustard seeds were planted firmly in the hearts of good soil.

Let's continue praying for a measurable harvest during our future follow-up opportunities to bless His heart the best we can. Amen!

Happiness is Bearing Fruits

Life is purpose-driven by bearing fruits for the glory of God. The more fruits you bear, the happier you will be. What a simple formula!

Paster Ken Yee asked today in his sermon: "Is your tree of life bearing no fruit, some fruits, or much fruits?" I'd like to add on one more aspect: Is your fruit inspiring to those who may have no fruit or some fruits?"

How I pray that the Badminton and OJ Tea Station will bear much fruits. Lord, for your name's sake, would you please somehow attract 40 non-believers to come to the Aug 18 BBQ? In Jesus Name, Amen!

Have Christ, Be Happy

1-Free heart ... LET GO.

2-Byebye worries ... THINK HOPE.

3-Live simply ... TOSS STUFF.

4-Give more ... TELL NOBODY.

5-Expect less ... SMILE ANYWAY.

6-Treat nicely ... BUY FLOWER.

7-Sleep well ... DREAM DREAMS.

Prayer and Castle in the Clouds

In Henri Nouwen's classic prayer handbook "With Open Hands", he trained his sharp 'life-microscope' onto five critical aspects of prayer: Silence, Acceptance, Hope, Compassion, and Revolution.

My eyes just could not leave the chapter on "Prayer and Hope" when Nouwen insightfully described the importance of the Hope element within our prayers, whether they are for Thanksgiving, Praise, or Petition to God All Mighty.

Without hope in God's eternal kingdom, everything we experience now here on earth by faith will be just castle in the clouds. Thank God for the beauty of clouds. He definitely had a hand behind the castle in the sky.

Mom, Remembered

Dear Mom,
The hardest word for me to say is goodbye.
Tears of sadness bathe our face as your children survey your silent face.

We stood by your final resting place where Dad lies.
Clouds hovered over us as rain mixed with our tears.
The farewell never seems to ease, nor does our churning heart subside.

This is our final goodbye, though we hate to let you go.
Some days we will meet again. But this I am sure you already knew.

Your Little Son,
Tak

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors

Mending Wall - by Robert Frost (1874-1963)

Listen Online: http://robertfrostoutloud.com/MendingWall.html

(For better living: Ask the Holy Spirit to heal our wall.)

Something there is that doesn't love a wall,

That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it,

And spills the upper boulders in the sun,

And makes gaps even two can pass abreast.

The work of hunters is another thing:

I have come after them and made repair

Where they have left not one stone on a stone,

But they would have the rabbit out of hiding,

To please the yelping dogs. The gaps I mean,

No one has seen them made or heard them made,

But at spring mending-time we find them there.

I let my neighbor know beyond the hill;

And on a day we meet to walk the line

And set the wall between us once again.

We keep the wall between us as we go.

To each the boulders that have fallen to each.

And some are loaves and some so nearly balls

We have to use a spell to make them balance:

'Stay where you are until our backs are turned!'

We wear our fingers rough with handling them.

Oh, just another kind of out-door game,

One on a side. It comes to little more:

There where it is we do not need the wall:

He is all pine and I am apple orchard.

My apple trees will never get across

And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him.

He only says, 'Good fences make good neighbors'.

Spring is the mischief in me, and I wonder

If I could put a notion in his head:

'Why do they make good neighbors? Isn't it

Where there are cows?

But here there are no cows.

Before I built a wall I'd ask to know

What I was walling in or walling out,

And to whom I was like to give offense.

Something there is that doesn't love a wall,

That wants it down. ' I could say '. Elves' to him,

But it's not elves exactly, and I'd rather

He said it for himself. I see him there

Bringing a stone grasped firmly by the top

In each hand, like an old-stone savage armed.

He moves in darkness as it seems to me

Not of woods only and the shade of trees.

He will not go behind his father's saying,

And he likes having thought of it so well

He says again, "Good fences make good neighbors."

Greyhound and Rabbit

What might make you stop and think about what it is you should be doing with the days and years ahead, what it is that is worth all your heart, all your might and all your soul? The following story may make you think.

Once upon a time there was a man who was involved in adopting retired greyhounds. As each new greyhound came to his shelter he would ask the same questions, curious about why the elegant and swift dog stopped racing. The man inquired of the greyhound,

“Why are you not running any more? Are you not as fast as you used to be?’

“No,” the greyhound responded, “that is not the reason. I am just as fast now as I always was. I continue to win all my races.”

“Well, then, were you not making enough money for your owner?’

“No, actually with each race the money I brought in for my owner increased. He became very wealthy because of me.”

“Did you stop racing then because you were not getting enough press?”

“No, that was not the problem. I was quite famous. I was getting plenty of press. When I raced I was on the front page of every sports section.”

“I don’t understand,” the man responded. “Why did you stop running?’

“Because I discovered that the rabbit I was chasing wasn’t real.”

Everyday we need to make lots of decisions about what is worth pursuing- perhaps it will be a career, a relationship, perhaps we will chase health or wealth, or all of the above. What will truly merit our time? What is lasting? What’s real? How do we decide?

Perhaps we can stop chasing the rabbit that isn’t real, and discover the passion within us.

Everyone of us holds a part of someone else’s story, just as someone will hold a part of ours. Each of us carries a piece of the puzzle of life’s meaning. You will recognize this piece that belongs to you and you alone, if you do not let what doesn’t really matter distract you, if you discover what is your passion, what makes your heart leap. You must hold on to that part of the puzzle with all your soul, as though your life depends on it, because it does.

In each of our lives, there is at least one missing piece and the only way to find it is in others. Our goal is to seek those others as if our life depends on it, because it does. We can’t solve complex math problems without the help of a calculator.

Remember that all things in our lives that we spend so much of our time and energy creating are built on sand. It is only our relationships to others that endure.

Sooner or later, a wave will come and knock down what we have worked so hard to build up. It will just vanish. When that happens, when life knocks us down, when we don’t get what we think we deserve, only those of us who have somebody else’s hand to hold will be able to stand up again.

Sometimes the harshness of life, its disappointments, its pain, it unfairness leave us speechless. Sometimes personal circumstances turn us into despair. But if we know what is our passion, what makes our heart leap; it will carry us through those inevitable times of disappointment and uncertainty.

Don’t pursue success and happiness as ends in themselves; like the greyhound chasing the rabbit, we will inevitably be disappointed. It may fill our time and our pockets, but it won’t fill our soul. We will be busy, but we won’t be fulfilled.

True success and happiness are by-products of doing what it is God loves, what moves us in the very depths of our soul.

Be part of, and contribute to outreaching to someone who needs God. Remember what matters; what lasts; remember what is real. I invite you to join me in pouring our heart and soul into the Badminton Outreach Ministry. Its mission is: "Have Life Abundantly (John 10:10)". I have no doubt that its fruitful harvest will be both real and lasting. Through life, we all need God.

The Amazing Tree of Life

Thankfully
Refreshing
Endless
Eternity

= TREE