(*) Good analogy...

I was talking to my friend Ben today and he shared with me a very good analogy from the book Abba's Child by Brandon Manning... I would like to share it with you. Well... very much simplified and paraphrased. Life is like a box of chocolate... um... oh, wrong book, wrong movie.

Life is like a pond. When we feel like our life is in a mess, it's like the pond has been stirred... the water is now muddy and we can no longer see clearly through the water. Our reflection has become distorted. If we don't have 'stillness' in our lives, and we cannot be stillness and wait in solitude for the water to calm down, and we keep on stirring the water (trying with our efforts to fix things or not addressing the issues from the root and continuing asking God 'why, why, why'), all we are going to see is more muddyness and more distorted images of ourselves through this pond. We will not see who God has created us to be until we spend time waiting on Him, and waiting for the water to be still. It is then, after the 'ripples and mud have settled,' can we start to see clearly our reflections and the clarity in our environment. It is then we can see things clearly and get to know ourselves without distractions or lies.

(*) Why does your loving God allow suffering?

As the atheist and agnostics say, why would a loving God allow or even designate suffering? Well, to those people who ask… here is what I need you to know: I think in the bottom of our hearts, we want the same. We want essentially a world without sadness, diseases, sufferings, and impurities. Have you ever thought about what you are saying? You are telling me that you want this world to be Heaven! A place that almost seemed too good to be true; a place that cannot be explained by a scientific mind; a place that require your faith and trust to believe.

God had built into our beings a desire for perfection; A perfection that is very much a reality. You may ask, “Why then is the God that you’ve described ok with imperfection and suffering?” Well, God is not ok with imperfection. If He’s ok with it, then there is no necessity for His existence. He has granted us Grace out of His omnipotence, so we have the promises that in His timing, we will not have to accept imperfection as our lot.

So, why are you fighting so hard to be ok with this world of imperfections? I am not ok with this world of imperfection and suffering, and I fight the urge to accept it and to say that there is no hope and no salvation. I resist all temptation to say that there are no more than what we can perceive with our senses. I say that the hope for salvation, Heaven, and eternity with God is the only answer to why we had to suffer, and why there is never going to be cessation of tears on this side of Heaven. In fact there is never going to be true-peace in this world. Continual rejection of the reality of God is the acceptance of imperfection.

Furthermore, the God that is worthy to be worshipped and revered is a God that is completely powerful, omnipotent, omnipresent, loving, compassionate, holy, and able to redeem us from our imperfect condition WITHOUT our merits. If we can earn ‘holiness’ through our actions, then we can achieve god-hood. If we can achieve god-hood, then we ourselves become gods, or god-equalities. That theology ends up with a god that is really not God, and not deserving worship… because, ‘if you work hard enough, you can be god too!’

So, a Holy God is a God that is so pure and perfect that we can never achieve, and never earn a seat at His dinner table… Moreover, it is because of His omnipotence, He is able to grant our ‘redemption’ without us working for it. It’s a gift. It’s Grace!

People of this world work too hard for the wrong goals. The Great Deception started in the Garden when Satan deceived Eve and Adam to disobey God and to earn their ‘supernatural’ knowledge and position to be god-equal, was why we had to suffer. Creation suffers because of that disobedience and our undeserved craving to be god. All creation cannot wait to see perfection revealed… soon.

So, why do atheists and agnostics say there is no God or there is no knowledge of God or why suffering is everywhere or why does people in virtually every religion out there say that they can earn their way into perfection? I think fundamentally our world is still under the original deception. The truth is that, it is easier to lay blame to God why He hasn’t designed the world as they’ve wanted, and why the ‘delusion of God’ had to exist, since religious fervor is ‘unacceptable’ to the scientific mind. It is not an argument for the existence of God. I believe, people are simply refusing to accept a God that they cannot become!

(*) Thoughts on Grace...

God, my heart is hurting... it aches when I see a homeless person in the hospital for disease of their situation and their mind; it aches when I see babies that are congenitally deformed and seeing the love of their parents poured out knowing their babies won't make it past their first birthday; it aches to know that around the world women and children are suffering abuse and neglect; it aches knowing that there are people here who are in such hopelessness and despair and completely impoverished in their emotions and spirit; it aches for my personal struggles with sufferings and disappointments; it aches for the ones I love who have to suffer...

God in His sovereignty allows, and many times destines us to go through hard times... even times to experience physical harm and death. I would like to believe that my God, who is an awesome God, King of kings, and LORD of lords, and a God to be revered and feared, and a God to be loved... I would like to believe that my God is in TOTAL control over my joys and my tribulations. Everything that happens to us is not and will never be a mistake! Everything that happens to us has a purpose. There are NO coincidences!

As Proverbs chapter 17 tells us "Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the LORD tests the heart." God, let your holy fire burn through us! Let it burn off all the impurities in our lives so we can worship You with a pure heart! You've promised us that Heaven, the eternal dwelling, will have no more pain and suffering and tears, I look forward for that place.

Because Your holy fire burns for us, You, in Your wisdom have indicated to us that our physical bodies will not survive into eternity. You'll bless us with a brand-new and glorified body... so, why should we focus any longer on the conditions of our physical body? Why don't we focus on the condition of our 'Spiritual body,' which will survive into eternity?

God, this world is not fair, and there is no justice! Justice is corrupt. As king Solomon says in Ecclesiastes: everything is meaningless. Everything that we devise and is a part of this world is meaningless, chasing after the wind. We work so hard and fight so hard, but yet, when we pass away, all that we toiled for become spoils to other people.

Grace, defined by Merriam Webster: "1 a: unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification b: a virtue coming from God c: a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace." Our redemption and guarantee of eternal presence with God is granted by God to us, which is totally and completely independent of our performance. The presence of God's Grace makes obsolete the rules of this world. Previous to our acceptance of this free gift of Grace, our lives are full of lists of 'good' and 'evil' deeds. Everything we do in life either made us feel good or guilty. We gauge our closeness to God or to celestial attainment by how we perform.

However, in the light of Grace, this 'balance' and ever burdening 'list of good and bad' completely disappears. We are no longer held in the balance. Our actions are no longer good nor evil. Our bodies are no longer healthy or damaged. God’s Grace says that WE ARE GOOD ENOUGH. We are pure enough to be in His presence. He accepts us! In the presence of Grace, there is only one choice: the choice to accept it. To deny it, or to turn your back to it, means that you are turning down the best gift that you can ever be offered and to receive.

In the presence of our awesome King, the Prince of Peace, the Redeemer of our Soul and Spirit, and the Granter of Grace... every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that He is the LORD. We have no choice what kind of sufferings we have to walk through; we have no choice what kind of injustice we have to experience; we have no choice in our struggles to make sense of things... However, we do have just ONE CHOICE, which is TO ACCEPT GRACE.

I can fight, I can struggle, and I can deny... but in the end, the acceptance of Grace gives me PEACE to be ok with suffering and struggles. The presence of Peace takes away the physical and mental pain from my being so I can start to love God and to share Him with others. It is then that I can help those whom my heart is aching for.

Thank you Lord Jesus, I Accept.

(*) Mirror Mirror on the Wall

I went to a Barlow Girl concert last night, it was very good. I know, there were more tiny-boppers there than adults, but, I agree with their message. They are all about purity and not to date anyone before marriage; just wait for God to provide the right one. They are also supporting a ministry called 'Mercy Ministries' that helps girls to deal with eating disorders, depression, self harm, abuse, abortion, addictions, and more... They offer a residential program free of charge to those who are selected! The following song touched me, I have a person in mind, I hope it ministers to you. You are FREE in CHRIST! You are loved and you are redeemed by His Love. You are New. You are Pure. You are Sanctified. You have to choose Him. Christ already has chosen you!

Mirror, Mirror on the wall, Have I got it?

'Cause Mirror you've always told me who I am

I'm finding it's not easy to be perfect

So sorry you won't define me

Sorry you don't own me

Who are you to tell me

That I'm less than what I should be?

Who are you? Who are you?

I don't need to listen

To the list of things I should do

I won't try, I won't try

Mirror I am seeing a new reflection

I'm looking into the eyes of He who made me

And to Him I have beauty beyond compare

I know He defines me

You don't define me, you don't define me

(*) Bruchko: Walking the trail of Saymaydodji-ibateradacura, Bari

While reading this book, I have quickly become endeared to the life of Bruce Olson and the Bari people. Amazement, laughter, tears, sadness, triumph, unbelief, and awe, were some of the feeling that journeyed me through this book. I loved this book, and I have a lot to share, so this is going to be long post.

Bruce, called ‘Bruchko’ by the Bari people (aka Motilones = “Short hair,” named by the Spanish invaders), has chronicled his life of 40 years as a messenger of God to the Motilones in this autobiography. His journey started with an inspiration of God to go minister specifically to the Motilones when he was 19. He decided to follow that inspiration and forsake all that is comfortable in the US. Motilones has been a Stone Age appearing people, who hunt with spears and arrows, who defended their territory fiercely and killed many outsiders and other Indians and each other, and who, upon seeing Bruce for the first time, attempted to kill him and shot him with an arrow. He was captured.

Under captivity, Bruce gained strength from God and sought wisdom in how to show the Bari people who Jesus is. Little did he know, there was an ancient Motilone Legend which said, “A tall prophet with yellow hair will come to us carrying banana stalks. Knowledge of life and God will come out of those stalks, and God will show us the way back to Him.” One day, as the Motilones were shaving the banana stalks, Bruce had noticed a revelation from the Lord: as the roots of these stalks were split, the layers within spills open as pages of a book like opening the Bible, the Word of God. So, excited with the new inspiration, Bruce told of God incarnate in human flesh, who came to live amongst us, and we can know Him if we follow in His steps to walk His trail. The name of Jesus Christ, their Lord and Savior was: “Saymaydodji-ibateradacura = God incarnate in human flesh.”

Bobarishora, aka Bobby, was the first of the Motilones to become a follower of Saymaydodji-ibateradacura, and in time he became Bruce’s bestfriend and ‘pact brother.’ He said to Bruce before being killed by outside intruders for following Jesus, “He [Jesus] is God, yet we can know Him by walking in His steps.” “Bruchko, I want Christ to be foremost for me. I want to yield all to Jesus.”

I hope you didn’t missed what I have just said! It is amazing. After the Motilones started following the steps of Jesus, they started changing. They became a group of people who have given up their violent ways, even up to the point of giving up their lives in the name of Christ.

Through the guidance of Bruce, the Motilones gained ways of sustaining themselves. They set up co-ops to raise crop and cattle as a way to make sure all their members have food. They even started to supply food to the neighboring tribes and foreigners, because of their love for God. They started also forming missionary teams to go to other tribes to share with them the love of God. They formed clinics, schools, language programs, and also sent many Motilones to universities. With Bruces support, many Motilones became trained at large Colombian university and graduating as physicians, lawyers, teachers, etc… And to Bruce’s surprise, all of these students came back into the jungle to serve their own people. None of them stayed to enjoy the new way of life.

With these advances, they were able to work with the government to protect their own land, even got to be invited to the United Nations and offices of presidents for dialogues. The Motilones moved from being a Stone Age people group to being able to work with and survive in the 21st century without changing their cultures and traditions. When they are back into the jungle, they still wear loin cloths and sleep in hammocks in communal longhouses. In his own words, Abaydora, a Motilones Chieftain, “At our weakest time, God brought us salvation. We met Jesus in the mountains. We were in anger, but with Him we found love.”

Bruce never tried to convert them, but always discerned to share God’s love with them, and have always allowed them to make their own decisions. Motilones has learned to pray to Jesus when they need to make a decision. Saymaydodji-ibateradacura had became central to their lives even without Bruce around.

Also chronicled in this book was Bruce’s journey of becoming a person that God used to change an entire nation, through a self sacrificial life. It also talked about being captured and tortured by guerillas to denounce his faith and his adopted family, the Bari (Motilones). He also shared his pain of losing two of his beloved, his pact brother Bobby, and his fiancé, Gloria. There are pains in life that we cannot ever understand. There are pains in life we have to live with and constantly asking for God’s grace and love to help us through.

Bruce is loved by the Bari people. He is Bari. This love, even to an outsider like me, made my heart and eyes so warm and moist. I wanted to be there. I wanted to feel the warm embrace. I want to know of that genuine and pure love. I wanted to be loved and to belong.

“Yado [Bruce Olson], wherever you die, I will recover your body and take you back to the jungle. Then we will wrap you in a hammock and lift you into the jungle canopy, so that you can travel beyond the horizon as one of us.” – Araybachira.

The following are excerpts in Bruce’s own words on being a missionary:
“The purpose of entering the mission field is to share the redemptive works of Christ. It starts when the Holy Spirit works in the hearts of the person who is going to share the gospel. Then the compassion for the people should help that person share His message in a way that does not strip the people of their autonomy and self sufficiency and turn them into beggars who depend on benevolent organizations to survive. Many people hear the word missionary and equate the term with someone who is trying to destroy native culture, but that is the last thing I want to do. What I have tried to do is to give the Motilones tools so they can forge their own future and help them discover that Jesus is not a God who has come to take away their traditions and culture, but a Savior who walked and still walks with them on the trail of life. He is a redeemer who will be with them as they journey beyond the horizon.”

“I too am a weaver. My “art,” has been to live among the Indians [the proper term for addressing the Bari people] so that together we could weave a tapestry that is pleasing to God. It has produced a colorful, rich work filled with history, warm relationships, and takes of lives opening up to the Savior. It too is a story of love.”

““I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings.” (Phil 3:10). It’s an experience that allows us to know Christ intimately. It is terrible to suffer, and I certainly would not seek it out. But when it comes, I trust in God’s sovereignty. He does not toy with our lives. I have learned not to judge Him. We tend to accuse Him when awful things happen. But we are His creations, fully dependent on Him. It is not our place to judge. This, I think, is one of the great discoveries I have made during my life with the Motilones.”

I loved this book. I have learned so much on how to walk in the foot steps of Jesus through seeing how genuine the Motilones are. Jesus’ transforming love is REAL! I think we have a lot to learn from the Motilones. I also have a lot to learn from Bruce, to love a people to the point of death in absolute obedience and reverence for our Lord Jesus. I have to learn that to love someone is to completely give them over to God for Him to lead and guide them. Love makes us give sacrificially for other's advancement not our own. Love is to relinguish our control and just let Jesus in. Soak us in your love and grace, burn us up in your holy fire of the Spirit, guide our steps and our lips to bring glory to You no matter what our circumstances may be.

“I walk on the trail of life experiences to the horizons. No evil spirit can threaten me or take me from the security I know in Jesus. I am suspended in Jesus through my expression of faith.” --- Song of the Motilones.


Bruce Olson talking with another Bari

Hunters

Fishing and hunting

Singing in hammock; basket weaving

(*) May God Take Care of Them...

Today was a sad day for me... because of confidentiality I cannot share anything other than: couple, plane crash, and burn survivors. I've learned a lot working as an assistant to the surgeon on all of these cases doing excision and debridement of wounds and then doing skin grafting. I am seeing how laborious the work is in caring burn patients.

The surgeries consisted of: taking a patient back into repeated surgeries to remove eschars and to keep the wounds fresh and viable for healing and growth; harvesting skin grafts, using allografts (from another human), using xenografts (from another species, usually a pig); doing the grafting; changing the dressings; maintaining the patients' vital needs (nutrition, respiration, etc...); tubes in, tubes out; releasing of contractures when wounds heal; escharotomies when eschars form during healing... the work goes on and on.

I am thinking, I have never seen patients as sick appearing and as acute as the patients I've seen in the burn unit. If you can be trained to help these patients, you can treat anyone!

When I was in the OR doing the surgery on one spouse today, I thought to myself, how can anyone sustain this much injuries? Then, when we finished her surgery and went to her husband's room, I saw all the pictures of them together and their beautiful family, it hit me. I, then suddenly felt really sad. They will never be the same, if they can make it out of the unit!

There is a dear friend who recently lost a grand-baby to an automobile accident, and their kids were very seriously and traumatically injured... my heart goes out to you and to my patients and their families!

Then, finally, my mind took me to how amazing everything is. Think about it, as doctors and surgeons, we can do our best, everything we can, and be as proactive in treatment as we can, most people will live, but some will die. But, there is something else that is governing the healing of the body. We can give the necessary nutritions and the body will heal. We can give it the right environments, and the 'missing' pieces will attempt to grow back! ISN'T THAT AMAZING?! I think many of us in the health care field get so compartamentalized that we take the whole 'healing' process for granted. We doctors only attempt to put things back, but God had designed our bodies to do all the rest! Doctors are like good stewards of what's been given to them, and God is the one that heals.

Like the surgeon, Dr. Gawande, who I did a book review ("Better") on earlier, shared: as we enjoy medical and surgical advances, we are able to save many more lives. However, we haven't yet learn how to deal with the incredible kinds of disabilities by simply saving people out of their traumatic injuries. People who are missing all limbs, or missing a face, or permanently disfigured... how do we help them to function? When should we stop fighting for our patients and just let them go? How far do we go to save someone? Do we ever think about what they have to do if they do survive? I think, as a doctor, we always have to do our best as our profession prescribed.

Dear Father in Heaven, holloweth be Thy Name. Thank You for every blessings of a new day. Thank You for giving us health and providing for us. Thank You for always being Faithful and Loyal and loving. Thank You for always giving us HOPE for eternity. Thank You for Your PROMISE of an eternity in Your LOVE, without sorrows, disabilities, disfigurements, and disappointments. Thank You for Jesus Christ's death of atonement to redeem us from our sins so we can worship You in Your Holy presence. Thank You for blessing us with all Your beloved on this Earth as we walk this pilgrimage together. Father, please take special care for those who are in physical suffering. Please be their Comforter and their Peace. Give them strength to live through and face their future. Give them courage to face themselves and to share their incredible story to further glorify Your Name. May all your saints say... Amen.

(*) Mr. Great-Heart, E-Mail from a 400 year old book (The Pilgrim's Progress)

I have been working on this book called the The Pilgrim’s Progress, written by John Bunyan during his imprisonment around 1676. John Bunyan was an English preacher who had a passion to share the Good News to his fellow countrymen. Because of his passion for The Way, he suffered much. He preached in the neighborhood of Bedford, England between the years of 1655 to 1660; then he was arrested and put into the Bedford County Gaol (prison) for 12 years for committing the crime of preaching openly the messages of Christ. He was let go for a few weeks to go home during the Great Plague, but as a man of integrity and respect for authority and reverence for the LORD, he re-admitted himself back into the prison after the plague to finish his sentence. He had become the courageous example of sharing his compelling message of Love in the Gospels in the face of adversity.

I love this book, though it was an interesting read in the original Old English (modern versions are available), the allegories of a Christian’s journey is true to all of our journeys. The book was written in 2 parts, first part was published in 1678 and the second part was published in 1685. The first part describes the journey of one called “Christian,” who has decided to leave his life in the “City of Destruction” and make his way toward the “Celestial City.” Christian is one who has recognized that he had been carrying a break-back load of burdens called ‘sin,’ in a place that is going to be destroyed. Christian is also one who has come to realize that there is no salvation for his burden other than taking a journey to the Celestial City by way of coming to the foot of the cross. At the foot of the cross, Christian met with the sacrificial atonement of Christ, who gave Christian a gift of Grace (shedding of the burden, a new robe of righteousness, and a scroll to guide and guarantee for admittance into the Celestial City).

Part 2 of the book describes the journey of Christian’s wife and children toward this Celestial City after their initial rejection of making the journey with Christian. When they made the journey, they hear of the trials of and triumphs of their husband/father in his journey. They see evidences of bloodshed by Christian while fighting off beasts such as Lions, Giants of Despair, Apollyon, and various evil characters in the way.

The story tells of a Christian’s journey from start to end with all the expectations of evil and good characters in between. It is almost like a road map for what it is like if you so chose to follow Christ. The choice to become a Christ-follower is not easy. There are times we must fight, stand firm, not to be persuaded, not to fall to slumber, to pray for encouragements and help, and to be an encouragement to others on this journey. I have a short conversation that I want to share with you, this is a discourse between Christian’s wife, Christiana, and Mr. Great-Heart, a minister sent by God to guide us in the journey. Mr. Great-Heart’s respond to Christiana's question after he had beaten an evil one called Maul:

Chr: "But where you not afraid, good sir, when you saw him [a wicked on called Maul] came with his club [to attack]?"
Mr GH: "It is my duty, said he, to distrust mine own ability, that I may have reliance on Him that is stronger than all."
Chr: "But what did you think when he fetched you down to the ground at the first blow?"
Mr GH: "Why, I thought, quoth he, that so my Master Himself was served, and yet He it was that conquered at last."

As I was reading this morning, I was encouraged that, as Mr GH resort to God for strength while staring fear in the face; we should forsake our own weaknesses and abilities so that Christ would shine. It is not about what is in our way, it is about knowing the promise of God for your eternity, that you are never going to be kept from entering the Celestial City if you maintain your courage to the end. And if you perceive your courage failing, then petition and cry out for HELP, our Lord had promised to be FAITHFUL AND LOYAL, to provide us EVERY NEED to overcome our grief so we can continue to pursue Him.

HE IS ALL YOU AND I NEED. The most discerned and wise person knows what he/she doesn’t know and cries out for help whenever he/she needs. Never be too proud or ashamed to ask for help. God is faithful to provide and He has promised to NEVER ABANDON YOU.

This book is only second to The Holy Bible, which is the most printed and most translated book on Earth. You should read it and may it encourage you more than it encouraged me. To Him be the source of our pride and strength :)

(*) Beijing Olympics 2008 and thoughts on DISCIPLINE

Did you watch the opening ceremony of the Olympics last night? Let me tell ya, it was amazing! I’ve seen a lot of opening Olympic ceremonies, I have got to tell you that this one rank on the top of my list. There are a few things I liked about the performance: the pyrotechnics, the immense masses of 1500 performers and Tai-Chi masters moving together in a circle, the visual effects of the Chinese paintings, the ‘globe’ and acrobatics, and the architecture of the ‘swallow’s nest’ stadium… But, do you know what got underneath my skin and gave me chills as I watch with excitement at the edge of my seat? It was the masses of Tai-Chi masters… It was DISCIPLINE that got my attention.

However, before I tell you about my thoughts on discipline, I have a few observations that I want to share. When comes to natural wonders, breath taking mountains and gorges and landscapes, the Golbi desert, the Wall of China, the unique species of animals, the capacity of having a fifth of the world’s population, and the oldest of world’s history and proverbs… no countries on earth can beat China. The “Middle Kingdom” as Chinese called themselves for the last 5,000 years is actually not a term of humility. Though humility is a character of the wise, “Middle” in Mandarin (the main language of the Chinese people) means either “in the middle of” not high, not low, not big, not small (sounds like a call for modesty isn’t it?) or “in the center of,” which means “we are IT.” In fact, “Middle Kingdom” has a connotation of the “Center of the Universe.” The name is one of ethnocentrism and egocentrism with a twang of ‘humble modesty.’

I am Chinese, I am from Taiwan, and I am American. I am very proud to be a Taiwanese-American. My ancestors are the ‘Han Chinese.’ I was born and raised in Taiwan, so I know what it is like to grow up and being indoctrinated in that culture. I know that China, the “Middle Kingdom” has a long and rich history. But, that history has been dramatically altered when the communists took over in 1949. When that transition happened, also many other important events happened. First, it started by the destruction of Chinese culture. How are the communists managing (yes, a progressive verb) that? By destroying ancient literature, exporting national art, and most important of all “CHANGING THE CHINESE CHARACTER.” Did you know that when the communists took over, the ‘Simplified Chinese writings’ started? So, if you are not aware of this, now there are 2 systems of how to write Chinese characters: Simplified and Traditional. Traditional characters are very complex, and many of the characters originally came from pictographs. It is the writings of the ancients with all the strokes intact. Each character stands alone by itself and has a full meaning of its own. One can change the connotations and context of these characters when they are placed in a sentence. Simplified version is created at the beginning of communist China in attempt to change Chinese history. By ‘removing’ various ‘strokes’ in Chinese character, they started destroying the history of the language and its origins. Later generations will not be able to discern the origin of their rich ornate culture, because their language no longer ‘appears as their originally intended.’

Two other issues bother me about the communist China. One, I believe that the show last night about PEACE and “Green China” is one to put positive spin on their reputation as being the LARGEST POLLUTER in the world and as a country of having many HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. Why does the world complaint of the big SUV’s and pollutions of USA, while turn their faces away from China’s pollution? I mean, granted that China has 1.3 billion peole, fifth of the world’s population, no one on Earth can compare with the amount of waste generated by China, but, that also gives them responsibility to find ways to keep at least their people healthy. At least we don’t have to shut down half of our city everyday so we can hold an Olympic so that the athletes’ lungs are not burning from the heavy soup of airborne particulates! Then again the spectacular pyrotechnics didn't help either. Don't get me wrong. I really enjoyed the performance, but, I can’t help to think that most of the beauty and peace and how well choreographed everything had been were just “PROPAGANDA.”

Two, have you noticed that Taiwan didn’t exist as a country as it was represented in the Olympics? It was called “Chinese Taipei.” The Taiwanese Flag was not allowed to enter the competition. If you are aware of the long struggle for Taiwanese identity, you will understand what I mean. As a Taiwanese, my opposition isn’t really to the people of China, but to the government. I make myself distinct, as most of Chinese people from Taiwan, from the communists. It’s the obvious hypocrisy of communist China that angers me. So, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that the identity of Taiwan isn’t included in this competition, which is purposed to ‘unite’ the nations and to represent ‘peace.’

Ok… I am going to change topics and talk about my thoughts on ‘discipline.’ If you have seen any movies out of Hong Kong, such as Hero, The Warlord, Fearless, training of the Shaolin monks, 300, The Last Samurai, or any Olympic sporting events, you’d have seen the physical and mental discipline displayed. In fact, as I am thinking about this, I was reminded by several Biblical passages talking about having discipline as a soldier readying for war or athlete training for performance as allegories to walking the Christian journey. Having discipline means “considering our ways,” “take all of our thoughts captive,” “keep the thoughts of my mind and words of my tongue to be pleasing to God,” and to continue to “persevere during trials.” Once we turn from ways of anarchy (when we obey our body to do what we desire and our mouth to say whatever we want) into the way of discipline, we no longer walk as we used to walk and talk as we used to talk. We have to make a 180 degree switch in the direction we were going and behavior as we’ve gotten so used to. Growing in discipline is like a soldier training for battle. When you are untrained, you continuously get wounded by strikes and blows and arrows and with any little insult. However, to invest into training means that your ability to ward off the offenses becomes second-nature. Taking the athletic analogy, our muscles have to be trained to increase performance. A well-oiled joint is a joint that moves smoothly and without injuries. If our muscles are not well trained, we get hurt, we strain them and then we are disabled until it's healed.

So, drawing from analogies of nature and world wisdom, if we don’t become discipline we will not survive when we are called to stand up for ourselves. Without discipline our minds go weak and cannot stand for much insult, or to give grace to those who offend us. Without physical discipline we cannot stand to defend ourselves and preserve our lives or the lives of those we love and cherish. Also without physical discipline, we waste away in fatten, glutten, drunkenness, and become ‘RUSTY’ as we get hurt to do anything. However, as much as I think about the steep decline of physical and mental discipline of our time and our society, I think the SOLE root factor in declines of our physical and mental capacity is a dive in SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE. A dive in reverence for our Creator.

Mind you, it is not a physical warfare we are fighting, we are fighting a SPIRITUAL war! The KEY to killing our courage and failure in this war to “focus on self”! When our minds are convinced that we are ALONE in our experiences and struggles, the darkness have won! When we focus on our own struggles and how gigantic our road blocks are, we develop FEAR that incapacitates us from growth and continuing to walk toward what we know is good... When FEAR sets in we tend to abandon HOPE. So, George, how do we break this downward spiral of giving up, giving in, mental retardation, physical rustiness? OK, I’LL TELL YOU:

BE SPIRITUALLY DISCIPINE! What does that mean? Look at all those VERBS and promises!

Proverbs 2: 1-8

“My son, If you

accept my Words, and

store up my command within you,

turning your ear to wisdom and

applying your heart to understanding, and if you

call out for insight and

cry aloud for understanding, and if you

look for it as for silver and

search for it as for hidden treasure, then

you will understand the fear of the LORD and

find the knowledge of God.

For the LORD

gives wisdom and from his mouth

come knowledge and understanding. He

holds victory in store for the upright, He

is a shield to those whose walk is blameless. For He

guards the course of the just and

protects the way of His faithful ones.”

Proverbs 3:5-8

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and

lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways

acknowledge him, and

he will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;

fear the LORD and

shun evil.

This will bring health to your body and nourishment o your bones.”

These are promises from the LORD, in fact, Spiritual disciplines many times start with mental and physical disciplines. The truth is that, if you have no physical and mental discipline, then you will not be spiritually disciplined; and if you are not willing to adhere to the words in these proverbs, then you will not achieve discipline. You know, the cost of giving up discipline is grave! Look at the trend of our society? Gluttony, increase in morbid diseases, decrease in morality, people whine with desperation, people torture and abuse and destroy one another in defiance to God… what are the alternative to having no Spiritual discipline!

Your Choice!

(*) Have you ever wonder what life would be like without arms and legs?

Let me introduce you to a man name Nick Vujicic! He was a native of Australia and he was born without any extremities! Have you ever been angry at God? Have you ever wish that your life would be more complete? Have you ever bargain with God... "God if you just give me ____, I will _____ !" Well, Nick has an awesome testimony to share with you. Please watch the video by clicking on his name
--> NICK VUJICIC <-- Or, you can visit Highland Church's website and go to the 'Sermon' tab: http://www.highlandschurch.org/

I was very much encouraged by his story and also entertained... you'll see, he is a character! He also has a website that is the main resource of his ministry: http://www.lifewithoutlimbs.org/

Why don't you pray for opportunities to tell your story?! If you think about it, we are all beautiful and unique. No one else is created like you, individually. The journey that we all walk is not an easy one. We all have different experiences and see things from different perspective. I think it is valuable for us to share with one another our triumphs and failures. Do not underestimate the power of God in your lives. As I was pondering about our frailty, I am reminded of God's Sovereignty. Have your heart every 'condemn' you for happenings of the past or shamefulness of present thoughts? Well, in 1 John 3:20 says, "Whenever our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything." Whenever you meet a challenge or discouragement in life, know that
GOD IS GREATER THAN ________.

(*) Hosanna - Brook Fraser - Hillsong United

Hi all, I can't wait to post a blog. My studies are going well, please pray for me as I take the medical boards this coming Thursday and then again next Monday.

As I was reading the Psalms this week, I had so many inspirations that I can't wait to share with you. I feel like God is showing me a picture of what praise and worship is like in His presence. (I'm in Psalm 111-118, today I started Psalm 119) I heard this song first time going to church with my friends Larry and Holly in AZ, and I heard it again last night in church. I love this song! As I think on the words of this song, I can see the King coming with all of His Glory! As she sings "Break my heart for what breaks yours..." I got choked up and tears just stream down my face. I have experienced heart break, but, I don't know what breaks God's heart... I know I break His heart. It makes me cry to know how tender our loving Father is. As I listen to this song, I love the fact that there are many of His dearests out there who have put into words their experiences of God. It makes me want to be completely drown in that Agape Love.

Here is the you tube video of Hillsong United playing the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7SMUf6QcyQ
Here is the video of Brook sharing how God inspired her to write:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sABWDaRX1E&feature=related

----------------------------------------------------------
HOSANNA

Verse 1
I see the King of Glory
Coming down the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes, the whole earth shakes

I see His Love and Mercy
Washing over all our sins
The people sing, the people sing

Chorus
Hosanna, Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest (2x)

Verse 2
I see a generation
Rising up to take the place
With selfless faith, with selfless faith

I see a new revival
Staring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees, we're on our knees

Bridge
Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me

Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your Kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity

Hosanna

(*) The Gardener's Delight, by my mom on 3/20/08

“Mommy, come quick! What happened to the blossoms of yellow and pink orchids? They are gone! And look, the large pink Easter lilies and the birds-of-paradise also are missing a few stalks.” “Ah, I know, mommy must have taken some flowers to the cemetery today.”

It has always been my delight to give beautiful flowers and plants from my garden to the ones I love. I know that the plants from my garden are not always perfect, but, they all carry the beautiful aroma of my home. As I remembered my own mother and father, who have already gone to Heaven, I know for sure that they understood my heart. Perhaps, it is because my mother gave birth to me on the first day of Spring that is why I have always loved all facets of nature: mountains, forests, flowers, trees, grass, fruits, and vegetables. On the day of my birthday each year, I faithfully offer fresh flowers from my garden to my mother’s grave as a way of remembrance and thankfulness for the legacy my mother had left within me. In the same light, each time I hear a student mention their birthday celebration or utter a wish-list of gifts, I would always remind them that the most important part of their birthday is to express thankfulness to their mother for carrying them and bring them into life.

Sometimes friends ask me, “You are so busy, when do you have time to plant and nurture flowers?” As I ponder that question, my mind took me to a memory of a sculpture in the garden of my elementary school. On the sculpture carved these words, “It takes ten years to grow a tree, but, a hundred years to mature a person.” This proverb has been engraved on my mind. May be I am someone’s teacher or someone’s mother, but, as I contemplate over this proverb, especially while working in the middle of my garden, I realized that the plants in my hands are like my students and my children! They are all my precious gifts. I pray and hope that they all grow to become as mature and as strong as they can be. Other than giving the very best care I can offer to them, I always remind myself that the journey of maturation requires time, and sometimes, these precious gifts of mine will have to go through suffering and survive the destruction of the violent storms and vicious bugs and pests. I need to have more patience as I watch them mature and endure hardship on the journey of growth. During the process of nurturing children, I discovered that I have too many limitations. Therefore, I have learned to pray to God each morning for my children, my students and their families for God to shower them blessings and to strengthen their hearts in the midst of adversity and to fill their hearts with God’s peace.

I also take delight in the uniqueness of some of my plants and flowers. Appreciating each phases of their growth is like seeing children of all different backgrounds excel in their learning of Mandarin. I take great joy in giving students and families plants that I have grown in my garden as a way to share my excitement and the joy of life with them. As I pour out love to develop these children, I also teach them, “Value your precious life and make the most of all your opportunities.” Amidst of my garden, beauty may come in many forms. Look at the little noisy song birds, dressed with many vibrant colors, singing their unique songs, flying as they wish, singing as they wish, as if they are fully enjoying the blessings of their freedom.

I also enjoy working the garden with my husband. Even though, we work on different projects, and at times, without much conversation, but, as we appreciate all that we have accomplished together, our hearts are filled with warmth and love. As the sun sets in our garden, over our manicured grass and vegetables, our hearts are filled again with satisfaction and thanksgiving.

Truthfully speaking, the work of the garden is never finished! It is hard work! But, why does it attract me? Let me share with you the secret: My garden is the place where my heart and spirit rest as I lay out thoughts and converse freely with my best-friend Jesus.

I am not a professional gardener, but, I enjoyed spending all my time there because I love to see things grow and mature. Similarly, as I teach the SAT Mandarin class, I also tell my students this, “I, your teacher, am not a magician. I am a coach who is willing to run and train with each of you.” The responsibility of the coach is not merely to pass on the secrets of success, but, to restlessly encourage the ones being trained. As students faithfully pursue the learning of Mandarin, continue to grow in their competencies and starting to master the heart of the language and culture, the satisfaction of watching these students mature is my reward. Thus, the gardener’s delight!

(*) Better is one day in Your courts than thousands elsewhere! (Psalm 84)

Father in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy Name,

O LORD my God, how lovely is Your dwelling place! My soul and my spirit desire to be with You. My body and my mind cry out for Your presence. Even the small migratory birds pay pilgrimage to Your house and build their nests near Your altar. As I set my heart on the pilgrimage to Your House, my strength comes from You alone. Your Love sustains me and Your Encouragements keep my legs moving. When I walk through the Valley of Shadows and Death, You secure my heart and remove fear away from me. When I walk through the Valley of Weeping, You continue to refresh my soul and spirit with promised spring rain. In the Valley of Discouragement and Pain, where the fire of torment dries up my being, and my mouth and throat is made as parch as the desert floor, you send the cleansing rain to saturate my dryness. You send water over my burnt out forest and sprout fresh young shoots at the top of my broken branches. You fill my path with pools of refreshments.

Hear my prayers O LORD my Provider, You are the sustenance that I need. Hear my prayers O LORD my Savior, the blood of Your atonement redeems my soul and seals me to be your child. Hear my prayer O LORD my Love, the purity of Your AGAPE faithfulness and loyalty holds me tightly to the warmth of Your embrace. Hear my prayer O LORD my YHWH/Adonai, I am Yours.

How sweet it is to dwell in Your House and to be with You. It is better to be in Your courts for one day than to spend eternity elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in Your House than live in prosperity in the house of the wicked. O LORD, You are my Shield, my Strength, and my Honor. Show favor and shower unlimited blessings to those whose hearts are filled with REVERENCE for You. Show your FACE to those who have not bent their knees to wickedness. May Your strength overwhelm our hearts as we run into the Valley of Darkness. May your ENCOURAGEMENT refresh our Spirits as we take up adversity for the GLORY of Your Name’s sake. May we NEVER shy away from CHALLENGES of the Evil one, but to take COURAGE, because You are ALWAYS WITH US! In Your Name, we are never ashamed. Emmanuel, Hallelujah, Your Name is to be Praised!

AMEN.

(*) I saw Heaven

Have you ever been to "Heaven" and seen "Jesus Christ," in person? Have you ever thought of the possibility that some of us, perhaps someone you've passed on the streets or in the grocery store, may have been to Heaven and back?! Really?

Ok, really. Please approach this subject with a humble heart. If not, don't read this. As I share this real story to you, all I ask is to please try to hold back your criticisms and skepticism and just simply enjoy. It is encouraging to know that some of us have made extraordinary decisions to walk the hard road for the sake of Christ. It is not to their own glories and claims or to boast of what they have seen, but, it is for the love of Christ and the love for those who have yet to have the privilege of dwelling in God's loving embrace that they have chosen to share this story. The author has given me permission to share her story with you. Her name is Joyce, and this is her story:

She had been struggling with a life threatening disease for the last 10 years. This disease constantly attacks her heart, her lungs, her kidneys, her skin, her bone marrow, her muscles... and is unusually aggressive. She has not had much of remission between episodes of acute exacerbations. Three years ago, her disease over took her and won. She was shipped to the hospital and then pronouced to be 'expired.' She was medically dead with no pulse and no heart activity.

Up until this point in her life, she had been a faithful worker for God's kingdom and a faithful Christian. She also served as a teacher to kids with special-needs. Life had been very challenging with her ever declining disease. However, through all this, she was joyous. She loves Jesus and she was sure to share some of that love with everyone around her.

So, once her body died, as she described vividly, her soul and spirit left the body. She remembered looking back as she rose toward Heaven, looking at her body laying in the hospital bed, surrounded by friends and family... sobbing. She saw that many in the hospital room were people who have not yet experienced God's love and haven't had the chance to make a decision to receive Christ's gift of Grace. As she rose, she now noticed that she was being lifted to Heaven by 2 angles, one on each side, holding her arms. At the same time, her memories of everything that had ever happened to her from birth to the moment she died were presented to her like a video right in front of her eyes. (To this date, she can describe to you in detail what happened during those years; it's almost like she had photographic memory of everything that had ever happened to her, because she was shown everything. If you've met her during that time, she could tell you what you were wearing, what you guys were talking about, and many other things to incredible details.)

When she reached Heaven, she saw that the entired city, as described by the Apotle John in Revelation 21, glowed. There were no light source, the entire city had windows and gems as diamonds on the walls that were incredibly bright. The entire place was grand, beautiful, and brilliant. Then, the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to her in long brilliant robe... She was not able to see His face, because it was too brilliant... She recognized His voice and He said this to her, (paraphrase) "Joyce, you see, I've brought you to a place without tears, without sickness, without pain and sorrows, and have given you a perfect body that's incorruptable." But, as she looked back down to her hospital room, she said to Jesus, "But, there are so many people who may not get to know You!" She made her decision, though it would be perfect to stay, but, she knows she would be back soon. As she inhaled a deep breath, her soul and spirit went right back into her body and she awoke.

I ask her, did Jesus send you back to us with a mission? She said no. But, she did say that since she had seen Christ, she has had interesting visions of how God is going to do His work through her. Praise God for people like Joyce, who deeply loves those who God loves, especially those unreached. We don't talk about these incredible story for the sake of boasting. No, no, no. God's incredible works and unique experiences are meant to edify the Church. This is an encouragement that God is ever present with us. That as we ask for His 'spiritual eyes' to see spiritual things, we would appreciate what is important in life! Folks, if you think that you can place trust in your senses, (what you see is what you get), then you are missing most of this life! In fact, as divine paradox would expound, "Truth" lies deeper than what's obvious. Don't be fooled by the obvious!

As I pondered on what I just received, I was reminded of Apostle John, the disciple whom Jesus loved. He wrote the book of Revelation of Jesus Christ, the last book of the Holy Bible on the exile island of Patmos when he was 92. As I read of his description of Heavn detailed in Revelation 21, my curiousity went wild. I would've loved to take a lawn chair and sit on top of one of the gates in the Heavenly citadel and simple observe every little detail of the city and wave hi to the saints that are passing by. I would also love to lay in my lazy-boy recliner with Jesus and have Him explain to me of all the wisdom in how He designed the city... I would also love to meet Father Abraham, King David and his 30 mighty warriors, and all the beautiful saints...

Then my mind shifts to feeling sad for those who I know I may not see there... loved ones I know, perhaps family, perhaps friends, perhaps those I passed in the streets or helped at the hospital. The reality is that I may not see some of those I cared about in Heaven... As I read Revelation 21, this worry of mine became a reality. Like Joyce, we each are given a special and unique story to tell. Our story is like all other stories told in the Bible. There is a 'before Christ,' 'how Christ met us,' and 'after Christ.' Do you have a story to tell?! Please pray for God to give you wisdom, then tell it!

After all, as we read Revelation 21, though nearly 2000 years apart, the story of Joyce and Apostle John are curiously familiar:
"10 So he took me in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God and sparkled like a precious stone—like jasper as clear as crystal. 12 The city wall was broad and high, with twelve gates guarded by twelve angels. 18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city was pure gold, as clear as glass. 19 The wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious stones: the first was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. 21 The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single pearl! And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass. 22 I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light. 24 The nations will walk in its light, and the kings of the world will enter the city in all their glory. 25 Its gates will never be closed at the end of day because there is no night there. 26 And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. 27 Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life."

If you have questions, there is only one place to find answers! Pick up the Bible and start reading in the Gospel according to John, the 4th book in the New Testament. Don't ignore the tickle in your heart, your mind wants to know!

One last plug, it was amazing to get a glimpse into what happens after death, however, please keep in mind that Joyce is very much in the middle of her struggles each day. Please remember to lift her up in your prayers. May God's beautiful childrens come together to support and encourage one another! I will do the same.

(*) Answered Prayer. Yes, God loved us first.

God is so good. Thank you for praying for me. Remembered about a month ago on 4/24 I asked you to pray for me for a 'spirit of refreshment?' Well, let me share:

During this last year, I’ve seen a lot, done a lot, and also learned a lot. Working 80-100 hour per week for most of the year; traveled around the US (AZ, CA, OK, NY); witnessing lots of pains, suffering, and traumas; seeing the end result of depression, anxiety, suicidal attempts, years and years of not taking care of their bodies and let diseases run its course; dealing with people faking ‘medical needs’ to get attention or drugs. As a 3rd year medical student, I struggled to soak up everything I’m learning and it never seemed fast enough, while balancing with insecurities of not knowing enough and not knowing what to do… at times being afraid of doing the wrong thing while trying to help patients… inadequacy of not sure how to comfort patients as they suffer their pain and visibly see their hearts break… or getting embarrassed by the attending physician as he/she harshly correct your mis-knowledge ‘for your benefit.’ There is always the next level of excellence, and at times, your best is just not good enough.

As exhaustion sets in at the end of the school year, amidst life struggles, I was almost at the end of myself. I was so mentally and emotionally exhausted that asking for God’s help usually leads to rapid somnolence. I wondered to myself, what is all this medical stuff for? Why do we attempt to heal people and send them home… then what? They are just going to come back anyway? People have not taken good care of their bodies for all their lives, now they have some serious ‘preventable’ illnesses, and it’s now irreversible, how much good are we going to do for them? It’s like applying band-aid to heart surgery! What about those who are suffering emotional pain? What am I going to do for them? THERE HAD TO BE MORE THAN JUST HEALING TO THE BODY…

God had spoken to me and confirmed some of these passions that I have through many friends in Tulsa at the In His Image residency program. I love people and God had given me some ability to identify and understand pain. I have come to understand that pain demands faith. Reason, structure, or rule/law does not comfort pain. All people in pain need comfort, touch, and someone to just sit beside them and be compassionate.

When we treat people’s physical needs, they walk away feeling better. Patient ended up depended on the doctor. Yay doctor, you are the greatest, how can I live without you?
When you share Jesus with your patients as you treat their physical needs, they walk away feeling better and with an eternal hope. When you pray for them, you place the unknown in Jesus’ hands. You no longer claimed to be the healer; you help patients to understand that Jesus Christ is the healer. Patients ended up depended on Jesus. Yay, Jesus is the way, and we are just the instrument that is used to share His love!

When I was in Tulsa, I got to see how to be a Christian that happens to be a doctor as opposed to a doctor who’s a Christian. We had praise/worship and devotional times every morning before we started rounds and seeing our patients. I got to pray with my patients. We got to pray with family when a patient is going to die. The attending physicians join us and lead Bible studies. Doctors go all of the world for disaster relief trips… tsunamis, Katrina, Pakistan, China, and including Myanmar right now… I saw how to live out a fruitful Christian life and be a doctor as a way to facilitate healing of the body/mind/soul. I now see that medicine does not have to be an everlasting climb of the tower of excellence, and the endless provider of band-aids during heart surgery… I found that the love for medicine and people really is a LOVE DEEPLY ROOTED IN GOD. I seriously feel like I just got back from church camp!

So, GOD GAVE ME REFRESHMENT! You see, He answered your prayers and my prayers… You can never say again that God doesn’t answer prayers! I am now ready to study for my tests and I am totally looking forward for this coming year! I am very excited! To Him be all of the glory.

(*) WOW

Ever feel helpless living life as a Christian and seeing how corrupt the world is becoming? The report that we often hear about the rise of Islam and the diminishing Christian influences in the news/media/universities... Well, I've recently got an encouraging news... here is how it works. I think this will encourage you too, or at least get that hamster wheel rolling...

So, in 33AD, Jesus' time, there was about 120 committed believers who are sold out to do God's work. There was 1 committed church. There was 60,000 unreached people groups who have never heard the Good News (out of a total of 200,000 people on earth). The ratio of commited sold-out believers to unreached people groups was... 1 to 59,999!

Now, 2008AD, there are 700 million commited believers who are sold out for Christ, which is about 10% of the world's population of 7 billion. There are about 7 million committed churches. There are about 7,000 unreached people groups. That makes the ratio of committed Christ-followers to unreached people group to be... 1000 to 1!

What should we do about that?

Another fascinating thought: since the beginning of the world to about early 1900's, the world's total population has remained under 1 billion people. In Christ's time on earth, there was about 200,000 total people on earth; that was 1AD. Within the last 100 years the population went from 1 billion to almost 7 billion! It basically EXPLODED! According to some scientists, the planet earth as God had created could sustain a total of about 9-11 billion people... So... WHAT IS HAPPENING TO US? WHY ARE WE MAXING OUT NOW! SPIRITUAL IMPLICATIONS, ANYONE? ANYONE?

(*) !POWER!

Ever thought of what POWER is? Here is a perspective for you: the display of Christ's power is meant to start from the GRASS-ROOTS! What do I mean by that?

Right before Jesus Christ was taken up into Heaven at the end of His physical ministry on earth, He was asked one question (Acts 1:6-8): "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom of Israel?" Then, Jesus replied, "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Alright, allow me to expand on this by some questions:

1. What kind of 'Kingdom' are people looking for then, what about now?
2. Why did Jesus correlate the Holy Spirit with 'POWER?'
3. What will 'you' (or us as readers) do with the 'POWER' of the Holy Spirit?
4. Where will the power of the Holy Spirit take us?

So, here are my proposed answers:

1. To put the verse into historical context, Middle-Eastern cultures and people groups desired literal display of POWER... such as the 'Kingdom of Israel,' 'Kingdom of Assyria'... When the walls of Jerusalem was broken down, Israelites cry and torn their cloth to display shame. Today, Muslims consider it shameful that a visible and literal kingdom of Islam on earth under Shar'ia law is not a reality. Our nature is to desire domination and control. We want a powerful authority structure that give us visible POWER and GLORY from the TOP-DOWN. Look at the world around you, as the bumper sticker says, "The person die with most toys wins."
2. Holy Spirit brings POWER to us... Holy Spirit is the ENCOURAGER and the COUSELOR. Holy Spirit is the POWER we need to be VICTORIOUS over ANY and ALL FEARS.
3. The Power of the Holy Spirit WILL allow us and make us into Jesus Christ's WITNESSES.
4. The Power of the Holy Spirit, that removes all FEARs, will take us to the 'ends of the earth.'

So, the Power that Christ brings through the Holy Spirit is from BOTTOM-UP, which WILL make us into FEARLESS WITNESSES. It's a grass-root movement! If you don't notice it, then have got to ask yourself, am I part of it?!

(*) Faithfulness

God's "F"aithfulness abounds! When we are Faithful to God (Father, Christ, Holy Spirit) in and through our tough times, we are actually the 'image' of God to those around us! I understand that we may just be trying to survive from situation to situation and are not necessary thinking about what others are thinking as they watch us go through stuff. But, when we are Faithful to our Lord through how we handle and experience hardship, we are 'In His Image' as a representation of Him to those around us.

Father Abraham when he was asked to sacrifice his son Issac, Abraham obeyed and trusted the Lord to provide regardless of the consequence. He was called the 'Father of Faith!' I don't think he had in his mind to be called that. But, through his display of Faithfulness, we saw God's Faithfulness. Thus, the ability to be Faithful in any situation is ONLY from GOD and it's a HOLY GIFT. I want to encourage YOU. When you are Faithful to our Lord even when nothing feels right... you're displaying a GIFT of GOD and GOD IS WITH YOU EXACTLY WHERE YOU ARE!!!

BE FAITHFUL AS THE FATHER IS FAITHFUL. WE ARE A 'LITERAL' IMAGE OF GOD.

(*) I got some E-mails from King David

"E," as in Encouragement. I’ve got some Email from the Lord. I don’t know where you receive encouragement when you are down… but for me, many times it comes from nature, it comes from talking with family and friends, it comes during quiet times spent with the Lord, or it could come out of interesting passages in the Bible. Something is for sure, it always comes at times least expected and when I needed it the most.

Have you ever read the Psalms? It is considered a holy book for Christians, Jews and Muslims. King David was a mighty warrior whom our LORD loved. He was Israel's 2nd king and the greatest. There were only a few kings (less than the number of fingers on your one hand) after him who reveres the Lord as he did. David was chosen at a very young age, being the youngest in the family (and a shepherd boy) and from the youngest and smallest tribe of Israel, Benjamin. God chose him. We are also chosen. (When He says in the Word that He choose the weak to humble the strong, He wasn't kidding!) So, we all heard of the story of David vs Goliath, David's adultery with Bathsheba, David's murder of Bathsheba’s husband (who was an righteous and brave man), the consequence of David's sin as told by the prophet Nathan, and the rest of his life displayed to us how 'consequence of sin' can ruin someone's life even in the light of God's redeeming grace.

David was a man of God and we have no doubt that he has been REDEEMED and SANCTIFIED. However, as we read in history, he was a 'fearless and brave king' yet very much 'troubled.' More than half of the Psalms were written by David to express his heart to his Savior, our God. As I’m reading the Psalms, I’ve realized that we are so free to express our hurts and anger to God, as well as our knowledge of how our God had provided for us. Now, bear in mind, these Psalms are made to be SONGS of worship and fellowship. Traditionally, Jews memorize them by the first line of the Psalm. So, once the first line is recited, everyone knows which Psalm to sing. As you read it, may they encourage you also. Many times I am also reminded that all the frustrations, anger and disappoints that I accumulate in my heart could very well be a song of worship and fellowship to our God. We are LOVED totally and completely. He takes us as we are! Our salvation is SURE. So, here are some excerpts that encouraged me.

Psalm 42
[b] As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

3 My tears have been my food day and night,

5 Why are you downcast, O my soul?

Why so disturbed within me?

Put your hope in God

Psalm 51:7-12
7 Purify me from my sins,[c] and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
8 Oh, give me back my joy again;
you have broken me—now let me rejoice.
9 Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence,
and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you.

Psalm 56:3-4
3 But when I am afraid,
I will put my trust in you.
4 I praise God for what he has promised.
I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?
What can mere mortals do to me?

Psalm 57:9-11
9 I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.
I will sing your praises among the nations.
10 For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens.
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
11 Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.
May your glory shine over all the earth.

(*) Balancing Life?

Life hanging in balance? I think God in His wisdom is trying to show us that what seems impossible is possible! This is the famous Big Balanced Rock in Chiricahua National Monument in southern AZ. To get to take a picture of this rock, I had to hike a difficult trail for ~4 miles. The diameter of this rock is 22 feet, height of 25 feet, and weights about 1,000 tons. It is standing, unassisted, on a point probably no wider than 3 feet wide.

I was reminded of God's beauty and creativity today as my thoughts trailed to several pleasant and unique memories I had in this park. To be honest without dipping into details, this past year had probably been the hardest year for me so far in my 28 years. I have experienced things more difficult than I can comprehend. Things in life didn't make sense. Previously, if I had tried my best and done my best, things tend to work out. But, this last year, something happened that forced me to think differently. There are times, things don't work out, even if we try our best. These are times we ask God lots of questions as a reaction to trying to understand our pain. I thought, shouldn't God or couldn't God have done something to help me avoid pain? I ask, could I have done things differently for a better result? If you understand what I am talking about, then I presume that we may perhaps be companions in this journey together.

Consider the Book of Job, one of the oldest in the Bible. Job went through tremendous loss and grief. He had smart friends who argued philosophy and manipulated ideas. His friends accused Job with that bad things happen to people who 'missed the mark.' However, Job was a person of integrity and a person who loves God. Through all his pain, he NEVER cursed God. But, Job did cursed himself. As the story continues, God answered Job by asking him a serie of questions. Such as: who created the heavens and the earth, who gave life to various animals and set them free to roam, who tells the ocean to come thus far and no farther... These questions seemed so simple and fundamental, but, Job cannot answer them; I would assert that even in our understanding of mathematics and physics and biology, we cannot answer these questions either. What we do know is that if we can't understand simple things, why do we try to grasp the mystries of God?

God made creation to reveal His beauty, wisdom, and humor; and He also made them as a WITNESS and a Testamony to us! Imagine, His creations are witnessing to His beloved regarding His love and His REDEEMING GRACE.

Here is another point, if you understand this one as related to pain, we should be friends! (Alan taught me this one) "Life as we have grown accustom to says that things work out when we do our best (like Newtonian Physics, A+B=C). But, spiritual growth comes when pain happens eventhough we did our best (like Quantum Mechanics and Einstein's relativity, non-linear). To those faithful ones, consider Psalm 44:17 "All this happened to us, though we had not forgotten You or been false to Your covenant." King David had an understanding of quantum mechanics as related to the spiritual journey.

So, as I was camping in the Chiricahua, I threw a sleeping bag into the bed of my truck and fell asleep to the serenate of rustling leaves under the nightlight of a smiling moon. I dreamt of a God that blew me gentle kisses and embraced me within the soft caressing breeze. Amidst my pains and sorrows, His gentle embrace melts me into His love and ease the wells of tears from my eyes. I am no longer held down by the depressive emotional chains that dragged and ripped away chunks of my heart and grind down the wings of my mind. In His Love and Grace I am being set free. I often think about the ones that took a different path and pray for their heart's willingness to be led by God back to His arms' sweet embrace. Like this Big Balanced Rock, God is witnessing to me once again and reminding me to Trust Him always and place my Delight in Him.