Renewal

Coming back to it

2009-07-21T11:49:00.000-07:00

With my time and my thoughts increasingly committed to the changes in the past 5 months (Jadee was born!) as well as the mounting combination of distractions as both my car and Lynn's car suffered damages or vandals, this blog has been left untouched and almost ignored. I wonder who still reads this as even I don't come back to it.

However, as the dust settles, and I have spare 5 or 10 minutes between tasks, I had the chance to look back on what I wrote in the past 3 years on this blog. Surely a lot has changed since. I spend more time on facebook than on blogster. But I still like the room and sense of calm as it's more private that blogster provides.

This morning, I was reading Psalm 90 during our daily morning prayer meeting at work.
v 12 "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

Looking back on my past entries, they make me feel that time had stood still as these things seemed to happen just yesterday. So what happened to my recent activities?

Now is a good time to revisit the idea of making everyday count...

Porche Cayman S?

2009-01-08T16:43:00.001-08:00

Okok, no, this is not my car. But this is a very nice car indeed. This is my customer's car which he drove over for a diagnostic test and trouble shooting on a traffic controller. I drove this car briefly to get to our destination for lunch. This is the first time I drove a mid-mounted engine sports car and I must say the experience is very good. The car has sports mode that stiffens up the suspension as well as fuel remapping for more spirited drives.

We took a few hard corners and the chassis has very minimal body roll.

The power of the car is good for a daily driver and nice for this 3000 lbs car. Very nice indeed...

First business trip in 2009

2009-01-06T12:02:00.000-08:00

Already?

I guess it's a good thing with everything else considered.

Our first Christmas and hot pot in the new apt

2008-12-25T11:57:00.000-08:00

For some reason, my craving for spicy hotpot is insatiable as the weather gets colder everyday... hehe

My plan is to eat hot pot everyday during this 1 1/2 week off from work.

Merry Christmas, everyone! He is the reason for the season!!!

2008 RDX Tech

2008-12-24T11:44:00.000-08:00

Ok, so it took me a while to upload the photos of Lynn's new car. So far, I've been the primary driver of this car as we plan to transfer her Solara to her mom over the first weekend in 2009. The RDX drives like a sports car. Accelerates quickly and corners well with very little body roll. We are still taking it very easy on the accelerator and iVtec has not kicked in at all so far (4500rpm). The ride, however, is a bit stiff. I guess we'll learn to live with that.

2009 TL

2008-12-23T16:30:00.000-08:00

Relax, I didn't buy this elephant looking car. This is the loaner I got from Weir Canyon Acura for our recent purchase of an 08 RDX. Oh, forgot to mention that... Lynn and I planned to get the RDX before the sales tax increase starting in Jan 09 so that we will be ready for the arrival of our baby princess Jadee. The car is actually at the dealer's body shop because there was a scratch on the rear bumper when we took the delivery of the car past Sunday.

We are expecting to return this loaner and get the RDX back tomorrow. So I took a few snaps of the car as a record. The interior of the car looks really nice. The exterior... well, maybe it will take a while to like the exterior. This TL is the non ShAWD version with 280hp. The car handles well through the corners, but is not as fast on the straight line.

All in all, I am happy that Lynn is happy with the RDX. And I'm also happy that we didn't get the TL.

排骨飯

2008-12-18T12:14:00.001-08:00

In case I forget where this is:
http://www.wretch.cc/blog/witch0810/9178736

炸醬麵

2008-11-06T17:10:00.000-08:00

http://bbs.moninet.com.tw/board/topic.cgi?forum=123&topic=116&show=200

海角七號

2008-10-22T15:03:00.000-07:00

一九四五年十二月二十五日
友子，太陽已經完全沒入了海面
我真的已經完全看不見台灣島了
你還站在那裡等我嗎？

友子
請原諒我這個懦弱的男人
從來不敢承認我們兩人的相愛
我甚至已經忘記
我是如何迷上那個不照規定理髮
而惹得我大發雷霆的女孩了
友子
你固執不講理、愛玩愛流行
我卻如此受不住的迷戀你
只是好不容易你畢業了
我們卻戰敗了
我是戰敗國的子民
貴族的驕傲瞬間墮落為犯人的枷
我只是個窮教師
為何要揹負一個民族的罪
時代的宿命是時代的罪過
我只是個窮教師
我愛你，卻必須放棄你

第三天
該怎麼克制自己不去想你
你是南方艷陽下成長的學生
我是從飄雪的北方渡洋過海的老師
我們是這麼的不同
為何卻會如此的相愛
我懷念艷陽…我懷念熱風...
我猶有記憶你被紅蟻惹毛的樣子
我知道我不該嘲笑你
但你踩著紅蟻的樣子真美
像踩著一種奇幻的舞步
憤怒、強烈又帶著輕挑的嬉笑…
友子，我就是那時愛上你的…
多希望這時有暴風
把我淹沒在這台灣與日本間的海域
這樣我就不必為了我的懦弱負責

友子
才幾天的航行
海風所帶來的哭聲已讓我蒼老許多
我不願離開甲板，也不願睡覺
我心裡已經做好盤算
一旦讓我著陸
我將一輩子不願再看見大海
海風啊，為何總是帶來哭聲呢？
愛人哭、嫁人哭、生孩子哭
想著你未來可能的幸福我總是會哭
只是我的淚水
總是在湧出前就被海風吹乾
湧不出淚水的哭泣，讓我更蒼老了
可惡的風
可惡的月光
可惡的海

十二月的海總是帶著憤怒
我承受著恥辱和悔恨的臭味
陪同不安靜地晃盪
不明白我到底是歸鄉
還是離鄉！

傍晚，已經進入了日本海
白天我頭痛欲裂
可恨的濃霧
阻擋了我一整個白天的視線
而現在的星光真美
記得你才是中學一年級小女生時
就膽敢以天狗食月的農村傳說
來挑戰我月蝕的天文理論嗎？
再說一件不怕你挑戰的理論
你知道我們現在所看到的星光
是自幾億光年遠的星球上
所發射過來的嗎？
哇，幾億光年發射出來的光
我們現在才看到
幾億光年的台灣島和日本島
又是什麼樣子呢？
山還是山，海還是海
卻不見了人
我想再多看幾眼星空
在這什麼都善變的人世間裡
我想看一下永恆
遇見了要往台灣避冬的烏魚群
我把對你的相思寄放在其中的一隻
希望你的漁人父親可以捕獲
友子，儘管他的氣味辛酸
你也一定要嚐一口
你會明白...
我不是拋棄你，我是捨不得你
我在眾人熟睡的甲板上反覆低喃
我不是拋棄你，我是捨不得你

天亮了，但又有何關係
反正日光總是帶來濃霧
黎明前的一段恍惚
我見到了日後的你韶華已逝
日後的我髮禿眼垂
晨霧如飄雪，覆蓋了我額上的皺紋
驕陽如烈焰，焚枯了你秀髮的烏黑
你我心中最後一點餘熱完全凋零
友子…
請原諒我這身無用的軀體

海上氣溫16度
風速12節、水深97米
已經看見了幾隻海鳥
預計明天入夜前我們即將登陸
友子…
我把我在台灣的相簿都留給你
就寄放在你母親那兒
但我偷了其中一張
是你在海邊玩水的那張
照片裡的海沒風也沒雨
照片裡的你，笑得就像在天堂
不管你的未來將屬於誰
誰都配不上你
原本以為我能將美好回憶妥善打包
到頭來卻發現我能攜走的只有虛無
我真的很想妳！
啊，彩虹！
但願這彩虹的兩端
足以跨過海洋，連結我和妳

友子，我已經平安著陸
七天的航行
我終於踩上我戰後殘破的土地
可是我卻開始思念海洋
這海洋為何總是站在
希望和滅絕的兩個極端
這是我的最後一封信
待會我就會把信寄出去
這容不下愛情的海洋
至少還容得下相思吧！
友子，我的相思你一定要收到
這樣你才會原諒我一點點
我想我會把你放在我心裡一輩子
就算娶妻、生子
在人生重要的轉折點上
一定會浮現…

你提著笨重的行李逃家
在遣返的人潮中，你孤單地站著
你戴著那頂...
存了好久的錢才買來的白色針織帽
是為了讓我能在人群中發現你吧！
我看見了…我看見了…
你安靜不動地站著
你像七月的烈日
讓我不敢再多看你一眼
你站得如此安靜
我刻意冰涼的心，卻又頓時燃起
我傷心，又不敢讓遺憾流露
我心裡嘀咕，嘴巴卻一聲不吭
我知道，思念這庸俗的字眼
將如陽光下的黑影
我逃他追…我追他逃…
一輩子

我會假裝你忘了我
假裝你將你我的過往
像候鳥一般從記憶中遷徙
假裝你已走過寒冬迎接春天
我會假裝…
一直到自以為一切都是真的！
然後…
祝你一生永遠幸福

It's a girl... maybe?

2008-09-25T19:13:00.000-07:00

19 weeks and 3 days! That's right, Lynn is getting big... well, bigger. She's still pretty small, but not that small... okok, you know what I mean. I went with Lynn for her first ultra sound this afternoon and our baby was very very active. We had a difficult time trying to tell whether it's a boy or a girl. The baby was moving left and right, up and down, doing somersaults inside Lynn's growing tummy. The nurse had to take a lot of still shots so that we can see more clearly. She was shy like her mother, placing her hands in front of her face and moving away from the "camera." So tentatively, with all the evidence and observations, we think we are having a girl. I guess we might still need more time so that we can see more clearly. Our babygirl is now weigning 10 oz. Just slightly bigger than a small mineral water bottle.

With her acrobatic show of display inside Lynn's tummy. Maybe she'll be a gymast? How about a singer?

15 weeks!!

2008-09-08T23:36:00.000-07:00

By God's grace, our baby is steady at 15 weeks!!! Ultrasound is in another three weeks where Lynn and I will find out if we have a boy or a girl.

Thank you for all of you who kept us in prayers. Here's a picture of our baby to share our joy with you.

Thank you, God.

2008 G35S

2008-09-08T12:23:00.000-07:00

Before dealer replaced my bumper: notice the opening on the driver side bottom for ICC sensor
After dealer replaced and re-aligned the fitment. The ICC sensor is now covered behind the grill and functioning.

What's up with me lately

2008-08-11T16:24:00.000-07:00

Lots of things happened the in past 3 months... Lynn is 3 month pregnant, we moved from West Covina to Rowland Heights and Glenn moved to Costa Mesa, I was originally looking to refinance my car for a better rate, but I traded it in for an 08 instead with much better rates....

With work, God began another purging process to weed out the weak links and we are in the process of getting new recruits that adds assets.

Stay tuned.

Homelink Mirror

2008-05-13T15:56:00.000-07:00

The dealer told me that it was not possible to install homelink mirror if it didn't come with one...

Just another testament to show that they don't know what they're talking about.

Past Retreat

2008-04-28T15:56:00.000-07:00

Proberbs 30: 7-9
7 "Two things I ask of you, O LORD;
do not refuse me before I die:

8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.

9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, 'Who is the LORD ?'
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.

箴言30:7-9

7 我求你兩件事，在我未死之先，不要不賜給我：

8 求你使虛假和謊言遠離我；使我也不貧窮也不富足；賜給我需用的飲食，

9 恐怕我飽足不認你，說：耶和華是誰呢？又恐怕我貧窮就偷竊，以致褻瀆我　神的名。

My dream of Po

2008-03-04T14:54:00.000-08:00

I wanted to write this down earlier but has been kept from updating my blog. After coming back from two out of state trips in two weeks, and reading aunt Evelyn's post about Po in her dream, I decided to finally take some time out and share this:

This happened on the night of 02/14/08.

I saw Po, standing and smiling at me. She looked young and as in her 20s (maybe). The background is peacefully white and comfortable. I can see clouds and blue sky, but it is meshed together.

We didn't do anything at first. She looked at me and had a brilliant but yet kind smile on her face. And I said: "Po, I have so many things I wanted to say to you." She kindly responded, "I know..."

Before she proceed as if she knew to comfort me, I continued, tears coming down my cheeks: "I felt so bad and sorry that I didn't get to tell you how much I loved you and how I wished that I could be there when your body was weak." By this time, I was crying out loud.

She smiled again, and kindly answered: "I know, and it's ok. Because now I'm in a better place." And then I remembered that she embraced me while I was crying, just like when she held me when I was little. I felt warm. I felt peace.

And then, I woke up. She didn't say anything more but what she said was enough.

When Po passed away, I asked God to let Po talk to me in my dreams to tell me that she is ok. That prayer was not immediately answered at the time. I suppose that God wants me to have time to grief. And one month later, God allowed me to see Po in my dream.

She has gone ahead of me to be with Jesus. And I will see her again. It was a comfort for me to have this dream. I am blessed as I woke up only to find traces of tears in the corners of my eyes yet with the assurance that Po is forever in a better place.

Praise be to God.

New updates coming...

2008-02-05T14:18:00.000-08:00

I've been reinstalling computers for the entire week last week for my work desktop and my notebook which caught a virus in on the last day in Taiwan (from my brother's usb drive whom he got it from my dad's computer).

Had been working on another computer for a co-worker who was complaining about his notebook being weird (please define weird) and now I'm finally done with all the Microsoft/windows/updates/virus cleaning bit. And am able to catch up on my work.

I took quite a bit of picture while I was in Taiwan. So stay tuned and I'll get those posted soon.

Back to the US: EVA Air's Hello Kitty Gate

2008-01-28T23:36:00.000-08:00

It was a short trip, but it was a valuable trip as I've not spent this much time with my families for a very very long time. Lynn and I are actually exhausted by the time those pictures were taken.
Enjoy the pictures.

Family reunited Part III

2008-01-27T17:24:00.000-08:00

Today is the last day that Lynn and I will stay in Taiwan. So we met up with dad after the lunch with my aunts, uncles, and my mom at Brother's Hotel.

The food at Brother's hotel is know for its Taiwanese authenticity.

As we say farewell, let me leave with pictures worth your drool.

Going off the tangent here a bit. We went to Taipei main station to pick up my Wii and found that this is going off.

One Million Star wannabe?

Po, we celebrate your life!

2008-01-26T16:36:00.000-08:00

I haven't been to Yi-Lan for probably 30 years. Today was the reason why we came back.

This morning, all my family on my mom's side gather before day break at po's church as we prepare for the service.

Uncle Chu made a tribute to po with his sax. We took the chartered mini bus to the cremation location, ate an all vegetable lunch, picked up Po's ashes, for which I was given the distinctive honor, and headed for Yi-Lan.

Po is to be buried with her beloved husband, my garndfather whom I've never met. Lots of memories came back. But Po will be remembered for the life that she lived and how she has impacted my life as she brought me up since I was one month old.

Family reunited Part II

2008-01-25T16:21:00.000-08:00

Had lunch with dad, Peggy, Glenn, and Lynn in the afternoon on this eve before po's funeral service. It has been years since we all ate at the same table with dad.

After the lunch, Peggy and Glenn went back to po's place while Lynn and I went to Gong-Guan to shop for some umbrellas and overcoat. We got a $100NT umbrella. The shop owner tells us that it will break down in 2 to 3 uses (which turns out to be the case) and it was enough to satisfy our needs for the funeral tomorrow.

As a bonus to the visit to Gong-Guan, I got this "sausage wrapped in rice sausage" that is really goos and spicy (see above picture).

Friends reunited

2008-01-24T15:52:00.000-08:00

Time is short on this trip back to Taiwan. So we immediately met up with Steve and Emily after Peggy and Glenn landed in the morning. We all took public transportation to the Taipei main station and met up at this Old style Taiwanese themed restaurant (see picture below). To make a long story short. Pictures worth a thousand words tells the journey.

Family reunited Part I

2008-01-24T15:35:00.000-08:00

This is the first family reunion in Taipei with Peggy and Glenn landing in the morning. We went to po's temporary lin-wei to paid respect and had lunch together with all the aunts and uncles on my mom's side.

It has been more than 20 years to have everyone reunited on the same table.

Po, you are dearly missed. And this table is held in your honor.

After lunch, we decided to walk back to po's place. If you look toward the far end, you can see the Taipei 101 building covered in thick fog.

First update in Taipei

2008-01-23T14:55:00.000-08:00

This is the first day that I actually remembered to bring my camera with me as Lynn and I went out on a quest to eat some of the famous food in Taipei. Lynn and I bought some books yesterday from Eslite Bookstore (Ren-Ai store) and one of them is a set of reviews for the best local eateries. So following its recommendations, we took the bus and went to YongKang Street and begin our quest with "Liao's Beef stew noodle."

The book said that this place had lines all the time, sure enough, there was a line outside. This is a good sign.

We got there just in time before a large crowd lined up behind us. It was already 1:30 in the afternoon.
Side dishes, famous too.
Beef Stew noodle, clear broth. Interestinly enough, they don't offer the soy based broth. It was good, but not that good to wait in line for. I think the side dishes were better, however, I could've easily ordered the side dishes to go.
Lynn ordered dried noodles.

After the "lunch feast," (I was SO full) we walked toward YongKang St. to continue the quest for famous little shops.

Before we begin our quest, we made a quick pit stop to take "cleanse" ourselves. To justify our stay, I ordered some donuts and coffee at "Mister Donut" just for show. Okok, we ate some too. But brought back a box.
Alright, on with the quest. Here's the cute baby Lynn.

This Boba drink cart is one of the best ones in Taipei. The secret is in mixture of milk and creamer. Definitely worth a try if you ever had a chance.

Right across from the Boba place is the "King of Taro." We were so full and had to ordered them to go. However, as it ended up, we didn't eat this in time before we leave. So I asked the hotel personnel to toss them out come Sunday.

This Crispy Salted Chicken is right on Da-An St. We waited til all the food had digested and came to get those at night time. Not bad, there was a line for this.

Paying respect to po (grandma)

2008-01-21T15:47:00.000-08:00

Lynn and I landed in Taipei safely late last night.

Today we went to pay our respect to po who I missed dearly.

My Dell D420 6 Cell battery is dying

2008-01-18T11:05:00.000-08:00

I got this in September of 2006 and it is beginning to lose the ability to hold a charge. It was $85 from Dell in 2006. Now it's $140... so I did a little search online and ordered the best Dell Original battery I can find for the lowest price of $80 + $6 shipping.

I will be leaving for Taiwan tomorrow. So I guess I'll pack the extended battery for this stay.

Going back to Taiwan

2008-01-16T15:18:00.000-08:00

I just came back from a two day business trip to Oregon and had just booked my flight online last night to go back to Taiwan for my grandma's funeral.

Lynn and I will be departing from LAX on 1/19/08 and return to the US on 1/27/08. My emotions seemed to stabilize when I'm working. This is God's grace for me.

Still got tons of things to do at work.

Heartache

2008-01-13T14:55:00.000-08:00

I got a call at noon today while I was still in the middle of Sunday service.

My grandma had passed away over the weekend. She was 83 years young. I just turned 35 years old yesterday. I wished I was there in her last days. From what I can gather from the conversation with my mom, she passed away peacefully and probably in her sleep.

But I cannot stop crying. My eyes simply refuse to follow my commands. My heart aches...

I remember that in 2006, when I was visiting her, I silently ask the Lord to allowed me to get married sooner so that my grandma can see that I've found a nice girl who will care for me and love me. At the same time, I asked her if she believed in Jesus as her Savior. She smiled and said, "yes."

So the Lord allowed me to get married in 2007. And my grandma was able to share with my joy. For my honeymoon, we were able to spend a few quality days walking around the streets of Taipei. She even bargained on my behalf when Lynn and I were buying shoes. She was my dearest grandma, my favorite person in the whole world.

All these memories of her seemed to wash over me as if though they happened yesterday. They don't seem to fade away. From when I was a little kid in I-Lan to when me and Glenn would walk to her place on Saturday afternoons, to when she took us to the mall and spend the Sunday afternoons there. To when she saw us off to go to the US in 1986. She told me that she was so emotional that she wanted to get on the airplane and come with me...

I thought I would go back to Taiwan with Lynn to see her again in May of this year.... and now I can't see her anymore. Not this lifetime anyway.

Lord, I know that because she believed in You she's now with You in heaven. She's in a better place now and I shall see her again.

It's just that... how do I stop from crying?

Thank you, all, for praying for me.

First time in 3 years...

2007-12-28T17:18:00.000-08:00

Today is the last work day for me for the year 2007. And in about 40 minutes, I have a 4 day weekend to look forward to. It's interesting how this year comes and go so quickly. For the past 3 years in the row, I spent the last week of the year and the first week of the year away in Taiwan. This year I even get an extra week of vacation because I've worked here for more than 5 years. And yet I chose to work on the last week of the year, and consequently, on the first week of the year next week.

Looking back, I have a lot of things to be thankful for. And I got married, finally, this year (hehe). I sometimes still feel like I'm in a dream. And I'm thankful that this dream has come true.

So for 2008. I have a whole new life waiting ahead for me and my new family. Thank you all for visiting my blog, despite my seldom and decreasing entries toward the latter part of the year. God bless you!

My first Christmas holiday with Lynn in Las Vegas

2007-12-26T16:37:00.001-08:00

12- 22-2007
This is my first Christmas weekend spent at Las Vegas. In fact, this is a first among many things: first time going to Vegas after married; first time going to Vegas with Lynn; first time that I drove close to 7 hours in stationary traffic on Saturday afternoon to get to Vegas, first time that I actually got the stuff animals from completing tasks, and first time I actually gambled... well, Lynn played Roulette for the first time... and we won $59. Oh ya, first time, and probably the last, to stay at Excalibur (gonna be Rio from now on). I didn't really expect much from the Vegas trip. But it did matter that the cute and adorable Lynn was with me the whole time. And it made a warm and unforgettable memory of Vegas which is very different than what I had in mind for my past lifetime. I've been to Vegas too many times to count, mostly for business reasons. I got in and got out as quickly as I could in the past. And for this trip, I even wanted to stay longer as I felt that the "fun" just gotten started when we left on Christmas Eve. So to make a long story short, the photos do "kind of" tell a story as these are only the photos from my camera. Many more photos were taken with Lynn's camera as well as Eric's camera. That's right, E2 were there as well as Jeffrey, Stacy, Michelle, and Victor. We met up afterwards as they arrive late on Sunday night.So, we finally got to Excalibur....

And had the "Round table Buffet" there. The food was actually not bad for $18 a person. Complete with a prime rib carving station. The entire setting clicks on to my imagination to think that I was eating with Kings and Knights. This made the food much more enjoyable (plus, we were very very hungry). Sometimes it's not the finesse of the food that cause me to remember it. While was I was eating here, I was reminded of actually my childhood years in Taipei when my parents prepared the food and cleaned the house for Chinese New Years (too much detail to tell you how I link this buffet to Chinese food). It wasn't the best food I had. But it was memorable enough that I remember and hunger for similar ways of cooking close to 30 years afterwards. I really enjoyed it with Lynn. Despite being dreadfully tired after a 7 hour drive. Lynn and I went to play for stuffed animals, won some, and had some drinks (Long Island and AMF). Tonight was a good night and a good start of our first Christmas together.

12-23-2007
The second day was even better:

We started out trying to get to the Buffet at Paris... but the line was ridiculously long. I didn't feel like wasting half a day just to stay in line to eat something for $28. So Lynn and I went to this Chinese buffet that I saw on the strip as I was driving toward Paris. It was $12.99 but nothing to take photos about. One of the things about that buffet... the creamed baked mussels... which Lynn liked. So we saved time, money, and got something that we liked. Not so shabby, eh?

There were a lot of little shops there. There was a car rental place that rents Ferrari's and Lamborghini. We walked around a bit and went to see this new Casino: Planet Hollywood.
This is called the "Halo." from a very far distance. It looks like the crystal formed ball was hanging on nothing. Reminds me of how God hangs the world upon nothing... If I thought this was impressive, I can't wait to see how God makes things work when that day comes, hehe.
This is not a great shot of the shops there. But this is the only one I have on my camera. The shops in PH was actually very nicely done and grand.

Lovely Lynn.
And this ball of crystals changes color.
After Planet Hollywood, we walked across the street to Bellagio. Photos were mostly taken with Lynn's camera. So the only two photos I have are here. Bellagio spared no expense to make the entire lobby, gardens, and shops to reflect the feeling of Christmas. Maybe I'll get to upload these photos later and you'll know what I mean.

And there was a water dance specifically in the Christmas theme.
We walked for a few hours and felt that our feet were tired. So we retired to the hotel, waiting for Jeffrey and Eric to call us to meet up for dinner. Possibly a more elegant buffet.

As it turns out. The drive to Vegas today was just as congested as yesterday's. Eric and Jeffrey both didn't arrive early enough to stay in line for any buffet. So we went to eat upscale Chinese food with Eric's family, Michelle, and Victor. After dinner, we retired to Eric's father (Ben)'s suite in Rio. Michelle hosted a little fun game for us as we chat and drank some beer. When it was time for them to hit the Casino's, Lynn and I went back to Excalibur to call it a night. Tonight was a good, clean fun night.

Can anything top this?
Well, on the third day, it did.

12-24-2007
Exhausted from last night's many activities, we had to scramble to get up, clean up, and make sure that checks out the hotel by 11am. Lynn and I then made way to Paris to give it a last shot for the French style buffet. When we got there at 11:30 and looking at the available parking spaces, we were encouraged to believe that there weren't as many people as the day before.

Yeah, while that was true. The line to the buffet was just nearly as long... with a much reduced price tag: $17.99 per person. After some discussion, the E2 family and Michelle decided to join us.

So... after about an hour and a half we got to the Le Village Buffet sign. We didn't get in until almost 2pm. And things turned out to our benefits and to the restaurant's detriments...

We found out that even though the line outside is incredibly long, there were actually a lot of empty tables near us. It seems that they are controlling on the number of people that can get in for lunch so that they can stiff you with a dinner package by the time you get admitted. Well, it seems that we got in at just the right time! It was toward the end of the lunch period and before too long, dinner menu were out in the stations.

So we ended up having a combination of lunch and dinner for the price of... lunch.

Now...

This was a great day!
And on top of it. Lynn and I went to Rio hearing all the successful stories over lunch for a bit of luck. And Lynn won $59 on her first try at Roulette, this was enough to cover the expenses for today. So...

This was a great day!

Stay tuned. I'll be posting more often on this blog.

First business trip as a married man

2007-11-08T17:09:00.000-08:00

My first business trip after coming back from honeymoon (um, did I take pics? ya... I took some... stay tuned) is in Atlanta, GA. This is also my first business trip as a married man. And I do miss my dear Lynn very very dearly.

My job this time is to trouble shoot a network at a water treatment plant just an hour north of the city. As a surprise to me, I got an upgrade on my rental car to a "specialty" car because Hertz ran out of the mid size cars that I originally reserved.

Below are photos that I took of the red convertible Toyota Solara rental and the nice sceneries as I drive to the water plant.

I guess this would be a start to get my blog back to active state from its long neglected state. Enjoy the photos!

Getting married!!

2007-10-06T21:46:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for attending our wedding. Lynn and I are grateful for your blessings.

We spent our first night at Pacific Palms at the King Executive Suite. It has a great view of the city for both night and days.

We are now off to Taiwan for our honeymoon. I'll try to update with photos when possible. Thank you!

----
Finally, I've managed to get some hotel photos of Pacific Palms up here. These are the views from the 10th floor:

These are the two photos that I took with my phone (uploaded 01-02-08, finally)
This is the Taipei 101 as viewed from our walk from the hotel.
Fuzzy picture with Lynn. My cute wife.

Busy schedule

2007-08-07T23:28:00.000-07:00

I've been so busy lately at work. But it's a fulfilling feeling. Learning, advancing, moving forward... Tomorrow, I'm leaving town to Washington DC for one day, and then, going to Connecticut, and going to NY on business visits. This is a last minute notice, but God was gracious, flight tickets were available when I booked today... and... not that expensive.

I was reading Psalm 139 and was so moved... God sees me so preciously... I remember this verse... because he made me so "fearfully" and "wonderfully."

Lord, I want to know You more.

Arrived in Tempe, Arizona

2007-07-15T23:56:00.000-07:00

"In the powerful name of Jesus, I declare that this room belongs to Jesus for the duration of my stay!" This was the the first thing that I shouted out as I entered the Best Western hotel room for my stay here in Tempe, Arizona. I learned that I need to speak out the declarations coming back from the trip in Denver last week when the hotel stay needed some "cleansing." However, I was praying in my mind and the words were not spoken. God's word becomes more powerful when spoken. So I decided that I will speak it out to rebuke the ungodly forces, and to break the bondages or anything ungodly in the name of Jesus (since they can't read our minds) so that this room belongs to Jesus.

Lord, may Your will be done here in this trip. May You teach me to be humble and learn of your ways. In Christ's name I pray. Amen!

Arrived in Denver, CO

2007-07-09T01:04:00.000-07:00

This is the second time I'm in the Mile High City. Flight delays took me here at the hotel at 1am Pacific time, which is 2am Denver time. Fortunately, I don't have any meetings until 10am tomorrow, I meant, today, morning.

Praise the Lord! We got a free rental car upgrade to a full size car because all the compact cars, which we reserved, were rented out by the time we got here. So we picked a nice full size car with soft leather seats.

Thank you again, Lord!

777

2007-07-07T19:07:00.000-07:00

07-07-07

A new beginning. A new hope. A new future to look forward to. All past are done and gone and I strive to move forward.

Today, she said "yes."

Lord, thank you for your love and provision... your kindness and forgiveness... and always show me above and beyond what I can think or see.

Our big date hasn't been set yet. But I imagine that it, if God permits, will be very soon.

Any of you would like to come and share my happiness?

Going to Colorado for business tomorrow and will be back late Wednesday night. I will attend to this blog again so that it will come back to its original luster. A new renewal...

Blessed trip in FL

2007-06-26T17:30:00.000-07:00

Those of you who went to the Long Piao Piao Special event at VOH a few weeks ago might know what I'm talking about. For those that haven't gone... well, in a nutshell, she said that when she prayed for God to upgrade her flight to first class, she will, most of the time, end up with such an upgrade. It's a sign that God is giving her some favors.

Something similar happened to my flight inbound from LA to Orlando, FL.... I didn't ask for it, but God gave me an upgrade to first class on my flight from Ontario to Salt Lake City... it was a transfer flight. Originally, I was going to take off from John Wayne's in Santa Ana as it was the only feasible available flight in such short notice. Just as I was on my way to John Wayne yesterday, I got a call from the airline that my flight has some issues and gave me a number to call back.

I called, and sure enough, my flight was cancelled.

And the next available flight was the day after to Orlando. Just when I was thinking, God, how can this happen to me? The airline representative found flights out of Ontario that will take me to my original point of transfer at Salt Lake City at almost the exact original time frame.

For a little bit of a background, I didn't really want to take off from John Wayne's by choice and I felt uneasy that I was gonng go through an airport further away and less familiar. So the news of me taking off from Ontario was a pleasantly welcomed one.

So I turned the car around and had more than enough time to get to Ontario to make the flight. When I arrived, I had a parking spot that was "perfect." It was very close to the shuttle drop off point, only 2 cars away. And I got to picking up my tickets only to find out my seat was 1A. At which, I thought, "that must be a mistake."

Next, I found myself having priority boarding and... ended up in first class on the Delta airline plane. What the airline rep didn't tell me over the phone was that the only available seat left was for first class. So it became and automatic upgrade.

This is a welcome start....

The flight to Orlando landed early by about 10 minutes and the first day with the customer also gained favorable feedbacks.

Thank you, Lord! Words cannot describe how awesome You are and how humbled I am....

Lots of things happening today...

2007-05-30T17:10:00.000-07:00

1. Customer have problems that shouldn't be there.
2. My Garmin Nuvi all of the sudden decided to not synch with my phone (didn't work even after gotten through tech support and got an RMA no. instead)
3. My Zaino kit came in today
4. My Logitech Notebook webcam deluxe came in today after a lot of shipping mishap from Buy.com
5. Still waiting for the porter cable...

Thank God, all of the problems are solved by now. Good to know that problems can be solved with software and consistent Internet search.

Oh, and here's the pic that I took with the new webcam while it rests on my notebook. It now tracks my face... cool!

A time for everything

2007-05-15T10:51:00.000-07:00

"To Everything there is a season, to everything, there is a time."

When I graduated from High School in 1991, this was my quote that I used for my yearbook. This week, VOH's daily voice is going through the book of Ecclesiastes... one of my favorite books in the bible, and today... well, this was the chapter where this verse came from:

A lot has happened since 1991 (ha, no kidding). Lots of things have changed. The times of being a student, a child, trying on different roles have come and gone. The times of settling down and living out my calling and purpose is at hand. As I read through this passage this morning, a lot of thoughts came to my mind... and all I can say is...

This is so true!

God has His plans for me. And at times, it didn't seem to make sense. However, as I move forward and thankfully grow in His provision and love, I learned to become more mature and have gained more understanding.

So here it is, share this passage with you...

Ecclesiastes 3

A Time for Everything

1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.

15 Whatever is has already been,
and what will be has been before;
and God will call the past to account.

16 And I saw something else under the sun:
In the place of judgment—wickedness was there,
in the place of justice—wickedness was there.

17 I thought in my heart,
"God will bring to judgment
both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
a time for every deed."

18 I also thought, "As for men, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. 19 Man's fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; man has no advantage over the animal. Everything is meaningless. 20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?"

22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?

Chinese version:

傳道書 3

1 凡事都有定期，天下萬務都有定時。

2 生有時，死有時；栽種有時，拔出所栽種的也有時；

3 殺戮有時，醫治有時；拆毀有時，建造有時；

4 哭有時，笑有時；哀慟有時，跳舞有時；

5 拋擲石頭有時，堆聚石頭有時；懷抱有時，不懷抱有時；

6 尋找有時，失落有時；保守有時，捨棄有時；

7 撕裂有時，縫補有時；靜默有時，言語有時；

8 喜愛有時，恨惡有時；爭戰有時，和好有時。

9 這樣看來，做事的人在他的勞碌上有甚麼益處呢？

10 我見　神叫世人勞苦，使他們在其中受經練。

11 　神造萬物，各按其時成為美好，又將永生（原文是永遠）安置在世人心裡。然而　神從始至終的作為，人不能參透。

12 我知道世人，莫強如終身喜樂行善；

13 並且人人吃喝，在他一切勞碌中享福，這也是　神的恩賜。

14 我知道　神一切所做的都必永存；無所增添，無所減少。　神這樣行，是要人在他面前存敬畏的心。

15 現今的事早先就有了，將來的事早已也有了，並且　神使已過的事重新再來（或譯：並且　神再尋回已過的事）。

16 我又見日光之下，在審判之處有奸惡，在公義之處也有奸惡。

17 我心裡說，　神必審判義人和惡人；因為在那裡，各樣事務，一切工作，都有定時。

18 我心裡說，這乃為世人的緣故，是　神要試驗他們，使他們覺得自己不過像獸一樣。

19 因為世人遭遇的，獸也遭遇，所遭遇的都是一樣：這個怎樣死，那個也怎樣死，氣息都是一樣。人不能強於獸，都是虛空。

20 都歸一處，都是出於塵土，也都歸於塵土。

21 誰知道人的靈是往上升，獸的魂是下入地呢？

22 故此，我見人莫強如在他經營的事上喜樂，因為這是他的分。他身後的事誰能使他回來得見呢？

Above All

2007-05-09T23:54:00.000-07:00

A music video compilation to share....

(Fret 2)

G C
Above all powers,
D G
Above all kings,
C D G
Above all nature and all created things,
D/F# Em D C G/B
Above all wisdom and all the ways of man,
Am Am/G D/F
You were here before the world began.
G C
Above all kingdoms,
D G
Above all thrones,
C D G
Above all wonders the world has ever known.
D/F# Em D C G/B
Above all wealth and treasures of the earth,
Am Am/G B7/F#
There's no way to measure what You're worth.

G C
Crucified
D/F# G
Laid behind the stone
C
You lived to die
D/F# G
Rejected and alone
D/F# Em
Like a Rose
D C G/B
Trampled on the ground
Am7
You took the fall
G/B C D
And thought of me
G
Above all

Praise the Lord for the first day! Arrived in Phoenix, AZ

2007-05-02T23:35:00.000-07:00

Lord, thank You so much for your provision for the first day of the business visits. Amazingly, all the meetings went surprisingly well with the customers favoring us. Is it the future?

Right now, I've finally have the time to quiet down and write something after a some strategy meetings for tomorrow's meetings. Lord, I know if you go with me, I will be alright. Let me also find favor in You.

The picture above may be a nation wide customer account...

Oh, check it out. I turned on the GPS unit for tracking. This is how fast we were going on the airplane... 493mph!!! Ok, maybe not fast for a plane... but still... very fast. Faster than any production or racing car ever produced.
And... got to Phoenix!

Sadly, the Lakers were eliminated by the Suns....

Arrived in Albuquerque, NM!!!

2007-05-01T23:56:00.000-07:00

After a one hour flight delay from Ontario to Phoenix, I finally got to my first destination at 12:46am local time at the Albuquerque Extended America Stay Hotel. I don't feel that tired yet, but I'm sure that I'll pass out immediately as soon as I lay on my bed...

This set of business visits between NM and AZ is a first of many things and hopefully more things to come.

Long time...

2007-04-23T15:45:00.000-07:00

Wow~~~~

It's been a long time since I posted anything on my blog. Sorry for those of you who've been checking back every now and then. I've been pre-occupied with something else. Also, I've found no meaningful things to say... so I've been waiting for new inspiration, so to speak, to update my blog.

My status now?

Well, I'm still waiting for new inspiration.

And yesterday was the first time I play guitar on stage since... let's see... 1994? Worth mentioning now...

Congrats to Greg on the new bike and Peggy on her new ES350.

Ouch! Hurt my shoulder...

2007-04-12T01:07:00.000-07:00

I am forgetful and careless tonight....

After the prayer meeting at church, I went back home to get some early rest... and... I left my bible at church.... :(

After I got home, while I was watching recorded programs, I leaned on my left arm, and I heard and felt 3 tendons pop on my left shoulder.... OUCH!!!!

Now I can't sleep because if I even move a bit, the shoulder hurts....

HELP ME, LORD!!!

Good Friday

2007-04-06T12:31:00.000-07:00

Today is the day that Jesus suffered at the cross and Sunday is the day that He resurrected from the dead! Praise the Lord!

It might be a coincidence, but today I also suffered... I just learned that my insurance premium was not upgraded and it will be $300 more for 6 months after I get my car's photos taken today by the agent. Anyways, Prise the Lord, still!!!

Lord, let me remember Your love for me and keep Your words in my thoughts this day as I go through everything. Must I encounter hardship to be reminded to come back to you? Lord, let me come to you whether in plenty or in need. For You are my God and Savior... and that will never change because of Your unfailing love for me.

Psalm 115

1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.

2 Why do the nations say,
"Where is their God?"

3 Our God is in heaven;
he does whatever pleases him.

4 But their idols are silver and gold,
made by the hands of men.

5 They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but they cannot see;

6 they have ears, but cannot hear,
noses, but they cannot smell;

7 they have hands, but cannot feel,
feet, but they cannot walk;
nor can they utter a sound with their throats.

8 Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them.

9 O house of Israel, trust in the LORD—
he is their help and shield.

10 O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD—
he is their help and shield.

11 You who fear him, trust in the LORD—
he is their help and shield.

12 The LORD remembers us and will bless us:
He will bless the house of Israel,
he will bless the house of Aaron,

13 he will bless those who fear the LORD—
small and great alike.

14 May the LORD make you increase,
both you and your children.

15 May you be blessed by the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

16 The highest heavens belong to the LORD,
but the earth he has given to man.

17 It is not the dead who praise the LORD,
those who go down to silence;

18 it is we who extol the LORD,
both now and forevermore.
Praise the LORD.

Psalm 111:4-10

2007-03-29T15:48:00.000-07:00

4 He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
the LORD is gracious and compassionate.

5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.

6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
giving them the lands of other nations.

7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy.

8 They are steadfast for ever and ever,
done in faithfulness and uprightness.

9 He provided redemption for his people;
he ordained his covenant forever—
holy and awesome is his name.

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.

Need a breakthrough

2007-03-29T13:55:00.000-07:00

Things seem to fall into place... I got my new car, as prophesied and promised, got together with my beloved with my prayers answered for a sooner schedule. So everything seems good, right? But I feel stuck at work and at the church service... or should I say, I don't feel that I'm moving at the pace that I'm supposed to move.

I get tired easier, haven't been going to the gym consistently (even though I'm not gaining weight, but I'm not losing weight either). I haven't been going to the morning prayer meetings consistently, and I haven't been playing the guitar as much as I wanted to.

Another note, I haven't stay with the same level of hunger for reading God's Word everyday. I'm going through the motions... reading only on par with the church schedule. I remember that I shared on how I would find instruction everyday in reading God's Word. I want to get that again.

Lord, let this be a cry for help to You. I know that Your abundance is more than enough for me and yet I'm so faithless sometimes. What You had promised had surely come into place in so many ways... yet, there are the things that I just need a renewal of directions on... my profession and my service. I need You now even in the midst of my perceived prosperity, because I don't want to just stay here... I want to go where You will lead Your people to the land of inheritance!

Praise report on my new boo boo

2007-03-22T13:28:00.000-07:00

I went and got the car windows tinted yesterday at Mike's Tint Shop in Orange. Got a deal on the Elite Series Tint for all the windows at $200 (was $255). Praise the Lord!!!

This morning, I got a mail from Mercury Insurance for the Premium renewal on the 07 G35... and it was $300 less than what I was quoted!!! Praise the Lord!!!

Considering that it just rained two days ago, my car is surprisingly clean for a car that's parked out in the streets. God kept on surprise me with His provision and I am so grateful!

However, it's always easy to praise God when things are going well. I need to learn to praise Him even when things are not going well. I am reminded of the lessons from last night's church prayer meeting:

1. God will provide in any and every situation if we only just ask Him.
2. Ask boldly and courageously, we ask more, we might get more, and God often surprises us.
3. Set our eyes on Him and Him alone, and we can witness miracles
4. We want to ask for double portion on the blessings knowing that God is big!

Below are some pics that I took of my car after the tint. For a car after the rain two days ago, this car was surprisingly easy to clean up considered that it is parked outside... (gotta look at new apartments soon).

That's a piece of the cloud reflected on the hood... not dirt

Yup, reflections of the cloud on the car.... again, not dirt
This is the cockpit view from the backseat with the "Limo" tint on the back windows.
Front tire on 18" rims: 225/50R18
Rear tire on 18" rims: 245/45R18

Just when I was writing this entry, I got a call from a consultant who informed me that the customer has opted to use a solution from someone else... and Lord, I still praise your name because of who you are!!!

Been under the weather lately....

2007-03-19T17:23:00.000-07:00

What is this? Last week it was as hot as summer, and this morning, it's as chilling as winter... I was being careless and almost come down with a cold. Had a few miserable days and finally, by God's grace, I'm feeling a lot better today.

For the coming two weeks, my boss will be traveling to Europe, Taiwan, and possibly Israel. Lord, I need you even more now that I need to constantly remind myself that I'm working for you and that you're the final boss. Because today... I felt like slacking... felt like wanting to just go home and sleep.

On a side note, I finally broke 1000 miles on my car past weekend. Now I just need to properly break in the engine so I can enjoy all the power the car has to offer.

News

2007-03-12T21:43:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for staying tuned to watch for my latest updates. So here it is... After all the prayers are said and done, all the waiting time, the struggles, the highs and the lows, I've finally step into, if God permits, my last relationship on March 8th, 2007. Please keep Lynn and I in your prayers as you continue to faithfully read and contribute to this blog. May God richly bless all of you.

Another part of the news...

I've finally traded in my old and able 1994 Acura Integra after owning it for over 13 years for a 2007 Infiniti G35 Sedan. Just in time for the warmer days to come.

While this car outputs 306 horsies... I don't think I'll ever use that much. Hahaha...

God bless all of you!!!

Stayed tuned...

2007-03-08T20:48:00.000-08:00

I'm working on some major updates. Please stay tuned...

God bless you for reading!

Singing the Blues...

2007-03-01T20:53:00.000-08:00

Waiting... and waiting...

Singing the blues....

Proverbs 20:5

2007-02-27T18:31:00.000-08:00

"The purposes of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out."

Move forward...

2007-02-26T13:12:00.000-08:00

Judges 5:15-16

15 The princes of Issachar were with Deborah;
yes, Issachar was with Barak,
rushing after him into the valley.
In the districts of Reuben
there was much searching of heart.

16 Why did you stay among the campfires
to hear the whistling for the flocks?
In the districts of Reuben
there was much searching of heart.

15 以薩迦的首領與底波拉同來；以薩迦怎樣，巴拉也怎樣。眾人都跟隨巴拉衝下平原；在流便的溪水旁有心中定大志的。

16 你為何坐在羊圈內聽群中吹笛的聲音呢？在流便的溪水旁有心中設大謀的。

---------------------------------------------
These passages were read on Friday morning's prayer meeting. The entire chapter was similar to a psalm in that it is a song that Deborah composed. Of all the words, these words captivated me...

With all the things that the Lord has revealed to my heart and the goals that I've set in my heart... why did I just sit within the flocks by the campfires to listen to the whistles? I should be engaging "rushing after him into the valley" toward the land and take it as it is God's promised inheritance.

Why am I searching my heart after that it is already confirmed? No hesitation now... we are moving forward. We are moving straight forward. It's time for me to rise up and answer the call instead of listening to the whistles by the campfire.

Lord, strengthen my heart and steadfast my actions!!!

Let me obey and go on my own...

2007-02-22T17:19:00.000-08:00

This was from this morning's prayer meeting:

Judges 4:8-9
8 Barak said to her, "If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I won't go." 9 "Very well," Deborah said, "I will go with you. But because of the way you are going about this, the honor will not be yours, for the LORD will hand Sisera over to a woman." So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh,
------------------------------------------
It's time for me to step out and step up. Otherwise I will be always under someone's shadow, and the honor will not be mine.

Many times I feel timid about fighting by myself out on business trips. There just seems to be more blessing when I drag my boss to go with me. Knowing that I should be doing these things on my own, I still drag my boss out of his busy schedule because "it is important!"

Lord, help me to step out and step up. You've prepared me and trained me over the years and let me live up to the calling you have for me. If you are for me, then we can be against me?
-------------------------------------------

I think the company's prayer meeting is very good for my work. I've not been going for the past two weeks and this morning has been a great encouragement.

Struggling... but I will hold on....

2007-02-20T18:02:00.000-08:00

Lord, I am struggling... the higher I get, the more attention I receive and the more I need to be alert. Help me to grow and not be complacent.

-----------------------------
Psalm 102

1 Hear my prayer, O LORD;
let my cry for help come to you.

2 Do not hide your face from me
when I am in distress.
Turn your ear to me;
when I call, answer me quickly.

3 For my days vanish like smoke;
my bones burn like glowing embers.

4 My heart is blighted and withered like grass;
I forget to eat my food.

5 Because of my loud groaning
I am reduced to skin and bones.

6 I am like a desert owl,
like an owl among the ruins.

7 I lie awake; I have become
like a bird alone on a roof.

8 All day long my enemies taunt me;
those who rail against me use my name as a curse.

9 For I eat ashes as my food
and mingle my drink with tears

10 because of your great wrath,
for you have taken me up and thrown me aside.

11 My days are like the evening shadow;
I wither away like grass.

12 But you, O LORD, sit enthroned forever;
your renown endures through all generations.

13 You will arise and have compassion on Zion,
for it is time to show favor to her;
the appointed time has come.

14 For her stones are dear to your servants;
her very dust moves them to pity.

15 The nations will fear the name of the LORD,
all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.

16 For the LORD will rebuild Zion
and appear in his glory.

17 He will respond to the prayer of the destitute;
he will not despise their plea.

18 Let this be written for a future generation,
that a people not yet created may praise the LORD :

19 "The LORD looked down from his sanctuary on high,
from heaven he viewed the earth,

20 to hear the groans of the prisoners
and release those condemned to death."

21 So the name of the LORD will be declared in Zion
and his praise in Jerusalem

22 when the peoples and the kingdoms
assemble to worship the LORD.

23 In the course of my life he broke my strength;
he cut short my days.

24 So I said:
"Do not take me away, O my God, in the midst of my days;
your years go on through all generations.

25 In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of your hands.

26 They will perish, but you remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
Like clothing you will change them
and they will be discarded.

27 But you remain the same,
and your years will never end.

28 The children of your servants will live in your presence;
their descendants will be established before you."

Garmin Nuvi 360

2007-02-14T14:29:00.000-08:00

After asking around and careful considerations, I invested in a Garmin Nuvi 360 GPS for my everyday travel and phone calling needs. I received it today from Amazon's promotional shipping and immediately to start playing with it during lunch hour.

Now I just have to decide on how to mount it properly in my old Integra...

Renewing my love; Happy Valentine's Day!

2007-02-14T11:18:00.000-08:00

Psalm 101

1 I will sing of your love and justice;
to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.

2 I will be careful to lead a blameless life—
when will you come to me?
I will walk in my house
with blameless heart.

3 I will set before my eyes
no vile thing.
The deeds of faithless men I hate;
they will not cling to me.

4 Men of perverse heart shall be far from me;
I will have nothing to do with evil.

5 Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret,
him will I put to silence;
whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart,
him will I not endure.

6 My eyes will be on the faithful in the land,
that they may dwell with me;
he whose walk is blameless
will minister to me.

7 No one who practices deceit
will dwell in my house;
no one who speaks falsely
will stand in my presence.

8 Every morning I will put to silence
all the wicked in the land;
I will cut off every evildoer
from the city of the LORD.

------------------------------------------

Lord, renew within me a fresh love for You. And I will hate what You hate, and love what You love. Steadfast my heart so that I will remember that you've called me out of the world to be set apart for You. So that I will be ready to do the works that You will have me to. And I will honor Your name.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Going to the Daniel retreat tonight!

2007-02-09T14:49:00.000-08:00

Sorry people, I've been busy cooking for the past two nights to get plenty of meat stewed for the Saturday night dinner so I've not had chances to update my blog. God still has shown me His triumph and power at work as I was able to stay focused more without the distraction of MSN. But since I've been sleeping late this week (right around 2am), I've not been able to make it to the morning prayer meetings. I hope that next week will be better for me.

Today is not very busy. I've actually had some time to review some of my old blog entries as well as other people's blogs.

And....

Ya!!! I'm leaving the office one hour early today!

Ya!! Finally got HDMI working for my TV from the Cable Set top box.

Dream Continuance... good bye, Portland and Seattle... until next time

2007-02-06T17:41:00.000-08:00

I went to bed close to 1am last night and woke up around 5:30am this morning. Needed to get prepared for the 8 to 12 training session for WSDOT Olympia/Seattle. I was asking God for His mercy and provision on speaking and communicating clearly... He answered.

The training session went very well filled with lots of questions and discussions as well as... validation! Thank you, Lord! There's none like you who can teach us understanding and insight.

Now I'm waiting for the flight back to LA at SEATAC airport. Good bye, Portland and Seattle, until we meet again in the very near future!
WSDOT engineers at the Olympia Headquarter

Got to the Red Lion Hotel in Portland, OR

2007-02-05T02:24:00.000-08:00

Finally made it!!! We landed in Seattle at around 10:30pm. And then picked up the rental car and I begin the first shift of the close to 3 hour drive to Portland, OR at 11:30pm. After an hour, I was very sleepy, so my boss took over the driving for the rest of the way. It was a very difficult drive as the fog was so thick that the visibility is reduced to sometimes 10ft. Another incident also marred the drive as my boss was stopped by the state patrol near the border of Washington and Oregon for speeding...

Lord, please don't let this upset the upcoming meetings. Let Your faithfulness and mercy come through as we rest now and fight the battles tomorrow... or in a few hours.

A Saturday for my own

2007-02-03T11:23:00.000-08:00

For the past 2 Saturdays following my birthday, I have been working overtime because of new year sales plans and new office moves. And I have not had a complete 7 or 8 hour sleep everyday for the past two weeks. Today, I finally have the entire Saturday to myself!!! I woke up just a bit past 8 this morning. Finally...

So my plans are:
1. Get my taxes done
2. Get a haircut, finally
3. Grocery shopping and cooking
4. Room cleaning
5. Past cleaning
6. Get to the gym and workout for 2 hours or more

And of course, spend time in worship, prayer, and devotion at anytime or at all times. Today, I want to get my priorities straight even in my times of rest. I will enjoy it with my Lord very much.

Tomorrow, I will get on an airplane to go to Seattle, drive to Portland, back to Tacoma, and back to Seattle again. I will be back on Tuesday late night. This is my first out of town business trip for 2007. Please keep me in your prayers.

One month of 2007 has passed!!!

2007-02-01T16:19:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I feel that time passes by too slowly, and sometimes it passes too quickly.

While at work for the past two weeks, I spent a lot of time chatting with friends, new and old. Man, MSN is really evil. It consumed so much time and this week I have so many things to catch up! That's why I decided to not use it while during the office hours. I turned it on during lunch hour and after 5pm... and let me tell you... I got so much more work done in the past 2 days!!!

Last night, Pastor Wang: echoed: teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. We are called to be good stewards of God's resources that's entrusted to us. Both money and time, we might have excuses for money since some are wealthier than others. However, everyone has the same amount of time: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Psalm 90

10 The length of our days is seventy years—
or eighty, if we have the strength;
yet their span is but trouble and sorrow,
for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

11 Who knows the power of your anger?
For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you.

12 Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

13 Relent, O LORD! How long will it be?
Have compassion on your servants.

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.

16 May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.

17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.

----------------------------------

Lord, please do teach me to number my days aright so that I may gain a heart of wisdom.

Check out this song...

Leadership by example

2007-02-01T16:14:00.000-08:00

I read this on yahoo during lunch hour and I thought this is a very good read. Today, I finally woke up again before 6am so that I can get more things done and get to the prayer meeting on time before I start today's work. Praise the Lord!!!
---------------------
By Jim Citrin

Posted on Tuesday, January 30, 2007, 3:00AM

How disciplined are you about your early-morning routine?

If you want to maximize your success while achieving the best possible balance in your life, you may want to take a fresh look at what time you wake up and what you do with your time before getting to the office.

A Wakeup Call

Last week, I contacted some of the business leaders I greatly admire and inquired about their early-morning schedules.

Specifically, I asked 20 CEOs and top executives what time they wake up, when they have their first cup of coffee, when they start on email, what if anything they do for exercise, what time they leave for the office, and what else they do before walking out the door.

I heard back from half a dozen of them within 10 minutes, and, in a matter of a few hours, I received answers from a total of 17 out of the 20 -- a response rate that would be the envy of any market researcher.

It didn't take long for the patterns to emerge. Based on an analysis of the executives' schedules and activities, I discovered seven practices you should seriously consider adopting in order to make the most of your morning.

Start early.
This is the part of your morning routine over which you have the greatest control. To fit it all in, it's a must to start early. The latest any of the surveyed executives wake up is 6 a.m., and almost 80 percent wake up at 5:30 or earlier.
The early-bird-gets-the-worm award goes to Padmasree Warrior, chief technology officer for Motorola, who rises at 4:30 a.m., spends an hour on email, reads most of the news online, and then does an hour of either cardio or resistance training each morning. This allows her to get her son ready for school and drop him off, and still get to work by 8 or 8:30 in the morning.
Get a jump on email.
If you think you're alone in feeling overwhelmed by email, take comfort: even top CEOs and the most senior executives feel compelled to stay on top of their email, and most of them find time in the early morning to do so.
Ursula Burns, the No. 2 executive at technology giant Xerox, says, "I do email from the minute I get up [5:15 a.m.] and all day long, finishing around midnight." Haim Saban, chairman and CEO of investment firm Saban Capital Group, starts email right after his first cup of coffee "at 6:02 a.m." and works on it for about an hour before his 75-minute morning exercise regimen.
Lou D'Ambrosio, chief executive officer at telecommunications equipment leader Avaya Communications, is "on email literally within one minute after waking up. I spend about an hour at home in the morning doing email to jump-start the day. This allows me to have a clear mind when I set priorities for the day." Lou also does email from 10 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. at night.
Several executives wait until they get to the office before they start working on email. Matt Ouimet, president of the hotel group for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, for example, rises at 5:30 a.m. and leaves the house at 6 a.m. to get to the office very early -- "I've always been anxious to get to work: game time" -- and responds to email undisturbed for an hour while the office is very quiet.
Exercise every morning.
It's often difficult to find a way to fit exercise into your busy schedule, but knowing that some of the most successful businesspeople do so might motivate you to find a way to work it into your routine.
More than 70 percent of the business leaders in my survey perform their exercise in the morning, while 15 percent find a way to do it during the day (one does it late at night before turning in). Only two of the executives admit to not exercising on a regular basis, although one said, "I know I should."
The individual who demonstrates the greatest exercise discipline is the CEO of a high-performing global technology company (I promised him anonymity so as not to blow his cover). "I exercise at lunchtime," he says. "I block the time every single day. This is because I'm a runner and that's the best time to run outside all year long."
Be thoughtful about the source, form, and timing of your news.
Much has been written about the demise of the newspaper, and, along those lines, about a quarter of the executives I spoke with has switched to online news. Yet most of the others maintain the morning newspaper as a central part of their routine.
Steve Reinemund, the CEO of PepsiCo, reads the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, and the Dallas Morning News. Rafe Sagalyn, CEO of the prestigious Sagalyn Literary Agency of Bethesda, Md., blends traditional and new media. He says, "I simultaneously skim online newspapers from Boston to Los Angeles and half a dozen blogs one really has to keep up with. At about 6:30 a.m., I fetch three morning papers -- the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal."
Problem-solve.
The quiet of the morning is often the time when your mind is at its clearest and most well-suited to solving important problems.
Steve Murphy, CEO of publishing company Rodale, says, "A line in a William Blake poem inspired me to think differently about my day: ‘Think in the morning, act in the noon, read in the evening, and sleep at night.' This has made a huge difference in my life. Now, I take out a yellow pad every morning and write my thoughts for the day, which allows me to be much more strategic and proactive than reactive."
Make family time.
Many business leaders find that the morning encourages important family time. Some have breakfast with their families or make taking kids to school a central part of the morning routine.
Clayton, Dubilier & Rice managing partner Kevin Conway lingers at home when he can to help send off all three kids to school. Greg Maffei, CEO of Liberty Media Corporation, says, "I try to talk one of my kids into going outside to get the paper, but end up getting it myself. I then have breakfast with my wife and kids, help the latter get dressed, and drive the older boys to the bus stop at 7:40 a.m."
Be creative with your morning routine.
Despite all the discipline and structure described in the above best practices, it doesn't mean you can't be creative with your morning rituals. Gerry Laybourne, founder, chairman, and CEO of Oxygen Media, maintains a routine similar to other business leaders.
However, she adds a unique twist to her schedule: "Once or twice a week, I go for a walk in Central Park with a young person seeking my advice. This is my way of helping bring along the next generation. I can't take time at the office to do this, but doing it in the morning allows me to get exercise and stay connected with young people at the same time."

The examples cited here have led me to reassess how I structure my early-morning time, and I hope they help you in making the most of your daily routine as well.

Finally settled in the new office!!!

2007-01-30T18:49:00.000-08:00

Praise the Lord!!!

My desk finally looked like something that I'm used to today. And the entire office got back on track a lot more than yesterday. I went to the old office to pick up my remaining items since today is the last day that I can go back there. As I walked there in the old office, now all empty and cleaned up, lots of memories came through my mind for the past 4 years and 9 months since I joined this company. I remembered the vision that God showed me about this company, the hardships that I endured, the lows, the struggles, God's promises from His Word, the tears, the thoughts of giving up so many times... to the steps of fulfillment of God's promises, the new dreams that God has shown me... and now, crossing the river Jordan to this new place: the land flowing with milk and honey (spiritually for work, that is).

The verse of the day for today:

"The heavens declares the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands."
Psalm 19:1

Losing patience...

2007-01-29T14:58:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard of the prayer request "Lord, give me patience and give it to me now?" It's funny how it sounds logically, I've always thought. Well, today, I feel like that. So many things... from co-worker's accountability, network issues, conference call appointments, call answering on the new phone system, server room clean up, flight booking, business trip planning, and just people who are not willing to give out some extra work to make things happen easier so that some of us has to work harder and work more. I can feel that my patience is wearing out and feel like getting angry and frustrated.

Oh, Lord, give me patience... and I need it now....

Scratch that... now I'm done.

2007-01-27T18:33:00.000-08:00

Yup, one hour later. Still had to clean up other common areas. Now the office feels like a home!

Company move finished

2007-01-27T17:32:00.000-08:00

Finally, it is done... my desk, computer, everyone else's computer, server, Internet, printer, my new phone (with wrong extension no.!), my files... It was a very long day from 8:30am to 5:36pm now. Lots of people are gone already. For the earlier moments, my desktop was acting weird. It was slowing down for no known reason. And guess what I did to fix it... I prayed, and complained a little... because I tried everything I knew to fix it and it just didn't work until I prayed. And I later found out that it was the print server that was in conflict with the DHCP server. Anyways, I'm done and I'm ready to go home and take a nap.

In the process of re-organizing and cleaning up, I found a 2007 day to day calendar that my co-worker gave me as a gift from 2006 and I completely forgot about it. Here's the verse for today:

"Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you."
Proverbs 4:6

My office is moving

2007-01-26T17:38:00.000-08:00

My office is moving to a larger warehouse tomorrow!!! So today, it's lots of packing packing and packing. Didn't know I had so much stuff that needs to be "archived." But I feel so much better after all things are packed in my office. Now I just got to make sure that some of the other rooms are packed too. My desk looks so empty now after I unplug the desktop and use my notebook instead. Feel so free with lots of space.

我需要有你在我生命中

2007-01-26T11:59:00.000-08:00

A very beautiful song.

Indeed, Lord, I need You so much in my life. This is my prayer as I walk in my everyday life.

哦主，求你保守的心我的意念，
使我能夠遵行你旨意，
我願將你話語深藏在我心，
作路上的光，成為我腳前的燈。

哦主，求你堅固我信心、我的力量，
使我得以勇敢向前行，
因我知道有時我仍會軟弱，
求你帶領我使我不會再退縮，
我需要有你在我生命中，
好讓我一生能學你的樣式，
使我能成為你所喜悅的兒女，
使我的生命能夠彰顯你榮耀，
（使我成為你所喜悅寶貴兒女）。

Let Your fragrance rest in this place...

2007-01-24T23:23:00.000-08:00

Tonight, I experienced something supernatural at the prayer meeting...

The fragrance of God's anointing and presence. So intoxicating.... !

Let Your Glory fall in this room
Let it go forth from here to the nations
Let Your fragrance rest in this place
As we gather to seek Your face.

Amen!!!

迫切的禱告

2007-01-24T11:43:00.000-08:00

This post was posted today on Kristen (was Jane, she changed her name to "Follower of Christ") and Peter's blog. I was very encouraged and touched by the story and wanted to post this here as well.
------------------------------------

True Story by unknown Author

　　你曾經有過迫切為別人禱告的感受嗎？你是否只是把他的名字記在你的禱告名單上，然后對自己說：“我稍后再為他們禱告。”是否有人打電話給你，請你為他禱告？你有真心而迫切地為他禱告嗎？以下真實的故事，相信會改變你的看法。

　　一位在非洲工作的傳教士，休假時，回到他在密西根州的家鄉教會，在講道時說了他的見證：

　　“當我在非洲的小型戰地醫院服務時，每兩個星期我都會騎著腳踏車，通過叢林到附近城市購買補給品。這趟旅程需要兩天，半途需要在外露宿。有一次，我照例到達該城市，打算先到銀行提錢，買完醫藥及補給品后，然后再回到醫院。但一到城市，我就看到兩個人在打架，一個人似乎受傷的很嚴重。我一方面幫他治療，一方面跟他談論上帝。然后我騎著腳踏車，半途在外搭營過夜，兩天后平安回到醫院。

　　兩個星期后，我再度開始我的采購之旅。一到達該城市，我看到那位曾受傷被我治療的年青人，我靠近他，他告訴我他知道我攜帶金錢及補給品，他說：‘几位朋友和我尾隨你進入叢林，知道你會露營過夜，我們打算殺你并奪走你的金錢和藥品。但當我們打算進入你的營地時，看到了你被２６個武裝警衛圍繞著。’講到這里時，我笑著說，在叢林營地時我只有單身一人，然而這青年很正經且強調地說：‘先生，并不只有我一個人看到，我５個朋友全部都看到！并一個一個數過，因為這２６個武裝警衛讓我們心里畏懼，最后只好放棄原先計划，离你而去。’”

　　此時，會眾中有一個人跳起來，打斷了傳教士的講道，問他是否能告訴他這件事确實發生的日期。這位傳教士告訴了他确實的日期，這位打斷他講道的會友說了他的經歷：“你在非洲發生這件事的晚上，在密西根州這里是早上，我正打算要去打高爾夫球。但我打算要推球時，我迫切地覺得需要為你禱告。事實上，主給我的感覺是如此的強烈，所以我打電話給教會里的朋友，約他們与我在教堂這里為你禱告。可否請當天与我一起禱告的人站起來？”所有當天一起禱告的人都站起來，傳教士沒有注意他們是誰，因為他忙著算總共有多少人，一共是２６人！

　　這個不可思議的真實見證告訴我們主的靈如何奧秘地運作，不要忽略上帝賜与我們有力禱告的恩典，更不要在你生活中失去對他的信心。

　　主愛你！

Ma Po ToFu

2007-01-22T22:20:00.000-08:00

One of my new year resolutions for 2007 is to eat out less and cook more. The goal is two fold: save more money, and hone my cooking skills. Since my brother does the cooking most of the times and I haven't felt the need to cook, I have to make it a point that I will set apart the time and tell others that "I will be cooking" so that I can be kept accountable. Well, today, my faithful readers... I decided that I will start with something simple: Ma Po Tofu.

Some of you might be thinking... "dude, one month has almost passed in 2007, when are you gonna start?" But hey, okok, relax. I'm gonna start while the Calendar is still in the first month. And besides, I've been busy. And I actually like to cook if the time permits. Well, time permitting or not, I decided that I wasn't gonna let any of those become excuses. So against the danger of falling asleep while cooking on a "fiery" stove, I went ahead and got the ingridient and started cooking. The result... hmm... I think I like it. For those of you who know me well, I'm more of an "asali" person. And I love spicy food.

Interestingly enough, I didn't add too much chili this time. So next time bah.
The ingredients: Alirght, I'm not gonna list them. Inquire with me privately for it.
Dicing the garlic. Hmm, this reminds me why I liked cooking. Because I get to cut stuff, haha...
Cooking... I was really gonna fall asleep while cooking until the aroma of the dish rise up slowly but surely to my nose. Filling the air with appetizing enticement.
Finished!!! Not bad, I think. It was gone in a few minutes. It feels good to have whatever I cooked finished.

Thank you for the soup...

2007-01-22T10:16:00.000-08:00

Counting my blessings...

2007-01-21T23:21:00.000-08:00

This morning, my car wouldn't start... I had plenty of juice in the battery and there's nothing more I can do.

I tried starting the engine for the next 10 minutes to no avail. I even sent a text message requesting for prayers.

I then prayed for the car engine... and said "In Jesus' name, make the engine and starter work, and that as I turned on the ignition the next time, let the car start in Jesus' name so that I can still make it to church as a testimony was planned for me during Sunday service today."

I turned the ignition to on...

Nothing for 1 second....

The Car Starts!!!!

What can I say to God except... "You're AWESOME!!!"

Still going... less than 3 hours to go...

2007-01-20T15:26:00.000-08:00

... but...

I'm falling asleep...

zzzz

2007-01-20T07:54:00.000-08:00

Psalm 86:17
17 Give me a sign of your goodness,
that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.
---------------------------------
Leaving for my company workshop now. Lord, give me a sign of your goodness!

And... where is that guitar pickup? Aarrggghh...

God's unfailing and faithful love

2007-01-19T08:57:00.000-08:00

Psalm 85

1 You showed favor to your land, O LORD;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.

2 You forgave the iniquity of your people
and covered all their sins.
Selah

3 You set aside all your wrath
and turned from your fierce anger.

4 Restore us again, O God our Savior,
and put away your displeasure toward us.

5 Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger through all generations?

6 Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?

7 Show us your unfailing love, O LORD,
and grant us your salvation.

8 I will listen to what God the LORD will say;
he promises peace to his people, his saints—
but let them not return to folly.

9 Surely his salvation is near those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.

10 Love and faithfulness meet together;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.

11 Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
and righteousness looks down from heaven.

12 The LORD will indeed give what is good,
and our land will yield its harvest.

13 Righteousness goes before him
and prepares the way for his steps.

---------------------------------------

Lord, let your glory dwell in our land!! "The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest!!!" AMEN!!!

Father, thank you again. Now I know how I should draw close to you in the morning. I said I was terrified this morning because I still don't know what your will is toward me. I am a man of little faith who is not familiar with your ways. Forgive my faithlessness. Cover me with your blood and salvation. I need more of your Word in my life. This morning I was wondering why I struggle... and thank you for your grace that I realized how much I need and lack you. To know you, to be familiar with your ways, to keep your lovely face ever before my eyes. Yes, Lord, let no other love competes in my secret heart. Let no rival throne survive as I serve only you!!!

Getting rid of things devoted to destruction

2007-01-18T22:26:00.000-08:00

Finally, I've gotten rid of everything that formed a tie with me in the deepest sense. I was still struggling just earlier even when I was driving back from work... I stayed over at work longer this evening because I guess I was afraid to face the facts of God wanting me to get rid of all things that are "devoted to destruction."

Lord, now, in You and You alone I will find refuge!!

My Prayer

2007-01-18T13:14:00.001-08:00

To keep your lovely face

ever before my eyes,

this is my prayer

make it my one desire

that in my secret heart,

no other love competes

no rival throne survives

and I serve only you

Steadfast my heart, Lord...

2007-01-18T09:00:00.000-08:00

What things would I need to give up to receive Your blessings? Even with my face bowed low and still....
------------------------
Joshua 7:10-13

10 The LORD said to Joshua, "Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? 11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. 12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.

13 "Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, 'Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: That which is devoted is among you, O Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it.

--------------------------
Lord, Steadfast my heart and give me comfort as I tossed away these things that are devoted to destruction. So that the enemy would no longer have a snare for me and that I will be able to witness the wonders and amazing works that You will do.

Weapons of War

2007-01-17T08:56:00.000-08:00

1 Samuel 17:45

"You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel."

----------------------------------------------------

Let me learn of Your ways, Lord, so that I may use the right weapons to defeat the enemies in all of my life!

God is using my dreams as a means to change me....

2007-01-16T05:57:00.000-08:00

The two weakest parts about me:

1. Money
2. Emotional/relationships

Thankfully, God is taking care of me on the money part as for now after a phased 5 year struggle. I know there will be more struggles coming up and I believe that His grace is sufficient for me. Are you kidding? My Father is the King of kings and He has ownership of the entire universe and more. If I am His son, then how can I be poor?

Last night was the first night that I did not have the privilege to speak to my beloved on the phone for prayer as I went to sleep. Because we both know that we needed time apart to seek God and getting our wounds healed and be fed from our own work for this year (confirmed through Joshua 5) instead of eating manna. God has promised that everything will be beautiful in His time. We unexpectantly met up at the mall last night and enjoyed a brief moment of walking in togetherness. Enjoying a glimpse of the blessings to come and prayed for each other before we went back to our homes. There was peace in my heart. Hmmm, so far so good?

I went back home, feeling free. Enjoy the Lakers game on TNTHD (high definition!!!! Yah!!!)

I slept without tears...

... I woke up confused

I had a dream:

*Disclaimer: Please have patience and read through this carefully. I do have some insights which resolves the dream.

Prelude:
X was a girl that I saw at a few places but have never met nor introduced. I read her blog before and she has viewed my profile on friendster. Other than that, we've never met.

Settings:
Details are getting sketchy now, but it was after a social meeting at church. People have left, only X and I were still at the cafeteria.

D: "Hey, you know..." before I could finish my sentence.
X: "you think I'm a very special girl, don't you?"*
D: ".... yes" continues: "and I'm sorry, I meant as a compliment. And you know I have someone else in my heart."
X: "... yes" and shifts into her signature smile "hey, do you know where I can get this (forgot what type of) drink"
D: "Oh, there's a 7-11 near here that you can get this from. It's just that way." Pointed out and to the left.
X: "Ok, let me see if I can get it."

X went out, after a brief pause, she came back.

X: "I can't seem to locate that 7-11."
D: "Oh" paused... "alright, I'll get it for you, be right back."

------
D: "Ok, here it is. Enjoy." handing the canned drink to X.
X smiled, took the drink, and handed D a letter, also showed D how to open the letter: "Thanks, here's something for you in return."
X: "I also want to let you know that I'm praying for the entire day every Sunday. There's a special couch reserved for me at my church. If you'd like, you are welcome to come pray with me every Sunday. I'll reserve you a couch next to mine."

As D opened the letter, it brought out a song... it was playing a song and a melody that expresses a longing and affection from the singer to a secret admirer.

While the song was playing, X explained to D: "This song shows my heart for you." X draws closer to D. And interestingly, X's face begin to show asymmetry. *

D continues to open the letter, and it read:

"Here's to your breaking up
Here's to our getting together

... and the lyrics of the songs were written below (now lost in memory)

----------- end of the dream

When I woke up. I was really confused. Because this was a girl that I admit is very attractive and I wasn't so sure about where my feelings were at. And just the night before, I was with my beloved. I immediately felt shame and a sense of despair.

And then, I cried out to God: "Lord, what does it mean? Why are you showing me this?" My heart begins to doubt. How can I think about another girl? What would she think of me if she found out? Should I tell her?

Now, I've made up my mind to keep my feelings honest and walk in the light. If I walked in the darkness, then I'm walking in shame. But if I walk in the light, I would have nothing to hide. And I would've left no footholds for the evil one to grab a hold of. So my plans is not to hide this dream from anyone, especially my beloved. (1 John 1:5-7)

I asked God what it means, and suddenly, another realization came upon me as if though God was reminding me: "Didn't I confirm my heart and everything with prayer as well as the WORD of God?" Suddenly, I remember God's confirming Words, and joy was restored in me. No more despair!!! (please see my other entries for the confirmations from God's Word)

* Realizations:
1. God knows my weaknesses, so does Satan. And the evil one is gonna use whatever he can muster to get me to find an easy escape instead of facing my weaknesses and get healed.
Deuteronomy 30:19
"This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live."
(Chinese)
Yes, Lord. Today I choose "life," which is Your way to courageously face my past weaknesses so that I may live! I've ran away to easy escapes when I'm emotionally distraught. But today, You've shown me that I can choose You and then I will "live!"

Instead of choosing to find an alternate emotional fixation on X based from the dream. I've decided on choosing God to wait for Him. I know my weaknesses, waiting is an excruciating pain for me on relationships. The devil wanted to offer me an easy way out. But like what James 4:7 said: "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (Chinese)

Hallelujah!!! I shouted out. God is awesome!!!

2. Characters that I need to deal with:
- Be careful of what I see and what I read. Guard my heart above all else. Only the Word of God can heal me and free me.

There's always been a need for me to find validation from others. And it's a great feeling to know that others view me as eloquent. That feeling is even better when the admiration is from a pretty girl. But if I am speaking the Word of God, why am I getting myself exalted? Lord, let me not be like Saul, who needs to glorify himself. Let me be like Your servant, David, who acknowledge You in all he does.

- Be careful of what I say, how I said it, and who I say words to. Even words of encouragement. Because carelessness can result in distorted attention feedback.

My aim is to bring people to God and not to draw attention on myself. You know, getting that recognition feels great because I need it. But I can learn to have my confidence in God. Lord, thank you, now, let me be Your humble servant and not boast about what I know or can say. Everything that I have surely came from Your blessings and all my understandings are Your gifts!

* Interesting things that I later realized:
- X knew what I was gonna say before I finished my sentence. Now, I'm pretty sure she didn't know that. But the evil one does...
- X's face became distorted as she drew close to me. Hmmm, if it's from God, then her image would not be broken. Since we were made in the image of God.
- The letter that X gave me played a sad secular song. The words were not words of blessing but words of curses. This is definitely not from God.

Today's Daily Voice and devotion is on 1 Samuel 16. It talked about an "evil" spirit that will leave Saul when David played the harp. I didn't get to play my guitar today. But I let the worship songs play while I was driving to work. And yes... it was a strengthening experience.

God is certainly doing wonders!

Dream 01-15-07

2007-01-15T10:26:00.000-08:00

People who are involved:
Me (referred to as D)
Ben (my best friend since college, referred to as B)
Grace (my little sister and daughter in Christ, referred to as G)
Guy A (never seen this guy in my life, appeared to be someone who is after Grace and also involved with church in Taiwan. Referred to as M).

Settings: Taiwan, near a bus stop.

D & B are waiting for G at a bus stop to get to a meeting. G arrived with M, who appeared to have taken a romantic interest in G (ok, Grace, don't get too excited now. It's only a dream). We are all waiting for the bus. And M is the only person that is familiar with the bus routes of Taiwan.

Dialogue:
G: "Hi, D & B. This is M, he's going to take us to where the meeting is."
D: "Hi, this is D and this is B. So you're the guy that G was talking about."
M: "yes. I am from () church" (appears to be looking for validation, it seemed that M perceived D as a possible competitor for G's romantic interest).
D, sensing the hostility, responded: "I've observed that the churches here in Taipei are very different than the churches I've grown up with in the US."
M, posing up a defensive face: "Oh? How so?"
D, getting a bit irritated with the apparent hostility: "There are a lot of people at church who seemed to have passion, but they are distant from each other..."
M, showing no emotion: "is that so..."

G, sensing something was amiss, pulled M away from D & B and walked closer to the bus stop. Now the bus stop is a stop for several buses. Only M knows which bus is the one to take en route to the destination.

D & B felt the apparent alienation from M, so they walked a bit away from the group of people who were waiting for the bus to get some room. There are a lot of people who are waiting for the same bus.

D turned and saw a bus came, and also saw M and G got on the bus. G turned to look at D while M was hurrying G to get on the bus quickly. D & B ran toward the bus but it was a bit late. The bus took off leaving D & B at the stop.

D took out the cell phone and called G: "Hey, why did you guys left without telling us?"
G: "M just told me to be hurry and get in. There are a lot of people who wanted to get on this bus and it's a full bus." She assumed that M had told D about the bus route.
D:"I see" disappointedly, "alright then."
G: "... are you sure?"
D: "Well, I can see that M is after you. So if you'd like, let him go after you." paused a bit, "tell me how it goes after you're back."
G: "ok."
D and G both hung up the phone. B is still speechless, but D can feel the support that B is giving him.

End of the weird dream

About keeping my words and ditching...

2007-01-15T09:43:00.000-08:00

I believe the Lord is restoring me by letting me realizing certain things. It started with my trip back to Taiwan at the end of 2006. There were a no. of friends whom expressed a strong desire to meet up with me when I will be back in Taiwan. Yet, one thing led to another... I was ditched numerous times. It did not feel good.

Last night, I was ditched again with someone that I trust very much from work. It did not feel good.

In my dreams last night, I was ditched yet again... ok, what's going on?

My emotions erupted last night as my tears went down. Man, am I that weak? And this morning I felt the same emotion and I finally get it...

I felt how terrible and hurting it is to stood someone up. Now, I have kept most of my commitments but have I kept them all? The answer is "no."

Here are some examples of the commitments that I did not fulfill:
1. In regard to work:
For roughly 3 years, I have been late to work "everyday." Imagine what type of testimony I'm giving to my co-workers and the characters that I display to my boss.

2. In regard to friends and relatives:
There are things here and there where I've made assumptions that it's "ok" to miss some of the not clearly spelled out appointments. As we know, assumptions makes an "ass out of u and me" (assume).

3. In regard to God and His church:
Ummm... I've been late to Sunday service for an entire year since I went to VOH. It wasn't until one day I saw the eyes of my beloved sister as she looked at me in the cutest way possible to tell me that... "you're late" did I realize that... I've not only ditched God, I've ditched my brothers and sisters.

I've asked God to forgive me. And for those who are reading this post... please forgive me as well.

Matthew 5:37 says "simply let your "yes" be "yes, "no," "no;" anything beyond this comes from the evil one." I'm asking for this verse to become part of who I am. Lord, thank you for teaching me this heart felt lesson...

Prayer & confirmation

2007-01-14T19:14:00.000-08:00

Psalm 80

1 Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock;
you who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth

2 before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Awaken your might;
come and save us.

3 Restore us, O God;
make your face shine upon us,
that we may be saved.

4 O LORD God Almighty,
how long will your anger smolder
against the prayers of your people?

5 You have fed them with the bread of tears;
you have made them drink tears by the bowlful.

6 You have made us a source of contention to our neighbors,
and our enemies mock us.

7 Restore us, O God Almighty;
make your face shine upon us,
that we may be saved.

8 You brought a vine out of Egypt;
you drove out the nations and planted it.

9 You cleared the ground for it,
and it took root and filled the land.

10 The mountains were covered with its shade,
the mighty cedars with its branches.

11 It sent out its boughs to the Sea,
its shoots as far as the River.

12 Why have you broken down its walls
so that all who pass by pick its grapes?

13 Boars from the forest ravage it
and the creatures of the field feed on it.

14 Return to us, O God Almighty!
Look down from heaven and see!
Watch over this vine,

15 the root your right hand has planted,
the son you have raised up for yourself.

16 Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire;
at your rebuke your people perish.

17 Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand,
the son of man you have raised up for yourself.

18 Then we will not turn away from you;
revive us, and we will call on your name.

19 Restore us, O LORD God Almighty;
make your face shine upon us,
that we may be saved.

--------------------------------

Lord, thank you for your words... restore me, O Lord, make your face shine upon me that I may be saved and delivered from my past. Today you've spoken to me again. Lord, you've shown my weaknesses and have promised your healing. I will be seeking you. I will be seeking you. Let me come into the inner chambers of the king so that my heart will rejoice in you. I want that intimacy with you.

As time passes, let me heart be steadfast...

Today, you confirmed with me that I need to serve you as if I've not serve you before. I need to meditate on your word day and night, be careful to follow everything written in it so that I will be successful and prosperous. You answered my prayers for my beloved. You said that you will take care and make her beautiful in your time. Lord, I've asked for a speedier time when I was in Taiwan. Lord, will you make it happen sooner? Nevertheless, I will wait on the Lord, I will cry out to you until you've heard me. My heart follows hard after you.

My 34th Birthday

2007-01-13T21:32:00.000-08:00

Actually, my birthday was yesterday. But today's celebration was special. And it coincides with my elder sister's one month baby party. I was blessed to have all of you with me!!!

Dreams updated...

2007-01-12T23:38:00.000-08:00

My Lord, you updated my dreams... now there's a direction. Help me to fill in the details...

Happy birthday to me. Thanks for the thoughtful person who's always in my prayers...

May we walk through this year as those who have dreams from God. And may His name to lifted as people are drawn to Him.

Lord, let me experience you in a new way different than before... much different than before.

Babies don't sleep this good...

2007-01-12T09:00:00.000-08:00

Yes, I slept from 7:30pm to 5am!

Babies don't sleep this good.

Thank you, Lord!

Turning 34 today. I offer my heart to You.

My eyes are not closed.... even with jet lag

2007-01-11T02:08:00.000-08:00

Psalm 77

1 I cried out to God for help;
I cried out to God to hear me.

2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at night I stretched out untiring hands
and my soul refused to be comforted.

3 I remembered you, O God, and I groaned;
I mused, and my spirit grew faint.
Selah

4 You kept my eyes from closing;
I was too troubled to speak.

5 I thought about the former days,
the years of long ago;

6 I remembered my songs in the night.
My heart mused and my spirit inquired:

7 "Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never show his favor again?

8 Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has his promise failed for all time?

9 Has God forgotten to be merciful?
Has he in anger withheld his compassion?"
Selah

10 Then I thought, "To this I will appeal:
the years of the right hand of the Most High."

11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.

12 I will meditate on all your works
and consider all your mighty deeds.

13 Your ways, O God, are holy.
What god is so great as our God?

14 You are the God who performs miracles;
you display your power among the peoples.

15 With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
Selah

16 The waters saw you, O God,
the waters saw you and writhed;
the very depths were convulsed.

17 The clouds poured down water,
the skies resounded with thunder;
your arrows flashed back and forth.

18 Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
your lightning lit up the world;
the earth trembled and quaked.

19 Your path led through the sea,
your way through the mighty waters,
though your footprints were not seen.

20 You led your people like a flock
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Chinese Version
-----------------------------

Lord, I know.... I just can't sleep now. You've already shown me a way to find strength in you. I was wondering why you showed this to me yesterday morning in the wee hours. "Though your footprints are not seen, you led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron." Is it what I will be looking forward to?

One year.... is it too long? It's only the beginning to the next beginning. There's much more for me after this year. Lord, please, comfort my heart and soul... let me not refuse your comfort. In this lonely hour, I can only speak to you about it.

........

2007-01-09T22:22:00.000-08:00

Joshua 3:3-5, 7

"When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. 4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between you and the ark; do not go near it."

5 Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you."

.....
And the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses.
----------------------------

你們看見耶和華 ─ 你們　神的約櫃，又見祭司利未人抬著，就要離開所住的地方，跟著約櫃去。

4 只是你們和約櫃相離要量二千肘，不可與約櫃相近，使你們知道所當走的路，因為這條路你們向來沒有走過。

5 約書亞吩咐百姓說：你們要自潔，因為明天耶和華必在你們中間行奇事。

...

耶和華對約書亞說：從今日起，我必使你在以色列眾人眼前尊大，使他們知道我怎樣與摩西同在，也必照樣與你同在

-----------------------------------

Lord, thank you for your guidance and direction. I will be going to the land flowing with milk and honey, but I shall follow you with reverence for Your name, leaving my comfort zone, and consecrate myself.

Because you will be doing great things among us!

------------------------------------
Thank you, Lord, for no jet-lag today at work. Now I'm ready to sleep.

箴言 18

1 與眾寡合的，獨自尋求心願，並惱恨一切真智慧。

2 愚昧人不喜愛明哲，只喜愛顯露心意。

3 惡人來，藐視隨來；羞恥到，辱罵同到。

4 人口中的言語如同深水；智慧的泉源好像湧流的河水。

5 瞻徇惡人的情面，偏斷義人的案件，都為不善。

6 愚昧人張嘴啟爭端，開口招鞭打。

7 愚昧人的口自取敗壞；他的嘴是他生命的網羅。

8 傳舌人的言語如同美食，深入人的心腹。

9 做工懈怠的，與浪費人為弟兄。

10 耶和華的名是堅固臺；義人奔入便得安穩。

11 富足人的財物是他的堅城，在他心想，猶如高牆。

12 敗壞之先，人心驕傲；尊榮以前，必有謙卑。

13 未曾聽完先回答的，便是他的愚昧和羞辱。

14 人有疾病，心能忍耐；心靈憂傷，誰能承當呢？

15 聰明人的心得知識；智慧人的耳求知識。

16 人的禮物為他開路，引他到高位的人面前。

17 先訴情由的，似乎有理；但鄰舍來到，就察出實情。

18 掣籤能止息爭競，也能解散強勝的人。

19 弟兄結怨，勸他和好，比取堅固城還難；這樣的爭競如同堅寨的門閂。

20 人口中所結的果子，必充滿肚腹；他嘴所出的，必使他飽足。

21 生死在舌頭的權下，喜愛他的，必吃他所結的果子。

22 得著賢妻的，是得著好處，也是蒙了耶和華的恩惠。

23 貧窮人說哀求的話；富足人用威嚇的話回答。

24 濫交朋友的，自取敗壞；但有一朋友比弟兄更親密。

1 An unfriendly man pursues selfish ends;
he defies all sound judgment.

2 A fool finds no pleasure in understanding
but delights in airing his own opinions.

3 When wickedness comes, so does contempt,
and with shame comes disgrace.

4 The words of a man's mouth are deep waters,
but the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

5 It is not good to be partial to the wicked
or to deprive the innocent of justice.

6 A fool's lips bring him strife,
and his mouth invites a beating.

7 A fool's mouth is his undoing,
and his lips are a snare to his soul.

8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to a man's inmost parts.

9 One who is slack in his work
is brother to one who destroys.

10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.

11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city;
they imagine it an unscalable wall.

12 Before his downfall a man's heart is proud,
but humility comes before honor.

13 He who answers before listening—
that is his folly and his shame.

14 A man's spirit sustains him in sickness,
but a crushed spirit who can bear?

15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge;
the ears of the wise seek it out.

16 A gift opens the way for the giver
and ushers him into the presence of the great.

17 The first to present his case seems right,
till another comes forward and questions him.

18 Casting the lot settles disputes
and keeps strong opponents apart.

19 An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city,
and disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.

20 From the fruit of his mouth a man's stomach is filled;
with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.

21 The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.

22 He who finds a wife finds what is good
and receives favor from the LORD.

23 A poor man pleads for mercy,
but a rich man answers harshly.

24 A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Back in the USA 2007

2007-01-09T01:15:00.000-08:00

Ya! Finally came back... but suffering from jet-lag....

5pm in Taipei now... getting hungry....

A New year, new hope, new standard

2007-01-08T01:50:00.000-08:00

Psalm 75

1 We give thanks to you, O God,
we give thanks, for your Name is near;
men tell of your wonderful deeds.

2 You say, "I choose the appointed time;
it is I who judge uprightly.

3 When the earth and all its people quake,
it is I who hold its pillars firm.
Selah

4 To the arrogant I say, 'Boast no more,'
and to the wicked, 'Do not lift up your horns.

5 Do not lift your horns against heaven;
do not speak with outstretched neck.' "

6 No one from the east or the west
or from the desert can exalt a man.

7 But it is God who judges:
He brings one down, he exalts another.

8 In the hand of the LORD is a cup
full of foaming wine mixed with spices;
he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth
drink it down to its very dregs.

9 As for me, I will declare this forever;
I will sing praise to the God of Jacob.

10 I will cut off the horns of all the wicked,
but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.
-----------------------------------------
Lord, indeed you have an appointed time. I submit under your judgment. May you uphold my heart to make it steadfast so that I do not waiver nor fret knowing that you have prepared for me. Let me learn of your mercy at night and your steadfast love in the morning. This year I will know you more. I want to know you more. And my heart is steadfast after you.

I went to Banciao today to see if I can experience the HSR (High Speed Rail). After almost an hour of waiting to get tickets, the ones I want were sold 0ut. Being that I have to get to the airport today on my flight back to the US, I decided that I will try it next time to eliminate the possibility of missing my flight.

I was a bit sad earlier. And now I feel better. This year, God will show me and teach me on how to harness my passion toward everything appropriately. I used to have a heart for all that I want to do but often lost in direction. The result is lots of bruises and hurts. Lord, I want to give you this heart... so that you can do what you want with it. In all honesty, I am scared. But at the same time, I know I will never be the same again....

Stay tuned, my friends. I hope that you'll find this blog helpful as I walk this completely new journey in 2007.

Los Angeles, here I come again.

你愛永不變

2007-01-06T23:28:00.000-08:00

你流出寶血　洗淨我污穢
將我的生命贖回
你為了我的罪　犧牲永不悔
顯明你極大恩惠

我深深體會你愛的寶貴　獻上自己永追隨
或傷心或氣餒　
或生離或死別
願剛強壯膽永遠不後退

哦　你愛永不變　從今直到永遠
深深澆灌我心田

或天旋或地轉　
經滄海歷桑田
都不能叫我與你愛隔絕

God's response

2007-01-06T19:35:00.000-08:00

Psalm 74

1 Why have you rejected us forever, O God?
Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?

2 Remember the people you purchased of old,
the tribe of your inheritance, whom you redeemed—
Mount Zion, where you dwelt.

3 Turn your steps toward these everlasting ruins,
all this destruction the enemy has brought on the sanctuary.

4 Your foes roared in the place where you met with us;
they set up their standards as signs.

5 They behaved like men wielding axes
to cut through a thicket of trees.

6 They smashed all the carved paneling
with their axes and hatchets.

7 They burned your sanctuary to the ground;
they defiled the dwelling place of your Name.

8 They said in their hearts, "We will crush them completely!"
They burned every place where God was worshiped in the land.

9 We are given no miraculous signs;
no prophets are left,
and none of us knows how long this will be.

10 How long will the enemy mock you, O God?
Will the foe revile your name forever?

11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?
Take it from the folds of your garment and destroy them!

12 But you, O God, are my king from of old;
you bring salvation upon the earth.

13 It was you who split open the sea by your power;
you broke the heads of the monster in the waters.

14 It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan
and gave him as food to the creatures of the desert.

15 It was you who opened up springs and streams;
you dried up the ever flowing rivers.

16 The day is yours, and yours also the night;
you established the sun and moon.

17 It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth;
you made both summer and winter.

18 Remember how the enemy has mocked you, O LORD,
how foolish people have reviled your name.

19 Do not hand over the life of your dove to wild beasts;
do not forget the lives of your afflicted people forever.

20 Have regard for your covenant,
because haunts of violence fill the dark places of the land.

21 Do not let the oppressed retreat in disgrace;
may the poor and needy praise your name.

22 Rise up, O God, and defend your cause;
remember how fools mock you all day long.

23 Do not ignore the clamor of your adversaries,
the uproar of your enemies, which rises continually.

Attack again....

2007-01-06T19:13:00.000-08:00

Psalm 73

1A psalm of Asaph.
Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.

2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.

3 For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.

5 They are free from the burdens common to man;
they are not plagued by human ills.

6 Therefore pride is their necklace;
they clothe themselves with violence.

7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity;
the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.

8 They scoff, and speak with malice;
in their arrogance they threaten oppression.

9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.

10 Therefore their people turn to them
and drink up waters in abundance.

11 They say, "How can God know?
Does the Most High have knowledge?"

12 This is what the wicked are like—
always carefree, they increase in wealth.

13 Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure;
in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.

14 All day long I have been plagued;
I have been punished every morning.

15 If I had said, "I will speak thus,"
I would have betrayed your children.

16 When I tried to understand all this,
it was oppressive to me

17 till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny.

18 Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.

19 How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!

20 As a dream when one awakes,
so when you arise, O Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.

21 When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,

22 I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.

23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.

24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.

27 Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.

28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.

--------------------------------------------

It's toward the end of my vacation here in Taiwan and just when I thought I can let my guard down... the enemy found a way to slip through the crack. Last night when I was sleeping, I was attacked spiritually. My mind was awake but my body was if though dead. I couldn't move nor speak (even though I tried to shout) and my blanket was opened up for my body to be exposed to the cold. I prayed immediately in my mind in the name of Jesus to rebuke the spirit, and it receded. I was then able to move and recover my blanket. In the house in Taipei, there are idols set up here in the living room. I saw those the first day I got in and I prayed over myself for protection and God answered. Last night, the arrangement was a bit different. I felt a bit strange when I got back home, but didn't think too much of it. God kept me alert until close to 3 am but I didn't spend the time to pray. I went to bed and didn't pray. I let my guard down.

Praise be to God for His faithfulness. When I resist the devil, he flees. I used worship songs together with God's word to strengthen myself and was able to go to sleep. Then, I was bothered by this terrible dream. How I felt that I was alone... set trapped to... and abandoned. But these are the lies of the enemy. I will seek God and Him alone has the power and strength to save me.

Yes, Lord! In Jesus' name, You have saved me. Covered me with your precious blood and kept my heart pure for You. You will redeem me entirely without fail for there is none that can compare or overcome You.

My grandma

2007-01-05T19:26:00.000-08:00

I realized how important it is to be involved in a child's early development years. I was taken to I-Lan, where my grandma lived when I was just barely one month old (as grandma retold the story). It was the best times of my life. I was little and taken cared of. I was naive, but it was ok, I was a kid. I was taken back to Taipei to live with my parents when I was 3. I was a lot closer to my grandma than I was with my parents. Just the first 3 years of my life, and it was etched in my heart for the rest of my life.

I prayed for my grandma's eyes before I took off and parted tonight because she has felt pressure and fatigue on her eyes since the surgery last year if she looked at things for too long. How I wished that God has answered my request for healing... and I'm still waiting.

In her spare time, my grandma took on many different tasks that require talents and patience. Below is a Christmas tree that she made out of rope.

I wonder how things would be different if she was born at different times. My grandpa passed away 3 months before I was born. She stayed widowed and faithful throughout these 34 years. Never wavering, place her faith in God (she is Catholic), and took care of her children and grand children. How treasured I was, Lord, that she's such a woman adorned with the graces of the Lord.
This is my cute grandma getting ready to leave for the evening's dance class.
A rare photo... look at the smiles.
My cousins: Jia Jia (Vivian) and Wa Wa. When I left Taiwan, Jia Jia was a little baby. Po was taking care of her too. My cousin added some joy for her after both me and my brother moved to the US. How I missed my grandma... and thank you, Jia Jia.

Finally, I went to Tainan after around 25 years

2007-01-04T20:54:00.000-08:00

Finally!!!!

My childhood memories of taking the train has been fuzzy at best. The only things that I remember was how tasty the bento was: otherwise known as "railroad lunch box." There has yet to be an equal that I can find in other places in Taiwan... nevermind the US. There are some imitators, but none equal.

So this morning, I got up extra early and booked the 8am train to Tainan. I got to the Taipei station around 7:45am... and....

I hopped on the wrong train... what the...

Alright, keep in mind that I've not gone on a train for over 25 years. So a little silly mistake like that is reasonable, right?

1. The wrong train:

This train would still take me to Tainan if I continue to ride on it. Except that it stops at almost all the stations. So even though it leaves 15 minutes earlier than the one I booked, it will arrive one hour later. So I called for help: Jasmine (Yu mei mei) who happened to have a train schedule booklet handy with her at all times (good, I still don't know why) and who grew up in Tainan. She will be my tour guide while I pay for the tour in quantities of food (we're back to the trading eras).
Ok, I got off at the wrong station. I didn't know until I got off and the train left. I was supposed to get off at Hsin Chu and hop back onto the right train. But I panicked and didn't know what to do. So I got off at Su Lin and needed to wait for a local train to take me to Hsin Chu.

And finally, I got to Hsin Chu. My original booked train had been long gone by then. Fortunately, there was a next train that have the same fare prices (so no adjustments were necessary) and gets there only 40 minutes later. So I waited at Hsin Chu and finally....

I can say that I'm going to Hsin Chu... and paid for a lesson on train riding in Taiwan.

2. The correct train:
These are the views from the correct trains.

3. The legendary "Railroad Lunchbox"
And..... this is the best lunch box I've ever had in my life!!!!!

4. I got to Tainan!!!!!

Ok, Jasmine, I know... I made a mistake la...

Jasmine borrowed a scooter so that we don't need to walk as much and can get to more places in shorter times. Look at how cute and funny it is with her ways to blend into the local. Now, I'm not sure if I'd do that, perhaps next time, I'd do it for fun.

Yu Mei mei is a very responsible tour guide. She's looking at the map of Tainan of places to eat. Wait a minute, I thought you grew up here? Haha...

Yummy coffin board

Alright, let me see how I look with a helmet. Thanks for not asking me to wear the pink one.

Time to go back to Taipei. Haha... finally, I went to Tainan.

It's pouring in Taipei!!!!

2007-01-03T23:08:00.000-08:00

Today, I met with my cousin Cindy, her boyfriend Jack, and my uncle to eat some authentic Taiwanese style breakfast. Afterwards, they went to the 101 and I caught up on some sleep. It was pouring like you wouldn't believe here in Taipei. And it was the first time that it rained during my visits to Taiwan. We met up agian to go to Shi Lin in the afternoon when the rain subsided a bit.

An interesting insertion here... God answered the prayer to stop the rain so I can go out.

It's the first time in like 20 years since all three of them were in Taiwan. So everything is new to them. I'm so reminded of the shock I had the first time I came back here after 15 years living in the US. We're like "soil meat bun" (Too Bao Tze) from the US to them now. Lots of high tech innovations here in Taipei and the food vendors are simply one of a kind that we don't see anywhere else in the world.

Scooters are a big part of Taiwan. Here's Jack trying to ride one. It was a bit shaky in the beginning, but Jack took no time to get used to it.
Wow, people actually live in these. These poor looking habitats are just yards away from the high end places where we live. We were on our way to take the Taipei metro to Shi Lin.

It began to pour again. So Uncle Ted bought us tickets for "The Curse of the Golden Flower." No, I'm not gonna tell you how the movie is. I can only tell you that they spent a lot of money on making this and it shows.

So.... finally, the movie ended. And we went to the market part of Shi Lin to look for other good eats.

Not as good as the one at Tong Hua Street
Good oyster pancake
"Unbelievably tasty!!!" Or is it?

Supposedly, Kevin (Howard's brother) was gonna take us to go clubbing at "The Face Club" tonight. But we didn't go for the following reasons:
1. My stomach wasn't feeling well after Shi Lin, must be the mixture of winter melon drink with the food.
2. Kevin didn't call
3. I didn't call him because I didn't feel well

So I guess God also stopped me from going tonight. Which I believe is a blessing.

Tong Hua Street

2007-01-02T13:02:00.000-08:00

Eat eat eat.... today I met up with Diane (haven't seen her in over 3 years since she moved back to Taiwan) and we started a streak of good eats... hahaha. Thanks for being picky, Diane, so that I can avoid some trials and errors. All the food that we tried were very good.