Just Recording thoughts.

Spiritual Dialogue

2009-02-05T19:45:00.003-08:00

I really do enjoy dialoguing about spiritual concepts, ideologies, philosophies, person points of view.

I love that my days always include discussions, dialogue and opportunities to share my relationship with Jesus. I believe it's the truth and I think it needs to be lived out and spoken of.

Thoughts?

Favorite parts of Winnipeg.

2009-01-30T23:10:00.008-08:00

There's always something to love about any place you're living.

Now that I live in the geographical centre of Canada: Winnipeg, Manitoba.

I figured I'd share things I enjoy about Winterpeg:

A. the first snowfall of the season. Gorgeous white tipped trees. Pristine white sidewalks unscathed by dirt and foot prints.
B. Skating at the Forks is the BeeessssT (insert Nacho Libre accent)

I always love going. the Forks is like Granville island if you're from Vancouver, B.C.
A cool trendy market place, with clubs, restaurants. The Forks is the 'fork' where the Assiniboine and Red River meet.

During the Winter in the -50 C the rivers freeze...creating the world's longest outdoor skating rink.

Often they plow the rivers creating skating trails and line it with trees and lights. It's a beautiful way to enjoy the evening air.

When I was single i loved skating hard by myself for a few hours and 5-6kms...now it's even better to enjoy skating holding Julie's hand gliding on a romantic evening skate.

C. Summer time: Farmer's Market
- .50 ear of corn
- spring rolls
- apples that taste like candy.

D. It snows then it's plowed. It's a blessing to have clean streets to drive on unlike Vancouver.

E. Living across the street from a chinese market (WenKai) and the best pizza parlor in Winnipeg. (Romani's pizza)

I'll keep adding to the list.

The smoking man.

2009-01-27T20:49:00.002-08:00

A title I stole from scraps of my memories x-files.

I’ve lived in my building 2 years now. And only 6 months ago we got new downstairs neighbors. No they aren’t loud, and they seem like decent people when we catch each other in the elevator… But the yellow teeth, the twitching stained index and middle fingers clearly reek a message: we are smokers and suck on my 2nd hand smoke.

They smoke all the time! So much so that the 3rd hand smoke seeps into our apartment through the bathroom and kitchen pipes… and those all too familiar apartment holes that run the entire height of the building.

The stench is sickening, not to mention my phobia of lung cancer every time I breathe. This world is so unjust! Not only is it death by puff it’s also murder to any others that are within breathing distance.

RANT!
I wish people who smoked lived in bubbles like the infamous ‘bubble boy’. Where smokers could infinitely be drowned in what they pollute. I believe it’s only fair for them to be subject to hazardous effects of 1st,2nd and 3rd degree smoke inhalation.

Yeah I know… what a sob story? Insert “poor little bunny” here.

Sad but i have so little compassion for these people... i think it's because i brand them smokers and not people. Wow how unjust of me.

feb 19th-Jars of Clay; Feb 24th-Switchfoot

2007-02-27T07:28:00.000-08:00

hey Guys,

I never attend concerts..but this week i went to two!

Jars of Clay was fantastic. Although i don't have any of their newer albums....I only really enjoyed 30% of the concert. Actually there was a section of 3 songs where I almost fell asleep. Shh... don't tell anyone.

Their renditions of some classic songs were just as inspiring from the first time I heard them several years ago. I acutally use to listen to Jars before I was a believer... i never really understood the lyrics until I gave my life to Christ...then songs like"Flood"..."Frail" took an even deeper relevance to my life. They are quite talented musicians! - mundane dressers though ;-P

Switchfoot on was like night and day to jars. They were much more energetic especially with Johnathan jumping on speakers, singing ontop of balcony ledges, playing 6 different guitars and landing some great one liners. He had a few people come on stage to join the band too.

I still don't understand their current album "Oh Gravity" But great nonetheless. I enjoy Switchfoot's ability to make Christianeze into powerful poetic word pictures: "crooked souls"..."amateur lovers"...."hoping that he is meant for more.."

mommy mommy, A grumpy old man yelled at me.

2007-02-03T21:04:00.000-08:00

I manned the booth today for a few hours at MissionFest Winnipeg 2007. Wow what an experience! I entered this large church which was housing the fest and wandered around for 15mins looking for the C4C booth. I couldn’t find it because our signage was so small in comparison to the numerous other missions groups.

A few things I learned:

1. Mission Fest is like the automobile show everyone’s trying to sell their product: “your best service for God”. I constantly heard the following from the various tables: “We are the best at what we do!”; “No one has the vision and heart like we do”; “We know what we’re doing”… I even heard: “Our ministry touches 98% of the world population with the gospel. We are doing so well because we have great speakers who practice, memorize and repeatedly give great sermons. We are successful because our ministry is great.” Sorry, but what happened to G.O.D.

2. Mission Fest has booth babes. I am offended.

3. We were all using media, music, free candy to attract people.

So since I was there manning the table, some of you might be wondering… I simply shared the vision of Campus ministry: we’re here change the world by helping to fulfill the great commission by winning university students to Christ, building them up in their faith and sending them to win, build and send others. I’m not that good looking and am missing a chromosone so no booth babe… Yes I used project videos to attempt to capture an audience, but when I turned on my laptop to show the videos the booth beside me turned up the volume on their dvd integrated 20in wide screen LCD monitor. I lost.

Saw a few students who were visiting the Fest, saw a few friends from Church. I enjoyed some of the other tables. I had a great conversation with the “stop-abortion” clinic people…about cohabiting and negative effects on marriage relationships. What can you say I am curious. Got to meet a few people from “gospel for asia”

And if you’ve made it this far: An older gentleman came up to me to ask if we (Campus Crusade for Christ) were giving away Josh Mc Dowell’s new book “the witness” I said, “no but I have a copy at home back in B.C.” He proceeded to ask me if I ever heard of McDowell. I said of course, I’ve read large portions of “evidence of the verdict” and finished “beyond belief” and am currently reading “A quest for answers”. I think he was trying to catch me off guard thinking…this little asian kid has no idea who Mc dowell is…hah.

This is when it gets interesting. He moves in closer looks me straight in the eye and asks, “so what do you do with Campus Crusade for Christ?” I say, “I am new to staff with Campus staff here in Winnipeg”. He asks, “how long you been a Christian?” I replied “…about 6.5years” He moved in closer…we’re now 6in apart (he’s in my personal space) He looks me straight in the eye and says: Do you believe in the word of God? How do you know it’s true? How do you know it’s true versus the Koran?” I am a bit thrown back. I reply, “there’s good evidence: external, historical, fulfilled prophesies….there’s good evidence for Jesus resurrection to validate his claim to be God. I am cut off. He retorts, “You don’t know what you’re talking about. Are you even a Christian? Why did Jesus die on the cross? I am a spiritual grandfather. I’ve been a Christian for 53 years and I know what’s right. You have to be ready to defend your faith.” By this time he’s 3 inches infront of my face yelling at me. Normally I’d step back but this guy was being a jerk. I was sticking my ground. He proceeds to tell me that I better figure things out that I should always be ready to defend my faith.

So I was told that I’m not a Christian and shouldn’t be here at mission’s fest nor in Winnipeg doing what I’m doing…

Thank you for that experience lord. Thank you for reminding me that I should have a good reason for my belief in God….even if I don’t get the chance to fully respond about my believes, convictions and the good reasoning for believing and doing what God has asked me to do: to serve a spiritually desperate and hungry generation.

As I was typing this up I got an update, my director who replaced me after my shift told me that two people want to join the ministry. Two students who want to join a discipleship group and learn how to share their faith.

I guess the booth was a success and I was wrong. MissionFest is good as long as I am not behind the booth. I seem to attract the wrong crowd.

Everything I do falls through yet everything Kevin does succeeds. I think this year will be filled with much failure. It will be a good learning year. Maybe I should be mature and recognize that God is sovereign and that I need to be constantly reminded and ready to defend what I believe even to highly confrontational, obnoxious old Christian men.

Signing off. J.C.

MDA outreach results

2007-01-31T21:49:00.000-08:00

Hey Gang.

Well the outreach surfaced 23 ppl. It was an added value outreach: Speaker talked about how to advance career and knowning Christ personally is ultimately your success.

Note: classes in the business faculty at the UofM are 75 mins long. And I accidently set up the outreach inbetween a 75min block.

So having 23 was okay, considering I was hoping for 35. We did not have a full advertising campaign. We gave away only 30 invitations, and postered for only 3 full days. We also did a blitz invite the day of.

WE have 4 people to follow up, who are interested in a spiritual discussion and the book that we are giving away "developing the leader within you"-maxwell.

That's one outreach: we now have a presedent in the management faculty.

My goal really is to raise up spiritual multipliers, i'm wondering if doing these added value outreaches helps surface or builds spiritual multipliers. Mmm. thinking about that one.

check out the outreach: MDA management

2007-01-24T17:53:00.000-08:00

Caedmon's Call - Table for two

2007-01-05T08:28:00.000-08:00

Danny and I spent another late night over pancakes,
Talkin' 'bout soccer
And how every man's just the same
We made speculation
On the who's and the when's of our futures
And how everyone's lonely
But still we just couldn't complain

And how we just hate being alone
Could I have missed my only chance
And now I'm just wasting my time
By looking around
But you know I know better
I'm not gonna worry 'bout nothing
Cause if the birds and the flowers survive
Then I'll make it okay
I'm given a chance and a rock
see which one breaks a window
See which one keeps me up all night and into the day

Because I'm so scared of being alone
That I forget what house I live in
But it's not my job to wait by the phone
For her to call

Well this day's been crazy
But everything's happened on schedule
from the rain and the cold
To the drink that I spilled on my shirt
'Cause You knew how You'd save me
before I fell dead in the garden
And You knew this day
long before You made me out of dirt

And You know the plans that You have for me
And You can't plan the end and not plan the means
And so I suppose I just need some peace
Just to get me to sleep.

Back on the job.

2007-01-04T20:49:00.000-08:00

Thursday, Jan 4th: First day back on campus. What a wonderful feeling to be back on the field serving the Lord to a spiritually blind generation. I was so happy to be sharing my faith with students again. I had a lot of fun sharing my faith with my family and friends and a few strangers during taxi rides and flights but nothing beats sharing the gospel on the university campus.

Today: Craig: our new intern and the former student president for the UofM joined me and a few other Management (business) students to give away Real Life Kits [a new testament, evangelistic tract, an extreme sports DVD w/ music and testimonies, and Josh Mc Dowell’s “Quest for Answers: rebuttal for the Davinci Code”]

It was well received by the students and I am excited to see a few Christians come out of the woodwork. I hope to work with them this semester: building them up in their faith and I’m praying they will catch the vision to win, build and send other labourers onto the various areas of campus, Winnipeg, Canada and the world.

I also got to share my faith with some Masters students in Biophysical Engineers. They were from India. Wow who ever thought I could potentially have an impact on India from Winnipeg. Praise the Lord for the way He orchestrates circumstances! It was a pleasure to sit with them and explain the Gospel. I trust that the seed sown would one day accepted; at least they know the truth and now have the opportunity to respond to His knocking.

Pray with me that the world would be won soon, and His coming would be quick!

Winter Conference 2006-07 Calgary

2007-01-04T20:46:00.000-08:00

It was my first conference as a staff rather than as a student…although last year I took on too much responsibility as a student and ended up acting like a staff boo… My recommendation is to enjoy your last year as a student. It was definitely a mistake of mine!

Anyhow: This winter conference was quite enjoyable. I loved speaking during my seminar on How to love by faith. What a great and tough topic for me. It’s probably been the lesson I’ve had to learn time and time again through out my Christian walk.

I enjoy teaching and being apart of that spiritual building process, so I hope in God’s timing that I will be considered worthy to speak as a main speaker @ winter conference. I enjoy all the prep work, the learning that goes on when you have to test what you believe as you prepare for a talk. I love to be use by God to enlighten others and draw them to a place where they worship God even more. Although, I should be careful for what I wish and pray for…because every time I receive the opportunity to talk it is usually because of a tough lesson that God has taught me and I’m sharing how God prevailed. I’m honest- I’m a stubborn person and like many of you I don’t like to go through too much pain to learn a valuable lesson. “The pathway to victory often goes through a valley of sorrow or suffering. But we have this unshakeable hope: No matter the scope of the conflict or the degree of suffering, our captain is present-and He has been here before.”

I’m excited to see that 20 students came from the UofM to winter conference this year. That’s a 50% increase since last year. It was deeply encouraging. It was also awesome to hear that several students from the UofM will be attending various mission’s projects this summer. It’s hard not to be proud of these students and their tremendous steps of faith!

Here’s a picture of the gang from the UofM.

mazda color? which one?

2006-12-25T22:24:00.000-08:00

RIP: mazda 3 sport

2006-12-15T18:56:00.000-08:00

Hey Gang,

I know some of you have been asking me about pictures for my car accident: here you go> Thank god i'm still alive. i went to the doctor and he has no idea how I didn't break my neck. He told me it was a miracle. To be honest i think so too... i mean it could have been an open hwy with no medium... I might have gotten t-boned by on coming traffic.. if there was no cement wall for me to smash into i could have went off into a revene. If I didn't hit the other car, that absorbed my momentum I could have ended up spinning 180 and getting smashed head on by traffic that was originally behind me... WOW did God ever do a work. i'm wondering why I'm still alive. I guess he has other plans.Airbags have a funny smell...

I doesn't look that bad but the engine mounts broke therefore the engine fell to the ground. The Mechanic at the body shop where the car was being held during the adjustment told me that he would have to order in a new engine if he were assigned to repair the car.

The car doesn't look that bad, thanks to some great safety measures taken by mazda. The pictures do not show you the brutallity under the hood... sorry couldn't get the hood open to check it out. They had to bend back the hood just to access the engine damge.And I just bought a block heater for that thing! 150 bux down the drain. BOO>

finally got to share on the plane

2006-12-15T14:59:00.000-08:00

Something rather cool happened to me while on my flight from toronoto to Vancouver. I was having quite an emotional day...

I ended up sitting next to a pilot (Jake) on the plane who was headed to Vancouver for flight sim testing as he was on his 6 month review. WOW. i thought I'm sitting next to a pilot I just got to ask him if the plane diagram in the 4 Laws makes sense... Even though I was emotionally raw, I knew that this was a great opportunity to trust God again for nothing is greater than bringing someone into the kingdom of heaven. i thought..4.5 hours to go. I prayed, "Okay God open up the doors for communication so that I can have the opportunity to share the gospel."

We started with small talk, about his family, why he was a pilot, what he was interested in meanwhile he was craming for his exam and he would read and study then he would dose of for for 20mins intervals. This pattern kept on for 2 hours. I kept praying that I would think of something to say that would lead to the gospel...

Finally i asked him, do you ever thing about the faith people have in you as you fly these large passenger planes? He noted,"I try not to think about it..." I replied, "What do you have your faith in?" "Not much." He answered.

So I started out with sharing my personal story of where I find my faith--Christ Jesus despite: circumstances, an untold future, a foggy journey...

Spend the next 35 mins sharing about
A. God's love and plan: for Jake to have a relationship with him (john 17:3, John 3:16)

B. We are sinful and separated from God thus we can not know and experience God's love and wonderful plan for our lives. (Rm 3:23, Rm 6:23). Man was created to have fellowship with God; but, because of his stubborn self-will, he chose to go his own independent way, and fellowship with God was broken. We try to establish a relationsihp with God thru philosphy, good deeds but we inevitably fails.

C. Jesus Christ is God's ONLY provision for man's sin. Through Him you can know and experience God's love and plan for your life. (John 14:6)

D. We must individually RECEIVE Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; then we can know and experience God's love and plan for our lives. (Rev 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him")

Receiving Christ involves turning to God from self (repentance) and trusting Christ to come into our lives to forgive our sins and to make us what He wants us to be. Just to agree intellectually that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died on the cross for your sins is not enough. Nor is it enough to have an emotional experience. You receive Jesus Christ by faith, as an act of the will.

JAKE was not ready at that moment to accept the gospel but he told me, "Wow that's a simple message, i've been attending church for a number of years but...wow..that's so simple!"

I didn't want to push too hard I had already been very forward. I will continue to take the initiative to share the gospel in the power of the holy spirit and leave the results to God.

Jake then did the most symbolic thing i've every seen:

Pilots have those cool hats...well under the cap there is a pocket where they usually keep flight plans and a few slips of paper.... well when we finished talking about the gospel he tucked the 4 laws in that small plastic pocket. Wow, not only was the gospel shared and he understood it, he now had the gospel on his head literally.. haha.. So I pray that it goes beyond just being on his mind but into his heart.

Praise God for intersting circumstances to trust that his will is better than mine!

No more Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde = response to airports

2006-12-15T14:56:00.000-08:00

Hey Folks.

This post is a relfection of an earlier one: on "Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde at the airport"

I've been flying a lot lately and will fly even more during the next year. And I've begun to change my attitudes and actions at the airport. Originally, I would get quite fustrated and have angry outbursts at people I love... until I had one outburst that caused me and my loved one so much pain I realized I needed to change.

This past season while flying back from Toronto to Vancouver after my training time with Campus for Christ I realized that I am starting to change. i've flown 3 times in the last few months and recognized that i was calmer in the airport and on the plane. I don't believe it's just the additional flights that I'm taking. I believe it is God working on my heart to mold and shape me into a less anxious person. Praise God for his continued work in my life.

Reality Check: the airport is not that bad. My prayers have been answers...or at least God has changed my attitudes towards the airport and flying.

I was able to get to the airport early which detracts from rushing, I was calm about checking in my bagage, and getting to the proper destination. I got a quick breakfast at TimHo's and was well on my way to enjoying a great trip.

Dec 4-9th update

2006-12-09T21:21:00.000-08:00

William the business student I meet have been working through some intense and important follow up material on the personal walk with God. He is beginning to understand what it means to give his life to Christ. I pray that he would continue on his journey of faith that each new corner holds unfolds a great opportunity to trust in Jesus.

It was Thursday Nov 30th and I was sharing my faith with one of the guys in my bible study: Edward. We meet up with a psychology student named: Ian. As we chatted about spiritual things we were able to open up the gospel and share with him why we believe Jesus is the son of God. Ian was profoundly moved during our discussion. When it came time for him to make a decision to follow God he poignantly noted, " I am read to surrender my life." Ian, myself and Edward prayed and witnessed another taken from the deepths of the dark to walk in the beautiful light. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise him all creatures here below.

This past week I've spent in Toronto at a retreat center: Fair Heaven Conference center. I enjoyed the week but boy was it full. As a staff with Campus Crusade for Christ, I participate in training seminars for 2 weeks out of the year. It is designed to help us get a good grasp on the esentials: discipleship, evangelism, spiritual disciplines, movement building, praying...etc.

I appreciate that I get to spend great fellowship time with the rest of the 70+ campus staff in canada during these training modules. I believe without these gatherings and great fellowship I would feel very lonely. My favorite part is the vision casting and theological training that we recieve. I am excited to take what I'm learning and put in into practice futher training other leaders on campus. We are here to raise up spiritual multiplers on campus who will win, build, train and send to the rest of the world.

Although training has been awesome. I have a few more days in waterloo with friends and meeting up with supporters. I hope that I would be spending countless hours with God so that my focus is not on myself but on the King.

I write with a bit of reserve....it has been a very emotional month for me. Pray that I would continually encounter God during this dark and lonely valley. Though i walk through the valley of the shawdow of death I will fear no evil.

"I birthed a baby."

2006-11-27T14:44:00.000-08:00

Ever noticed and enjoyed the fragance of a clean baby? I find it quite comforting and calming. I am not a father yet but if it's close to being as cool as witnessing spiritual birth I'm all in!

This past friday: I met up with a guy William (not real name) in the business faculty at the UofM after a hugely enjoyable conversation we transisitioned into the gospel. He understood every major point and summarized in agreeance. He answered all the "right" ways to indicate that he was ready to give his heart and lay down his throne to the Lord. We turned to the prayer and one minute later I witnessed one of the greatest things in life. The 'cries' of a new born babie.

Praise the Lord for another is taken from the darkness of eternal seperation and birthed into a world of light and relationship with Christ, Jesus.

William and I will be meeting together early this week to discuss more and to follow up on his decision for a life with Christ.

"For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate." Luke 15:24

ice + mazda = CRASH

2006-11-26T14:20:00.000-08:00

So today 930am winnipeg, mb driving north on pembina I totalled my beautiful car. We'll it looks totalled but I await the report from the claims adjuster.

Hurray for black ice!

Praise God that I'm totally fine and not injured. My back hurts and stuff but hurray for air bags.

So what did I learn:
- Changing lanes on black ice is bad idea.
- I should drive more cautiously in winnipeg then I already do.
- Another circumstance to trust God.

pictures on the way.

Layers: wear layers

2006-10-31T21:30:00.000-08:00

Wow, my first snowfall in Winnipeg! It was quite exciting...not as exciting as my anugaral shoving of the drive way.

The snow is dry out here... when it snows it's warmer (-5 to about 0) so that's nice. The wind is what really gets you. I use to think people who wore those ninja masks during winter were wimps. But honestly, they're brilliant.

It's my first week on campus at The university of Manitoba. It's been great. Sow abundantly and you reap abundantly. "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes."-Rm 1:16

What an honor it is to serve the king and to sacrafice worldly desires for this eternal investment with the purpose of changing the world! Can you imagine a world full of God revering people who truely mimic the life of Jesus. Wow, wouldn't the world look different. Lower divorce rates, less crime, no road rage, no need for UN or even terrorist groups, no market scandals. What if it were possible to change our future by reaching the students of today and tomorrow's leaders.

PERSONAL:
I'm staying with friends in Winnipeg before I find my own place. The month seems to be happening so fast short I only have a few weeks left before having to make a decission on where to live. Pray that i find something that's close to campus at a good monthly rent.

I took a picture of Kevin and Adelle's son Isaiah. He's a . I'm continually amazed on how much he knows and understands. I think it helps when his parents are great communicators, and teachers.

This is Isaiah and hop-hop.

I hope all of you are doing well.

Leaving the nest

2006-10-11T01:18:00.000-07:00

Ever pack your life into a few suitcases? I've always lived at home with my parents. I'm a twister and proud of it, like most of us.

I've enjoyed being around my parents and family during these extended years. I do agree that it can be difficult sometimes but my parents are wonderfully gracious and have supported me in thousands of ways. Despite arguments on my career choice I am so blessed to have parents who love me enough to care about my future and my stability as an adult. I can only hope to be as generous, and thoughtful.

My mother seems to always know when a household necessities are low. There's always kleenex, tolietpaper, shampoo... It's amazing what she can keep track of. I love my mom because there is always a hot meal or at least one that is saved for me. I am spoiled.

Dad is stubborn and hot headed at least i know where i get it from. He's a generous, business minded sincere, determined individual. He loves us children immensely. He's impractically sacraficial and daringly generous. He's done a great job in refining my business sense and although his business tatics are old they work well. He respects me for my intellectual maturity and decision-processing. I appreciate my father for his drive and his dreams.

Anyways I better continue packing... till another day.

distracted by my own will

2006-09-28T02:03:00.000-07:00

I've been

anxious = don't worry
The Lord is calling us to cease from worrying.
It's the Lord's area'
NOt on things below but on things above... in order to free us from worry.. God will take care of all else.

we are not earth bound people. Foolish are we to be worried about material things.

Be not anxious
john 6: 25-34
If you're already doing it quit and if you havent started don't

earthly treasures corrupts..blinds your spiritual vision. You must make a choice between God and money

don't worry about the basics nor the luxuries of life. YOu have a single goal treasures in heaven
A single master..don't get caught up in the mundane things.

Mr. Hyde at the airport

2006-09-02T03:59:00.000-07:00

The airport is not a fun place for me. Have you ever watched an old Disney cartoon that's a spoof of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde where the narrator explains the life of a cartoon character. The one I remember is where a nice guy becomes a nasty road-rage driver when he slides into his drivers seat. Well, unfortunately that's what I am like at the airport. No swearing, no hitting...just frustration at the smallest of things... I wonder if it's all that authority? Is it all those rules, time-limits, police type people, obnoxious people in business suits chatting all day on their crackberrys, or those whining ear-plugged children, noisy partiers off to Mexico, or those unsightly newlyweds?

You get little to no sleep the night before, leave late in the morning missing breakfast (all that blood sugar rising goodness), pay a lot of money to park your car, attempt to load your ridiculously heavy bags onto a too small cart, fondle a touch screen for your express pass. Then you stand in line to check your overweight luggage, which needs to be weighted...dump them on a cargo belt...stand in a very long line for some Tim Ho's so that you can quickly chug an orange juice because you cannot take liquids, gels, plastics, onto the plane. You wait in another line where you get wanded, forced to turn on all your electronics to make sure they're not bombs...and then sit uncomfortably where you can't use the wireless hotspot because it cost $4 a min to surf the web all the while waiting for the P.A to start calling flyers to board. Where you will wait in line again to be ushered into a tight plane and those small aisles to sit beside people who's shoulders, rolls are so big that they pour over to your or what you think is your arm rest. Then you take a short breath and the flight beings where you will soon or not so soon arrive at your destination to wait in line for your damaged luggage. I love the airport.

If you've read this far: I truly believe it's the emotional baggage that weighs on me the most. Too often the airport is a horrible place to be--always saying good-bye to loved ones. Loved one's that you wish you could either go with or keep here...but life moves beyond our selfish needs and desires.

So I guess I used this post to vent and to confess: I am a poor flyer aka. airport-jerk aka. Mr. Hyde. I hate the airport and what it makes me... an unlovable person.

2006-08-27T16:15:00.000-07:00

Your EQ is 133

50 or less: Thanks for answering honestly. Now get yourself a shrink, quick!
51-70: When it comes to understanding human emotions, you'd have better luck understanding Chinese.
71-90: You've got more emotional intelligence than the average frat boy. Barely.
91-110: You're average. It's easy to predict how you'll react to things. But anyone could have guessed that.
111-130: You usually have it going on emotionally, but roadblocks tend to land you on your butt.
131-150: You are remarkable when it comes to relating with others. Only the biggest losers get under your skin.
150+: Two possibilities - you've either out "Dr. Phil-ed" Dr. Phil... or you're a dirty liar.

What's Your EQ (Emotional Intelligence Quotient)?

Dear Father,

2006-08-13T01:30:00.000-07:00

Father, may the Lord Jesus meet us on our Damascus Road. May he disclose himself to us for who he is, the Lord of Glory. May he disclose to us the mission which he wants us to carry out as we seek to live for him. May we defend the purity of his gospel, that we are freely justified by his grace through faith apart from works of law. May we defend the liberty that your children have in Christ. May we never for one moment submit to programs of enslavement to try to prove our righteousness to others. And in all this may we remember the poor and care for them. Give us hearts of compassion for all who undergo privation and trouble.

Thank you that even today we enjoy the blessings of the faithfulness shown by the apostle Paul at the beginning. Help us to be faithful, too, for the sake of those who will come after us.

In the name of Jesus I ask. Amen.

Empty hands can hold so many blessings.

2006-07-20T15:01:00.000-07:00

It's hard to let go. It's difficult to allow God to pluck whatever may be in my hand for His seemingly greater good.” It is unbearable to stand empty handed, or what I believe to be empty handed.

If I allow God to take away what is precious and perfect to me will get nothing in return? Yes it may be nothing in return yet it could be what is better for me. Who better to determine my future, the blessings I receive than a sovereign God who ultimately defines what is good and bad? Who better than a righteous, loving God?

Does he not know his own plans? Does He not know what I’ve asked? Does He not know the greater yes? Yet I find myself still wrestling. I’m stuck in a half nelson unwilling to give in to his righteous plans because of my stubborn self will. "Wrestle it out with the sovereignty of God."~ Habakkuk 3:19 Sometimes I even vote NO to his plan, His will. And where does that get me?

Psalm 112: 7 "He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD."
It's not that bad news will never come, but the Psalmist’s heart is secure in God and in the END he will look back in triumphant.

I pray “Father, if it is your will take this cup from me not as I will but as you will.”

Habbakuk 3:16-19
"I heard and my heart pounded,
my lips quivered at the sound;
decay crept into my bones,
and my legs trembled.
Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity
to come on the nation invading us.

17 Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,

18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.

19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights. "

Staples: It wasn't that EASY.

2006-06-29T20:03:00.000-07:00

So today, I hand in my letter of resignation to Staples: Business Depot. I have had many great moments at Staples and few troublesome memories. Nonetheless I have appreciated the employment and the opportunity to grow in product knowledge. I am so thankful for the praise and support that I received from every one of my mangers. I am thankful to be respected for my knowledge and for my skill. I never felt demeaned by my staff team; however, customers are another story.

After 4 years working part time in Computer Sales and Computer Technician I am moving onto serve with Campus Crusade for Christ. This was a big move for me, because without realizing I started to see my part-time employment at Staples as a backup plan to failing at raising my financial support. How faithless could I be? So now I am going to leap, to walk without a safety net. God provides for what I need; enough to be trusting in Him and to do His will.

Things that I will miss:
- Wearing a red shirt meant I could be respected by customers as a knowledgeable computer associate.
- Co-workers who became friends.
- Constantly playing with new electronic gadgets which often satisfied my gadget lusts without me actually having to spend hard earned money.
- Customers who became clients who became friends
- once in while 50-70%off deals off old products.

Things that I will NOT miss:
- wearing a red shirt meant that I was deserving of belittling by obnoxious customers
- Being yelled at from across several aisles. "HEY-YOU" aka. I'm too lazy to ask nicely for assistance. What ever happened to "excuse me"?

The clumination of hours of studies

2006-06-08T00:05:00.000-07:00

SO it's FINALLY I convocated from SFU on Thursday June 8th. I earned a degree in Economics and Psychology.

As i reflect on the years of study, I realize that any degree, any faculty, any graduand deserves a cheer, a handshake. Students need to be honored for their labour. It has paid off!

Praise the Lord for getting me through countless exams, papers, midterms, endless assignments, presentations and hours of pestering my TA's with questions and comments. Thank you to those few great professors who shaped my knowledge, expanded my horizons, and affirmed my work. Thank you to study partners and friends alike.

Although, I think the greatest thing that happened to me in university was coming to know Christ as my personal lord and savior. Thanks Dave for explaining a great and humble message.

today's objection

2006-05-30T23:41:00.000-07:00

I am already good enough.

How good do you have to be to get to Heaven? God is holy, and requires holiness. Holiness is purity. Even though you may think you are good enough, even one sin disqualifies you from being in the presence of God. You could never be good enough. That is why you need Jesus.
The Bible says that there is none good enough. "There is none who does good, there is not even one," (Rom. 3:12). Goodness is measured by God's standard - not yours.
To say that you are good enough means that Christ did not have to die. But He did die to save sinners. The Bible says if righteousness can come by good deeds, then Christ didn't need to die (Gal. 2:21), but He did, so being good isn't enough.

Your tube? Your pod cast? Every1's got a soap box

2006-05-12T00:25:00.000-07:00

Internet TV has become the most popular media trend this past year. Youtube has taken flight and like the concord has soared to new heights. No longer do you have to be force fed by media giants. No longer do you have to live by the 10min short presentations of your favorite show before interupted by advertisements. The programs just fill the time before another "catchy" ad.

Now you can now go out and make your own videos. The content, style, format, message it's all up to you. I once thought the audio version-pod casting was going to be big. But with digital video production devices being so cheap it's no wonder the video scene has rocketed to a great start.

You want your message to be displayed to the whole world, got a digital camera with audio and video capabilities then publish your work, words, wisdom and folly.

Stand up on the soap box with Camera in hand-let's see what you can do. Maybe you'll even see a video post soon...

breaking rulz while camping.

2006-05-05T21:47:00.000-07:00

The woods... a great and glorious place: quiet, free, star-gazing, fire-poking. This trip had so much emotion attached to it...being the last time two great friends camp together before we go our own ways. As I prepare to move to Manitoba it's a sad reminder of the great friends and beautiful province that I leave behind. Although I don't leave for at least 4months I'm finding hard to detach from this place. I trust in the Lord fully.

This weekend was full of fire gazing/poking, camp-gourmet dinning with a best friend. Thank you God for the wonder of your creation and the beauty of BC.

Along the trail of a not-so-great hike.
Reason... the trail turned into...

The trip was full of breaking rules... camping in closed grounds, hiking on closed trails, just a bit of danger for two conservative, principle men. heh... i love the rush of breaking a few"suggested" rules. I wouldn't not have been able to get this close to a waterfall if i didn't go beyond the hazzard/danger sign at the end of the trail.

The waterfall is so close that my camera got a bit wet from the overspray.

Ever try Ziptrek??

2006-04-28T03:59:00.000-07:00

I was reflecting on a great adventure I had with my sweetheart, Julie. I thought you might appreciate a few pictures from our adventure last summer...
Whistler offers Ziptreking for speed enthusists like myself although it freaked Julie out. She was still game.

Ziptreking is worth every penny!

When the wind died down we were allowed to do upside down no hand zipping... wow.. just like Cliffhanger. There are no pictures of my moves but my eyewitness is Julie, just ask her.

Woman why are you crying?

2006-04-28T03:58:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite worship songs, “Jesus went to the Garden”- Dan Haseltine (the Gathering) have begun many great times with the Lord. More so this past Easter, when I finally found the root passage! A place in scripture that I had overlooked suddenly stood above the text… “woman why are you crying?” For those who don’t know the song… it’s one lyric

Then the disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" "They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. "Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' " Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her. {John 20:10-18}

What a great passage? The woman, Mary has come into the tomb to see the empty linens that once held her teacher, her savior. The Lord asks.. “why are you crying?” At first Mary believes He is the gardener. But when she hears her name...mary...in the sweet tone only a beloved teacher could sing Christ has never left me, He has not gone away to an unreachable garden, nor stolen away by a robber.

The Lord is risen. He is risen! I think this passage has encouraged me this Easter may it do the same.

Manitoba

2006-04-13T16:19:00.000-07:00

As some of you may know I'll be moving to manitoba..hopefully by the start of fall at least by the end of the year.

I just visited there a few weeks ago and thought i would include some pictures of the weather that I'm not sure if I'll ever get use to.

Snowshoeing just to get around... aha.. fun for the first couple of times then it's just yuk. But at least you get to keep in shape.. Who ever thought tennis rackets on your feet could get you around so well.

The island that we hiked to see... in the middle of a lake with 5ft of snow sitting on top of frozen lake.. nice

OH and here is the new staff team.
Left to right:
Jen, Justin, Julie, Adelle, Isaiah, Kevin

Suzanna Socked Me Sunday

2006-04-04T14:10:00.000-07:00

Suzanna Socked Me Sunday

Suzanna socked me Sunday,
she socked me Monday too,
she also socked me Tuesday
I was turning black and blue.

She socked me double Wednesday,
and Thursday even more,
but when she socked me Friday,
she began to get me sore.

"Enough's enough," I yelled at her,
"I hate it when you hit me!"
"Well, then I won't" Suzanna said--
that Saturday, she bit me.

~ Jack Prelutsky

Poems by children are funny yet frightening. Oh how we can laugh at their misdeeds. The little kid in me says "bite her back". Yet the psychologist says, "she just likes you." Aaah... young love

The music fades and lyrics persist

2006-04-04T03:45:00.000-07:00

Artist: Ten Shekel Shirt
Album: Much

Chorus:
It's nice to be at peace with you
It's fine with me to be close to you

My eyes are fixed on you, oh lord
I see you, I see you
My hands are clean
My heart is pure
You washed me, thank you

I used to be attracted to
The things of this world
And I used to be at war with you
Now I'm fighting on your side

Chorus

My love for you is unashamed
I love you, I love you
My guilt is gone, I'm free to fly
Inside, inside

I used to be entangled by
The things of this world
And I used to seem so far from you
Now I feel you by my side

"We are unable to serve you." dial tone.

2006-04-04T02:43:00.000-07:00

Firstly, trying to get a replacement unit is NEVER easy. It's exhausting and often takes a lot of delicate communication with a helpful customer representative. Herein lies the story:

Arthur, a tall brazilian man, spent three months in email communication with a HP customer service representative (Sam) concerning the lack luster abilities of his multifunction only to find out that he would have to return the item for a replacement. Great finally a new printer...

The last email from the not-so-helpful HP rep replied, "This department is unable to fulfil the requirments of your printer replacement please call #####" Okay easy enough you think, however Arthur cannot speak english well enough to have a detailed and delicate phone conversation thus his use of email. So he came in to see me, since I sold him the, unbeknownst piece of junk.

After a 30min phone call with the HP rep, Mary Jane ("real" name of customer rep) she determined that HP couldnot replace the unit and would require Arthur to go home power up the device and reinstall it and proceed through a step-by-step trial and error procedure on the phone with her. I replied that Arthur had already spent 3 months doing the same thing and I quoted his HP callService id number. Mary Jane replies, "that callService id number is not in our system, so I cannot honor what Sam quoted. Have a nice day." click...dial tone...

OUCH. I mean, as a Computer Consultant at Staples Business Depot I was choked, but not surprised. I've worked in the industry for 5 years now and I have had similar results with their customer service. Zero customer relations. Zero intracommuncation amongst the HP service departments or maybe just a poor database system... either way the service recieved was unacceptable.

Back to Arthur, since HP could not do anything I decided to help fix the problem myself and without going into copious details I ended up replacing the unit for Arthur (this was an exception to the rule considering it was 2 months past the return policy). An hour later Arthur he shook my hand in appreciation and gave me a great big hug. It's not everyday you get a hug from a stranger who simply admires your help. Seems as though, genuine help is a precious treasure.

Covering for poor service from a manufacture has become a weekly occurence. It's sad that companies have lost their "next door neighbour " business attitude when it comes to customer service. Then again those who complain too loudly have spoiled it out for the rest. I dissaprove of freeriders.

Ironically, Arthur bought the same printer except with an extended service plan.

precious kodak moments.

2006-04-02T23:10:00.000-07:00

shawdows and sunbeams

SFU campus on a bright day: reflections...

The bus stop infront of my apartment when I lived in Sendai, Japan for a summer.

Tall Skinny... you almost can't see my best friend...hah.. he fits in.

Amen to those precious moments in life when the picture says it all.

"Here I am send me"

2006-04-01T16:59:00.000-08:00

I was studying with several friends in a common study area at Simon Fraser University when this guy walking down the hall starts shouting, “Hey, does anyone want to talk about God?” My hand shot up and I hollered back, “Yo, over here!” After Dave shared the simple message of the gospel, I decided I needed to put my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. God found me, a lost sheep without a Shepherd. Now I will go onto the campuses of the world and find others.

As the end of my undergraduate degree approached, one major questioned lingered. What was I going to do next? For a year and a half I contemplated the idea of a Masters program, entrepreneurship; and even after a few successful interviews I landed a comfy job in a bank. The lure of comfortable living and possessions were tantalizing, yet a deep conviction lay amongst my thoughts. Would I still be able to make an eternal difference with all this ownership?

I came to realize that to make a maximum contribution in helping to fulfill the Great Commission I would need to invest my only asset, (myself) in winning souls into the Kingdom of God. Eternity is longer than a life time and I realized if I wasted my temporal life for temporal possessions, it would all be in vain.

My life will be leveraged to reach people for Jesus Christ. Come partner with me in glorifying God by taking the gospel to university students, building up labourers and sending these transformed lives to help further fulfill the Great Commission.