你好嗎？

A time to reflect...

 

As many of you know, I have recently moved to a new desk space in my office.  It's my first cubicle-move since we arrived at our current office space 4 years ago.  While I was packing up my things for this move in my office about a month ago, a reflection came to my mind.  Well... not many of you know this... but the last time I packed for our office move from the WaMu Tower to the Westlake Tower, was also the very same day I first returned to His arms... my very first step into Chinese Baptist Church here in Seattle after finding it via an internet search with my sister's help and encouragement... it was 7.26.2002... the last Friday of July, 2002.... Tomorrow, will be the last Friday of July, 2006... 4 years... came and gone....

 

7.26.2002... the day... is still very vivid in my mind.  (I can still remember what I wore that day... but that's just me.)  Not knowing what to expect, not having been to church for over 12 years, I began driving to Beacon Hill following the direction from the internet.  I have never been to this neighborhood... nervous in my heart.  But at the same time... I knew I needed Him... I could hear His voice in my heart calling my name... He knew it was time for me to go back to Him.  I walked in by myself, and many were surprised to see a total stranger coming to fellowship on his own. 

 

Singspiration led by a very upbeat friendly girl that kept fanning herself standing next to the projector and keeps saying she's feeling very hot.  I didn't know any of the songs, but I read every word carefully!  Introduced my self, I had to repeat my name many many times... not the easiest name to remember.  Instantly, due to my "luk-cuk" Chinese, my nickname, yes, 西仔 was born.  The program that night - Bible Study.  I did not have much clue of what was discussed, as my heart was very heavy that night.  I just remember, as I sat there, I could hear God telling me to stay. I listened... and bowed my head to pray.  That night, first meal with Fellowship - Red Robin.

 

Lord, it's been four years since that evening. 

 

I have repented my sins, I have accepted You as my savior, and the Lord of my life.  I have been baptised.  I have served You.  I have praised You.  I have prayed to You.  I have cried out for You.

 

Lord... four years... what has changed?   Have I grown closer to You?  Have I met your expectations?

 

I probably have failed and disappointed You as I have many others many times.  Sorry, Lord, forgive me.

 

Broken Heart then, broken heart now.

 

But there must be a Difference... I know You are holding on to my hands forever, as long as I believe.  You will always give my Hope, and Love... and You will always be the only One that will never ever change, and will never forsake me.  Thank You for accepting me unconditionally... Forgive me as I have failed You.

 

Though I am still often sad now... but I do know... I know I have Hope in You.

 

4 years.  西仔, Have you grown?  Please grow up and grow closer to Him.  Please.

 

Tomorrow's Program - Golden Garden Outing

 

Dear family, brothers and sisters, and friends, thanks for reading.

 

I shall end with the following song... the first Christian song that touched my heart, comforted me, gave me hope and drew a tear from my face.  It's also the very first song I shared during fellowship singspiration.  It may not seem very special to you... but it will always be a special song in my heart.   The lyrics tells all... His Sacrifice offered us precious Love and care.  Our Life is only meaningful because of Him.  His Love will always help us to conquer our sorrow, and to face tomorrow.  And most importantly, His Love gives us never failing Hope!

 

I hope tonight, it will touch your heart as well.

 

And Lord, please help this 西仔 to always always remember Your Love.

 

 

 

With World Cup 2006 beginning in just a few hours in Germany... wanted to share something with you all.

 

If you have noticed, there's a new Album in my MSN Space named "紙足球".  Hopefully, you may have time to browse through a few of the photos in it.  Seeing the photos will help you understand my story.

 

This game of 紙足球... the history and the meaning of it all to my childhood... suddenly, it's all coming back to me tonight.

 

World Cup Mexico 1986... can you all believe it, it's 20 years ago!  I guess some of you who may be reading this were merely just 5,6, or 7 years old.   That world cup was my very first World Cup that I was old enough to truly enjoy this game of my love with my friends.  I knew almost all of the players name, I collected newspaper cutouts and articles of my favorite players, I even used my little savings to buy a magazine that previewed all the team.  And do you folks remember those "sticker" books where you buy packets of stickers to collect all the stickers to fill the whole book... I even had one of those and traded with my classmates too!  (I never completed, of course, there were just some I couldn't get!)  And i even got to sleep over at my best friend's house to watch some of the matches where we would go to 7-Eleven during half time to buy Ka-Lok-B and other snacks!  Memories, memories... who knew it would have been my last World Cup in Hong Kong.  Watching the World Cup just haven't been the same ever since.....

 

Now... the creation and birth of this game of 紙足球.

 

If you know me, you should know by now that Soccer was my life in my childhood.  There probably wasn't a single day that gone by that my feet didn't touch a soccer ball, whether it was on the concerete basketball court downstair, at school, or at home.  With this love of the game, and knowing that I can't actually play a real "soccer" game in the tiny space of our HK home (and grandma afraid of me breaking stuff with the ball!)... I created this 紙足球 game to be played with my buddies on a table!

 

It started with a mere folding of a card paper one day... and I press it from the top... the paper soccer player kicked the ball, which was made with Aluminum Foil (that's also when my obsession of collecting Alumninum foil started)... that's it... the birth of the great game of 紙足球.

 

With the Engineer and a bit of the Artist in me... I started to create entire teams, along with an official card board football pitch, and goals made of LEGO!  I standardized the sizes of the players, and started creating teams, and encouraged my buddies to do so.  I started with one... then another... then another... night after night.  From Brazil, to England, to Hong Kong, to Frienship Team (made up with all my friends real name), to even a team based on the cartoon characters of  足球小將.  Each team contained from 20-25 players including their reserve players.  Each player is carefully crafted and colored with their official jersey colors and names and numbers, all based on actual World Cup 1986 Rosters, if applicable.  I ended up creating 18 teams as you can see in that box.  If I remember correctly, the creation of each team probably required anywhere from 3-6 hours per team, from layouts, to coloring, to fonts, to cut-outs.  You can use the full-view of the album to see the details of the players.   Hmm....  Was I crazy... what drove me with such persistence and passion... all for a simple creation of a paper game???  Hmm... You see... creating your own toys when you can't afford or don't want to buy is great... it saves your parents money... and allows the opportunity for creativities!  So if you want to play, you must create!

 

Then my friends and I would have official matches with timer at my home when they could come over to play either during weeknights or weekends.  Lots of fun, excitement, shouts, arguments and... joy joy joy.  We would play the real game downstair... then play the paper game when we are tired or if it rains! 

 

Anyway, tonight... for some reason... I took this box out, and for the first time probably since I left Hong Kong... I actually spread out the players to kick the ball around by myself on my little coffee table at home.  Then, of course, a lot of thoughts came across my mind... I decided to capture the pictures you see in the Album.  The creation of this game meant so much to me in my childhood... probably more than any of you can understand.  Oh 20 years... am i still the same?   and to my childhood best best friends... 林大川, 朱錦華, 朱錦榮... though we have lost touch... but no matter where you are... I pray that each of you are well and God's love and blessings be with you all.  (And if by God's miracle and grace you find this blog... contact me.)

 

Hopefully, by viewing the album, it gives you some ideas of what I am talking about... notice the unifrom, the numbers, the names...

 

Friends, if you have made it this far... thank you so much for caring enough to take the time to read along.  I know it's a long blog... but this game truly meant a lot to me, it's more than a game... may be some symbolism that no one would ever undersatnd but me...  a big part of my childhood... soccer and 紙足球... hmm... if life could only be still as simple as those days... thanks for allowing me to have a chance to share my life...  or may be it's just my cry out to the World...

 

Enjoy the World Cup, my love ones...

 

Lord... thank you for letting me finding a glimpse of my young childhood tonight alone here in Magnolia, Seattle.

ACM Canada 2006「意想不到--聖殿敬拜與預言應驗」

  

ACM 2006 年的北美巡迴音樂培靈佈道已經展開。

西雅圖站的培靈佈道會及講座將於5/19（五）至5/21（日）以粵語舉行。歡迎帶同未信及已信的朋友入場。

 

「意想不到--聖殿敬拜與預言應驗」音樂培靈佈道會

5月19日(星期五)

7:30pm

華人浸信會
5801 Beacon Ave S., Seattle
（電話查詢：206-725-6363）

 

5月20日(星期六)

7:00pm

西雅圖證道堂
651 NW 81st St., Seattle, WA 98117
（電話查詢：206-789-6380）

講員：麥樹明牧師

對象：信主及未信的親友

內容：從聖經中看見神對聖殿四次預言的應驗，及怎樣在聖城耶路撒冷藉著聖殿與人同在，來帶出佈道及培靈信息

 

「更美之敬拜隊」講座

5月20日(星期六)

9:30am - 11:30am

華人浸信會
5801 Beacon Ave S., Seattle
（電話查詢：206-725-6363）

講員：ACM 同工

對象：敬拜領袖及隊員、樂手、音響人員

內容：分享在現存的敬拜隊內所常見的困難與處理的方法

   

「聖殿預言與應驗」講座

5月20日(星期六)

3:00pm- 5:00pm

西雅圖證道堂
651 NW 81st St., Seattle, WA 98117
（電話查詢：206-789-6380）

講員：麥樹明牧師

對象：信主（及未信的親友）

內容：「意想不到--聖殿敬拜與預言應驗」音樂培靈佈道會的詳細資料版。從聖經中看見神對聖殿四次預言的應驗，及第五次預言的內容。提醒我們在末世怎樣預備主再來。

   

「聖殿敬拜與讚美」講座

5月21日(星期日)

3:00pm - 5:00pm

宏恩華人宣道會
13232 156th Avenue SE, Renton, WA 98059
（電話查詢：425-802-9878）

講員：麥樹明牧師

對象：教牧、長執、崇拜主席、領詩、司琴及其他參與崇拜事奉之弟兄姊妹

內容：從舊約聖殿敬拜探討現今參與崇拜事奉人員的心態

Very random posting...

 

Back.  Today, my back pain and spasm was almost unbearable.  I could barely sit at my desk on this very chair to draw, to punch my calculator, to do my job.  I must have gone to the bathroom or the kitchen to get water way too many times to seem  normal to my co-workers.  I even walked all the way to sixth ave in a desperate attempt to stretch my back out.   Why such spasm today?  Is it time to call dear HH to the rescue?

 

Tummy.  My tummy has been feeling weird lately.  No matter what I put in it, it seem to create stomache.  I feel full almost all the time, not much appetite... basically feel fat.  Yup... you heard it right, fat.

 

Throat.  Sore throat seems to be a common syndrome lately.  Taking way too many cough drops at work.  Lemon tea, ginger tea, honey tea, even bubble tea... Is this sore throat due to sickness?  due the incredible friend flu going around? or just due to my unskillful use of my vocal cord day after day, week after week?  More practice and lesson with my vocal coach needed.

 

Sleep.  Blogging at 3am, not quite a personal wish of mine.  But sleep has been hard to come by lately.  I don't recall ever in my life I have had such a long period of "unwillingness" to fall asleep at night.  Or should i say, the inability of falling into a peaceful sleep.  Some have suggested NyQuil, some say Warm Milk, some say a good glass of Merlot... yet to try any of those... but i like the suggestion i received yesterday the most... "Bible and praying should be a good sleeping pill..."  I will definitely try this one out!  Thanks, sis in Christ!  Anyway... Too much in my little brain?

 

Overall.  Energy level running near empty.  No doubt that I can still make some pretty tough basketball shots, or dish out some not-so-typical assist, however, just don't work as hard getting the rebounds as the young kids no more.  Mind pretty cluttered, time for a cleansing.  Wonder how my blood flow is... hey... and obviously if you have read this far, my English skill is noticeably weakened by this failing system.

 

Hmm... time to check in to an extended visit with the Big Doctor up above? 

Driving home alone, playing CD, this song came up, singing out loud, tears began to fall...

God speaking to me? God reminding me?  God comforting me?

 

Thank You Lord, for your comfort tonight, for your reminder.

Thank You for allowing me to quiet down, to pray, and to reflect upon You.

 

I love singing this song... I do. 

Reflecting upon the Lyrics... may be more sharing later.

 

My dear brothers and sisters, and friends... sharing with you all with sincere Love.

May this song be an encouragement and reminder for you as well.

 

---

記號

香 港 基 督 徒 音 樂 事 工 協 會

 

(按此試聽)

 

腳步未能踏前 預算路向不兌現

終點總看不見 被固執蒙蔽視線

難理解高深轉變 藏在背面

期待美善續延 能看到光輝一線

屬天恩典 烙印在記憶深刻新鮮

 

直路轉彎祢預先設記號

混亂變遷裡認清真光指引

我走出末路窮途 拋開憂心困惱

無論時地恩主傾聽我禱告

 

謝謝祢體貼耐心設記號

就在往昔片段中發現當我

處身於寂寞長途 恩主足跡遍佈

常在寒夜加添溫暖 是祢擁抱

 

身軀不再冰冷 突破自困的界限

心中充滿驚歎 被祢釋放我頌讚

憑應許支撐所盼 無懼變幻

同渡世上萬難 愁緒於風中飄散

負擔輕省 讓信念每天張開雙眼

 

直路轉彎祢預先設記號

混亂變遷裡認清真光指引

我走出末路窮途 拋開憂心困惱

無論時地恩主傾聽我禱告

 

謝謝祢體貼耐心設記號

就在往昔片段中發現當我

處身於寂寞長途 恩主足跡遍佈

常在寒夜加添溫暖 是祢擁抱

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

和你分享...

(please scroll down to see Video and Lyrics near bottom half of page)

---

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

曲︰林俊傑
詞︰張思爾

 

如今此刻的我的確是有一點疲倦 

求 主 耶 穌 基 督 賜 與 信 心, 智 慧 .

 

彼 得 前 書 2:21-25

 

2:21		你 們 蒙 召 原 是 為 此 ． 因 基 督 也 為 你 們 受 過 苦 、 給 你 們 留 下 榜 樣 、 叫 你 們 跟 隨 他 的 腳 蹤 行 ．
2:22		他 並 沒 有 犯 罪 、 口 裡 也 沒 有 詭 詐 ．
2:23		他 被 罵 不 還 口 ． 受 害 不 說 威 嚇 的 話 ． 只 將 自 己 交 託 那 按 公 義 審 判 人 的 主 ．
2:24		他 被 掛 在 木 頭 上 親 身 擔 當 了 我 們 的 罪 、 使 我 們 既 然 在 罪 上 死 、 就 得 以 在 義 上 活 ． 因 他 受 的 鞭 傷 、 你 們 便 得 了 醫 治 。
2:25		你 們 從 前 好 像 迷 路 的 羊 ． 如 今 卻 歸 到 你 們 靈 魂 的 牧 人 監 督 了 。

 

Has it really been 17 years to date already? 

Leaving the place where I've grown up...

playing soccer daily with friends on concrete basketball court floor wearing "white-rice-fish",

watching cartoons on "430 Space-Shuttle" singing along all the theme songs,

buying "soft ice-cream" at 7-Eleven around the corner (gun yau yat gai hai jor gun!),

singing to songs by "Leslie Cheung" and "Alan Tam",

riding on the "Tram" from school to home for "20 cents",

eating "Won-Ton mein" at the street corners wearing slippers.... "yau gak jak ar!!!"  :)

 

Has it really been 17 years to date already?

when I was still a little boy...

leaving my young soccer buddies...

leaving my dear relatives and my dear grandma (ah-po)...

flying to those tiny islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean...

first days of school... don't even want to remember... so lost, so lost...  

 

Has it really been 17 years to date?

 

Yes... yes... yes...

 

Family, I miss you. 

 

Much more I wish to write.... blog to be continued???

 

17 years later, this journey continues... whereever we are... so thankful that now we know...

God will always lead the way!

I Have Seen the Light!

Let There Be Light!

Shine On Us!

 

Tonight, a Peaceful and Quiet Night alone at home.  I sang these songs a few times, listening to them over and over again... hoping to refine my Tenor part and be ready for the next practice and the actual praise night.

 

Coincidentally, I came across this picture tonight. 

 

To you all... (you know who you are...)

we have Seen The Light together...

we continue to Let There Be Light in each of our rooms...

and may our Lord continue to Shine On each one of Us!!!

 

May His Peace be with you.

Amen.