Saturday, 03 January 2009

  • So what changed in the 2008 Year of Change? A little review

    Wow! What a year! Last night I was trying to pick 60 photos that especially highlighted the year...but even when I tried to pick only 60 for Hong Kong times alone it proved to be a nearly impossible task! There was just too many!!!!

    Let me re-count God's blessings in 2008.

    Work
    Hong Kong:
    Haven't finished my degree...and barely any experience...yet I find myself beginning the year not with Oasis Airlines but with a job that blessed me with 9-6 work hours in Causeway Bay Times Square...with a wacky set of co-workers...and responsibilities that constantly changed! Sometimes life felt like what you'd see in "The Office" but I guess the greatest blessing is that while work was fun and all...it allowed me to balance church life perfectly above all things. I thank my co-workers for the many lessons I've learned through them.

    Ahhh....the Causeway Bay lunches...those many God talks...the great food...and the great company of people to enjoy it with :)

    Toronto:
    Not long after being back in uni I found myself doing every kind of psychology or business research possible to earn some quick easy money until by a series of coincidences I now find myself as the Manager of Prep101! I mean, I didn't even expect to get a job and just concentrate on studies but instead I find myself in the "perfect" full-time-yet-like-a-part-
    time job that allows for a good work-study balance afterall :) Completely unplanned and most definitely God intended.


    Church
    God spoke to me about it in 2007 with how I'd be entering completely new areas in 2008...but I didn't expect THIS many changes!!!!!

    Wow...what a blessing it has been to call "The Vine" a home as well as "New Hope Fellowship" over here in Toronto.

    Ministries, Missions, Events and things that happen outside the four walls (in order of appearance):

    1. The Vine, 180 Fellowship and Summer College Program
    Oh where shall I even begin with this? When I was in Hong Kong I found myself meeting either in person or talking to AT LEAST 3 people from the church each day and oh the many crazy things that come out of such a constant fellowship! Kicked off the year with Thirst and silly times with ABC and found myself ending my time in Hong Kong with tons of prayer and amazing times with the best supportive friends a guy can ask for. Being involved with Hospitality became a lifestyle that extended beyond Saturday nights and aside from all the "new" people I think it's more miraculous for me to see God working in friends I've known for YEARS beforehand ranging from primary school to high school! Thank God for bringing me from the guy who freaked out the first time he came to SCP to this constant fellowship that still extends even when I'm in Toronto :) Thank God for the best BDay celebrations ever with 5 different cakes this year and the best farewell sessions ever! Words do this no justice.

    2. Church and University Fellowship Visiting
    As a part of the call to "Unity" God brought me through a ton of coincidences and guidance to see the amazing work he's been doing in the other churches around Hong Kong. What a blessed time each trip has been starting the year off with an indescribable time with God at Solomon's Porch to ending the year as I find myself in the Campus For Christ "Encounter" Conference! To witness the same hand that guides and works in all the different churches...it has taught me the importance of Unity like never before and what it means to be a part of God's family!

    3. Example Baptism on 20 Jan
    Yea yea, I got baptized as a kid but I really wanted to try what a "full body immersion" baptism felt like so I volunteered to be the "example" to the baptism class that year at my parent's home church (well mine too...but "home" in the sense that was downstairs to where I lived) I mean...I expected amazement...but that was literally out of this world! Went down three times but when I tried to breath I found myself unable to until I literally shouted to Jesus for help! Whoa...that breath felt....like life. I don't care if it was just a "sample" but dang that felt amazing and spurred on the year seeking His purpose more and more.

    4. Revolve and Bridge
    *sniff* Revolve Dance Ministry ended on 21 February but oh those many memorable moments as I learned what dancing for God meant! As I looked through the photos I loved how despite it disbanding it has always been in our hearts as we met up time and time again for the many dinners!
    When I got here to Toronto I found myself joining the "Bridge" dance ministry here...despite only having done the Thanksgiving dance I do look forward to being more involved starting in 09!

    5. YMT Temple Street Outreach, Homeless, Poor, and Needy
    I think the most shocking thing for me all year was God's calling to go out and meet the poor and needy. The many adventures starting from buying hot Vitasoy for people on the streets, my St.Barnabas visit, the Jackie Pullinger talks, Yau Ma Tei outreach, meeting pan-handlers on the streets of Toronto to helping soup kitchens cannot be described with words!! From the kid who used to be scared of street sleepers to now having a glimpse at God's heart for the needy is absolutely unbelievable!!! I mean, have you ever seen an old lady weep from the love of a simple action such as buying her dinner? Have you sat and ate with a guy who wants God badly? Simple simple actions of love...lead to rewards spiritually that you'd never even expect! Surprise gifts are amazing but to be a part of the lives of those in need is a humbling experience that is on-going for life.

    6. Easter Mission Trip to Care for Children, Beijing
    My second ever mission trip into China and oh how much more I love the people! The trip in 07 was just me and 5 girls but this time around it was a total of 42 people together! This time around I experienced co-leading a small group, saw friends dressed as Clowns, Mickey and Minnie at the carnival for kids, acted as the beggar/Jesus in a heart-penetrating skit, ate crazy foods, slided down the Great Wall, took lessons from Jackie Pullinger and Mark Russell’s sermons, LOTS of balloon animals, amazing God chats deep into the night, crazy worship sessions, played with orphans but all in all...just got to experience God's deep love in a nation where many don't expect it :)
    If that wasn't life changing...what is?

    7. PLUS groups (aka small groups)
    After Revolve disbanded I found myself at one time going to THREE different small groups, where I actually learned tons from each one at just the right times…but eventually the crunch came and I had to choose only one to commit 100% to….and choose I did! Thank you so much to Cliff and Linnet for letting me have such an amazing time at their PLUS group and what a wondering farewell “b-themed” party I won’t forget along with all the incredible foods each week! Ah how I miss the group.
    Over here in Toronto I find myself in the “3rd-4th year” small group that is part of New Hope and thank you so much Susan as I look forward to the times in the new year!

    8. Alpha Course (again)
    Ah, it was refreshing to finally go through a whole alpha session as well as the retreat! Forever I’ll remember that one late night God talk Gerry! Surprising what you can get out of reviewing the basics.

    9. Global Day of Prayer, Love Your Neighbor and Love Revolution Conferences
    Being a part of the Vine is great as we jump at nearly all chance to help out at the big events around Hong Kong. To see God being praised by large groups of people: HK Stadium filled, 13500 at Asia World Expo, or even the whole of Queen Square Central filled with youth crying for purity. Being a part of the team that makes events like these possible is just such an amazing experience!

    10. Gateway Camps and Outreach in Hong Kong
    Oh way a joy it was to be the “Free Time” Coordinator! Thank you so much to the many people that made it possible along with my team as this camp was most definitely THE highlight of the year for me! As 1,700 people from 56 nations around the world gathered in Hong Kong, I found myself completely renewed in my calling with God and my heart for China to be lit ablaze all over again! The many spiritual lessons (like the night of Larica’s bday which of course none of us could forget) and to just grow along side some of my closest friends while making new ones made the week’s journey with God one of the many pillars in my walk! Thanks of course especially to those that called themselves “Team Bosco” haha

    11. UNITY
    Haven’t been too involved but been such a blessing to be a part of God’s work in improving communication between all the different ministries here at UofToronto! Looking forward to bigger involvement in 2009 as it’s been quite amazing already seeing God working in the different groups on campus!

    12. New Hope Fellowship and Nexus
    My church here in Toronto has nothing been short of amazing! Find myself plugged in quick enough and find great support through my Evangelism Discipleship and my small group. Thanks for accepting me into the church family and I look forward to the New Year! 2008 ended with a bang here.

    13. Chinese Christian Fellowship (CCF) and UTCCC
    Thanks for those fellowships on campus that I can call "mine" as it's been such a blessing with all the times spent with everyone!!! From the dinners at Treehouse to the Happy Tree Friends Christmas Party....oh man....just the many memories and sharing this year!  Retreat was most memorable and despite how hard it was to learn everyone's names...it's great to come back into uni and find quality fellowship!


    University
    Wow its weird being a student again after 2 years of a “gap year”! Went into courses that were COMPLETELY not what I had expected leading to a strong re-examination of Faith as the professor looked at the bible very academically…aka secular as possible. Still, God has been good and in the end I find myself enriched in my walk as I’m now motivated to dig deeper than ever!
    If it wasn’t for the two years gap…I’m pretty sure I’d be “dead” in my walk by now as I’d inevitably be a skeptic who hardens his heart. Thank God for his timing!
    Looking forward to what a major in “Philosophy and Religion” shows me or leads me.


    Friends

    I’d love to write out a list of friends to thank but there are just WAYYYYY too many! I’d hate to leave anyone out if I did make a list so I’ll just leave it with: “You know who you are….and if you don’t…confirm with me!”

    Thank you to all those whom I've had hours of God chats with, those whom have taught me so much with their lives, those whom I could share dreams and visions with, and those who allowed me to make an impact into their lives! Ah the memories and photos are just pure gold.


    Family
    Got to learn recently with how God has been calling my family up to my mom’s grandfather through a missionary in Yuen Long and how amazing his plan has been. Now that I’m back in Toronto I find myself spending a lot of time with my sister and it’s nice to finally know who’s who in my cousin list! Haha
    2008 marked the death of my Grandmother but allowed for a reunion of all the “Tungs” which I haven’t had in a long long time but it’s good to know God hasn’t let go of my family and I look forward to the times to come.



    Of course, as you’ve already noticed, nearly everything I’ve counted could not be possible with my Lord Jesus Christ whom ransomed my life and has been guiding it to places I never imagined possible!

    2008 has been an amazing year of changes for both me and those around me….but I can’t wait to experience all the NEW adventures that await me in 2009 that would not be possible without these lessons in the past years! Every year I keep saying “man…next year couldn’t possibly be better than this!” but each year I’ve been completely wrong so I await the mind-explosions that wait me in 2009!

    God bless and I look forward to hearing about your 2008 and 2009 too!

    - B

Friday, 02 January 2009

  • Yes I'm still alive

    Hey people who bother to read this anymore!

    I've completely ditched this thing and had hoped to move to a REAL blog at boscotung.com or boscotung.net...but that kinda completely failed as I just got addicted to writing notes on facebook instead :P

    Happy New Year and I've certainly had an INCREDIBLE and INSANE year of change in 2008!!!

    Hope to get the blog up and running asap...but then again...I said the same thing a year ago....so the "asap" might not be so "sap" as I'd hope...

    Anyways, update whoever still reads this soon!

    - B



Wednesday, 19 March 2008

  • Beijing Mission Trip 20th - 26th March

    Hey dear readers,

    I haven't had the time ...in quite a while actually...to post on here as there are just SO many things I want to write down and I don't even know where to start, haha.

    Well I'll be going to Beijing on my second ever mission trip this coming easter (practically tomorrow) for another life changing experience from God. Totally prepared for anything as we go out to visit the orphanages or serve on certain events. On Sunday I'm part of a drama where we are performing in front of one of the biggest international churches in Beijing so specific prayers would go to that :)

    Hope to share with you all when I'm back! Of course...I'll be taking alot of pictures as usual, lol.

    The prayer sponsorship letter:

    "Dear Friend,

    I will be on a mission trip to Beijing this Easter. A team of 45 of us, from the Vine

    Christian Fellowship will be going with the aim of supporting Care for Children.

    Care for Children is a China-based organization: it was founded in 1998 by Robert Glover, a social worker from England. Their vision is to take one million Chinese orphans out of institutions, and place them into Chinese foster families by the year 2010. You can learn more about Care for Children at:

    www.careforchildren.com.cn/home.htm

    Please can I invite you to join in this worthwhile cause by praying for me while I am on this trip? I will be gone from 5pm March 20th, until the evening of March 26th. If you would be willing to commit to this, please let me know. When I get back, I will happily share the fruits of your prayer with you

    Thank you,

    Bosco Tung"

    ....actually that link sends you to a page saying "coming soon" with a simple schedule of the plans but go to:

    http://www.careforchildren.com.cn/about.htm

    for sneakily getting in to see more :)

    God Bless!

Wednesday, 27 February 2008

  • Hospitality

    hos·pi·tal·i·ty

    –noun, plural -ties.

    1. the friendly reception and treatment of guests or strangers.

    2. the quality or disposition of receiving and treating guests and strangers in a warm, friendly, generous way.

     

    In churches we talk about “hospitality” or joing a “hospitality team” as we recognize the importance of greeting people and welcoming them…but what does it mean for a church to be hospitable? Why is it important?

    “Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”

    - Romans 12:13 (NIV)

     

    It is all about NEED.

    As the greatest commandment is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind” the second greatest commandment is “Love your neighbour as you love yourself.”

    How can you say you love others if you ignore their needs?

    For those who are Christians, remember when God first took you into his Kingdom. How you were once a stranger outside his kingdom but by his love and mercy you were taken in with open arms. His words and promises bringing a new life and a new hope.

     

    We are to welcome others, as we ourselves like to be welcomed.

    God welcomed us even though we are unworthy. What then gives us the right to decide whom we are to be hospitable to?

     

    Remember the time when you first entered a new school? “Oh no, what if the other kids don’t like me?”

    Remember the time when you first entered into a church? “Will I be accepted as I am?”

     

    When I first stepped into church the first thoughts I had was “I do not belong here…this place is so weird”….and yet over time my own barriers started to be broken down by even a few people deciding to step out and say hi. The closer I got to people, the more open I was to learning about God.

     

    If all the time is spent trying to get others to accept and welcome us…then what time is there left for the teachings? We are called to step out of our own comfort zone and think of other people’s needs.

    During 180 (my young adult fellowship) in our relationship series seemingly out of nowhere I heard this revelation from God:

     

    “We are hospitable not because people are going to join us in our fellowship but we are hospitable because they are here to be blessed by God…even if they are here only once. We should be excited for even that one visit, not just excited about repeated visits!”

     

    What we must recognize is that WE don’t bring people to church…God brings HIS people to church. The glory is His.

     

    Right after that service on Saturday I met a group of missionaries who are only in HK for a few days and are about to return to China.

     

    All I could say right then was “I am glad our church could have been a blessing to you today” as they had been without such open and free worship music in a long while.

     

    God’s teaching came at a good time…a church is after all a refugee for His people.

    In the end the people in a church are called to practice a spirit of hospitality. We should all be ready to welcome new people in rather than leave it to a “team”. The responsibility is not for a few people to hold but for EVERYONE in the church as everyone is a “host” to strangers.

     

    This is NOT because we try and grow the number of people in our church…. but it comes from the same heart of bringing others into the Kingdom of God.

     

    God loves each one of us…no matter if we’re tall, short, fat, skinny, black, white or even green J We have to be willing to follow his example.

     

    What challenge is it to talk to those who we already find interesting and charismatic? We are not called to do the easy but to do the impossible…and He makes the impossible possible.

     

    If you’ve just read all that and wonder, “what the heck is he talking about?” or “Huh, I’ve never been welcomed by God before…” let’s have a chat J

Tuesday, 26 February 2008

  • Disclaimer about my upcoming xanga / facebook notes

    Haha well a good friend of mine is complaining that I don't "share" enough on this thing.

    In my defence...I am "sharing"... I honestly am trying very hard to filter through the things that are happening daily to just write up on here! Just I decide to write the lessons directly rather than through story telling.

    When it comes to "life" sharing, I try hard to upload at least 25% of the "events" I've been doing lately onto facebook so if you wanna see "me" and what I've been up to socially then those photos will do it a little bit of justice.

    When it comes to "word" sharing I guess I'm trying to not overload xanga as I could talk hours about each of the words I've been getting. Waiting for boscotung.com to be ready so I can sort it out into sections and not feel like it's "too much" :)




    Well, starting from now on this "blog" of mine I'll use it to write about the different messages I've been getting strongly. Will expand on each of the words I've been getting directly or maybe even teachings on certain sermons.



    I'll try very hard to not do a daily thing and space out the posts....but I get too excited when I have something I want to write about. On my mind right now I have at least 10 posts waiting to be typed up just from these two days!






    It's here. You have a choice to read it or not. I chose to write it online.



    Argh....I wanna start typing soooo badly right now.....till tomorrow!

Tuesday, 19 February 2008

  • Trust

    If God has trusted me with his visions and dreams...then how can I let all these other things distract me?

    I mean...cmon, we're talking about the King of Kings here giving such dreams and visions...how I pray for a servants heart to ask "what do you want me to do now?" rather than me waking up and saying "okay I will do this this and this for God today"

    "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?
    Can such faith save him?
    Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
    In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
    James 24:14-17

    "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat,
    I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,
    I was a stranger and you invited me in,
    I needed clothes and you clothed me,
    I was sick and you looked after me,
    I was in prison and you came to visit me.'"
    Matthew 25:35-36

    This passage is often overlooked greatly and people see it as a "list of things to do to get into heaven"...but it is so so much more than that. Jesus was making a point that if you see a need and decide to ignore it then you are ignoring Him.

    People often quote how they only need to just believe in Jesus to get into heaven (which is true) but I challenge you with this...what does heaven even mean? If it is a place where angels sing and dance alongside with you living in houses made with clouds and roads made of gold and rivers of milk and honey then wow...I certainly wouldn't care much about that heaven personally. Something we can ALL agree on about heaven is that it's being in God's presence for eternity and yet if you live a life ignoring him...then what's the point of being in his presence anyways?

    Here I make a controversial point...God didn't call us into worship through song and dance, it's just one of our ways of expressing our love for him or learning to love him. A friend once asked me why God requires us to worship Him but my reply was that he doesn't "require" it....God doesn't "need" our worship, but we worship because we "want" to worship him using everything in our life as we experience his love for us. Singing "Jesus I love you" and then adding a "but I could care less about that lazy homeless guy" or a "but I don't want to be inconvenienced" is just ridiculous! It is so dangerous to be self satisfied.

    God does not love you because you worship Him, He loves you just because He does.

    For those who don't even know who Jesus is or have decided to ignore him because rationality tells you not to bother seeking him...how my soul cries to see you like this. How much you're missing out in your life! If the president invites you to meet him you'd make haste but when God invites you think nothing of it! "Sorry I already have my life in shape and having lots of fun" is totally missing the point. Even if I'm struggling with God about following him I'm still filled with joy.

    "They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
    "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me."
    Matthew 25:44-45

     

    Sigh...there have been so much that I did not do but it is never too late to start doing.

    Thank God for your trust in me despite the many times I've failed you.

     

    ---

    ...haha I had intended to just write a short note about "If God has trusted me with his visions then....." but I can't help myself to type more! Wonder who actually reads any of it.

    *btw, the book I'm reading "Still Red" is not about what I've written here but it's definitely a recommended read!*

     

    Currently Reading
    Still Red
    By Georgina Sam, David Wang
    see related

Saturday, 16 February 2008

  • Dreams - Director, Actor and Audience

    I love dreaming. I really do. If someone asked me what I loved most about dreaming I would reply that I love the nature of them the most.

    Isn’t it fascinating that you’re the DIRECTOR, the ACTOR AND the AUDIENCE at the same time when you dream?


    The three work together in mysterious ways but yet they are distinctly different at the same time.


    Actually…reality and dreaming aren't so different.





    Let’s start from something we should all understand…the Audience.

    Have you ever woken up from a dream and thought “wow, what a show!” as you watched characters unfold and how the main character (often you) handled the situations. Have you watched love stories, have you watched tragedies, have you watched comedies, have you watched seemingly random things? How often have you woken up being glad all that you just watched was a dream or being sad it was only a dream?

    When I reflect back on my life…I am in audience mode. What’s happened is done and all I can do it enjoy the show. The show induces a flurry of emotions. Often I can be happy or joyful thinking back, often struck with sadness and regret, often overwhelmed with amazement and excitement, or often it hurts so much to watch we decide to look away.


    Being an audience to your own life teaches you things....it develops you as an Actor.

    In my dreams I'm placed into crazy crazy situations and then I actually make decisions. I search for the right words, I do an analysis of the situation, and I try to do the right thing. I see, I hear, I touch, I smell....I experience. Yet as the actor knows it's not truly reality, then he is brave to do things he is not normally willing to do. One decision leads to another scenario which leads to making another decision and so on. It's an adventure when you don't know what's around the corner and you're curious to find out what an action can lead to. There is interaction.

    Every moment in our life that we call the "present" we are in actor mode. We say our lines, we do our things and basically fulfill the role we have been casted as. We make the decisions of talking, of eating, of playing, or just saying and doing certain things according to the situation we anticipate will happen. Right after our actions tho...we are thrown back into audience mode as we watch how situations unfold before our eyes. The decisions we make are based on what we have learnt from our previous actions.


    As we act our lives out we say things, we do things, and we make decisions....we want to have control and be the Director.

    Think about the setting of your dreams, think of the people you see in them, think of the events that happen, think about the story...don't you find it crazy? The actor/audience side of you is often met with surprise as you enter into new scenarios, see people you don't expect to see, and live out stories that are worthy of being written into a movie! I think it's crazy that you can actually surprise yourself! That's what I call "keeping yourself entertained". We've aleady got the whole blueprint of the dream planned out in one part of our mind and it's being produced to us in real time as we watch/live it out.

    In real life the whole "director" thing is even more complicated to understand most of the time. Some people think they are the directors and as long as they work very very hard their life would be under control. Some people throughout the ages have always wanted to find out about the script for their own life and what is "destined". People flock to fortunetellers, palm readers, and believe in horoscopes only hoping to catch a glimpse of what that script looks like. People want to know if they would live out a happy life, if they would be rich, if they would have many kids, if they would marry young or old, if there are troubles ahead or if they will sail through life. Yet...are we actually the directors? Are those people just trying hard to steal the script from the director? Who is the director?


    The actor desperately wants to know what the director is thinking...


    ...I guess in real life that's what our gaping hole for religion is like.


    The director desperately wants to let the actor know what He is thinking...all the while creating a masterpiece for the audience so is careful not to let them know too much beforehand.



    For me I think one of the biggest joys in my life is learning that the REAL director is not myself but rather my God, Jesus Christ.

    I mean....c’mon. Do I really want to be in charge of controlling my life when I can't even control day and night? I can't even see a minute into the future so how can I direct things with unknown condition ahead?

    In my DREAMS I seem to have the control in directing as I create that world subconsciously but in a world created by God....who else can be the director right?




    Despite knowing this I'm not very good at respecting what the director tells me. He leads me into the weirdest situations just like how I lead myself into weird ones in my dreams always wondering what's next. Often I can't see beyond the situations so I question Him. I rebel against him. I disobey him as he takes me out of my comfort zone.


    There is a character I would "like" to play but there is a character he wants me to play instead.




    Silly me. I've gotta start listening to the director more. He's got an amazing masterpiece of a story waiting for me yet I'd rather write my own mediocre one.


    *edit* Explored another idea while talking with someone tonight. Actually...God doesn't tend to lead us step by step but he allows us to be creative along with the rough ideas he has planned up. His masterpieces aren't created by him alone but require input from his actors as well while he's teaching them different techniques along the way. He is not limited to only "church" or "denominations" either as his plans are SO SO much bigger. He chooses to use the church to bring his message across but his calling is on everyone. We often just refuse to be casted. */edit*

    ----


    I am silly to rather do so much for so little when I only need to do very little for a lot.

    "..."Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
    - Matthew 17:20 (NIV)


    (phew, Bosco is quickly back again whether you want him to or not :) Thanks for those who worried/prayed)


    (c) Bosco Tung 2008



    Dreaming in action....enjoy:

Sunday, 10 February 2008

  • We are called to "go"

    I was in Causeway on the first day of Chinese New Year and I saw these two well dressed gentlemen playing beautiful beautiful music from a guitar, a flute, and an amp.
    They had gathered quite a crowd who had stopped to look and drop money into their guitar case as well as read the big note they had written on the ground.

    ...what did shock me was within one feet of this massive crowd was an old lady kneeling on the ground with her head smacked on to the ground. The first question that came to my mind was: "....is she still alive?" and then what crossed my mind next was "why does no one seem to care....what can I do?"

    I'm watching this huge crowd stopping outside times square to watch and throw money to these two young well dressed gentlemen but no one paid even an ounce of attention to this lady who obviously seems to be in need.

    I rushed over to 7-11 to buy a hot vitasoy drink, a bottle of water, and a few packs of bread and went back to the old lady and asked her if she was okay. To my joy I found out she was still alive no matter how silly it sounds.
    She lifted her head slowly to look at me like I was crazy to touch her and talk to her. Her eyes changed dramatically as I just said "por por, wo song gei ni" (here this is for you).


    I'm actually not annoyed at those two singers at all as I don't know where they are coming from or what that note said but what I AM annoyed at is just....humanity really.
    We are so obsessed with pleasing ourself that we would only stop for something we like. Marketing is SO important to us that we wouldn't receive anything into our lives if it's not marketed well.

    People walk past and throw money down from at least a meter in the air and the loud "chinng" sound of the coins just makes me cringe....

    Something a lot of my friends have said to me is that "but in reality we can't care for everyone...there are just so many!" but my reply is...."so what? we just do what we can when we can"


    I write this post NOT to show off with "hey look what I've done!" but rather I write it as a quick example of how little it takes to "go". I'm still so unexperienced with caring for others but I'm learning how easy it is when you're willing to just do it.


    I really give you a challenge to just randomly reach out past your own comfort zone this Chinese New Year if you've never done so before to help someone in need.

    Treat someone who is spending chinese new year cold and alone on the streets to just a meal. Heck, my personal favorite is to buy a "gai dan jai" (some form of egg pastry) which costs only $10 fresh and hot from the stove and just give it to someone who looks cold and hungry. Hot Vitasoy from 7-11 costing only $5.5 is too cheap to not use as a conversation starter. Ask what they want and even though they might say out of modesty "oh, just a water is enough" get them that and more.


    ---

    A song that's been stuck on my mind for the past few weeks...

    Tim Hughes - God of Justice (We Must Go)

    God of Justice, Saviour to all
    Came to rescue the weak and the poor
    Chose to serve and not be served

    Jesus, You have called us
    Freely we've received
    Now freely we will give

    We must go live to feed the hungry
    Stand beside the broken
    We must go
    Stepping forward keep us from just singing
    Move us into action
    We must go

    To act justly everyday
    Loving mercy in everyway
    Walking humbly before You God

    You have shown us, what You require
    Freely we've received
    Now freely we will give

    Fill us up and send us out
    Fill us up and send us out
    Fill us up and send us out Lord

    ---

    "When a poor person dies of hunger, it has not happened because God did not take care of him or her.
    It has happened because neither you nor I wanted to give that person what he or she needed."
    and
    "You and I, we are the Church, no? We have to share with our people. Suffering today is because people are hoarding, not giving, not sharing. Jesus made it very clear.
    Whatever you do to the least of my brethren, you do it to me.
    Give a glass of water, you give it to me. Receive a little"
    - Mother Teresa of Calcutta 1910-1997


    She's got it. It's THAT simple.

    It's cool to sing worship songs and all but you need to MEAN what you sing!
    "Stepping forward keep us from just singing"....so just "go".


    It's cool to learn more and more about our God but you need to USE what you learn!

    "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
    - James 2:14-17

    Stop what you're doing right now and just go.


    People try to limit "church" and "god" to just the 4 walls...but it is just SO much more than that. PEOPLE are the church....and God chose to train his people using "church" by gathering his people together in one place.


    Just like school....if you never decide to step into the working world then all that preparation was for nothing. One working world may be very different from another but still...we go through it to prepare us for something "more".


    Serving at church is NOT what it means to care for other people. Serving in church just means you want to give back to the hand that fed you.
    Doing chores at home will just make the house cleaner and tidier....but it'd be crazy to always stay at home all day cleaning it.



    You should not be doing the things you do because you want to get into heaven....that's still thinking just about yourself. Freely we've received so freely we should give.
    Currently Listening
    Holding Nothing Back
    By Tim Hughes
    see related

Tuesday, 05 February 2008

  • Making a call

    I really like calling my grandma because whenever I call it sounds like she just saw a monster or something as she picks up and answers in chinese “Hello?!!?! Hello?!!! Who is this?! Wai Ming?! (which is my uncle’s name as all guys she presumes to be my uncle)” since people rarely call….yet I always forget to.

     

    Oh random funny story. 5 years ago when I was staying at her house with my aunt I accidentally pressed “911” instead of “001” (no idea how) when calling back to Hong Kong and as I was saying “hi mom” I realized it was a policeman’s voice on the other end. Of course I hung up right away after telling them about the mix up but when the doorbell rang guess how freaked out my grandma and my aunt was to find 2 policemen standing there! They were shouting at each other and I quickly ran down the stairs to resolve the situation. They are pretty scared of the world.

     

    I do have an awesome grandma tho. The deep fried oysters she makes are AMAZING. Back in China before she had to run for her life into Hong Kong her family actually owned a huge oyster field…and then in HK she was a maid for a white family…so man could she cook!

     

    ---

     

    Last week while sitting at home I decided to randomly call my grandma. Couldn’t find the number and as my mom told me to just call “tomorrow” I’ve been putting off that “tomorrow” till today still.

     

    Here was a phone call with my mom just now (simplified and translated of course):

    B: “Oh crap! I really should call por por/grandma tonight huh”

    M: “Hey, we can just call tomorrow when it’s Chinese New Year Eve.”

    B: “Yea but still. I should be calling her more often anyways right?”

    M: “Yea. You know how your grandma talks for very very long each time tho. I’ll call them tomorrow”

    B: “Oh, so you’re calling tomorrow then?”

    M: “They only find it important to call on special days anyways so it’s fine. Those are the ones that really count while calling now and then is nice…. but she talks for so long!”

     

     

    For me thinking about it is really interesting tho. It’s like you acknowledge you have parents but yet because they are so “mah fan” (bothering) you’ve set limits on how much of a “relationship” you can have with them.

     

     

     

    Know what a CEO Christian is?

    CEO = you are a Christian on Christmas and Easter Only.

     

    People acknowledge they have a Father in Heaven yet they only decide to visit Him or “give him a call” twice a year on the two biggest events of Christ’s birth and resurrection.

     

     

    …you know what. God actually doesn’t think like my mom or CEO Christian do at all. He thinks ALL time with him is important time. There is no days which are “more” important.

     

     

    God gave us the freedom to do whatever we like but yet at the same time he wants to spend every moment of our life with us. To let him be with us through both our good times and bad times and that doesn’t mean just going to “church”…that’s acknowledging him in everything we do and to give thanks.

     

     

    I confess though that I’m personally quite afraid of God being there 24/7...but who isn't? I know the messed up things I do and subconsciously I’ve set time as “God time” and “Me time” despite the amazing changes and joy he has given my life.

     

    Yet it really should be “us time”….all the time.

     

    I’ve still got tons to learn.

     

     

     

     

    Here is a point to think about I guess:

     

    Are you like a kid who decides to call home just twice a year and calls only when you need more “money”?

     

    Are you like a kid who thinks you can survive on your own without your parents?

     

     

    …cuz either one is a pretty sad picture when this same Father in heaven keeps calling.

     

     

    I wish I am a kid who is always happy to make/answer calls and to never want to hang up.

     

     

    ---

     

    …dang I really do need to call my grandmother more tho or even my sister, haha.

Monday, 28 January 2008

  • A few lessons I learnt this Sunday

    "God loved the birds and invented trees. Man loved the birds and invented cages.”
    - Jacques Deval

    Love is pretty funny. We are called to love yet "how" we love is often not love at all.

    I must confess on most Christians behalf that we've done a horrible job of this in a church setting at times. Alot of the time we're often quick to judgment and barely take the time to try and understand your situation...your experiences...and just basically...you.

    Alot of us unonciously decide on what we "can" love...and what we "can't" show love to...

    I personally fall on this badly.

    I unintentionally "try" to change others around me alot much of the time so that I can more easily extend love them...when I'm in no position to try at all...change is done by God. All I'm called to is love.

    The society I've grown up in cries out for "conformity" when God cries out for "diversity". People look down at people different from themselves, people who are dirtier than themselves, people who are less "educated" then ourselves...this sense of pride is killing us.

    We are all created and called to be unique so it's pretty silly to expect people to be the same. My father and mother is different from your father and mother....my friends are different from yours....my struggles are different from yours....my gifts are different from yours.

    It's time to stop caging other people in our lives....it's time to stop caging God.

    "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
    - Luke 10:27

    ---

    "A year of the Lord's favour"...."A year of a New Start"....

    2008 has gotten leaders across the world excited and I'm honestly thrilled to see confirmations time and time again.

    If you're still thinking "God is going to do something in 2008" .....then open your eyes.....God IS already doing something. 2008 has hit us for 28 days already!

    2008 is a Year of Change....and change only comes from Him.

    ---

    I came out of a church on Sunday morning and as I walked down the MTR I thought "....wow....I didn't know a single person's name...not even the pastor's"

    When they asked who was new to stand up I got greeted by many people but besides that moment no one else bothered to come chat with me. People said "hi" but no one followed that "hi" with a "my name is...."

    To make someone feel welcome is not just to extend a "hi"...it's to follow up with that "hi"

    As I talked to someone on their hospitality team after I suddenly felt really "unwelcomed" as I had come from another church to just "visit" rather than join their church. Then I was thinking....the church can open their arms and welcome pastors from foreign countries but they cannot welcome a curious Christian?

     

    I have barely started to explain why I decided to visit "alone" that I was met with harsh judgmental words of "You can ONLY be at one church! You must be able to serve so you must only stay with one church!"....

     

    Why do people often try to cage God into four walls? I'm starting to like the idea of sending people off on mission trips more and more now...it really teaches people to see how God is working beyond their own church influence.

    ---

    I can honestly say I just love most of the people I've met at The Vine Christian Fellowship....even though I wish I could use "all"..."most" is not bad already :)

    God has decided to put people into my life to just bless, teach and encourage me constantly and I'm just in awe of all the things he has done.

    I need to show my thanks to everyone more consistently, haha.

    ---

    Tonight's sermon was on "What's in a name?" and the implications our names have on our lives. Got me thinking...

    My name Bosco was given to me by my parents in hopes they can honor a great recent day Saint who had founded my dad's school.

    My name reminds me of how my parents came to know Jesus, it reminds me how they had met in church, and how God has kept the family together despite all the crazy circumstances.

    It reminds me of the great man of God who often stepped out in faith and despite what the church "told" him to do he always followed what "God" told him to do.

    St John Don Bosco received incredible prophesy in his dreams...I'm starting to learn how crazy my own dreams are.

     

    Bosco means forest in Italian. I suddenly decided to look up the dictionary.com definition of "tree" and found a shocking definition:

    "11. the cross on which Christ was crucified."

    When I read that my heart just...SANK. I suddenly felt at that same moment God showing me the picture that these "trees" are those that follow Him to the cross and he wants to unite them all together as close as the trees are in a forest.

    I could barely help myself from laughing as I just learned more and more about this image as it got prayed over.

     

    God is hilarious.

     

    He really is.

     

     

    I can't believe it's not even February yet and so much has happened already! So much I want to write here daily but I have to actually stop myself from writing it, haha.

     

    What a year it's already been.

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