Pray ON! for baby Samuel!

On Monday night, I was really looking forward to getting home from work to work on my car with my buddy George. Then I got the news about baby Samuel and his critical situation. As desirable as it was to want to stay home and work on my car, I had preached the day before on how it is so much better to worship at the feet of Jesus than to worship the temporary things of this world.

So I went to the Community Center in PV to spend time at the feet of Jesus, petitioning for the life of baby Samuel. I thought people might think I was weird since I was a stranger, and don't even know the family nor the church that met. But to my surprise, neither did the other two guys in my prayer group! We had all heard about baby Samuel through social media, such as texts, twitter, and facebook. I was in AWE of how the news is spreading and people are praying for this family of God!

Turns out we aren't the only strangers praying. Over 10,000 hits from people all over the world checking in to the updates on Baby Samuel! Keep yourself in the loop, and keep praying for the God ordained purposes in baby Samuel's life!!!

Updates can be found here:

http://lothblogs.wordpress.com/

Pray on, Brother. Pray on, sister!

URGENT Prayer...NOW

i'm clutching baby evan as I type this with one hand.

i don't know baby samuel, but i know baby evan. i think that's why this breaks my heart that much greater. pastor dan is a local partner of the gospel in the area which i live. i've never met him, but i'm by his side as i write this. please read below with urgency and prayer.

Yesterday was trying to say the least. Waking up in a panic because Kelly delivers quick, we ran to Hollywood Presbyterian at 3am only to have to “hurry up and wait” for several hours. The contractions came, and then they left, leaving us a bit discouraged. After the pitocin drip, Kelly was quickly induced within a few hours, and by 11am, Samuel was born to us 6 pounds 10 ounces and twenty inches long. He is beautiful and hopefully I’ll put a picture up with this post. Truly my heart melts when it beholds him; so perfect on the outside yet so sick on the inside.

With his birth, he was rushed quickly to the NICU where he was placed on a powerful ventilator and several tests to determine lung strength, heart strength and lung development. Because of the difficulty of finding all the organs before he is born, we were hit with news that his condition was much worse than we originally thought (which was horrible to begin with). He has very little lung development and even on a very strong ventilator was only receiving up to 80% oxygenation in his blood (we need above 93% for the average brain to receive the proper oxygen for development). The doctors couldn’t stabilize him so he was rushed over to Children’s Hospital quicker than anticipated. Kelly was able to see him briefly before she had to return to her room, and I went with Samuel via ambulance right away to the CHLA NICU.

It was surreal traveling there, alone, without Kelly or family, amidst paramedics who were attempting to keep Samuel alive. One woman’s role was to constantly get oxygen in his lungs by squeezing a round ventilator; had she but stumbled he would have been in even more serious danger.

Rushing to the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit), I was told to wait outside for a bit until they could get him hooked up again and getting better blood oxygenation. They could only get it to around 65% and in a hurry of doctors and surgeons, I was transported to a room to sign papers so that he could undergo a surgery and be placed under the power of an ECMO machine (external heart and lung bypass). There were five of them, stating that Samuel’s chance of survival was nil unless he get on ECMO, though recounted all the horrible potential side effects that could happen. They even expressed to me the reality that he may not survive the surgery.

Signing the papers, I waited in the room for them to give me one last chance to look at Samuel. They said it would be 30 or so minutes and as my phone was about to die, I told them I needed to rush out to get the phone charger so I could call Kelly. Running out, I took a back way to get to my car; but trying to get back in the same door was impossible, so I had to run around the entire huge hospital in a panic hoping I would see my son before surgery.

The phone rang; it was the doctors asking where I was. Running, literally never having felt this fear of the unknown before, I ran past security guards, speeding cars, and anything else meant to impede me, and was running to be by my son’s side. I got stopped, but yelled something, and made it to the NICU just in time to see my son and give him a kiss on the head. I whispered Jesus’ name and said a quick prayer before they rushed me out to begin surgery. Later, the surgeon who was the head of the NICU institute, told me he had minutes to live.

By God’s grace, he made it through the surgery and is stabilized on ECMO as I write this. His blood is being oxygenated at 100% which is a huge blessing, giving his little lungs and heart a rest. During the course of trying to keep him alive, the high pressure ventilator caused damage to his lungs, so the doctors are not expectant to see any improvement to his condition until the lungs heal which could take longer than a week.

However, he doesn’t have much time on ECMO; being on this massive machine means having to be induced and drugged, as well has having to be on blood thinners so the blood won’t clot in the machine. This is a very precarious time.

So what have the doctor’s told us? They each tell us there is little hope for survival. There might be a new condition in his heart that they couldn’t see previously, and if this new condition proves positive, then there isn’t any chance at all. But, it has not been diagnosed, so we will pray and believe otherwise. I’ve never felt this way before; not scared, but so emotionally attached to my two day old son. I felt like, as I ran, as I was by his side, as I signed papers and as I kiss him on the head or touch his little feet, that somehow he needs me. He does, but the truth of the matter is I can do nothing for him but love him and pray. And so we pray.

Samuel’s name means “God hears.” The truth of the matter is that though I can do nothing, though the love of a mother and father is strong, only our Heavenly Father can do something. It’s out of the doctor’s hands, out of the surgeon’s hands, and out of our hands. Samuel is resting in the arms of God now, amidst those tubes, machines and wires and under that heating lamp that seems intense. He’s resting in the most capable arms of all, so really, he’s in the safest place he can be. My son is made for eternity, and whether he flourishes or not, I will praise the God of eternity who fearfully and wonderfully made him in his mother’s womb.

Please join my in praising God for Samuel, and for praying for the life of this precious little boy.

Though I will not be present, I know there will be a prayer time for him tonight at the Community Center in PV at 8pm. I would deeply appreciate it if you joined together with the body of believers, invite your friends who believe in Christ, and petition for the life of my son. I love you all…

Dan and Kel, Noah and Mia…and Samuel

Costume Party

So for the costume party last week with our College/Young Adult fellowship, the challenge was for people to team up and dress up together. The Mah family decided to dress up and play Doctor. I showed up to the party as an OB/GYN and my wife Monica came dressed as a pregnant woman. Each team that dressed up had to do a presentation of their costumes. Here's ours that won us the "Funniest" award (apparently Google Chrome isn't playing the video):



On another note, tonight I decided that we were going to have family Bible reading time. By God's grace, I happened to be in Dt. 6 for my quiet times. The Scripture was quite fitting:

" 1 These are the commands, decrees and laws the LORD your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the LORD your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life...

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.[a] 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."

Being a father is incredible. People often ask, "How's being a daddy?". YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW. unless you're a dad and you do, I guess. I LOVE THIS KID SO MUCH IT'S SO INTENSE. It almost hurts. Have you ever loved someone so much that it like literally hurts? I asked my friends yesterday if it's possible to love my son so much, that it's displeasing to God.

I pray SO MUCH, like EVERYDAY, that Evan would grow up to genuinely love the Lord. I pray that his whole life would be devoted to Him. And after reading tonight's passage, I hope that Evan's love for the Lord would be even more intense than my own love for Evan. So much that it hurts! And as the Scripture says, the command for me is to teach him to Love the Lord, when I sit with him and walk with him, when we lay down and when we get up. May I live out this Greatest of Commandments.

Do you Speak in Tongues?

I don't speak in tongues. Nor do I heal. Nor do I prophesy. (I did predict that baby Evan would be a fat little chubster. But i didn't get that by looking up and hearing the Lord; I looked down and saw my Lard. ha! That was a good one.) But I've been asked about these gifts before and have been in countless conversations regarding them in the past.

But lately it seems that the conversation has been coming up more and more regarding these controversial giftings of the Spirit. I happened to have read through 1 Cor. 12 a couple days ago regarding the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which include tongues, interpretation of tongues, healing, and prophecy. It's interesting to note that these gifts of the Holy Spirit are included in a list among gifts such as teaching, helping and administration, which no one seems to have a problem with.

I've been asked many times what my position is regarding the charismatic movement and the gifts associated with it. My answer? As my good friend James Hong would say, "I'm open, but cautious." I'm open to what the Holy Spirit can do and am willing to accept the variety of ways He gifts believers to build the Church, but I'm cautious as to how any group or denomination uses and perceives the gifts. As with anything else, the use of the gifts must never ever violate the teaching of Scripture.

But when asked my opinion about the Charismatic gifts (which I think is a misnomer, since all gifts are "charisma", a gifting by God's grace), I honestly answer that I honestly don't know what to make of it. I just haven't been exposed to the Charismatic movement or fellowshipped with charismatic churches to make a fair judgment. I think it's poor witness that so many Evangelicals are quick to make blanket statements without having taken the time to learn more about the subject.

So, I'm willing to learn. I know many of you reading this are probably from within my own community, so you're probably in the same place as I am in terms of what you've experienced. But maybe not.

So my question is, whoever you are, what has been your experience with charismatic gifts or charismatic groups? Should we as Christians be more open or closed to what seems to be growing throughout the world?

Prosperity Gospel

This is an oldie but a goodie.

Tummy Time- Take Two

Some of you have been asking for the update video of Evan's tummy time. Here it is. This video is about 2 weeks later from the first... in it he's doing so much while doing really nothing at all.

And no, that's not my Mickey Mouse t-hirt I'm wearing. It's, um....

In routing on Evan to muster up strength to lift up his head, I'm reminded of the One who gives us strength, both physically, and spiritually.

Psalm 3:3 "But you are a shield around me, O LORD;
you bestow glory on me and lift up my head."

Burnt out? Or Boiling?

Do you feel burnt out for Jesus? Tired? Like you just can't do this anymore? Most people who do will stop serving because "I just need a break".

I have a suggestion... keep serving.

Paul writes in Romans 12:11 "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord."

The word Paul uses for "Spiritual fervor" is a word that literally means "boiling". Basically, we are charged by Paul to maintain our zeal for God by "boiling" for the Lord.

I don't cook much, but I make quite a killer spaghetti. Actually, that's all I know how to cook. When I'm heating my pot of water, I freak out when the bubbles start to boil and overflow all over the place. I rush to take it off the stove and rest it on a cooler surface. The bubbles go away! But the moment I put it back on, the bubbles are back!

Did you know that a constant application of heat to that pot keeps it boiling? Crazy. But take away that application, and it dies out.

Paul seems to suggest that it is possible to consistently maintain our fervor for the LORD. Like, we can stay high for Jesus! We can always be bubbly for Jesus! He says... "Keep boiling". That means, according to Paul's word choice, there needs to be a constant application of something that'll keep us boiling for Jesus.

What is that application? Well, Paul says, "Keep boiling, serving the Lord." That means, our regular and consistent service to God, humbly making him first place instead of ourselves, will keep us from losing our zeal? That I can keep boiling instead of burning out?

Christians, I'd like to suggest that if you're tired and worn out...keep serving. Of course, serve in good portion. Don't overload your plate. You'll get stuffed and won't be able to do anything. Take small bites, but serve consistently, and you'll be amazed at how long you can go.

Oh yeah, and check yo'self before you wreck yo'self. Who you serving? Oh right. JESUS. HE'S the guest of honor. Get outta his seat.

Press on brother. Press on Sister.

Tummy Time: Take #1

This is Evan's first Tummy Time. We're trying to train him to lift up his head and push himself up on his own. I know... he sounds discouraged in the video. But don't worry, we encouraged him once the cameras were off.

Baby Evan, don't worry. Even Jesus had to take time to grow in stature. You'll lift your head up one day, son.

Luke 2:52 "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men."

G.A.P. Log #2: TNT Wedding- Tre n' Tomoko

I should be more consistent with these "God.Answers.Prayer" logs. He answers WAY more than I post. He deserves way more Glory than I give.

Prayer Journal on April 15, 2010: "I pray for Trevor and Tomoko's wedding, that it will bring you glory and that Christ will be at the center of it."

Answered on September 25, 2010:
TnT's wedding was DYNO-MITE!!! I've been praying for months for Trevor and Tomoko's wedding, for their preparation, but mostly for God's glory to be seen. I asked that Christ would be made known.

And God came through... through the ceremony, through the message, through the worship, through the foot washing ceremony, through the vows, through the testimonies at the reception... through and through.

Trevor was telling me how many people, especially from his family, were impressed with the realization that God is really alive in Trevor's life.

A cousin who is in a "basically Satanic" band came up to him and told him everything really made him think.

An old high school friend commented to Trevor how he always knew he was a Christian, but was blown away by what he saw that day.

A newborn believer (a man, may I mention?) shed tears at the demonstration of humility demonstrated in Christ's footwashing.

Through and through.

Praise the Lord for the testimony of His Love and Grace in Trevor and Tomoko's marriage! May he keep showing it in their lives... through and through.

On "Humility"

Humility is the something we should constantly pray for...
but never give thanks that we have.
-M.R. De Haan

Poopey

Ok, no more pictures of Evan. Enough of that.

I've always remembered Hebrews 12, talking about a Father's discipline for his son.

"Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (Heb. 12:10-11)

I've always understood it to mean that God will discipline us, and it's for our good. He does it out of his love, though at the moment we wonder why he would put us through it.

Now I think I'm really starting to understand it... from a father's perspective.

Evan is a good boy. He REALLY is. Everyone who comes to see him mentions how he doesn't cry very much. To be honest, he rarely does full-on cry beyond a wimper.

Ok I lied, here's some more pictures :)

But I noticed, as I assume it is with all babies, Evan punctures my ears whenever I open up his diaper to change.

I heard recently from a friend that it's because the baby is so used to being wrapped up tightly, bundled together, just like when he was in the safety of mommy's womb. That's why we swaddle the baby so snug, Evan Asada Burrito style. And when we open him up, we're exposing him and creating a sense of vulnerability, a feeling of insecurity.



And so Evan screams like no other moment in the day.

But as I'm cleaning him up, there's not a single second that I consider not going through the process of wiping up the mess. Not for a moment do I think it'd be better for Evan if I'd just close up the diaper again just so that he doesn't have to cry and feel insecure or vulnerable. No stinkin' way.

In my mind, as a father, it is without hesitation my desire to bring him through the process of getting him cleaned up. I know, without a second guess, it'll be good for him, and he will be glad he went through it.



God, our Father, is Good. And I know that. I've always known that.

But now, I think I feel it and understand it a little deeper.

"Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?" Hebrews 12:7

9/9

I preached a sermon recently on God's "kairos". According to the Bible, it's the divinely appointed time for things to happen as God determines it.

9/9 is a special day. Many friends and family were hoping for Evan to come on 9/9. How cool would that be?
Mommy was born on 11/11,
Uncle Ed (Monica's brother) was born on 10/10.
How sweet would it be if Evan was born on 9/9?

Sure enough, Evan arrived on 9/9. Absolutely Fantastic.

But I think 9/9 is special for other reasons as well.

I titled a recent post "The Lord Taketh Away". Just recently, my Grandma passed away at 93 years old. In the very same season, Evan was born. I thought is was rather timely.

Then, my mom told me that my other Grandma passed away on... you guessed it... 9/9.

As one generation passes, another arrives. "The Lord taketh away, and the Lord giveth." Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Then I remembered... wasn't I baptized on 9/9, 1989? I think I was! Then, at the hospital, my younger brother Daniel goes, "That's cool. I was baptized on 9/9."

YOU too?!

As one receives new spiritual life, another receives new physical life!

9/9... God's "Kairos" for the Mah family?

Maybe. But then, maybe not. Maybe it's just coincidence.

What I really hope for is that Evan will live his life pointing as Zechariah pointed in 9:9 of his book:

" See, your king comes to you,
righteous and having salvation,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey."

- Zechariah 9:9

BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!



Daddy and Evan reading through Romans


We got into a little heated discussion over Romans 14.

Ridiculous Cuteness

Mini Evan


Jumbo Evan


Evan Asada Burrito



And here's a video of Evan doing absolutely nothing at all.

My Hero

This is my hero.



I'm really not trying to be sappy or cheesy, but she really is. I've already shared with others about how much I appreciate her having to alter her life by carrying around a human being inside of her for 9 months. I can't imagine the weight she's had to carry, physically, but also mentally and emotionally as she deals with the reality of having to give her life fully to the care of this baby inside of her. What she eats, what she can't eat, what activities she can't do, what new activities she MUST do, what fun she has to forgo, what education she has to pick up. The list of things that have changed her life are intimidating; her endurance through it all is inspiring.

All that had already blown me away. I told her numerous times before this week that I was so thankful for her and all that she does for our family by bearing Evan.

But then Evan is ready to break forth, and Monica comes through and delivers. And I am even more inspired and in awe of how much Monica has given. I can't explain how helpless I felt as a husband, standing there in the delivery room, with the tremendous task of... holding her ankle. While Monica was suffering intense contractions, then having to experience the nauseating symptoms of going into labor, to having to push for an hour and a half with all that she had, so much that she literally couldn't push much longer. Then, to see the doctor have to make an incision to open up the way for Evan to make his arrival.

Pray for Monica. She's gone through a lot. It's hard to see her so utterly drained from this delivery. And now the doctors say that it'll be a few weeks for her to recover from the lacerations that she received.

She is my hero.

BABY UPDATE!!!!!! PICS!

Introducing, Evan Jedidiah Mah: 7lbs. 14oz., 19 inches.


Mommy and Son


Papa and Son


The Gramms


The Gramps


The Auntie

Visiting hours are 8am-8pm. Feel free to visit us tomorrow at Torrance Memorial Hospital. *We are in room 360 on the Third floor. Thanks for standing behind us in prayer!

BABY UPDATE!!!!!! #4

SUCCESS!!!! Cutest baby EVER!!!!!!

Pics to come...

BABY UPDATE!!!!!! #3

Delivering now.

BABY UPDATE!!!!!! #2

Monica's now 8-9cm dilated! 1cm to go, and this baby is coming out! Keep praying, people!

BABY UPDATE!!!!!! #1

So, I'm dying trying to text and reply to everyone with my non-qwerty phone. And since I don't Tweet or Facebook much, I'll keep you guys posted here.

so basically, it's SHOWTIME baby!!! Monica and I checked into the hospital at Torrance Memorial last night at 12am since her contractions were acting up while leaving Disneyland. They sent us home at 4 am saying it was still a little too early.

This morning at around 10am, her contractions were unbearable and her nails were driving just a little too deep into my flesh, so we returned to Torrance Memorial.

Monica has been admitted, the doctors broke her bag, and it's time to get this Party Started.

Please keep praying for the good arrival of our baby! God is good.


Love,

Greg and Monica

7 Days of "DO IT" #7 - Associating with those in Low Positions

"Do not be proud, but be wiling to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited." Romans 12:16

In my earlier post this week, I mentioned that one of the guys at the Long Beach Rescue Mission asked to come to Church with us this Sunday. I got to pick up Kai, a Cambodian brother, at the LBRM on Sunday, and man, I was BLASTED with blessing. Absolutely drenched.

Kai shared with me just what he's been through these past 6 months since he was released from State Prison. He's was sentenced to 40 years, but was released after 22 years. The day he got out, he was on the bus, with no where to go and no money to get him there. While on the bus, a tatted up Mexican guy asked him where he was going. Kai said he noticed his tattoos and knew that their two gangs used to shoot at each other back in the day before getting locked up. The Mexican guy told him to follow him off the bus.

Kai thought to himself, "I ain't goin' with him. I'm gonna get killed." But then he thought, "At this point in my life, I have nothing to lose."

So he went with the guy, walking through 8 blocks filled with Hispanics. Talk about walking through the Valley of the Shadow of Death.

But then they reach the Long Beach Rescue Mission, and the Mexican guy rings the door bell for Kai, and then walks away. Kinda like ding-dong ditch.... I guess? Kai's left there at the doorsteps of the LBRM... but they weren't taking people for another 8 hours. Kai waited outside for 8 hrs, and they finally took him in.

Kai shared with me in details how he went from cussing out all the Chaplains whenever they tried to share Christ with him, to how God broke him down and open his eyes to see the truth. I have prayers in my journal from the past months for Kai, that one day he would find the Truth. After spending the day in fellowship with Kai, I am undone by the grace God has shown. Kai is a SOLID follower of Christ. He has such a firm grasp of the Sovereignty of God and the truth of His Word.

Kai LOVED worshiping with us on Sunday. He will be joining us again this Sunday for Church. He said he'd like to come every Sunday if he could find a ride. Pray for me to be able to provide him transportation to Church every Sunday.

I thank God that my pride has never kept me from reaching out to this brother of low position. I thank God even more that "The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position" (James 1:9), for his is the Kingdom of God.

"Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."- Jesus (Luke 11:28)

7 Days of "DO IT" #6- Not Speaking on My Own

This has got to be the most difficulty I've ever had on preparing a sermon. I don't know why, but nothing is coming together and I just can't picture how I'm supposed to deliver this message.

In last week's message, I spoke partially about how Jesus says when we speak on our own, we basically seek to honor ourselves.

John 7:18 "He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him."

It's true, when we refuse the help or guidance of another, it usually is because we want to be able to say, "I did it. On my own. No help necessary. Gyeah boy."

Early in our relationship, me and Monica went to Barnes and Nobles to find a book I needed for seminary. The first thing Monica said as we entered the store was, "Should we ask the lady at the counter where to find it?" And of course, because I'm 100% man, I said, "Nah, I got it." But if you think about it, it's really dumb. The lady could tell me where to find the book, if they even have it, how many copies they have, which floor it's on, and on which shelf. But nah, I got it.

Why do I do that? Just so I can say, "Yeah baby, who found the book in Barnes and Nobles? All by himself? WHAT." and so my lady can say to all her girlfriends, "My man knows how to find books on his own at Barnes and Nobles. He doesn't need any help." It really is dumb. But in my heart, I'm convinced it somehow honors myself.

Jesus says we honor the Lord when we refuse to do things on our own understanding or strength, but it honors the Lord when we make it his business and glorify him. We can do this by making sure he's in everything we do. Not just little prayers at the beginning of significant activities, but by declarations of dependence ALL throughout the task.

In response, I really had to spend time yesterday, as I have been all week, just surrendering my sermon preparation to the Lord. I do relapse back into trying to honor myself with clever things I can add or say in the message. But in obedience to Christ, I'm trying to be intentional about making His word about Him and what He has to say.


"Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."- Jesus (Luke 11:28)

7 Days of "DO IT" #5 - Friday Night Fellowship

Hebrews 10:25 "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

As usual, on every Friday evening, I spend my time in fellowship with my church. We worship, we mingle, we pray, and we study God's word. I really do believe that an application of Hebrews 10:25 is to regularly and consistently meet together with fellow brothers and sisters with intentional spiritual fellowship, until our Lord comes back!

This past Friday was especially encouraging. Helen shared about her trip to Israel... and it made me salivate. I've been wanting to visit the Holy Land for a while now. I wanted to go to Israel for our honeymoon, but for some reason, the idea was violently thrown out the window. Actually, Monica said she'd be down.... but i'm pretty sure she was just trying to impress me.

It's the one place that i insist on visiting before I die and move on to the real Holy Land. But man, it'd be sweet. I hear from everyone who gets a chance to visit that it's life changing. They also say it adds crazy color to the Scriptures every time you read it after having visited the actual sites.

mmmmmm. yummy.



"Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."- Jesus (Luke 11:28)

7 Days of "Do It!": Day #4 - Making Up

So me and the wifey got into a big argument yesterday. To be honest, I haven't felt this heated for a while. I was quite upset... and guess what over? Baby shower. BABY SHOWER! of all things. Basically, she wants me to be there this Saturday with her and all the girl cousins, and I told her that as a man, I'm really not supposed to be there at the baby shower. Ladies, look at your man. back at me. back at your man. now back at me. DO I LOOK LIKE I BELONG IN A BABY SHOWER FULL OF LADIES? maybe. But I have stuff to do on Saturday.

Anyway... it was really difficult for me to bite my tongue. I was angry. I really wanted to say some things that I know would've stung. I wanted to jab her with some things that I know she's sensitive too. I wanted to attack her character...

I kept reciting Eph. 4:26 in my head:

"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry."

I was angry, but I knew that my words could kill. So I fought to keep my tongue down. But the part that especially kept poking at me was the second part about not letting the sun go down on my anger. I knew what the Lord was saying. And I just could not do it. It was so hard to swallow this huge lump of pride and reconcile.

That's why me and Monica make such a fantastic couple. We complement each other quite beautifully. I did the first part of the verse, she came through on the second. :) She was the first to man up and was the first to apologize and initiated reconciliation with me.

This obedience stuff is quite hard. Help me, Lord Jesus!

"Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."- Jesus (Luke 11:28)

7 Days of "DO IT!" Day #3- Serving those in Need

In 2003, I trekked through the entire Bible along a 1-year Bible reading plan. As I journeyed through, I COULD NOT escape a reoccurring theme- God's compassion and mercy toward the helpless, the poor, and the needy. COULD NOT ESCAPE IT. It was my conviction that I needed to make myself available to serve the poor.

In my Xanga entry that year (Xanga?! May 1, 2003 entry by the way), I listed many of the passages from the Word that spoke to me. But just one command of hundreds from God's word:

Prov. 14:31 "He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who is gracious to the needy honors Him."

That summer, August of 2003, I preached for the first time at the Long Beach Rescue Mission. It was an AMAZING night as we saw many people come forward to give their lives to Christ!

This Wednesday (Day #3 of the "DO IT!" Challenge), we went again in response to Christ's command, as we have each and every month... for the past 7 years! Can't believe how fast the years have gone by. And God has been SO faithful through our ministry.

I CANNOT overstate how blessed I've been by ministering at the LBRM and building personal relationships with some of these guys.

Just an example from last night:

- Kai: a Cambodian ex-convict who had been locked up for 22 years in the State-Pen, asked if I could pick him for church Sunday. I've been meeting and praying with him every month for the past 5 months. This Sunday is his 6th month in the program, which marks the first day he's allowed to leave the mission. The first place he wants to go is to our church! I'll be picking him up this Sunday for worship!

- Gary: approached me to shake my hand last night and to tell me that he ALWAYS looks forward to our church's visit to the mission. He shared how our worship and our sharing is such a blessing in his life. He got out of prison this past April and has been at LBRM since. He said he used to be a "monster" who would slash a guys throat just for looking at him. He was in prison for attempted murder. He said to me, "I owe everything to this place (LBRM). I'm a solid believer in Jesus Christ, and my life has never been as it is now."

- James and Scott: Been praying and talking with these guys since last year, especially James. Both brothers are men who completed the 1-year New Life program. Hope to continue developing relationships with these guys, now that they're done with the program. We're facebook friends (!), and we've been talking about getting together to surf it up one of these days!

"Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."- Jesus (Luke 11:28)

7 Days of "Do It!": Day #2

So I was reading through Proverbs 12, and I came across a passage I have never seen before. Never thought I'd read anything like it in the Bible:

Proverbs 12:10 "A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal,
but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel."

Ouch. I felt convicted. So I took Monica out for a walk.

...with Toby, her family's dog. I'm not much of an animal lover, nor am I a hater. But I notice that Toby doesn't seem to get the love and attention a dog needs. Whenever we come home, he barks and pants at the gate waiting for my gentle touch and my fingers to run through his golden yellow hair.

"Shhhh Toby! Stop barking." And then we go in.

It's interesting that a righteous man even cares for his pets. Totally didn't think God care much for them. But I have to say it was a nice walk. We had just come back from the doctors and he told me that I have to walk with Monica hours a day if we wanted a quicker, smoother delivery with the baby.

At first I was like "DOH! I have SO much stuff I need to do tonight AND throughout this week! I don't have time for walks in the park!"

But then God quickly reminded me of Phil. 2:3-4:

3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

I'm a family man now.

"Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."- Jesus (Luke 11:28)

7 Days of "Do It!": Day #1

In my sermon this past Sunday, I challenged my church to 7 Days of Obedience. Jesus says in John 7:17 that "If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own." The idea is that Jesus isn't as concerned with how much of the Word of God we can take in as he is with how well we put out what we take in. Do we CHOOSE TO DO what we hear and learn?

So the challenge is to ask at the end of each day this week: "What did I choose to do today in direct response to God's word?"

I think those of us who are serious about God often ask ourselves, "Did I spend time with God today?", or "Did I read my Bible today?" But the challenge challenges us to be intentional in actually putting out the things we take in.

So I'm deciding to blog each of these 7 days, as a report on how I do on this "Do It!" Challenge. Figure it'll keep me accountable. Figure that those reading this will take up the challenge as well.

DAY #1:
This is WAY HARDER than I thought. I realize just after one day how intentional I gotta be in thinking about what I've learned, and remembering what I've read. It's even harder trying to be intentional about living it out.

But at the last hour, God spoke to me. I was writing a response email to a female at my church. It was a very kind email I received, and I typed up a response and was about to send it out. I wrestled within whether or not I should include Monica on the cc. But I thought "It's not a big deal. Plus, she might make a matter out of nothing."

I told Monica previously that I would always include her in any correspondence that I have with any female so that it would NEVER be one-on-one, whether in ministry, in person, in a room, or even via email.

But sometimes I'm tempted to think, "This is seriously no big deal. I don't really need to include Monica in this, do I? It's so innocent".

But yesterday in my Bible reading, Proverbs 11 taught me that: "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity."

In active obedience to God's word spoken to me, I had Monica read the email before sending it out, as well as included her in the cc."

"Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."- Jesus (Luke 11:28)

... The Lord Taketh Away.

I just returned home with my brother from San Francisco. My Grandma passed away last Thursday at 9:30am. She was 93 years old.

I had time to reflect during the funeral service today. As I sat there, I was regretful that I never once shared a meaningful conversation with my Grandma. Because she only speaks a particular dialect of Chinese (Taishanese, or Toisan), and I only speak English, we were always extremely limited in our communication. I wept in regret as her Eulogy was presented.

HOWEVER, in Christ, mourning turns into dancing. I'm reminded that He is Risen, Jesus Christ my Lord.

And because He is Risen, I know she will rise. She is a child of God by faith. And my hope isn't just that I shall one day see her again... my hope is that on that day I will communicate with her for the FIRST time.

I don't know if we'll be chattin' it up in Toisan, or if she'll be speaking in English.

But I know that it'll be with the same language we use to glorify and worship our God. It'll be in the heavenly language that people from all tribes and nations, people and tongue, will use as we fellowship with each other and with the Lamb of Glory.



Rev 7:9-10 "After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb... And they cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb."

God Answers Prayer log #1: Sharing Jesus in Taiwan

I think I'm gonna use this blog to start recording some prayers that God answers since I realized He's doing it quite often. I'll call them the "God Answers Prayer" log to showcase my creativity in coming up with names. So here's the GAP log #1.

Prayer Journal entry on June 3rd, 2010:
"Give me the opportunities to share Jesus as I'm in Taiwan".

Answered on June 12, 2010:
I think I imagined laying out the Gospel to either a college student or even a Taiwanese adult, showing how Jesus is better than Buddha or how there is only one true Creator God. However, I take this conversation as at least part of God providing opportunities to share Jesus.

Monica's 10 year old niece, Chanel, was asking some pretty loaded theological questions over dinner. These are questions that she's genuinely concerned about as a fifth grader (!):
- If we are called "sons of God", how can we call Jesus the Son of God?
- What language did Adam and Eve speak? What ethnicity were they?
- How can we be convinced that the life of Christ is an actual historical fact rather than made up stories of old?

Then jumps in her four-year old brother, Leo (or Do-do as we call him), with some questions of his own! (watch the video! SUPER cute).

I got to share a little about Jesus. Praise the Lord for providing these two opportunities! When you read this, lift up a pray for Chanel and Leo to one day fall madly in love with Jesus.

"Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

It is FINISHED: Reflections on Seminary

Well, my time as a student here at Talbot Seminary has come to an end. I just walked out of my last class. In a couple days, I'll be awarded my Masters of Divinity degree. It's been a long journey since 2004. Many people can't wait to get out of "Cemetary" (uh, you mean, seminary?). I, on the other hand, have honestly loved every semester of it.

I figure I reflect on what I've gained from my time here.
"The unexamined life is not worth living", says Socrates.
"The unexamined degree, is not worth learning" says Gregorius Claudius I.

Of the bazillion useful things I've learned, I'll share with you 10. Here are my reflections:


1. Context, Context, Context: Don't read anything from God's word in isolation, it can ruin your life. Here's a modern day illustration:

I received a text on my phone from Monica after mom got into a car accident. It read:
"bones broken."
I started freaking out... after I gained consciousness from fainting, I later found out that it was the second part of another text that read:
"We are at the hospital now. The doctor took x-rays. Praise the Lord! Tell Ed that the doctor says everything is fine and there aren't any..."

(Dr. Russel, Hermeneutics)

2. Greek is awesome. It seriously adds color to black and white. However, Greek is like underwear: It's great support, but you shouldn't flaunt it. I personally seem to always have a wedgy... I don't feel totally comfortable with it. However, it does me well not to go "commando" when preparing a sermon. Brothers, 'nahm sayin?! (Staff, Greek I, II, Exegesis)

3. Church is family. Literally. It's not just a cute metaphor. We're supposed to view fellow believers as if they were part of our own household. Implications are heavy. (Dr. Hellerman, Exegesis of the Gospels)

4. God still speaks. We just need to listen. He's not deaf, nor dumb. We need to Practice the presence of God. (Staff, Spiritual Formation)

5. Good Idea: "I see Jesus in the Word" :)

Bad Idea: Eisegesis of the Word :(

Eisegesis (pronounced "i-see-jesis") is reading your own situation into the Word of God. The Word was written for us, but it wasn't written to us. (Dr. Russel, Hermeneutics)

So stop Eisegetin'! or Eiseebeatin' in your future.

6. People have different learning languages. Learn your audience, and teach them accordingly. The Word of God is like potatoes. Old people need them mashed, some like them baked, teens need them French Fried, kids need them as tater tots. It's all potatoes. Give it to them in a way they can digest it. (Dr. Kim, Christian Education; Dr. Holoman, Theology I)

7. Praying to God isn't about getting what we want. Prayer is about wanting what we get.
Our prayer life will be powerful once we start conforming our will to the Father's and stop trying to form his according to ours. (Dr. Holoman, Theology and Prayer)

8. In preaching, restate important points three times. When you give a sermon, repeat key ideas in multiple ways. In delivering your messages, reemphasize what you want your audience to remember. (Dr. Sunukjian, Expository Preaching)

Did it work?

9. God has gifted all believers. Don't worry and don't be jealous if another person has greater gifts than you. God has given some 10 talents, others 5 talents, and yet others, 1 talent. It's not about how much you're able to accomplish for God's kingdom... it's about how faithful you are with what you've been given. (Dr. Hutchison, Life of Christ)

10. I don't have to apologize to anyone for who I am. I am who God has made me. I will rejoice and be glad in it. (Dr. Martinez, Evangelism and Cross Cultural Ministry)


So... I'm going to receive my Masters of Divinity degree. Sounds pretty holy if you ask me. But one of my profs keeps me sober. He said to us one day,

"When you graduate after 3 or 4 years of studying theology, do you REALLY think that you're going to be a Master of Theology? Do you REALLY think that you're going to master the study of God? PUH-LEEEEZE! You will hardly be a master of Divine things. I seriously doubt that God will be looking down from Heaven thinking, 'Oh, my wonderful Master of Divinity. How I am so well please with how much you know!' Please. God cares much more about what you do with it. How will you take what you've learned, and how will you teach people to love God more?"

Dear Father, my Lord and my Master, thank you for filling me with a deeper and fuller understanding of who You are and your wild love for me. Help me now to help others fall more in love with Jesus, with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength.

At the Master's Service,

greg