at DFW...

so it's been February since i last blogged! lol

I dont even know how many people visit my blog anymore, but hey, I wanna at least keep it alive with a few blogs every once in while.

So right now I'm at the airport waiting for my flight...Yep. Going back to my hometown in Malaysia for three weeks. It's gonna be smashing. We got Lynn's sister's wedding to attend, family and friends to meet, and beaches to hang out at. Well, I hope we get to at least spend some time at any beach at all...*sigh* waterfalls, even better.

Oopss...just found out that the flight will be delayed. I hope I get enough time to check out at LAX...it's just something that I'm required to do whenever I leave the country. I have to 'log out' officially with the immigration department, like i'm some kind of a threat to this country lol. Well i do appreciate and understand their work in keeping the country's borders safe...if only they can streamline the process and make it a lot easier than it is.

Gonna go get something to eat. Till next time...!

*If you're reading this on Facebook or on another site, please comment on the blog at www.thomasleong.net*

O'nine

I'm looking forward to the year o'nine
And thinking that it will be just fine.
In fact, more fine than most, I'll have to say,
'Coz a new year is, really, just a longer new day;
When yesterday's gone, happy or forlorn,
Look to the sun as the new day is born.

A year of new beginnings, of joy and of cheer,
A year untainted with hate, anger, or fear.
A year of opportunities and wide opened skies,
New things to discover and to open our eyes.
Why start off the year with baggage and woes?
Lets look straight ahead, and leave behind those!

Surely the future is bigger and bright
Gone are the days of misery and blight!
Called, we are, to a divine hope
To walk this world and to up climb this slope
Our goal before us is our heavenly home
And though we tread here, we are not earth's own.

So fix our eyes on what is unseen
And all that is seen will fall in between.

*If you're reading this on Facebook or on another site, please comment on the blog at www.thomasleong.net*

My frustrations concerning Middle East militants

Reading this peace of news on Reuters just frustrates me. These people dont know the meaning of being grateful or content. And I'm not talking about Israel.

They should have been happy that Israel finally, after many years, agreed to pull out of Gaza. And it is understandable that they wanna build a fence, coz after all they've been invaded by ruthless suicide bombers. So now they've pull out and finally committed to a truce. But once the truce ended, militants in Gaza launches missiles into Israeli territory...what the heck?! Give them an inch, and they want a mile!

And so understandably, Israel has to respond to protect it's citizens and cities...and now Gaza has people dead coz you militants were being irresponsible and childish...you think this is a game? And then you dare rally all the people around the region to say that Israel is being unfair and unreasonable to the Palestinians? How about peaceably coming up with another truce? What about diplomacy? Isnt it more important that your people live in peace and are able to populate, grow, be productive, and prosper? Gosh!

Israel has been an independent country for more than 50 years now, and all they want is to be in peace and have some place to call their homeland. The decision to accord independence to Israel was agreed upon in an international treaty. For 2000 years, the Jews had no place to call home after being displaced by Romans, and now they got back what generations had only dreamed of. You militants are the selfish ones that wanna hold back what rightly belongs to them! For generations you lived in another people's heritage, you should be grateful. Instead, you fight and threaten to keep a territory that does not rightly belong to you. It's like a tenant refusing to move after being informed by the landlord. Instead of vacating, the tenant fights and claims the property for himself. What logic is that? You think it's going to be given to you just like that?

Oh I know there's gonna be all kinds of response to this post...and many will say it's coz I'm so pro-Israel. Whatever. I'm writing this not from the perspective of a pro-Israel, Jew-supporting-Christian, but just using logical reasoning. If you got back what you've been denied for a thousand years, then it's logical to want to keep it at all costs. If you're attacked, it's human nature to retaliate, defend, and to disable the threat. If you're being stupid, you get what you asked for.

It's time these militants realize how much harm they're doing to themselves. Gee whiz, and to think they'd realize by now.

*If you're reading this on Facebook or on another site, please comment on the blog at www.thomasleong.net*

Dream of CFNI past

Last night, I dreamt that Lynn and I had travelled back in time to an older CFNI. It's been bugging me all morning, and i might as well write it down in here. If you are reading this, and you were from CFNI years ago (how many, it dont know if it matters), and if you recognize anything from my dream, i'd like to hear from you. Comment or email me.

In the dream, the CFNI we travelled back to see had a big stage, but a smaller hall. The stage was wide and deep, much like those used for production pieces. There was music playing, and a brass band was on stage. It was a lot like a live musical; with dancing and singing on stage, performing to the crowd in the hall. I dont really know the reason we went back in time, but once we were there, I started walking around showing Lynn all the things like the band and the show, and kinda saying how much better it was then than when we were attending in the present.

The show was winding down, and I remember that the audience was seated along the walls, with the middle of the hall empty. In the hall, there was a slightly raised platform in the middle. I was standing in the back of the room near the entrance. Then I heard a piano playing the song "Give Thanks", and you know how the songs is so old that sometimes we roll our eyes when we hear the song, but this time, when the song was played and the the man was singing behind the piano, it sounded very contemporary and relevant. I looked at the musician, and he was probably in his 30s or 40s, wore glasses and a thin beard and moustache.

Then an older gentleman, balding, white hair on the sides of his head, with a slight beard, and he was gently inviting the crowd to respond to the calling of God and come to the middle. There was movement at first, and then it seemed like some of those who were moving toward the middle was hesitant, but more began to respond as the man continued to encourage people to come down. About 20 or so young people got down to the middle of the floor, and all of them were in tears, as they song "Give Thanks" was playing.

I remember in the dream, I knew who the two men were, and I was familiar with their style of ministry. When I saw those two men, I had a sense of respect and approval for what they were doing. Also when the young people came to the middle to respond, I recognized them as those who would make an impact for the Kingdom of God in our present time, where Lynn and I came from, and in the future. I was proud, in a good way, of what happened that night. As I looked on, I was in awe of the significance of the altar call, and of the people that responded.

The dream ended with me looking straight and continuing to slightly nod with approval at everything that was happening. Then Lynn came up behind me as I was doing that and gave me a hug, and says that she was going to give up school, but because of what she saw, she will continue. Then I awoke.

The first feelings I felt when I awoke was the strange realization that the CFNI that I know off today is not the same from the CFNI in the past. In the dream, it felt as though there was more freedom for the Holy Spirit to move and touch lives, and it felt like we had time to let God do what He wants to do instead of rushing through services. It also felt like although things are, of course, very much different now than what it was back when, it is not necessarily better now.

So, in following my invitation in my first paragraph, if you attended CFNI in the past, and you recognize anything in this dream, please comment or email me. If this is indicative, in any way, of the CFNI now or past, I would like to know. And also, I would like to assert that it is not my intention to defame or lower the image of CFNI in any way. I am an alumnus, and I have an affinity for this school. If anything, I just want to bring to light a dream that I had, and to gather some feedback as well as perhaps stir a new hunger and passion for God. Please do not decide whether or not to come to CFNI based on this post or my dream. If God has called you here, then by all means come. This is the place for you.

*If you're reading this on Facebook or on another site, please comment on the blog at www.thomasleong.net*

Cataclysmic!

If I had to describe what happened this week, it would be that God forever changed lives, touched hearts, and transformed Trinityouth into 'another animal' as Pr Jude says, or something else; an actual, living organism that knows His love and lives for His glory.

We went for YFN (Youth For the Nations) Camp again, this year with 30 of our young people. By the end of the week, I could sense such an anointing on their lives. When young people are saturated in the presence of God, they show so much promise in them! There's so much in them that shines because their hearts are illuminated by Holy Spirit and their souls set ablaze. Only into the second day of camp, their hands are already shot into the sky and voices blasting away in worship!

I remember telling the boys that night, the second night, when we were in the church kitchen, that I really felt God told me He was gonna set each on of them on fire, the girls as well. Their lives will never be the same again. Their passion and zeal for God will be fiery, and they will infect their families and friends with the presence and the power of God.

By the end of camp, just within our group, we had about ten youth baptized in Holy Spirit and their tongues rolling in a new prayer language and others set free from their sin and shame, set free to dance and use their bodies as worship unto God, eyes opened to see how important their lives are and how much is at stake as the devil tries everything to steal, kill, and destroy their generation. Some of them experienced God for the first time, realising how much they are loved by Him. Some of them were delivered from demonic oppression and possession and overcame haunting spirits of the past by the power of blood of the Lamb and the testimony of His saints.

Dear God, raise up a generation that will seek You face! Let Your holy flame burn passionately in them for You...let this be the beginnings of a fresh work You are doing in our young people, our church, and our generation. Pour out Your Spirit, God, on Your sons and daughters! Set us aflame to reflect Your glory and do Your will on this earth!! Amen!

Give-up galore...

While I was talking to Pr Mike this afternoon, God reminded me once again of His divine providence in my life. I have just been offered an administrative position in church, something that Lynn and I have been praying for for months. I realised that before I was even offered anything, I had to come to a point where I totally surrendered to God, and give up my desire to work in church.

Then, it all came back to me like a reel of film unrolling at full speed: Everything I have ever asked of God, every desire that I have ever had, I had to come to a place where I have totally given it up before He would give it back to me. The more significant ones were:

• to attend Christ For the Nations Institute. My visa took more than 6 months before it was approved, by which time I had already given up hope of ever coming to the United States. Then it came.
• to complete my education. When I answered God's call to serve Him in full-time Christian ministry, I stopped my college education after 2 years to serve my youth group. 3 years after attending CFNI, God realised my dream to finish a bachelor's degree, and by His hand provided through others all the funds for it. I have never lacked food, clothing, or shelter. I have seen more miracles of God's providence in my life through financial means than I have ever experienced before.
• to get married early. I had literally given up the prospect of getting married before the age of 30 because of many reasons, mainly career and financial ones. My marriage to Lynn would not have been possible if not for God's clear direction and providence for the entire wedding ceremony. It would have been sheer stupidity if we had ignored God's hand over our lives for marriage.
  
• to serve in a growing, healthy church in a full-time capacity while here in US as Lynn pursues her education. Just last week, I remember telling God "Whatever. I give up. I don't really care where You put me, which door You open, I just want to be in Your will." In the last week, I received my authorization to work and an offer for a position in this church.
  

So YES, I am reminded that God wants all of me. Even my very desire to serve Him, would I be willing to give it up if He asked me to?

Yes. YES. YES.

Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee
Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of Thy love
At the impulse of Thy love

Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee
Take my voice and let me sing always only for my King
Always only for my King

Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold
Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise
Let them flow in ceaseless praise

Take my will and make it Thine, it shall be no longer mine
Take my heart, it is Thine own, it shall be Thy royal throne
It shall be Thy royal throne
~ Frances Havergal, 1874

The People Have Spoken

I think the General Elections in Malaysia this year which ended just yesterday was the most significant political upset I can remember! The ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional, has been denied their 2/3 majority, and the opposition parties now have a more significant presence in the parliament. After 4 years of corruption, 'mis-administration', and undelivered promises, the people have cast their vote and said "ENOUGH!"

The thought that Penang has finally been taken by DAP is quite astounding! I remember when Gerakan defaulted their opposition status and joined the BN. Many people were not happy. I was brought up with the understanding that a government can only be healthy where there in accountability. And I guess this is one of the roles of opposition parties, to bring a healthy balance into government. When Gerakan jumped boat, I would think many felt betrayed by them but still stuck with the party because they had a good record of bringing progress into the state. People would generally stick with stability that comes with familiarity. To change parties could potentially mean change in what was already perceived to be progress.

And now that DAP has won Penang, I can picture some of the faces of people I know that are staunch supporters of the party. I can only imagine the sheer disbelief of those who lost the state, thinking they were going to win. A good story is of the MIC president who was even actually confident that he would win. I chuckled when I read that.

To be honest, I don't really know much about politics in Malaysia, except from what I read in the news and updates I get from my family. I am almost shameful to say that I know more about American politics than what's going on in my home country. Nevertheless, I do feel a strong connection to what's happening back home coz I know that everything that happens will eventually affect me as well.

All I know is, there is a big change in the political scene in Malaysia. Many have been convinced of the malpractices of the BN, and they know that it's time for some rockin'. The weight of the political may have shifted this recent elections, but only time will tell if these people will be able to live up to expectation and deliver.

SO anyways, that was my 2-sen worth of probably fodderless and under-informed ramblings about the state of my country. If you wanna know more, just Google "Malaysia General Elections 2008". My only hope for my country is that the Gospel of Christ will be preached to every tribe, race, and people of Malaysia. Everyone must have an opportunity to respond to the Gospel. That is their job. Our job as Christians is to give them that opportunity. One day all will know who Jesus Christ is and what He did for mankind.

Satisfaction

There's something about peeling the meat off bones that gives me great satisfaction in a meal.


I look forward to feasting at the table with my Lord. See you there!

Hard word

Today at Trinityouth, I think I preached the hardest message in my life. Hard as in heavy, pounding, serious, straight-to-the-core, jokes and funnies aside. I dont think I remember seeing so many serious (and zoned-out) faces in any group I've preached to ever. Nevertheless, I believe I brought the right word at the right time, because it does seem like so many of them have forgotten what it is to truly follow Christ.

The Rich Young Ruler

One day one of the local officials asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to deserve eternal life?”

- Eternal life is something far more important, precious than this present life. This guy understood it.

Jesus said, “Why are you calling me good? No one is good—only God. You know the commandments, don’t you? No illicit sex, no killing, no stealing, no lying, honor your father and mother.”

- You know what right things to do. In fact, you have kept them all. But keeping these commandments have not answered your question. You feel like there is something else missing in your life.

He said, “I’ve kept them all for as long as I can remember.”

When Jesus heard that, he said, “Then there’s only one thing left to do: Sell everything you own and give it away to the poor. You will have riches in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

- In other words, give up everything you have ever placed value on. Give up your pride. Give up your rights. Give up your honor. Give up everything you have. And then follow Jesus.

This was the last thing the official expected to hear. He was very rich and became terribly sad. He was holding on tight to a lot of things and not about to let them go. Seeing his reaction, Jesus said, “Do you have any idea how difficult it is for people who have it all to enter into God’s kingdom? I’d say it’s easier to thread a camel through a needle’s eye than get a rich person into God’s kingdom.”

“Then who has any chance at all?” the others asked.

“No chance at all,” Jesus said, “if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust in God to do it.”

- With God, all things are possible. What is there that is impossible to God? The only thing that He will not do is to violate your choice by taking it from you. You must choose to follow him. Then only can He do it. If not, then it is technically impossible for Him because He will not violate your freedom of choice.

Some of you gotta put your pride away. There’s so much pride in you, it’s killing you. It’s like you don’t care even if you know I’m talking about you. I’m responsible for my own self, and you’re right. You just don’t realize that that pride is blinding you. Dragging you down. Keeping you chained and all locked up inside. Or maybe you realize, but you’re not choosing to let go. In fact you like being like that, locked up, prideful and conceited. You feel like you’re in control. You feel like at least you are comfortable with the walls around you.

Some of you gotta put your dreams away. They’re taking you away from God. You think that maybe those dreams will give you the kind of life that you have always wanted to live. Dreams of being famous. Dreams of being wanted. Dreams of making lots of money. That dream girl, or that dream boy. If only you could get your hands on them you would be successful. And oh, by the way, my dreams will be OK if I just Christianize them and say that I’m doing them all for God.

My question is, is it really from God? Did God give you that dream? Or did you cook it up yourself? Because if God gave you that dream, you would know that God is important enough to help you achieve that dream. But right now, chasing that dream takes up so much more time, energy, and effort, than chasing after God. You’ve become so focused on your dream that you have forgotten about God, except for the occasional “yeah I’m doing this for God,” like it even means anything. You know you’re just saying it to tell yourself that you’re OK with God, when actually you’re not. You’re not alright with God. You’re not following him.

Some of you gotta put yourself away. You think this whole world is about you. You think that everything revolves around you. In fact, you’re thinking maybe this guy up here, he’s lost his mind speaking like this in youth group! How dare he accuse anybody, how dare he accuse me? Yeah, then I’m speaking to you. Because it’s not all about you. It’s not all about how you feel. It’s not how you think it’s wrong, or even right. It’s all about God and his relationship with you. If your self is in the way of God getting to you, then why are you even here? You should be at home playing your videogames. You should be out with your worldly friends becoming more and more like the world instead of becoming more and more like God.

But you’re here. The fact is, you’re here.

And if you are here, then I urge you to make this time count. And not just when you’re in youth group, or when you’re in church or among your Christian friends…but even when you’re alone. Will you get with God? In your quiet moments will you choose to be someone who follows Jesus?

What you do in your public life reflects what you do in private. The kind of person you are here, or in school, or in front of people, shows what kind of person you are when you are alone. And standing here looking at all of you, I can somewhat tell what kind of person you are even if you hide from me. I can tell if some of you are true Christians. I can also tell if some of you are doing this Christian thing just coz.

Or maybe I’m wrong. Maybe I can’t tell…but does that matter if you’re such a good actor/actress? What matters is that you cannot hide from the fact that God knows every single thing about your life, public or private. You may get to choose. But God gets to watch. And in the end, everything you have ever done in your entire life is going to count.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone of you desires to come after me, you must forget yourself, and take up his cross and follow me. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. For if you want to save your own life, you will lose it; but if you lose your life for my sake, you will find it.

Have you been a faithful follower?

Paul Potts

My hair stood, my tears fell, and my heart leaped at this man's story and voice.

I wonder what kind of history he went through in his past.

but this is a lesson for all of us, for me at least, that we should pursue our God-given dreams with the talents He has given us. Giving up is not an option. We must be bold and courageous to take that step of faith, and who knows where that road might lead us?

You past does not matter. All of us have been given talents. In the end, we are accountable not to others, but to God, for what we have done with them.

Go Paul Potts. You inspire me.

email thread at work

>>> Wayne Russell 11/21/2007 3:36 PM >>>
Mom is in the kitchen,
And when I take a look,
Im glad Im not a turkey
Thats she's about to cook!
By Karl Fuchs

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Wayne


>>> Worrell Service 11/21/2007 3:55 PM >>>
I was in the kitchen,
And when I take a look
One fat turkey for me to cook!
By Worrell Service

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

>>> Thomas Leong 11/21/2007 4:10 PM >>>

I stepped into the kitchen

Such a sight to see

A turkey crisp and golden

Roasted just for me

I took a bite of heaven

And ran to tell my boss

He's wondering what happened

Why was I at such a loss

I told him 'bout the turkey

And all the good stuff there

He got in such a hurry

Without his panda bear

A shout of exclamation

He gave when he went down

A voice of desperation

Coz turkey was all gone

-thomas

Finger troubles

News Flash:

I sliced off part of my finger on Monday 10/22 with a box-cutter/exacto. The blade ran off the ruler and onto my finger and took a whole chunk off. That night I had NO sleep because of the pain. On Tuesday it hadn't stop bleeding, so the doctor had the wound carterized (cooked with a pointed flame, like a welding tool). It's OK now, no pain, just numbness around the tip of the finger. (Click here to see a pic)

Isn't this amazing how the finger is such a small part of your body that when it is injured or dysfunctional, the entire body hurts!

So it is the same way in the body of Christ. We all have a place to be, a role to play and a reason for existence. All these senseless bickering in the body is pointless.

Our Hellhouse experience

Last night we decided to preview Hellhouse before we took our youth group on Wednesday, which happens to be halloween night here in the US. We thought that we might have a better picture of what to expect if we attended it first.

We left our apartment at 7.10pm, and arrived at the location 7:30pm. The temperature at that time was about 60F (16C). There was already a line at the ticket counter, so we waited. The information on the website indicated that we should be there one hour before our planned entry into the house. So we expected an hour's wait before we actually got to enter. We waited in line for 20 minutes to buy the tickets for $10 each.

After that, we were directed to wait in another line. So we went, and patiently waited. We were sandwiched between 2 youth groups. The group behind us talked loud the whole time, and their attitude and language was rather obnoxious and questionable. By the time we reached the end of the line, we had waited for 3 hours standing in line in temperature that had dropped to about 55F (14C). Although we had our jackets on, we were cold, and my back was already hurting from standing for so long. When it was time for us to be grouped, I asked an official if we could be with the group ahead of us, since it was just the two of us. He then moved us to the group twice ahead of us. Yes, we GLADLY moved ahead!

Finally, we're standing in another line and ready to go through security check before we got on a hay-ride to the house located in a remote location. When the van with the trailer finally arrived 15 minutes later for our group's turn, we got in and enjoyed a short ride through an off-road trail behind a hill. That short ride saved my back. By the time we got off the trailer, the pain was gone.

So we arrived at the remote location...lo and behold, another line awaited us. I confess, I rolled my eyes. It was 11:20pm. We were still in the open cold as we snaked through that line. What an ordeal. I was beginning to think, what have I done to deserve all this trouble? Waiting in line felt so hellish already. Talk about going to a hellhouse...!

We finally stepped into the Hellhouse at 12:05am. We were led through various scenes of murder and death. There were scenes depicting a school shooting, drug usage, cutting/self-injury, witchcraft, abortion, murder, heaven, and hell. We were escorted by "demons"-actors dressed up like grim reapers wearing halloween masks. In each scene there were more of these demons influencing the actors into making terrible decisions.

Personally, I felt that the demon characters were annoying, and frankly, quite cheesy. There was a couple of them that actually had their faces painted; those were the best and more convincing ones. Some of the scenes were well enacted, namely witchcraft and cutting scene, the abortion scene, the molestation scene, and the hell scene. These scenes had the best effects and were most convincing. The rest were just so-so, in my opinion.

We were led to the final room where a short challenge was presented to the group. I thought the preacher did a good job wrapping things up in the short time that he had. Lynn thought he could have done better, but considering the time restraint he had before another group arrived, he did OK. He gave an option to go to another room if anyone wanted to get right with God. Then he dismissed the rest of us.

The whole journey inside the Hellhouse took us about 45 minutes. We got out at around 1am, tired, cold, and not really that impressed. Our concluding impression was that the 45 min show was worth the $10, but definitely not worth the 4.5 hours of waiting in the cold. This was undisputedly the longest line we have ever been in our lives.

So, if you're wanting to go, be prepared to WAIT....LONG.

Is life really worth living?

Yes, if you live it well.

Problem is, not everyone knows how to live it well. The fast-growing electronics company LG says it right: "Life's Good". But it's not just when you buy their consumer electronics, though. Life's good because you make it good, and you know it's good. Christ made this life worth living. You now have the power to feel good about your life because you're not in control...He is.

Recently, I had a very legitimate reason to say that life wasn't treating me really well. Took two CLEP tests hoping to pass them so I could skip ahead in school and not have to pay through my nose to take those subjects in class. But I didnt obtain the required score to get an exemption from classes...and for a couple of weeks, I really didnt feel too good about myself. I mean, the last time I failed a class subject was when I was 16 in high school! So really, I felt terrible. Does my brain still work? Could I still absorb what I've learned? Am I capable anymore? Lies, Lies, LIES. I let lies sit on the couch on my mind and watch TV through my eyes. Everything was boring and dull as a result of that crummy attitude.

Well, not anymore coz I reminded myself that there is a better way to look at things. There is always a better way. So I went to my first class this semester today and thought to myself, there must be a reason why I'm sitting here taking doing this course when I could have passed it cheap. And I look forward to discovering that reason.

This post is rather sketchy, or raw, if you will, but only because I just wanna write something in here. The song by Switchfoot "Dare You To Move" has been ringing in my head the entire morning. Highly motivational. I recommend it. Go live your life like it mattered for only today. What will you leave behind?

I just cant hold it in anymore: gotta let it out! But before you continue reading this post, please read my post [click] on the dream I had a few days ago.

I love reading. I'm the kind of person that reads multiple books at a time. I read the book, bookmark it and then leave it for days, sometimes weeks for another book before I continue reading it again. Well, the very same evening I had my dream, I picked up this book by Randy Alcorn called "The Treasure Principle" that I had placed a marker on, and continued reading from there. Here is the excerpt of what I read that day that rocked my world.

After exposing the Laodiceans' spiritual poverty hiddel beneath their wealth, Jesus offered them real treasures: "I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich" (Revelation 3:18).

When Christ returns, the world "will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in ti will be laid bare" (2 Peter 3:10). Does that sound depressing? It would be depressing if this world were our home. But it isn't! It would be depressing if we couldn't use our lives and resources to make a difference for eternity. But we can!

C.S. Lewis put it this way: "We are halfhearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at sea. We are far too easily pleased (The Weight of Glory).

Even many Christians have settled for a life of unsatisfying material acquisitions, like making mud pies in a slum. There's something so much better than anything the world can offer--eternal treasures and exhilarating joy.

Eternal things are so much more worth than material wealth. YET there's something so much better than anything the world can offer--

ETERNAL TREASURES & EXHILARATING JOY!

Dream

I dreamt last night I was in a church building that was newly constructed. It was built with the latest advancements in building technology: harder and more lasting sheet rock, impeccably designed to maximize space, equipped with multipurpose halls and facilities, and exceptionally beautiful.

I was part of this church that had built this facility, and we were proud of what we had constructed. All of a sudden, we heard the news about a freak storm coming our way. A storm like we have never seen. Rain will fall down hard on anything that it hits, and destroys it. The storm purportedly would contain an extremely toxic element that dissolves metal and concrete. News began to spread among the staff and the people in the building to salvage only what they need and run to the nearest natural shelter because the building will not hold.

I hastily looked around, and gathered the possessions I had around me. Wallet, clothes, keys, PDA, shoes. In a few minutes, the storm was coming, and there was shouting all around. "Hurry up! Get out of here!" I started running off with a bunch of people, when I remembered that I left my surround sound speakers on the ground (WHAT!?). I quickly ran back, plugged the speakers out of the wall, grabbed the woofer and speakers, and ran with all my heart as I begin to hear the din of rain falling outside.

I ran out the doors, the crowd nowhere to be seen. I only knew that they were running to the nearby woods. So I ran blindly ahead into the rain. Visibility was terrible, I could only see a few meters ahead of me. I could smell the rain falling on the heated ground. The rain was heavy, but I was not getting wet. Looking back I thought it was a strange phenomenon, but I couldn't care whether I got wet or not then. I just knew I had to get to shelter.

Countless times I would glimpse of trees and I could have stopped and sheltered behind a trunk but I forged on ahead. My hands were getting tired holding on to the speakers and whatever else I had grabbed. Then suddenly, a looming shadow of a gigantic tree appeared right in front of me. It looked like a giant umbrella with its trunk rooted into a massive mound of earth. I ran up that mound and climbed onto the trunk of the tree and I saw the crowd taking shelter there. Some were laughing at me, some scolded me for running back. I was just relieved. I dropped all my possessions at my feet, and realized how foolish I was.

I turned, as did everyone, and looked at our building. The frame of the building is still holding, but the exterior of it was already dissolved. There were some parts of concrete that were still left, but even those are slowly disappearing into a dust-like haze carried by the wind and rain. Soon, the frame began to fall apart, and before long all that was left was a desolate piece of land.

It was then when I looked at my hands and saw that my skin and flesh were intact...my rings now were almost worn away. I immediately thought of Lynn's ring, her necklaces and earrings. I wondered if she was OK.

I begin to ponder what I had seen, and then I woke up. The dream was not quite what I would call a nightmare, but it troubled me. As I pondered, I realized that nothing in this world lasts...nothing. In the end when death comes, we take nothing of our possessions with us. Nothing. Not gold nor silver, not our precious jewelry, nor treasures, whatever they may be. Not even our immortalized memories in the form of photos, not our computers, cars, or houses. NOTHING follows us into the grave...nothing but our deeds.

In the end, when we stand before God, we will be asked to give an account of what we have done on the earth -- not what we have accumulated, but what we have done.

WHAT HAVE I DONE?

YFN 2007

Just a quick update about what we did last week...we went for a youth summer camp with our church youth to Youth For the Nations at CFNI...it was incredible.

We had about 15 youth at the camp, we stayed at the church at night, so it was almost like a daycamp for us, and i guess the youth really loved the games and sessions. But to me the most rewarding experience is to see them experience the Lord in such a real way, and i have so much joy in my heart to know that i was there to witness it all!!

one guy in our group gave his heart to Jesus for the first time; about 4 of them got baptised in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues; one of our youth leaders got miraculously healed from scoliosis; several of them were set free from anger, bitterness, addictions, hate, and unforgiveness; one of them discovered his gift and purpose for living; a couple of them received deliverance from demonic influences; several of them got touched by God and cried for the first time in a service; and ALL of them rededicated their lives to God!!

we know that we're treading on the devil's tail here...we know because there have been attacks on some of the youths' families and on them themselves. I know Lynn and I have been praying hard against the work of the enemy; BUT WE KNOW that victory is on our side! The war has been won and the battle is the Lord's!! He has given us EVERY AUTHORITY ( come ouuunnn, somebody shouttttt in this placceee!!)

so we give God all the glory and honour and praise!! To Him to sits on the throne over all the universe, He is able to set you free from all and any bondage. Trust in Him.

And for those who pray with us, please join us in prayer as we seek the Lord for a fresh direction for the youth ministry here. We want to start fresh, passionate, and on fire for God...and right now is the time!!

Holy Spirit unless you show up, then all we do is in vain! SHOW UP! SPEAK! CHANGE LIVES! CONVICT OUR HEARTS! FOR YOUR GLORY!!!!!

Wedding Sonnet

Here's a copy of our wedding program. Click on the pic for a bigger version.



If you're trying to read the sonnet i wrote, well, here it is.

A Wedding Sonnet

by Thomas Leong

Of me, to thee will I freely give

My heart and life for thy love I live;

To hold thy hand with fingers entwined,

And say thou art mine and I am thine.

To what mystery doth this Love owe

That two would bequeath their hearts like so;

That life itself is now sacrificed,

And the very self is now demised?

My love, thou needs not answereth me

For I know ‘tis Christ, our mystery.

So come, step with me upon this aisle,

This journey we birth will take a while.

For thy love and mine, and Christ’s, is three

And our Love, sweet Love, shall stronger be.

Feel free to use it for your wedding, if you want to. Just leave me a comment and quote me.

Wedding Pictures

Hello friends!! we are back in Dallas! touched down at 11.45pm on Tuesday night, July 3rd. we're both very tired, trying to get over our jet lag. We're slowly moving into our new apt!! woohooo...

Here's some pictures preview that we promised to upload but we've been very busy with wedding preparation and packing to come back to Dallas. Here's some to whet your appetite..till settle down into our new place and schedule. Okay? =)

Hello everyone...some quick updates:

1. We have finally gotten adjusted to the time change. Crazy isn't it? Almost two weeks, can you believe it?
2. We have also met with many key people that we hoped would help with our wedding...things are falling into place, praise God hallelujah!
3. We have also taken our wedding pictures. We will be taking our last few shots on location at the beach and then making the final selections this Wed.
4. The CFNI team arrived last night, and Pheng will be staying with them till they leave Penang. Meanwhile, I've been roped by our pastor to help with their transportation for the next few days while they're in Penang.
5. I've eaten so much since I've been here...*burp!* food here is too good. If heaven is better than this, I cant begin to imagine how good it'll be, but for now, this is definitely food heaven for me.

well well, that's it for this post. More to come, hopefully soon!

Blessings y'all!