I recently listened to the song called “Beautiful Things” by Gungor (http://www.gungormusic.com) on radio and absolutely love it. I happen to find an Youtube video with powerful message features this song, using cardboard testimonies.

Thank you God for “making beautiful things out of us.”

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Beautiful Things

All this pain
I wonder if I’ll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change at all
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden come up from this ground at all

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You

You make me new, You are making me new

We made it to Taoyuan safely, people and luggages. It was drizzle when we landed, and we could feel the heavy humidity in the air. It also felt a bit chilly from the cool breeze blew in. We were concerned how to fit all people with 3-4 pieces of luggage each into the two mini vans that they showed up. But all fit in quite comfortably. It’s a miracle in itself After being treated with homecook Pho, we rested up a little bit and started rehearsing for the Christmas program which would start in just few hours.

I found an acoustic guitar in the closet, and it was way out of tune. As I almost finished tuning it up, the first E-string snapped. The pastor of the local church then drove me to the shop and got the replacement string. Fortunately, the shop was still open and we were their last customer. It was strange they sell by single string rather the whole set.

Rain had stopped and the gray clouds cleared up. “It’s a good sign. God prepares for this” the pastor told me. He continues: “It’s been raining a lot and we haven’t seen the sun for 2 days. It’s hard for people to come because they don’t have time. When weather is bad, it’s even harder. So this is great that the rain has stopped.” He then continue told me the lives of the Vietnamese people here. They typically work 12-16 hours shift as required in their contract. The other 8 hours are their sleeping time or personal time. To attend church, or having personal time would mean they will have to sleep less.

The empty seats started to fill. We had about 30-35 young people showed up in this small room, or more like a 2-car garage in the US.  We started to introduce to get to know each other. Some read our advertisement in the magazine and came, hoping to connect with other Vietnamese people. Some were invited by friends. Some were first time comers. They were all excited to be here.  Few ice-breaker games helped them getting comfortable, we began to sing many familiar Christmas carols together. Temperature dropped faster after dark and it got a bit more chilly. There wasn’t central heat, nor insulated wall, but gathering around couple electric space heaters, they listened to the songs and the message.

We got 4 souls saved tonight. My heart was rejoycing for them, and I’m sure heaven must had a huge celebration tonight. They stayed with us a little longer, ate dinner, talked more, laughed more, and got to know each other a little bit more. Then some had to leave to go straight to work. Others have to take buses or ride a long way home. Though the weather was cold, the road was long, they didn’t seem to mind. They already have the true joy in their hearts. We said farewell and hope to see them again in few days.

That’s the wrap for day one. It was 5-hours long, but it was very worth it. I’m heading to bed and excited for days to come. Good night!

I was looking for some ideas for Christian drama and happened to find this awesome skit on Youtube done by OneTimeBlind. It’s a simple skit but convey so well the idea of Trusting God. The lady is so spontaneous in her lines and expression which makes the skit so lively. Love it!

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Updated.

OK. I found another great one. The Stool. Is God sitting on the chair of our heart? Are we following the decision he is making for us?

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I can’t say that I like rap music, but recently I listen to couple songs by the artist named Lecrae, and man I love it. His lyrics just speak to the heart.  Word!! Here is one of his songs that I really like.

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Prayin’ For You
- Lecrea

Father God, I’m prayin’ to you for somebody, who knows you Lord but just hasn’t, hasn’t been seein’ you in the right view lately, Hear me out…

Father, I’m prayin’ for a friend he and I are pretty close, and out of all my friends for this one I’m concerned the most. He say he readin’ daily but he ain’t really learnin’. He been in church but say that he ain’t moved by any sermon. His face weak, he ain’t prayed in a week, he wake up and just weep with his face in the sink Lord, you gotta help my man, I’m prayin’ for him daily, he ain’t sinned but it just seem as if he goin’ crazy. He say he feelin’ trapped, can’t even head up the mall coz every lady’s half-dressed temptin’ him to lust and fall. He keep the TV off, videos just make him feel that he ain’t really nothin’ without money, girls and shiny wheels. The other day he told me that he felt less a man coz he ain’t have a five-year plan or a piece of land and man it’s crazy coz his family think so much of him, plus he got a godly wife who always showin’ love for him but he’s strugglin’, even though he talk to me, I tell him what to do but he don’t listen when he oughta’ be. I’m scared for him coz there’s people that look up to him, he got some younger siblings who been changed by what he’s done for them but is it done for him, Lord don’t let it be, if he don’t wanna talk to you then Father hear from me, is it done for him, Lord don’t let it be, if he don’t wanna talk to you then Father hear from me…

Yeah, I’m prayin’ for you, yeah, I’m prayin’ for you
Yeah, I’m prayin’ for you, yeah, yeah, I’m prayin’ for you…

God, his condition is worsen since we were last conversed and I’m with him now and he ain’t doin’ well and this I’m certain. He say he tryna’ trust you, doesn’t wanna disgust you but he was in the mist of sinners and did not discuss you and just today his anxiety’s got the best of him, he knows Christ but for hours refuse to rest in Him, he’s not the best of men but Lord I know he really loves you and I can’t understand why lately he’s not thinkin’ of you. People trust this dude, you could crush this dude, Father he needs more of you I pray you touch this dude, what can I say to him? I’m determined to pray for him Father empty and brake him I pray you’ll just have your way with him, coz there’s a change in him and the effects are strong, I pray you open up his heart before the next song and when he gets home, I pray he’ll open up the sixty-six book love letter you wrote and soak it up coz he ain’t hearin’ You and he ain’t feelin’ me and God I know it’s killin’ You because it’s killin’ me and matter of fact there’s somethin’ else he’s concealin’ see, the person that I’ve been prayin’ about is really me…

Few weeks ago, I heard this song at New Life Church and just loved it. It’s “Worthy” by Jared Anderson. They were playing during the time of communion, and its mellow tune and the lyric just stirred my heart. I went look on YouTube and surprisingly did not find a single video for this song. No clip, no cover, nothing. (or maybe I just didn’t look at the right place). Anyway, I found the chord tab that Jared Anderson linked for free from his website, http://jaredanderson.com. The song “Worth” is on his CD “Count on God”. By the way, the song with the same CD title is very fun song to sing. They sing that song quite often at New Life.

Anyway, here is my attempt at the song. It’s original in key of D but a little bit high for me to sing, so I played in key of B (On guitar, I capo 4th fret and play in key of G).

I guess I should set some expectation. I’m not a good singer and still learning to play guitar so there are plenty of mistakes in this cover song. Hopefully it’s bearable. hahaha. Lyrics are belows. I also translate it to Vietnamese so that we can sing it at our Vietnamese church.

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WORTHY – Jared Anderson

My heart is yours, there is no choice.

Your way is life, and your hearts beat for me

The cross was mine, but you laid down

Your precious life that I might hear you calling.

And now, the greatest gift of love

Never will be lost for I’m returning

Now the price I could not pay

Was giving when you gave your Son most worthy.

I will lift my voice again.

Worthy, worthy is the Lamb for sinners slain

Worthy, worthy. I will lift my voice again

Đời con thuộc riêng duy một Chúa thôi.

Nguyện theo đường Cha, chính Ngài sống trong lòng nầy.

Thập giá của con nhưng Ngài vác thay.

Chịu chết vì con để chuộc cứu con về bên Ngài.

Lạy Chúa, quí báu thay quà tình yêu!

Con nay thuộc về Cha vì bởi tình yêu Ngài

Chúa đã gánh thay tội tình con,

Xóa hết bao sầu đau, buồn thảm, và nghi ngờ.

Giờ con xin cất tiếng hát ca.

Vinh thay, vinh thay Đấng mang tội ô của nhân thế.

Vinh thay, vinh thay. Con ca ngợi danh Chúa không thôi.

Father and son shaving together

I remember the time I was young watching my dad shaving his facial hair in the morning. He got soap fluffy covered his face, and smoothly ran the stainless steel razor with replaceable double-edge blade down the cheeks. It was fascinating, like the coolest thing ever and I wondered when I could get to do that.

… Fast forward in time …

As I was getting ready for work this morning, Benjamin sat in the bathroom watching me holding an electric razor in my hand.

Benjamin: “What are you doing, daddy?”

Me: “I’m shaving.”

He continued to watch for a few seconds, then said: “Daddy, when I’m big, can I have a ‘mouth lawnmower’ too?” (His word in Vietnamese: cái máy cắt cỏ miệng!)

Me: *laughing out loud*  ”Certainly, Ben. And this, this is called a razor.”

(Image from Getty Images)

I just love road trips. There is just something fun about driving, discovering places, trying new foods, being outdoor, being spontaneous. For Thao, she just doesn’t like the part sitting in the car for too long. I don’t think the kids like sitting in one place either, not to mention the dreadful repetitive question: are we there yet?

With recent little short road trip to Denver with the kids, another issue arise: bathroom break. Benjamin was quite fussy and kept requesting bathroom break like every fifteen minutes. When he was younger, he just slept the entire trip in his car seat, which was a whole lot easier. He’s not wearing diaper anymore, but for little road trip like this, we put him in diaper just in case but he refuses to go in the diaper.

The we have the little guru in back seat giving us tip: “Mommy, usually he wet his pants when you don’t tell him. If you tell him pee in his diaper, he won’t. You should tell him: don’t pee in the diaper, then he will!” Then, she turns to her brother: “Don’t wet your diaper, ok?” I couldn’t help but laughing out loud during that little therapy session. She already uses reverse psychology at her age.

This gets me thinking of the huge “road trip” the Israel took from Egypt to Canaan, the promised land. Now, that is some road trip, 40 years long, crossing many desserts – not so much of a scenic drive. There was a shorter route but of course due to their constant complaining, God made them took the long route, wandering in the dessert.

Forty years, can you imagine that? There were lots of them, like sand on the seashore, like stars in the skies, with donkey, camel, pets, cattles, belongings, kids. That is one heck of a trip. I don’t know how Moses did it, leading millions of people, knowing when to start moving, when to stop, what to do for foods. Then, I got to curious how the bathroom breaks were handle. That trip was a miracle in itself.

Road Trip

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Today I learned:

Playing Tetris (remember that addictive blocks falling game that we used to still play all the time?) can really develop amazing skill in fitting many tupper ware containers into a lunch box.

Actually what I really learned is appreciation for what my wife prepares for me each day.

Fitting these containers into lunch box requires skills

Today I learned (actually last Friday, but didn’t got time to post until now):

There’s another part of the song “I Worship You Almighty God” (Sondra Corbett) and it’s beautiful.

I WORSHIP YOU ALMIGHTY GOD

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Normally, I don’t dread the  Monday workday, but today I feel its effect.  My Monday’s blue: my Samsung LCD monitor is dead.  It was a nice monitor  but too bad that it didn’t last too long,  granted it has been in service for four years or more.  I don’t know what is the lifespan of a LCD monitor, but 4 years of service is a short amount of time.

Anyway, my boss has ordered a new LCD monitor to replace the dead one. Pretty awesome and generous boss, I’d say.  Meanwhile, I carried and setup my desk with the old, clunky, off white, back-breaker 40lbs  (actually I don’t know the exact weight but it seems to weight that much) 21-inch monitor that I ditched years ago. It uses the analog VGA that I have to find the DVI-VGA adapter for. I have to mess with the refresh rate, sizing, spanning options just to get the screen looks right. Oh yeah, degauss screen too, remember that? Then, I have to adjust the window blind to get rid of the annoying glare reflected on the glass of the monitor. Oh, how I miss my LCD monitor!

There are many things I use and interact with daily without realizing their importance, until they are gone or taken away. Then there are things I simply just can’t live without. It’s funny (or scary) seeing how technology slowly integrates, spoils and soon takes over my life through time. When I was:

4 years old –  These weird sticks have color coming out from them. I can decorate walls with these. Crayons rules!

5 years old- No more sharpening with mechanical pencil. Oh, and markers, how I love to smell them.

9 years old – First digital hand watch with light. Ask me the time . I can’t believe how I live without knowing the time at all time before.

10 years old – First black and white TV. How did I went to bed at 7pm before is beyond me.

12 years old – Calculator. Oh elementary Math would have been so easy. Why did they not telling me about this gadget before?

14 years old – Uncle let me play on his computer with a monochrome screen. Somehow this black screen with a blinking cursor just looked so  attractive.  Spent hours on it trying to beat the Price of Persia levels.

17 years old – First computer family bought. Came with Windows 95 and 16MB of memory. I got email now. Don’t call me, send me email. How come I have waited hours and no one send me an email yet?

18  years old – Created first personal HTML website on Geocities (now defunct.) Oh yeah, I’m on the Internet now. I’m plugged in to the matrix.  Computer is my buddy now.

23 years old – Married to my wife. How did I survive being single before? (Oh, I know this is not a tech “item”, but it certainly fit the “can’t live without” category so it belongs. hahaha)

Well, then comes high speed Internet, pda, cell phone  with data plan and text messages, Adobe Photoshop…  the list goes on so let me stop here. Several items have become must-have items and life is a struggle without them.  See the trend here?

Technology changes our lives, in good way and bad way.  Being attached or relied too much on technology is not all beneficial. I gotta find that balance so that I am not living under a rock, but not being a moth attracted to the technology flame either.

Oh wow, that was long. There’s another long rant of Monday’s blue for you. Well, here’s your reward for reading this far: an epic fail in technology usage (see picture)

An epic fail in technology usage.

This was the funny conversation we had last Saturday as we decided where to go for lunch after helping Linh-Phuc moving to their new place.

Linh: Let’s go lunch. Where do you guys want to go?

After many choices brought up with the usual discussion of have-you-tried-what-that-place I-haven’t-been-to-but-heard-it-is-good, we still couldn’t decide on a place. Somehow, the common reply such as “anywhere is fine with me” doesn’t seem to work with the decision on where to eat either, because usually one option is mentioned, another option immediately follows. This happens ALL THE TIME. Ha ha ha.

Bao: So, Damon [whom has been quiet], what do you want to eat?

Damon: How hungry are you guys?

Me: I am not super hungry but I could eat.

Damon: Well, I’m thinking somewhere with a big salad …

Bao (joked): Uhmm … I’ll never ask your opinion again. Ha ha ha.

Me: Wait! He’s not finished

Damon: Right … with a side of a 16oz juicy steak, one full rack of ribs, and a slide of ham with mashed potatoes and gravy on top.

Me: Exactly!

After all the laughters, yet we still didn’t know where to go for lunch. Few minutes later, we headed out a Korean restaurant. Don’t know how we came up with that! We’re been to this restaurant before and the foods were still great. Wasting time making the decision, I know but we’re just being … us!