Monday, May 29, 2006

eBay ... the wrong way

I've been busy "cleaning house" this past weekend, organizing and clearing up my extra stuff. I've been giving some things away and selling some things on eBay. I've had an eBay account for awhile now, but it wasn't until recently I've been getting "into" it.

It's pretty cool to see some of the bargains you can get through this online auction. I've renewed my interest in autographed sports cards which I used to collect when I was younger. But the prices now are pretty crazy ... some autographed cards are selling for hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.

Of course I don't win these auctions; I'm usually the guy who gets the bids going at $1.00 (hoping none of the other millions of users will see the auction), but eventually, I get outbid and then that Michael Jordan autograph goes to the guy who dished out $12,000.00 instead. Don't believe they go for that much? Check out the links here and here. Psycho!

Anyways, when I get into something, I can really get into it. But I think eBay is one thing I don't want to be too addicted to. Because some people have gotten so addicted to eBay that it consumes their life ... an amazing example of this is found here. Crazy!!

So as I clean out all my things and realize how much "stuff" I have ... and how much stuff I really don't need ... the words of Christ echo in my ear:

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21

May Christ always be my everything ...

Currently Listening
All That You Can't Leave Behind
By U2
Kite

Friday, May 26, 2006

Cool Canon [in D]



This is my favorite classical song (Pacabel Canon) with a Korean twist :) [above] and the video below is a psycho cool martial arts dude [urban ninja]. Have a happy Friday and a great weekend! :)

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Taking Up Our Crosses ...


2500 Crosses + 7 Volunteers + 2.5 hours = A job well done! :)

CB Australia had to put together 2500 crosses last night in order to send out this shipment to Denmark this morning for a missions conference that will be going on in a couple of weeks time. Wow, it was truly a job well done through a great team effort. By the end of the first hour, we were getting pretty good in our respective roles and kept increasing our speed from there. My deepest gratitude goes out to all our staff and volunteers who worked so hard last night ... we'll have to have a pizza party in the near future to celebrate =)

And another big "thank you" also goes out to Hae-lim's care group who [though came afterwards] volunteered to help put together another 2000 crosses as a small group activity =) We have another 5000 crosses to put together for CB Australia, so if anyone would like to lend a helping hand, let me know! =) Wow, I have a new found respect for all those who put these crosses together in the past. May God bless you big time for your sacrifice and service!

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Home

Microsoft came out with Window's Live Local recently which is basically their version of Google Earth. I found my parents' place [image above] and it's cool to see their car and even the shadows of the trees in our backyard =) Amazing.

And so, in thinking of home ...

This post goes out to all those who, out of obedience to Christ, are away from "home", be it short-term or long-term ... whether because of your career, ministry or studies ... and because home is usually where familly and friends are, being away can be tough sometimes. So as a reminder that God has not forgotten you or your sacrifice, I want to encourage you with a word from our Teacher ...

"Peter said to Him, 'We have left all to follow You!'" “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life." Luke 18:28-30.

So keep your eyes on our Prize [Jesus Christ] ... until we all reach our true "Home". It's never a waste to live for Him.

Currently Listening
The Joshua Tree
By U2
Where the Streets Have No Name
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Monday, May 22, 2006

Praying People Potential

There's a new website called "Praying People" which is a very cool way to share prayer requests with others and to be in prayer for your buddies too. I think it has the potential to become REALLY BIG within the Christian community ... a mix between blogging and praying, Praying People allows us to keep in touch with heart-issues that our loved ones have.

I know there are a couple of other praying websites out there, but I found this one much easier to use and simplier to navigate around. Though it's still in its early (Beta) stages, I think with our feedback, it can be the top in its field ... above all else, the reason I like it is because our very own EBae (Eric Bae) created it! God planted this idea in his mind before even finding out there was another website like it on the net. But I honestly think this one has some serious potential to be an awesome tool for God's people on the web.

So check it out (www.prayingpeople.net) ... sign up ... give feedback ... and let's pray for each other! :) If you want to add a couple of "buddies" right away, you can do a search for our names [Eddie & Eric] and add them. See you in the prayer room =)

Currently Listening
Listen
By Michelle Tumes

Friday, May 19, 2006

The Evolution of Dance



I saw this video on a friend's Xanga (Sam Baik) and it was sooooo funny so I wanted to share it with you. Enjoy this for your Friday as you stroll down memory lane :) ... as we remember that there is a time to weep and a time to laugh ... a time to mourn and a time to dance! [Ecclesiastes 3:4] :) May you enjoy the favor of God upon your life and learn to celebrate His presence always. Have a great weekend!

What I used to dance and rap to in high school! Ha ha ... memories ...
DC Talk
By dc Talk
Heavenbound

Thursday, May 18, 2006

Welcoming Another Pastor Eddie to Sydney!

I met up with Pastor Eddie Han from LA this past week for lunch and it was a pure pleasure talking and sharing with him. He came on his own this time around to finalize some things with Cheil Church, but he and his beautiful family will be moving to Sydney once his visa application process is completed (hopefully within a couple of months or so).

He'll be the new EM pastor for Cheil Church (near Strathfield) and he's excited to be a part of what God's been doing in Sydney. And he is another answer to many years of prayer! A lot of us in Sydney have been praying for many years for God to send and raise up more workers to serve as shepherds here in Australia and I'm so excited to have another shepherd here to serve this special generation in Australia. With so few churches having full-time pastors for the 2nd generation, it's a true blessing for this nation whenever God provides in this way. So let all God's people (and His churches) praise God for this provision!

He's a great guy with a great heart and vision for Sydney, so let's welcome him warmly and support him as he comes to partner with us to build the Kingdom of God here in Sydney. May God continue to provide shepherds for all of his people in this nation that is going through great seasons of blessings and grace =) And may His Church be renewed, revived and empowered to reach this generation and the next ... all for His glory.

Currently Listening
The Joshua Tree
By U2
One Tree Hill

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

New Food

I've been going through these two Bibles for a couple of months now and I must say it's been a fun challenge to keep pace with them. The One Year Bible was something Dave Gibbons used and I wanted to try it out ... it basically divides up the Bible into 365 reading sections for each day of the year. Very do-able. And I picked the New Living Translation Chronological Version to give my NIV eyes a new perspective on familiar texts.

And while I was in the bookstore, I also picked up "The Bible in 90 Days", which is a more challenging version of the One Year Bible. As the name states, it divides up the Bible into 90 day readings (about 12 pages a day) and the cool thing is that if you can keep up, you'll read through the Bible 4 times a year ... and if you slack off, you'll still be able to get through it a couple of times =) I think this was created as a course or something through Zondervan but I haven't seen the course material yet. If anyone has gone through the course, I'd love to hear more about it!

So for those looking for a different way to challenge yourself to get more into the Word, I wanted to share these as possible options. I've really been enjoying both of them. And don't ask me why I'm reading both of them at the same time. I guess I just wanted to get a taste of each of them and it led me to just keep going on both of them =P

I've been reading the One Year Bible in the mornings and the 90 Day Bible in the afternoons and/or evenings. But the increase of the intake of the Word of God in my life has really been refreshing and my heart has been echoing the words of the psalmist who says, "How sweet are your Words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth." [Psalm 119:103] Yummy =)

Currently Reading
The Bible in 90 Days : Cover to Cover in 12 Pages a Day (New International Version)
see related

Friday, May 12, 2006

Google Gadgets


Google just keeps them coming. The newest toys/applications from Google just came out this past week and I've been enjoying the "gadgets" that their new Google Desktop application comes with. And yes, it's a total copy of what Apple has been doing, but it lets us PC users get in on the fun too =)

There are few other newbies that you can read about here ... and I'm looking forward to their new Google Notebook function which should be out next week [I think it's going to be a free application that will basically take the place of Microsoft's Notebook program.]

And to keep in line with my "Something Fun For Your Friday" thingy I've been doing, I posted the last chapter of the Thailand 2003 Mission Trip DVD (that our hard-working EBae made!) on YouTube ... enjoy! And have a great weekend :)

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Walk By Faith Not By Sight

Hyun and I were taking some pictures at a restaurant that was close to her work the other day. We had a lot of fun playing with the mirrors and trying to see which photos were real, and which were images of the real thing ... and it got me thinking about how easily deceived our eyes can be. And because of this, how important it was to learn how to "see" things properly.

The lens that will give us proper vision in life is the lens of faith ... for it helps us to learn how to decern ... circumstances and surroundings ... events and misfortunes that come our way. I think that is why we are called upon to be a people who "walk by faith, not by sight" in this journey of life. Do we see our suffering through the lens of faith or the blinders of bitterness?

Scripture tells us that even Satan comes in disguise as an "angel of light" ... and will fool many, who have not learned to see things through this lens of faith ... and who have not learned to discern his tactics. Part of effective warfare is to know your enemy well. And in this war we are in, a major way he will attack is to through our preception of things ... especially of God, of His goodness ... and of His power. Is He loving ... is He wise ... is He in control? And the heart of faith procliams: Yes, He is!

And a few more thoughts from something I was reading recently ...

He [the devil] is relentless. I mean by that, that he does not cease or give up. He does not care what methods he employs so long as he can bring us down and discredit the work of God.

And he is not concerned about consistency. He does not hesitate to vary his [methods of attack], he does not hesitate to contradict what he had said to us previously.


He has but one [objective] and one concern and that is to bring into [shame] the Name and the work of God in our redemption through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Its Cure, p. 93.

Currently Reading
Spiritual Depression: Its Causes and Cure
By David Martyn Lloyd-Jones
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Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Global Week of Prayer for North Korea


The Global Week of Prayer for North Korea is coming up! Get your church on board!

June 19-25, 2006

More info about this event can be found here.

Church resources can be downloaded here.

Recommended Resource ...
Operation World: When We Pray God Works
By Patrick Johnstone, Jason Mandryk, Robyn Johnstone
see related

Monday, May 08, 2006

A Nice Weekend ... In His Presence

Hyun and I had such a nice weekend together celebrating her birthday =) We went to the city for a great brunch at Morton's and then hung out in beautiful Sydney for a bit ... exploring the city like we used to do when we first came here (almost 5 years ago?!?!). Then for dinner we ate at Circular Quay and got to enjoy the Opera House and Harbour Bridge at night. And the day was filled with a lot of nice surprises along the way ... I think it was God's way of wishing Hyun a happy birthday too =)

And for our Sunday service we went back to Oxford City Church [the announcement-driven-church ... because they LOVE their announcemnts!]. They had a guest speaker from the US today who was excellent. He preached on how we were created to love people ... to love our community that is broken and how to restore that community, we need vulnerability towards one another, with Christ-like acceptance.

These were all themes that God's been reinforcing in my life these past few months as well ... I think it was God's way of reminding me of His presence in my life right at that moment. And we ended Sunday night with a nice family dinner [with EJ, EY and their mom]. All in all, a great weekend ... in His presence. Here are some pix below of our weekend [doesn't Hyun have a great smile?] =)

Saturday, May 06, 2006

Happy Birthday Hyun!!


This goes out to my beloved wife on her special day [May 6]. You are a gift from God that blesses my life each time we're together. Thank you. With love, prayer and thanks ... and above all, I thank God for you. :)

Friday, May 05, 2006

Something Fun for Your Friday



And a Happy Birthday to Eddie Bang too :)

EDIT: Crossing Borders is now blogging! =) To make it easier for people to keep up with CB news in the US, China and Australia, you can subscrible through Xanga here: www.xanga.com/crossingborders

Currently Listening
Are You Nervous
By Rock Kills Kid
Hide Away

Thursday, May 04, 2006

The Wisdom of Teams - Part 2


God Will Make a Way

Well, to finish off what's been on my mind about teams, I wanted to share some cool insights out of a book that I'm reading on this topic of building your "life team". It's called "God Will Make a Way" by Cloud and Townsend (the authors of the Boundaries Series).

They basically outline a life of faith that believes, in all circumstances, that "God will make a way ... where there seems to be no way ... He works in ways, we cannot see ... He will make a way for me. He will be my Guide and hold me closely to His side. With love and grace, for each new day ... He will make a way. He will make a way." [Don Moen]

Your Team = Your Success

They devote a whole chapter to outlining the importance of choosing your traveling companions (your life team) wisely. They say that surrounding ourselves with the right friends will make our break the success of our life journey. As John Maxwell often says, "Our success is directly related to who we surround ourselves with." Those closest to us, will determine how far we go in life.

Cloud and Townsend share that there are basically two kinds of people in the world: those who are growing personally and those who are gonig nowhere and stagnating. They go on to say:

"Welcome as traveling companions people who are pursuing God and His way for them, because they are constantly growing. They will help keep you on the way that God has made for you. Do not entrust your heart to those who are stagnant or doing things that destroy love, life and accomplishment. They can kill your dreams and turn you away from God's way." [p. 33]

Surround yourself with a good team and you'll find yourself enjoying life a whole lot more ... and reaching dreams that you never thought possible ... I've seen what can happen when a 1+1 = 100 synergy relationship forms ... and it's pretty cool. =)

CB

And I feel blessed that the team to pioneer Crossing Borders within Australia is also a fun group of people to be with. Continue to pray for us as we solidify our legal status as a non-profit organization in Australia, and continue to grow beyond our current boundaries. There are some pretty cool people who are offering up their talent, time and services to help make CB grow and accomplish its purposes around the world.

I'll update more on some amazing things God has been providing for CB later on. And if you could pray for our next meeting which will be tonight (Thursday) at my place, that would be cool too. Thanks.

Currently Reading
God Will Make a Way: What to Do When You Don't Know What to Do
By Henry Cloud, John Townsend
see related

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Something Helpful from the Official Google Blog


This was something extremely useful I found the other day from Google's Blog

Avoiding RSI

By A Googler



From time to time, a resident physician at Google headquarters weighs in with her thoughts on healthy living. This is not medical advice, and you should check with your own doctor before pursuing any particular course of action.

There is a Chinese saying that "To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short." In other words, how long can you tap on that keyboard or sit in that chair before you hurt yourself. We’re not designed to remain as sedentary or perform the fine motor movements for the long uninterrupted hours that we have to do in so many of our jobs. Evidence suggests that prolonged abnormal posture and repetitive movements contribute to neck, limb and back pain. These conditions are collectively known as overuse syndromes, or repetitive stress injury (RSI).

The Problem

RSI is no small matter. It accounts for 34% of all lost-workday injury and illness — and costs almost $20 billion annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The National Academy of Sciences has concluded that an estimated $50 billion is lost by businesses every year from sick leave, decreased productivity and medical costs linked to repetitive stress disorders. The Academy has published two reports since 1998 which directly link repetitive motion to workplace injury.

The damage sustained from RSI is due to structural changes in the muscle fiber as well as due to decreased blood flow. Nerves can also be involved. The immobile tissue and surrounding inflammation compress the nerve which can cause numbness or tingling and eventually weakness if the nerve is damaged severely.

The Evidence

For those of you who need evidence, see this study on "Overuse Syndrome." In this study, biopsies were taken from hand muscles of injured and normal subjects, which demonstrated the structural damage in the muscle fibers and correlated the damage with the severity of the injury. In another study, biopsies were taken from neck muscles, and reduced local blood flow was found in the injured areas. The greater the pain difference, the greater the reduction in blood flow.

Some of the most common RSI injuries are tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Work-related carpal tunnel syndrome now accounts for more than 41% of all repetitive motion disorders in the United States, says this study. And here's a telling title: "Hard work never hurt anyone: or did it?" -- it's a review of occupational associations with soft tissue musculoskeletal disorders of the neck and upper limb.

The Solution

So what should you do? The key to treatment is prevention. Research shows that injuries decrease and productivity increases when employers encourage stretch breaks and stress the importance of ergonomics. See for example this one at at Ergonomics Now.

Here are a few tips: -- Breaks should be taken every 30-45 minutes for at least 5 minutes. If you need assistance there are free downloadable timers that will help remind you to do so.
-- Stretch your arms, hands, neck, and back during breaks. This yoga site demonstrates some exercises. Other sites are listed below.
-- Maintain posture alignment. Don't slouch on the couch with the laptop.
-- Work stations should be reviewed initially and with each office move. Adjust your chair, monitor, keyboard, mouse, laptop. Alternate keyboards and mice periodically.
--Shift your gaze from the computer screen to the distance. And don't forget to blink!
--Limit non-essential computer use. This may be heresy -- but do give the surfing, gaming, emailing, and text messaging a rest.
-- If pain occurs or persists, see your doctor, who may recommend wrist brace, ice packs, anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen, cortisone injections, physical therapy, and most importantly, rest to allow healing. Don't procrastinate in addressing your symptoms -- the sooner you tend to them, the better off you are.

And finally, here are more sites that may be helpful:
Safe Computing Tips
Alternative Pointing Devices
Alternative and Ergonomic Keyboards
Harvard RSI Action
RSI exercises
RSI Page

Update: One more: Boston U.'s Ergonomics Self-Help Guide (Flash)

Currently Listening
1000 Kisses
By Patty Griffin
When It Don't Come Easy

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

The Wisdom of Teams - Part 1


We Win or Lose in Teams

One of the lessons God's been teaching me recently is the importance of your "life team". When I'm with certain people, it's cool to experience a strong synergy that happens whenever we talk and plan things out. I think when you find someone in your life that can "spur" you on towards love and good deeds, that person is a valuable "life team" player and someone to definately invest your life into.

Newsong's Example

And when I went to Thailand and met up with Dave Gibbons, I saw firsthand how important it was to church plant with a team of people you trust and enjoy being with. One thing I learned from the Newsong model is to challenge people to do missions and to church plant within the context of friendships. Going solo will bring with it a lot more challenges (e.g. finding a community, finding co-workers you trust, loneliness, temptations, lack of accountability, loss of vision and happiness as you struggle in spiritual warfare alone, etc.).

But when we do ministry (even traveling to a different country to try out something new for God's Kingdom ... something you've never done before) with loved ones, it becomes an enjoyable ride and an great adventure ... when it's done with friends ... with community. And it creates moments and memories that will bring those relationships even closer. It also becomes a great witness for the world to see as well ... when they see how you "love one another", and laugh together.

The picture on the top left is of Henry (can't remember his last name) and Dave Gibbons. Henry is one of Dave's closest friends who came to spend a few months with him in Thailand, just to encourage him, hang out and enjoy life together with. When I saw them together, it was a blessing for me to see a simple friendship filled with love and laughter. And for every Newsong project, there are teams of friends that are gathered first, and then commissioned to go. I think there's great wisdom in that kind of philosophy.

A Couple of Favorites

That team dynamic of friends "doing life together" is also seen for me in two of my other passions, The Dallas Cowboys and U2. The lead picture above is a picture of one of the greatest trio combinations in NFL history ... Aikman, Irvin and Smith. Together they won 3 Super Bowls and became the most successful team in the 1990's ... though retired, they are still close friends to this day.

And U2 ... what more can I say about the greatest rock group of all time? I love seeing pictures like the one on the left that show a glimpse of their friendship together. How many bands can stick around with each other from high school (when they were formed) and put up with rock-n-roll size egos for almost 30 years?!?!? When people ask them how they do it, they simply state that it's because they like each other ... because they're friends.

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." Ecclesiastes 4:9,10,12

I wanted to share a bit more on this topic, but I think I'll wait another day or so ... this post is getting pretty long as it is!

EDIT: Another example of teams ...

You need a good sense of humor! :) I love this video!




Currently Reading
Unchurched Next Door, The : Understanding Faith Stages as Keys to Sharing Your Faith
By Thom S. Rainer
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Monday, May 01, 2006

NFL Draft 2006


Wooo Hoooo!

I'm so excited! Yesterday was the beginning of the 2006 NFL draft. The NFL draft day for me is a bit like Christmas for some reason. I get so excited to see who the Cowboys are going to draft as I dream of another Super Bowl championship year for Dallas.

So who did they get? Well, they drafted Ohio State linebacker Bobby Carpenter with the 18th pick (a great choice, esp. for their new defense), and then landed Notre Dame tight end Anthony Fasano with the 53rd selection after moving down four spots through a trade with the Jets. And they picked up Jason Hatcher, a DE from Grambling.



But the shockers of the day were:

#1. Mario Williams (DE) getting the top pick! I have a feeling Houston may regret this selection in the future. Especially as they see Bush, Young, and Leinart develop into franchise players for their respective teams.

#2. Reggie Bush (RB) getting picked at #2. With all that talent, going to a team like the Saints will really test his patience and it'll test to see how good he really is. He could either turn into a frustrated Barry Sanders or a washed up Ricky Williams.

#3. Matt Leinart (QB) falling to #10! Arizona got a huge gift with these teams passing up on him. The Cardinals have a bright future now. They already got Edgerrin James (RB) in the off season, they have a solid older QB (Kurt Warner) to mentor Leinart, and some promising young receivers for him to throw to. What an ideal situation to be in for this guy, plus it's close to USC, where he still has a huge fan base.

And Vince Young

And an interesting note for me was watching the Titans treat McNair so poorly (their old QB) in the off-season and then draft a younger version of him in Vince Young. And if a team treats a veteran who gave so much to them so poorly, I wouldn't sign with them. It's only a matter of time before they give you the cold shoulder too.

But I think Young is the most exciting player in the draft and I hope he can adjust well in the NFL so we can see some major highlights each week, like what he gave us in the Rose Bowl (except against the Cowboys, of course). Truly amazing. Well, that's my 2 cents for the first day of the NFL draft. =)

Currently Listening
One Moment More
By Mindy Smith
One Moment More