Monday, December 27, 2004
Merry post-Christmas!
I had a pretty good Christmas, drove out to Tennessee to visit and stay with my aunt and uncle in Cookeville. My 2 cousins, Lilian and Daniel, arrived back home on Christmas eve, without knowing that I was going to be there, so it was a nice surprise for them. We had a nice potluck dinner with a Chinese Christian Fellowship in town, and went to a candle-light service at First Baptist Church in Cookeville. It was much colder in Cookeville than in Charlotte, they had some snow and ice there, so one has to be a bit cautious on the road. On Christmas morning, we opened some presents under the Christmas tree, and I was surprised to find that they had gifts for me as well. I got a couple classical music cds, a book by Wellington Boone, a large candle, 2005 inspirational calendar, plus a brand new wallet (with cash inside!) Praise God for his abundance!
Before I went to Tennessee, my friend and brother in Christ Luis Trujillo visited me here in Charlotte. Currently living in the Bay Area in California, he was out in Arkansas and had a chance to fly here before flying back. He stayed over at my place for a few days, and we had a good time catching up, talking about what the Lord is doing, and visiting Morningstar church. Luis, like most of my other friends who had visited, had never been to a church like Morningstar before. I believe that it is unique not just in the US, but in the world too. Robin McMillan preached a powerful, convicting message that Sunday morning, in which a woman interrupted in the middle of the meeting and confessed her sins in public. God was moving.
On the previous Saturday, I had the opportunity to introduce a couple of my worship songs at Go God!, a worship/prayer session led by Reggie and Debbie Hill, my good friends and spiritual "family" here. It was amazing to hear these songs, which I have been playing and singing primarily in my personal devotional times, to be played by a full band of good musicians and sung by good singers (male and female). I felt so blessed that God was making it happen and these songs were being sung back to Him in adoration.
This past Sunday (right after Christmas), I was able to help with worship at Resurrection Church on the violin. I missed the Thursday night rehearsal, since I was in Tennessee, but I was able to come early to the church in the morning to go over the songs with the rest of the worship team. We had some issue with the sound since the normal song guys weren't there, but the Lord pulled us through. Praise God! I'll be playing again this Tuesday night at Cornerstone, and I am seeking to meet the Lord there as well.
After the morning service, I attended an afternoon service at a Russian church on the outskirts of the city. Since my previous mission trips to Russia, I have always maintained a love for the Russian people. One of them told me that there are over 17,000 Russians here in the Charlotte area. Incredible! The church was full of families and children running around before the start of the service. Once it started, they had the children sing some Russian Christian/Christmas songs in the front, and a little girl performed a rap "blurb" in the middle of one of the songs, neat! Then they went into a segment of worship (with some songs translated from English into Russian). It was a powerful experience, even for me, who didn't understand Russian. The pastor then came up and preached, and afterwards we had a time of snacks, drinks, and fellowship. Everybody was very nice and cordial. And I had some good conversations with the people there (in English, of course).
Morningstar is having their new year conference later this week. As a member of the church, I only have to pay $25, (down from the regular $50), and because I had volunteered for the restoration of their new building, Heritage International Ministries, I received a $25 gift certificate to be used in the bookstore. I am thinking about getting a Heather Clark CD (the one about Song of Solomon) and perhaps a small book. God is so good! I am praying that God would move during the conference and give us all clear directions for the new year.
Currently, I am reading Rick Joyner's "The Prophetic Ministry." I was over at Mary Ann's house for dinner and she gave me a few books as gifts and others to lend. She has a nice collection of Christian meat, and I didn't hesitate to check them out. Before I end, I wish you, the reader, a very happy and joyous new year!
Praise the Lord!
Before I went to Tennessee, my friend and brother in Christ Luis Trujillo visited me here in Charlotte. Currently living in the Bay Area in California, he was out in Arkansas and had a chance to fly here before flying back. He stayed over at my place for a few days, and we had a good time catching up, talking about what the Lord is doing, and visiting Morningstar church. Luis, like most of my other friends who had visited, had never been to a church like Morningstar before. I believe that it is unique not just in the US, but in the world too. Robin McMillan preached a powerful, convicting message that Sunday morning, in which a woman interrupted in the middle of the meeting and confessed her sins in public. God was moving.
On the previous Saturday, I had the opportunity to introduce a couple of my worship songs at Go God!, a worship/prayer session led by Reggie and Debbie Hill, my good friends and spiritual "family" here. It was amazing to hear these songs, which I have been playing and singing primarily in my personal devotional times, to be played by a full band of good musicians and sung by good singers (male and female). I felt so blessed that God was making it happen and these songs were being sung back to Him in adoration.
This past Sunday (right after Christmas), I was able to help with worship at Resurrection Church on the violin. I missed the Thursday night rehearsal, since I was in Tennessee, but I was able to come early to the church in the morning to go over the songs with the rest of the worship team. We had some issue with the sound since the normal song guys weren't there, but the Lord pulled us through. Praise God! I'll be playing again this Tuesday night at Cornerstone, and I am seeking to meet the Lord there as well.
After the morning service, I attended an afternoon service at a Russian church on the outskirts of the city. Since my previous mission trips to Russia, I have always maintained a love for the Russian people. One of them told me that there are over 17,000 Russians here in the Charlotte area. Incredible! The church was full of families and children running around before the start of the service. Once it started, they had the children sing some Russian Christian/Christmas songs in the front, and a little girl performed a rap "blurb" in the middle of one of the songs, neat! Then they went into a segment of worship (with some songs translated from English into Russian). It was a powerful experience, even for me, who didn't understand Russian. The pastor then came up and preached, and afterwards we had a time of snacks, drinks, and fellowship. Everybody was very nice and cordial. And I had some good conversations with the people there (in English, of course).
Morningstar is having their new year conference later this week. As a member of the church, I only have to pay $25, (down from the regular $50), and because I had volunteered for the restoration of their new building, Heritage International Ministries, I received a $25 gift certificate to be used in the bookstore. I am thinking about getting a Heather Clark CD (the one about Song of Solomon) and perhaps a small book. God is so good! I am praying that God would move during the conference and give us all clear directions for the new year.
Currently, I am reading Rick Joyner's "The Prophetic Ministry." I was over at Mary Ann's house for dinner and she gave me a few books as gifts and others to lend. She has a nice collection of Christian meat, and I didn't hesitate to check them out. Before I end, I wish you, the reader, a very happy and joyous new year!
Praise the Lord!
Friday, December 17, 2004
Isaiah 40:8
The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.
Thursday, December 16, 2004
good Scriptures
I've been going over Psalm 145 this week. It feels like I've just "discovered" this psalm. It is full of deep, powerful passages.
One generation shall commend Your works to another, and shall declare Your might acts. Verse4
I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works. V5
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. V8-9
Your kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations V13
The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. V15-16
The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. V18-19
Praise the Lord!
One generation shall commend Your works to another, and shall declare Your might acts. Verse4
I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works. V5
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. V8-9
Your kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations V13
The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. V15-16
The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. V18-19
Praise the Lord!
Monday, December 13, 2004
continuing from my previous blog
after Mina and her husband moved to America, she received a phone call 21 years after their flight from Iran. It was her father on the other side. He said, "Mina, would you forgive me..." Turns out her father had a supernatural encounter with Jesus in Iran and received salvation on spot. What happened was like this...
Her father was on a trip outside of town. When he was returning to his car to drive back home, he discovered that the car keys were locked inside the car. He decided to walk home and take care of the situation the next day, but before he began walking, he knelt down and started praying his prayers to Allah, as it was the customary time for it. He was also very hungry at the moment.
As he started praying, he smelled fresh bread all around him, but there was nothing around, since he was in a deserted place. Then he saw a package of bread right next to him. So he began to thank Allah for the provision. Suddenly, he heard a booming voice as out of a thousand microphones surrounding him, "I am the bread of life, you do not even know who I am, I am the bread of life." and he saw a man clothed in white coming towards him. At the moment, he realized that it was Jesus, and that Jesus was the one and only true God. So he said, "Jesus, I am already 76 years old but I will serve you from now on." He had a brief conversation with the Lord, and then the glory left.
He still had the bread with him. He went to the car and found it unlocked, and drove home and told his wife, and she got saved on the spot too. That very night the Lord gave him a dream that confirmed his salvation, and told him who to meet to connect with other believers in Tehran. Praise the Lord!
Needless to say, Mina and her husband were overjoyed at this miraculous news, and she was reconciled with her parents after all those years.
Side note: The weather in Charlotte
the temperature here has dropped into the 20s (F) at night, and it's pretty cold in the daytime too. So Charlotte is probably the coldest place i've resided in my life (I've been privileged to grow up in Taiwan and California). They say that it will snow here soon. I've been to cold places (Russia, Canada, the Rockies in winter), but never lived anywhere cold. So this will be a new experience for me. I have been growing more fond of socks now, as they keep my feet warm. In CA I normally wear sandals without socks, since there was no need to, and it spared me the hassle of washing socks. But now socks have become a necessity, and I am grateful for them. Praise God for socks!
Her father was on a trip outside of town. When he was returning to his car to drive back home, he discovered that the car keys were locked inside the car. He decided to walk home and take care of the situation the next day, but before he began walking, he knelt down and started praying his prayers to Allah, as it was the customary time for it. He was also very hungry at the moment.
As he started praying, he smelled fresh bread all around him, but there was nothing around, since he was in a deserted place. Then he saw a package of bread right next to him. So he began to thank Allah for the provision. Suddenly, he heard a booming voice as out of a thousand microphones surrounding him, "I am the bread of life, you do not even know who I am, I am the bread of life." and he saw a man clothed in white coming towards him. At the moment, he realized that it was Jesus, and that Jesus was the one and only true God. So he said, "Jesus, I am already 76 years old but I will serve you from now on." He had a brief conversation with the Lord, and then the glory left.
He still had the bread with him. He went to the car and found it unlocked, and drove home and told his wife, and she got saved on the spot too. That very night the Lord gave him a dream that confirmed his salvation, and told him who to meet to connect with other believers in Tehran. Praise the Lord!
Needless to say, Mina and her husband were overjoyed at this miraculous news, and she was reconciled with her parents after all those years.
Side note: The weather in Charlotte
the temperature here has dropped into the 20s (F) at night, and it's pretty cold in the daytime too. So Charlotte is probably the coldest place i've resided in my life (I've been privileged to grow up in Taiwan and California). They say that it will snow here soon. I've been to cold places (Russia, Canada, the Rockies in winter), but never lived anywhere cold. So this will be a new experience for me. I have been growing more fond of socks now, as they keep my feet warm. In CA I normally wear sandals without socks, since there was no need to, and it spared me the hassle of washing socks. But now socks have become a necessity, and I am grateful for them. Praise God for socks!
Sunday, December 12, 2004
Touch of Christ ministries
In continuation about the Iranian couple's ministry to the muslims. I am currently reading Mina Nevisa's (the wife's) book "Miracle of Miracles." It is an amazing account of how Mina met the Lord in Iran, how she bumped into a Bible at the library and started reading the Word, while being raised in a fundamentalist muslim family. Knowing that her own family might even murder her if they found out that she has become a christian, (not to mention persecution from the government) Mina had to hide her Bible and only read it in secret.
Her cousin, Monir, who was a believer, mentored her and took her to underground church meetings, where she experienced the supernatural presence of God, and received the fellowship of the saints. However, Monir was later caught with Bible materials by the police, and murdered in prison by the government, as a sign to other muslims to not convert to Christianity. The pastor of the underground church was later caught and killed in prison too (in 1990). Later she and her husband were able to escape Iran and avoid the same fate.
Right now, as indicated by their ministry newsletter, the underground churches are flourishing in Iran, and many muslims are meeting Jesus through supernatural encounters. Miracles of healing are also common. Now Mina and her husband Jamal, based here in the US (in the DC area) are concentrating on sending thousands of Bibles in Farsi into Iran. It is a dangerous mission, as anyone caught transporting Bibles across the border will be put to death by law. So please keep these Iranian saints in your prayer, and pray for the transformation of the Iranian society to receive the gospel, for the strengthening of the persecuted church, and for the lost muslim souls to be saved unto Jesus Christ.
Her cousin, Monir, who was a believer, mentored her and took her to underground church meetings, where she experienced the supernatural presence of God, and received the fellowship of the saints. However, Monir was later caught with Bible materials by the police, and murdered in prison by the government, as a sign to other muslims to not convert to Christianity. The pastor of the underground church was later caught and killed in prison too (in 1990). Later she and her husband were able to escape Iran and avoid the same fate.
Right now, as indicated by their ministry newsletter, the underground churches are flourishing in Iran, and many muslims are meeting Jesus through supernatural encounters. Miracles of healing are also common. Now Mina and her husband Jamal, based here in the US (in the DC area) are concentrating on sending thousands of Bibles in Farsi into Iran. It is a dangerous mission, as anyone caught transporting Bibles across the border will be put to death by law. So please keep these Iranian saints in your prayer, and pray for the transformation of the Iranian society to receive the gospel, for the strengthening of the persecuted church, and for the lost muslim souls to be saved unto Jesus Christ.
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
First Post
hi, this is my first post, just to kick things off. Just got back from Washington DC and the Justice Prayer House. Also had time to go to a messianic church meeting last saturday night in Potomac, MD. They had a couple Iranian ministers who preached and shared to us their moving testimonies, of what life is like in muslim society, and how the Lord brought them out of darkness. They were able to give us vivid accounts of various aspects of the Islamic culture and religion.
