Arrival Day one. Thailand.

Okay arrived and it's good to be here! Great weather for this time of year and ready to see what father has in store!

Here's how you can PR:

Beginning of a new era

2003
Beginning of a life long journey

8 years and 8 countries later...

2011 Year of the Rabbit, Year of transition, the beginning of a new era

Yes sir time sure does fly by
Nearly 8 years in a blink of an eye
Fair share of lows fair share of highs
Looking back he shows no stress
No remorse and no regrets
What seems like a life long journey
Is just his first few steps

HE bless community.

When I hit rock bottom, losing purpose, faith, and confidence in my calling as a journalist. Nathan stepped in and sweated it out with me. For a moment he reached down and put me on his back and carried me. He was right there with me. What a beautiful picture of G grace and C mission, reaching down and picking us up when we can’t carry on. What a picture of community, when we bind each other when we are hurting and broken. We comfort each other, when we instill courage in each other. Community creates healthy believers who can run the race.

Community pushes us towards love, godliness, and good deeds.

With that I say thank G that he doesn't leave us to ourselves.

The keys to overcoming crisis:

Clarity

Control

Confidence

It's community, and the memories they inspire, that get us through tough economic times, angry arguments, and sad events.

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Sincere- Without Wax

Paul wanted to say- be workers who have a passion and who are blameless. Someone who doesn’t short change himself.

Those who aren’t lazy or selfish

He pairs the relationship- Husband wife, parent child, slave master. These are all in the home. The work relationship affects the family itself. Paul wants to create a spirit filled family dynamics.

Col 3:23

Eph Not with eye service or men pleasers. When our bos isn’t around we act goofy. We act with a passion weather we are there or not.

That's why trees point up

How can I sum up the past month? So many conversations, new friends, new house, no car, city life, strange languages, good food, green, and finding community.
All my expectations were blown away, this city is incredible. Full of beauty and rich in culture.
Yet, underneath there is a darkness that chokes out The Hope. Many people walk in a haze.

Me and a new friend were chatting one afternoon. He mentioned how many people here consider themselves "spiritual", in that they find wholeness in themselves through yoga, hiking, or nature. I thought it was funny how people yearn to connect with creation, but miss the creator. These are just a reflection of a true relationship with HIM. I guess that's why trees point up.

I am George this is my Jungle

Pass Spanish, Graduate, pack my life, say the goodbyes, prepare the NSU Vancouver team, logistics, airplane, little sleep. This past 2 months have been hurricane season for me.

But I see the clouds parting a bit, that liquid sunshine turns to real sunshine.

Life here is sweet. I'd rather be tired, feet hurting, exhausted mentally spiritually and staying true to the path of Father. I've spent too long at ease and comfort, outside of the path.

But I've made it to Vancouver. So many people asked me if I'm excited, and it's hard to say...

Yes I love the city and SFU, yes I'm learning the culture, yes it does remind me of my Homeland (HK). All reasons to be excited.

But when I think of some of the best albums I've ever heard, They've tended to grow on me.

On first listen, it wasn't current or catchy or full of hooks.

More like a 80% (fair-trade) cocoa chocolate, subtle, deep, and rich.

I hope this city grows on me, and that makes it exciting.

I am George this is my jungle.

New pad, new friends

With the NSU team, plowing sowing and seeing our walk of obediance.

Sweet time.

Also got to check out my new house.

Hockey time now!

Soliciting

Undeserved.

Grace, mercy, blessing and abundance.

All undeserved.

I was once a punk kid, who didn't want anything to do with The King or His Words.

But the Spirit captured me, made me new, and put Spirit-filled men in my path.

All undeserved.

I left with $200 in hand, and a promise from a friend that he would be a strong arm of

support for me while in Vancouver.

All undeserved.

Blessings.

All undeserved.

2 weeks

I love the travel channel, especially Anthony Bourdain's: No Reservations.

He's a great story teller, capturing life from Laos to Ireland to Panama. I love how doesn't sanitize what he see's, but he portrays the raw beauty and utter despair every culture has.

Being able to experience the world through his eyes and the lens of that camera is nice, but it's like a stamp size picture of the ocean. There is no comparison, It just doesn't do it justice.

I'm missing out on the mystery, depth, flavors, smells, and textures that new worlds have to offer. As that gentle ache gets harder to ignore, I feel like a painter who's only able to use

a fraction of the color palate.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm going to miss the bayou and all those Cajuns.

But this world has too much culture and life to offer to let it pass by.

And I'm not missing out.

2 weeks. And we all can feel a calling.

To make this world a little smaller,

So a boy got on a plane.....

Everything is easy....

I fight, bite, and try my best to make the right decision and to be an honorable guy.

Often times I come to the end of my own endurance and little wisdom I own exhausted defeated and feeling like an ass.

I'm burnt out with logistics of missions and ministry and I can't even remember why I'm in it in the first place.

Then the spirit shows up, and reminds me of my first love.

I do it because of Hosanna, welcoming the King of Israel.

Then life settles, and things become clear.

Those choices that were heavy burdens upon my back?

They lift off like a feather in the passing breeze.

Then everything refocuses. Those blurred lines become crisp and easy to make sense of.

When your led by the spirit,

everything is easy.....

I gotta get back.... I just gotta

Ever seen the movie, "Book of Eli"?

Denzel Washington's character is on a mission, mostly shrouded in mystery for the first half of the movie. It revolves around a decimated post-apocalyptic America and a book. But not just any book, it's The Book.

And an unquenchable desire to head west, to complete his mission.

I'll leave it at that because I hate spoilers, just remember he dies at the end (bet you didn't see that coming).

So I kinda feel like Denzel's character.

My mission?

To head back east, to reconnect with the rich history of my people.

Along the way, being a voice for those who are silenced by fear and oppression....

and telling the greatest story ever told; the story of redemption, rescue, and restoration found

in a book. But not just any book, The Book.

See, I gotta get back.... and Vancouver is my first step.

This city has the highest concentrations of ethnic Chinese residents in North America.

So to get back east, to the west I must go.

So how do I be content in every situation, as the good Book says, when I'm not satisfied with where I am?

I guess it's the pursuit of "the peace that surpasses all understanding" that leaves me restless....

Not for all the tea in China.

I gassed up the car Friday afternoon and drove. And drove. Picked up my friend Michelle Palmer and drove some more. 5 long hours later, we arrived in West Monroe (the armpit of Louisiana). Just in time to check the first item off my bucket list: Attend an Andrew Osenga Concert.

The cramps in my legs and lowerback seemed to melt away as Andrew made sweet sweet love to his guitar.
And everyone there in that "too big of a room for such a small crowd" witnessed it.
For the next hour his humility, his passion, his anger, his brokenness and his redemption were laid bare for us to see.
It was like he was cooking and the penetrating smell of emotion filled the room.
Everyone wanted a taste of it.

It was memorizing, inspiring, and oh so satisfying.
I PR that the rest of the bucketlist will be just the same.

Was it worth the drive? Yes. Worth the cramps? Yes. Worth the sleepless drive back? Yes.
Would I ever trade the experience? Not for all the tea in China.


awesome moment in time

New-City Nervous

For those who don't know, I'll be leading students on a 2-week mission
experience in Vancouver in May.
It's all about S led friendship building and life on life J sharing.
And lots of PRwalking.
When I think about this great task ahead, I get a little nervous.

These students are trusting me to lead them in a city I barely know, connect with a people I've never met, and relate to a culture I know little of.

They need me to take the lead in this big city, but I'm pretty clueless on how to really do it.
All I have is a few short months of mission experience, but is that really enough?
Then I remember, it's the spirit that has carried you to this point, and it's his S that will see you through. It's not about my competency or how well I do.
It's about who I'm owned and operated by. And that's the Father.

This week I have an opportunity to do great things. Because my Father is great.

Fast forward

Well, one more month then it's graduation and off to Vancouver.
What have I been upto lately?

Well here's my to do list this week:


and that's only scratching the surface.

I've been plugging along all this year, at it's all been really great.
Ministry has been joyfilled and life-altering, Saints winning the Superbowl, and graduation is right around the corner. It's all been deeply satisfying and will probably go down as my favorite year at NSUEY.

But to be honest, I'm feeling a little tired. A little weary from the journey.
Emotionally spent, if you will.
I need to be refreshed, renewed, and poured into.

I need to spend time with people who I want to be around, true friends.
Rather than those that I have to be around.

I want to be around those who have a heart for the nations that I do.
Because I need to be reminded of how big G is and how he reaches out to the middle east, Middle Kingdom, NK, and Afreeka.

I hope that times comes before I lead this team, because He knows how much I need it.

A new Beginning

The guitar is sold.
The magazine subscriptions have been cancelled.
The airplane ticket is bought.
The news is slowly leaking out.
And I'm trying to give away old stuff that I forgot I even had.

After graduation, I'm moving to Vancouver.
I've already begun the long-goodbye.
The sound is sweet and it's calling me to follow my gut feeling.
I'm taking that chance, that risk.
A new beginning.

Micro Blogging

Well, it's been a while since we've last chatted. 12 days to be exact.
There so much to say and so little space, so let's try a bunch of small random
bullets to catch up:

-Saints won the Superbowl! Now they are selling the sod (chunks of turf) where certain "game-changing" were performed. This is getting ridiculous.... but the fans deserve it!

-Our week of "Crazy Love" dorm outreach has passed. Made some promising connections with some guys in the dorm. Praying for more divine appointments....

-A friend of mine sent me a wonderful gift: a hand crafted calendar.
You can pick one up here and you should. Because she is awesome!

-I'm currently working on my resume. I look back on all the video spots I've been a part of and thanking G. Who woulda thought: it all started with a wedding video and I can't believe they paid me!!

-yesterday was the first time I slipped in the shower in like 10 years. That's right I've keep track of these kind of things.

-CEC came and gone. Musical worship was truly life shaping. Aaron K truly is a W Pasture

see you soon!

Bucket List

My goal is to accomplish all of these within the next 2 years.

-Attend an international film festival

-End my college career on a sweetest note ever: Ultimate Frisbee, all my closest friends, and BBQ all on the back deck of the BCM.

-Attend an Andrew Osenga (my fav. artist) Concert April 9 2010

-Be part of the production crew for a short film
-Play on a semi-professional Ultimate Frisbee Team
-learn how to surf
-Celebrate Chinese New Year. In China
-Enroll in Seminary
-Move to a big city
-Learn martial arts

I am lame.

Today I forgot my mum's birthday. Yea I know, I'm sucky.
She sent me an e-mail:

"hi to day is 2 / 3 2010. my birthday. ar you forget? ........"

It's interesting how I can focus so much on making impact in other peoples lives and forget the most important woman in my life. Mum.

I'll make it up to her...... (Tony turns to camera) If it's the last thing I do.......

Beauty of the run

Breath in. Breath out.
Watch out for the mailbox.
Grass, gravel, pavement, sidewalk.
Look both ways before crossing.
In through the nose, out through the mouth.
Push it. Push it harder. Focus.

I tend to think a lot at night and it sometimes keeps me up.
And sometimes when I need to think I go for a run.
I did that tonight, it was damp and a cool 45 degrees.
I ran the route I've been running for years.
Down the neighborhood, next to the cemetery, pass the cathedral,
loop around the park and back to the ice cream shop.

It's important to breath when you run, but it's hard when it's cold like this.
So, you've got to remember to focus.
Breath in. Breath out. In through the nose, out through the mouth.
It also helps ease the mind.

I used to hate running, the stomach cramps and the chest pain just wasn't for me.
But everything is different now.
I've found joy in the beauty of the run.
I guess is some way, that's like my spiritual journey.
How something I once wanted nothing to do with became
irresistibly amazing and fascinating to me.
By grace I was saved and I've begun my own race, set out before me.
And you've got to remember to focus.

Breath in the word. Breath out prayer.
See to it that every moment I'm on the cross.
Morning, afternoon, evening, night.
Look for ways to leave a legacy.
In with the spirit, make no provision for the flesh.
Push it. Push it harder. Focus.

Big Week

This week will be crazy.
It'll start out with a prayer watch at 9pm tonight for "Crazy Love" a joint outreach week
with Chi Alpha and Alpha to Omega.

Then it's off to the races:
-3 day outreach event
-discipleship meetings
-free lunch Thursdays and Frisbee
-FCA at Thibodaux High School
-then a weekend in Alexendria for CEC.
-Sunday School
-and finally Black and Gold Superbowl

not to mention I need to keep my head above the water in my Spanish class.
Gotta make sure I'm repented up, prayed up, or else I'm gonna screw up.

Until then I'm gonna play some soccer and enjoy this beautiful day!