The Art of Dodging People

It's a matter of life and death. A daily necessity. Everyone here knows it. No, it's not kungfu...it's the art of dodging people.

As I was walking peacefully minding my own way in the subway station, suddenly without warning a mob of merciless men and women in suits began to beeline all around me. They had no smile. They had no facial gesture. They had cold, steel eyes, that stared right at their destination...and their minds were enraptured in two words...walk fast.

I knew not what to do. I began to consider an alternative route to reach my final destination, but all routes seemed dangerous and pedestrians speeded in every direction.

When suddenly, instinctively as I walked forward, I began to shift my shoulder. I took a step horizontally. I stared back into cold, hard, beaty eyes and budged not as I walked past...and it began to dawn on me...I had become one of them. I was now a black belt in the art of dodging people.

Quickly I began to take evasive maneauvers, turning, sliding, barrel rolling amidst this rising storm of people. It became obvious to me, if I were ever to reach my final destination, then I had to maintain a high speed, halting only when crashing was immanent.

Finally after cartwheeling through business men, secrataries, teenagers in school uniforms, and unshakeable seniors, I finally made it through...unscathed, injury-free...but still 4 mins late? Perhaps I've still much to learn.

I thank God that He didn't make us too fast...

Hong Kong's full of people, and yea, dodging people seems like a necessity some times...which brought to mind how sometimes we dodge people too. We don't really dodge their bodies so much, but more the relationship. Ever walk towards someone only finding that you know them, but would rather not talk to them, so you make the effort of crossing the street, just so you could avoid them? I must confess, I've done that a couple times in my life...perhaps couple is an understatement.

But of all my years I've been at church, I've seen the art of dodging people happen over and over again. You probably know what I mean...a new person walks in, doesn't really look like they're from the same age group, probably not real cool, maybe doesn't even speak English well...so you walk by them, say "Excuse me" in a low tone with the intent on expressing urgency and the importance of you having to be somewhere else...

I know I've been part of that group before...until I stepped into that. A couple years ago I walked into a church like that. I was the outsider, I didn't know many people. I walked in and out, and it seemed like people effortlessly dodged me, never making the effort to know me unless I got to know them.

If there's one thing that really impressed me while I've been at the Vine, is this one concept of connecting people. It's so simple, yet it's so powerful. Just yesterday, Derek showed me how to do that again...he pulled me aside out of a conversation I had with some of my friends from Canada and said (turning to a first time visitor at the Vine while holding onto my shoulders) here's one of my leaders from the college program, he'll tell you all about it, and invite you to it too. He's from Toronto, UT...and the girl's face just brightened up, "You're from Toronto? That's so cool!"

There's been many lessons that I've learned here, but I would have to say with regards to living out a Christian life, this would be one of the most practical lessons I've learned yet while here at the vine...the art of connecting with people instead of dodging them.

For all of you who've felt the discontent of seeing people attend your churches and leave them because they say it's not friendly, or who've attended your fellowship but leave thinking to themselves noone cares...step it up. Lead your peers into connecting with people. If there's any group of individuals in this entire world who should make people feel connected to one another on a real genuine level, it should be us Christians. And I know with God's help we can do it, but we gotta start...

Week 6 Overseas

Wow, I can't believe it's already been 6 weeks since I've left Toronto for Hong Kong/China. It's flown by so fast. Come to think of it...i've only got like 10 weeks left before i head back home.

There's been a lot happening here. Everyday is so busy. It's a rare thing for me to just go home and rest afterwork, I have to make it intentional if I want to maintain my energy and retain my sanity.

Blogging hasn't been very consistent. I know. Thanks to all of you who keep checking n' tell me about it...encourages me to keep spending the time to do it. ;)

In a couple of days, I'll be moving to the 10th floor with my uncle. There's internet up there, so hopefully I'll be able to update more often.

But here's a quick update for now of what's been goin' on:

June 16, 2006:
KAT CAME BACK TO HK! I was so glad to see her back in Hong Kong. Actually last night she showed me some pictures of her trip. With each picture that she showed me, there was one thought that kept flashing through my mind, "I wish I was there." I think I'm beginning to shift...I think it's China that I'm craving to go to, and not just simply Hong Kong...we'll see where that goes.

After I picked her up at the airport, we went to pick up Will at Kowloon Tong station. We went to Auntie Cathy's place to drop off Will's stuff, then we went to a restaurant that served Macau food. While we were eating, I was telling them about all the cool stuff that you could try in Macau, when it dawned on me...why don't we go to Macau tomorrow?

June 17, 2006: Macau Trip
Early morning, wake up. I saw my grandparents on my way out to pick up some stuff from Niki. I took the bus straight to the ferry dock, but it took longer than expected. When we got on, the ferry was pretty shaky. The three of us felt a little uneasy from the boat ride, but we got out OK. After clearing customs and boarding a taxi, we went to the church that I served at last time I came here for missions. As we passed through the mountain and drove along the local roads, so many memories started to flash trough my mind.

The many nights we walked to by Chinese buns at this particular shop. Nights when we took the students out for drinks. The simplicity of living and serving.

It was really interesting when we went to the burial site of Robert Morrisson. Here lay a man who ventured out into what seemed like the unknown to bring the Good news to my people...you know, i think a lot of us Chinese Christians can probably trace back our roots to this man who decided to step out into China over 200 years ago. Pretty awesome.

With regards to what we did there, the whole day was mostly sight seeing. We went to St. Paul's ruins, the fortress on a hill, the black and white road...

it was pretty cool to see it all again...and to think it was two years ago when I came...whoa.


June 18, 2006: Father's Day
On Sunday Kat and I went to a dinner with my dad's side of the family. It was really cool, b/c now Kat's seen my entire family. We had a good time, Jonathan came back too. It was a rather large celebration: father's day, grandma's birthday, uncle Wilton's birthday...the day before when we went to Macau, I bought almond cookies as gifts, so I decided to pass them out to the Father's around the table as a gift. My little cousin was particularly jumpy that night too. It was cool, when she saw me she shot her arms up and asked me to give her a hug...then she held up fists to pretend to fight me...hahah...cute.


So that was my weekend...

This week has been rather tiring. Rest is a rare thing over here...so rare I have to schedule it into my schedule. It's so needed.

Last night was the first night of SCP (the summer college program). It was cool to start seeing it happen...we worshipped with music for a bit, then brainstormed some ideas. I really pray it'll be awesome this year. I remember standing at the back when Mark was leading the music, just praying that Derek's vision for students to go back to their campuses passion-filled for Christ would definitely happen. I want to see that too. It's awesome that I can be a part of it while I'm here.

Disciple?

These past days, the Lord has been showing me a lot of things...particularly around one central concept of the Bible. Discipleship.

What does it mean to be a disciple? What does it mean when Christ tells us that if we are to follow Him, we must pick up our cross...and yet His burden is light and easy?

Contradictory? Perhaps not.

Let me ask you an honest question, have you ever seen someone who's life is just abounding in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control, every second of their lives? Have you ever met someone who can't help but just love, when they're given the one fingered salute, four letter song, or a knife in the back? What about the guy who doesn't ever mind to walk two miles when forced to walk one?

Did Jesus really mean it when He told us that we can be that person? Cuz in all honesty, I'm not that someone described up there.

But I think Christ had every intention for us to change. That I may not love the Lord my God with ALL my heart and ALL my soul and ALL my mind and ALL my strength...yet. But I'm in the process of His grace working in me.

I'm reading a lot these days, and hopefully I can share more later, but here's one insight that really hit me today because I find it so true.

Here is an excerpt from Dallas Willard:

Grace is God acting in our lives to bring about what we do not deserve and cannot accomplish on our own. But we are not passive in this process. We are commanded to put off the old person and put on the new. (Col. 3:9-10; Eph. 4:22-24) We are told to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (II Peter 3:18) This is something for us to do, and, although we cannot do it on our own, it will not be done for us. Being alive in Christ means that we can do whatever it is we need to do to increasingly take on his character and live in his power.

That idea...we cannot do it on our own, yet it will not be done for us. So many Christians recognize the fact that we cannot change on our own, but at the same time, neglect to do anything thinking that is what total surrender may be. We think grace is just letting God take control of everything and to be passive...and that is dangerous, especially when God intends for us to be active in the process.

Discipleship...

Global Day of Prayer: HK

Date: June 4, 2006
Time: 11:45pm
Location: Hong Kong, China

Today was awesome.

It started at 9:40 am this morning, when Casey and I arrived at the Hong Kong stadium. We pulled out our production crew passes and walked into the multifunction room to begin the task of setting clothes aside, stapling technical rundown sheets, and bringing 12 cases of bottled water. This was it today...the day when churches would gather from across the city to pray and worship the Lord alongside the nations of the world...today was Global Day of Prayer.

Actually at this very moment, the events for GDOP in North America have just started if not still prepping for their turn in just a couple hours.

When Kat first told me about this event, I wasn't too thrilled or overly excited about it. I heard about it over at Missionfest this year, and it didn't really capture my attention too much. It sounded just like any other conference. When Kat showed me the video of it, I began to get more interested but...there was lacking a move in my heart regarding this whole event.

Two weeks ago, Casey asked if I would like to help out with GDOP. I offered my help, but during the first meeting this past Monday, I felt quite overwhelmed. With tons of stuff needing to be done, and everyone speaking in Chinese to one another I felt like I was the only one who didn't know how to speak...I could only listen.

I toughed it out though, and after a long day of rehearsing and setting up yesterday, I was finally at the stadium...and man, my heart has changed. I began to feel excited. Anticipating awesome things.

And as I stood at the northwest gate queuing the country flag bearers, I saw coming from the northeast gate the flags they have been talking about for so long. There was a flag with a lion on it and a crown and a star of David. It danced in the sky as it was followed by long flowing flags that declared the name of God on them. And as I watched, I could only think...Magnificent...Majestic. This is our king, and today we were proclaiming and celebrating his continuous reign. The unceasing advancement of His kingdom. This is Jesus Christ our King. And today was all about Him!

As I watched them march, behind them was a large yellow cross, 28m x 14m...and at the blowing of the shofars and the beating of the military drums, they began to march in a holy procession onto the grass field. And as soon as the tail of the cross touched the field, there went the queue for me to signal the release of the country flag bearers.

It was an awesome sight. The king Lion of Judah leading the flags pronouncing the Names of God, a cross the size of a small gymnasium, and behind them 200 flags representing the countries of the world. Awesome.

Sometime during all of this, I was so moved by it all. Just the overwhelming sense of God’s majesty, His kingship over all that is creation...my eyes were beginning to water. This is my God and He deserves the full honor and glory. This was awesome, but I began to feel in my heart like it wasn't enough, He needed more...because He is just so completely and absolutely worthy of the glory.

When the cross reached it's final position, all of a sudden youth with flags jumped out from underneath, holding shimmering flags of blue, green, yellow, purple...it looked almost arbitrary until you looked at the large screen display showing a topside view of the field and it suddenly dawned on me...the cross was radiating. The glimmer of the flags waving in the air made the cross look like it was luminous.

And at that, the cross was lowered, the youth moved to the track along the side and the rest of the program proceeded.

I didn't get a chance to focus on much of what was going on during the service, but it was ok, there was a reason and a purpose that I had to fulfill. I never knew that wearing a headset, being in constant communication through an earpiece with the production crew, would be so different of a world. I knew exactly what was going on, when everyone else was oblivious of the frantic running, queuing, and directing that went on all over the stadium.

There were a lot of interesting experiences today. Niki and I were a pair in the production crew and we had lots of intense moments. Running with the flag bearers, realizing some of the youth were still on the track waving their flags with their backs turned to the rest of us who were signaling them to leave...

One of the more remarkable moments of the day was when they called forth all the pastors and elders to walk up to the front to come together in unity to pray. Hundreds of pastors and elders stood up from the bleachers and made their way to the front of the stage. It was a big deal to me, I suppose because I am a pastors son. I felt like I had a link to all of them. That I was among all of them, and to see them all joined together in heart, just really touched my heart.

Today will definitely go down in my memory bank as one of the more memorable days of my life. The day when I stepped into the work of the kingdom as an outsider and joined with my people...40,000+ brother and sisters in Christ, to worship and pray to the Lord of Hosts, Jesus Christ our King.

Today was an experience I didn't expect coming here, but I'm so blessed and so glad to have been a part of God's work here. Because to be honest, that's what this trip is about...not shopping, not sight seeing, not even my job or the conference I'll be attending...it's about God, His Kingdom, His purpose, and His will for me, Kat, my family, my friends, my church, my people.

ps. Great job Garland, Niki, Jason, Mandy, Gabby. You were all awesome yesterday.