To tell about.

The time has come for us to part
Indeed the day has come to night
Memories of us has made its mark
God is our strength and forever our might
Brothers and Sisters share you love
Don’t let the lies of this world get to you
Fathers and Mothers do your duty
Don’t drift away from the path that was set for you

What is to be...

Morning light breaks through the night
Certain thought of the dream comes through
Despite the interpretation made as bright
Lead your dreams to what is True

My Heart my heart it wants to go
Never ceasing to make its path
Wandering off as a river that flows
Ending up at a dead end road

The smartest man could have never of guessed
What tragedy may come in this life time
We are taught to be the best
But never told to expect the mines

Hand in hand we walk along
The narrow road that draws us far
May friends be aware of what is to come
And persevere to what is afar

Spring within

So as I make my way into the new city of Eau Claire, Wisconsin I figure that it will looks a lot like Stockton or Willows, California. Since it is known for the Green bay Packers or aka Cheese heads I thought there would be a lot of farm land or Dairy farms. Believe it or not I have seen over 10 dairy farms & over 20 farm lands. I am impressed and astonished that Eau Claire, WI can hold that many farm land.

But the reality here is that I am here for my Pastoral Internship. Shadowing a Pastor is not easy because they are capable of accomplishing their tasks faster than I am. This Pastor that I am shadowing is a man of God who continues to encourage me daily as we study God's word together. I am truly blessed to have found this man of God and it has been countless prayers that has brought me here as well.

There are times where you need someone else to lead you. Then there are times where you just needs to set back and relax. Letting someone else lead you is pretty hard if you have been a leader all your life. I am currently reading a book called "Developing the Leader Within You" by John C. Maxwell. It is a very encouraging book that teaches leaders to be even better leader in whatever, wherever they are leading their group. Many stories from the book are from actual leaders life experiences and changes they made. A quote from the book "You will only become What You are Becoming Right Now." I believe this is true because if you focus on becoming something else rather than what God had planned for you, or what you have planned out, then you'll never become person or reach that goal.

Being mindful of what is to be done right away seems to be too much for some people. Lets break it down then!
- Write out what you value in life
- Ask someone who knows you well what areas of your life they
see as consistent (you do what you say)
- Ask someone what areas they see as inconsistent (you say but
don't always do)

This is a simple grid or answer sheet that Maxwell had in his book.

Life brings many obstacle, but if we face those that are coming right at us first then we will conquer our goal faster. If we choose to scatter our self all around and not tackle one at a time or the first obstacle then we will just fall.

Ephesians 4:17-24
17So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

20You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

In this passage it talks about being followers of Christ and putting off our old self and to put on the new self. We are made anew because Christ died for our sin on the cross and he took all of our sins and threw it all away into hell. We are to be glad and especially praising God for His one and only Son Jesus Christ that He gave to us. "Life is not easy" some may say. But it is when we all share it together and help one another along the way.

Internship

Pastoral Internship here I come!

Tomorrow morning at 8am I will be leaving to Sacramento airport to catch my flight to Minneapolis, Minnesota international Airport. There I will be doing my Pastoral Internship with Rev. Shalahng. I am super excited and nervous all at the same time. I pray that God will us me in His way to help serve and better His kingdom. Four months is the total time I that I will be there. Looking forward in helping the youth, congregation, leaders, elders, and kids as well.

God continue guiding me, teaching, leading, and showing me your way in everything that I do. Everything that I do is for your fame, glory, honor, and praise only. Amen.

Start

In the start of my summer break I headed off to Crescent City, California. Majority of the guys are here as well. In Crescent City there is countless crabbing sessions, fishing at the Pierre, and skim boarding on the 101 shorelines. There are mussels hanging on the coastline ready to be harvest and eaten. We had more than an hour harvesting mussels and gathering sand crabs on the shore line.

When the tides are high and up close, you'll run for cover.
Taking refuge with a friend or a love one, embracing with love.
Mountains hide and wide, rising sunset coming over.
Off in the distance comes a ship back from adventure.
What more can you say to God's great creation?

summer time

The semester is about to end again for me. Two finals has passed by and I think I did pretty good or decent in them. I still got 2 more final exams to go, 1 exam at 1pmthis afternoon and the last one tomorrow at 8am. Majority of the students started packing up their stuff, books, even some cars seems to be full of belongings already. What ever the situation is I hope that everyone gets home safely. Some of the students are not even leaving yet because they are going on a mission trip and there is team building or training week for them. Some students are staying on campus for free because they are working during the summer for the school. Whoot...good pay I'll say!

This summer I will be heading off to Eau Claire, Wisconsin for my pastoral internship. I am super anxious and there seems to be nothing to describe it. I do know that God has permitted me to go to Eau Claire and He will guide my every way for His glory. God guide me and use me to better your kingdom. Four months is the total time that I will be there. In four months I will be in helping out with the youth group, weekly bible study, a camp, and Hmong(my culture language) sermon once a month.

Sighs. Four months seems long but it will pass by like yesterday. Well, time to study some more for my business and ministry classes. Be blessed fellow brothers and sisters and remember that you are God's beloved!

capable

Have you ever tried doing something that you just thought you were able to do it?! Or was it that time where you knew what you were capable of, but still couldn't fulfill the task?! Welcome to my world!! Last year of 2009 I ended of the year by getting kicked in the shin and causing a Hemophilia in my blood vessel. My left shin and leg was infected and the area infected was from half of my quads, half of my hamstring, and the rest of my leg to my toes.

Ever since that accident I was unable to do what I always liked to do. Majority of the things I enjoy doing consist of running, so basically I'm out that category. I was also on antibiotics for two whole months and visited the hospital five times that cost me $4,500! DANG, and the doctors didn't even do anything!! I'm serious NOTHING! All they said to me was that they were going to let my leg heal naturally and surgery was not needed, but they would like to suggest me to an surgeon.

But even as the long waits and countless doses of pills that I took, I thank God that He is faithful and always loving me. Right now I am free from the infection, the pains, the pills, and the wait...especially the wait to run free again.

So yesterday and today I went running in the rain!! Yes..in the rain! It was my first time running in the rain with Kyle my good friend and pi non(Thai word for younger brother). I am so happy that I am able to run again and hopefully being able to run for 8 miles long again. Thank you God!

..isn't it..?

As a new start of semester starts, it opens up doors to opportunity of gaining new information and wisdom. Though these knowledge and wisdom are passed down from generation to generation, we are still hit hard by them. The professor may use the same phrase or statement over and over with new classes and it will still be effective.

For the word of God that is read by us, and studied by many, it is still powerful and the word of God alone to save, guide, teach, and love. Loving someone is hard enough but we all know that with God's love then we to love those who has not been loved before. Some of the times you'll have to love those who hates you.

The word of God, that has been passed down from century is now in our own hands. Keeping it close to our hearts and alone time. The bible teaches us, rebukes, loves, and cares for those that has not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. The bible is not meant only for Christians, but it is for everyone, anyone who wants to accept Jesus Christ as your LORD and SAVIOR. The writings in it is God inspired. In saying that through their personal tribulation and conviction inside their heart, God spoke to them and turned their life around. Each of us, the apostles, disciples, each had their own turning point in life.

(Col 1:11-12 [ESV])
May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

Out into In

When someone starts out a relationship with a certain individual, it is not known or popular from the start. Since the relationship that the two has is fresh and barely noticeable, no one really cares. But throughout time as the couple gets more serious and they are acting upon their words people will start to notice that they are together and no one dares to interfere. Then if everything works out for the two love birds or couple, they will soon get marry and they will be a legitimate couple and the ring that they both wear is the symbol that they will show the world. This is exactly how God wants a relationship us, just some few adjustment to it!
God does not ask us to be in a relationship but we already are! God does not want us to love, and depend on our self to do great things for Him, but He wants us all to know, to recognize, and to accept His greatest love who is Jesus Christ Himself. Throughout time, people have fallen away from Him, used Him, cheated Him, and lied to Him. Anything you can think of in a relationship that will happen has already happened to God already. In this sense, God still loves us all unconditionally even though He knows we are loyal or obeying Him. That is who God is, all loving, all merciful, all powerful, always forgiving, and the Creator.

A Change

Since I am a student at Bible University, I am helping out at an Church. The Hmong Christian Missionary Alliance Church of Chico. I have helped this ministry for almost a year or more now. The team consist of 6 single male students and a married couple. We all have devoted our weekend and time for this small church for the past year and God has done so much and blessed this church so much. We knew that God meant it for us to come and help this church in Chico because there were two brothers who open their heart and passions to serve their home town church. It was a blessing to work with all these people who devoted their time and heart for Jesus' ministry.

But this year, I have changed direction and after countless prayers I have decided to go even farther then Chico to help another Hmong Church in Oroville, Ca. It is 30 minutes away from Chico and 1hr 1/2 from Redding. The drive to Chico is not too bad, I am pretty use to it so driving an extra 30 minutes is perfectly fine. I am not the only that is helping at this Church but a ministry team from Simpson called: S.M.Y.L.E. (Simplifying Ministry to Young Leaders Ever where) is helping out as well. They plan to go and help the youth, encourage them, equip them, and establish a solid foundation of friendship and relationship so we can grow spiritually together!

It was hard deciding whether to stay with the Chico ministry team or not. But I saw that God had already blessed them with the team was suitable and well equipped. They had their own praise and worship band all ready to praise God in every Sunday. The team is blessed with many talented people, gifts of playing multiple instruments, teaching, discipleship, encouraging, and evangelizing. The Chico is surely blessed, so they are blessing Chico Hmong Alliance Church. I am happy to have been apart of that ministry and well help, whenever I am called or ask by them. So right now I am in a new ministry, hoping that God will use me, and that His blessings will be poured on to the Oroville Hmong Church. I know God is blessing them already. This change, it is through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit that will empower me, the S.M.Y.L.E. ministry to bless this Church.

O God, we give you praise, Glory, and Honor.

..so..

So it has to be this way
Ending every little bit of it
What has the struggle cause you to do
commotions, creating new paths
He leads the way
observe and investigate
every step counts for what is new
emotions, fight them
People may not be on your side
come to a conclusion
do what is righteous in His eyes
faith, hold on to it
Hold tight
this is not an illusion
keep up with this rhythm
God, all powerful

..2010..

Wow, it is 2010 already! Man o Man, it does not feel like a whole year yet?

My ending of 2009 was not so pleasing. I got injured from playing "Kick The Can" in Marysville on the night of December 27, 2009 at Zong(Jason's) house. You guys and gals should of seen the huge bruise that I got from the accident. My whole left shin was 3x's bigger than usual. Just put your fist on top of your shin, that's how big it was. Praise God his mom took care of me, as will as the whole family. I spent a night there because niam Kt. Vam Moua wanted to see my leg in the morning and give me another massage. After the massage Zong, Thunder, and took off to Fresno Hmong New Year. Met up with Bee and Jessie and headed out to the the Hmong Christian Concert at the Fresno Fairground. It was ok, very tiring and in pain but I stayed anyway.

I'm back home and notices that the swell on my leg hasn't decreased. And I can't stand up anymore. Every time I get up for a walk, it acts up like there is electricity running all over my left leg and it hurts too. Well, my sisters wanted me to go to the emergency room so I agreed and we went. They got me in and hooked me up to the IV bag, gave me penicillin, and morphine. The nurse injected it into my arm and there I go off to sleep. Man, it was fast and weird. The doctor ran an x-ray and told me that there are no broken bones, possibility blood clogged, and it is positive Infected!!! Yikes, I didn't even know some of the words he used. But luckily ,my sister Mai Xiong was there to explain everything to me. She's majoring in some kind of Bio-labing thing..ahha...

So yup, this is how I am starting my new year...a infected leg, nauseous, head ache, sleep deprived, sore body, and bad eating habits...sighs...school is starting in one week...Have to drive back to school.

God, I know you are watching me. Jesus who's ministry I am accomplishing, Holy Spirit who dwells in me, everything I do is for you God. All praise, glory, and honor to you O God. Amen.