I can't believe it's been 2 yrs since my last 'real' job...

During this time I've learned a lot of life lessons....

Here's a few:

• A job / career does not define who or what you are as a person. It's only a profession.(I've seen my share of faces and attitudes when people find out that I'm 'unemployed') Does a job / career really dictate me as who I am?? Seriously... I had lots of thoughts about this....

• $ & possessions come and go in the blink of an eye... At the end of the day, it is your family, loved ones and friends around you that really matters.
  No amount of $ can buy you real love, joy and a sense of peace within.. Even though the income stopped coming.. I'm happier than ever... and doing more pro-bono work than ever before.... $ does make things a lot more convenient but it is only a TOOL...
  
  
• Instead of thinking inwardly and waiting for things to happen.... I was challenged to do the opposite. To start / initiate things and invite others to join.... That has pretty much changed the way I live for the past yr. Getting involved in Laundry Love Santa Ana and drawing inspirations from Tom's Shoes & Charity Water. Now, I'm taking a leap of faith again... With 2 other brothers, we started a new company call RadianceMetals.com We recycle used cellphones to create sustainable jobs for the underprivileged & homeless youth in Orange County, California. We just started a few months ago and so far it has been an amazing journey!
  

• Our vision at Radiance is “to Redeem, Restore, and Renew that which has been discarded.” So the next time you find used cell phones tucked away in a drawer, Recycle your phones with http://www.radiancemetals.com/recycle/

If anyone is reading this.....

How you can help?

1) If you have any used cellphones, give them to me the next time you see me or ship them to
the follwoing place. Shipping is on us, just print out the free shipping label on this link
http://www.radiancemetals.com/recycle/ and follow the instructions.

If you guys have any questions, please email paul@radiancemetals.com

2) Can you guys check out our Facebook Fan Page below and click on the LIKE button? This will
help us a lot.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Radiance-Metals/152061851484769

3) Follow us on Twitter if you guys use Twitter

http://twitter.com/RadianceMetals

4) Spread the word!!!

Thank you all for your help!

Paul

Being Pruned

Lesson learned and understanding seeped in...

John 15:1-2
¹"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ²He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

The past 22 months has been a 'pruning process' from above...
I've always wondered, why did the layoff happened, why did the business failed, why did relationships have to end and most of all why all came one after another?
Like a Rogue Wave that came out of no where... I nearly drowned in a sea of swirls...

God is the Gardener, Jesus the Vine and Christians the branches....
God 'prunes' us so that the dead branches and leaves can be cleared away... making room for
the 'fruitful' branches so that it'll bear more fruit....

The pruning process hurts of cause but its a simple redirection of where God wants us to be in Life... I looked back and saw that if I hadn't gone through what happened in the past 22 months, I would not have gone thru a life transformation. Laundry Love would never have crossed my life and I wouldn't have met so many wonderful people.

The question we should ask ourselves when we are being pruned is.... where in my life can I bear more fruit??? Instead of why this or why that happened....

It's been an awesome journey... Thank You Jesus!!!

Here's a song that's been playing in my head today...

Hold My Heart by Tenth Ave North

IT'S BEEN A CRAZY ROLLER COASTER RIDE THIS PAST YEAR...

It’s good to be back on here… It’s been a while… lots of things in this world has changed….

The most important lessons in my life happened during the past 21 months….

From the book of Joel… a short book of only 3 chapters… summarizes what’s been going on..

As the vivid words of Pastor Dave and Pastor Darryl still lingers in my head from time to time…

1) The Locusts in our lives help us Focus…

⁴ What the locust swarm has left
the great locusts have eaten;
what the great locusts have left
the young locusts have eaten;
what the young locusts have left
other locusts have eaten.

⁵ Wake up, you drunkards, and weep!
Wail, all you drinkers of wine;
wail because of the new wine,
for it has been snatched from your lips.

Joel 1:4-5

2) Scarcity in life brings Clarity…

¹⁰ The fields are ruined,
the ground is dried up;
the grain is destroyed,
the new wine is dried up,
the oil fails.

¹¹ Despair, you farmers,
wail, you vine growers;
grieve for the wheat and the barley,
because the harvest of the field is destroyed.

¹² The vine is dried up
and the fig tree is withered;
the pomegranate, the palm and the apple tree—
all the trees of the field—are dried up.
Surely the joy of mankind
is withered away.

Joel 1:10-12

3) Repentance ==> Restoration…

¹³ Rend your heart
and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.

¹⁴ Who knows? He may turn and have pity
and leave behind a blessing—
grain offerings and drink offerings
for the LORD your God.

Joel 2:13-14

Restoration:

²⁵ "I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—
the great locust and the young locust,
the other locusts and the locust swarm
my great army that I sent among you.

²⁶ You will have plenty to eat, until you are full,
and you will praise the name of the LORD your God,
who has worked wonders for you;
never again will my people be shamed.

Joel 2:25-26

=======================================================

Even though the times were tough, there’s one constant in my life that never changed…

The Love of God, His Grace & Mercy and daily supply of “manna”….

$ and possession can come and vanish in an instant… not much security to go on…

In the past 18 months, I’ve seen and heard of 401K turning into 101K… literally…

People’s entire life savings have gone up in smoke…. broken hearts and spirits were everywhere..

Jesus gave me such internal Peace that no $ can buy… although I don’t have much “worldly possessions” to

show for… I count my treasures in the relationships that I have…. NO amount of $ can buy real and genuine

care, love and compassion from people… that’s all from the Love of people and the Love of their hearts…

I’ve been truly blessed to know the importance of relationships vs the materialism of this world.

A very important bible verse that I’ve remembered in my heart…. That’s been keeping me going during

this tough time…

¹⁷ Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,

¹⁸ yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.

Habakkuk 3:17-18

Glad to be back….

More to come

God Bless =)

Taming The Tongue

**I've heard this passage twice this week. Not by coincidence.... Thank You Jesus.
I'm so sorry for my blunt remarks and comments at times. Please forgive me...
I know I have a problem and I'm going to bring forth my problem to you Jesus.
Not by my strength or might to fix it or do it... Lord Jesus, I bring my weakness and problems
to you. Thank You Jesus for accepting me and Loving me despite all my flaws and giving me
strength and guidance through your words and Love. I pray to speak with your Love. Amen!

James 1:19-20

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

James 3:3-12
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

**James is writing this to fellow Christians. To remind us that Words can hurt and if left unchecked, we can cause great damages. James is asking us and reminding us Christians to
Act accordingly to our Faith.... It is our responsibility to control our tongue as it can cause great
damage, hurt, pains towards others. I've done this to others and others have done this to me in the past and YES, WORDS Does hurt, Will cause Pain and can cause Great damages....

**James wants us to ACTUALLY put the words of God into real life examples. Spiritual maturity is by Living out our Faith in real life....

**These other verses starting to come to me as I listened to God.

Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

1 Thessalonians 5:11
So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

**I really like Proverbs as it has lots of important verses and practical insights on our daily lives.
Here are some of the verses that I was able to find today regarding our mouths, lips and tongues.
Father God, I pray that we can all learn from you and Speak Your Truth in Love. Thank You!!

My Favorite one
Proverbs 17:28
Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.

Proverbs 2:6
For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 4:24
Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

Proverbs 10:6
Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.

Proverbs 10:11
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.

Proverbs 10:14
Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.

Proverbs 10:31
The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out.

Proverbs 11:11
Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is
destroyed.

Proverbs 12:18
Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 18:6
A fool's lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.

Proverbs 18:21
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 21:23
He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.

Consecrated For God ( The Nazirite )

What does it mean to consecrate yourself for God? ( Set apart ourself for God )

Numbers 6:1-21

¹ The LORD said to Moses, ² "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of separation to the LORD as a Nazirite, ³ he must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or from other fermented drink. He must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins. ⁴ As long as he is a Nazirite, he must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins.

⁵ " 'During the entire period of his vow of separation no razor may be used on his head. He must be holy until the period of his separation to the LORD is over; he must let the hair of his head grow long. ⁶ Throughout the period of his separation to the LORD he must not go near a dead body. ⁷ Even if his own father or mother or brother or sister dies, he must not make himself ceremonially unclean on account of them, because the symbol of his separation to God is on his head. ⁸ Throughout the period of his separation he is consecrated to the LORD.

⁹ " 'If someone dies suddenly in his presence, thus defiling the hair he has dedicated, he must shave his head on the day of his cleansing—the seventh day. ¹⁰ Then on the eighth day he must bring two doves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. ¹¹ The priest is to offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to make atonement for him because he sinned by being in the presence of the dead body. That same day he is to consecrate his head. ¹² He must dedicate himself to the LORD for the period of his separation and must bring a year-old male lamb as a guilt offering. The previous days do not count, because he became defiled during his separation.

¹³ " 'Now this is the law for the Nazirite when the period of his separation is over. He is to be brought to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. ¹⁴ There he is to present his offerings to the LORD : a year-old male lamb without defect for a burnt offering, a year-old ewe lamb without defect for a sin offering, a ram without defect for a fellowship offering, ^a]">[a] ¹⁵ together with their grain offerings and drink offerings, and a basket of bread made without yeast—cakes made of fine flour mixed with oil, and wafers spread with oil.

¹⁶ " 'The priest is to present them before the LORD and make the sin offering and the burnt offering. ¹⁷ He is to present the basket of unleavened bread and is to sacrifice the ram as a fellowship offering to the LORD, together with its grain offering and drink offering.

¹⁸ " 'Then at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the Nazirite must shave off the hair that he dedicated. He is to take the hair and put it in the fire that is under the sacrifice of the fellowship offering.

¹⁹ " 'After the Nazirite has shaved off the hair of his dedication, the priest is to place in his hands a boiled shoulder of the ram, and a cake and a wafer from the basket, both made without yeast. ²⁰ The priest shall then wave them before the LORD as a wave offering; they are holy and belong to the priest, together with the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented. After that, the Nazirite may drink wine.

²¹ " 'This is the law of the Nazirite who vows his offering to the LORD in accordance with his separation, in addition to whatever else he can afford. He must fulfill the vow he has made, according to the law of the Nazirite.' "

To set our self apart for God... we need to remain HOLY... with our minds, our thoughts, our actions and our entire well being... In the current age... and in our world... it is QUITE hard... with TV, Movies, music, media... all sorts of information and materials that can easily deter our very state of being consecrated.... Back in the days.... it was easy to spot out someone that was consecrated for God... you can see their LONG HAIR.... (ex: Samson)

Today.... how can we set the same example of being consecrated to God? That's been a very tough question to answer and find out on my own... I often find myself stuck in the grey areas...
There are reasons why we should all be consecrated to God....

Being consecrated to God.. is the first step of cleansing... setting ourselves apart from this world and letting everyone know that we are PART of God and not of this world.... only once we are set apart for God are we set to embark on this further journey with God.... little by little we cleanse ourselves of this world... and little by little we are rebuild in the image of God and being re-oriented towards God's purpose and ways....

I'm ready for this.... being consecrated for God....

Thank You Jesus!!

Obama's Inauguration

For once in my life I'm actually proud to say that I'm an 'American'... instead of just saying

I'm Chinese.... For all these yrs.... finally we see that the social, economical and political status

of America has reached an equilibrium... among different ethnic groups and races...

Doors of opportunities and possibilities can happen!!!

Thank You President Obama... you're everyone's president.... and you've given everyone

a ray of HOPE and Light in this cynical world....

Never have I been more proud of being an American than today!!!

God Bless You!!

To GO or to STAY in LA???

The thought has definitely gone into my head... after being told I won't have a place to stay come
next month... Quickly how our circumstances can change in a heartbeat....

Upon hearing of the news.... I just prayed and read the bible.... another challenge in Life.... but James chapter 1 quickly came to my head... it reads

James 1:2-7
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

So before starting my bible reading plan... I Thank Jesus for all that happened cause I know
its meant for Good and in due time things will be revealed and God will be glorified...

Genesis 26 was on
the bible reading plan for Jan 8, 09... I was like only 8 days into 2009 and wow.... another big
challenge in my life... already... what a LONG and Challenging new yr this is gonna be...

¹ Now there was a famine in the land—besides the earlier famine of Abraham's time—and Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines in Gerar. ² The LORD appeared to Isaac and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. ³ Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you.

After reading this, I just felt so relieved.... I know God meant for me to read this tonight along
with all the stuff that's been happening...
So I'll stay put in LA.... before God tells me otherwise....
Later in the same chapter in verse 12 it reads...

¹² Isaac planted crops in that land and the same year reaped a hundredfold, because the LORD blessed him.

God has blessed so much in my life even though I don't have any 'material' things to show for.... I'm not looking for any 'material' things here.. but reading this was really comforting in knowing
that God will take care of all our needs... and sometimes God will even exceed our needs

So this verse quickly came to my head as well...

Micah 6:8

8 He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

Being humble is NOT thinking less of yourself... but thinking of yourself less often..

Thank you Jesus!!