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Top 11 Highlights of 2011…BRING IT 2012!

December 31, 2011 in Being Real, Culture, Family, Worship with 0 Comments

OK, I’m totally doing this at the 11th hour (literally), but I gotta close out this year in style.
I’m not gonna lie…it was a very very tough year.
Lots of challenges. Lots of casualties.
Broken relationships, missed goals, and nearly an emotional breakdown of sorts.
I’ve had my own season of personal hell.

But the great thing is tonight, it ends. 2011 is finished.
I’m not a fan of top 10 lists, so you get 11 highlights from me.

In no particular order:

  1. Live recording with other worship leaders at the LIFT Conference

    Discovered a massive worship leader collective taking place in Atlanta around mid-February. Matt Redman was doing a live recording with a new batch of songs. I didn’t have to think — I just booked my place and went! Gathered with 1000+ worship pastors/leaders for teaching, songwriting, and above all, worship. Too amazing.
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  2. A trip to Taiwan (finally)

    I’ve never been, always wanted to go. So my Mom thought it was time and the three of us (my dad held down the fort) visited the mother’s motherland. Outside of Taipei, I remembered how calm and refreshing the countryside was like. Walking down the same streets my mother grew up on was ridiculously humbling and gratifying. God has been so good to us.
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  3. Concerts, concerts, concerts
     
    I think I went to four, but I’ll settle for the big ones. Hillsong United “Aftermath” tour in a sold out Staples Center and David Crowder*Band “7 Tour” (featuring John Mark McMillan, Gungor, and Chris August) were some of the best I’ve been to. Rocking out to Jesus and being alive in this world is priceless.
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  4. Last ministry successes
     
    Despite some major setbacks, I was able to pull-through in a few ministries from my last church. These would be the youth worship team and the senior high school fellowship. All things considered, both were successes because we finished the school year and came out on a high note. We all grew and I’m proud of everyone involved.
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  5. Go-Karting at a bachelor party

    My friend Garth was getting hitched and to celebrate his last days as a single dude, we went golfing and go-karting. Since some of us suck at the first one (including me), it was a total BLAST for the go-karting. In mid-May, if you found a bunch of grown men in their late 20s or 30s bouncing around the race tracks and screaming like schoolboys having the time of their lives, see if any of these guys in the picture look familiar. It was probably us.
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  6. Canyoneering in Utah

    Two year ago, a couple buddies and I scaled Half-Dome and much of Yosemite to take in some spectacular sights and fun climbing. We felt it was time to take another trip of that sort and we weren’t disappointed. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then be prepared to have your mind blown from what to say from these sights we saw.
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  7. Catching up with old friends

    As the years go by, it becomes pretty tough to keep in touch with friends you made in college and before that (unless they are in some way part of your daily or weekly living). But with a little initiative and some good timing, I caught up with several people I haven’t seen in years. I think the thing that gets me every time is how much we’ve changed and yet, how easily to reconnect if we try just a little bit. I’m grateful for friends to walk through this crazy journey.
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  8. Surviving ALL of  ”Insanity” without losing my mind

    Yes, I actually did ALL 60 days of this madness. No shortcuts. All hard work and determination. Someday, I will make a post of some of my personal advice and key ways to get through it. But for now, here’s to good health, ’cause that’s something we have to look out for as long as we’re alive.
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  9. Weddings

    More years passing means more people getting married. Simply math (not really). I lost track of the exact number, but I think it was five or more for this year. In addition to DJing for Garth’s wedding, I also had a chance to attend my vineyard wedding in the beautiful town of Saratoga. Fine wine and some great dining with my college fellowship buddies made for a very pleasant celebration of my friend Jen.
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  10. Music

    I’m a worship leader and aspiring artist. I really think that any good thing that comes out of music for me is proof that God’s hand is on it, not because Albert is talented. I wanna serve the local church and help people see the Jesus behind the sounds. Whether it involved playing songs in different gatherings and getting a chance to lead people to His throne monthly, it’s only too gratifying to have a part in it. Songwriting is so soul-soothing too. Just keeping at it like it’s a devotional.
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  11. Laker game on the last day of 2011
     
    Check this. I get a message at 1:21AM this morning from an ol’ floormate friend of mine from college. We haven’t made contact for at least 8 years, but she has an extra ticket to the Laker game today and asked if I can go. Um, no freaking way. Oh. Heck. Yes. Many hours of catching up over a closely contested game and I am seriously loving the spontaneity of it all. Thank Lyn for perhaps the best surprise I ever had on the last day of a year.
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Whew, that’s it.

Peace out, 2011.
Bring it, 2012.

Taiwan, Kaboom, & Spirit

April 4, 2011 in Culture, Family with 1 Comment

I’ve recently came back from a family trip to Taiwan.  It came at the right time.

After getting through a busy season at work, coming off a cold that nearly left me voiceless in leading worship, and sorting out the rest of my to-do list during my functional hours, I could sure get away.  My mother, somehow in a prophetic sort of way, booked a trip to Taiwan for my sister and me just a few months ago and asked us to block out that time.  She doesn’t yet believe in Jesus, but I could almost promise she knows me as well as he does.  I laugh when I think about it. What could I say? Our Father is quite humorous.

Took a decent amount of pictures and did lots of walking (better yet, more busing) and found a couple noteworthy things:

  1. Food was incredibly fresh and ultra-reasonable in price.  On our second night in Taipei, my family of three (dad stayed home to man the houses) ate various oyster egg dishes, rice cakes, veggies, etc…all  for $7 total. Kaboom.
  2. Where it’s crowded (like Taipei), it’s really crowded. And where it’s open landscape to roam, there it is (i.e. Nantou Country).   I know…deep.
  3. Sun Moon Lake cannot be missed. Neither are the mountains of Hualien County.
  4. Convenience stores are everywhere. 7-Elevens is like the Starbucks of Taiwan.
  5. Drive at your own risk.  And this is coming from a pedestrians’ vantage point.
  6. Really safe. Never once felt at risk to crime or gangsters.
  7. Cathay Pacific Airways is probably among the best for international travel. Great service from start to finish.

The top highlights, though, were visiting my mom’s side of the family. It was my first time seeing their homes and learning more of their stories. I couldn’t understand the language, but I feel the presence of their home that welcomes me in.

It’s been said that you can’t really, truly appreciate people until you see where they come from.

Looked through photos of my grandfather who died when I was three. Tasted their fresh fruit in the nearby market. Sat in the empty bedrooms of uncles and aunts. Walked along the streets of my mom’s childhood, realizing how faithful God has been.

I left touched, humbled, and honored to be part of this family. My spirit was filled.

Take a vacation. Don’t be afraid to look back a bit and see who has come before you.
It’s better that way.

Thought Snapshots Over Two Months

December 23, 2010 in Being Real, Deep Stuff, Family with 0 Comments

So…to your right, was today exactly two months ago.

I wrote a blog post the night before heading to the hospital, explaining why I would be rolling out four hours later with my mom smiling at the camera next to me. (From the looks of things, I might as well be the bed.)

I think enough time has passed and things are back to normal so I can share my experience. I like things in lists because it’s easier and more fun to produce, so here are my “thought snapshots” below:

  • Surgery department of Kaiser Permanente on Sunset Blvd. in LA is quite the business at 5:00am.  People going in, out, and moving everywhere.
  • I tried being very open and friendly with the entire staff, and they returned the favor happily. It’s TRUE that you gain respect from others by simply giving it to them.
  • I was wheeled in through the hallways with my family saying goodbye at the doors.  The last set of doors at the end took me right into the center of the operating room (OR), where I was facing the whole white-coated team of doctors.  Was I in a movie?
  • Next moment, I was in the recovery room.  I really had no idea what happened. My insides felt dry.  Like someone took a dry sock and ran it through my throat and out my mouth.
  • My head felt big and heavy, but there was no pain.  I was literally a big egg-shaped balloon, complete with slits for my eyes, nose, and mouth.  I think I was hideous.  When my family came, they smiled at me.  I smiled back, but I wondered if they were told to do that.
  • I was kept overnight for observation and every hour felt like a year.  Most disconcerting was finding out I couldn’t sip anything. I had to be fed with a syringe.  Wow.
  • Piece of advice: when you’re being driven home after surgery, try to arrange for a steady car.  Not your grandfather’s four-wheel F-150 pickup truck.  Trust me on this one.
  • Ensures, soups, apple juice, teeth-brushing.  Rinse and repeat three times a day, for five weeks.

Needless to say, it was definitely an experience.
How are things now? I’m mostly back to normal with a little swelling left.  Bite is good and braces should be off in a few months. Whoopee!

The biggest thing God showed me through it all was His love through family. I can’t remember a time I needed more support than now…and they gave me more than I could receive from anyone.  When I was stuck in bed, they would offer to move right next to me.  Never had that happen.  Among countless other things, all the gifts and thank-yous in the world wouldn’t do justice how they helped me.  God, thanks for my parents and sister. Incredible. Amazing.

Also, I can’t forget friends who offered soups, Jamba Juice, and other drinks to break from the routine.  My gratitude to them.

A few more months to go when the braces come off.

I.
Can’t.
Wait.

Happy Thanksgiving!

November 25, 2010 in Culture, Deep Stuff, Family with 0 Comments

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

shrek balloon

I’m heading to Universal City with my family and other families from my father’s side.  We thought we

would break tradition a little and try some food at the Hilton this year.  But no matter where we go, we want to connect and be thankful. I hope you’ve had a chance to connect with your family too.

Here are a few things I am thankful for:

  1. Recovering well from my jaw surgery that was five weeks ago. Could eat now!
  2. Friends who stuck with me for years now, keeping me accountable and praying for me.
  3. A house I own that is slowly becoming a home.
  4. My family’s constant encouragement through tough times.
  5. Music that I can listen and use to help serve the Church.
  6. Books.  Learning to love reading again.
  7. In-N-Out Burger (Had to throw in a shallow one)

How about you?  What are you thankful for this year?

One Month Later…

August 30, 2010 in Being Real, Family with 2 Comments

Role Reversal
Photo by Schmeegan

…I’m back to blogging.

It’s funny how when you’re living out a story that becomes so encompassing that you find yourself  at a loss of words when you try to write it out.  That’s kinda me right now. I’ll try though over the next few days.

But for now, I’ll share this one interesting bit:

This morning, I dropped my father off to his class in the early morning before going to work.

Wow.  That was a change from 12 years ago.

What’s one thing you’ve done that was like a role-reversal experience for you?

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