kiwi_boi's Xanga

takeflightblog.wordpress.com

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 23:04:11 GMT

here is a new blog that will consist more of the direction of takeflight and the thought process behind all the ideas and products. I guess we can say, im moving there.

http://www.takeflightblog.wordpress.com/

chips and chocolate chips for breakfast

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:53:16 GMT

To me,
it seems that things are falling apart.
just when you thought things were bad enough, more is to come, all around the same time, its as if someone is saying: how much more can you take? lets see how you take this one, and this one too. lets see how you can stand, or can you stand?
but to me, things never seemed so strong to begin with.

someone once told me, or just told me today, that it is when you find yourself in the toughest storms, that you come to truly realize who you are.

And for me, it has been that way. It has also brought me to realize what im truly passionate or discontent with. It has brought me to what perhaps i am willing to die for.

what do we do when we're faced with hopelessness?
we begin to hope because theres no more hope to be lost.

what do we do when we see someone else cry?
we cry with them, because in one body, their tears or our tears.

what do we do when one of us is beaten down?
we stand up, to face and fight the beating because the one down will stand again to fight with us.

Because One is not a lonely number. One to me is plural.

and we shall be One crying out in the wilderness.

when One is multiplied by Nine, it becomes Nine
when One is multiplied by a Ten, it is Ten

Nine is not nine without One, or else it is Eight

One is not lonely, One is essential.

Every One, is important.

One needs One Another,

and One will give all of One self because One has nothing else to lose, and nothing else to give but all of One self.

I refuse to be One who is silent when we find ourselves in the wilderness.
I refuse to be One who looks upon itself, while Nine and Ten need me.

and if it costs me everything,

then i will be zero.

Because Zero,

is a Hero.

haggai 1:12-15

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 04:46:59 GMT

Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD. Then Haggai, the messenger of the LORD, spoke to the people with the LORD’s message, "I am with you, declares the LORD." And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.

"i've heard it too many times to forget it..."

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 15:40:16 GMT

glue stick sticks

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 06:34:45 GMT

i realize the world is full of sadness. well no i dont realize it, i know, its all around, the world is broken. we are broken. I'll make it a point that i usually dont like sharing sad thoughts, its not that i'm afraid to, but its just that it doesnt build anyone up, or build anything.

and just where do i begin?

family member getting laid off?
my grandpa in some serious life threatening situation?
some friends facing tough decisions, serious arguments with parents

things are just broken i guess. But then, it makes me think. I mean what really, is my place in all these things, when i see them? hear them? how do i respond, and do i respond? How do i respond when I'm feeling broken and down?

I like to sing. theres something about singing that releases those aching burdens in ur soul, when you "sing your heart out". But i guess this isnt the point of my entry, i'm really here to share my thoughts on who i believe i'm called to be in this world.

i think im called to be like glue.
i think we're called to be like glue.

and as glue holds things together, we hold each other, uplift each other, stick together.
i mean theres nothing great about glue except its function to be an adhesive.
but look what it can do when it embraces other things, holds other things. it gains form, function, purpose.

things break all the time, people break all the time. and im sure im gonna break down sometime, someday.
Dont get me wrong, i dont think the point is to be unbreakable and hard, i think the point is to realize our brokeness.

I mean this year is about to start (school year), and it already looks overwhelming, i step back from commitments only to find more commitments. Indeed we have so many choices to make in life, tough ones too.

i guess this is the part where i conclude things, but in all reality, things never really quite conclude do they? and not always so nicely either.

There is hope. there is love.

The truth of it all is, i need you, and you need me, and we need him, and he needs us, and she needs her and she needs him..etc

The other truth is that hope is in you and hope is in me
love is also in you and also in me.

and when you run dry?

i will love you,

and give you hope.

Lucky to have been where I have been, Lucky to be coming home again

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:50:03 GMT

Coming home has been quite an interesting experience so far.
I've been on 6 planes within 3 weeks, served and was served.
But i guess the reason why things feel weird being at home is the fact that i've somewhat dropped everything at home and went off for 3 weeks, 2 without internet whatsoever.
Makes me wonder what the disciples must of felt like coming home to go fishing after Jesus died.
... not exactly the same scenario but you get the idea.
New Orleans and Macau are quite different parts of the world, with quite different people, but with some common ground. There is definitely a history in both places. I'm serious when i say, i can walk into a cafe in Macau and say, its like walking back into my childhood, with the same people working the kitchen, taking orders etc.
But most of the time, im thinking about how i connect with the people there, or how i don't.
And im thinking about Justice. It's quite evident in New Orleans, i mean the injustice and justice.
But maybe not Macau, its more between people, class levels.
For these 3 weeks, Justice and Mercy have been deeply in my mind, on my heart.
And i start wondering where Jesus is in all this, in this city, or that one.
I have a feeling Macau has more casinos than it has churches, though the casinos are quite beautiful to be honest.
But i guess what im really trying to say is, ive noticed that everyone wants the same thing.
Everyone wants a sense of security, sometimes its physical, sometimes its just a feeling or knowledge of it.
Security in the form of homes, or perhaps in fame, respect.
I like security too. But sometimes or always, Justice breaks all of that, Justice demands me to risk my security.
And Mercy longs for me to be vulnerable.

Maybe thats why Joel Houston says Worship + Justice cannot be seperated, to give worth to God is to give worth to His people.

So silly enough, i decided to search for Jesus wherever i went, signs of his presence.
I saw Jesus in my uncle at times
I saw Jesus in my Grandpa as he gives freely, and when he nearly cried watching us leave.
I saw Jesus in Chinese Dramas.
and I saw lines on the airplane field that looked like a Jesus fish.

But most of all, i hope they saw a bit of Jesus in me.

God Commissions Joshua

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 05:05:11 GMT

I started reading Joshua today, where God calls Joshua and sends him out basically on a task that is beyond himself. And im thinking in my head, what's going on in Joshua's head? and then God again and again tells him to be Strong and Courageous.

I'm leaving for New Orleans in two days, sort of not sure how to feel. Scared? anxious? excited? overwhelmed?
I think im feeling how Joshua mustve felt. Theres a part of me that really doesnt want to drop the things that are happening at home, and step into a "different world". I'm feeling like Wall-e right now, looking at the sky, thinking... not sure what to think.

But then God tells Joshua, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

wherever you go, how come ive never really given that much thought? maybe ive never quite had to step out of where i am now and into another place. Sure vacations and camps are something, but this is something else.

three years have gone by and little has been done to restore what katrina destroyed.
and i'm going there to chip at the tip of an iceberg.

But thinking small never led to big changes, while our God is a God of big hopes and big plans, but he starts with small people.

I've had the priviledge of supplying two mission teams with a batch of one of the new takeflight shirts, and im honoured to be sending them out with that message painted across their chest.
LOVE FOR THE PEOPLE

that's what Christ was about, and that's where i'll start.

by the way, i recommend Wall-e.

time travel

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:36:35 GMT

well its been awhile since ive been here (http://www.freewebs.com/therags/main.html)
and most people have never been here.

This is what i wrote about ourselves about...7 years ago.

("Originally, they were just three lil kids that grew up in the same church.(NSBCMBC) It wasn't till one summer when the first practice took place. The three of them just have an interest in making music, and furthermore, to praise God using whatever level of talent God's given each of them. They started off playing songs such as simple worship songs like "Not be Shaken", " Lord I lift Your name on High" and " Heart of Worship". As time goes on, songs from the band were made and they began to write songs from inspiration. Songs like "Morning Star", " Letting Go of the World" and " Rebirth" were the first few songs. Many times, as Vince recalls, the music just comes together amazing as Larry Luk drums, Simon plays bass, and Vince sings and plays guitar. In past years, the band has been called from FAQ to Die Regenmantel and now established as THERAGS. Their first album, "AMATEUR" has been a reflection of their past years to today, the work that they've put in and the inspiration in the songs. The cd is a startling line, a first for everything, so if anything, Amateur is the most appropriate name. What is to come next is unknown, only God knows, but whatever happens, God will lead them and have the best in His purpose take place. And as of today, well.. THERAGS is still just three lil kids that go to the same church.")

i didnt intend to drop back into me and my bands past, but itunes shuffled us to the surface.
its fun sometimes, looking back at who we were, and who we are now. and were not all that different.
larry got a bit bigger, simon grew facial hair, and me? well i bought a mac.

im kidding, we've changed alot from detail to detail, but what i mean is theres something in each of us that stays quite prominent, theres something in you that says quite prominent. theres a character there.

i think its something good. whether were clumsy, carefree, stiff asses, control freaks or just rebellious, theres something in that.. that reminds us of who that person is, and of course change comes once in awhile with progress.

anyways, brotherhood goes a long way beyond music. music is just a by product.
for the record, i still write terrible songs. with overused chord progressions.

"And as of today? well ... THERAGS are still just three lil kids that go to the same church."

when people come together + me-power

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 08:31:43 GMT

when people come together...

differences are displayed,
similarities are discovered,
and sacrifices are made.

some are glued together, forever,
while others break.
still some attract
while others repel.

whatever it is, there is something about human interaction, encountering that changes, shapes and alters the course of who we are as individuals.

+

ive found myself working towards many things all in my own personal strength, confidence, and vision of late.
and its unhealthy.
i forget who created me, and brought me to where i am, where i stand.

umm

desperate people.

Thu, 22 May 2008 19:31:42 GMT

lets begin this saying that takeflight is doing great. And when i say takeflight, sometimes i mean me. Yes im doing great, but ive realized im a restless person. im never satisfied with where i am, or what im doing exactly, im simply not that great at living in the moment, living today.

im a restless soul?

let me start again. takeflight began with birthday shirts, moved on to some themes that began seeing a greater need in the world (aerialfreedommovement), that found a need to first revive itself (soulrevolution) and then found a vision of a greater future and hope to strive towards (eternity). But it realizes that the time is now, and its not about one person but its about everyone, its about collaboration, its about love with no agenda.

i dont know if restlessness is a good or bad thing, but it definitely keeps me moving, hoping, dreaming,...singing.
i mean takeflight has always had a hope of somehow donating money to a greater need, then i decided to support my buddy mario. And as steps build upon steps, i discover the more and more needs around the world.

So this July, i will be joining a group to go hands on with helping rebuild certain areas of New Orleans since Katrina.
Let me tell you that im not always the most outgoing, daring person. But thats gonna change. People change, and im glad they do, im glad that i get a chance to change.

You're wondering how much impact i can do, or just how much i can offer to a cause, and the truth is, i dont know either. But theres something about seeing first hand that begins something new in us. That when i see something there, maybe i'll see Vancouver differently. Maybe i'll begin to understand things differently.
I think you can tell im restless, but im not always.. restless. I currently find rest in two places, one in spending time with God, and the other in spending time with Jessica, even if were eating hot dogs on the street.

So im actually a starving artist now, (i havent had lunch yet either) but every shirt i sell is going towards this Missions Trip. Your support in all this has already been great, if you want to further support me, thats greatly appreciated but i dont like asking for that, i just wanted to let you see more of who i am, where im going, what im thinking. Because maybe when you see this part of me, you might see me differently. Maybe we can see things the same, and we'll start from there.

hate hates love, but
hate needs love, and
love loves hate.