Interests:I love Jesus yes I do! I love Jesus how 'bout you? Ummm...I go to Fremont First Assembly and the Oakland A's rock! So do the San Jose Sharks! But, most importantly, GOD rocks!!!
Wow....haven't really updated Xanga in forever. Not too much has been going on, just the usual stuff.
I guess I'll use the platform to push the AACF Reunion event that's taking place on April 25, 2009. It's going to be a night of celebrating what God has done over 25 years of ministry at SJSU through AACF. It'd be real awesome to see you all out there!
If you plan on going to the reunion, please make sure you send in your payment ($40/person) and send in your completed registration form. You can get this form by going to:
Last week, our beloved Mrs. Lula Baird went home to Jesus. While she is no longer with us, her legacy and life will live on. Mrs. Baird recently celebrated her 100th birthday earlier this month. My family and I were honored to attend her 100th birthday party before Thanksgiving. We filled up the Peonie Restaurant in Oakland and it was a wonderful night of seeing the fruits of Mrs. Baird's work for the Lord and celebrating her countless years of ministry to the Chinese. She has meant so much to so many people and personally, I wouldn't be where I'm at today without her.
As I reminisce on my memories of Mrs. Baird, here are the thoughts that immediately pop into my mind:
My mom and dad met through the churches that Mrs. Baird planted in Northern California (MOM: Stockton, DAD: Oakland)
Mrs. Baird knew how to speak Cantonese....fluently. When she came by to visit my old church, she would tell the translator to take a seat and she would preach in Cantonese. Mrs. Baird could run circles around me with her Cantonese and probably spoke even better Cantonese than my dad these days....haha.
While growing up, my family would occasionally have lunches with Mrs. Baird. When I was young, like 5 or 6 years old, I would always call Mrs. Baird, "Mrs. Bear".
Mrs. Baird prayed for me when I gave my life to Christ and when I was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Mrs. Baird baptized me at my old church.
When my grandfather passed away and I went to camp that same day, Mrs. Baird was the first person who took me aside and personally prayed for me and my family.
Mrs. Baird hid the Word of God in her heart. When my dad and brother went to visit her recently, she would quote verses without opening up her Bible. She advised my dad on some verses that he could use when he spoke recently, and my dad said it fit perfectly.
When my mom got sick, Mrs. Baird came out to Hayward, all the way from her home in the Central Valley, and visited my mom in the hospital, the day before my mom passed away. What made this time even more memorable was when she was talking to my Paw Paw in Cantonese. My cousins, who were there, were amazed that this 98-year old white lady was speaking Chinese and communicating with my Paw Paw. But, the best part of this story was immediately afterwards, when I walked with Mrs. Baird to her car. I told Mrs. Baird that my Paw Paw had accepted Christ into her life the year before and was baptized. Mrs. Baird rejoiced and told me of how my Paw Paw would become so angry with her when she came to pick up my mom for church when my mom was younger. My Paw Paw would chase Mrs. Baird out of the house. But on that day, Mrs. Baird prayed for my Paw Paw, comforted her and spoke encouragement to our family. It really was a testimony of how God can touch someone's heart, like my Paw Paw, and move in their lives years later.
Mrs. Baird was an amazing women of God. I've never seen anyone like her and, like I mentioned, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her work. I know that my parents had some great stories about spending time with her. Some stories were powerful and taught me about how God can move in powerful ways through willing individuals. But, other stories made you laugh and laugh. One such story that my mom and dad shared with me was when Mrs. Baird would pick them up for church in the morning and she would have a doughnut in one hand, a cup of coffee in the other hand and she'd be cruising down the freeway driving with her elbows. I'm glad that my mom and dad were able to develop such an awesome relationship with Mrs. Baird and could look to her as a mentor with their walk with Christ.
Words cannot express how much Mrs. Baird has meant to me and my family. While we mourn her passing here on earth, we rejoice in the fact that she's in heaven, at the feet of Jesus. Thank you Mrs. Baird for your heart for Jesus and for your heart for the Chinese. I am so thankful and privileged to have called you friend and, most importantly, FAMILY.
So, I just picked up my brother from SFO. Where was he coming from, you ask? Well, he got stranded in SF when he missed the last train to the East Bay. So, him and his friends took the train to SFO where I picked them up and brought them home. Hahahaha...I almost made the same mistake earlier in the year when I was hanging out in SF, but luckily, I caught the next to last train to the East Bay and didn't have to bury my head in shame like Caleb did tonight....haha.
A friend from SJSU (thanks Jen!) posted up some pictures from our days at Royce Hall. Man, that brought back some great memories! Other than getting a degree, which was a miracle in itself, college was definitely an awesome time because of the people I met. I especially enjoyed my time at Royce, as the people on our floor were awesome. I remember we used to even have a website for the our floor. SJSU was awesome....I wouldn't trade my experiences for anything....
Finally, I find it cool when crowds sing their nation's anthem without any musical accompionment. Caleb thinks this always sound "communist-ish", but I think it sounds cool. When the Sharks played Edmonton in the playoffs a few years ago, I noticed that the anthem singer got things started but let the crowd do their thing. Here's a clip from an Oilers/Ducks playoff game...
It always seems like Canadians sing their anthem with so much pride and enthusiasm at hockey games. I never seem to sense the same feelings when I hear the U.S. anthem being sung at sporting events. Here's a clip from a Sharks game last year....
One of the coolest renditions of the Star Spangled Banner was done at the 1991 NHL All-Star Game:
This was sung literally days after we went to war with Iraq in 1991 with President Bush Sr. in office. Interesting to see how people's opinion of the Iraq war from when it started to today. I won't go into my thoughts on this, but its just interesting how things have changed in the last 15-20 years.
Oh CalTrans...you've managed to do it again. You're turned my nice 30-40 minute commute home into a nice, leisurely 60-75 minute drive. I'd be better off living in the South Bay. I guess that's what happens when they make four lanes go into two lanes. I may have found a way around, but we'll have to see how long that lasts. I think it'll eventually be a good fix but for now, the repercussions have not been good, especially when traffic starts half way on the flat section of the San Mateo Bridge...
Here's an awesome video from "The Office". Funny that I found it on GodTube.com, but it's all good...
Congrats to Igor Larionov! On Monday night, he will be the first player to ever don teal and white to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Igor Larionov helped put San Jose on the hockey map. He came to San Jose in the 1993-1994 season and if you're a long-time supporter of the Sharks, you know that the '93-'94 season was a magical season in San Jose. Coming off a 71-loss season, the Sharks started off the '93-'94 season with an 0-8-1 record.
But, led by the leadership of Larionov, fellow linemate Sergei Makarov and goaltender Arturs Irbe, the Sharks made an improbable run to the playoffs and knocked off the best team in the NHL, the Detroit Red Wings, in a thrilling 7-game series with Jamie Baker scoring the game winner. In fact, the Sharks were one goal post away from advancing to the Western Conference Finals that year. For me as a Sharks fan since their expansion year and Cow Palace days, this was an amazing turn of event. And, a big part of the Sharks incredible turn-around was Igor Larionov.
Larionov was not the flashiest player in the league, but he made up for it in heart. He knew how to lead a team. He knew how to make plays. He wouldn't score 50 goals for you, but he had eyes on the back of his head. He was a magician on the ice and he could put the puck on your stick from anywhere. Larionov teamed with Makarov, Johan Garpenlov, Sandis Ozolinsh and Jeff Norton to form the most dangerous and productive tandem for the Sharks.
I'm absolutely thrilled for Igor. He went on to win three Stanley Cup rings with the Red Wings. But, he helped make the Sharks relevant and I know that other Sharks fans from the beginning are absolutely thrilled that Igor is receiving this recognition.
