In memory of...

Attended another funeral today.... "Memorial Service", some call it.  Or better yet... "Celebration of Life."

This time, I had the honor of being a pallbearer.  I did not know the deceased well.  And as far as male grandchildren, they only had four, and needed 2 more.  I guess when it comes down to spiritual children, I am one of the eldest in the Louie family. 

Man....that casket is actually pretty heavy!!!  Carrying it while wearing a glove... I was afraid it'll slip.  No no no.... can't let that happen.

Attending a funeral really makes one think.  About my parents, who will eventually have their funerals.  Who will be their pall bearers. About my own funeral.  Who will be my pallbearers? And the fact that I will request people not only wear black, but Orange and Black (Giants) or Red and Gold (Niners).

Rest In Piece, 冰姐.  Your legacy will live on forever.  Until we meet again.....

That indescribable feeling...

Every now and then... you somehow find yourself in a group of people.. a team, where it just clicks.  The people there work at your speed...and (hopefully) you work at theirs.  Everyone has the same goal.  Everyone has the same passion.  And when it works out.... Man.... that's a great feeling!!

Looking back @ "ARROWS - Let's Proclaim" - Part 2

A few people have come up to me complimenting me on a job well done with the gentleboys.  But this one is a pleasant surprise.

A brother told me that he was late for service that day, missed the introduction of me being the instructor and arrived just in time to see the boys give their speeches.  While listening to the boys, he thought, "This is probably what Henry was like when he was this age."

Later on... he found out that I was the one who taught them on how to make a speech..  How about that.........

Kids say the darndest thing...

(In commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King's assassination.  He may be gone but his spirit lives on forever....)

小華: 媽媽! 要多謝 MLK! 如果無佢你同爸B就結唔到婚。
媽媽: 點解啊?
小華: 爸B黑囉!

16PF

I recently found out...that "16PF" or "16 Personality Factors" is the only personality test that is recognized by the Court of Law.  So what do I do??? I go and take that test.  What else do I do? I asked my 3 best friends to rate me.My rating is in orange.  They're in blue.

Conclusions:

• They don't know me very well - Obviously!!
• I'm a right handed / right minded kinda guy? Maybe?
• My best (girl) friend says - "You have a warped sense of yourself" - Hmmmm....
• Some of these were really debatable...and could change when put into a different context

The best part about this test... I asked Joyce to take it.  But I dare not share the results on the internet. No no no..... that would be suicide. 

Gawd I'm cheap......

Back to back days.... I circled for an additional half hour to find street parking.  Or parking where I didn't have to pay for meters.  Both times... Joyce wasn't in the car.  She would've made me paid.  One time... I ended up making the kids walk two long city blocks in the San Francisco wind!!

But hey!!! I saved $7 one time.  And I probably saved $2 the second time.  That's hard earned money!

Looking back @ "ARROWS - Let's Proclaim"

Starting back in November of 2017.... I started preparing for what became of "Let's Proclaim" - an 8 week course on public speaking.  Within days of preparing for this class.... I realized that this wasn't so much about public speaking, but about getting the 4th and 5th graders to write a testimony.  

Remembering back when I was in 4th grade, my faith was so strong, that I wanted to be a priest when I grow up.  My biggest worry, was these young men (gentleboys, as I called them) are still so pure and untainted, that they will regurgitate exactly what Sunday School has been feeding the over the years.

Case in point.... I chose the topic "Who Created the Universe?" for their speech.

And as expected, one of the kids who grew up in church, goes to a private Christian school, went to all the Sunday Schools, Vacation Bible Schools, Kids Prayer Club etc.... gave the modal answer.  "God created us out of his own image, so that we can glorify him by offering ourselves as living sacrifices."  Wow.... great answer.  

Then I pushed him.  Give me an answer that's not from the bible.  He couldn't do it.  His mind isn't developed enough to critically think about these "tough topics."  

On the other hand.... there was a kid who went to public school all his life.  He's new to our church and his only exposure to God, is through the 1 hour of Sunday School the past couple of years.  When I asked him "Who Created the Universe?" His answer was, "God!! Only God can do it.  Cuz he's all powerful!! No one else can do it!!" I looked into his eyes... and he was so convinced, so convicted, so sure of this answer, that it really exemplifies the term "child-like faith." Not having the same biblical education as the other kids... this kid turned out to have the strongest faith (in the heart, not in the mind).  

Lastly.... on the last night of class, I handed them each a tie.  Signifying their passage from boy to man.  From gentleboys, to gentlemen. I also apologized for being so strict with them.  To which they said, "Oh no... you're not that strict.  We've had worse."

WHAT?!?!?!? SOMEONE MORE STRICT THAT MEN!?!?!? WHO!!?!?!?!?!?I GOTTA MEET THIS GUY!!!!

Another chapter closes.  Until next year....

5 Languages of Love

Recently had a discussion on the "5 Languages of Love."  Upon reflection (and agreed to by my wife), I don't necessarily need any of the 5 languages.

1. I'm not big on gifts.  
2. I don't need touch. 
3. I am so overconfident, you can't say any more words of affirmation
4. I already maximize every second of my day to make quality time.
5. It's my DNA to out-serve you....so you'll never win.  

But then again.... while I don't need any of the 5... I think I need all 5.

1. I'd love to open up a box and be surprised by something I'm too cheap to buy....
2. Would I complain about more sex??? C'mon...I'm a man!!!
3. My ego is never too big for you to fill up.
4. Stop.... look at me.... stare me into my soul.  And that's the best moment of my day.
5. Yeah... I actually don't mind if you can change that light bulb yourself.

And at the heart of all this... as much as I think I love my wife... I know she deserves more.  

Conspiracy Theory

After two completely separate events... I think I'm onto a conspiracy theory.  There is a very popular app gives the "shortest" route from Point A to Point B. Without naming that app.... it is my belief, that app actually leads drivers onto side streets and detours to ease up traffic on the main routes.  I can't be 100% sure... and I wouldn't even know how to start testing this theory.

The Game of Life

We started playing The Game of Life with the kids... and it really reflects that Life, is sometimes, a Game.  And you're a victim of the roll of the dice - or in this case - the spin of the dice.

Case in point - I can go through the entire game and have the most amount of money, but I'll still feel like I lost, if I don't have children.  Conversely, I can go bankrupt, but as long as I have kids... I don't care how much money I have.

Nui-nui is very sensitive.  Earlier this evening, when she rolled the dice (spun the dice) and past her last chance to have a child - she started to cry.  I know that feeling FAR TOO well.  Siu-Wah was so nice.  He said he'll give 家姐 one of his kids.  Game, huh? Too real... sometimes, it really hits home. 

Prayer Meeting

PAL gave me the opportunity to lead CS prayer meeting tonight. Man!! It's hard. The prep work...the song selection... the slides.  Going through Alliance Newsletters and current events to look for stuff to pray for.  You either gotta love it... or have the passion for it... or you're darn obedient to want to do this day in and day out.  Not me.  Nope.  No thanks.  Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-men!