The Dream To Change The World

It was the darkest moment of my life. 

Famous Kuta Beach, Bali.

A party was going on in my hotel. Wild hearts seeking each other. It was not disgusting that I chose to leave. It was too sad to be in party.

Then I walked outside along the Kuta Beach. Stars were bright. Fireworks celebrated with carnival people in the heart of Bali. I was alone.

Thinking of my Mom who died a few hours ago in HK, tears and emotion ran wild. Tears shed at poolside, in lounge, on the beach. Ten feet waves kept me from surfing. But I was left drowned in the waves of sadness of the loss of a great loving Mom. 


Looking back, still now I ask God, "Where are you in my darkest day?" That is my September.

The same September, the world experienced its darkest moment. 

A pair of suicide bombers from Taliban killed 81 people outside a church in Pakistan on Sept 23. Just two days ago in Kenya, Islamist gunmen attacked the Westgate Mall and killed more than 70 and wounded hundreds. Before killing, gunmen ordered the Muslims to leave before targeting all others. 

Those were the darkest days the world would face. The darkest for those who have been praying for the Muslims world and that Muslims could come to Christ. 

I have some Muslims friends in Canada. They are very respectful people treasuring some very good human values and their ways of honoring their God would make us shameful. I am among millions who pray for the Muslims to know Christ is their only way to salvation. We pray that Jesus would appear to them in dreams, visions and make their ways easier. But in the same September, one couldn't help but ask, "God, where are you among the Muslims? Did you hear our prayers?" 

But God never silence. 

Bali. I went there to learn surfing. God surprised me with sad, and with good news.

I was sitting at poolside and chatting with my surf coach Ion. Courtesy talks became exchange of emotions when I talked of my dead Mom and he talked of his dead Dad. He opened more himself. Once he knew I was a pastor, a "priest," he said, "I am a Muslim." "Good, I have Muslim friends as well," I said. Then he became serious and puzzled and asked me, "I had a very strange dream. It was years back. I tried to ask my friends about the meaning. They all think I was crazy..." Then he started to tell his dream...

Marcus in Arabic

In his dream, he saw Isa (Jesus in Koran) was carried on a wooden cart by someone. Jesus died and there was blood everywhere over his body. Women walked alongside and were crying. 

When Ion saw him in his dream, he felt very sad for Jesus, touched and cried...(Muslims do not believe Jesus was really crucified. It was somebody else on the cross. This scene was probably Jesus being taken down from the cross --I interpreted.)

Another scene. He was led to a well. Up above the well, there was a very strong and bright Light. He looked down the well and found names of rabbis. All the names in Bible and Koran: Abraham, Isaac, Moses, Joseph...the names that are familiar to Muslims. All the names were drawn spirally downward into deep darkness. He was scared of what happened and asked, "Where is prophet Muhammad and Isa (Jesus)?" 

He could not see their names there in the well. He looked up to the Light above and asked, "Where is prophet Muhammad? Where is Isa?"  The Light answered him, "You just follow Jesus!"

(We know there is no other names, apart from Jesus, we could be saved. That is Acts 4:12. We know who is the Light. To Muslims, Prophet Muhammad is like Moses to the Jews. It took God, the Light, himself to appear to the Jewish disciples to tell them to listen to only Jesus, God's beloved son, not Moses or Elijah. That's the transfiguration story of Jesus.)

But my friend didn't know this. I was so excited while listening to his story. Ion wanted to know what was the meaning. I promised him that I would pray for 3 days and tell him my understanding of the dream. But one thing I surely know, Jesus appeared in his dream and wanted this Muslim to follow him. Him only.  

If you are the ones who earnestly pray for Somalia(99% are Muslims), Pakistan(96%), Morocco(99%), Yemen(99%)..., we should never stop praying and stop believing.  Because God them heard all and is answering. Something strange and wonderful is happening. Jesus appears in dreams and visions of the Muslims and point them to himself. 

God never silence.  "He will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth...the islands will put their hope”(Isaiah 42:4).  Even in the darkest days.

It is His dream to bring all peoples like the Muslims to his salvation. It is God's dream to save people from all tribes, all languages, all nations to worship the Lamb.  It is his dream to make the world anew, when heaven is, one day, brought down on earth.    

The World Better If You Live These

Do we believe? Are we participating? Is His dream my dream?

The day I left Bali. A young driver of the hotel drove me to the airport. He was a Hindu. We talked. He talked about lives in Bali, that things are very expensive to the locals. He and his newly-wed wife have to work to meet all the expenses. He talked about they as the Hindu are religious and are poor. I asked him of his monthly salary. He said, "1 million rupiah"(CAD$90). 


When he talked of his baby boy, he was glad and very contented and said, "Now that I have my son..." I was so moved by these words. I am a father. I have 3 sons. Suddenly I made up my mind... when getting off, I gave him some money, large sum in term of his salary.  He was shocked. "It's my gift for your son!"

One week after I was back from Bali, I suddenly received an unexpected email. This Hindu driver got my address from the front desk and emailed me a picture of his family, his wife and his baby boy. He thanked me for the gift and my kindness. This I didn't expect. 

I didn't evangelize him. I didn't talk with him about Jesus - his English is not good. I just felt sorry for the poverty and followed my heart. But I think that day Jesus appeared to him in a unique way - through a Kingdom agent.(Mat 5:16). And I think that day the King appeared to me in a unique way as well - through a little one (Mat 25:40). 

The world is full of hatred and injustice, poverty and indifference. But God never silence.

It is His dream to make the world anew. It is His ruling grace to bring healing, justice, mercy. His will be done in the perfect new world ahead. But here and now Jesus is doing this: to bring healing, justice, mercy, through his followers, his Kingdom agents. And change the world. In its darkest days.

Do we live with dream? Do we embrace God's dream to change the world? 

Dear friends, Give like you have plenty... Dream like you believe in miracles. 

Live life like it's Heaven on Earth... 

And participate in it.

Catching Kenting 03:24

What Would Jesus Do at 03:24 in Kenting?

Never thought much of it before. At 03:24 Kenting, I used to be sleeping and dreaming about surfing.

But this time,at 03:24, in Kenting, it is not about catching waves.

It is about catching the moment of serving Jesus in the middle of the night.

It is about seeing Him in a most unlikely place, unlikely time, in the midst of a most unlikely group.

That was last night of our family surfing vacation in Kenting. Afei, the owner of the surf hotel, invited me to his BBQ party at midnight. Yes I mean 12:00am. And I know it means beers and alcohol. After all, you are in Taiwan. I can drink but I don't like their way of drinking. I drink not to get drunken. So I waited for him from 11:30pm and found no signs of anyone in the lobby. I was glad the party must be cancelled and I could join my kids for sleeping.

At 1:15 am, Afei woke me up and I climbed down carefully from my upper bunk bed. Wow. There a dozen young people sat in circle. They talked. They smoked. They drank. And of course laughed. One guy was drunk all the way that I didn't even see his face.

We introduced ourselves. In fact it was Afei introduced me. "He is Marcus from Vancouver. A pastor, but he is different. He's been here a few times. He is our community." You should have seen all the funny expressions - mouths wide open unbelievably saying, "Oops, p-a-s-t-o-r!" It was the best way to destroy the party atmosphere.

A pastor. Who needs a pastor in party?

I thought that must be the end of the night for any meaningful spiritual talks. They must be cautious now.

I tried to relax. Tried to feel what Jesus felt when he was partying with the sinners and tax-collectors.

I felt peace. I didn't push any talks but refused to hide myself. Tried to listen and tried to understand them. tried to exchange talks of surfing in Canada. Not much deep talks and could hardly expected one.

I remembered earlier during daytime. When I looked at these familiar faces, I kind of talked to God, "How can I share with them about you when they only tell jokes and smoke?"

For the following 2 hours, we had some BBQ pork. But the main dish was spirits, various kinds: whiskey, Korean wine, beers. I was given all of them. I drank some. I was not drunken but not far.

At 3:00 am, A Korean guest who contributed the Korean wines came sitting next to me. We had some casual talks. And I talked to him about a movie,Chasing the Mavericks, that me and my kids recently watched together. I recommended him this movie because it was about pursuing one dream with passion... he sighed deeply and got touched somehow?!
When he knew that I watched this movie with my kids, he was impressed. he was even impressed when he knew I was hoping my kids to learn the spirit of the movie: put everything you have to pursue your dream but at the same time observe the limit. If you push the limit, the limit sometimes will put you back! My friend seemed to deeply appreciate what I did as a father to his kids. And he said, "Yours kids should be proud of you."

Then I told him what I had just told my kids days ago: "I feel so proud of you kids just as you are so proud of your Dad!" My Korean friend was moved again. I think he must have a hole somewhere. Some sadness.
  He told me how he was attracted by our family on the beach in the morning. How he was very impressed by my wife being so concerned and caring for their kids and husband on the beach! How happy and harmonious our family was!

Then I told him that If it was not because of Jesus, he wouldn't see such a family. Because these kids would never exist. This couple should long go separate way because of my unfaithfulness. Then I told him my story and how Jesus turned my life around and changed me and changed my wife. Happy family, happy kids, loving relationships, all these are froam Jesus. Having Jesus. Having all things.

I told him about the prodigal son in the Bible. I was this lost son but responded to His voice of coming home.

And I lifted my Quiksilver surf watch. It was 03:24 in the morning.

And I said, "I know God is calling you home as well. Why? You see. It is now 03:24. I had been here in the surf hotel for 5 times before. Every time at this time, I was only sleeping. But this time, here I am, at this time, to talk with you my story. I know that God woke me up to call you home..."

The moment seemed to stop. The Spirit moved. Heavenly father was calling a son home that night.  He felt it...

After awhile, I crawled back up my bed and slept again. Because of the beer, I got up every hour, before we all woke up at 6:45 am to get ready for the last surf.

 I was happy to see Jesus' presence in a wayward group in the wayward Kenting.

It didn't mean to prove Jesus loves hanging out and drinking.

It proves He loves the hangout guys, the drinkers, the smokers...and seeks the lost.

I was not particularly proud of myself of being "special" as a drinking and partying pastor (only sometime).

But I am proud of my God who goes beyond the appearances and sees the hearts and motives.

Kenting 03:24 is about catching the Spirit moment and how we follow accordingly.
Kenting 03:24 is about your presence as Jesus' agents in the world, his light into the darkness.
Kenting 03:24 is about we dedicate our lives, I mean whole lives - not sunday, not a few bucks, not a few Christian jargon, but your whole being, to Jesus.

I play. I go vacation. I drink. I surf. I preach. I sleep. I work. I give. I take... Do we all do if for the glory of God?
My work. My family. My closet. My drawer. My bank account. My sexuality. My everything I surrender to Lord Jesus.

Then your Kenting 03:24 will come.
Then you will catch God's moment.

But In Kenting, if you happened with Afei, you may catch some good waves as well.

Chariots of Fire

Prayer. So much to say, so much to learn.

I love to think of it as sitting down next to my Lord wanting to hear him. Sweet private privilege!

I love to think of it as a lifestyle more than a work list (an easy trap for church planters), what I want more than what I need.

But surely there's a need to pray to work things out. It works. Amazingly quick, sometimes.

Last summer, in a beautiful late afternoon, my wife Aden and I set out to pray walk our neighborhood. After walking and praying for 30 minutes, we reached no.1 road and saw a man riding his bike along the road. A bus flew by his side and bumped him just slightly and he was knocked down instantly. His arm was cut deep and muscle torn. Since it happened 10 metres before our bare eyes, and nobody else there, we comforted him, volunteered to be witness while awaiting the ambulance.

I believed he was saved by God through our prayer 30 seconds before that happened!

I was praying, "Lord ... may you protect our neighbors, help them and rescue them from all dangers ..." Then the accident happened. It surely would cause his life if the bus did a little more than a slight touch. God saved him! But is he our neighbor? I never met such a person in our community. A bit rugged and broke. A smell of alcohol here and there. But when we later talked on phone, both of us were amazed to learn we live in the same street, in the same townhouses complex.

We were there at the right place, at the right time, made a right prayer and God responded and reached out to rescue him all right away!

There are too much mysteries with prayers to God. It works in amazing ways that I know little of.

However I admit our prayers don't always happen like that. For most of the time, we pray in the dark and after prayers, still in the dark. So persistently we pray - fighting, struggling and continuing, even though nothing seems to happen. "Nothing changes" seems to be the only reality.

What could we say of our life being a local missionary and church planting couple?  Fatigued, lonely, confused. Lots of time.

It takes lots of effort and plenty of time and prayers for cultivating a field(heart) for the gospel. Lots of trial and error until  one or two germinates. Still growing a life to Christ and seeing life transformation surely don't come at eye's brink. It's a lon.................g, slo.....................w process.

Despair, hopelessness, discouragement and all kind of negative feeling set in and out our minds and hearts all too easy. Still we persist and we pray. Nothing happens. Nothing changes. And we lose hearts and wonder if our prayers would matter.

But Jesus is very gracious and wonderful. Once a while he chooses to show up instantly and cheer up the downcast spirits.  He reaffirms us: things are happening when you pray even though you don't see it!

We are now holding a Bible study group for non-Christian school parents at one of their homes weekly. Jesus presence is sweet and obvious there. Two instances show how instantly he answers our prayers:

At the beginning of the meeting, Susan shared a very strange touching moment a few days ago while at her car. She felt a sudden but strong need for relationship deep down her heart. She never had that kind of emotion before and it touched her. I told her just about the same days around, I had prayed for her. I sensed her lonliness and longing for relationship in prayer. I prayed that God would touch her heart and fill her with his love and touch. Apparently she instantly experienced that longing and that touching from our Father. She thought that was amazing!

Angela attended our group for the first time that day. When hearing these almost unbelievable touch and answer of prayers from God, she asked if those were that real. So my wife told her a story about her, Angela...

A few days ago, Aden had invited her to this Bible Study group and her answer was positive. On Saturday we thought we might need to call her to reconfirm. We decided that calling her would be a bit blunt and too artificial to her that she might turn down. So we prayed that night that God would provide a chance for meeting her and her boy next day in the park. While kids played together, we then reminded her. But the next day, it was raining. So no park day. And we went out for lunch forgetting about the invitation. On our way back home, Aden's phone rang. It was Angela call. She made some bakery for us and she now called us to meet her to get the buns. WOW. So we met her, reconfirmed her coming! 

God prompted her to call us. He doesn't need our planning. He doesn't need the sun & rain to co-operate. He only needs us to pray. Then he opens our eyes and makes us see a reality: things are happening at the time you pray.

As for Angela, she responded, "It sounds so miraclous" - from the mouth of a non-believer.

Last week, when we met and sang the song "Abba Father" together, they all (non-christians there) noticed that Angela had tears in eyes while singing.

Jesus is so amazing and sweet. He is almightily powerful...to hear our prayers and to make things happen right away but not necessarily at our sight. 

Don't lose hearts. Keep praying. Keep believing.