Angel Island

Debbie woke me up at 7:00 AM. I collected and packed the things I would need for picnic. We left home at around 8:15 AM.

At first, I thought we would just park at the garage very close to pier 41. I heard that parking there was very expensive, but I wanted to try it anyway. The myth turned out to be true: $30 to park per day. I decided to take some time and look around for any place where we could park for free. I found that there was no such thing as free-parking around pier 39. Even the meter said that it operated every day. Luckily though, Steven spotted a big sign that said $8 parking. I went ahead, realizing that we could miss the ferry if we spent more time looking for parking.

The garage was at a junction between Mason St and Beach St. and there was the 'Safeway' sign on the top. It was a good deal. The $8 deal was good for early birds only, and that meant arriving by 9:30 AM and leaving by 6:00 PM. We qualified!

Ferry ride was nice, the view way beautiful. We took turns taking pictures with the view of Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, and the San Francisco City.

Picnic picnic

At Angel Island looking at the Bay

We arrived at Angel Island around 10:00 AM. People already lined up to get off the boat. After getting off the boat, right away people scrambled to find a good spot to lay their picnic stuff. But I had different agenda. The first place to visit was 'The Restroom'. Yeah.. and there I saw a map on the wall and a poster with some suggestions of what to do and see. Based on that, I decided to go to Camp Reynolds, where they promised a beautiful view of Golden Gate Bridge, and a nice beach.

It was a nice short hike. It took us about 20 minutes to get to the Camp Reynolds. Father and Mother said that this hike was nothing compare to the hike to Huang San they took with my sister in China.

Several times Dad praised the Lord that for the first time in 53 years, he was given the chance to experience cooking outdoor, having a picnic with a beautiful view of the bay. He also praised the food that Debbie and I prepared, even though it was only an overcooked angel hair, already dried beefballs, and meat.

The day went by very fast. It was already 1:00 PM when we finished eating. We had to catch the 3:00 PM ferry so that we could get home in time and send Debbie to the airport. Two hours of time, but no more things to do. We could hike another route leading to the ferry dock, but we were afraid of the unknown and did not want to miss Debbie's flight.

Just before we left Camp Reynolds, a ranger approached with her mini motorized vehicle. She pleaded for us to stay because she was going to shoot the canon. It turned out to be exciting especially for the kids.

Father seemed to be impressed about finding the lifestyle here, where people actually put some efforts to enjoy lives in the long weekend.

I managed to drop my parents and Steven home before going to the airport. Debbie and I had a good discussion at the airport. I found that she was a sensible woman, easy to talk to, and the conflicts that we had resolved brought the two us closer.

The day was ended with having a close-to-lavish dinner with Paul, Rini, and Fen-fen's family at Kirin Restaurant in Mountain View. I felt grateful that God had allowed my parents feel blessed, respected by a couple that loves Him very much. Father kept saying that it was easy to say nice things, to actually practice love like Ko Paul and Ci Rini was different thing.

Golden Gate Bridge from Angel Island's Camp Reynolds

San Francisco Touring

Sunday, after the church service was over, as planned, we went off to the Lion's Market and bought some fruits for Pastor Stephen.

When we arrived at the Pastor's house, we were greeted by Ci Esther expectantly. Pastor Stephen was awake and I would say that he looked fresh even though I noticed that his movement was a little bit slower. Pastor Stephen described how the surgeon openned his body and cut out almost half of his liver. It was expected to grow to its 80% overtime. The visit was a brief one as guests were coming to see the Pastor's condition.

Then afterwards, we toured the San Francisco Chinatown, hoping to fill up with a little dim sum here and there. We parked in the underground garage located somewhere near the junction of Washington St and Kearny St, right by the Chinatown.

We went into the first restaurant we encountered: Penang Garden. The menu and setting was very much like the Penang Garden at Ranch 99 market in Milpitas. Lunch was delicious.

Steven then suggested going to the Union Square. So we walked south along the Stockton St. Somewhere along the way, we stumbled upon this famous statue: Don't Listen, Don't Hear, Don't See.

DON'T SMELL

MY ARMPIT

Pretty cute statue.

Before we headed home, I took them to the Civic Center area. We were a little bit late, the museum had closed. So we took several pictures and left the place shortly after.


At the Side of the Museum.

We were still full from the lunch even at 7:00 PM. So we drove home.

Arriving back at San Jose, father hinted that he wanted to tour the De Anza College. We toured a little bit and took several cute pictures.


Picture with the De Anza's Kuyak Statue

One day has gone past, and it was already 8:30 PM when we arrived home. Still I had to go to Safeway, to prepare the food for the trip to Angel Island we were to take the next day.

Joana and Hari Wedding Day

This is it, the outcome of great team work to put together a memorable wedding. And it was a beautiful memorable wedding. The ceremony was full of tears as Hari and Joan delievered their message to their parents. Father and mother too cried.


Pics with Joan and Hari

Debbie looked really nice, she wore a black gown, she looked elegant and beautiful. Her hair was let lose, and was divided a little bit off to the right, just the way I love it. A lot of people teased me of finally being able to meet "the girlfriend I have been hiding in Los Angeles". I'd say Debbie was happy that her mission of getting recognized by more people in San Jose had been accomplished.

The wedding went well, all the participants were ready and knew when they had to perform.

Some of the candid pictures that Steven took looked funny.

pose 1

pose 2

pose 3

pose 4

Pic with the 3G (Godly Girly Girls)

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone will I glory
Though I could pride myself in battles won
For I've been blessed beyond measure
Any by His strength alone I'll overcome
Oh, I could stop and count successes like diamonds in my hands
But those trophies could not equal to the grace by which I stand

In Christ alone
I place my trust
And find my glory in the power of the cross
In every victory
Let it be said of me
My source of strength
My source of hope
Is Christ alone

In Christ alone do I glory
For only by His grace I am redeemed
For only His tender mercy
Could reach beyond my weakness to my need
And now I seek no greater honor in just to know Him more
And to count my gains but losses to the glory of my Lord

Focus on The Truth

Today English Fellowship, we had Tim Barley from Valley Bible Church, Pleasanton. He spoke about getting the right focus on life, not toward those that the world value; toward those that are the truth and everlasting, not toward those that are deceiving and temporal.

Psalms 73 definitely gives a good summary. We may become envy and dissatisfied if we do not have the right perspective, if we do not understand that our reward is not of this world, but of his kingdom when Jesus reigns.

Psalms 73

Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.

For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.

They are free from the burdens common to man;
they are not plagued by human ills.
Therefore pride is their necklace;
they clothe themselves with violence.

From their callous hearts comes iniquity;
the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.
They scoff, and speak with malice;
in their arrogance they threaten oppression.

Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.
Therefore their people turn to them
and drink up waters in abundance.

They say, "How can God know?
Does the Most High have knowledge?"
This is what the wicked are like—
always carefree, they increase in wealth.

Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure;
in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
All day long I have been plagued;
I have been punished every morning.

If I had said, "I will speak thus,"
I would have betrayed your children.
When I tried to understand all this,
it was oppressive to me

till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny.
Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.

How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!
As a dream when one awakes,
so when you arise, O Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.

When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.

Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.

Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.

Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds.

Stephen Tong's Seminar Day 2

I arrived at 7:30 PM, 30 minutes late, and already missed his answering two questions. The Q&A session went well, too bad though that one person seeked to anger him through questions whose nature were offensive and cynical targeted toward him. I was ashamed to be the member of the church as one of us, through his questions, mocked our guest honorable speaker. Too bad... But today I witnessed Pdt. Tong's patience and self-control.

After the Q&A, one ibu-ibu presented a solo. I did not catch all the words because she sang 'seriosa' and only saw that she expressed some remorse when singing the song. I kept hearing though that she repeatedly sang: "O divine redeemer". So later I searched on the net and found it. It goes as follows:

source: http://www.welchorganist.com/pages/redeemer.html

Ah! turn me not away, receive me, tho' unworthy!
Hear Thou my cry, behold, Lord, my distress!
Answer me from Thy throne, haste Thee, Lord, to mine aid,
Thy pity show in my deep anguish!
Let not the sword of vengeance smite me,
Tho' righteous Thine anger, O Lord!
Shield me in danger, O Regard me! On Thee, Lord, alone will I call.

O Divine Redeemer! O Divine Redeemer!
I pray Thee, grant me pardon, and remember not my sins!
Forgive me, O divine Redeemer!
Night gathers round my soul; fearful I cry to Thee;
Come to mine aid, O Lord! Haste Thee, Lord, haste to help me!
Hear my cry, Save me, Lord, in Thy mercy;
Hear my cry! Come and save me, O Lord!
O, divine Redeemer! I pray Thee, grant me pardon,
And remember not, O Lord, my sins!
Save, in the day of retribution, from Death shield Thou me, O my God!
O, divine Redeemer, have mercy! Help me, my Savior!

Definitely the song that reflects our wretchedness, and our needs of the Lord.

Pdt. Tong began with the reform theology. Men are created within the realm of physical and also spiritual. Unlike animals, this duality allows men to realize that there is God and therefore religions, and it also allows men to create and develop culture.

That we seek to prove the existence of God is a wrong statement, because God has revealed Himself through the general revelation: creation & intuition. Through His creations around us, he reveals his magnificence. Through our intuition, we realize that God is in fact ingrain in our DNA, that there is a scale within us which tells us what is good and what is bad, what is right and what is wrong.

But general revelation is not enough. We have to understand his special revelation: Jesus Christ.

Jesus being the king and the great priest. But how? He is from the Judah tribe, while priest has to come from the Levites. Pdt. Tong explained that Jesus was claimed to be at the level of Melchizedek. This is said in Psalms 110.

Psalm 110
The LORD Gives Dominion to the King.
A Psalm of David.

1The LORD says to my Lord:
"Sit at My right hand
Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet."
2The LORD will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying,
"Rule in the midst of Your enemies."
3Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power;
In holy array, from the womb of the dawn,
Your youth are to You as the dew.
4The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind,
"You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek."
5The Lord is at Your right hand;
He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath.
6He will judge among the nations,
He will fill them with corpses,
He will shatter the chief men over a broad country.
7He will drink from the brook by the wayside;
Therefore He will lift up His head.

Melchizedek is known to appear at the time of Abraham, the first priest mentioned in the Bible, before the age of Moses. So verse 4 says that Jesus has been appointed to be the eternal priest and not bounded by his tribal background.

Pdt. Tong explained that Jesus' death was delivered because religion successfully exploited politics. Moses' Law says not to murder, and so the priest could not order to have Jesus murdered. Instead, the priest reasoned with Pilates that Jesus was a traitor to the ceasar, that Jesus claimed to be the king of the Jews.

John 18.

31So Pilate said to them, "Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law." The Jews said to him, "We are not permitted to put anyone to death,"

32to fulfill the word of Jesus which He spoke, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die.

33Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?"

34Jesus answered, "Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?"

35Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?"

36Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm."

37Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say correctly that I am a king For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."

Pdt. Tong closed his sermon with Jesus' utterrance in John 16:28:

I came forth from the Father
and have come into the world;
I am leaving the world again
and going to the Father

He explained that Jesus is the only person to be originated from God and goes back to God. Religious figures like Buddha, Muhammad, and others, they never said that they were originated from God, but through history they were told to have been born into the world, and then worked their way through hoping to go to heaven.