Exposure365.com

The greatest thing to happen to wedding photographers is getting “exposed.” Now you or your wedding photographer friend can sign-up and be among the first to be in the know about this incredible resource.

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FREE GIVE AWAY-Kings Brand New EP Album “ARTIST”

I’M GIVING AWAY TEN DIGITAL COPIES OF KINGS NEW EP ALBUM “ARTIST” FOR FREE!

Help spread the word and I’ll give the first ten people to complete the mission a digital copy of the entire new Kings EP album “Artist” for free!

Here is what you need to do:

+Get yourself and 10 other friends to follow Kings on both their Facebook fan page and on their Twitter [info & links at bottom]. You might already be following them on Facebook & Twitter so that’s cool, but you got to get ten NEW people to follow! [as in they cannot have already been following Kings on Facebook & Twitter prior to March 6, 2010, BUT, they can be the same ten new people on both Facebook & Twitter].

+ Once you’ve completed the mission, email me at jimmy@jimmyonthego.com with your name and the first and last names of your ten friends.

+ In your email subject line put “Kings Give Away”

+ PLEASE NOTE: I’ll be sending you the tracks via iTunes, so you’ll need to be able to download the tracks through iTunes [sorry, no other sending options].

+ This offer is only good for those in the United States [sorry, iTunes won’t allow outside countries].

Once I get your email and have verified that all the requirements have been met, I’ll email you a gift link which will allow you to download your very own copy of Kings new EP album! [Or, if you want to give it to a friend, simply let me know who you want to give it to by giving me their first and last name and their email address so I can send the link to them!]

Link to Kings on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/followkings

Link to Kings on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/kings/134757575488?ref=nf




hello all you beautiful people

What’s up!

I thought I’d drop a quick line to let you all know that, yes, I’m still alive.  I know, I know, you’re right,  I’ve done a pretty bad job of updating my site.  But!  In my defense, I think I must have the worst luck when it comes to getting internet access!  Seriously!

me pulpit 2In the last month or so I’ve been all over Taiwan and also spent two weeks in Korea.  So what would happen is: whenever there was really good interent access, I’d bee too crazy busy to use it.  Or, when I did have some free time to use the internet, the internet speeds would be so slow that it was – to borrow a phrase from my cousin Jisoo – “Like a snail eating peanut butter.”  Now that’s slow.  Or, the third scenario would be that there was good internet in the house or apartment I happen to be staying in but it would be down and not working for some reason!!  I kid you not the fact that happened numerous times in numerous locations!

So anyways, I’m back in Taichung City now and working on some sermons for some meetings coming up here in Taiwan and as well, slowly but surely, working on a newsletter to update you all on the past month.

In the mean time, please stop by and say “hi” on skype, facebook, here on my website, or twitter!  Just use my full name to find me on any of those sites: Jimmy R. Lee.

Much love,

Jimmy




funniest thing I saw on facebook today:

Someone’s status line on facebook today:
 
“Elizabeth thought Dilemma meant 100 years….”
 
LOL. Awesome.

Posted via email from jimmyonthego’s posterous




Made it to Taiwan!

So after a total of 28.5 hours of traveling, I am now in Taiwan! Sit back, relax and follow me now as I take you on a wondrous picture book journey of how it all went down…blank-white-strip

seats-all-to-myself

Sweet!!  I’m on the plane to Taipei from LA, and look!  Got the whole row to myself!  All three chairs!  I tried laying down across all three chairs to sleep, but got the worst neck ache cuz I was too tall.   But, these other tiny ah-jum-ma’s [older asian ladies] lucked out cuz they got 4 chairs…puh!  They straight sprawled out real comfortable on them too!

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jane-facebook-status

As the plane was getting ready to take off, I decided to check my email and facebook one last time.  That’s when I found my sister’s facebook status [Jane Lee Hong].  I have the best sister on the entire planet…well, she’s at least in the top 10. HAHAHA.  Jusssss kidding Jane.  Love you very much.

blank-white-strip

leaving-at-555Very cool.  Right as the plane started accelerating to take off, I looked down at my watch and the time was 5:55pm.  The number “5″ usually represents “grace” in the Bible.  Awesome.

blank-white-strip

off-the-coast1Right away, we were over the water.  We flew right over Santa Monica.  I forgot how close LAX is to the coast.  Pretty cool watching the coast fade away.  See ya laterz America!

blank-white-strip

a-fascinated-kid1There was this cute kid up a few seats.  Looked like he was just as fascinated at our take as I was.  I love seeing kids in “wonder” at the world around them.

blank-white-strip

12-hours-59-minutesCool.  Smooth take-off complete and we’re off!  12 hours and 59 minutes to go.  The flight was relatively smooth.  Except at one point when we were all asleep we hit some turbulence, but I was too tired to care.  But then later, there was an announcement on the plane that a passenger was very sick.  They were asking if there was a doctor on board that could help.  Yeah…couldn’t help but think…”Swine flu??”  But then I prayed for the sick passenger and all the rest of us, and went back to sleep! haha.

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with-ruthGot picked up from the airport by my friend, coordinator, care-taker, and incredible interpreter…RUTH CHANG!  This photo was actually taken the next day after I got to Taiwan.  We both came out of our rooms and discovered we were dressed the same!  Red tops with kahki bottoms. haha.  I think we attracted some stares.

blank-white-strip first-meal-in-taiwan1So the next day after I got to Taiwan I had my first meal there.  Ruth took me to this “sukiyaki” house.  They don’t eat sukiyaki the way I’m used to.  They put a bowling pot in the middle and throw stuff in and that take stuff out once it’s cooked.  Sorta like Koreans do with grilling ghal-bi in the middle of the table.  As they say here in Taiwan, “Verrrry taaaaasty!”

blank-white-strip

first-morningSo, yeap!  I’m here in Taiwan chillin and relaxin, jet lagged, waking up at 2am, blogging…and getting ready for India.  Thanks guys for all the love and prayer, and thank you Jesus!

blank-white-strip




Last American meal…

…for awhile. It don’t get more “American meal” than McKie D’s, on the Fourth of July, here at the LAX.

Flight number 2 is completed. Waiting for my next flight, “the big one” weighing in at 13 straight hours. Oh Father, please may I be seated with a quiet, nice person and I promise I will be quiet and nice back to them…amen! Haha.

Anyone got any funny  stories or any horror stories about flying? I know my bro-in- law does and more recently Grace’s “the mask” escapade is one for the books! :)

Sent from my iPhone

Posted via email from jimmyonthego’s posterous




Landed in San Francisco on lay-over!

Completed first of four flights to India! Just landed in San Fran. Flew on Virgin America for the first time. Pretty cool plane: large in- flight entertaiment selection, wi-fi on board, purple lighting, red décor, and even the air-sickness aka “barf bags” were colored in the stylish red.
 
Next up: lay over in Los Angeles and then on to Taiwan for two days and from there…INDIA!

(Sent on the go.)

Posted via email from jimmyonthego’s posterous




best thing to happen to me today:

Spending time eating, laughing, praying, and worshipping with family and loved ones right before leaving for Asia.

I missed having J-Dub, the “P.Shin clan”, and some other friends there, but very glad I got talk to some of them over the phone.

All right Asia, I’m ready for ya.

(Sent on the go.)

Posted via email from jimmyonthego’s posterous




best thing to happen to me in the last few days:

Getting to spend time with loved ones before I head out to Asia.
 
Got to watch Transformers 2 on IMAX, had Northlake Tavern pizza, and got to eat my favorite burger in the world at Red Mill. But, best of all, got to do it all with some of those whom I love most.
 
I love you guys!
 
 
[sent on the go]

Posted via email from jimmyonthego’s posterous




fri, june 26 – cool moment of the day

During the sermon at Ecclesia Project, Pastor Che (the speaker) said to turn to James 2:23-24. Without realizing, three of us sitting in a row pulled out our iPhones and looked up the verse!
 
Cool.
 
[sent on the go]

Posted via email from jimmyonthego’s posterous




Read more posts in "Latest News"

Japan: Reasons to Keep Praying

Image from revolttowards.com

 

ANSWERED PRAYERS = MORE PRAYER. The last couple of days I’ve come across awesome, astonishing reports coming from Japan. The first one was about a baby who was literally swept away by the waters from the parents and against all odds was found alive.  The one I found today was about a Japanese student in California who could not get in touch with her family.  Incredibly, she finds them on YouTube!  In the video her sister is holding signs for the balcony of their house which is the only house standing in a row of houses!  One of the signs said: “Tell our sister we all survived!”

Wow.  I mean seriously.  Wow!!

There are a lot of things to pray for Japan, but these are reasons TO pray and to KEEP praying for Japan.  Could these be some amazing “random” answers to the prayers we are praying?  Could it be that these amazing “miraculous” reports are connected with  a prayer you prayed even thought it doesn’t “seem” connected?  Could it be that God is “fueling” our prayers to keep going with these “answers”?

THE CONNECTION. So many times throughout history the questions in the deepest parts of man, especially in times like these have been:  “Why aren’t you answering my prayers God?  Where are you?” But, often times when He does answer our prayers we don’t see the connection.  I urge us to see “the connection”!  I realize more and more that God answers prayers and it takes faith to see what’s right in front of our eyes.  Faith is choosing to trust God with the prayers we don’t “see” answered and seeing, rejoicing, and giving thanks for the answers He is giving us.

Perhaps so many times why we lack faith is because we are starving it to death by being in denial of the answers God is providing.  The reasons we are in denial could be:

1. When we hear of incredible reports we lack faith to accept that our prayers had something directly to do with it.  Or…

2. We are focused on God answering our prayers for exactly what we are asking for instead of trusting Him to take our prayers and then answer them in a way He sees best.

But, when we do make “the connection” we get excited and encouraged to keep praying because He IS answering!

WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON. I really believe this what’s going on: Somebody from somewhere in the world prays in their heart “God, please help those people in Japan.  Please help them.”  And then when that Somebody gets to heaven, God will introduce that Somebody to a Japanese person they’ve never met before, and God will say, “I heard your prayer and this is how I answered, I rescued this person as a baby.  Remember that news report on CNN you saw on Facebook about a baby miraculously found alive?  Yeap, this is that baby!”

Somebody: What!  Really?  But, I’m sure so many other people were praying that same simple prayer!

God: Yeah, they were.  But, so were you.  It was your prayer too and so this is your answer too.

MY LIST OF SOME ANSWERED PRAYERS. Here are four answers to my prayers that I’m thankful for and that has inspired me to keep praying:

1. Japanese student finds family alive on YouTube.

click picture to see article and video

 

2.  4-month old baby found alive.

click picture to see article

 

3.  Seeing friends rallying others to pray, give and help out in anyway possible.  Friends like:

Richard Kim, who has helped gather donations of IT equipment for the Japan disaster relief organization CRASH.  Quote from Richard:  “We can do small things to help a big cause.  Nothing is too small.”

 

Jennifer Kim, who has been rallying people to pray and give to organizations like globalgiving.org through her facebook and  her website.  Quote from Jennifer: “I can’t stop praying for Japan.  Give ’till it hurts, and give good.”


Louisa Mun, who is helping send others to Japan to give hands-on-help through giving financially to them and rallying others to do the same.  Quote from Louisa: “I’m thankful I can give people money to go and [still] be partnered to the works of helping the Japanese in this trying time.”

4.  All the countless numbers of family, friends and others who I know are praying unnoticed and uncredited…you are that Somebody making a world of difference, and God knows it.




Help.

My heart is heavy for Japan. I don’t know if I’ve ever felt so moved by a national disaster.  I think it is due to my time ministering to typhoon victims in Taiwan during the aftermath of “Typhoon Morakot” in 2009.  Having been face-to-face with real people who have suffered a real catastrophe…who lost everything…and then to see Jesus minister to them and bring them hope.  Somehow, all of it together has made me care more, or maybe more accurately “braver to care more.”

It’s amazing to see the message “Pray for Japan” everywhere today:  on facebook, twitter, and a newspaper picture day of a Japanese girl in New York who had painted the message on her cheek.    I don’t think the importance and effectiveness of prayer cannot be overstated.  Prayer is what makes things happen from heaven to earth.  Prayer is the solution to the impossible.  Prayer is what grips the heart of heaven.

But then, heaven looks to answer. It looks for people to answer through.  We pray and then heaven answers through people…perhaps even us.  We actually might be the very answer heaven gives to our prayers.

God might cause us to pray more, that’s a great answer.  God might cause us to give, and that’s an great answer too.  Or, God’s great answer to our prayers is that He sends us to be hands on help for those we are praying for.

I’m in prayer right now.  Praying for Japan because there is so much…so much beyond us.  And, I’m also praying for “a great answer.”  Which will it be?  I am hoping all three.  I want to pray more.  I want to give.  But also, I am really hoping I will get the opportunity to go there and help somehow.

I’m reminded of the words to a U2 song that’s more like  a prayer

Please, please, please, get up off of your knees now.

When I think of those lyrics I always imagine someone praying and praying…and then God calls them to get up off there knees and go and be the answer to the prayer they’ve been praying.

Please, please join me in searching for a “great answer” for Japan and/or for yourself from the One who can save us all.

signature

——–

There are many great organizations looking to help relief efforts such as World Vision.  I hope you find one you trust that you can give to.

Here is one from my friend Jaeson Ma called JEMS:

http://www.jems.org/

http://jaesonma.com/help-japan/

Here is




Quick Thought: Prayer

PRAYER: Prayer is spending one-on-one time with God.  Some people are using the word “encounter” to describe the dynamic, two-way, personal interaction that God desires to have with us in prayer.  It is true that prayer is partly discipline.  But, if that’s all it is and never goes beyond that, then it’s like a mechanical marriage that looks good on the outside but has nothing on the inside.  The discipline aspect of prayer should only serve the passion and intimacy of prayer – it should never ever replace it nor ever be the focus or goal.  It should not “rule” us.  It is the thing that serves not the thing to be served.  Jesus said that there is joy in prayer [Isaiah 56:7]. Our lives of prayer should be joyful.  It’s like spending time with your favorite loved one and being loved on by the one you are jealous for.

Check It: What is prayer to you?  What is your prayer life like?  Is it obligation and/or guilt driven?  Or is it joy driven?  If it’s time to upgrade your prayer life then start asking God to help you discover the reason and source of the joy that is “inexpressible and filled with glory” which he desire for your life!  A good place to start might be 1 Peter 1:8!




Quick Thought: Eternal Life

ETERNAL LIFE: John 3:16 says that those who believe in Christ will have “eternal life.”  What is “eternal life”?  It’s this: “The life of abundant joy and immeasurable blessing in the presence of God forever. Those who “believe in” Christ have that “eternal life” and already experience its blessings in this present time, not yet fully, but in some significant measure.” [excerpt from The ESV Bible Study Notes]  Now THAT’S awesome!!

Check It: Do you believe in Jesus and trust Him alone for the forgiveness and deliverance from all the penalties of your sin?  If so, then do you realize you can experience the “eternal life” now and not just “in heaven”?  If you don’t, you need to recognize that is exactly what God wants for you today.  “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven!”




Our Worth

I saw this statement earlier today: “My worth to God in public is what I am in private.”  With all due respect, since I am not exactly sure where the person was originally intending with this statement,  I whole-heartedly disagree with this statement with every fiber of my being. Our worth [or value] to God is based on nothing (absolutely nothing!) else than the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to pay what we could not pay for our sin, to forever take away our filthy unrighteousness, and in exchange, to give us His own righteousness as our worth/value.

But, perhaps you will say that such saying like this motivates you to live more godly in your private life. True, it might motivate you.  But, it won’t change you.  God’s Word is very clear that it is only the Holy Spirit that can change you inside out in a way that is truly befitting of God’s heart for the kind of holiness he desires from us.  Anything else is a change on the surface at best.  So if there is any motivation I can give you, then I would say:  Be convicted by the Holy Spirit,  “run” to the Holy Spirit for help,  surrender and rely on the Holy Spirit and enjoy the Holy Spirit.

Joy out of repentance based on the lavish grace of the Cross, trust and dependency on the Holy Spirit, and hope in Christ. These are the sources of true transformation and holiness.  The Gospel is consisted of these; our worth is consisted of these.  It is not our efforts, our good works or our motivational talk that determines how much we are worth to God, but Jesus and Jesus alone.

Here is what the Bible says is the worth of everyone who puts their faith in Jesus Christ through grace alone:

John 15:15 - We are His friends
John 1:12 - We are His children
Romans 8:17 - We are fellow heirs with Christ
Jude 1:1 – We are His beloved
Revelation 21:2 – We are the “Bride of Christ”

As Apostle Paul declared in 1 Corinthians 15:10,

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

Amen and amen.




Quick Thought: Power to Live like Jesus

Power to Live like Jesus: In Galatians 4:15, Paul tells some Christians that their problem was a lack of “feeling blessed.”  Some translations put it as “joy” instead of “blessing.”  In context, Apostle Paul is saying, “When you felt blessed and had joy, you lived like Jesus beyond human will or capacity.”  It’s time we discover what “feeling blessed” is, save it from all warped selfish ideas attached to it, and realize the pure divine blessed “inexpressible joy full of glory” [1 Peter 1:8] that God intended to unleash into our lives – through the cross & resurrection – partly as a source of unprecedented power to live radically like Jesus, for Jesus, close to Jesus.

Check it: What is your idea of “feeling blessed”?  Is it self-centered or Christ-centered?  Or on the flip side, are you so religious that you think that any kind of “feeling blessed” is carnal?  Feel blessed God’s way and may your life be radically transformed!




Quick Thought: Maturity

True maturity: Jesus went to the cross “for the joy” [Hebrews 12:2]  Obedience without joy?  You’re a servant. [John 15:15]  With joy?  You are a “friend of the bridegroom.” [John 3:29]

Check it: Is your idea of maturity one of “obedience to God” and “being a good person” as the ultimate end goal?  Or, is it to be absolutely, crazy in love with God and so obey “for the joy”?  [John 14:15] There is a huge difference.




the answer is Jesus

I thought this was pretty funny. I was watching a webcast of a church service where a pastor was interviewing a girl in front of a congregation as the girl was giving a testimony of having some bumps on her body being miraculously healed.  She said that after receiving prayer, she went home and discovered that two out of three of her bumps were gone.

The pastor then asked: How did you know they were gone?

The girl: Because, when I checked, two of them were gone.

The pastor: Where did the bumps go?

The girl: Uh, um…to…Jesus?

It totally reminded me of a story I heard that illustrated how kids in sunday school think that the answer to any question given in Sunday school is supposed to be “Jesus.”  A sunday school teacher was playing a game of “Who am I?”  She said to the class: “I like to climb tress, I like to eat nuts, I am brown, and I have a bushy tale…who am I?”  The teacher was stunned that there was a long period of silence until finally one little boy spoke up an said, “Well, I know the answer is supposed to be ‘Jesus’ but it sure sounds like a squirrel to me!”




365 Days of Love | Jan 27 | Happy Birthday Ruth!

Happy Birthday Ruth!

Thank you for all the years of love and friendship.  You have been such an important reason why I have been able to follow my calling and serve God as I do now.  Thank you for all the years of coordinating ministry for me and being such an awesome interpreter.  Thank you for being patient with me and being my friend and co-laborer in Christ despite all my faults.  I love and appreciate you.

I know that God has His hand upon your life and that He is directing your steps. I pray that during this new year of your of your life you will marvel and witness how God uses all things for your good and His glory!  I look forward to being a part of the coming revival in Taiwan together with you!

Your friend,




365 Days of Love | Jan 26 | Small Talk

Today, I wanted to share a great testimony I received last night. The timing was awesome since yesterday was the official start of doing the “365 Days of Love.”  About three ago, I was staying in Taipei with a friend.  Near my friend’s home was a breakfast shop. I enjoyed the food there so I ate there a few times during my short stay.

There were two young ladies who worked there and both were the daughters of the owners.  The girls pretty much run the whole thing now.  I eventually ended up getting to know them a little. In fact, one day, I ended up spending my entire afternoon there just hanging out, talking and sharing about ourselves. I really just felt God’s blessing on that time.  Through our time of hanging out, I found out that both the daughters were not Christian.

Then yesterday, the older daughter, “Claire” instant messaged me on Skype and said “Hi.” I had not heard from her since that time of hanging out a few months ago.  Right away she told me, “I want to share you a good thing~”

Claire: first my sister having a baby

Jimmy: oh wow! that is great news!

Claire: Yes a boy

Claire: second good thing is I want to believe in God

Jimmy: wow!! that is great news! very happy or you about these 2 great news!

Claire: Thank you ~ (smily face)

Claire: I try to do do this good thing, now I filled so many joy with my heart~

Jimmy: wow! that is great! how did this happen?

Claire: it’s amazing…every night I prayer…I feel satisfied and happy everyday. I have courage to face my life.

Claire: my type is too slow~

Jimmy: hahaha, don’t worry!

Claire: But I already to read Holy Bible every night. I want to receive baptism.

Claire: Every time I prayer I really want to cry, because I feel God love me and everyone. I feel my dreams will come true. I feel he loves me and my family. He gives me a lot. I really want to share my love for everyone. God, I really love you so much.

Jimmy: haha, I love God too!

Claire: Maybe I met you, and my friend tell me a good sign. God so great.

Jimmy: Yes! I think so!

Claire: Do you go eat dinner?

Jimmy: Haha, no, I did not eat dinner yet!

Claire: Just go eat dinner. Ok

Claire: Thank you so much to talk for me. Thank God let us meet.

Again, during the time I hung out with Claire, I just really felt God’s blessing on our time. But, I didn’t feel a leading or a need to initiate sharing the Gospel, even though we did talk about my faith a bit because they asked things to get to know me and were surprised to find out that I’m a pastor.  And yet, Claire felt, in hindsight, that God orchestrated our time together.

It’s truly amazing how God can use all the little things we do to love people – like hanging out and making “small talk” – and make the most unlikely, amazing things happen.




Read more posts in "The Driver Seat"

Baby Emerson

Hahaha, so funny.  Kids are the best.




Reverse Thinking

This. was. DOPE.




What does it mean to walk with God?

Pastor Jaeson Ma shares some great thoughts about what it means to “walk with God.”

.




tae-kwon-do




making the bed

“My wife asked me the other day, ‘Why don’t you ever make the bed?’

‘For the same reason I don’t re-tie my shoes after I take them off.’”

- Jim Gaffigan




it’s finally here…

The funniest quote I saw in reaction to the launch of Apple’s new iPad came from Gizmodo.com:

“Apple just tried to assassinate laptops.”

LOL. ah man, that gets me every time…[wipe tear from eye]

.




just one…more…day…




crazy dunk

Oh man.  You have GOT to check out this guys 360 dunk at around 7 seconds into the video, where he dribbles up and then just LAUNCHES into the air bring the ball and then slams it home one-handed.  He gets up incredibly, incredibly high.

For those of you who didn’t know, I heart basketball, and I especially heart dunking.

And yes, back in the day I was able to dunk one-handed on a regulation rim.  Not all the time, but sometimes!  [Hey, not hating!  I was a five foot ten inch tall Korean American kid  with a 37 inch vertical leap, so that's not bad! haha.]

My dream is that in heaven I will get to dunk two-handed like a monster.  I seriously do have dreams of this happening.  Thank you Jesus.





Jaeson Ma’s New Single: “LOVE”

JMA-Love-2

This is awesome.

Fellow pastor and friend Jaeson Ma has his single “Love” out on iTunes from his JMA-sitting-edit2upcoming debut album.  Over the last few years, Jaeson has been spreading the Gospel all over the world to thousands of young people.  But, when he was 15 his sister gave him a prophetic word about being used by God to both preach to thousands as well as make music to reach the masses with God’s message.

After I heard about the upcoming release of “Love” I couldn’t wait to hear it.  When I finally got a hold of the single it turned out to be entirely inspiring.  It is totally Jesus, Gospel centered.  Or, like the theologians like to put it: “It is the retelling of the old, old story” but set to a new electrifying sound!

I hope that you can all hear it, download it, be blessed by it, inspired by it and take the time to “spread the Love.” This is more than just about supporting a great brother in the Lord, it’s about spreading the Gospel in every way and with every effort.

You can find the song on iTunes or on YouTube at this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73kZ6wBoqTk&feature=related

Also, here is an excerpt from his blog recounting how God put it all together. It really is an awesome testimony so I hope  you can take the time to read the whole thing and be encouraged.  [You can read the whole story on Jaeson's website by clicking here.]

“In early 2008, when I met Carl Choi (manager of Far East Movement & Jin the MC) he heard my music and saw its potential. When we met, it was a divine encounter. I led him back to God & he led me back into my passion to make music. He then introduced me to Kevnish (Far East Movement) and Jin the MC. By God’s grace, I had the honor to help bring them both to faith in Christ and be baptized in water. I still remember that day when Carl, Kevnish and Jin were baptized at Carl’s apartment, God’s light was shining all around us. We could feel His peace and joy. At the same time, we knew God had called us on a mission to make music that would change the world.

Carl told Kevnish and Jin that he wanted to help produce my next rap album. They all heard a few of my old songs and Jin said, “This is cool. But I feel like rap constricts you bro, your preaching and prayers are so powerful, there’s got to be a way where you can take the same way you preached and prayed over us and put it over beats!” Carl agreed and told me to think about how I could take my best sermons and messages, one-liners and put them into songs made for the radio. I told them this is what I always dreamed of doing, talking or preaching over music, but I didn’t know how to do it. Carl told me to keep working and praying on it…

A few days later, one night at the office, Kevnish from Far East Movement (my producer) and I had a brainstorming meeting on the production and direction of my artistry and music. He asked me, “So what do you want to do? How do you want the public to perceive you? What audience do you want to reach? Cause if you want to reach the urban market you got to become black and change your dress and swagger. If you want to reach the Latin market than you got to dress this way. Or if you want to reach mainstream White America you will have to approach it another certain way!” After hearing all that, I told him I just want to be myself, I want to speak the truth from my heart and do what God has called me to do to preach, but in a new way, not through a pulpit, but through music.

Then something divine happened. Kevnish was a bit stumped on my response, but then he asked, “Hey, do you have any of your sermons on youtube?” I told him of course. He then said, “Why don’t you take that beat your friend sent to you and play one of your youtube sermons over it at the same time?” I did as he asked me to do. When I played the beat and then pressed play on my youtube sermon, something supernatural happened, it was as if heaven touched earth as my preaching landed perfectly over the melodic beat. Somehow the cadence of my preaching would coincide with the music being played perfectly. It was powerful. It was a new kind of sermon. It was the new new. Kevnish was completely shocked. He said, “Oh SH**, that is crazy! I feel goose bumps! Can you see my hairs standing up on my arm right now? This is the craziest thing I’ve ever heard! It’s more than rap it’s beyond rap. You just created a whole new category of music! This will transcend genres, cultures, you don’t need to cater to White, Black, Brown or Yellow you can just be you and preach over beats, over anything. I can see you rocking stadiums with this style, you just preach over the verses and then I’ll create top 40 hooks that the crowds can sing along to. It will be an outer body, spiritual experience…this is going to change the game.”
I was totally amazed myself when Kevnish was saying all this to me. I didn’t believe myself completely. Would people really listen to me preaching over beats? Would this approach really work to reach the masses with the message God had put upon my heart?

Kevnish then asked me if I could freestyle a sermon over the beat on the spot. I told him, “Of course I can, I’ve been preaching for 10 years, I can pull a sermon out whenever, at any given moment and preach from my spirit!” So we played the beat (a special beat which is the music for my first single LOVE given to me by Charles Jones a friend of mine who when making the beat felt from God it was to be given to me to rap over)… as the beat played I asked Kev if there was a topic or theme he wanted me to preach on, he said, “How about love?” …. The rest is history… I started with the first line that came out of my spirit at that very moment saying, “Now Hollywood wants to make you think they know what love is, but I’m going to tell you what true love is…” Kevnish was shocked again. At that moment we knew we had discovered something precious and powerful. This new sound would touch and change the hearts of many around the world… we were about to change histories for eternity.”




VIDEO | Tron: Legacy, FX Test Footage

When Tron first came out as a kid it was the biggest thing ever…[at least to us boys].  The Tron arcade game had lines of kids waiting to play it.  I remember being too young to understand how to play it and a little too short to see the whole video game screen!

I can’t wait for this movie to come out.




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Missions Update: Aug 10,2009

Hello!

It’s been awhile since I’ve given any updates on my site about how things are going over here in Asia, so here goes!

One big reason for the absence of updates is because I lost ALL the pictures I took while I was in India. I think I was so disappointed I had not the strength to give any updates in a time of recovery.  I took all the pictures with my iPhone .  I gotta admit, the iPhone did a pretty good job considering it’s just a phone.  It gave me some surprisingly decent shots including a picture of the cutest little girl on the face of the planet who I ment while I was visiting one of our villages.

Oh well.  Just gonna have to take a new batch of photos when I go back!

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The Taj Mahal – Agra, India [Google Images]

Other than that, I had a great, great time in India. We have the most beautiful kids in the world.  Our kids are from the poorest, most rejected, most neglected and abused parts of Indian society, but yet, you would never have known that from their big smiles, joyous dancing, glorious singing, and passionate praying.  Our kids either have no parents or are children of parents from lepers and AIDS colonies.  Yet, they have pride, dignity, joy, and peace all because of the love and care our workers are giving them in the love of Christ!  That’s why we call them “Royal Kids!  They are children of the “King of Kings”!

It was such a blessing to stay with some of our kids at our prayer center. I got to do some hands-on ministry while I was in India as well.  One one occasion I did a bible study with a bunch of young boys in one of our villages.  I had to travel an hour by motorcycle to get to the village which is no easy task in India!  I seriously couldn’t walk straight the next couple of days!  Father Anton had a great laugh about that.  He said it’s time like these we’ll never forget!

And he was right.  This is what I live for:  Heading to a village, sitting on the ground underneath the Indian night sky with a bunch of young boys from the village gathered around me as I told them about the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.  At the insistence of some of the boys, we ended our time on our knees together as we thanked God for our time.  I can’t wait to see them again.

After spending two weeks in India with Father Anton Cruz and our kids I went over to Taiwan again. I’ve been here for the last two weeks now.  taichung-current-locationThings have been going great.  I just finished preaching in one church down south in the city of Kaohsiung.  But, in order to get there we had to ride a 3 hour charter bus down…through the worst typhoon to hit Taiwan in the last 50 years!  It was quite the experience.  The bus was getting slapped around like a rag doll by the ferocious winds and rain.  On top of that we had the craziest bus driver!  He was passing up cars left and right like it was NASCAR.  But, we did make it safely and in one piece.

Unfortunately, there have been many thousands of people suffering because of the flooding from the typhoon.  During the services, the church took time to pray for the flood victims.  During the prayer I felt such a cry in my heart from the Holy Spirit, “God, it’s times like THESE that the Church needs to rise up and shine Your light!  It’s times like these we have to stop thinking of ourselves and help our neighbors who are suffering!  I pray that Christians in Taiwan are taking this opportunity to shine your light in dark times!”

SPECIAL PRAYER REQUEST

taiwan-typhoonPlease pray for the victims of “Typhoon Morakot” in Taiwan, China and various parts Asia.  As I mentioned, this has been the worst typhoon to hit Taiwan in the last 50 years.  Many homes have been destroyed and thousands of people have been left stranded.  New reports are saying that up to 600 villagers may have been buried by a massive mudslide in southern Taiwan.  Still may more reports are still coming in.  Please pray for the victims and for those around them who are doing all they can to help.

You can get more information at the link below:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/weather/08/10/typhoon.china/index.html

Thank you for your prayers and your partnership with me in the gospel.

In the grace of Jesus,

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NEWSLETTER | June 25, 2009

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