My Journal

Attended a good morning service at Park Street Church, sermon by Pastor Hugenberger on Evangelical. He made mention of Rev. Tong's arrival next week and will be the guest speakers for the whole Sunday's services. "Nuclear man" was how he described Rev. Tong's energy. I do however feel uncomfortable when he mentioned Dr. Tong is the second greatest evangelist in the world today, next to Billy Graham. Of course, this is obvious if judged according to the numbers of audience preached. However, when one has studied how great John Calvin's ministry was, which still is, one might think twice before arriving such conclusion. Rev. Tong was an evangelist whose ministry impacts a Muslim country, as a reformed Christian, his doctrine is soberly sound with no toleration to anything less than God's will.

I believe Billy Graham would have been number one in my book today had he not tolerated those which he referred to as "heated issues". Of course, when one works with Americans in America, I would agree that the temptation to fall is greater.

Well, I wonder if it's just me or that areas surrounding MIT were like ghost towns. I've only managed to hand out one "package" to a Japanese (if not Korean) guy who's smoking in front of MIT's main building. The rest are mostly tourists...there's just no sense to waste my time inviting them to Rev. Tong's rally.

So I went to Harvard Square. It was rather crowded and there were already some group of Christians handing out their own tracts in front of the Harvard campus entrance. I did not do anything. I took the time I have to visit the Boston area up to Boston University, where I had the most success in handing out all my flyers minus the Chinese version. I stood on a less crowded site. My theory has it that if one hands out tracts or flyers in a most crowded area, the chances for them to take notice are actually slim, contrary to common sense.

My pastor had printed me 100+ copies of her flyers which have additional talks hosted by Rev. Tong at Harvard and elsewhere. But after realizing the problem with the details and calling the pertaining staffs for confirmation, I had to throw all those flyers away (after stapling most of them last night and handing one today). I did not want to confuse anyone with misinformation on language and location, which were partly inaccurate on the flyers. I ended up handing all 60 of my own flyers in English with the first few attached with a copy of "Our Daily Bread". This is actually the first time I have distributed away all of my "Our Daily Bread". As for Dr. Tong's other talks, which seem rather last minute, it's beyond my ability. It is always important to plan ahead, orderly and be accurate with the message, otherwise they are as good as garbage. Of course, I'm sure all is well and I will keep praying for God's blessing and mercy in all of Rev. Tong's activities here in Boston.

As a side note, I do notice that the interracial relationship, the AWWM (Asian woman white man) complex, is remarkably stronger here in the whole Boston area if compared to just downtown Manhattan. Perhaps due to colleges in the area. I started wondering about the future generation in America, Christian outcome, etc.

It is 9:19 PM now, I am now concluding this entry at Back Bay Station, awaiting for my 10:30 PM Megabus to arrive to take me home at 3:00AM. Given the time I would need to get from Time Square to my apartment, I would say I should be taking a long long (if not on the bus) sleep at 5AM. Good thing I've moved some schedules to Tuesday and tomorrow is Labor's Day.

Although it's not really "My" ministry, I am medidating this in conjunction with burden of energy and strength - miles of walking, sore feet, patience vs wisdom vs time efficiency, etc.

Yesterday was a success, thought if I ordered the megabus.com ticket a week earlier or so, I may end up with just $2.50 roundtrip fare between NYC and Boston.

The ride took from 1:45pm to 6:15pm, exactly as stated in the schedule. Paid $13 + $5 + $0.50 total. Still cheaper than the chinatown bus' $30 roundtrip.

Scouted Harvard, MIT. Found post stands in Harvard thus I taped some flyers to them. MIT doesn't seem to have any and looks much cleaner. Or I might just be in the wrong part of campus. But midnight's drawing, unlike NYC, Boston's subways/busses stop running after midnight. I had to get to the Logan Airport for lodging.

Lodging wasn't as comfortable as I imagined. Perhaps the air-condition and the constant fear of theives kept me awake from time to time. Should have brought sleeping bag. But thanks to http://www.sleepinginairports.net/

Will attend 8:30am service at Park Street Church this morning. It is also the East Coast branch of one of Rev. Stephen Tong's church branches. Ministered by David Tong, Rev. Stephen Tong's son, if I have not mistaken. But that service is at 3pm and in Indonesian, I may not have the time to attend.

This whole day I shall be handing out all flyers I got in the MIT-Harvard vicinity, I did see a few flyers in Harvard's post stands already and many in Chinatown, so I'll be focusing on handing out to live persons. I may not hand out Gospel tracts this time, to avoid confusion.

Finally I got up early enough to be at the pool before 6 AM and my, do people wake up early. And since it's closing in on the autumnal equinox (Sept 22 2009), it's dark enough for me to spot Venus, even Sirius, Procyon and Betelgeuse. Most are old folks though, as seen below. Lapped for 30 minutes, had a quick breakfast, fried meehoon and cold soymilk at Ah Hong's restaurant (Vietnamese/Malaysian) for $3.

(Top) Taken outside at 6 AM,

(Bottom) Inside check-in, checking swimming caps and locks.

Photos taken by Palm Treo 680...perhaps the lens needs cleaning.

It had always perplexed me as to some familiarity of Pastor Stephen Chan. Now I know, reminded of the person "Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon" after reading a news article. The familiarity is perhaps in more ways than mere facial resemblance. Highly educated and all.

At least I can say this, despite the ability and accuracy of facial recognition by different individuals, a person's look combining with his/her attitute and other acts, does influence our subconscious perception to some extend - causing us to either misjudge or correctly judge any other person we meet.

In my memory, a recollection of the past when I was back in my formal church, trying to find good churches for those who live afar yet still travel to CCGC for service, like myself. Because I believe - showing support and "loyalty" and lasting friendship are one thing, but truly seeking after God in worship and learning to grow in Him with the best use of time and energy cannot be denied as God's will. Therefore, whether they stay or not, I have tried considering as much criteria as possible, from spiritual attitudes to motives, and dealt with it.

Therefore, I was even very open to extension of CCGC as a new branch, if not other churches.

Then it is obvious, for those that wish them stay and travel long, whether their motives lay in themselves or their "vision".

For their anxiety is for themselves and the church; while I but for those whom God loved and the church.