Some time had passed after arriving at College, and I was feeling very at home and accepted at the College Department and Church, so I got complacent and rather big in the head.
One day, the University brought in a speaker that they really hyped up. They made such a big deal promoting him that they made it almost mandatory to go listen to his messages. As we packed the indoor stadium of the University, I thought I had open mind... until I saw him.
When he stepped onto the stage, he had a plodding gate, wore an odd looking shirt with crazy southwestern colors, spoke hesitantly in a manner that I found difficult to assimilate. I was distracted by his hair, and overall I had a bad attitude about this guy. Soon, I found myself asking: "God, why should I have to listen to him anyway?!!"
Now that I was perfectly set up, God took me out with an understated reply: "You might want to take a look at the Angel I sent to Guard Him..."
With that, my eyes were opened to see 2 massive feet planted on either side of the stage. As I gawked, I saw the waist of the angel just below the dome ceiling of the indoor stadium, and the rest of it outside. Dumbstruck, I asked Him to forgive me for my pride and being judgmental. Later, I found out the speaker was none other than Max Lucado--duh.
I have since learned to ask Him how HE sees things lest I get a bad attitude and make an ass of myself from assuming.
~ Shien, Yahweh Sabaoth--"The Lord of hosts (angels)"
Friday, February 5, 1993
Midnight Prayerwalk
It was past midnight and I woke up thinking I needed to use the restroom. Yet I did not. Perplexed, I sat at the edge of the bed and asked God why I was wide awake and expectant.
He told me to put on my shoes and dress warmly (it was Winter). I started to ask questions, but thought better of it. So I dressed. Next, he directed me down the stairs, and out into the crisp, cold air of the University Campus. Thoughts raced through my head, mainly what I might say to the Campus Cop when he questioned me about my criminal wanderings!
Soon, I approached a familiar school building, and He directed me to pray for the teachers and students who use it daily. Specific insights came and went just as quickly as I walked past it.
I approached another building, and the insights poured in. This time, more vividly with images. This was getting interesting.
Then, I came to a complex of 4 buildings and saw what looked like a large, frightful creature draping itself over the complex and hissing: "It's mine--you can't have it!". I stopped walking and faced off with the creature--throwing at it whatever His Spirit willed and said. Eventually, the dark creature un-pinned its long talons from the buildings and flapped its sooty wings. As it loped off, a strange scent of burning leaves mixed with scorched engine oil wafted by.
Eventually, I walked back to my apartment, now cold and weary. It was at least 2am, and I had a test at 8:00am. But I realized that I was led to walk the campus once and had succeeded in praying over every building used by teachers and students! But there was the matter of the test, so I asked God for help, to wake me up refreshed in return for that neat midnight stroll with Him.
The phone rang while it was still dark, and I groaned as I reached over to answer it. There was no one there! "What now?!!" I began to grumble when God said: "Gotcha!" Then the alarm clock rang, and I realized I was waken minutes before the set time, fully alive!
~ Shien, El Roi--"The Lord who sees me"
He told me to put on my shoes and dress warmly (it was Winter). I started to ask questions, but thought better of it. So I dressed. Next, he directed me down the stairs, and out into the crisp, cold air of the University Campus. Thoughts raced through my head, mainly what I might say to the Campus Cop when he questioned me about my criminal wanderings!
Soon, I approached a familiar school building, and He directed me to pray for the teachers and students who use it daily. Specific insights came and went just as quickly as I walked past it.
I approached another building, and the insights poured in. This time, more vividly with images. This was getting interesting.
Then, I came to a complex of 4 buildings and saw what looked like a large, frightful creature draping itself over the complex and hissing: "It's mine--you can't have it!". I stopped walking and faced off with the creature--throwing at it whatever His Spirit willed and said. Eventually, the dark creature un-pinned its long talons from the buildings and flapped its sooty wings. As it loped off, a strange scent of burning leaves mixed with scorched engine oil wafted by.
Eventually, I walked back to my apartment, now cold and weary. It was at least 2am, and I had a test at 8:00am. But I realized that I was led to walk the campus once and had succeeded in praying over every building used by teachers and students! But there was the matter of the test, so I asked God for help, to wake me up refreshed in return for that neat midnight stroll with Him.
The phone rang while it was still dark, and I groaned as I reached over to answer it. There was no one there! "What now?!!" I began to grumble when God said: "Gotcha!" Then the alarm clock rang, and I realized I was waken minutes before the set time, fully alive!
~ Shien, El Roi--"The Lord who sees me"
Tuesday, March 5, 1991
Clouds Part in Juarez, Mexico
Our college department at church took an annual short term missions trip across the border in Juarez, Mexico. It was a really long drive from Waco, TX and at the time made the journey in an assortment of vehicles that were borrowed.
Once we got there, we worked with local churches to do outreach and follow up counseling. On our night to go to the barrios at the city dump, we settled into a frenetic Pentecostal Style Praise session, over-driven by speakers and amplifiers that were turned up beyond their capacity. It was so loud it was hard to think, but the speakers were turned out towards the ramshackle community, and they streamed into the courtyard in droves.
During the praise, I got an image of something flowing down like heavy syrup from above, trickling onto the walls and onto the floor, pooling and coalescing. It was almost 'trippy' if not for the context and I was a bit concerned about telling anyone what I was seeing lest they questioned my sobriety and well-being at that moment, but the images became more vivid and the flow increased. Soon, I was seeing what looked like translucent vapors and cold flames waving languidly off some people, especially the leaders of our group and the local church.
Finally, out of curiosity and genuine concern for my health, I told my leader about what I was experiencing. Without missing a beat, he said that I was receiving a vision and should consider sharing it. As I grappled with my nerves, I did not realize that a nasty thunderstorm was brewing outside that had the potential of dispersing the eager crowd outside.
As I took turns on the microphone with the translator sharing what I was seeing inside, outside the dark burdened storm clouds split a short distance away from us then blew past on either side shedding some rain and sizzling lightning for theatrical drama, and leaving a distinct spot of clear sky overhead. I was oblivious to the scene outside until a few minutes later, when one of our team members came in excitedly with the news!
Not only did many choose to follow Christ's that night, many were healed, and filled with Christ's Holy Spirit. We left in wonder that God parted the clouds over Juarez that evening and illuminated those who chose to follow Him.
~ Shien, Elohim--"The Creator"
Once we got there, we worked with local churches to do outreach and follow up counseling. On our night to go to the barrios at the city dump, we settled into a frenetic Pentecostal Style Praise session, over-driven by speakers and amplifiers that were turned up beyond their capacity. It was so loud it was hard to think, but the speakers were turned out towards the ramshackle community, and they streamed into the courtyard in droves.
During the praise, I got an image of something flowing down like heavy syrup from above, trickling onto the walls and onto the floor, pooling and coalescing. It was almost 'trippy' if not for the context and I was a bit concerned about telling anyone what I was seeing lest they questioned my sobriety and well-being at that moment, but the images became more vivid and the flow increased. Soon, I was seeing what looked like translucent vapors and cold flames waving languidly off some people, especially the leaders of our group and the local church.
Finally, out of curiosity and genuine concern for my health, I told my leader about what I was experiencing. Without missing a beat, he said that I was receiving a vision and should consider sharing it. As I grappled with my nerves, I did not realize that a nasty thunderstorm was brewing outside that had the potential of dispersing the eager crowd outside.
As I took turns on the microphone with the translator sharing what I was seeing inside, outside the dark burdened storm clouds split a short distance away from us then blew past on either side shedding some rain and sizzling lightning for theatrical drama, and leaving a distinct spot of clear sky overhead. I was oblivious to the scene outside until a few minutes later, when one of our team members came in excitedly with the news!
Not only did many choose to follow Christ's that night, many were healed, and filled with Christ's Holy Spirit. We left in wonder that God parted the clouds over Juarez that evening and illuminated those who chose to follow Him.
~ Shien, Elohim--"The Creator"
Saturday, October 6, 1990
Man, She's Hot!
That's what I thought about my wife when I first saw her. Granted I was hormone-charged at just 17 years old, and I was new in a big school, but I could not shake my first impression of her.
I was invited to a double birthday party, and there were a lot of people already there in their apartment. I hardly recognized anybody there being new, but they were making a big deal at how hot one of the birthday girls were even when she was much younger--even model like! Then, they passed a couple of pictures of her around in jest, and I saw their point! Yowza--this girl had a "thousand faces" as a model would.
Her personality was certainly bold and loud. And tomboy-ish. I was intimidated. She was after-all, an upperclassman. Nevertheless, she was not "weirded-out" by all the Asian Food things I liked to eat. A rare thing in a small Texas Town--awesome!
The best part was that she had a reputation for being a Godly-woman. My small circle spoke reverently of her devotion to Christ, and how she was faithful to Christ and a dependable leader. Wow. So, clearly she was out of my league, but she became the gold-standard for a woman to have.
It took me 8 years of knowing Monica, and watching her would-be suitors during that time crash and burn trying to court her, to find the nerve to ask her out for myself. It might have happened earlier if not for the fact that each time I spent time with her, her penchant for wrestling and tickling freaked me out!
Finally, I got to date my best friend, and marry her. We realized at some point that it was quite amazing of God to send me to Baylor at 16, and meet Monica during her senior year at Baylor. Monica had an offer for a paid-College education closer to her relatives, but opted instead to pay her way through her Baylor experience.
And that's why we think I was sent to Baylor at 16--to see about a Godly woman.
I was invited to a double birthday party, and there were a lot of people already there in their apartment. I hardly recognized anybody there being new, but they were making a big deal at how hot one of the birthday girls were even when she was much younger--even model like! Then, they passed a couple of pictures of her around in jest, and I saw their point! Yowza--this girl had a "thousand faces" as a model would.
Her personality was certainly bold and loud. And tomboy-ish. I was intimidated. She was after-all, an upperclassman. Nevertheless, she was not "weirded-out" by all the Asian Food things I liked to eat. A rare thing in a small Texas Town--awesome!
The best part was that she had a reputation for being a Godly-woman. My small circle spoke reverently of her devotion to Christ, and how she was faithful to Christ and a dependable leader. Wow. So, clearly she was out of my league, but she became the gold-standard for a woman to have.
It took me 8 years of knowing Monica, and watching her would-be suitors during that time crash and burn trying to court her, to find the nerve to ask her out for myself. It might have happened earlier if not for the fact that each time I spent time with her, her penchant for wrestling and tickling freaked me out!
Finally, I got to date my best friend, and marry her. We realized at some point that it was quite amazing of God to send me to Baylor at 16, and meet Monica during her senior year at Baylor. Monica had an offer for a paid-College education closer to her relatives, but opted instead to pay her way through her Baylor experience.
And that's why we think I was sent to Baylor at 16--to see about a Godly woman.
~ Shien, Ezer-Kenegdo "the servant function of provider of life, growth and development" 1 Cor 11:3
Wednesday, March 14, 1990
Come with Your Tank Full
When I was in College, I attended a Prayer and Praise Group on Friday Nights. There was a lot of earnest God-Seeking there, and much compassion to share. There was a lot of freedom to explore and emulate what Christ did and become his priesthood.
However, after a few months, it was clear that the group as a whole was not making much head way with some of these issues, as we seemed to revisit them week after week. So our leader taught us something I find valuable to this day: "As you follow Christ and are transformed by His Holy Spirit, exercise the disciplines of holiness so that you arrive on Friday Night with your spiritual tank full or fuller, ready to serve. then see what happens!"
I took the teaching to heart, and began asking God to make me more useful. At first, I just arrived at the meetings feeling less needy. Next, I began to pray for some people by name who came to the meeting. Then, I began to ask God if there was something I could do for him before, during and after the meeting.
Then one evening, as I left the restroom and strolled happily back towards the rocking praise booming out of the meeting room, God asked me if I was ready to be utilized by Him. "Uh... okay!", I replied naively. Nothing noteworthy occurred for a while, so I settled back down until the worship leader called for a spontaneous prayer time, and in particular, healing for chronic or long standing issues. Now my heart skipped a beat even as my spirit raced. His Spirit already began the infilling.
One of the leaders had come forward, he suffered from chronic back pain following a wrestling injury during his college days. As others gathered round to continue praying faithfully for him, I was given words to say to him, words that I didn't want to offer as it went something along the lines of: "Tonight, the Lord will demonstrate His Faithfulness and bring you a measure of healing." Yikes!
I waffled on obeying for a bit, but then took the plunge. I approached him and whispered in his ear. And he said he embraced the word, and was experiencing faith to believe. So he told the other leaders what was said to him, and they invited me to pray. I was not expecting that part. So I stammered out a really polished: "Uh, okay Lord--Your turn now, do as You said..." Nothing happened... for a while. The other leaders were very respectful and did not look at me, it was likely obvious that I was feeling intimidated.
Then Brett got on all fours and began to twist. He reported that he felt some relief that wasn't there before. As he continued to move, he reported a range of motion. "Yes, yes... I haven't been able to this for a while now." After a few tantalizing minutes, it became clear that he "...experienced a measure of healing." that was unprecedented. Glory to God!
I was so surprised that I did not know how to feel and behave, so I hid myself back in the crowd.
~ Shien, Yahweh-rapha--"The Lord who heals"
However, after a few months, it was clear that the group as a whole was not making much head way with some of these issues, as we seemed to revisit them week after week. So our leader taught us something I find valuable to this day: "As you follow Christ and are transformed by His Holy Spirit, exercise the disciplines of holiness so that you arrive on Friday Night with your spiritual tank full or fuller, ready to serve. then see what happens!"
I took the teaching to heart, and began asking God to make me more useful. At first, I just arrived at the meetings feeling less needy. Next, I began to pray for some people by name who came to the meeting. Then, I began to ask God if there was something I could do for him before, during and after the meeting.
Then one evening, as I left the restroom and strolled happily back towards the rocking praise booming out of the meeting room, God asked me if I was ready to be utilized by Him. "Uh... okay!", I replied naively. Nothing noteworthy occurred for a while, so I settled back down until the worship leader called for a spontaneous prayer time, and in particular, healing for chronic or long standing issues. Now my heart skipped a beat even as my spirit raced. His Spirit already began the infilling.
One of the leaders had come forward, he suffered from chronic back pain following a wrestling injury during his college days. As others gathered round to continue praying faithfully for him, I was given words to say to him, words that I didn't want to offer as it went something along the lines of: "Tonight, the Lord will demonstrate His Faithfulness and bring you a measure of healing." Yikes!
I waffled on obeying for a bit, but then took the plunge. I approached him and whispered in his ear. And he said he embraced the word, and was experiencing faith to believe. So he told the other leaders what was said to him, and they invited me to pray. I was not expecting that part. So I stammered out a really polished: "Uh, okay Lord--Your turn now, do as You said..." Nothing happened... for a while. The other leaders were very respectful and did not look at me, it was likely obvious that I was feeling intimidated.
Then Brett got on all fours and began to twist. He reported that he felt some relief that wasn't there before. As he continued to move, he reported a range of motion. "Yes, yes... I haven't been able to this for a while now." After a few tantalizing minutes, it became clear that he "...experienced a measure of healing." that was unprecedented. Glory to God!
I was so surprised that I did not know how to feel and behave, so I hid myself back in the crowd.
~ Shien, Yahweh-rapha--"The Lord who heals"
Monday, January 15, 1990
University at 16
"Do I get to experience a miraculous life firsthand, or do I have to settle with hearing about You secondhand?"
I was 15 at the time when I posed that question to God. At the time, I was depressed and concerned about the upcoming 'O' Levels Examinations. I was failing my Mandarin courses having been out of country for two and a half years, and even with tutoring, could not resume well. Furthermore, the Mandarin Teacher at school had humiliated me having assumed that I was being lazy or intentionally mocking her since I was getting A's in every other subject. So I was searching and wanting to know if there was more to following God than my rule-driven life.
At some point during that year, it dawned on me that I was particular close to God when I was desperate, so I 'gave permission' to God to 'yank the rug from under me' so that I can experience an intimate, miraculous life as I depended on Him. Soon, I got an answer, and He sent me to University at 16.
Instead of taking my Mandarin 'O' Level, my dad gave me permission to study for the SATs along with my other subjects, and with God's Grace, I ended with 6 distinctions, and enrolment at Baylor University.
God kept His part of the bargain--I joined a vibrant College Group the same week I arrived, and began my journey that soon became my spiritual awakening. Indeed, when you are desperate, and dependent on God, you begin to experience daily miracles and see evidence of His frequent direction and intervention in your life.
~ Shien, Yahweh-mekoddishkem--"The Lord who sanctifies you"
I was 15 at the time when I posed that question to God. At the time, I was depressed and concerned about the upcoming 'O' Levels Examinations. I was failing my Mandarin courses having been out of country for two and a half years, and even with tutoring, could not resume well. Furthermore, the Mandarin Teacher at school had humiliated me having assumed that I was being lazy or intentionally mocking her since I was getting A's in every other subject. So I was searching and wanting to know if there was more to following God than my rule-driven life.
At some point during that year, it dawned on me that I was particular close to God when I was desperate, so I 'gave permission' to God to 'yank the rug from under me' so that I can experience an intimate, miraculous life as I depended on Him. Soon, I got an answer, and He sent me to University at 16.
Instead of taking my Mandarin 'O' Level, my dad gave me permission to study for the SATs along with my other subjects, and with God's Grace, I ended with 6 distinctions, and enrolment at Baylor University.
God kept His part of the bargain--I joined a vibrant College Group the same week I arrived, and began my journey that soon became my spiritual awakening. Indeed, when you are desperate, and dependent on God, you begin to experience daily miracles and see evidence of His frequent direction and intervention in your life.
~ Shien, Yahweh-mekoddishkem--"The Lord who sanctifies you"
Sunday, February 2, 1986
Show Down at Dawn with a Temple Medium
When I was about 13 years old, I took to fishing at dawn on the beach infront of our apartment complex. It was often cool, serene and I usually had run of the beach.
Armed with a pole, stale bread in a sock to attract bloodworms and my best friend at the time (my "American" grandma), we would spend the first 10 minutes soaking the sock with bread scrap and drizzling the particulate over the sand as the waves backwashed. Little worms will emerge like tendrils and feel the sand for food, and we could bend over to pinch the worms out of the water.
On one particular morning, when the whiting was on the bite, we noticed a long funeral procession approach our section of the beach with clanging and chanting. As they came nearer, my heart skipped a beat when I saw that they had a medium in full possession, moving jerkily, eyes rolled white. My impulse was to abandon my fishing spot despite the great fishing, but my friend seemed undisturbed. Then suddenly I felt the Holy Spirit swell fiercely.
It was the first time I observed the Holy Spirit take a fierce, aggressive stance. It was like a massive mighty warrior projecting itself over me from within, towering about 10 feet tall, and directing me to stand firm and pray. As I did so, I threw a nervous glance at the temple medium who suddenly broke his trance to glare at me. I was really terrified now, but I dare not do anything impulsive, so I continued to take direction from the Holy Spirit and prayed in His prayer language.
The medium attempted to snap back into a trance but failed. Annoyed, he looked sternly at me, and I felt and heard the Holy Spirit declare this ground as almighty God's--it was like feeling huge subwoofers throw subsonic bass and quite awesome. After the third attempt, the medium gave up and instructed the bewildered procession to continue down the beach to another spot.
Shaken, confused and enlivened, my friend and I walked silently to fish congee breakfast and talked through what happened. She encouraged me that yes, the Holy Spirit is ALSO a mighty warrior.
~ Shien, Yahweh Nissi--"The Lord my victorious banner"
Armed with a pole, stale bread in a sock to attract bloodworms and my best friend at the time (my "American" grandma), we would spend the first 10 minutes soaking the sock with bread scrap and drizzling the particulate over the sand as the waves backwashed. Little worms will emerge like tendrils and feel the sand for food, and we could bend over to pinch the worms out of the water.
On one particular morning, when the whiting was on the bite, we noticed a long funeral procession approach our section of the beach with clanging and chanting. As they came nearer, my heart skipped a beat when I saw that they had a medium in full possession, moving jerkily, eyes rolled white. My impulse was to abandon my fishing spot despite the great fishing, but my friend seemed undisturbed. Then suddenly I felt the Holy Spirit swell fiercely.
It was the first time I observed the Holy Spirit take a fierce, aggressive stance. It was like a massive mighty warrior projecting itself over me from within, towering about 10 feet tall, and directing me to stand firm and pray. As I did so, I threw a nervous glance at the temple medium who suddenly broke his trance to glare at me. I was really terrified now, but I dare not do anything impulsive, so I continued to take direction from the Holy Spirit and prayed in His prayer language.
The medium attempted to snap back into a trance but failed. Annoyed, he looked sternly at me, and I felt and heard the Holy Spirit declare this ground as almighty God's--it was like feeling huge subwoofers throw subsonic bass and quite awesome. After the third attempt, the medium gave up and instructed the bewildered procession to continue down the beach to another spot.
Shaken, confused and enlivened, my friend and I walked silently to fish congee breakfast and talked through what happened. She encouraged me that yes, the Holy Spirit is ALSO a mighty warrior.
~ Shien, Yahweh Nissi--"The Lord my victorious banner"
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