Lord, you definitely have all things under your control. Tonight was an amazing night Father. From Michael McBride's ability to get the audience excited and engaged to Jaeson Ma's really powerful and passionate testimony, your hand was upon the whole night. Everything you do is perfectly timed, even if I don't see it. You answered prayer by:

• Not only withholding rain, but also making it a beautiful day
• Providing an amazing speaker in so little time (he normally needs to get booked one year in advance, but we only got him two months in advance)
• Stacey, Derrick, Chun Chun, and Jimmy could come. Stacey stayed the whole time while the other three had to either leave early or come late. Jimmy just told me that he was really challenged by Jaeson's message.
• Nothing went wrong: even the sound worked!
  

Listening to Jaeson, I was moved by the sheer passion the man has for your Name. I kept thinking, "God, I want to be like that! I want to know you so passionately and intimately that I can preach the Good News with such power and conviction." When he gave his call for ppl to make a decision, I confess I was much afraid to see what would happen. Lord, thank you for being the lover of our souls; when you call, we cannot help but desire you. I couldn't get a count, but there were many non-believers there and several accepted Christ. I was praying SO HARD for Stacey who was sitting next to me, that TODAY would be the day of salvation for her. I was even on the verge of crying! When I felt the seat move like someone had stood up, I was thrilled; but when I looked, I was shocked to see that it was not she who had stood up but rather Nathaniel next to her. WOAH! Unexpected. Jesus, you truly do search our inner hearts and sift our hidden intentions. Although I am an impatient man, I trust that your timing for my friends is much better than mine. Have your way Jesus, have your way.

Other Highlights:

• Meeting Daniel from SJ State, who is leading UiC on their campus and is going on a missions trip with 10/40 Connect. We both went to Urbana 03, and I met him b/c he was wearing the sweatshirt. Coincidence? I think God.

• Seeing the many ppl, both Christians & non-Christians, who were blessed much by this night. Glen Wong discovered that he really does have a heart for unity & wants to serve in UiC next year as a rep for our fellowship. (Wow, that's one anxiety that you've taken away God). So many stayed afterwards to talk in the courtyard, and we had so much donated food.

• Praying for healing and intercession in the prayer furnace until 1 AM...man, Jaeson prays so powerfully. Lord, I want to become a man like that, one who can pray in power and with great authority, willing to sacrifice sleep & time so others can be healed.
• I got to talk with Sam, a guy I met a couple years ago who is now struggling much with his faith. He so much wants to see a visible and unexplainable miracle to finally put his doubting mind to rest, but God this is not the way to faith. Jesus, you know what he needs; he doesn't need more answers (he's a pastor's kid) but rather a genuine experience with the Living God. Jesus is still the answer for him. Lord, please bind the enemy who blinds Sam and clouds his mind with doubts and confusion. Open his eyes Father.
• Thai, the infamous man who was instrumental in establishing UiC, prayed for me that I would be healed from my recurrent sin and that I would be sober in all my ways. Lord, I thought it was so weird that he didn't really pray for the topic I asked but rather for my sense of worth before you. Truly the same struggle still applies; truly you understand the source of my problem. And it's okay if I didn't get to join the line to pray with Jaeson, because I want to have an encounter not with the man but with his God. When Thai's hand was upon my heart, it felt so heavy and my heart felt like it was burning. It was almost like he was imprinting the truth of God's identity and unchanging love for me into my very being.
• Going out to late night dinner at Daimo with the i-prayer team, Jaeson, Thai, and some other folks. Great times just talking, laughing, and learning. These are ppl I do not want to truly part with. Thank you Lord b/c I know we are all bound by familial bonds that are stronger than blood.