Dad

If you know my dad, you know he loves the Lakers. I can remember him watching games when A and I were young - seeing Pat Riley, with his slick back hair, yelling on the sideline with his hands on his side. He has been a fan of the purple and gold prior to my conception. He rooted for them during the Bird vs Magic era, Kobe and Shaq duo, and of course the Kobe years. He has been a constant fan - taking the journey from getting titles, not getting titles, player scandals, and coach changes. You know he's a true Laker fan because he doesn't like Boston - never has, never will. So last week's win was that much sweeter for him.

Aimee and I inherited that same devotion and love for LA teams. We also root for the Dodgers, UCLA, USC (except when they're playing against one another) Pac-Ten teams, the Clippers, and of course the Lakers. Beyond sports, dad has also instilled in A and I a love for the church and the people, a heart to see transformed lives, a desire to have a faith rooted in a firm foundation, stability, an appreciation for the corny. 

I recently had a very memorable moment with dad. I have been part of a renewal team at Venice. We are looking at what it will take to see true renewal, change, and a revival at church. We know what we want it to look like, but we have struggled with how to get there. At Annual Conference a few weeks back we heard Bishop Matt speak on the difference between a transformational church and a non-transformational church. After he finished I ran over to dad and we just hugged each other and cried - he knew what I knew - God had just dropped the answer we had been seeking right into our laps. It was a moment I will cherish forever. 

Many people long for a father to provide them with the basics - love, support, encouragement, guidance. Nowadays, such a man is hard to come by. I feel so unworthy to not only have a father who provides me with these, and a million other things, but also a father who I can serve Jesus alongside with. I thank Jesus for my dad. For his gentleness, love, and constant support; for attending every single one of our volleyball games - home and away, for cooking us breakfast when we were really young, for tucking us in each night, for going through the effort to surprise me with the pink bike, for holding me each time I failed my drivers test, for allowing me to make mistakes, for being home for family dinner every night, for not always throwing out his opinion but allowing me to just talk, for letting me walk to school in the fourth grade - and for following me at a distance in the car without me knowing, for getting the girls expelled from school who chased me home, for trying the spank on his leg first before giving it to us, and for continuing the legacy that grandpa began of loving Jesus in all things. 

He is a man of all men, and a father of all fathers. Happy Father's Day, dad. 

Facebook Funnies

Kevin (28) and Matthew (14)

Kevin Wong it just took me 40 minutes to get from my house to the 90. fml. longest commute to Starbucks centinela EVER.

9 hours ago · Comment · 

Jennifer Natalie Chewdangchew likes this.

Matthew Suyetsugu

Lol loser :)

8 hours ago

Kevin Wong

thanks matthew. if you had a license and a car, you might understand. until then, have fun driving the warthog on halo

8 hours ago

"Josh for the Win"

And people say he doesn't talk...

Kevin Wong Looks like the NBA wants to elongate this championship series as long as possible to maximize profit . . . (thanks refs)

Yesterday at 8:01pm · Comment · 

You, Katsuya Omine and 2 others like this.

Charlie Fujikawa

seriously, laker fans still using this excuse? they just got outplayed.

Yesterday at 9:28pm

Steven Sato

"Lakers in 6." Kevin, it's not the NBA or the refs. It's the lakers who want to bring it back to LA for the cash and the celebration. The second win for the celtics will again be charity. gg.

Yesterday at 10:02pm

Kevin Wong

I don't like to blame the refs, but they made more than a few calls that changed the entire trajectory of the game: Kobe's 5th foul (Ray's flop), Artest's 6th (phantom foul), ball out of bounds clearly off Garnett's hand

Yesterday at 10:39pm

Steven Sato

what kinda take me seriously

Yesterday at 10:52pm

Kevin Wong

i was more responding to the previous comment made by the person with obvious anti-Laker sentiment. haha.

Yesterday at 10:59pm

Steven Sato

preach!

Yesterday at 11:01pm

Charlie Fujikawa

if you honestly believe the lakers lost today because the refs have been ordered to "milk" the finals to a long and profiting series... well, nothing i say will change your mind.

i'm just tired of people blaming the lakers' losses on the refs. the refs make horrible calls, it a part of the game, not a conspiracy theory against the lakers. ...See More

17 hours ago

Katsuya Omine

wow...

17 hours ago

Kevin Wong

i'm not sayin' the lakers only lost 'cause of the refs and that i know for sure that its a conspiracy. I just think its a definite possibility. I don't think anyone can dispute that.

More importantly, refs are going to make bad calls, but they should never decide the outcome of the game. All i'm sayin'.

16 hours ago

Vietbinh Nguyen

ah, the familiar laker tunnel vision. If I'm not mistaken the Lakers shot 41 free throws to Boston's 26. That's 15 free points the refs gave in favor of LA. Oh yea, and Ray Allen also set an NBA record 8 3-pointers in the finals. Better luck next year LA.

15 hours ago

Charlie Fujikawa

calling those mistakes, "calls that changed the entire trajectory of the game", and calls that "decide the outcome of the game" is being a bit overzealous. by making that statement, you're discounting the effort put forth by the celtics' & lakers' players.

save the drama fo yo mama, accept you got beat, and acknowledge that you have to play better next game... all i'm sayin'

8 hours ago

Kevin Wong

its obviously not worth talking to someone who is evidently a laker-hater (like most Norcalers) and who simply doesn't know what its like firsthand to root for their team during an NBA Finals albeit meaningful playoff game.

7 hours ago

Keiske Satake

haha. Wow.

7 hours ago

Charlie Fujikawa

ah... now here come the personal attacks...

love you too, kev!

7 hours ago

Vietbinh Nguyen

i'm actually from LA... hahaha

6 hours ago

Wayne Katayama

wow, entertaining, haha.

4 hours ago

Josh Uyeda

first.. there were at least 3 phantom calls on kobe. 1 was the ray "flop" - they did bump heads, but when has that (and by that, i mean watch the replay .. if someone comes back with a "headbutts are fouls" comment, you didn't actually see the play) ever been a foul. 2 was the rondo flop while falling out of bounds. 3 was the charge where big baby walked up under him while he was in the air. i get that i'm a lakers fan and the charge could be 50/50, but the other two were indefensible.

second.. if you don't think 5 fouls early in the fourth on the game's best player makes a difference that could decide the game, i don't know what to say to that. for an example, see what boston looked like in game 1 with one of their best (and maybe their most important in this matchup) in foul trouble. (jesus was robbed of the finals mvp in 08) phil said after the game that kobe tried to change the way he attacked because of the fouls.

third.. to the free throw #'s, there were actually an even 29 fouls called on each team. i would argue that the lakers edge in free throw attempts came because our bigs are taking more shots in the lane (gasol+bynum 20; kg+perk 12) while the celtics did most of their damage on jumpers (jesus).

fourth.. i'm not blaming the outcome of the game on the refs. Jesus set a NBA Finals record as we decided to play the "he can't really make the next one too" defense; we didn't get anything from shannon or mr. kardashian; we we're -5 in rebounds; we didn't defend all that well and stood around way too much on offense; and we still could/should have won the game. i'm not worried. BUT, the refs definitely influenced the game - whether by kobe's 2+ phantom fouls or the late out of bounds call off of pau's hand through kg's (they do have instant replay there, right? i mean, we all saw it..) - and as lakers fans, we definitely can have an issue with how the game was officiated.. just like boston fans will have an issue with how the next "joey on a sunday" game is officiated.

fifth.. the NBA's (and any pro sports league for that manner - besides hockey) #1 most important goal is the bottom line. it has to be. it's a business. statistics say that if a team goes up 2-0 especially in a 2-3-2 series where it's almost impossible to win 3 straight against a good team, the series is "over". from a marketing perspective, that can't happen. just like there's no way stern wanted a phoenix boston finals over boston la. how much this stuff influences the outcomes of specific games is up for discussion, but it is there.

21 minutes ago

Shawn Hiroki Arata

Josh for the win!

13 minutes ago

Wayne Katayama

for real! josh, that was beastly

12 minutes ago

Growing Up is soooo Overrated

Dear friends,

The time has finally come (again) for the young (relative) seedlings to sprout their wings and leave their beloved nest. I have an intricate puzzle to lay before you in hopes that someone can solve the riddle and assist the birdies in their quandry.

Need
2 bed, 1-2 bath
condo, townhome, or duplex (no apartments)
4 star +
in the greater West Los Angeles area including the South Bay

Prefer
in home Washer and Dryer
great area where 2 girlies would be safe

The budget is around $1700. If you know of anyone who has a place and is willing to lease to 2 working professionals who have GREAT credit, are clean, and like it quiet, please send over an email. And the prize for the winner who is able to hook us up with all our needs... our guest for our first gourmet meal in the new pad!

Sheldon

Last Sunday Josh's best friend, Sheldon, experienced some chest pains. He went in to the doc, was cleared, and sent home. After  review the doctors called him back in for further testing. Last Monday, April 26, Sheldon was diagnosed with Stage II Hodgkins Lymphoma.

Josh and Sheldon have been best friends since middle school. They have gone through tests, grades, girls, basketball, volleyball, friends, homemade videos, heartbreak, separation, snowboarding, family issues, college, and everything else that encompasses 10 years of friendship. They're actually more like brothers. Sheldon is one of the few people that Josh opens up to, readily drives to the valley to hang out with even though he's spent the prior 16 hours studying, and is honest and forthright to with all the opinions and ideas rolling around in his head (and if you know Josh, that's saying quite a lot). When it comes down to it, Josh trusts Sheldon and I believe the visa versa is also true.

Yes, if you're going to get cancer this one is probably a better one to get than others. There's a high chance of beating it. But even in knowing all this, stuff like this really shakes you to your roots. It has shaken Josh.  There hasn't been someone this close to him who has gone through something like this. Sheldon loves Jesus so even though he has already gone through chemo and experienced many of the terrible side effects that comes with that, he is holding firm in his foundation in Christ. And out of the ashes there has already been so much beauty - in Josh, in Sheldon, and in the lives of the people that Sheldon has touched.

If you'd like to follow along with Sheldon - and with Josh - on this journey...
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/sheldonsheehy/journal

Sheldon and Josh during college.

Authentic Worship

We didn't have a drummer today during second service. He had a middle high airsoft birthday party. :p But praise without drums can be rough so right before we started I eyed a handheld percussion and scanned the congregation for anyone who might be able to hold a steady beat during the music (welcome to small church 101). I landed on my mom. Now, if you didn't know, my mom is quite musical. She grew up singing with her family and can harmonize in several ways. So I motioned to her to see if she would come and play.

Well, in my split second decision I failed to take into account 2 things: 1. She oftentimes gets quite emotionally involved in worship - so holding a steady beat wasn't an ideal situation for her, and 2. She's a freebird, which means along with trying to hold a beat AND remember the words to the songs she was also harmonizing at the top of her lungs, dancing, rejoicing, yelling, and just plain ole worshipping Jesus in the most authentic way only she can.

I realized this halfway during the 1st song and couldn't help but laugh and smile. I mean, seriously I wasn't able to lead the song. All attempts to gain composure were lost when I accidently made eye contact with A - we both died. She knew what I knew. We both knew.

Can you see the two small fists raised behind Jenna and next to Eric (the ones holding the tambourine and not playing it)? that's her. :)

My mom has been the one to teach me about authentic worship. Even when I was growing up, it didn't matter who was around or where we were - if she felt the presence of the Lord in song - she would whoop it up. Although I kid here, I thank her for instilling in me the freedom to lead without restraint and in total abandon to my King.

Oh yea! And just in case you needed to see the proof of THIS. I love it!!!!!!! Rock on girl.

(Thanks to Special K for the pic)

In Celebration of a Life Well Lived

Last night Linda went to be with the Lord. She was at home, surrounded by family, friends, and Richard.

And even though it hurts like crazy, there is a peace that invades my heart. Even the hospice nurse noticed. Yesterday she said there was something different about this family than many she has seen before. She attributed it to a deep faith in the Lord. Yes, it's painful to lose Linda - but there is an everlasting knowledge that she is with her mom and Judy, celebrating being with Jesus in Heaven. I told A that I bet she's naming all the prophets and disciples as they walk by - and meeting the people from the Word who's lives gave her conviction and purpose.

But still I know it can be hard. This helped me, maybe it can help you too.
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior" Isaiah 43: 1-3

An Open Letter

Hi,

We have some news about Linda. Before her and Richard left for their honeymoon two weeks ago she was looking quite jaundice. The doctors warned this might be a sign that they would need to clean out the area around the stint or replace the stint again. When they returned from their time in Maui the doctors admitted her for that purpose. Since then she has had several complications. Her bilirubin count would not decrease, they could not do this procedure, high pressure, etc. And really she just doesn't look good - weak and thin. She actually weighs less than me now. Last night the doctors told her and Richard there is nothing else they can do. She is being transferred to hospice care and was told she has two weeks.

Prior to yesterday's diagnosis she had been discouraged-but still singing hymns, quoting scripture, and talking about things to do in the church. Mom is in Mississippi, but Linda called her yesterday and they cried together. Mom is flying in tonight.

Please pray for Richard ( this will be his second loss of a wife in two years), the Flach family, and for Linda in these coming days. On Tuesday I was hanging out with her in the hospital and as I was leaving I gave her a kiss and said do not be discouraged. She opened her eyes and said softly, "Our God is an everlasting God". The Holy Spirit is present and we rest on his will, trusting that He is in control. 


Love,
JJ


P.S. I know many of you would love to visit. Please refrain unless you have heard it is okay otherwise.