October 5, 2020
Opening Prayer
Dear God, at the very beginning of creation, you gave us days to mark our lives, years to have a long view and a season for everything under heaven. Just as there’s a season to throw away stones and a season to gather stones together, today is a season to gather up words of thanksgiving and appreciation as we celebrate the work retirements of Tommy and Bonnie. They have dedicated their lives for Christian service through their professions, on behalf of the church and in public witness in their community. And as the result of their faithful discipleship, we as friends and family have been blessed because we have seen your mighty acts, O God through their life-long commitments. We ask you to bless this party and strengthen the bonds of friendship to care for one another in the coming years. Watch over Tommy and Bonnie and their children, Aaron and Kelly granting them good health and the joy of being in your presence. In the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
The Ingenuity of Tommy and Bonnie
The word that came to me that defines Tommy and Bonnie is ingenuity. It means resourceful, inventive, clever and originating from genius, it means having great mental ability. And when both Tommy and Bonnie have this quality, it’s amazingly powerful!
In the Gospels, there’s a story of some men who cared so much for their paralyzed friend that they climbed on top of the roof of the house where Jesus was teaching. There were so many people that these men couldn’t bring their friend in the front door. These men peeled away the roof tiles and lowered their friend on a stretcher with ropes before Jesus. That was ingenious! That was resourceful and clever!
But listened to what the Bible said, “When Jesus saw their faith (the men’s faith), Jesus said, ‘Friend, (the paralyzed man) your sins are forgiven you.’”(Luke 5:20) It’s because of the paralyzed man’s friends’ faith and ingenuity that Jesus forgave sins and healed the man.
Ingenuity best describes Tommy and Bonnie’s life-long endeavors is what amazes us. Tommy and Bonnie go beyond one’s imagination to achieve a goal. They have this unbelievable ingenuity to win over famous people to do a selfie. If you need something done, Tommy and Bonnie are resourceful when they volunteer at CCDC or promote Lanna Coffee because ‘Every sip saves lives!’ Like the paralyzed man’s friends, Tommy and Bonnie are able to advocate for others’ wellbeing and make things happen.
For many of you and for myself, Tommy was my optometrist for more than 20 years. His commitment to his profession kept him up-to-date with new technologies to keep me seeing clearly. One time, he had me standing behind the church pulpit and measured the distance from my eyes to the pulpit where my sermon was so that I would preach nearly. Tommy’s ingenuity helped me to preach Jesus dearly.
And Bonnie was in the Berryessa office too. And every time when I was ready to get new frames for my new lenses, I relied on Bonnie to make me look contemporary and trendy! Before I sat down at the counter, she and other staff had already consulted on what I would look good in. While it was always harder for me to change to a new look, in the end, I went with their recommendation. I have had so many people, even strangers telling me that I have fashionable eyeglasses!
Ingenuity comes from those who are resourceful, inventive and clever. While the men in the Gospel was ingenious in helping their friend be healed, in the end, Tommy and Bonnie are good friends with ingenuity who would do anything to help, make things happen and serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
Don Ng
10.05.2020