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Who Wants to be a Lifeonaire?

On occasion, I get a chance to practice my speaking skills and share the things that are on my heart and mind. This is a speech I gave a few weeks ago that got a lot of positive feedback so I thought I’d share it here in hopes that it might benefit others. It has helped me to refocus and re-evaluate my priorities.


Who Wants to be a Lifeonaire?

By Peter Chung

We’ve all heard the phrase, “Who wants to be a millionaire?” And every one of us has probably raised their hand to that question in one way or another. The millionaire culture that has become such an influence in our society today has caused us to lose sight of the things that are truly important. The question that I’d like you to consider today is, “Who wants to be a Lifeonaire?”

We all know what a millionaire is, but “What’s a Lifeonaire?” you ask. As you may have gathered already, a millionaire is a person who has an abundance of money. Likewise, a lifeonaire is a person who is full of life!

Steve Cook, a friend and teacher who coined this phrase defines it: “A Lifeonaire is someone who desires a full life and is free to seek it, pursue it, share it, and attain it. They have the joy and peace of knowing that they are doing what they are supposed to be doing.”



Signed, Sealed, Delivered

Things have been a bit busy around here with the fall wedding season kicking in and we also moved into our first home just a little over a week ago!


Mary in front of Chicago TitlePeter in front of Chicago Title striking a pose ;)

Signed…
Mary signing deed

Sealed…
Peter shaking hands with closing agentMary shaking hands with closing agent

DELIVERED!
Mary holding the key to our new home!

We’re home!

We went in to close on our new home two Thursdays ago, moved in that Saturday, and even managed to sneak in a wedding shoot with the inimitable Heather Cole during our Saturday move-in day! It’s been quite a transition for us and we are getting settled in and loving our new place!

“There’s no place like home… there’s no place like home” ;)

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Back from Down Under

After 35 hours of traveling from Christchurch, New Zealand back to good old Kansas City, Mary and I are back safely after an awesome time!

New Zealand is an excellent place to vacation during this time of year, especially after coming back to 90 degree humid weather!

More pictures coming soon!

After almost three weeks of almost no contact with the outside world, there is a lot of catching up to do! A lot has happened while we’ve been gone and a lot more is still happening.


First, a special congratulations are in order for Heather Cole, who was featured in a New York Times article with images from her Trash the Dress session which we had collaborated on. (Video from the TTD session with Heather) Coincidentally, the NY Times article was published on our one year anniversary date! How cool is that? :)


In other media news, TTD has been featured on Entertainment Tonight’s “The Insider” as well as on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”

Jason Domingues, another fantastic KC photographer, has his Trash the Dress photos on Good Morning America’s slideshow. (For more of Jason’s TTD pics, click here)

Trashing the Dress is gaining popularity in the Kansas City area as another photographer, Kelley Walker-Chance, most well-known for her Coquettes, has recently done her first TTD session as well, which, as usual, ended up looking amazing!

If you are looking to Trash the Dress in Kansas City, there are some amazing photographers here that will create memories that you will cherish forever. If you really want bridal elegance and beauty, give me a call and we can create a music video with your images and video for a breathtaking and unforgettable experience!

Peter

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Quality Living

I was just emailed this story and it opened up my eyes to the meaning of becoming rich vs the quality of one’s life.



Free Hugs Campaign. Inspiring True Story!

I just watched this clip on YouTube and was inspired by the difference that one person can make to brighten someone else’s life.

Watch the clip and then share it… then go out and hug a stranger!



Birthday Parties

As I mentioned before, Mary’s birthday passed recently and I took some pictures.

Food plays an important role in our family. We LOVE food, especially GOOD FOOD!

Yummy appetizers by Ann. She twirled up a basil leaf into the olives!

Stuffed tomatoes. Something new. Something different. Something delicious!

Chinese style Korean BBQ ribs :)

You almost feel you shouldn’t eat such a beautiful work of art… but food is much better in your stomach :)

I made some stuff, too. Below are pictures of my 7 layer dip. It was my first time making it and it was a hit!



Beatbox Proposal

We just recently celebrated Mary’s first birthday as a married couple :) In commemoration of this wondrous event, here is a post of my beatbox proposal to Mary on December 21, 2006.

For those of you that don’t know what beatboxing is or have never heard of it, beatboxing is emulating the sounds of a drum set with your mouth. But I have added a twist to it… I can beatbox a drum beat while singing or speaking words… AT THE SAME TIME!

Since most people I know cannot do this, I wrote a proposal poem for Mary and asked her to “Mary” me :)

Our beatbox proposal is excerpted from Our Love Story, which we showed our guests at our reception.

Enjoy!
Peter



Our Love Story

This is our love story, shown to our guests during our wedding reception.

  • How We Met
  • What We Love About Each Other
  • The Proposal
  • God of Love and Joy
  • Finding Purpose in Life Through Christ

Creative filming and editing are used to help the story along rather than as a distraction. Some things to look for: 3D photo montage, tasteful special effects, beatboxing :)

Locations: Kauffman Memorial Garden, Loose Park, Country Club Plaza, J.C. Nichols Fountain, Swope Park (these are just some of the beautiful places that make for beautiful photos and scenery in Kansas City)



Some Good Rules to Live By

A friend sent me this poem and it is a good doctrine to live by in an increasingly pessimistic and self-preserving society. Despite the “facts of life,” I choose to love others and give my best though there are those out there who may take advantage of it and though I may even end up getting hurt at times.

Inevitably, though, you meet people who also live by these ideals and the best and most rewarding friendships come out of such a lifestyle…

Free to live, free to love, free to be yourself, free to forgive those who wrong you, free from the expectations of others… this is true freedom!

The Final Analysis
By Mother Theresa

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the FINAL analysis, it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.



The Tongue (Not The Pen) Is Mightier Than The Sword

“Reckless words pierce like a sword,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
- Proverbs 12:19

It has been said that the pen is mightier than the sword… that you can do more to influence a man and move him with the written word than you can with the sword, which compels him to action only out of fear of affecting his livelihood.

With the right words, you can move people and persuade them that taking the course of action that you are suggesting is, in fact, a better way. With words, you can touch others at a deeper level and affect their emotions, their thoughts, and even their way of life.

But with the power and potential of words also comes much responsibility.

The same words that can be used to gently persuade and help others’ well-being can also be used to manipulate and tear others down to get our own way. Words can be used to wound people in places that no sword can penetrate. A sword will cut through flesh, but words can cut through the heart. We’ve all felt the cutting of the heart that happens when people who we consider trustworthy say things that should never be said. Though they do not harm us physically, you can feel the pain even from a distance miles away.

With the same mouth, you have the ability to speak either blessings or curses. At first glance, you may think this point is trivial, but how many times have you been reluctant or insecure because of what someone else said about you? How many times have you been discouraged because others did not believe in you? How many of us don’t feel good about ourselves because of the hurtful things that someone said to us?

Words have the power to either bless you or curse you.

The hurtful words continue to haunt us and every time we hear them or remember them, it cuts us again, like a fresh wound, and it never heals properly. And these wounds will continue to hurt us and we will feel victimized until the power of those words are broken.

And I’ll tell you that without the grace of God, it is impossible.

There is still hope. Though we can’t change how others have affected us and though we can’t change how others use and manipulate words, we can resolve to use our words to bring healing and encouragement.

It is human nature to lash back and return the treatment we receive from others. And if we don’t lash back at the person who offended us, we often lash back at those close to us, that we hold dear to our hearts. We don’t mean to hurt them, but we end up hurting them because we ourselves are hurting.

And again, without the grace of God, without specifically asking God to give you this grace to forgive and not letting those words affect you, you will not be able to stop the cycle of receiving and lashing out in pain.

“He who seeks good finds goodwill,
but evil comes to him who searches for it.”
- Proverbs 11:27

When we resolve to take the high road and use our words to build others up, even though we are unfairly treated, we will be blessed and find favor with both God and men. It may not happen immediately and it may not happen when we want it and when it’s most convenient for us, but God promises that “he who seeks good finds goodwill.” When we search for evil, or seek to “return the favor,” God promises that evil will come back to you.

God’s way is hard because it is unnatural and goes against everything that you see in this world. But I can’t imagine trying to live any other way. If we don’t live according to God’s way, then according to whose ways are we living? God is good, kind, loving, merciful, and gentle with us… Who are you listening to and what are they like? What becomes of their ways and their lifestyle? Please consider deeply whose advice you are listening to and what kinds of things will come of that advice.

- Peter

There were many themes and ideas presented here that can be developed further. If you’d like me to write more about something that sparked interest, please comment and let me know or email me privately. I hope this article has been helpful.



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