The King is dead.  Long Live the King!  My ode to the Mighty Tacoma. 

Goodbye to the Almighty Tacoma.  I got into an accident last Wednesday on the 605North.  I had an appoinment with my counselor at Fuller to register for classes.  The meeting was at 2pm.  I wanted to meet Steve up in Pasadena to grab some King Taco.  Next thing I know, I slammed into the back of a Chevy Astro Van.  Thank God no one was hurt.  But my truck.  Well.  It went out in a bang and I'm proud to say it was on its way to King Taco as its last destination.

She has served me the past ten years oh so faithfully.  I got it on October of 97.  Toyota of Cerritos at the Cerritos Auto Square.  It was a Saturday.  That night we all went to a youth rally at TFPC called "Celebration."  George from Solid did a special song and Pastor Charles Oh and Pastor Sam Park spoke.  DP (David Park) was the first person to ride in the extra cab and for the life of me I can't remember who sat in shotgun.

I drove my truck 24,000 miles the first year i had it.  It's been to countless retreat sites all up and down the San Bernadino mountains.  Its gone to Mexico for many mission trips.  It drove all around the mean streets of Ktown for two years.  I let my Green Pastures kids drive it one time and 15 mins later they come back with 10 of their homies all sitting in the bed of my truck. 

I've let many people learn how to drive stick on the super fast tacoma.  All 4-cylinders and 143 horsepowers of it.

This generation of Veritas may not appreciate it as the DP/Dave Cho-Hyun/Peter-Earl/Dale/Susan-Eddy/Bruce/David Wee/Connie generations... i must've talked about my truck in my sermons at least once a month while they were in the youth group.  Every time i go up to retreats to speak, i always mention my truck and it becomes its own little character. 

Not many of the Veritas kids ride in it.  I'm stinking always driving the church mini-van.  But Joyce and Cheese get to ride home in it.  The extra cab is always reserved for Cheese.

I loved taking it to Alfred Rhee's garage and see what stickers I could scrounge from TURBOIMPORTS.COM. 

My truck has also caused some minor drama.  The left side of my front bumper has been dinged up because a DOG HIT ME.  I love dogs.  I would never want to harm any canine creatures.  But once when i was going home and going south on Euclid, these two dogs were chasing one another and the one getting chased didn't see me and died a glorious death.  But fear not, the dog is now in doggy heaven,

I've also been hit up many times by Raiders fans because of my Raiders Sticker on the back.  But i've proved my mettle to the Raider Nation.  I once actually got quized by a raider fan because he thought i didnt know my raider stuff.  Of course I answered correctly.  And of course i was scared beyond belief.  But that's besides the point.  RAIDER NATION FOR LIFE.

My truck has been broken into at least 4 times.  CD's got stolen and one time when it was stolen, someone actually left a Mexican Christmas CD in my car.  Probably Raiders Fans.

And once in awhile I'll have some random trash in my bed.  Someone once poured a whole bag of dog food in the bed of my truck as a prank.  I was not amused.

I've also made a video with my truck for VBS.  We were called they Toyota Viper Team.  We battled against N.W.A.  Nissan With Attitude.

The first time i got my truck, I said a prayer of thanks and also asking God to use this truck for His glory.  Some 178,000 odd miles later, i believe with all my heart that it has fulfilled it's duty.

I never gave my tacoma a name.  It was always either "The almighty Tacoma" or the "super fast tacoma" or the "fastest car in fullerton."

But now it is no more.  Be good to whoever owns you.  I'm sorry if you're now going to be used for spare parts.  I tried my best.  Goodbye Tacoma. 

And Hello Pathfinder!  I have now joined N.W.A. 

So there you have it.  I have a new ride.  And like the Tacoma, I pray that the car will be used for God's glory.  It's a bit surreal but I'm loving the Pathfinder.  I haven't had power windows, keyless entry and a real trunk in ten years! 

Man took me a long time and who knew I had all these pictures of my truck.

Moving along, I want to give a shout-out to the Faith Community Blue Lightning Sisters Softball team.  They scrimmaged on Sunday and they won their game.  Richard Kong and I coached them from the beginning of the summer.  But we have now turned the keys over to coach Phil.  Good luck ladies.  Looking forward to hearing how you guys do.

Last but not least, Veritas... be ready... to beSTILL.