Interesting how I've changed in four years. I also noted the "love and be loved" trait is scarily low on the list, and I realize that it is not due to me not loving others, but allowing others to love me back. It always seems I am contributing to the relationship more than the other party, which is dangerous and creates skewed relationships. These are never healthy in the long-term. (reminds me of the relationship of the boy and the giving tree, except in real life as revised here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/wp/2013/02/28/the-giving-tree-revised/) http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Default.aspx VIA strengths test 3/25/14 Your Top Strength

Spirituality, sense of purpose, and faith You have strong and coherent beliefs about the higher purpose and meaning of the universe. You know where you fit in the larger scheme. Your beliefs shape your actions and are a source of comfort to you.

Your Second Strength

Kindness and generosity You are kind and generous to others, and you are never too busy to do a favor. You enjoy doing good deeds for others, even if you do not know them well.

Your Third Strength

Caution, prudence, and discretion You are a careful person, and your choices are consistently prudent ones. You do not say or do things that you might later regret.

Your Fourth Strength

Judgment, critical thinking, and open-mindedness Thinking things through and examining them from all sides are important aspects of who you are. You do not jump to conclusions, and you rely only on solid evidence to make your decisions. You are able to change your mind.

Your Fifth Strength

Leadership You excel at the tasks of leadership: encouraging a group to get things done and preserving harmony within the group by making everyone feel included. You do a good job organizing activities and seeing that they happen.

Strength#6

Modesty and humility You do not seek the spotlight, preferring to let your accomplishments speak for themselves. You do not regard yourself as special, and others recognize and value your modesty.

Strength#7

Citizenship, teamwork, and loyalty You excel as a member of a group. You are a loyal and dedicated teammate, you always do your share, and you work hard for the success of your group.

Strength#8

Fairness, equity, and justice Treating all people fairly is one of your abiding principles. You do not let your personal feelings bias your decisions about other people. You give everyone a chance.

Strength#9

Honesty, authenticity, and genuineness You are an honest person, not only by speaking the truth but by living your life in a genuine and authentic way. You are down to earth and without pretense; you are a "real" person.

Strength#10

Bravery and valor You are a courageous person who does not shrink from threat, challenge, difficulty, or pain. You speak up for what is right even if there is opposition. You act on your convictions.

Strength#11

Gratitude You are aware of the good things that happen to you, and you never take them for granted. Your friends and family members know that you are a grateful person because you always take the time to express your thanks.

Strength#12

Perspective (wisdom) Although you may not think of yourself as wise, your friends hold this view of you. They value your perspective on matters and turn to you for advice. You have a way of looking at the world that makes sense to others and to yourself.

Strength#13

Love of learning You love learning new things, whether in a class or on your own. You have always loved school, reading, and museums-anywhere and everywhere there is an opportunity to learn.

Strength#14

Capacity to love and be loved You value close relations with others, in particular those in which sharing and caring are reciprocated. The people to whom you feel most close are the same people who feel most close to you.

Strength#15

Self-control and self-regulation You self-consciously regulate what you feel and what you do. You are a disciplined person. You are in control of your appetites and your emotions, not vice versa.

Strength#16

Social intelligence You are aware of the motives and feelings of other people. You know what to do to fit in to different social situations, and you know what to do to put others at ease.

Strength#17

Appreciation of beauty and excellence You notice and appreciate beauty, excellence, and/or skilled performance in all domains of life, from nature to art to mathematics to science to everyday experience.

Strength#18

Hope, optimism, and future-mindedness You expect the best in the future, and you work to achieve it. You believe that the future is something that you can control.

Strength#19

Humor and playfulness You like to laugh and tease. Bringing smiles to other people is important to you. You try to see the light side of all situations.

Strength#20

Forgiveness and mercy You forgive those who have done you wrong. You always give people a second chance. Your guiding principle is mercy and not revenge.

Strength#21

Industry, diligence, and perseverance You work hard to finish what you start. No matter the project, you "get it out the door" in timely fashion. You do not get distracted when you work, and you take satisfaction in completing tasks.

Strength#22

Curiosity and interest in the world You are curious about everything. You are always asking questions, and you find all subjects and topics fascinating. You like exploration and discovery.

Strength#23

Creativity, ingenuity, and originality Thinking of new ways to do things is a crucial part of who you are. You are never content with doing something the conventional way if a better way is possible.

Strength#24

Zest, enthusiasm, and energy Regardless of what you do, you approach it with excitement and energy. You never do anything halfway or halfheartedly. For you, life is an adventure.

Calling of Music

I have resolved this to do this in my life for a long time, but I might as well use blogger to "set it down in stone." I will not use music to impress a girl, and I will not use it to glorify myself (it would seem that these two go hand in hand most of the time).

1) I will only use it to glorify God.

2) I thought it would be really cute and also absolutely necessary to use music in how I am going to raise my family. I hear stories and see living examples of how children grow up not really knowing God. The know Bible knowledge and can recite bible verses and children's worship songs, but deep down in their hearts they don't know Jesus and what he has done from them. How cool would it be to have spontaneous worship and jam sessions with your kids in an attempt to reveal God's love and glory to them on a daily basis? I think its cool, and I think its something I want as a parent. I want to live a life showing my children that I love them, and I love them because God loved me first, and that the most important thing in the Lee family is to use our lives as a living testimony and continuous act of worship of our Living God.

Something...similar to this family :)

生命中你看重什麼？

如何在朋友的情感銀行存款

1.傾聽他想要說的話

2.支持他想要做的事

3.當他有難的時候,幫助他

4.當他犯錯的時候,引導他

5.當他難過的時候,陪伴他

6.思念他的時候,就打個電話告訴他

7.三不五時,關心一下他的近況

8.彼此心靈交流

9.當有快樂好康的事,一定有他的份

10.把自己的喜怒哀樂,與他分享

人生錯綜複雜，

我們都有可能偶爾失控，

傷害了情人、配偶。

避免情感銀行戶頭透支

的最有效辦法是:

平常多多存款，多說感激欣賞的話，

多作體貼關懷的行動。

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veRrjNNZwlU

The Marriage by Darrin Patrick, during an Acts 29 conference for pastors in preparation for ministry. This is the best marriage sermon I have ever listened to hands down (and I've seen at least 50+ on youtube on Vimeo)

Here are my notes (5 whole pages!!!):
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1N_YKs-grpvJT1kllZf9O8NxH3H2UEEQvGpW9Nh1v-4w/edit?usp=sharing

Other sermons worth noting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKHq3_yJhGQ Selfishness and Dating - Matt Chandler
http://www.thevillagechurch.net/sermon/defining-masculinity Defining Masculinity - Matt Chandler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkbTswsbt6Q Dating - Mark Driscoll

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K1M5mNEe8s Sexual Compatibility and a Fist Bump - Mark Driscoll
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06y5Ub9oamE Tim Keller Speaking to Google employees about marriage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21l-9IrDhAk Ten Words of Counsel for Single People - John Piper

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37_CbuMDLs8 Love Lies: Love is a Feeling - Darrin Patrick
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AP6cc2aBecE Dating, Courtship, and Marriage - Paul Washer 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqn1kXIkkhw David Platt - Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihRmM0aVADU Christ Centered Relationships - Francis and Lisa Chan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CLrHAoTPZI Love, Marriage, and Stinking Thinking: Dating and Happiness - Mark Gungor

Edit: I've decided that if I have a daughter, and a Godly man comes to me asking for her hand in courtship, I will ask him to watch all of these sermons (I will have saved them on my computer by that time) and have him write a 20 page essay (maybe 10...but hey, mine is 50 pages long) on Biblical Marriage and how to be a man. If he is willing to do this, and his essay beats my essay from now (2014), then I will be confident he knows my daughter is worth it, and will treat her how beloved daughter of God deserves to be treated.

Still...this applies: