Joy

What did Paul mean when he talked endlessly about Joy (I'm going to caps it)? What did the Psalms mean about Joy? What did author of Hebrews mean in chapter 12? There can be a joy in eating cheesecake: I eat it, I delight in it, I take pleasure in it, but is this the same joy as the Joy we obtain from the Holy Spirit/Cross/Jesus Christ/God that will last for all eternity? What is “true” Joy? Can we fact check things with scripture? Otherwise there is no standard and anyone’s definition is fair game.

For me I believe Psalm 16:11 is one of the key verses in understanding Joy (my favorite verse about Joy). For me, it helps me to imagine Joy as an essence, a metaphysical thing so to speak, you obtain the very second you know God, and it continues to grow and be produced from your heart that moment on. It is there when you take part in anything regarding the Lord, such as being in the Lord’s presence, walking in faith, and seeing the fruit that is produced in His kingdom. The act/verb usage of rejoicing is affirming this fact. You can feel Joy, because since it is a thing it is radiating happiness and enjoyment (heheh) like a hot coal (or the thermal stone from Don’t Starve…play with me), and can be stifled by sin but never lost as long as you have the Holy Spirit (depending on your theology it can never be lost), since the Holy Spirit is the conduit for the source of Joy which is the Cross (hence why it is a fruit of the Spirit). That is why there are times you think you cannot feel or see Joy, though it may be there.

There are many details and nuances to Joy as it is described in Scripture and by theologians, so it is hard to wrap it all together. It part of the contentment in God. It is part of the desire/longing to be with God and see/hear God. Like all these big Biblical words we commonly use, like Worship, Praise, Love, Hope, Truth, Peace, Salvation, Faith, they are all related and intricately tied together. There is Joy when we persevere under our Faith (James 1). We find Joy in the Peace we obtain when we truly Hope in the Day of the Lord (Romans 5, 12, 15). I believe that is what it means when Jesus says our Joy is made complete when the Bride and the Bridegroom are united. Because it is then when we will be in the full presence of God, with all the saints together praising and worshipping our Lord with one single voice.

At the end of the day, we want to know what God’s definition of all these big terms are, the “true” definition. Only a collective grasp of the all of them simultaneously can we truly being to understand any one of them. And this grasp/understanding is a work of God, a continuous work that is far from complete in any of us, especially me. I truly believe that these answers are found only in the Word of God, and only by the power of the Holy Spirit can simple text on a page become alive and breathed into us and revealed to us as described in 1 Corinthians 2. Now time to define all the other terminologies, oh and a better understanding of who the Holy Spirit is in my life. Oh joy.

Psalm 16:11

You make known to me the path of life;

    you will fill me with joy in your presence,

    with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

John 3:29

The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.

John 15:11

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

Philippians 2:1-2

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.

Hebrews 12:1-2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Romans 5:2

Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Romans 12:12

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

James 1:1-2

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance

More Notes/Points:

There are multiple Greek words for different types of joy. One for happiness (ashar), one for circumstantial joy commonly used in the OT and early NT (chara) to describe an emotion, one for eternal joy (chara) used in the NT describing having Christ. I think it is important to pay attention to this, just as one would pay attention to which greek word for "love" is used in context. Joy is separate from both happiness and pleasure (hedon) in scripture.

I like to think of joy as an essence, a metaphysical object. The Bible always characterizes joy as a fruit of the spirit, like how a tree bears fruit, the HS bears joy in our lives. Even in scripture the verb usage is commonly "produced", not "felt." From this fruit called joy we do feel and experience happiness and gladness. Joy produces happiness. As John Piper puts it, "hope bears the fruit of joy," giving both hope and joy objectivity.

I can accept the other definition that joy is a extreme or special version of happiness, one that is deeper, more "rooted," spiritual instead of being just emotional/physiological/hormonal/psychological  (though it can have/induce aspects in these areas). We have to remember that joy is mentioned 28 times in the NT in correlation with suffering, persecution, and sorrow, and is even magnified during these seasons. The point is that joy remains even when happiness and gladness disappear. Do you think Christ was happy when He was shedding tears of blood on Gethsemane? Or when He was nailed on the Cross? Do you think Paul was happy when he was whipped or starved or had the thorn?  Christians aren't masochists, we are joyful.

It is very clear in scripture that Joy is something that starts to exist and only exists when one receives the HS.  Biblical joy is not something that non-believers have and/or can experience. Again, very clear in the context of scripture and biblical theology. Just like common grace, there is probably some form of common joy, but it is not on the same level of joy one has because they know Christ.

Yes one can point to the singular event of Christ on the Cross as the source of our joy, you cannot forget that the consequences of that event covers all time, before and after, and that the joy set before Christ was with God and was a part of God since before the beginning. I don't think its fair to call joy circumstantial, but something that flows from an eternal and constant source as referred in the Psalms, just as I don't think its fair to call the Gospel circumstantial. God's presence and glory that brings joy into our lives has never wavered or changed. Same with Christ's kingship and glory.

Proverbs 28:27 - Whoever gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.

Every time I look away from the homeless on the streets in need, God slams this verse in my face. Sigh, have mercy on my soul.

Musings at 4am at night

I remember a conversation with one of my friends and alumni from Washu BME program. He said that only people who are weak and love wallowing in their weakness go to Christian fellowships (on campus). He pointed out that everyone there was very insecure, and meetings and such were basically pity parties. Those who graduated out of the fellowship end up still insecure, confused about life and what to do and where to go, and are generally less successful than those who refuse to end up in one of those fellowships. He pointed to the Christians who said they were Christian but opted to miss small group, large group, prayer meetings, and even church in exchange for studying and networking. Those are the successful ones.

To me this conversation really stuck out, even a year later. It is true. I was part of a really insecure and in some ways toxic fellowship. Everyone wanted to be taken care of, and there wasn’t enough juice to go around. Almost everyone in that fellowship are all kind of stuck today, while everyone who left the fellowship are all in more successful spots in life, at least by the world’s standards. 4 years later, I am still kind of stuck. Do I pursue something where I can be successful? Does this mean I am pursuing wordliness? Success in the eyes of man? When I look at the InterCP SMs (1-2 year missions into dangerous countries), or even people going on short term ones, I think to myself whether to admire them and join them, or to think they are stupid for throwing their lives away like that. Yes, when they go long-term like that, they end up coming back to the States with no money, no work experience, and for some no education (a lot of them quitting med school or even college in hope of pursuing God’s mission into the nations). From the traditional asian-american standard, that is stupid. But is it really stupid if I truly believe I am a Christian and believe God is sovereign and will take care of them? Maybe I may also be called to go? And what if I am called to go (barring all the conflicting theology surrounding missions), but am too afraid of dying or falling behind all my peers from Washu/KC/CMU? Is this considered loving the world, pursuing an “easier” life compared to other Christians, especially when I don’t feel a special calling to do PhD or go into biotech field?

Back to the fellowship. Yes, I do believe that brokenness brings people to God. Hurt people are more likely to seek God because the world have beaten into them that they are worthless. It is like the quote “God helps those who admit they can’t help themselves” (contrary to the un-biblical quote “God helps those who help themselves”). So yeah, I remember my time as a leader in ACF at Washu, many atheists who came into ACF were those seeking friendship, seeking help, seeking some kind of hope because their world was falling apart. But once they come in, they stay pitiful. I again would know because I also suffered intense depression in ACF, especially while trying to serve and take care of everyone under the constant pressure the BME workload entails. Those were not fun times. I almost lost sight of God, but whether or not you are an Armenian or a Calvinist, at least both can believe God does not let go when you fall away or am hurt so much. Again to quote, when I hit rock bottom, I hit the solid rock of God.

In my time at Washu, I saw more Christians leave the faith than those who accept it. To be honest, it can make almost anyone lose heart. The statistics that say 9 out of 10 Christians walk away from their childhood faith was unfolding right before my eyes. Again people will and have said that those never truly believed, and that may be true, it still really painful to see. Even now I am trying my best to be a good friend and hopefully a good witness to those I personally brought to faith, personally discipled, and eventually hurt/betrayed/let down because I was a failure as a leader. The whole lot of us, stuck in our sadness and hurt and insecurity and somehow never seem to gain confidence even after becoming a Christian or finding a bunch of other Christians. No wonder the atheists and former believers call us weak.

Where do we find our confidence then when we are hurting and wallowing in our brokenness? Why did so many people leave? Why do I keep on finding the same thoughts, same trends, same hidden daggers embedded in the hearts and minds of my friends at CMU? And here I was, older yet still naïve person going into a new undergraduate fellowship (my 4^th one), believing at first sight that this was a strong fellowship that cannot fail to take care of their own and point them heavenward. I am, seriously, a fellowship that doesn’t secretly promote success over Christ is a new thing for me. But as I got to know more people, hear more stories, I guess I realized that even here the cruelty of the world still takes its toll on people. How do I help instill confidence in them? How do I help them? Can I help them? Can’t Jesus Christ help them? Wasn’t that the point…of being a Christian?

What does it even mean to be a Christian? Doesn’t it mean we believe Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior and that the Holy Spirit now works within us, creating a new heart/being in us? I think…for most of my friends, the biggest kicker is the doubts. Doubts of where we should be going (like me). Doubts of whether God is still working (or ever worked) in our lives. Doubts that prayer actually has an effect on our lives or even brings us closer to God. Doubts that we can change or help or save even one person in this world. Doubts on even whether the Bible is reliable or infallible or the inspired Word of God. It is hard, but we should never take the easy way out. Sometimes I have to wake in the morning and ask myself do I really believe in a man who called himself Jesus Christ, and he was the incarnation of God as man in the flesh who died and rose from the dead to save mankind from sin? When I say yes, it takes a little of the burden off of my doubting heart. Then I can continue to ask if God is still working in my life and growing me, using me, healing me from my bitterness and guilt and anxiety of the future. If I believe in Jesus, then I should try (sometimes it seems like Christians are forbidden to use the word “try” because it is never by human effort but God that things work out) to believe in the promises he preached about. And if I believe the promises and the reality of Christ, then I should probably believe the Bible is the real deal, the truly inspired Word of God that Jesus believed in and everyone else believed in. Without that book, there is no Jesus. And without Jesus, well then life kind of just sucks cuz there won’t be any hope in this world. The bully and the powerful will always win.

But of course it is easy to say all of this, and much harder to show all of this Gospel stuff to the whole fellowship and get them to “take heart.” So hard. It probably takes more silent actions of love, the ear to hear someone’s pains, the shoulder for crying on, and the long nights sharing and truly caring. Again with the whole “try” thing, we can’t try to make things better because we all know we are powerless. Powerless to help someone out of their sorrow when they undergo a breakup, lose a loved one, or watch their dreams collapse into dust. If we are honest with ourselves, then we all know that we are powerless to help ourselves, even if that fact shows up once in a blue moon for the successful peeps. It is all God, time and time again. This fact alone should erase all doubt that comes from not “feeling” God or God’s presence. The fact that broken people get healed is proof enough for me. I know it because I went from someone who physically tore his lungs his junior year after coughing for 4 months straight, from someone who almost committed suicide after Relay for Life, and broke furniture/plates/even his computer his senior year because people were actively ignoring him and his hurt because they feared to get their hands dirty and didn’t want to be there for a brother. I went from the guy who cried all night before his graduation because others rejected fellowship with him because they believed in the compatibility of friendship and not in unconditional love. I went from that mess who hated God and hit that deep bottom, where I was physically, mentally, and spiritually broken, into who I am now: someone who has scars but awaits Him who takes all scars away. 4 years later, I still have a long way to go, but that’s the path of sanctification right? And of course, sanctification just means being made more like Christ, more holy, more righteous, more perfect, something that will never happen in this lifetime but is promised at the Day of the Lord.

I don’t really know why I am writing this at 4am, but maybe I am happy and sad at the same time after coming back to Kansas City. I am truly happy to find a group of close and loving friends here in Kansas City. We are different, so different that only the grace of God could I have met them (at Windermere 4 years ago) and actually became their friend. It is funny that DOTA has played a larger part in fellowship than almost any other means God could have used. For others it can be making or listening to music, or playing basketball, or cooking. But God used DOTA in this instance and I will never doubt that fact that God can use a video game, something so childish and worldly, for His glory and for my redemption. Of course we went much deeper than that, sharing so many memories those 2 years. Now I’m the only one who still sometimes play, for the sake of fellowship (I try). The last 2 days were wonderful. I don’t think I’ve been hugged that many times before in 2 days. Hugs after not seeing each other for what…5 months? Hugs after meals and movies too? Wow. Eating Canto Chinese food was good too, because that’s all Kansas City has and we do it good here. I wish I can always be there for these guys, but I know that I need to trust God that he is helping them grow. Helping all of us find our paths, ones that lead to Him and to love of things in this world. I know this is the one aspect my KC friends have the hardest time letting go, as it is also the one aspect in my life that is the hardest to let go. To me it is easy for me to give my time, my money, my resources to care and love people. It is really hard for me to let go my desires in this world up to God: a semi-comfortable and stable career path and a wife. Just like what J.C. prodded me with, if I truly believe in looking heavenward and to be with God, then why am I so hung up on these things? As if I die now and end up before God, I would demand him to send me back because I never got to be a husband or a dad? As if I wouldn’t be happy and content just to be in His presence? But, honestly, I struggle most with this, with letting go, with wanting to plan my life even though God (literally) YOLOs my life for me because He wants His "purpose to prevail."

It is hard to not think about wordliness for me. I also don't want a "normal" Christianity (as shown here: http://adam4d.com/normal-christianity/).  I want real Christianity that walks with the only real God. And I want to show the guys here in Kansas City that real God, but I really don't know how. No one wants to keep being told "you need to know the Gospel" or "you need to focus on the Day of the Lord" or "Jesus would/wouldn't do that." That is easy mode, and its not the right mode. To help clarify what my old ACF fellowship (and my new one), I bring up something I heard last weekend from Pastor Dan Song (the irony that the one time I go to Pastor Lester's church, he would be the guest speaker for that Sunday service). He made a distinction between transparency and vulnerability within the Christian worldview. I know they tend to be interchangeable words, so I hope you focus on the message and not with nuances. Transparency is when we reveal our sins, our secrets, our brokenness to each other, but there is still that thin glass wall that separates us from others. This is what I see in fellowship. Vulnerability is transparency without that glass wall, where others can stick their hands into your guts and touch all the grit and nasty in our lives, so they can help clean and heal you. I believe that it is Biblical to do so (there are no verses that says your walk must be alone, but way too many that directly or indirectly points to God using people for your growth and sanctification). So we all need to shift from transparency to vulnerability, and I know this is hard. I myself am guilty of this, more so than the next person over. I know I don't want to, especially being older, life has made me harder, more jaded, more likely to avoid sticky situations to protect myself. With everything I've been through, I should have given up. But I didn't, and its probably (most likely) due to God's Grace. I never gave up on people, and I hope I will always be there to help and care for people even knowing that I have no ability or strength to do so.

I want to stay in Kansas City. I want to stay in Pittsburgh. But I’m a big enough boy now to know that wherever I go, God will throw me into a group of guys, maybe guys who will sharpen me and disciple me, maybe guys whom I can take care and be accountable of. Maybe even a girl, who knows. Maybe it will be where I die young (oh no not my futility of life speech again/almost wanted to use the word “early” but there is no such thing as “early” death, only an “on time” death). I wrestle so much with deciding to get a PhD or not, but like my GCF friend J.S. says, it really isn’t about being faithful in these big one-time decisions (like choosing a school, a job, or even a spouse), but being faithful in the small things during our daily lives. That is because during these times is when the actions reflect our heart and where our fruit is born. I don’t know if I should be here in Kansas City right now or in Chicago in the fall. I will try (darn it) to give these things glory to God, and keep those SMs and my brothers and sisters who are proclaiming the Gospel in unreached and/or dangerous nations in my heart. Part of me still wants to go…and the other (larger) part is just a fruit smoothie, all confused and nutrients oxidizing. I really don’t know man…trust in God. Christ is enough for me. The only thing that counts is faith expressed in love (mah theme verse for 2015). I’m just throwing stuff at the end here.

Ah, I wish I took care of more people. I wish I was there more often when people were hurting. Did I lead the guys enough in Pittsburgh? Did I support enough people, greet enough people, preach the Gospel enough? Was I a role model? Did I leave more scars this time around? Did I spend enough time outside of lab, outside of my work, outside of my apartment, outside of my comfort zone? Worst of all, was I unconditional? These are my regrets this time around, but I know they are moot, just need to keep telling myself that. I feel like Pittsburgh and another undergraduate ACF was God giving me a second shot. I am more healed this time around, and I have a flawed but loving group of guys from back home to keep me going. Yes, going the graduate school route will mean less time with fellowship. I know there are very few Christians doing their PhD (because of before mentioned problems with undergraduate fellowships and Christians being called to the mission field). Maybe, just maybe, there is a niche here for me as a witness and steward. Who knows. God knows.

Ah...I just want to keep people in my prayers more (which means I should pray just a little bit more/idk why people think I have a strong prayer life, I do not). Truly, truly? Truly I believe God is working in all my friends, my brothers and sisters, here in Kansas City, those in Pittsburgh, the ones from St. Louis, and those spread out across the world. It is always hard to believe, but today I believe it.

Memories of the last 2 years

Finding C and H longboarding near the shortcut to Fifth and they gave me a hug when I was feeling lonely. Most random and seemingly whimsical event, yet it stayed strong in my head even till now.

That one time when I posted a FB status that accidentally and inadvertently gave the impression I was kidnapped and P freaked out and called me during class to make sure I wasn't actually in danger, to my surprise and gratefulness. I was really happy that someone actually cared. Also starting from that moment I became on guard on how my future posts could be interpreted.

The night K and I watching all of Halo 2-4 cutscenes and Halo Forward Unto Dawn. Ah and of course playing Halo 2 with K and JLim. Watching K struggle against honor guard elites was the best.

Hanging out with V and hearing his testimony of getting out of drugs and into the missions movement, ending with late night adventures to IHOP and eventually the airport.

The night after T convicted and rebuked me for not truly understanding the Gospel, leading me to pull an all nighter and reading a good amount of the NT in one go to satisfy my hunger to understand. Not going to lie, it was one of a very very few times I found true peace in reading the Word of God. Rarely does that happen, where reading scripture turns from just routine and studious into something real and life giving. But thats the point, I felt it once and I know it was the real deal, so that even if I don't feel anything now or get no reaction when I read my Bible, I can always look back to that moment and know what is real is still real, and everything will be okay.

Several of the prayer meetings were very memorable...the ones where many people came and we stayed till past midnight as we shared and cried and hurt and encouraged and gave thanks and just prayed for one another. Ah I should just share some from the doc...

Surprisingly, I found the camping trip to be a lot of fun, and I was really really happy no one tried to flirt or hook up with one another. Like, this is the first time I've seen this.

I miss the nights in undergrad when we would just stay up laying on the carpet and just talk about life, usually ending with how we still believe God is good and that though it is hard, we trust He is still working in our lives.

Those 4 hours in NYC. It is too bad it was only a dream. But it is okay. Christ is enough for me, always.

True love is one that lasts even through betrayal, where trust has been eroded away. Wasn't that the case on the Cross? Bah, to think I would learn this from Kelsier...

I truly appreciate G and everyone who has ever complimented me for my knowledge of scripture, theology, and general Christian news, but at the end of the day, instead of being known for my knowledge, I would rather be known as the guy who cared. 4 years ago, even 2 years ago, no one would have recognized me for knowing what I know now, but I have always been that person who lived for others. Mebbe I've grown more selfish. I gained all this knowledge not to puff myself up (heheh) but to bring people closer to Christ. But I know that most of the time, it is the arm embracing, the ear listening, and the heart caring and breaking that reveals the kind of Love poured out from the Cross. That is what I strive for, alway strive for, as I continue to live in this world.

Devo post #9 and #10

5/31/15

Galatians 3:2-6

I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? 4 Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? 5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? 6 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Well...this seems very action based. We get the Holy Spirit from believing. That is all we have to do under grace. The second most important message here is that we cannot earn grace nor is our salvation purchased by our works, and that we shouldn’t switch mindsets after we realize what the Gospel is. Yes, when people fall into legalism, it is because they forgot this part of the Gospel: that our salvation is through belief and through Grace, not works. Therefore, the word “try” really doesn’t fit Christians as God gives us the ability to believe (if you are are hardcore Calvinists) and our belief then transitions into faith. God before and God after. Sometimes I wonder how that looks in reality as we always tend to fall towards a “try try try” mentality. Does it just mean we wait for God to ignite our heart to have passion for prayer, scripture reading, and loving others? Do we attempt to work towards those things by ourselves, knowing that we are doing the impossible and thus when we find we have really developed a sincere passion for those things, we are able to credit God then?

Yes, a lot of times I feel like the things I am doing are done in vain. But the moment something good comes out of it, I can confidently say that it wasn’t my doing in my life, but the Holy Spirit’s doing. That is the point. The moment we can “feel” God again, we won’t say “ah its because I was reading scripture 4 hours a day or praying 4 hours a day or serving at church/fellowship 40 hours a week or giving 50% of my salary to missions or even devoting my entire life to preaching the Gospel in India or Turkey” but because I know that it is truly God moving me forward with His power and His grace and His love. God’s sovereignty in a nutshell.

 

5/22/15

Galatians 5:6

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Merrrr. Mah theme verse for the year. Fitting that God made this the verse I come back to after not doing devoes for like…(22-8) 14 days (2 weeks!?!?). After doing devotions on this document for almost 4 years, I definitely realize that the verses I come upon and specific days are so relevant for that day that it really can’t be coincidence. Especially when I take breaks from doing devotions. Like today. I’m sure I’ve remarked on them earlier too.

What is faith? What is love? I think these are the two questions that need answering before I can fully understand this passage. But at least on the surface level, the only thing that matters is love. Not intelligence, not talent, not skill, not anything born from man for love is born from God. That means my training doesn’t really amount to anything unless I use it to show love. That means being made uncomfortable. That means listening to the Holy Spirit in doing things I do not like. That means caring for people that I don’t have a good reason to care for. That means putting effort into the Body because I am compelled by Christ. That means building people up instead of beating them down. It means praying for those poor Christians in Iraq and Syria who are being killed or raped or forced to flee. Ugh just praying more in general for people, instead of not praying or just praying for myself. Haha Gordon you have no idea how lacking of a prayer life I have. Will need to change that. Well, need to ask for a heart that is willing to change first, then allow the Holy Spirit to work in that new heart. So much effort, but none from me.

I guess the question in my mind is this: did I show enough love in my faith these last 2 years? Or was I really selfish in how I behaved or my lack of action? It is very hard to not link the lack of farewells at the time of my graduation to me not making an impact at CMU. Was I not a good big brother to the ACF guys? Did I try too hard avoiding the girls to prevent me from doing stupid things like flirt with them who are 4-7 years younger than me? Didn’t I join this fellowship knowing I will not find my future wife there and I was okay with that? At least I didn’t end up crying all night before graduation because people told me I was never part of the fellowship and I was never a brother to them. At least that didn’t happen, but just because something so awful didn’t happen doesn’t make the situation bittersweet. I don’t want to be known as the “knowledgeable” person, I wanted to be known as the guy who really cared, the guy who was always willing to help or be there for people. I wanted to be known as the guy who loves. I don’t think I accomplished that. But is it really my place to say I accomplished or didn’t accomplish within God’s sovereignty? What if fruit was born from my actions? What if fruit was born despite my actions? What if my actions bore fruit but I will never be credited for it? Is that okay? It is okay, but am I okay with that? Will I just be another ACF alumni that people forget in name and face within 3 months? Will I be remembered for something, at least for 3 more years? Did I encourage people enough to take that step into the cruel and hurtful “real” world? Will I continue to encourage them once they are there?

Ugh so many questions, yet again. I should probably say “it doesn’t matter” because “I got Jesus.” I just need my heart to realize that.

I thank you Lord for the opportunities the past 2 years for my growth and the smallest chances that I aided in other people’s edification.

Be faithful to God in the little things. The daily things. Those will reveal your heart more than trying to figure out whether a big decision will glorify Him or not.

Why is there such a fine line between beating someone down and building someone up?

I was broken once. Completely and utterly defeated.

But God brought me back.

Now I live my life for you all. Everyone of you. I want to do my best, even if it is dirty rags, to show you all Love and the Gospel through my actions.

Even just a little, let me care for you. Let me into your life.

Listening to Narnia

To keep myself from falling asleep during the drive from DC back to Pittsburgh, I decided to turn on the Chronicles of Narnia audiobooks. It has been almost a decade and a half since the last time I’ve read them, and a little longer still since I watched the original TV series on the small CRT in Auntie Sandy’s minivan. It is just like what Jack (C.S. Lewis) said, that adults get more out of children’s stories than children. I can finally call myself an adult right?

“Well, I do think someone might have arranged about our meals,” said Digory.

“I’m sure Aslan would have, if you’d asked him,” said Fledge.

“Wouldn’t he know without being asked?” said Polly.

“I’ve no doubt he would,” said the Horse (still with his mouth full). “But I’ve a sort of idea he likes to be asked.”

The first book I listened to was the Magician’s Nephew. As the narrator proclaimed, this story is about Creation as God intended in Genesis, with trust and betrayal and forgiveness all tied into it. In the entire book, this part stood out to me the most, where Fledge the flying horse attempted to explain the heart of God/Aslan to the two children. We know that God is omniscient, that He knows everything, but does God really like to be asked for requests? Hmmmmm I will have to stew on this for a while. This is part of prayer isn’t it? As Jesus, Paul, and James explained? But what happens to those who don’t believe at all in the power of prayer?

“Aslan?” said Mr. Beaver. “Why, don’t you know? He’s the King. He’s the Lord of the whole wood, but not often here, you understand. Never in my time or my father’s time. But the word has reached us that he has come back. He is in Narnia at this moment He’ll settle the White Queen all right. It is he, not you, that will save Mr. Tumnus.”

Going into the second book chronologically, which was actually the first book published in the series, several other passages stood out, including this one. Oh and I didn’t know that a Faun holding an umbrella was the image that started the entire series, and that Jack used to play in his grandfather’s wardrobe with his friends/siblings. Kudos to Lewis’s adopted son for telling me that. This part of the story really stood out to me because the children, especially Peter and Lucy, really wanted to save Mr. Tumnus from Queen Tardis/White Witch. But what Mr. Beaver kept repeating (like a million times) in sound theology was that no human or creature can truly save another, only Aslan can. “It is he, not you.” That is always a huge thorn in my side, because I really really want to help everyone I meet. I want to solve their problems. I don’t just want to be there and care and listen, I want everyone to be joyful, to be at peace in life, to not be weighed down by the cruelties and sufferings of this world. But I know I can’t. Too often I can’t even take care of myself, lest another person. Too often I can only stand there and watch people cry and break down. I am weak and unable to save a soul, and that is reality. That is why I must find my Aslan, for it is He who is coming to save those who are oppressed and turned to stone.

“Is—is he a man?” asked Lucy.

“Aslan a man!” said Mr. Beaver sternly. “Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-beyond-the-Sea. Don’t you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion—the Lion, the great Lion.”

“Ooh!” said Susan, “I’d thought he was a man. Is he—quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”

“That you will, dearie, and no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver; “if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”

“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.

“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ’Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

Mmmmm. This part. Gold. Christianity isn’t safe. It will destroy your life. God isn’t safe, hence why we always say to fear God. But we have to remember that God is good. He is good. He is good. And He is our King.

One of the things that bothered me was how much of a prick and scumbag Edmund was in the story. Like, I totally forgot how freaking dirty he was until I listened to the story again. Man I wanted to like…reach into my car’s stereo and punch the little brat. Ya, just like Peter calls him, he is a total beast. But of the four children, Edmund personifies the human race. Of the four children, I am Edmund. Reality hits home. He was the son of Adam that Aslan brought back to the side of good by allowing Himself to be sacrificed instead, just like Christ took the place on the Cross for me and removing God’s wrath from my destiny. Ya, realizing that was a sobering fact on the drive while driving on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. I still want to kick Edmund in the rear end though.

I think I like the lyrics to this song. Japanese song lyrics are so much better than english ones (show me a song that has better lyrics than these). It is like singing a poem, one crafted in the depths of a creative heart.

Ano Hi Taimu Mashin

Time Machine to That Day

Start to run, facing front.
I drew with numb fingers in the sky,
Lighting the blessings in your future.
Cut through, with those hands.
Can you hear this voice?
Embrace the ability to laugh honestly.
Now, start to run. 

Even if only a little, my fingertips are dyed an adult color.
As if embarrassed, I softly hide them. 
With your chin in your hands, in front of your field of vision,
A small flower bud was slowly swaying.

Hey, for me, who always hesitates,
Even now, I think of those words you sent me.

Start to run, facing front.
I drew with numb fingers in the sky,
Lighting the blessings in your future.
Cut through, with those hands.
Can you hear this voice?
Embrace the ability to laugh honestly.
Now, start to run. 

Even though I am reluctant to think of how good the past was,
There are still feelings I want to recover.
My eyes fill with the me who pushes me from behind,
a vision piled on top of sprouting flower buds. 

I will triumph over time, and someday again,
I want to be able to boast of that day long gone,
I will even carry a clock that runs backwards.  
Cut through, with those hands.
Are you laughing? It's just like me,
To hold tightly to these feelings I can't let go.
Now, start to run. 

Hey, for me, who always hesitates,
Even now, I think of those words you sent me.
Dye the future your color.

Start to run, facing front.
I drew with numb fingers in the sky,
Lighting the blessings in your future.
Cut through, with those hands.
Can you hear this voice?
Embrace the ability to laugh honestly.
Now, start to run. 

I will triumph over time, and someday again,
I want to be able to boast of that day long gone,
I will even carry a clock that runs backwards.  
Cut through, with those hands.
Are you laughing? It's just like me,
To hold tightly to these feelings I can't let go.
Now, start to run.        

Before my mind decides otherwise, I just want to put here that sharing night today was wonderful.

"We are a family of brothers and sisters."

"Be a blessing to others."

"Looking heavenward means glorifying and worshiping God, focusing on eternity. That means grades and earthly things, though may still need stewardship, are not the priority."

Romans 5:3-6 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

I think...researching about all the possible contradictions/discrepancies/"difficulties" in the Bible is unnerving.

What to do...

"armor piercing gaze/eyes"

...I like that analogy!

http://hismessenger.tumblr.com/post/117264553972/when-god-answers

Yeah...I know how that feels.

woot movies I wanna watch this year

Find the plain meaning in Scripture

What happens when we read one of the many portions of the Old Testament that seem so distant? In Exodus 17, for example, Israel goes to war against Amalek. As Joshua lead the army in battle, Moses sat on top of a hill and kept his hands raised in the air. The Bible says, “Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed” (Ex. 17:11). This is a fascinating account, but how do we interpret it? We will probably all agree that the verse isn’t telling us to go sit on a hilltop and hold our hands in the air. Should we be seeking a spiritual meaning that lies beneath the surface, then? Maybe the verse means that we must keep our hands and our hearts pointed toward heaven if we are going to defeat our spiritual enemies. While that may be true,there is no indication that this is what God is telling us through this passage.
- Francis Chan, Multiply P3-S3

This...is a new twist to how to read Scripture, aka to not try to look too deep into each passage and draw out messages that may be there, but may be not. I think we all tend to do this a lot. Yes, from Colossians 3 we do know we should point our hearts to heaven, so let us use that passage for that teaching, and not the story from Exodus 17:11. That goes for a lot of passages.

Scripture -> observations -> interpretation -> extrapolation to the modern context -> (personal) application

That is how it should go, and yes for truth to become interpretation requires discernment, wisdom, and Holy Spirit juice. Extrapolation is even harder, because we just don't know what should we continue doing and what we shouldn't. Things like tithing and slavery are examples that we have or may have gotten wrong. Jesus said to give EVERYTHING not just 10% (too many passages to list), so tithing almost seems like a cop-out to not give all of our bank account to God and to the poor and needy. Slavery...context...

We always try to dig deeper, but sometimes the plain text is golden enough. We got enough commands in the OT and NT (and again discernment to see which ones still need to be followed from OT, see Romans 7).

If we are going to take this verse at face value, we will read it as a description of the unusual way in which God used Moses to lead Israel to victory in a historical battle over the Amalekites. Through that story we can gain insight into the power of God and His ability to save His people, but those insights do not change the clear meaning of what God recorded in Exodus 17. It might seem more “spiritual” to try to find some deeper meaning behind the text, but what could be more spiritual than simply taking God at His word?
-Francis Chan, Multiply P3-S3

T.C. told me yesterday that if I don’t understand Ephesians 1-3, then I cannot understand Ephesians 4-6. For him, being married and stuff, he’s focused on Ephesians 5 aka the marriage chapter in the Bible. But if he doesn’t understand 1-3, he will be unable to believe in the truth that is contained in chapter 5 and live it out for his wife. The same goes for me. I focus a lot on Ephesians 4, but no matter how hard I try to pursue it, it won’t come alive because Ephesians 1-3 hasn't come alive for me yet. I will be living in a fake ideal Christian world instead of the real and broken world around me. So…I guess read Ephesians 1-3 over and over again until the Holy Spirit converts theology in to living, breathing Truth (or just wait until HS does His thing)?

When we read the Bible, the living Word of God, we should treat it as if we are literally hearing the audible voice of God. Like, God is RIGHT THERE speaking to us. Then we will be BEWILDERED and full of AWE by His voice and have JOY in His presence like how Psalm 16 puts it.

But honestly, really really honestly? That doesn't happen. Some of my friends want to treat the Bible as a narrative, reading it as if they are reading a fairy tale or a novel like Harry Potter or Game of Thrones. This puts the Bible on equal footing as any quote you find on tumblr from a secular philosopher or celebrity, or the message/theme/story you relate to from your favorite TV show or movie (I do it too, I got quotes and illustrations from One Piece and Tower of God and Name of the Wind and LOTR right here on my blog). For example, I recently watched Death Parade/Death Billiards and I thought the message on what is a considered a rewarding and successful life lived and the values on human morality and how gets to be reincarnated and who gets dumped in the void were attractive, beautiful even.  But its not right. Those views on life were quite unbiblical, and so is a ton of tumblr quotes and messages in media right now. Those worldviews are not what a Christian, a follower and disciple of Christ should believe in, to put human wisdom on equal footing with God's wisdom. A lot of times, we unconsciously and unintentionally call Jesus a liar and God a fool when we agree with the world. I know I do it a lot. Sigh...

I tend to read the Bible as a scholar, because I am a researcher and it is my job to look for patterns and decipher meaning and truths and stuff like that, reading hundreds of papers and looking at tons of data and trying to find the secrets of the natural world in them. But I find that I go to the Bible and do use that strategy, and ask tons of questions, look for passages to answer, I end up come out with more questions and become more anxious. Take one of my devos for example (unaltered):

1 Samuel 16:23

Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.

This passage has a lot of connotations and even more ability to draw misconceptions (or correct ones).

So God sent an evil spirit. Why? Was this punishment for Saul? Why send David then to comfort Saul? Why did the passage not say Satan sent the evil spirit? Would Satan even want to send an evil spirit? How does music drive away the evil spirit? Is it because it comforted Saul (“he would feel better”) and then Saul’s spiritual immune system forced the evil spirit away? Or was music just a sign for God to send the evil spirit away? Or does music in itself have some spiritual power to send evil spirits away? Or was David himself performing an action (of music) that drove the evil spirit away? Or was David + music or David + music from a specific lyre that caused the evil spirit to go away? Or does David have the power of healing? What was the evil spirit even doing? Was it causing Saul to feel depressed, or make his soul heavy? Was it actually inflicting physical illness to Saul? Was Saul’s spiritual state weakened so that the evil spirit could have an effect?

Ya. I am confused. (Sure I did look up many commentaries and context, but there are too many differing and contradicting views depending on how you theologically lean).

I read one passage, and it makes more sense from an Armenian perspective. I read another and it only makes sense if I was a Calvinist. I know I’m supposed to find peace and comfort when I read scripture, but that rarely ever happens. Nope nope nope, to quote Ducky. I read a passage, and I’m like “no one in the church does that, so basically it is impossible.” Another passage, “that is bulls***.” Yet another passage, “I’m gonna ignore that because it is contradicting how I am currently living.”

But there was one time last November, that I was so spurned by the Holy Spirit to read scripture that I read for like 6 hours straight and felt super peaceful after I did. If I've ever felt true God given peace, it was that night. So I know it can happen. I wish it happened in my life more, and I try to find it. Try to force it. Try to work for it. But we know that if we have to use the word “try,” then it is basically out of our own flesh, and it ain’t gonna work. That’s why someone can pray for 5 hours straight and feel nothing from God, but the next day they pray for only 30 seconds and BAM God is right there revealing His will and reminding that person “I’m here and I’m faithful to you and you are going to be alright.” I doesn’t matter how hard you try. It matters about your heart. And your heart is given by God when He wants to give you the heart. There is nothing you can do, but by His mercy and grace we know it’s there or it’s coming. That’s the promise of the Gospel.

So I know I should be in awe of God when I read scripture, but in reality that happens 1 out of 1 million times. But because I have experienced that 1 time, I have Hope, the Hope that leads to Faith (Hebrews 11). I also want to encourage others to read the Bible as if you are sitting at the seat of God and your heavenly Father is speaking to you. Because the Bible is the story of God, unparalleled to any other story.

Preach the Gospel to myself

Some days, like today, I just need to really preach myself the Gospel.

Where do I go in the Word to find the Gospel?

(well there is always the Roman road)

Romans 3:23-26

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— 26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Romans 5:8
God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 6:23
The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 10:9
because, if "you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and "believe in your heart "that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

1 Thessalonians 5:9-10

⁹ For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁰ He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.

Hebrews 9:11-14

11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 13 The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 14 How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

Ephesians 2:1-10

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Colossians 2:13-15

13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

Titus 3:5-7
⁵ he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Ya...I'll leave those here so I can look at them. I know that preaching the Gospel myself won't instantaneously change my heart to want to desire God more, but it's a start. Hearing the Gospel is where it all starts/started, and continuing to live out and be rooted in the Gospel is how we persevere. 

"The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”- Tim Keller

Worship and Pizza 3

I’ve written about how pizza and worship are related analogically before, but I will try to flesh it out here:

Pizza. One of the most tempting and adulterous foods out there (more than ice cream). Why? Because pizza contains mainly 3 ingredients: sugar, salt, and fat (ice cream only has 2 of the 3). These ingredients are what the body craves most (if you don’t, you are a mutant). We are physiologically wired to desire those 3 ingredients: sugar for energy to perform physical tasks and maintain brain focus; fat as a reliable source of long-term energy and storage for times of metabolic fasting; and salt to regulate blood pressure and various organ function. But we also know that too much sugar, fat, and salt lead to severe health problems and take away the point of eating: to stay alive. Our bodies need more than just those 3 ingredients. We also need protein, vitamins, minerals, water, electrolytes, fiber, flavenoids, cholesterol, and other do-dads. Pizza sometimes will contain these (buffalo chicken, pineapple etc), but for the most part pizza is not a reliable source for other essential nutrition.

Musical worship is like pizza. Our souls are naturally wired to love music, emotions, and personal attachments. This is what worship songs give us. But over indulgence will make us lose sight of what is truly important: knowing God and knowing Christ. And music and emotions are not necessarily needed for sincere worship, else people who are born deaf or those who have lost emotional centers or undergo periods of depression and sorrow cannot be Christian. The ingredients we must need for our souls are truth, hope, faith, and love. These can be and often are found in musical worship, but like I said above, there are other forms of worship out there that do provide what we need. Let us not idolize a single form of worship by designating it as the only form of worship. Let us enjoy it for what it is, God’s gift to us as a single expression of worship among many, but it doesn’t replace any of the forms of worship that are actually mentioned in the Bible (musical worship in scripture is never related to worship but instead to praise, and depending on your denomination, worship ≠ praise).

So let us worship God, not worship worship.

One day, I will watch the sunrise with my children and give a standing ovation to God with them. (Preferably at Windermere)

"Don't make a girl a promise, if you know you cant keep it" - Cortana

One day the girl i will marry will say that on our wedding day, and I will answer "by covenant i will make that promise"

Yes, love will sustain and make last, but it will not be my love.

More notes of the week

God doesn't care whether u get an A or a B, but He cares greatly about the heart in which you pursue your grade.

In our depravity, we have a track record of being poor judges of character...

Hebrews 12

Discipline is good

It teaches moral right from wrong

It teaches one to avoid mistakes, but also how to learn from them and grow

It prepares one for hard work in the future and how to handle stress

It teaches respect and honor 

But discipline must be done out of love

It cannot be emotionally abusive

It cannot be done in a cold way

Never discipline out of selfish anger

The reason for discipline must be explicitly said or known

The act of discipline must hurt the one disciplining more than the one receiving (even if this reality is hidden, and should be for the meaning of discipline to stick)

Positive reinforcement is always stronger than negative reinforcement; discipline as necessary

The argument that seeing good come out of a situation or decision automatically justifies it as good/acceptable/right is extremely flawed

I am not impressed...

I am not impressed by your musical talents.

I am not impressed by your skill at sports.

I am not impressed by your ability to buy expensive clothes or make them match.

I am not even impressed by your ability to move people with your speech or zeal.

I am impressed when you care and give beyond your ability, because I know that I am really being impressed by God.

That is what I seek in my fellow brothers and sisters. That is what we all need to seek.

 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:7

There is no reason at all for a christian to have a big house or buy a fancy car or living way beyond what is necessary to sustain them. Being rich? That is fine. But living without giving what you can give to the poor and needy? That goes against EVERYTHING in the bible. You cannot justify living in a big house scripturally, biblically, or realistically. There isn't any justification for it at all. I can only imagine how Jesus' heart breaks to see rich Christians living lavishly in an age of hunger and suffering.

Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses. - Proverbs 28:27

Francis Chan always talks about "the Holy Spirit only taught me this now, even though I've read this before (many times)." That's how I should be with scripture, realizing the true message can only be revealed by the Holy Spirit.

What moves us is not God's majesty or sovereignty. We see it and know it. Not impressed. It is natural for us to blow it off. What shatters us is the reality of that God sending His son to die and save us. That is what truly moves us to long for Him and worship His glory.

Too many seekers come to Church seeking a radical and counterculture community, but leave jaded seeing something possibly worse than what the world teaches. Why oh why...

"When you are well prepared for your sermon, you cite a variety of sources, but when you aren't well prepared, you just quote C.S. Lewis" - Member to Tim Keller

We must live with the decisions we make, as well as the decisions made for us.

Worship and Pizza 2

What is worship?

What does it mean to worship idols?

Presence of God – something only the high priest could be in, and only once a year. Holy of Holies.

I will use the Biblical analogy Jesus used to illustrate worship.

(God talking to Elijah at the cave entrance)

(God talking to Moses through the burning bush)

(God residing over the Tabernacle in the desert)

(High priest offering sacrifices to God outside the Holy of Holies, technically the veil should be fully covering the entrance. Note Spirit of God hovering over the Ark of the Covenant)

Before, the Israelites could only worship at a specific location and only during specific times. For this reason the tabernacle and later the temple were built. Even then, the relationship between the Israelites and God was not personal. An average Israelite could only call upon God as Elohim, which is a reverent but distance name for their God. Only those chosen by God were allowed to call Him YHWH, the covenant name for God to those who He gave promises. People could not see God, else they be blinded by His glory and vaporized by His wrath (remember Moses?). But He still revealed Himself visibly through forces of nature, like tongues or pillars of fire. The most holy and intimate of worship was only for the high priests, those who actually got to go into the Holy of Holies, and only during specific days of the year.

(Flow of Worship required by priests, something we don't need anymore as Christ already did it)

(The veil being torn when Jesus died)

Jesus came and changed all that. Worship used to be special and restricted. John 4, Jews could only worship in Jerusalem (in the temple) and the Samaritans could only worship on the mountain. During the exile, the Israelites were heartbroken because the temple was destroyed and they couldn't worship. But Jesus said to the Samaritan women that worship will be done in spirit, anytime and anywhere. He fulfills this when He died on the cross, (literally) tearing the veil (Matt 27), opening that special Holy of Holies for everyone. He has become the high priest for us (Hebrews 3, 9), and we now also get priesthood (1 Peter 2). Remember, we now are the temple (1 Cor 6:19, Romans 8:9, 1 Cor 3:16, 2 Cor 6:16, James 4:5). We have the Holy of Holies inside of us, where God’s Spirit resides.

(We have received the Holy Spirit to dwell in us, becoming the Temple)

We again have to remember that worship is not about works. We were saved by grace (Ephesians 2:9), and it was because of God’s mercy. Just like how He chose the Israelites not because they were special or numerous, they were actually the fewest (Deut 7), so in the same way He chose us to be His chosen people (1 Peter 2). That humility to God’s mercy and love for us makes worship a response. It is not of the flesh, but of the spirit (Galatians 4). We worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). It is not self-imposed aka faked or forced (Col 2:23). We also worship in awe of God (Hebrews 12:28, Revelations). That requires knowledge of God, a whole other topic but basically full revelation in Christ and translated by the Holy Spirit (Proverbs 2, Romans 1:28, 2 Cor 4:6, 1 Cor 2 = HS).

Remember, worship is to give all of our lives to God. Romans 12 offer up our bodies as a living sacrifice – proper worship. We know we are to deny/die to ourselves. We were bought and paid for, and are servants/friends/brothers of Christ (1 Cor 6:20, 1 Cor 7:23). He owns us, buying us out of sin by His blood. We call Him Lord and King (1 Tim 6:15, Rev 19:16). What does it mean to be a subject to a king? Think about what it would be like to be a subject to King David or King Solomon. It is a shame we don’t have any modern kings to look up to, only democratic bodies and tyrants.

Two people can worship, and the outer appearance can be exactly the same. But internally, one will be worshiping out a humble and sincere heart towards the Lord. The other would be worshiping either for him/herself or for the sake of worship itself or the feeling of worship. Worship is all about the state of one’s heart and where it is pointed towards. See Luke 18 about the Pharisee and the tax collector. Again a whole other topic can be teased out of that. Pharisee worships for himself, and does so with talent and skill worthy of man’s praise (John 12:43, Matt 6:1-6, Matt 23: 5-7 -> Deuteronomy 11:18, Numbers 15:38-40), but the tax collector humbles himself before God, and Jesus said the tax collector was justified before God and will be exalted.