http://m.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/06/listening-to-young-atheists-lessons-for-a-stronger-christianity/276584/
When I read this article, I almost cried. Because the president of LOFT (League of Free Thinkers) of Washu also had the similar childhood as Phil did. Because I had a similar experience when I was in high school. Because the American christian culture desires a mild social experience instead of a radical changing one.
I still remember when my roommate founded the student group The Forum, where members of the various christian fellowships at Washu would get together with atheists and we would discuss our own viewpoints on sex, morals, culture, and truth. Since my friend would lead, I would usually take the backseat and pay a lot of attention on listening to the sides, but more so the tone and curtness of the dialogue. I wanted to see if there was respect and understanding being made here at those meetings. I remember the times where my friend would come to me after a meeting and just be like, "man, I really feel like they are just trying to piss me off, the way they act all high and mighty and try to back me into a corner with their fancy philosophical mind games." It is true, sometimes it felt like that. But in the end, both my friend and I realized that by becoming friends with these people and truly listening to their stories, we began to understand them and develop a friendship. There was one memorable tuesday evening that I will never forget. We all met up and sat down, and someone new was in our midst. As the discussions continued, he started ferociously arguing that God was the absolute truth and that's all he needed, and that all the atheists were wrong. It got to be pretty bad, with the atheists throwing one alternative universe theory after another at him, and instead of answering wisely, he got worked up and started yelling at everyone that he was right and he knew it because he felt it was right. At some point I know I agree with him, but at the same time I really wanted him to shut up because getting all worked up was not helping our side look reasonable nor bringing understanding and respect to the table. His feelings that night are actually very similar to the majority of Christians. Christians are so quick to say they know they are right because they feel its right. But sex before marriage feels right (and good). Muslims, Buddhists, and Hinduists can all argue that their religion is correct because deep down in their souls it feels right. One's faith must be founded with reasoning and logic, and must be defended with a lifestyle that matches the standards of the Bible. Like what the author mentions, we have to sincerely believe. I myself have watched Christopher Hitchens and an indian Christian debate once live on Washu campus. It was very bloody. There was no respect in their tones, and all they did was polarize the crowd to the point that everyone was riled up and a bloodbath was starting to simmer. In no way was that a productive event. I enjoyed the other debates held by the Veritas Forum (which I helped set up), where peaceful dialogue took place and at over some points the two speakers actually agreed with each other.
To be honest, from what I've seen from these dialogues, there is no way a Christian can prove an atheist wrong, or vice versa. But if we knew about their past and were in a position where we can care for them, then there will be a hope that their hearts can start to open up, and God will work his miracles.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Re-living the Childhood Dream
You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream. - C.S. Lewis
So if you are a kid growing up in China, Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Italy, Portugal, or Spain during the 1990's, you probably dreamt of building and owning one of these at some point in your life:
Yup. Mine. Now if I only had cars that weren't 14 years old, been through several typhoons and floods, and imported from Taiwan, they would be able to make it over that loop. This is going to be an everlasting summer. (I tried real hard to make this post grammatically correct. Grammar-nazis)
So if you are a kid growing up in China, Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Italy, Portugal, or Spain during the 1990's, you probably dreamt of building and owning one of these at some point in your life:
Yup. Mine. Now if I only had cars that weren't 14 years old, been through several typhoons and floods, and imported from Taiwan, they would be able to make it over that loop. This is going to be an everlasting summer. (I tried real hard to make this post grammatically correct. Grammar-nazis)
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Devo Post #3
Ecclesiastes 2:4-11
I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6 I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. 8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem[a] as well—the delights of a man’s heart. 9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.
I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my labor,
and this was the reward for all my toil.
11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
nothing was gained under the sun.
Solomon, possibly the richest man to ever live with an estimated net worth of 200 billion US dollars. He had the largest influence in his time, with vast amounts of prosperity and wealth. He was the person God chose to be the wisest in existence, and yet you read here that he proclaims everything in his life to be meaningless, even his wisdom. There seems to be a lesson to be learned here. Though it is commonly said in the New Testament to not pursue worldly dreams and goals, which includes sex, career, money, fame, and even knowledge or wisdom, Solomon’s life is the best concrete example the Bible gives to us of what happens to a life when you chase after such things. I personally don’t think wisdom is a bad thing, or else Proverbs would be useless to read, and even though in the next passage Solomon basically equates wisdom and folly as similarly meaningless, what he is trying to show that in his entire life, he went after other things that took away his heart from the most important thing in his life. And he did this while having the wisest mind. Basically he’s saying that though he had a wonderful gift God gave him to use, and he squandered it, along with the rest of his life, and only at the end of his life (presumably) he looks back and realizes he should have been more humble and more devoted to God. You don’t see it said in the scripture that Solomon was a man after God’s own heart, like his father David. That goes to show that the title of being the wisest, wealthiest, and most powerful man on earth is worth nothing if you do not have God.
Now we have outlined the meaning behind this passage, we should look at the applications to our lives. The Bible is usually blunt and harsh in its attacks against living a life of sin and of the world. There are many Christians who still live such a life and stubbornly defend their lifestyles of pursuing a high end career. I saw this in college a lot. I am not saying that God wouldn’t want someone to be successful and have a good paying job like being a doctor, but if their pursuit in their studies directly conflicts with their spiritual growth and/or hinders the growth of the community they are in, then there is definitely something wrong. Yet, there seems to be a relaxed mindset within the college christian community that it is okay to put God second or third or even last if their life trying to be the best and most skilled student they can be. They just don’t realize that the reason they are at college, or wherever they are, they are there because God needs them to promote His kingdom there, and not to waste their time and energy on other less important responsibilities.
I myself have fallen into this sinful trap too. I worried about grades. I worry now about not getting into graduate schools, or finding enough money to pay. I worry I am not smart enough at work to the point that I start believing all the belittling and false accusations of being useless. I forget that I have a role to play in community, and instead waste my time playing catan or dota or just sit around doing nothing. I forget to pray, write my devotions, meditate on the word, and keep my friends accountable. I try to pursue a life like Solomons, when I should really be pursuing a life like David. I need more faith and I need to set my priorities right. But it is so very hard to not want to dream big, and have it all.
...
Pure coincidence that I read this in Tim Keller's book The Reason for a God right after: "...the path of wisdom was to learn to live in conformity with this unyielding reality. That wisdom rested largely in developing qualities of character, such as humility, compassion, courage, discretion, and loyalty. Modernity reversed this. Ultimate reality was seen not so much as a supernatural order but as the natural world, and that was malleable. Instead of trying to shape our desires to fit reality, we now seek to control and shape reality to fit our desires. The ancients looked at an anxious person and prescribed spiritual character change. Modernity talks instead about stress-management techniques."
I am sure I do not need to go into how a lot of us use the Bible to fit our own reality, and not vice versa. Same with our boy Solomon.
I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6 I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. 8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem[a] as well—the delights of a man’s heart. 9 I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.
I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;
I refused my heart no pleasure.
My heart took delight in all my labor,
and this was the reward for all my toil.
11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done
and what I had toiled to achieve,
everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;
nothing was gained under the sun.
Solomon, possibly the richest man to ever live with an estimated net worth of 200 billion US dollars. He had the largest influence in his time, with vast amounts of prosperity and wealth. He was the person God chose to be the wisest in existence, and yet you read here that he proclaims everything in his life to be meaningless, even his wisdom. There seems to be a lesson to be learned here. Though it is commonly said in the New Testament to not pursue worldly dreams and goals, which includes sex, career, money, fame, and even knowledge or wisdom, Solomon’s life is the best concrete example the Bible gives to us of what happens to a life when you chase after such things. I personally don’t think wisdom is a bad thing, or else Proverbs would be useless to read, and even though in the next passage Solomon basically equates wisdom and folly as similarly meaningless, what he is trying to show that in his entire life, he went after other things that took away his heart from the most important thing in his life. And he did this while having the wisest mind. Basically he’s saying that though he had a wonderful gift God gave him to use, and he squandered it, along with the rest of his life, and only at the end of his life (presumably) he looks back and realizes he should have been more humble and more devoted to God. You don’t see it said in the scripture that Solomon was a man after God’s own heart, like his father David. That goes to show that the title of being the wisest, wealthiest, and most powerful man on earth is worth nothing if you do not have God.
Now we have outlined the meaning behind this passage, we should look at the applications to our lives. The Bible is usually blunt and harsh in its attacks against living a life of sin and of the world. There are many Christians who still live such a life and stubbornly defend their lifestyles of pursuing a high end career. I saw this in college a lot. I am not saying that God wouldn’t want someone to be successful and have a good paying job like being a doctor, but if their pursuit in their studies directly conflicts with their spiritual growth and/or hinders the growth of the community they are in, then there is definitely something wrong. Yet, there seems to be a relaxed mindset within the college christian community that it is okay to put God second or third or even last if their life trying to be the best and most skilled student they can be. They just don’t realize that the reason they are at college, or wherever they are, they are there because God needs them to promote His kingdom there, and not to waste their time and energy on other less important responsibilities.
I myself have fallen into this sinful trap too. I worried about grades. I worry now about not getting into graduate schools, or finding enough money to pay. I worry I am not smart enough at work to the point that I start believing all the belittling and false accusations of being useless. I forget that I have a role to play in community, and instead waste my time playing catan or dota or just sit around doing nothing. I forget to pray, write my devotions, meditate on the word, and keep my friends accountable. I try to pursue a life like Solomons, when I should really be pursuing a life like David. I need more faith and I need to set my priorities right. But it is so very hard to not want to dream big, and have it all.
"I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection"
...
Pure coincidence that I read this in Tim Keller's book The Reason for a God right after: "...the path of wisdom was to learn to live in conformity with this unyielding reality. That wisdom rested largely in developing qualities of character, such as humility, compassion, courage, discretion, and loyalty. Modernity reversed this. Ultimate reality was seen not so much as a supernatural order but as the natural world, and that was malleable. Instead of trying to shape our desires to fit reality, we now seek to control and shape reality to fit our desires. The ancients looked at an anxious person and prescribed spiritual character change. Modernity talks instead about stress-management techniques."
I am sure I do not need to go into how a lot of us use the Bible to fit our own reality, and not vice versa. Same with our boy Solomon.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Thought
"Everyone longs to give him/herself completely to someone,
to have a deep and committed soul relationship with another, to be loved
thoroughly and unconditionally. But God says "no not until you are
satisfied, fulfilled and content with being loved by me above, with giving
yourself totally, unreservedly to me alone. I will love you my child, and until
you discover that only in me is your satisfaction to be found you will not be
capable of the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you. You will
never be united with another until you are united with me exclusively of anyone
or anything else; exclusively of any other desires or belongings, I want you to
stop planning, stop wishing and allow me to give you the most thrilling plan
existing- one that you cannot imagine- I want you to have the very best. Please
allow me to bring it to you. Just keep your eyes on me expecting the greatest
things. Keep experiencing the satisfaction knowing that I am. Keeping learning
and listening to the things I tell you. You must be patient, don't be anxious.
Don't worry. Don't look around at the things others have. Don't look at the
things you think you want. Just keep looking to me, or you will miss what I
want to give you. And then, when you are ready I will surprise you with a love
far more wonderful than you can ever dream. You'll see until you are ready, and
until the one I have for you is ready (I am working this very minute to have
both of you ready at the same time), when you are both satisfied exclusively with
me and live life I have prepared for you. You won't be able to experience the
love that exemplifies the relationship with me... and this is perfect
love."
I guess I will use this as part of my devotions from Ephesians 3:20-21, though this draws upon many verses throughout the bible. To think that God can do more work than ten thousand talented and diligent people, and create worlds more vivid than my uncontrollable imagination can conceive. And one of them would just happen to be a relationship with another important person.
I have realized I have hit the point in my life where those around me are consistently thinking about serious relationships and commitment (I see engagement, marriage, and even babies weekly in my Facebook news feed now), and many prayers sounded off in my prayer groups and church meetings are on this topic. I don't know how many times I've shared this quote, but many times I have to come back to it and use it as a summary of scripture to refocus myself to God. Yes, I want to pursue a relationship where all I want is to help her grow closer to Him. To quote Big Fish's female companion, "maybe even more precious is the man who seeks not only to protect or to cherish (or even to hold) but also to encourage that heart to grow in the only way that really matters--into the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit." (I hope you don't blush at your own posts too, just your boyfriend's). I wholeheartedly agree with you and hope the sisters in Christ around the world believe the same too. Statistically a christian woman is more likely to pursue an non-spiritual relationship than a christian man, and more likely to value traits like looks, success, and humor above spiritual maturity than guys. I guess its my blog, so I can just put it out there that a guy after God's own heart is all you need to seek in a potential lifelong companion. Trust and care are the foundation to a stable relationship, not feelings or emotions (yes it is possible to deep brain stimulate a human and cause them to fall in love with a lemon, though unethical and should never be done >_>).
I will remember daily that God is in control of my destiny. I will become a man after God's own heart.
I guess I will use this as part of my devotions from Ephesians 3:20-21, though this draws upon many verses throughout the bible. To think that God can do more work than ten thousand talented and diligent people, and create worlds more vivid than my uncontrollable imagination can conceive. And one of them would just happen to be a relationship with another important person.
I have realized I have hit the point in my life where those around me are consistently thinking about serious relationships and commitment (I see engagement, marriage, and even babies weekly in my Facebook news feed now), and many prayers sounded off in my prayer groups and church meetings are on this topic. I don't know how many times I've shared this quote, but many times I have to come back to it and use it as a summary of scripture to refocus myself to God. Yes, I want to pursue a relationship where all I want is to help her grow closer to Him. To quote Big Fish's female companion, "maybe even more precious is the man who seeks not only to protect or to cherish (or even to hold) but also to encourage that heart to grow in the only way that really matters--into the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit." (I hope you don't blush at your own posts too, just your boyfriend's). I wholeheartedly agree with you and hope the sisters in Christ around the world believe the same too. Statistically a christian woman is more likely to pursue an non-spiritual relationship than a christian man, and more likely to value traits like looks, success, and humor above spiritual maturity than guys. I guess its my blog, so I can just put it out there that a guy after God's own heart is all you need to seek in a potential lifelong companion. Trust and care are the foundation to a stable relationship, not feelings or emotions (yes it is possible to deep brain stimulate a human and cause them to fall in love with a lemon, though unethical and should never be done >_>).
I will remember daily that God is in control of my destiny. I will become a man after God's own heart.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Devo Post #2
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Today I listened to Pastor Darrin’s sermon on community. He chose this verse from the book of Ecclesiastes, known as the book of wisdom. The message here is very simple: do not go through life alone. Throughout most of Ecclesiastes, the author King Solomon emphasizes all the “meaningless”things in life. His overarching theme is life apart from God is meaningless. Pastor Darrin draws the notion that you cannot worship the creator or enjoy the life He has given you without having people supporting you, encouraging you, and challenging you. Sounds like Tim Keller right there (probably a source).
Now to elaborate his point, Pastor Darrin goes into the definition of a friend. What is a friend? We have enemies. We also have fans. But we rarely have friends. A friend is someone who will “believe the best about us, and wade through the worst with us.” Basically, someone you trust to be there for you through the good and bad. Sounds like a wedding vow to me...hopefully everyone’s spouse is their best friendl. But everyone needs friends, and for a Christian, spiritual friends that perform functions in our lives are absolutely necessary. When the time comes when you are in a lot of pain, you need people to come and assure you that God is still in control, that God is still good, and to answer the questions that are sure to be mounting in your mind. During those times of confusion and frustration, you need people to discern the situation for you and help reveal the sin in you that is preventing community. Everyone needs someone to share their hopes, their dreams, and their fears with. That is true friendship.
To me, my relationships and friendships are God’s sign to me that he has rewarded me and answered my prayers. I know He is watching over me and showering me with his love. I am grateful everyday that God has blessed me with many great friends who I trust and have fellowship, and will always be grateful.
Christ, who said to the disciples “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,” can truly say to every group of Christian friends “You have not chosen one another but I have chosen you for one another” The Friendship is not a reward for our discrimination and good taste in finding one another out. It is the instrument by which God reveals to each the beauties of all the others. They are no greater than the beauties of a thousand other men; by Friendship God opens our eyes to them. They are, like all beauties, derived from Him, and then, in a good Friendship, increased by Him through the Friendship itself, so that it is His instrument for creating as well as for revealing. At this feast it is He who has spread the board and it is He who has chosen the guests. It is He, we may dare to hope, who sometimes does, and always should, preside. Let us not reckon without our Host. - C.S. Lewis
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Today I listened to Pastor Darrin’s sermon on community. He chose this verse from the book of Ecclesiastes, known as the book of wisdom. The message here is very simple: do not go through life alone. Throughout most of Ecclesiastes, the author King Solomon emphasizes all the “meaningless”things in life. His overarching theme is life apart from God is meaningless. Pastor Darrin draws the notion that you cannot worship the creator or enjoy the life He has given you without having people supporting you, encouraging you, and challenging you. Sounds like Tim Keller right there (probably a source).
Now to elaborate his point, Pastor Darrin goes into the definition of a friend. What is a friend? We have enemies. We also have fans. But we rarely have friends. A friend is someone who will “believe the best about us, and wade through the worst with us.” Basically, someone you trust to be there for you through the good and bad. Sounds like a wedding vow to me...hopefully everyone’s spouse is their best friendl. But everyone needs friends, and for a Christian, spiritual friends that perform functions in our lives are absolutely necessary. When the time comes when you are in a lot of pain, you need people to come and assure you that God is still in control, that God is still good, and to answer the questions that are sure to be mounting in your mind. During those times of confusion and frustration, you need people to discern the situation for you and help reveal the sin in you that is preventing community. Everyone needs someone to share their hopes, their dreams, and their fears with. That is true friendship.
To me, my relationships and friendships are God’s sign to me that he has rewarded me and answered my prayers. I know He is watching over me and showering me with his love. I am grateful everyday that God has blessed me with many great friends who I trust and have fellowship, and will always be grateful.
Christ, who said to the disciples “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,” can truly say to every group of Christian friends “You have not chosen one another but I have chosen you for one another” The Friendship is not a reward for our discrimination and good taste in finding one another out. It is the instrument by which God reveals to each the beauties of all the others. They are no greater than the beauties of a thousand other men; by Friendship God opens our eyes to them. They are, like all beauties, derived from Him, and then, in a good Friendship, increased by Him through the Friendship itself, so that it is His instrument for creating as well as for revealing. At this feast it is He who has spread the board and it is He who has chosen the guests. It is He, we may dare to hope, who sometimes does, and always should, preside. Let us not reckon without our Host. - C.S. Lewis
Monday, July 9, 2012
Devo Post #1
Jeremiah 29:11
“11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.“
There is not that goes by where I do not wonder what my future is going to be. I spend lots of time wondering about it actually. One of my deepest fears is loneliness, so I am always wondering wherever I end up, will there be people that well like me, hang out with me, and be there for me? Today I read a book, and a quote from it says, “When we are children we seldom think of the future/ This innocence leaves us free to enjoy ourselves as few adults can/ The day we fret about the future is the day we leave our childhood behind.” Sometimes I still want to feel like a child. Like I always say, “have the mind of an adult, but the heart of a child.” Yet sometimes I wish for a mind of a child too, and a lot of times my heart grows to be that of an adult: calculating, cold, and distrustful. That kind of heart is the leading cause to the distrust of the Lord. Like yesterday’s devotion, it is very hard for the average person to trust that there is someone out there that is willing to die freely and give us a gift so precious such as salvation and free love. As adults, we learn such a thing cannot exist, but we secretly long for it to exist. That is the biggest pushing point to Christianity: the promise of such a love pushes people towards Jesus, yet also pushes people away since they cannot believe in the impossible.
How hard is it to believe that someone out there holds the plans to “prosper” you, will not “harm” you, will give you “hope”, and a “future”? Even for me, as a Christian, it is very hard. Why? Because as hard as I try not to, I still develop expectations from God. Expectations that God will lead me down a path so seemingly perfectly arranged by His Truly, from my perspective. I set up expectations that God will answer all my prayers the way I want them to be answered. But I guess God is a funny God, and definitely an all-knowing one. Still, as a puny and wishful person, I still long for my hopes and dreams to come true, especially when they seem pretty aligned with the kinds of dreams God would want his children to have. I don’t know, but I guess all I can do is believe, hope, and see.
When there is still a glimmer of hope, reach for it!
“11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.“
There is not that goes by where I do not wonder what my future is going to be. I spend lots of time wondering about it actually. One of my deepest fears is loneliness, so I am always wondering wherever I end up, will there be people that well like me, hang out with me, and be there for me? Today I read a book, and a quote from it says, “When we are children we seldom think of the future/ This innocence leaves us free to enjoy ourselves as few adults can/ The day we fret about the future is the day we leave our childhood behind.” Sometimes I still want to feel like a child. Like I always say, “have the mind of an adult, but the heart of a child.” Yet sometimes I wish for a mind of a child too, and a lot of times my heart grows to be that of an adult: calculating, cold, and distrustful. That kind of heart is the leading cause to the distrust of the Lord. Like yesterday’s devotion, it is very hard for the average person to trust that there is someone out there that is willing to die freely and give us a gift so precious such as salvation and free love. As adults, we learn such a thing cannot exist, but we secretly long for it to exist. That is the biggest pushing point to Christianity: the promise of such a love pushes people towards Jesus, yet also pushes people away since they cannot believe in the impossible.
How hard is it to believe that someone out there holds the plans to “prosper” you, will not “harm” you, will give you “hope”, and a “future”? Even for me, as a Christian, it is very hard. Why? Because as hard as I try not to, I still develop expectations from God. Expectations that God will lead me down a path so seemingly perfectly arranged by His Truly, from my perspective. I set up expectations that God will answer all my prayers the way I want them to be answered. But I guess God is a funny God, and definitely an all-knowing one. Still, as a puny and wishful person, I still long for my hopes and dreams to come true, especially when they seem pretty aligned with the kinds of dreams God would want his children to have. I don’t know, but I guess all I can do is believe, hope, and see.
When there is still a glimmer of hope, reach for it!
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
"Up to a certain point it is good for us to know that there are people in the world who will give us love and unquestioned loyalty to the limit of their ability. I doubt, however, if it is good for us to feel assured of this without the accompanying obligation of having to justify this devotion by our behavior" - Eleanor Roosevelt
A friend once told me that once he felt lonely and wondered why no one ever called him or asked him to hang out. It turns out, those people were expecting the same thing from him. If no one ever reaches out to anyone or takes the initiative, who will know they are loved? Needless to say, it always takes two to build a relationship.
"I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one" - Jesus
I am glad He took the initiative with me, and also with the church.
A friend once told me that once he felt lonely and wondered why no one ever called him or asked him to hang out. It turns out, those people were expecting the same thing from him. If no one ever reaches out to anyone or takes the initiative, who will know they are loved? Needless to say, it always takes two to build a relationship.
"I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one" - Jesus
I am glad He took the initiative with me, and also with the church.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
source jonathan wongMonday, August 8, 2011
"From this never changing days, I wanted to escape, so I stepped out on my own.
If I spread this map in my hands, I thought I could struggle to somewhere
But I just become vexed, and unable to progress
I became unable to see my steps, and stumbled on the asphalt, rolling
I look up at the sky with my eyes closed
I was hurt by the everyone's empty smiles
Always when I look back, there's a never-changing place
So I can overcome whatever adversity and unease
And I'll be able to step out into the never-ending unknown road
But I misunderstood, I thought I became strong alone
I realised my own weakness and got confused but light shone and I saw everyone's faces
Since there's a voice that pushes me, for sure I have now passed through
Finally when I understood and broke my shell apart, feelings of gratitude sprout
Always I rush and do it my way
Selfishly, unreasonably and stubbornly
The wall I want to overcome, the wings to fly over, for the strength I desired
I stand up and move forward, no matter how many times I fall
'Cause everyone should have a place to return to
A bond that can be relied on always
Hands in the air let out a yell and stick your chest out
Always when I look back, there's a never-changing place
So I can overcome whatever adversity and unease
And I'll be able to step out into the never-ending unknown road
On the never-ending journey, I stopped
The wounded irreplaceable things
The flame in my heart bursts forth
I probably could go anywhere and everywhere
The power to protect people, someday I'll have
Always when I look back, there's a never-changing place
So I can overcome whatever adversity and unease
And I'll be able to step out into the never-ending unknown road"
If I spread this map in my hands, I thought I could struggle to somewhere
But I just become vexed, and unable to progress
I became unable to see my steps, and stumbled on the asphalt, rolling
I look up at the sky with my eyes closed
I was hurt by the everyone's empty smiles
Always when I look back, there's a never-changing place
So I can overcome whatever adversity and unease
And I'll be able to step out into the never-ending unknown road
But I misunderstood, I thought I became strong alone
I realised my own weakness and got confused but light shone and I saw everyone's faces
Since there's a voice that pushes me, for sure I have now passed through
Finally when I understood and broke my shell apart, feelings of gratitude sprout
Always I rush and do it my way
Selfishly, unreasonably and stubbornly
The wall I want to overcome, the wings to fly over, for the strength I desired
I stand up and move forward, no matter how many times I fall
'Cause everyone should have a place to return to
A bond that can be relied on always
Hands in the air let out a yell and stick your chest out
Always when I look back, there's a never-changing place
So I can overcome whatever adversity and unease
And I'll be able to step out into the never-ending unknown road
On the never-ending journey, I stopped
The wounded irreplaceable things
The flame in my heart bursts forth
I probably could go anywhere and everywhere
The power to protect people, someday I'll have
Always when I look back, there's a never-changing place
So I can overcome whatever adversity and unease
And I'll be able to step out into the never-ending unknown road"
Friday, June 3, 2011
Today I was walking by the DUC, and a few tourists stopped me.
Tourist: Hey, are you a student here?
Me: Yeah.
Tourist: Is that the Graham Chapel?
Me: It is.
Tourist: Cool Thanks.
Such a short and also typical conversation occurred today. After taking a few steps, I realized I just lied to them. I wonder to myself, "Am I still holding on to something? Am I ready to move on?"
Tourist: Hey, are you a student here?
Me: Yeah.
Tourist: Is that the Graham Chapel?
Me: It is.
Tourist: Cool Thanks.
Such a short and also typical conversation occurred today. After taking a few steps, I realized I just lied to them. I wonder to myself, "Am I still holding on to something? Am I ready to move on?"
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
The job I have always wanted the most, was to work with animals such as this. The look on the worker's face showed how much care and love she has, and how much she is enjoying her job. I wonder...if one day I will enjoy my career that much. The people visiting the zoo say things like "oh my gosh, sucks to be the workers here. Their job must suck a lot!" But in my heart, I long to be one of them.
I don't know why, but animals always go for the ears.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Guest Post: Identity vs. Reputation
Q: Is it self-serving for God to seek His own honor, to make His sole goal the pursuit of worship?
Think Zoro from One Piece. “I will show you the difference in power between you and me.”
Job 38:3 Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.
One Piece characters all have a certain characteristic they personify. One of the most famous and well-loved One Piece characters, Zoro epitomizes powerful, determined characters. His goal is to become the best swordsman, “My name will reach the heavens!” To be the best. To be great. Characterized by an indomitable will and a deadly seriousness to make good on his word and to stick to his own convictions; failure is unacceptable. He does not seek the approval of others—a character whose very presence commands awe from the ordinary and whose dedication merits the respect of the powerful. “It doesn’t matter if it’s as a devil or a saint; my name will be heard all over the world.”
Is seeking honor a selfish ambition or when is it? There’s an important distinction to make here. The goal is not to become a legend, to gain recognition but to be so great that people cannot help but acknowledge it. True greatness demands acknowledgement. Think of it as a standard of greatness. A selfish person wants to BE TOLD that he is great, but an ambitious person wants to BE great. Those who strive to be great with a self-serving ambition strive according to the standard that is man’s approval. Those who strive to be great with an ambition not born of selfishness strive according to a standard that history cannot change.
Without people to talk about it, a legacy is simply not a legacy. So while the honor sought by God requires people, the standard by which it is measured is not something as weak as the approval of man. That standard is greatness—of which God is the very definition. The book of Isaiah is all about God showing this to the world over and over again. Actually, the entire Bible is testament to the greatness of God. God does not seek anyone’s approval. He lays low the proud and protects the humble. He does not need your worship and at the same time commands it and is worthy of it. Only one who is truly great has permission to say, “I am great. Worship me.” Behold, I AM.
Isaiah 45:22
Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other.
Arrogance is the overestimation of self-worth. While ability, skill, and other attributes certainly differentiate, the intrinsic value of a person is the same as that of any other. To be arrogant is to overestimate that value relative to the value of others.
Zoro’s character is a unique blend: confident but not arrogant, ambitious but not self-serving. “A wound that would kill an ordinary man… I won’t lose to it! To face one who is extraordinary…I can’t allow myself to be ordinary!” Is this kind of person realistic or is it truly larger than life? That it is possible makes it truly moving and inspiring. One Piece is one of the most widely acclaimed anime/manga in history because it is just chock-full of these larger than life characters that really aren’t that much larger than life. But to be like this guy, we should look at what drives him. He enters the story with the goal of being the best to fulfill a promise to a fallen friend. Later in the critical moment of being faced with the immense distance between him and his goal, it is his current obligation to his captain that gets him through the fight—to continue to pursue the dream instead of giving up. He strives to be the best both for himself and for others at the same time. It is his personal conviction and ambition that pushes him, but his convictions and ambitions themselves are based on those important to him. So let’s draw lines between OP and the Bible. God calls his people to be great, to love others and so overcome the world. ‘Nuff said. Dream big.
Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Think of the most powerful character or person you have ever met, read about, or heard of. We have a word for those kinds of people nowadays. I personally really like the word “heroes”; but this new word really focuses on that attribute that makes them heroic, that powerful feeling—whether of conviction or of raw strength and confidence—that just emanates from their very being. Today, we call those people “ballers”. And just like most newly created words, it has multiple functions of speech. In this case, “baller” can be used as either an adjective or as a noun. So think of the most baller person or character that you can, whether realistic or not. And then, I’ll tell you that God is hands down more baller than anyone or anything ever thought up or already in existence and that He is in a way that you sincerely hope and expect him to be.
God. The very definition and embodiment of every value that is truly good in a perfect, humanly unachievable balance called love; an unfathomable existence truly worthy of and only sufficiently describable by the title “God”.
Isaiah 46:5
To whom will you compare me or count me equal? To whom will you liken me that we can be compared?
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Was God invented? Well, ask this ancient, staggered yet consistent collection of writings we call the Holy Bible, the Word of God. But is the Bible true? It’s possible as well as completely feasible; and that’s good enough for me. Come on; everyone says that, so whose God is the real one?? Well, which one do you like the best? Because a God that creates a people that can think up a better God isn’t really God at all. I believe that the real one is going to be the best one, and I am confident that the God of the Bible truly resonates with the hearts of all mankind.
Hah. Now if I just acted like it.
Regardless, I will own these words.
To the glory of God.
By Big Fish (aka dyu)
Romans 12:9
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
(Rough Draft)
Monday, February 28, 2011
To Mother by Yui. Relay for Life!
Because you told me
Teary voiced looking away
Teary voiced looking away
That if you couldn’t even lie anymore
Living on would not be possible
Living on would not be possible
Since you wanted to be loved
You kept on laughing
Through any hardship
You kept on laughing
Through any hardship
Sadness is something
I could endure
If I were alone
I could endure
If I were alone
Kindness is so
Cruel, Isn’t it?
Cruel, Isn’t it?
Even your heart
Becomes confused
Becomes confused
I want (us) to be together forever but
Things I don’t like about you seem to
Increase by each passing day
Things I don’t like about you seem to
Increase by each passing day
We’re like-minded, aren’t we?
I feel like I understand
I feel like I understand
I have someone I can love now
If that day were ever to come
I wonder if I could change
If that day were ever to come
I wonder if I could change
Happiness is…
Although it doesn’t
Shine like magic
Although it doesn’t
Shine like magic
Isn’t hatred
Just a slight misunderstanding?
Please don’t cry
Just a slight misunderstanding?
Please don’t cry
Mere fate
Is something you can change
Crying into the night as I ran from the house
Is something you can change
Crying into the night as I ran from the house
And in that secluded park bench
I waited for you to come pick me up
I waited for you to come pick me up
Sadness is a thing
If snuggled together,
A thing of great warmth
If snuggled together,
A thing of great warmth
Kindness is
If it’s close to you
Its taken advantage of
If it’s close to you
Its taken advantage of
Hey…
I’m happy
Probably
Because
I’m happy
Probably
Because
I had you
SMS (Shine)
I listened to this profusely when I was sad. Now I listen to it diligently when I am happy. The message is clear, and the stats are crazy.
"Take a look at David Crowder’s brand new single, “[SMS] Shine”! This amazing video was created with a LiteBrite and 1 million pegs. Everything you see in the video actually happened – NO computer generated graphics or effects! Even details such as the piano playing in the background and the monkeys beating a drum in perfect time was done free of digital affects and computer animation. It took 2,150 man hours, 1,200 LITE-BRITE images, 83 friends and 148 pizzas to complete the video."
It took me 60 (yes 60) views to realize that the girl dies in the music video.
It took me 3 months of watching it daily to realize that there was a piano playing by itself in the back.
I think the 3 drummers are pretty darn cute.
I want a lite brite now.
But it is not all about the statistics, nor the lyrics, nor the musicality. Its about how I see God and feel his love when I listen to the song and watch the video.
Revelation 5:10-12
"Take a look at David Crowder’s brand new single, “[SMS] Shine”! This amazing video was created with a LiteBrite and 1 million pegs. Everything you see in the video actually happened – NO computer generated graphics or effects! Even details such as the piano playing in the background and the monkeys beating a drum in perfect time was done free of digital affects and computer animation. It took 2,150 man hours, 1,200 LITE-BRITE images, 83 friends and 148 pizzas to complete the video."
It took me 60 (yes 60) views to realize that the girl dies in the music video.
It took me 3 months of watching it daily to realize that there was a piano playing by itself in the back.
I think the 3 drummers are pretty darn cute.
I want a lite brite now.
But it is not all about the statistics, nor the lyrics, nor the musicality. Its about how I see God and feel his love when I listen to the song and watch the video.
Revelation 5:10-12
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
2 Kings 6:16-18
“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
(I don't know about you, but I want to be able to hear and see angels like that)
(Verse 1)
Send me a sign
A hint, a whisper
Throw me a line
Cause I am listening
Come break the quiet
Breathe your awakening
Bring me to light
Cause I am fading
Surround me with the rush of angels wings
(Chorus 1)
Shine Your light so I can see You
Pull me up, I need to be near You
Hold me, I need to feel loved
Can You overcome this heart thats overcome?
(Verse 2)
You sent a sign
The hint, a whisper
Human, divine
Heaven is listening
Death laid low
Quiet and in the night a stirring
All around the rush of angels
(Bridge)
O the wonder of the greatest love has come
(Chorus 2)
Shine Your light so all can see it
Lifted up, cause the whole world needs it
Love has come, what joy to hear it
He has overcome, He has overcome
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