After watching Naruto Shippuuden episodes 248-249, after watching the sacrifice Naruto's parents made to ensure his future, I have come to the conclusion that Eastern thought is much closer to Christianity, to the Truth of the Gospel, than any Western western thought. Nakama-ism (I'm making this a religion) is founded on the battle of Good vs Evil and sacrificial love. Instead, we in America have worshiped the religions of The American Dream, The Prosperity Gospel, the cult called Sports, and Millennialism. These religions all focus on Self and Pride and Worldliness, the cores of the evil of humanity. To worship these idols is basically rebelling against the reason why Christ died on the Cross. The message o the Cross is to break down our pride, humble us to the reality of our existence, and to embrace the sacrificial love called Grace that our Savior has showered down to resurrect our dead and broken spirits.

That is the Gospel, and though those episodes only showing one father and one mother saving their son, along with their nation, it is about as close to the Gospel you can get from any story nowadays (well except maybe Whitebeard).

The Characters of Eureka Seven

The greatest strength of Eureka Seven for me is the characters. They are not the most perfect characters, and you don’t see them listed very often as people’s favorite characters, but to me they are the most realistic compared to any other anime.

You take a look at the two main characters. Renton starts off as an annoying child who complains too much. What we fail to realize (or realize and deny it) is that he actually reminds us of our childhood experiences and growing pains. We also get to see the most character growth in him than any other character from any other anime. Period. Maybe a little bit unrealistically, as he probably only aged 1-2 years during his time on the Gekko-Go. Aptly mentioned, we see him first join in the first few episodes as a useless kid where the crew struggled to find a use for him, but by episode 50 he “graduated” and truly became a man, one who went through basically all the stages of maturity possible (realizing the world is cruel, understanding the value of life and the consequences of taking life, truly understand what it means to love someone and protect it, how to raise children?). You see him encounter both daily and truly life-changing experiences through the 50-episode epic, all done realistically and beautifully. You can’t help but change your mind about him, and by that time gotten used to his self-narration and one-sided messages to his sister.

Eureka starts off as the typical clean-slate, emotionless, doll-fetish anime girl cliché, but that starts to disappear as she gains more realistic traits as the episodes go on. Her dependency on Holland disappears as she begins to understand humanity more, and interacting with Renton more in various cheesy encounters brings out the girlish side in her to the viewer. The whole adopting three orphans of clearly three different ethnic backgrounds might be stretching the uniqueness towards the other spectrum, but overall it helps separate her from the stereotypes. To me, she truly became a real character after she gets her scars in episode 19. With the flaws, she sheds her doll-like demeanor (with perfect skin and hair) but becomes a real girl, albeit one that is afraid of what she will become and of the new feelings inside her. In my opinion, her character was never truly fleshed out by the end of Eureka Seven, but in the sequel Ao, you truly get to know her sympathize with her struggles as single mom protecting her children (that is probably the only reason I can give for someone to watch Ao, as the characters in that show are all cookie-cutter and bland, and in some cases serve solely as fan service). In the end, you can’t help but like her as you journey with her as she faces her fears, her past, and ultimately who she is.

In many ways the secondary characters actually steal the show. Holland and Talho are the “parents” in Eureka Seven, but they are anything but mature. Understood by the general public as celebrities and/or sex idols, when you truly see them in their own space, they are both real and flawed (can you see the trend I’m making?). Holland is conflicted with his past as a soldier and the task given to him by Renton’s father, while also acting jealous and childish towards a child decades younger than him. His verbal and physical abuse of Renton really sinks in what it means to be human (and pettiness). He also often plays the adult card, one we as the viewer understand and hate in the real world as it is BS, to get what he wants or cover his inability to adult. Talho also has her share of inner demons, and I think more females can empathize with her experience of being used and toss away. Her interactions with Holland, especially in the earlier episodes, totally seem like genuine interactions between couples in real life. Ultimately both of them man up and embrace their respective responsibilities (and parenthood helps give them a boost), and by the end of the series one can truly respect them as role models.

The other characters and crew members of the Gekko-Go are also very likable. They all have their own style and flavors, and their little quirks here and there spice up everything in the show. You see a whole range of age groups on board (which, ahem, is realistic), and their behaviors, roles, and mentalities all fit. You got your hipster photographer Stoner (pun probably intended), the goofy husband/surfer dude Matthieu and his more mature wife Hilda, the doctor lady Micha with her great facial expressions, to the teenagers Moon-doggy (what kind of name is that?) and Gidget with their flirting and competition with Renton, to the voice of wisdom Hap (and his hobby of reading on the toilet). Even the lesser known characters like Jobs (a reference to Steve Jobs) and mystic Gonzy (who turns out to be an alien) are enjoyable during their brief moments of screen time. The children actually act like children, which is rare to find nowadays in anime. Actually everyone acts their age (except maybe later half Renton), which is a big problem in anime where characters act way more mature than what is believable given their ages.

To me, the villain(s) are what turns a good show into a great show. We see it on the Big Screen. We all loved the Joker, and that truly made the Dark Knight awesome. Then we have the generic Marvel villains (besides Loki and possibly Helmut Zemo) who bore us to death. In Eureka Seven the bad guys aren’t necessary evil, just people who have taken different paths than the heroes. The two that stand out for me are Charles and Ray. Honestly, who doesn’t like them and didn’t feel sad when they died (even when Ray went a little cray cray in the end)? Their chemistry was enviable, and their love for Renton warmed me from the computer screen. Only Renton’s desire to be with Eureka and the couple’s past destroyed what could have been a picture perfect family, only to reveal in a few episodes how destructive vengeance can be and the depth of cruelty that exists in this world. Adroc is a different type of villain, one that fulfills the enigmatic and flawless archetype even to the end. No one can truly fault his philosophy of necessary sacrifice to save the world, and his drive and commitment (even to death) makes him a character that, at the very least, gets a head nod of respect. What puzzles me is why save children from ethnic cleansing (whom all ironically belong to the Nazi’s perfect race), when he orders other children to become experimental guinea pigs in one of the most disturbing scenes in the series. For Dominic and Anemone, there was a bit more cheese layered upon their characters. Still, towards the end of the show, one starts to understand where they are coming from. It may be pity at first, since the writer really amped the pity card for Anemone, but around the same time the heroes started to care for their rivals, we the viewers also started to care and hope for a brighter future for the two lovers. At least the show delivered and gave them enough spotlight to satisfy us.

Nirvash for me actually stands out as a character too, one that is up there with other inanimate objects that stole our hearts (Going Merry anyone?). He (she?) had character, surfed like the best of them, and even threw temper tantrums from time to time. I honestly think they could had made do without the last appearance change (reminds me too much of Gundam G), but to teach their own. From a Biblical perspective, Nirvash became the sacrificial lamb, one gone willingly to die for the sake of his loved ones (unlike the totally drug-infused Evangelion ending that everyone says Eureka Seven copied from…you can see which ending I liked better). You always need a Jesus figure, even in a show tries its hardest to maximize the facets of real humans.

I needed more feels in my life, so I found this...

shoot...and this

http://babylonbee.com/news/man-feels-led-things-coincidentally-likes/ (satire)

So there is this satire post about a man doing things for "God's glory" (not explicitly said in article) because they are things he likes.

Now the point is we need to examine our heart and differentiate doing something "because we like it or are good at it" or doing it because it actually promotes the Gospel and the Kingdom. This can apply to music. This can apply to sports, to art, to dance, to even video games or board games night.This can apply to theological reading/teaching. This can apply to mission trips. I'm not saying these things can't glorify God, I'm just asking the question are we doing these things truly for God, or is this actually a veiled excuse to do something for ourselves.

Just because we like something, or are good at it, doesn't automatically we should use it to serve or glorify God. More often than not (in scripture and now), God will use our weaknesses and dislikes to humble us and reveal His glory all the more. Discernment please.

Update: Say this, I say that I am going to play Dota (or SSBM) for the Kingdom, because I like Dota. "I am going to buy this tango for the Glory of God. I am going to stun the enemy hero for the Glory of God. I am going to get a rampage kill for the Glory of God!" Seems very silly to me to even think that. But that's really how people think for sports and other showcases of skill. "I'm going to make this basket for the Glory of God. I'm going to make this touchdown for the Glory of God. I am going to thank God for giving me this win." Why don't people see the silliness there? Dota is a already recognized by the US and intentionally as a professional sport, and yet why is it silly to praise God in Dota games (and it is silly), and completely acceptable and praiseworthy to worship the success of an athlete (who happens to be Christian)?

If you are going to praise someone for their athletic skill, then praise them all for it because God gave them all the skills, motivation, environment, and work ethic for them all to be where they are today. When we use the excuse that certain athletes are Christian (who may be doing great work for the Lord, but you don't know that) just to praise their athletic ability and professional success, we really are just idolizing man instead of worshiping God. Either praise God for all athletic skill among all players, Christian or not, else just keep your eyes solely on Christ and don't bring in anything created by man for man's own glorification (which is the primary purpose to play sports and drive for watching sports).

Currently the greatest destruction of the American Church is the idolatry of sports, creating a niche for human pride and complacency to rise and fester in her. It also alienates so many people who need the Gospel. Those who use TV shows or video games as a drug to escape the reality that the world is cruel and hurtful. There is so much ignorance, and so much need for churches to be more inviting to those who have been told their entire lives to buy into mainstream American sports culture. When they refuse, or cannot acclimate, they are bullied from primary school all the way into the workforce, and especially in churches. In many ways, Asian-American males and international Chinese males are the most hurt by this. How many role models in sports are there for us? How many male Asians are there who play basketball, soccer, American football, and even tennis? Instead we find solace in gaming, in making art/music, watching anime or k-dramas, and in social media, all the while the American church culture tells us we are immature and weird. Is that how Jesus would want us to treat our Asian brothers? At least we understand gaming is only an escape, a drug, something to try to fill our hearts besides Jesus. At least we don't worship and glorify our passions the way America idolizes sports. For sure we need the Gospel, but don't try to sell us a Gospel that involves sports.

On a similar note...
http://babylonbee.com/news/man-admits-life-together-just-excuse-whatever/ (satire)
http://babylonbee.com/news/loved-jesus-much-love-baseball-laments-unbelievably-spiritual-man/ (satire) but actually...
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/3-diagnostic-questions-to-detect-sports-idolatry
I agree all the points, especially the point borrowing from Star Trek: "If you are emotionally compromised by it, you are probably idolizing it." I do have a critique though. Just because Paul uses an analogy of the work ethic of athletes doesn't automatically make it a role model profession. Jesus used farming analogies more than anything else, but does that mean we should worship farmers? What about carpenters? Jesus was one. Why don't we worship Christians scientists, who arguably work harder and longer hours than athletes, and contribute more to society. I will also pull the context card, because what it mean to be an athlete in 1st century Israel is a far cry from the athletes we see now. Protection of family, protection of the nation, and being able to work, since most work then involved physical labor, vs entertainment, self-fulfillment, and the big bucks. Yes, there are cases where you can look at an athlete and somehow allude it to the Gospel, but you really are just picking the least likely analogy out of millions God gave us to pick from, and no analogy can ever substitute for the explicit Gospel anyways.

Two disclaimers:
 Why do Christians look up to Steph Curry like he is Jesus reincarnated? I don't even look to C.S. Lewis, Tim Keller, John Piper, David Platt, Matt Chandler, Francis Chan, Paul Washer, Tozer, Zwemer, Tripp, Craig, MacArthur, Sproul, Wright, Zacharias, Spurgeon, Stott, Taylor, Elliot, Mother Teresa...I don't even look up to these great men of faith who have done so much for the Kingdom (and who Paul tells us to copy their walk of faith) the way my brothers and sisters look up to and worship Christian athletes. To use Curry only as an example, as he may be a wonderful person and a humble man of faith (I don't know, maybe he is a lukewarm Christian who pursues only his dreams and pretends they are God's calling), but here are two truths of the Gospel: 1) Steph Curry is only a man, and according to Scripture, he is shit. We all are shit. Our works are shit, especially those produces from worldly, man-made acts (like sports); 2) everything he has (everything we all have) is a gift from God. His talent at basketball. His work ethic. His drive. His support. All of these were gifts from God, and he did NOTHING to earn any of it. How do I know? To parallel an Angelina Jolie speech, there could be someone who has the same athletic build as Curry, same latent talent at basketball, but because of the environment he was born in, whether its in poverty or an unstable 3rd world country, or be living in a refugee camp, he will never have an opportunity to play in the NBA. Doesn't matter if he works twice has hard as Curry. Doesn't matter if he dreams twice as big as Curry. He will never have the chances Curry had, or even I had. This is the hard cold fact, the reality of this world, and part of the reality of the Gospel (the who we are part).

Video games can be analogous to drugs (scientifically backed) as sports are a manifestation of the prideful human nature. Sports has such a higher ability to generate human pride than video gaming ever can. PERIOD. Why? Because more often than not, people are ashamed to play video games, just as drug addicts are ashamed of doing drugs. Society has deemed it an activity of "lesser worth," one that elicits shame. The elites, the bullies, the jocks, and the Trumps have all beaten that into gamers' heads. So there isn't much pride in gaming, but more escape, solace, and community with outcasts. But sports isn't an addiction or a drug. It is the manifestation of innate human desire to glorify oneself or one's team/faction. Why do we play sports? To prove to others we are more athletic and talented. Why do we support sports teams? To show others our team is better. We are proud to say we can play a sport with some skill. We are proud to support and brag about our sports teams. All the primarily reasons for the existence of sports are selfish. We don't need to be afraid to talk about sports at work, and even at church. Just as Matt Chandler puts it, every sports team is a cult. Loyalty. Fanaticism. Idolatry. That is why sports have produced so much more violence, jealousy, and destruction over the ages. Whole countries have gone into economic and social depression over a soccer game. Families have been torn apart. Fathers have neglected loving and teaching their children because of sports. Because sports and Pride are so tied together, it has that much more faith-destroying power. It has taken over so much space in Christian hearts, hearts that should belong to Christ and Christ alone. Yes, I rather be that guy who posts "idolatry!" on Facebook posts about sports and be told "lighten up" than be the guy who lets Christians' idolatry of sports push away so many outcasts from Church who dearly need healing and the Gospel.

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/rise-steph-curry-no-fluke
I will give Steph Curry the benefit of the doubt that he is a true brother in Christ. But it is articles like this that make me question everything about modern, millennial, "relevant" Christianity. This article already botches everything I said above about the Gospel,;about work ethic, misquoting Philippians 4:13 by invoking the Prosperity Gospel, and I wonder what Calvinists think about the free will section of the article. Even the usage of Proverbs 3 and Matthew 25 are hard stretches that would never fly with 1st century Christians (or with Jesus for that matter).

Let us be completely honest here. The pillar of sports in human society is built on pride (the worst sin) and worldliness (the devil's greatest weapon). From that pillar rains down domestic violence, sexual violence, greed (love of money), economic instability, and completely unnecessary and avoidable animosity across many social lines: between family members, between friends, between schools, between communities, even between countries! One can even make the same secular argument that porn (indirectly) promotes sex trafficking, likewise sports (indirectly) promotes sex trafficking. Everyone knows the Super Bowl, the Olympics, the World Cup are the greatest hubs for human trafficking. So do I have a valid point with all of this or no?

Sidenote: What if, and this is completely speculative and written half jokingly, the anti-Christ comes from the sports world? People have said that the anti-Christ is Oprah, or Obama, or the UN, or will come from Islam, or the Entertainment Industry, or be a future world leader, or even the digital world. But if the anti-Christ or beast is actually the sports industry, that each of the heads or horns or eyes is a particular sport: basketball, football, baseball, soccer...esports. What other human creation can grip nations the same way sports can? What can lead to a country going into economic success or depression because their national team won or last a championship? What other human activity can demand such loyalty day in and day out from its fans in front of the TV or even work attire? Just look at Cubs fans this week during the World Series. What other human vice can compete with the magnitude of worship? Enough about [heretical] eschatology, I still think sports idolatry is one of the top sins gripping the US, along with humanism, liberalism, pride, greed, and complacency.The saddest thing is, of the sins I just listed, sports idolatry is the only sin that the church in America denies a sin. The American church has fallen so much that we deny our love for sports have consumed us, 100x more than how God's love should consume us, and I have seen churches that deny this every single Sunday or Saturday. Just see David Platt's comparison here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve9jPfJeT2k. What hurts the worst is Platt speaking how the community in the sports community is way closer and real than the community in the Church, Christ's Body and Bridegroom. How we have failed each other and fail to reflect the Love God gave us and the Cross.

To brothers: How do I protect the hearts of my sisters while I watch and keep my heart from doing harm? Though we can have fellowship with our sisters (and I encourage it), we are called directly by God to encourage and strengthen the hearts of our brothers. So why ask out a girl (whom you may or may not like and have not-so-selfless intentions) when you can go and be accountable and sharpen a brother? Guard hearts. Empower one another, brothers.

Devo Post #14

4/16/16

Malachi 3:18

And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.

There is a distinction to be seen visibly. This is something we need to know, and others need to know. Our light should not be hidden, and it should grow as we grow spiritually. We also need to understand that everyone not in the body is wicked, and that we all started off as wicked. We need to know our sin makes us wicked. Doesn’t matter if we think others are good, the Gospel tells us we are not. In Romans 5, it says we “while we are helpless,” “while we are sinners,”, and “while we are WICKED,” Paul is equating all 3 as our nature. Again, you can say non-believers are “good,” but that is just by human standards. We are all NOT good according to God’s standards, and we need to hit this home into our hearts. As Pastor Mike says, only when we admit our blindness (our sin, our hopelessness, our wickedness, our humanity) can we have hope to see.

At this stage of life, I think I get more excited about people getting baptized than people getting married or having babies. 1) Because the former is glorious; 2) the latter is getting too commonplace.

http://babylonbee.com/news/mans-impressive-book-collection-entirely-ornamental/

Story of my life right now. Will read more, and live it out more. Also to start my book review blog.

I believe, to a certain good extent, that you can interpret the kind of heart someone has by looking at their Facebook profile pictures and see whether they have pictures of them with friends and family (or pets), or have glamour or setup shots of themselves. Hearts of caring and no need of self-validation from others, or hearts of vanity or insecurity, can be revealed. Go see for yourself on Facebook, and you can also examine your own pictures and own heart and see if there is a correlation.

Candid shots of joy and laughter are also wonderful to see.

(And honestly, deep down, we all kind of already knew this...without social psychology to point it out for us, we just pretend we don't know because we all do it)

It is Finished (Good Friday)

I'm going to pretend this is about God

Devo Post #13

3/23/16

1 Peter 3:3-4

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

I know this is addressed to Godly women, but there is enough scripture and evidence in other parts of the Bible that I believe this can be extrapolated to all modern Christians. Gentleness and a quiet spirit in both men and women of God is something pleasing to God.

Our outer appearances should not matter. That is that. Anyone who says differently either isn’t a Christian or is a Christian with his/her head stuck in the butthole of the world. I don’t need to elaborate any more than that.

How about myself? I tend to not care how I dress, usually adorning a T-shirt, jeans, and my ugly but comfy Nike Monarchs. But I know deep down I do judge people by appearances, and am still subjected to treating people better if they look or sound more attractive. I know when I was young I was under that influence, given who I crushed on in elementary school. As I grew older and became friends with more and more outcasts within the American public education, I learned to care more and take more things into consideration of a person’s behavior and inherent worth. I became someone who could see past a lot of surface traits of people and look deeper into who they truly are. Even at WashU, with its plethora of well-dressed and rich students, I was able to maintain this ability of mine to not be subjected by physical appearances and truly care for those who need my care, and be friends with those who have character, not charisma and looks. I even took this as far as treating people who look attractive poorly and giving them less chances to befriend me. I immediately judged people who looked good or dressed well as arrogant and self-absorbed, as this was the case at first when I met Kelvin at CMU. I basically told myself “look at all those ACF girls fawning over him, he doesn’t need my friendship.” God showed me I was dead wrong, and look at us two now.

I have noticed changes in myself since I went to CMU, and even now in Chicago, that I am now more prone to stare and prettier women and pander to attractive people, at least to a much larger degree than in the past. I mean, any increase is already a lot compared to how I was in the past, especially towards females. Before, I cared not about looks, and my KC friends all know I used to never notice boobs or butts. Now though I find myself actually perceiving they exist, and in the slightest ways I am feeling some physical attraction towards them than I ever had. One may say puberty hit me a decade and a half late. I may now be closer to a normal boy or man than I used to be, but I cannot help but feel ashamed, especially towards my sisters in Christ. I never used to lust in manners that my brothers in Christ struggle so hard, but now I think I am struggling more and more with this. Oh how I stalk more pictures on Facebook now than I ever used to. Need to call out myself and repent. My sisters in Christ deserve much better from me.

I need to learn, or re-learn, that a man’s/woman’s worth is not found in how attractive they are, how much they earn, how prestigious they are in their field, how they dress or carry themselves, but in their character, humility, and love of God. That is how Jesus treated those who came to Him, whether it was repentant beggars or tax collectors, or even repentant pharisees. But those who use their outer appearances and outer behavior, Jesus calls out their true nature on the inside, “bones and filth” and “greed and self-indulgence.”

I must not be self-focused. I also must not enable my brothers and sisters to be the self-focused either. I will never date or marry someone who focuses on the outside, whether towards me or in general, but I will look for someone who is humble, has character, and is a woman after God’s own heart.

Luna had decorated her bedroom ceiling with five beautifully
painted faces: Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Neville. They
were not moving as the portraits at Hogwarts moved, but there
was a certain magic about them all the same: Harry thought they
breathed. What appeared to be fine golden chains wove around the
pictures, linking them together, but after examining them for a
minute or so, Harry realized that the chains were actually one word,
repeated a thousand times in golden ink: friends . . . friends . . .
friends . . .

- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows

As much as I dislike Trump and want to support the protests right at UIC against the rally, I know that one day the same protests against free speech will be used against Christianity. The same thinking that Trump supporters are outdated, racist, and ignorant will one day be used against Christianity. The day is probably already upon is when free speech and religious freedom can no longer protect Christians from worshiping God and doing His will in peace. God may we be able to persevere through persecution that He promised the Church.

Me: I have always wondered, and continue to wonder, if growing up and being an adult and living a more personal life after college, to try to move past the tightness that we define as "college behavior," if we are actually becoming more unbiblical.

J.M: mmm as for people trying to move past the community feel during college to live a more personal life, I actually find that quite tragic to some degree

Me: it is
Me: and i dont like it how people try to cover it up
Me: "its in the past now"
Me: "im an adult now"
Me: "this is just how life works"

J.M: not even sure what that's supposed to mean

Me: it reeks of laziness

J.M: selfish passivity

Membership

It is almost March now, and membership classes are starting soon. Within the last few months, various prominent preachers have emphasized the importance of being a member of a local church, and that it is basically heresy to “ride solo”. I wouldn’t call my behavior in Chicago that, given I’ve been very active in two churches (Beloved and Cornerstone), but I have yet to give my allegiance to either. The church I go to for service (on Saturday afternoons) is Beloved, but I have to wonder if this is the church for me, especially after last Saturday. Do I enjoy spending my time with these brothers and sisters listening to them talk about Fuller House and Suits? Or watch them agonize whether Steph Curry will clutch it out in overtime? I don’t, and without a doubt I can give a full theological analysis on how terrible is this behavior when the church body comes together. But this begets the question, if I go to a church where they have LAN parties or FOF (fellowship over food) for afterhours, is this just catering to my own tastes as a gamer and social foodie? This is about the time I reminisce the prayer and worship times after church back at Pittsburgh, and the extensive spiritual refinement Vision School gave during those semesters. Is it too terrible to mention that we ought to pray more together, share more together, encourage each other more, and be holy together after church? Sigh, maybe I just sat at the wrong table. Maybe God is telling me to stay and encourage them and point them to the Cross. It is not about me, it is all about Jesus.

Sthuthi Chey Maname Lyrics

സ്തുതി ചെയ് മനമേ നിത്യവും നിൻ ജീവനാഥനേശുവേ

ഇതുപോൽ സ്വജീവൻ തന്നൊരാല്മ സ്നേഹിതൻ വേറാരിനി

മരണാധികാരിയായിരുന്ന ഘോരനാം പിശാചിനെ

മരണത്തിനാലെ നീക്കി മൃത്യു ഭീതി തീർത്ത നാഥനെ

ബഹുമാന്യനാമാചാര്യനായി വാനിലവൻ വാഴ്കയാൽ

ബലഹീനതയിൽ കൈവിടാതെ ചേർത്തുകൊള്ളുമാകയാൽ

ദിനവും മനമേ തത്സമയം വൻകൃപകൾ പ്രാപിപ്പാൻ

അതിധൈര്യമായ് കൃപാസനത്തിൻ അന്തികത്തിൽ ചെന്നു നീ

ബഹുദൂതരുച്ച നാദമോടെ വാഴ്ത്തിടുന്ന നാഥനെ

ബലവും ധനവും ജ്ഞാനമെല്ലാം സ്വീകരിപ്പാൻ യോഗ്യനെ

(I'm gonna put this here until I figure out how to translate it, or someone does. Post in my comments to tell me.)

I was the only one,
Looking at you:
Seeing your past and future…
Your sadness and happiness…
Everything.

I’d always believed that growing up,
Meant becoming kinder,
But I’m no different than I was as a child…

I feel I want to protect you,
Even if I awake from the darkness,
On that other side awaiting me.
In this city that hid the two of us away,
A type of snow that’s never been seen before has been falling.
You’re like the deepest scar,
That’s ever been carved in my heart.
I’ll retrieve this world’s song,
That once made you smile.

The clocks in every room,
Are just a little bit off,
While we constantly remain as cogs,
Misaligning our words.

Playing hero,
As I cried all alone,
I brushed your cheeks,
With hands that faltered before even reaching out.

A world that wants to destroy you,
Is impregnated by a black prayer,
At the threshold of dreams.
Those gentle fingers that were caressing you lovingly,
Begin to twist and curl!
For my sake, and my sake alone,
I’m reaching out this powerless hand,
Toward a faint, shining light –
Struggling…
So lead me to a future,
In which you sing!

I’m believing in the existence,
Of an undeniably warm place,
That I’ll want to protect.
That kindness, devoured by sadness,
Is a night buried under white snow.
You light a tiny fire in my heart,
Like an old scar.
So smile for me –
Your song,
Is like a light awakening,
From the darkness of this world.

I was the only one,
Looking at you……

One of the questions I had during International Bible Study was about Jesus calming the storm. In that story, Jesus asks a question to the disciples about their lack of faith. My question was this: which was more faith, to ask Jesus for help or to not ask at all, believing that Jesus will protect them no matter what.

I don't know if there is a correct answer for that question, but I think one must take a course of action in accordance to their measure of faith.

Again deep questions coming from a basic bible study.

The Chaos (by G. Nolst Trenité, a.k.a. "Charivarius"; 1870 - 1946)

Dearest creature in creation
Studying English pronunciation,
I will teach you in my verse
Sounds like corpse, corps, horse and worse
I will keep you, Susy, busy,
Make your head with heat grow dizzy.
Tear in eye your dress you'll tear,
So shall I! Oh, hear my prayer,
Pray, console your loving poet,
Make my coat look new, dear, sew it!
Just compare heart, beard and heard,
Dies and diet, lord and word,
Sword and sward, retain and Britain.
(Mind the latter, how it's written).
Made has not the sound of bade,
Say said, pay-paid, laid, but plaid.
Now I surely will not plague you
With such words as vague and ague,
But be careful how you speak,
Say break, steak, but bleak and streak.
Previous, precious, fuchsia, via,
Pipe, snipe, recipe and choir,
Cloven, oven, how and low,
Script, receipt, shoe, poem, toe.
Hear me say, devoid of trickery:
Daughter, laughter and Terpsichore,
Typhoid, measles, topsails, aisles.
Exiles, similes, reviles.
Wholly, holly, signal, signing.
Thames, examining, combining
Scholar, vicar, and cigar,
Solar, mica, war, and far.
From "desire": desirable--admirable from "admire."
Lumber, plumber, bier, but brier.
Chatham, brougham, renown, but known.
Knowledge, done, but gone and tone,
One, anemone. Balmoral.
Kitchen, lichen, laundry, laurel,
Gertrude, German, wind, and mind.
Scene, Melpomene, mankind,
Tortoise, turquoise, chamois-leather,
Reading, reading, heathen, heather.
This phonetic labyrinth
Gives moss, gross, brook, brooch, ninth, plinth.
Billet does not end like ballet;
Bouquet, wallet, mallet, chalet;
Blood and flood are not like food,
Nor is mould like should and would.
Banquet is not nearly parquet,
Which is said to rime with "darky."
Viscous, Viscount, load, and broad.
Toward, to forward, to reward.
And your pronunciation's O.K.,
When you say correctly: croquet.
Rounded, wounded, grieve, and sieve,
Friend and fiend, alive, and live,
Liberty, library, heave, and heaven,
Rachel, ache, moustache, eleven,
We say hallowed, but allowed,
People, leopard, towed, but vowed.
Mark the difference, moreover,
Between mover, plover, Dover,
Leeches, breeches, wise, precise,
Chalice, but police, and lice.
Camel, constable, unstable,
Principle, disciple, label,
Petal, penal, and canal,
Wait, surmise, plait, promise, pal.
Suit, suite, ruin, circuit, conduit,
Rime with "shirk it" and "beyond it."
But it is not hard to tell,
Why it's pall, mall, but Pall Mall.
Muscle, muscular, gaol, iron,
Timber, climber, bullion, lion,
Worm and storm, chaise, chaos, and chair,
Senator, spectator, mayor,
Ivy, privy, famous, clamour
And enamour rime with hammer.
Pussy, hussy, and possess,
Desert, but dessert, address.
Golf, wolf, countenance, lieutenants.
Hoist, in lieu of flags, left pennants.
River, rival, tomb, bomb, comb,
Doll and roll and some and home.
Stranger does not rime with anger.
Neither does devour with clangour.
Soul, but foul and gaunt but aunt.
Font, front, won't, want, grand, and grant.
Shoes, goes, does. Now first say: finger.
And then: singer, ginger, linger,
Real, zeal, mauve, gauze, and gauge,
Marriage, foliage, mirage, age.
Query does not rime with very,
Nor does fury sound like bury.
Dost, lost, post; and doth, cloth, loth;
Job, Job; blossom, bosom, oath.
Though the difference seems little,
We say actual, but victual.
Seat, sweat; chaste, caste.; Leigh, eight, height;
Put, nut; granite, and unite.
Reefer does not rime with deafer,
Feoffer does, and zephyr, heifer.
Dull, bull, Geoffrey, George, ate, late,
Hint, pint, Senate, but sedate.
Scenic, Arabic, Pacific,
Science, conscience, scientific,
Tour, but our and succour, four,
Gas, alas, and Arkansas.
Sea, idea, guinea, area,
Psalm, Maria, but malaria,
Youth, south, southern, cleanse and clean,
Doctrine, turpentine, marine.
Compare alien with Italian,
Dandelion with battalion.
Sally with ally, yea, ye,
Eye, I, ay, aye, whey, key, quay.
Say aver, but ever, fever.
Neither, leisure, skein, receiver.
Never guess--it is not safe:
We say calves, valves, half, but Ralph.
Heron, granary, canary,
Crevice and device, and eyrie,
Face but preface, but efface,
Phlegm, phlegmatic, ass, glass, bass.
Large, but target, gin, give, verging,
Ought, out, joust, and scour, but scourging,
Ear but earn, and wear and bear
Do not rime with here, but ere.
Seven is right, but so is even,
Hyphen, roughen, nephew, Stephen,
Monkey, donkey, clerk, and jerk,
Asp, grasp, wasp, and cork and work.
Pronunciation--think of psyche--!
Is a paling, stout and spikey,
Won't it make you lose your wits,
Writing "groats" and saying "grits"?
It's a dark abyss or tunnel,
Strewn with stones, like rowlock, gunwale,
Islington and Isle of Wight,
Housewife, verdict, and indict!
Don't you think so, reader, rather,
Saying lather, bather, father?
Finally: which rimes with "enough"
Though, through, plough, cough, hough, or tough?
Hiccough has the sound of "cup."
My advice is--give it up

I was reminded of this because the international students at International Bible Study all pronounce disciple as if it was pronounced like principle. Makes sense right? English...

Learning How to Write #1

“This sentence has five words. Here are five more words. Five-word sentences are fine. But several together become monotonous. Listen to what is happening. The writing is getting boring. The sound of it drones. It’s like a stuck record. The ear demands some variety. Now listen. I vary the sentence length, and I create music. Music. The writing sings. It has a pleasant rhythm, a lilt, a harmony. I use short sentences. And I use sentences of medium length. And sometimes, when I am certain the reader is rested, I will engage him with a sentence of considerable length, a sentence that burns with energy and builds with all the impetus of a crescendo, the roll of the drums, the crash of the cymbals–sounds that say listen to this, it is important.” - Gary Provost

Why do we go after shadows and slivers of God when we can have Him fully? There is a saying, why chase creation when we can have the creator? In scripture, there are two was to see God: looking at Jesus and experiencing the love from the Church (which is really still just Jesus, or His Body).

Charlie

I have decided today to name my hamster, who passed away 12-14 years ago without a name, Charlie, in honor of "Charlie bit my finger."

Friends before Dating

The best thing is make friends first. Your really good friends of the same sex were discovered and not found (brought to you by C.S. Lewis). In other words, you didn't have to force it and there was a reasonable pace on your journey to being friends. With romance we tend to go so fast that we skip a billion important steps of growth and that's when damage happens. When you find that guy-friend who doesn't fake it, isn't trying to impress you, and is helping you walk with God instead of helping you drown —just like a real friend does —then consider a cup of coffee. Don't rush, do have a good time, and don't ever be afraid to tell him no. - J.S. Park

Philippians: For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain

This book may have become my favorite book in the Bible. For some reason, reading it brought a sense of freshness, something different from Paul’s other epistles. I just like how Paul befriended a bunch of retired Roman soldiers and preached the Gospel to them, which led to them being some of his greatest supporters down the road.

3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Most of Paul's letters usually starts out like this: "hi guys, its Paul again, I've never stopped praying lots for ya'll, and WHAT IN HEAVEN'S NAME IS ALL THIS CRAP I HEAR THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING!?!?" But that isn't the case with these ex-soldiers turned Christians, as Paul keeps gushing them praise that he fears has been lacking. Paul even singles them out as the only church to help him in the early days.

If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵ circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; ⁶ as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

⁷ But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. ¹⁰ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

"Hey look at me. I was the hotshot politician. I was the he who made it in the world. I had influence. I had power. I was even considered righteous, uncorrupt and loved by the people, while being moral and upright and at the same time slaughtering heretics," yet it was all "filthy rags" in the end. Saul (old Paul) kind of reminds me of Percy from Harry Potter mixed with Nale from Words of Radiance. Paul’s tone of honesty in this letter again emphasizes the freshness, how Paul uses himself as an example of how everything from God and of God, and not from man. This is a bit different from other places where Paul purposefully self-deprecates (1 Timothy) for the purpose of teaching, or chastens himself as someone with tons of spiritual authority (1 Corinthians) for the purpose of rebuking. Here Paul writes this to relate himself to us as someone who had chased the world, and found God instead (or God found him).

10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. 

14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. 17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

There is an element of missions in this book that no one preaches or talks about (except maybe Mark Gungor): the act of giving and receiving. The church only sent one guy, and Paul didn't criticize the Church for not sending more men. Instead he basically gushed over the gifts these retired Roman geezers have sent him, providing all he needs. Where are these kinds of message in today's overseas missions movements? Yes churches don't fall into complacency and worldliness, storing up wealth for ourselves, but don't try to guilt trip people into doing overseas missions. As Paul says, let the Church of Philippi do missions in that city. We ought to encourage this level of radical giving and local serving in the church.

¹⁵ All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. ¹⁶ Only let us live up to what we have already attained.

¹⁷ Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. ¹⁸ For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. ¹⁹ Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. ²⁰ But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

There is a huge focus of looking to one another (and more mature Christians) as boosters and encouragement in the faith. By following a model, we are less likely to fall into traps and false doctrine. Satan is real guys, and he's a sly tricky bastard.

¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

I love Paul's honesty with sharing his own spiritual walk with his brothers and sister in Philippi. He admits that he hasn't reached a level of faith where he is satisfied, he hasn't reached his goal yet. One can even infer that he never got there, as he died before reaching Spain from Rome. This reminds me of that old slave prayer everyone has been sharing on tumblr recently. Paul gives Christians at all stages in their walk with Christ, to live up to the amount of faith we have already have. Not the amount we wish we had, not the amount someone else has, and not the amount people tell us we should have. If you are a level 1 Christian, then live up to that station. If you are a level 99 Christian, then do the same to the extent of faith given to you by God. But don't try to force it by your own strength, because we know that strength is nothing at all.

“I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am” - John Newton

Luke 7
³⁶ When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. ³⁷ A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. ³⁸ As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
³⁹ When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
⁴⁰ Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
⁴¹ “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,^[c] and the other fifty. ⁴² Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
⁴³ Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
⁴⁴ Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. ⁴⁶ You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. ⁴⁷ Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
⁴⁸ Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
⁴⁹ The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
⁵⁰ Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

This was the passage we did for international bible study last Friday, the 2nd entry from the iGIG guide (how many years has it been since I made that post? 7 years...God makes me keep my promises). It was one of those (increasing) moments where the simple bible study hits me harder than some dense theological study of Romans or Galatians. Here is a story that I have never heard any pastor preach on, and yet shows a woman who knew the Gospel so much. No other character of the Bible knew the Gospel this well, how sinful she is and how loved she is by Jesus. When I read this passage, I totally felt like Simon, who felt he has been forgiven little and thus loves Jesus little. If I, Daniel Lee, truly TRULY knew how deeply wicked I am and how much I needed to be forgiven, then now that I know I have a Grace and a Love that has wiped out all of my debts, how can I possibly not fall on my knees daily and wash my Lord's feet with my tears? Alas, that is where I realize how little of the message of the Gospel has seeped into my life, and how little I know of the Love that is as vast as the ocean. Oh there is still so much room for me to grow! I want to know you more!

Now Pastor Nate wants me to get coffee with the international seekers. Oh boy, I am going to pull out my super detailed (not really for) Children's Illustrated Bible and my NT Lego Bible. No fancy tricks, just prayer and the Gospel. That is really all they need.

Ugh we all have to own up to how little live out the Gospel in our daily lives. Preach the Gospel to yourself daily.

We Christians always like to say that the origins of the field of science came out of theism or Christianity. I hear that from respected people like Dr. Ian Hutchinson, Dr. Stephen Um, and recently Dr. John Lennox. But I really wonder, if these scientists of old (such as Faraday, Galileo, Darwin) given the evidence for a god and for a world without a god, would they still be Christian? Either way they are dead, so we will never know the answer. But I can't help but wonder...

Superbowl is coming up again, and just remembering last year's event, I wish I was still surrounded by guys who can decide that fellowship with one another is more important than a sport (despite some of them actually rooting for teams).

Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things

Husbands are called to check on the state of their wives' hearts daily. That means once I become a husband, every night I will ask my wife, "how is your heart?"

Such be for the glory of God. I hope I will be up for the task.

A conversation with Jesus

Man: “Jesus, I just want to thank you so much for answering my prayers! Thank you so much for the awesome job you lined up for me! Thank you for the stable income so I can buy the sports car I’ve always wanted! Thank you so much for giving me such a beautiful wife last year! You’ve been showering me with so many blessings!”

Jesus: “Friend, I don’t know how to say this, but I am not in those things and I did not answer your prayers. Didn’t I tell you? I am with those of humble means, I am with the poor and needy, I am with those who are crying, and I am with those who suffer for my name’s sake. It will be those who are truly blessed. Seek me and you shall find me. If you remain in me, then I will remain in you, but if you seek these worldly things, then you are not with me, and I will have to cut off our relationship and admit I never knew you.

#JesusIsAKillJoy #JesusIsTheMessiah #JesusIsAllYouNeed
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Jesus: “Friend [1], I don’t know how to say this, but I am not in those things and I did not answer your prayers [2]. Didn’t I tell you? I am with those of humble means [3], I am with the poor and needy [4], I am with those who are crying [5], and I am with those who suffer for my name’s sake [6]. It will be these who are truly blessed [7]. Seek me and you shall find me [8]. If you remain in me, then I will remain in you [9], but if you seek these worldly things [10], then you are not with me [11], and I will have to cut off our relationship [12] and admit I don’t know you [13].

[1] John 15:15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

[2] Luke 9:25 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?

[3] James 9:11 But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.

[4] Matthew 25:40 "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'

[5] Psalm 34:18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

[6] 1 Peter 3:14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened."

1 Peter 4:14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

1 Peter 5:10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

2 Corinthians 4:8-10 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies

[7] Matthew 5:3-11 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

[8] Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

[9] John 15:4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

John 14:23 Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.

[10] Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth

1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

[11] Luke 16: 13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

[12] John 15:6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

[13] Matthew 7:23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!