Proverbs 23:17-18 Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day. Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

Lord you know my heart, you know that many times I do envy sinners, of the life they have. I know I naturally long to sin, long to store up treasures here on earth, and long to be praised by men. Remind me of the hope that you have promised me, and teach me how to fear you above all else, and how to store up treasures in heaven. Let me not be jealous of my neighbors, and seduced by the world. As Christ resisted, let me resist the temptations set before me.

God is good.

After getting beaten and mugged, I met an exchange student from China at the Bank of America when I was trying to obtain a temporary debit card. He overheard me speaking in chinese to my parents about shipping my passport overnight so I can fly home. He then started a brief conversation with me, but at the end I forgot to get his contact information because I was still a bit traumatized and have regretted it since.

Today I bumped into him at the gym where he basically stared at me, saying "I've met you somewhere before...ah you are the taiwanese guy from the bank!" This time I got his wechat and hopefully something will become of this opportunity.

God is good.

[Some] Verses of Promise

I know that in times of pain and suffering, I am to hold fast to the promises of God to comfort me, to deliver me, to help me be steadfast. But if I don't know what the promises are, how will I find peace and joy? So I am going to list a few:

Psalm 23:6
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Psalm 84:11
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
    the Lord bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does he withhold
    from those who walk uprightly.

Luke 6:23
Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets.

Philippians 1:6
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 4:19
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:12-13
I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:38-39
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died
My richest gain I count but loss
And pour contempt on all my pride
Forbid it Lord that I should boast
Save in the death of Christ my God
All the vain things that charm me most
I sacrifice them to His blood
See from His head His hands His feet
Sorrow and love flow mingled down
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet
Or thorns compose so rich a crown
Were the whole realm of nature mine
That were an offering far too small  
Love so amazing so divine
Demands my soul
Demands my soul
Love demands my soul
My life my all

Lord, when I sing this song that I truly mean it. Let me truly believe that the Love that flowed from the Cross is worth giving all my soul, all my life, my all in all.

May I never lose the wonder,
Oh, the wonder of Your mercy.
May I sing Your hallelujah.
Hallelujah, Amen. 

The skies lay low where You are
On the earth You rest Your feet
Yet the hands that cradle the stars
Are the hands that bled for me
In a moment of glorious surrender
You were broken for all the world to see
Lifted out of the ashes
I am found in the aftermath
Freedom found in Your scars
In Your grace my life redeemed
For You chose to take the sinner's crown
As You placed Your crown on me
And in that moment of glorious surrender
Was the moment You broke the chains in me
Lifted out of the ashes
I am found in the aftermath
And in that moment You opened up the heavens
To the broken, the beggar and the thief
Lifted out of the wreckage
I found hope in the aftermath
And I know that You're with me
Yes, I know that You're with me here
And I know Your love will light the way
And I know that You're with me
Yes, I know that You're with me here
And I know Your love will light the way
Now all I have I count it all as loss
But to know You, to carry the cross
Knowing I'm found
In the light of the aftermath

 For some reason, this hit me hard today, knowing that God is always with me.

''Enough'' stalks us.

Have we prayed enough?

Worked enough?

Loved enough?

No, never enough.

But Jesus says,

''I am your enough.''

At ACW today at UIC, I happen to sit down with an older Indian man and started having a conversation with him. It turned out that he was the father of the worship leader, and drove to UIC to support his son. We had a good introductory chat, though tbh I was slightly awkward and kind of broke away from him. Somehow I also won the extreme rock paper scissors game in a room about 100 (felt really weird having them all chant my name; I also only played rock the entire time), and the father rushed over to give me a strong handshake to congratulate me.

After ACW he found me and we started talking again. I asked him the question "how did you become a Christian?" I replied that it was a curious thing, since he grew up in an Indian Christian family, but he was an atheist. After his father died, he did everything he could to erase God from his life, going as far as to marry a Hindu woman. Turns out God wasn't done with him, and brought his wife to Christ. After that it was a losing battle and he turned back to God, along with his son and daughter.

He looked me in the eye and asked me a question, "after everything that has happened in your life, can you deny that God is in control?" It was like he was reading my mind, and I could only nod in reply. He followed up with, "everything that happened to me defied logic! Nothing made sense! That is how you know that God is real."

It was by God's grace that I was born. This miracle defied all scientific reasoning, and my mom's decision to keep me defied all logic.

After everything that happened to me in high school and college, any other person would have fallen away from faith. Anyone and everyone. I tried really hard to run away from God, even to go as far as hating Him and blaming Him for everything. Yet no matter how far I ran, He still found me. Where shall I go from your Spirit?
 
Where shall I go from your Spirit?
    Or where shall I flee from your presence? 
  If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
    If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

After sharing his brief testimony, he gave me his business card and asked me to call him so he can share the rest of story, as well as his son's testimony. Needless to say that I was very blessed by the conversation, and really saw how the power of the Gospel and God's Spirit working in the students and student groups at UIC.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength

Why is this verse so misquoted and misused in the Church? How many of us even know the context of this verse?

Paul is writing this to the Church of Philippi to reassure them that he is okay and “content” with his current situation, which would be house arrest in Rome. The Church of Philippi, founded by Lydia in a Roman colon, sent Epaphroditus on a 800-mile journey (random google source) to give missionary aid to Paul, and Paul in return sends back a letter that gives lavish thanks to said church in what I consider his most vulnerable epistle in the Bible. 

In no way does this verse have anything to do with winning a sports game or being successful in life, yet we often quote this verse in conjunction with some form of worldly success. Some even use it as a tagline for a Facebook profile or cover photo that has nothing to do with the Gospel and everything to do with themselves. It’s even misquoted on shoes…

When we quote this verse, we need to treat it as if we are quoting a scientific article and hold to the author’s original intent (with correct notation too: Paul of Tarsus, “Epistle to the Philippians,” The Bible, 4 (62 AD): 13.). That means when we quote this verse, we are standing in solidarity with Paul as he faced imprisonment, loss of many of his travel companions, and inevitable fate of death at Emperor Nero’s hands (Paul’s true fate unknown, but this is most likely outcome). He overcomes his suffering, persecution, and loneliness by the power of Christ, the Gospel. Let us be true to the testimony and faith of our predecessor instead of making it about ourselves!

Redemption (between a father and son)!

Only the foolishness of the Gospel can do that

Creativity and intelligence can certainly adorn the gospel of grace, but there is no amount of creativity and intelligence that can waken a dead soul. Only the foolishness of the gospel can do that (1 Cor. 1:18). Not even sacrificial good works and biblical social justice can wake a dead soul, for the law has no power to raise in and of itself. Only the foolishness of the gospel can do that. And it is a shame that there are an increasing number of churches(!) that are blanching at the foolishness of the gospel these days. But Paul knows that the hope of the church and the world is the alien righteousness of Christ announced in that scandalous historical headline. “For Christ did not send me to preach the gospel with words of eloquent wisdom,” he says, “lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power” (1 Cor. 1:17). - Jared Wilson

 

https://blogs.thegospelcoalition.org/gospeldrivenchurch/2016/10/07/what-the-church-needs-is-a-reclamation-of-biblical-supernaturalism/

Paradigm Shift

One of the missionaries from my missions organization went to Pakistan recently to preach the Gospel. There he met and made several brothers in Christ. Now in Pakistan there are rolling blackouts that conserve power for the country, and it was during one of these blackouts where the missionary asked these brothers if they would want to go to Iran to preach the Gospel. There was a long pause in the darkness, and the missionary wondered if he spoke out of line since Pakistan and Iran are not on the greatest of terms. At least one of the brothers spoke up, “We don’t have any money to cover the travel costs.” The missionary thought for a moment, and said, “Why don’t you walk there?” Another pause, and another voice was heard in the darkness. “Wow, why didn’t I think of that? Let’s go!” Other voices chimed in agreement in that moment, and 20 brothers went by foot to do missions in Iran.

While the brothers were on their way to Iran, the missionary brother emailed them asking if they needed prayer for the persecuted church there, and their reply really got me thinking (as well as the missionary). “Why do you call it the persecuted church? What is the church, if it isn’t persecuted?” That was when the missionary realized that the Western evangelical movement has got it all wrong, and a paradigm shift began in his thinking.

I write this as both an encouragement and reminder, for you and for myself. I have to remember to pray for these 20 very real brothers walking to almost certain death, but they don’t fear death because they know to live is Christ and to die is gain. I also need to remind myself that if the local church isn’t being persecuted for living for Christ, then what is its purpose?

Sigh I can't believe Naruto is almost over. I also can't believe I live in an age where if I post this online, not many will have seen it. So sad but so sweet! Father and son's last farewell.

Purpose of Marriage (Recap for myself)

I took this from a conversation with J. M. several years ago.

• Glorification of God
• Preaching the Gospel through the mystery that is Christ and church
• The sanctification of oneself through marriage 
• The co-partnership with your wife for fellowship, serving, and worship
• Production of spiritual (disciples) and physical children for the kingdom

"Anyone can love a thing because. That’s as easy as putting a penny in your pocket. But to love something despite. To know the flaws and love them too. That is rare and pure and perfect."

 

— Patrick Rothfuss (The Wise Man’s Fear)

Facebook is toxic. Christ is enough for you (me). Count everything else as loss you nub (aka me).

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……