Last nite, I cooked my very first dinner! (Well, I cooked before, just usually not during week days cause I'm home pretty late) Anyway, my hamburger with everything in it was pretty good I guess, wife finished it all... well, maybe she was just too hungry... ;) My french fry was so so... it's edible, but I wouldn't say it's delicious.... ;) Wonder how can we make fries at home without using a huge pot of oil... Nevertheless, my cooking is always pretty greesy!!! So it's good that I'm not the one cooking all the time... otherwise we'd both be fat!!!
Work is still very busy, the cool thing about big companies is that you can still drop everything to go on vacations! ;) Today, I was reading about David. This dude became king when he was 30!!! How cool is that? I'm already way pass 30. I'm still far from being a king..., but at least I've managed to join in on this royal priesthood! ;)
Sure, we all would like to have David's good life, the riches, fame, women(or men depend on your gender), but how many of us really want David's sucky part of life? Would we want to spend most of our childhood alone... tending stupid sheeps? Fighting lions and bears to protect those stupid sheeps? Further, how would we like to be pursue by a king who wants you dead all the time? My biggest problem probably would be killing people.
The only thing I think I will for sure hesitate to obey God in is probably killing... for sure I won't have Abraham's faith to kill my own son... nor will I willingly kill all those who God instructs me to kill... Anyway, I'm just glad that I wasn't living back then as a Jew! And this is probably why I'm 36 and God hasn't installed me as a king yet! ;)
Is God really #1 in my heart? Well, surely David didn't have God as the #1 in his heart all the time too... for otherwise he wouldn't have sex with Bethsheba! Human heart is just too messed up sometimes.
Anyway, God, please guard my heart and my wife's heart too. Guard them against all evil, pride, or whatever that may end up corrupting us... so that we may fully enjoy the blessings from you without having to worry about them over inflating our egos... Anyway, just help us become more like You in every possible way... and may You also use us to help others to change to become better... to be able to love You and each other more. Thank You for Your love which endures forever and ever!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Obedience...
Daniel took me to a shabu lunch yesterday for my birthday. We talked and argued about faith, politics and mostly he just complained about how government and real estate market is screwing him over... ;) He said he should've paid more attention to the foreclosure rates instead of just seeing the rising home prices at the time. So apparently foreclosures or notices from bank on defaults can perhaps be a good indicator of the market's health. During '96~97, it was pretty cheap and forclosure rates were much higher... and based on this chart, foreclosure is inching up again! Wonder what it looks like for 07 and 08...Anyway, the economy or the market is very similar to human heart in some respect..., they can both be humble at times... and then very proud in other times! Sure would be nice if we can consistently stay balanced instead of end up going off to the extremes.
Didn't get a chance to do my devotions yesterday... sorry God!!! Anyway, so I read more of Saul today. Saul really was pretty cool and humble in the beginning. Where did he go wrong? You make him a king... and then boom, all of a sudden, all the humility's gone?!?!?
Anyway, I think it all began when he failed to trust and obey God when he was ordered to destroyed the Amalekites, but instead, he used his own wisdom and kept some of the goodies for himself and he also spared the Agag king of Amalekites...(in the story of Esther, Haman the Agagite is rumored to be descendants of that..., in the movie Esther, although the king was killed by Samuel, but it showed the queen escaped...)
Bottomline is Saul disobeyed, and it all went down hill for him ever since. Ended up with this restless, injurous, envious or evil spirit..., in a way, he's still sort of a seeker of God, but God has forsook him. He seeked God only because of the good things God can provide him with..., he's not really a genuine lover of God... for otherwise, he would've obeyed better!
Hmm..., Lord God Almighty, please help us to obey You better! Even during times when we don't understand... or when we don't feel like obeying... please help us obey anyway! Force us if You have too! Please don't allow us to go down the same path as Saul...
Monday, January 28, 2008
Happy birthday to me!!! ;)
Just found out Lego is 50 yrs old. I'm 36 years old. Wow, I'm so young! 36 years into this life eternal, man, I have so many more years to go! ;)This weekend was also my 'legal marriage' anniversary. We signed on the dotted line in January and had our wedding in July... so anyway, it's been a year already! Wow! Such a long time!!!
Marriage isn't going to be for all eternity, so every year counts!!! ;) This first year has been difficult, but thanks be to our God, we've gotten thru it safe and sound! :) Surely we look forward to many more years to come! Right, dear? ;)
We didn't do much over the weekend except to just spend it with each other and with friends... and we ate very well the whole weekend... ;)
Pastor Jim gave an another good sermon on Sunday. Almost felt like God giving us tips on how to continue to build on our marriage. Pastor Jim focused on Nehemiah 4... and he explained how a pessimist would focus on the difficulties of an opportunity, but an optimist would focus on the opportunities of difficulties! He urged us to:
1) focus on solutions(instead of problems)! The Jews faced a lot of difficulties, but Nehemiah focused in on how to overcome those difficulties!
2) face problem with faith! We dont' have to pretend to not have problems. Being a Christian on earth isn't about pretending to live like we're in heaven... we're NOT in heaven yet! And whenever we are frustrated, instead of taking it out on others, we can take it to God(v.4~5)! Further, besides just praying, we also have to DO our part! (v.9) If there's nothing we can do, that's one thing, but as long as God gave us the resources to do something, then do it! We ought to combine prayer and action! We pray in faith and act in faith.
3) guard our weak points! (v13)We are all weak and broken sinners..., surely after 30 some odd years, I ought to know my weak points and be on my guard! Don't give enemy the chance to slip in thru my weak points! It's also our responsibility to protect our spouse's weak points too.
4) build each other up! (v 16~17)Besides guarding our weak points, we also better not forget to help build each other up too! The Jews guarded, but they also continued on rebuilding the walls!
Pastor Jim also emphasized that as a leader, it's super important to lift up the spirit of those who he's leading! I think I'm a bit weak in this area..., I do try my best to encourage and comfort, but sometimes I'm just not very good at it I think... I want to do better, Lord! Pastor Jim also said that we ought to learn to encourage ourselves in the Lord like David did(1 Sam 30:6). I think I can do that fairly well..., not sure about encouraging others, but I think I can encourage myself in God well! ;)
Well, better not get too cocky I suppose. Today's reading was about King Saul, he seemed like a pretty good guy... and humble too! Not sure what happened to him later on. If I were to all of a sudden become rich and powerful, would I suffer the same fate? Maybe it's why God doesn't want me to be rich and powerful? ;)
I also find it interesting that Samuel's children weren't all that godly too. Everything in life is just so darn unpredictable. Anyway, I suppose if everything is so predictable, then life would be pretty boring, right? ;)
May our lives be more adventurous..., may my household be godly..., may His will be done in our lives! :)
Friday, January 25, 2008
Let it rain!!!
Thank God it's friday!!! Been quite busy at work lately... and I'm kinda sick and tired of it, but then again, considering that economy's not doing that well, I should be grateful that I have a job! Plus, over time pay is nice! ;)
Anyway, this morning on the way to work, I heard a message from a pastor Jon Corson over the radio..., it's interesting that he was talking about one of the judges I read about yesterday. Ehud, who killed the fat king of Moab named Eglon..., he's quite good at expanding such a short story into a lot of things... I wonder if he's over doing it! ;) But anyway, one of the main things I got out of it was the fact that Ehud used a double edge sword to kill the fat king.... and that is analogous to us using the word of God to kill whatever sin that's enslaving us!
Instead of appeasing to that fat king, paying him tribute, we ought to first 'hide' the Word in us well... and then when the moment is right, use it to defeat it. Just as Christ defeated Satan's temptations using God's word. Unlike Adam and Eve, then actually entertained the idea tossed to them by the serpent... and slowly allow serpent to twist God's word or doubt God's word...
So yeah, may God help us sharpen this sword and teach us how to hide it well within our hearts... so that we may use it during the proper time, instead of allowing our sinful nature to take over...
Today's reading was about Ruth. It just happened that she's a Moabite. As horrible as that fat Moabite king was, God can still use a Moabite to be the direct ancester of Jesus! How cool is that? A God that truly that only hates sin, but loves sinners!
Lord God, we know that this journey on earth is an endurance race. Please continue to encourage us and strengthen us to fight this good spiritual fight on earth until the end. Let Your grace and peace and love continue to rain down into our hearts... and reign in our hearts! Thanks! :)
Anyway, this morning on the way to work, I heard a message from a pastor Jon Corson over the radio..., it's interesting that he was talking about one of the judges I read about yesterday. Ehud, who killed the fat king of Moab named Eglon..., he's quite good at expanding such a short story into a lot of things... I wonder if he's over doing it! ;) But anyway, one of the main things I got out of it was the fact that Ehud used a double edge sword to kill the fat king.... and that is analogous to us using the word of God to kill whatever sin that's enslaving us!
Instead of appeasing to that fat king, paying him tribute, we ought to first 'hide' the Word in us well... and then when the moment is right, use it to defeat it. Just as Christ defeated Satan's temptations using God's word. Unlike Adam and Eve, then actually entertained the idea tossed to them by the serpent... and slowly allow serpent to twist God's word or doubt God's word...
So yeah, may God help us sharpen this sword and teach us how to hide it well within our hearts... so that we may use it during the proper time, instead of allowing our sinful nature to take over...
Today's reading was about Ruth. It just happened that she's a Moabite. As horrible as that fat Moabite king was, God can still use a Moabite to be the direct ancester of Jesus! How cool is that? A God that truly that only hates sin, but loves sinners!
Lord God, we know that this journey on earth is an endurance race. Please continue to encourage us and strengthen us to fight this good spiritual fight on earth until the end. Let Your grace and peace and love continue to rain down into our hearts... and reign in our hearts! Thanks! :)
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Prayer and fasting... and obedience!!!
During last night's prayer meeting, brother GD talked about fasting... about how God doesn't really care much for fasting..., God would rather us just be on good behavior! Be obedient.
It's interesting that brother GD brought up fasting, it really felt like God was speaking to us thru him. Just a few weeks ago, I fasted... just 3 lunches actually... trying to drive out the 'anger spirit' out of the wife! ;) My motivation was that I remembered Jesus saying sometimes certain evil spirits must be driven out not only with prayer, but also fasting!
So I tried to do the same. Of course, it worked initially, but the anger spirit soon returned last week... mainly because an annoying students parent trying to change schedules again and again with the wife... that's what first pissed wife off..., of course the other reason was me and A-kiang were all too focused on the TV show we were watching at the time wife was on the phone with that parent... well at least A-kiang sort of sympathized with the wife... while I stupidly just told the wife, 'what's the big deal?' Just tell the parent "no" when you just can't do it... or just refund her stupid money! It's just not worth it getting all upset over that stupid parent!!!
But of course my natural reaction caused the wife to be even more upset..., because it made her feel like I don't care for her, don't understand her... and how can I still enjoy some stupid TV show when she's so upset? What the hell is wrong with this stupid husband? Can't he see that I'm upset?!?!?!?
So Satan once again was able to cause a rift between us. Of course having our prearranged dinner with my parents the day after surely didn't help our situation any... OMG, what is wrong with my stupid husband's stupid parents? What is wrong with them?!?!? How dare them say stuffs like that?!?!?
So the rift and the fire simply got bigger and bigger... and quite frankly, I really don't know what to do at the time. Yes, I'm one of the culprits of this spiritual 'fire', but surely I'm not 100% responsible for this fire...
And just as wild fires in CA a few months back..., am I really capable of putting it all off all by myself? If I know how, I would've done it already... so I do what firefighters sometimes do in wildfires, just let it burn until it rains. Yes, in the end, God helped us put it off!
Anyway, yeah, point is that even after combining prayer and fasting together, it doesn't mean it'll solve all problems... because problems are usually caused by our stupid behaviors in the first place!!! If we're all on our good behavior, then none of the bad things would happen in the first place!!!
Of course, moral of the story is not that we ought to just forget about praying and fasting..., moral of the story is that we should just learn to be more obedient to God. To act justly, to love mercy, and to humbly follow Him.
Today's reading was about the period of Judges. Yep, after Joshua, Israelites simply failed to obey God..., and consequently, they lived a pretty messed up life during those times.
Oh God, please not only teach us, but also help us obey Your will... so that Your will can be done thru us. We know that Your will will be done and yes, we rather it be done thru us! Whenever our flesh is weak, please strengthen us... renew our minds and hearts so that we may obey Your every Word. We pray in Jesus' name!
It's interesting that brother GD brought up fasting, it really felt like God was speaking to us thru him. Just a few weeks ago, I fasted... just 3 lunches actually... trying to drive out the 'anger spirit' out of the wife! ;) My motivation was that I remembered Jesus saying sometimes certain evil spirits must be driven out not only with prayer, but also fasting!
So I tried to do the same. Of course, it worked initially, but the anger spirit soon returned last week... mainly because an annoying students parent trying to change schedules again and again with the wife... that's what first pissed wife off..., of course the other reason was me and A-kiang were all too focused on the TV show we were watching at the time wife was on the phone with that parent... well at least A-kiang sort of sympathized with the wife... while I stupidly just told the wife, 'what's the big deal?' Just tell the parent "no" when you just can't do it... or just refund her stupid money! It's just not worth it getting all upset over that stupid parent!!!
But of course my natural reaction caused the wife to be even more upset..., because it made her feel like I don't care for her, don't understand her... and how can I still enjoy some stupid TV show when she's so upset? What the hell is wrong with this stupid husband? Can't he see that I'm upset?!?!?!?
So Satan once again was able to cause a rift between us. Of course having our prearranged dinner with my parents the day after surely didn't help our situation any... OMG, what is wrong with my stupid husband's stupid parents? What is wrong with them?!?!? How dare them say stuffs like that?!?!?
So the rift and the fire simply got bigger and bigger... and quite frankly, I really don't know what to do at the time. Yes, I'm one of the culprits of this spiritual 'fire', but surely I'm not 100% responsible for this fire...
And just as wild fires in CA a few months back..., am I really capable of putting it all off all by myself? If I know how, I would've done it already... so I do what firefighters sometimes do in wildfires, just let it burn until it rains. Yes, in the end, God helped us put it off!
Anyway, yeah, point is that even after combining prayer and fasting together, it doesn't mean it'll solve all problems... because problems are usually caused by our stupid behaviors in the first place!!! If we're all on our good behavior, then none of the bad things would happen in the first place!!!
Of course, moral of the story is not that we ought to just forget about praying and fasting..., moral of the story is that we should just learn to be more obedient to God. To act justly, to love mercy, and to humbly follow Him.
Today's reading was about the period of Judges. Yep, after Joshua, Israelites simply failed to obey God..., and consequently, they lived a pretty messed up life during those times.
Oh God, please not only teach us, but also help us obey Your will... so that Your will can be done thru us. We know that Your will will be done and yes, we rather it be done thru us! Whenever our flesh is weak, please strengthen us... renew our minds and hearts so that we may obey Your every Word. We pray in Jesus' name!
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
God help us!
Things are just so unpredictable these days... Stock markent can go drastically down and then up within a day... actor Heath Ledger died young yesterday... he's only 28!!! And we still don't know how he died!?!?! And even Starbuck is beginning to offer cheaper coffee with refills!!!!
What is the world coming to? ;)
Anyway, today's reading was about days of Joshua... The guy certainly had some very big shoes to fill after Moses was gone. It was probably why God said to him and the Israelites numerous times that they shouldn't be afraid and be discouraged... for God is with Joshua and with them! The big shoes were not really caused by Moses' big feet, but God's big feet!
I guess the moral of the story is that unbelievers are like the Egyptians. The so called Christians are like the Jews. However, for people like Joshua and the Jews in his generation are the ones who were really 'born again' and lived transformed lives! This journey of faith is basically a constant 'push' from God..., pushing us and challenging us to turn from unbelievers to believers... and once we believe, God continues to push us to instead remain as believers to become actual doers!!! This is how the Lord shepherds His flock into that promiseland!
Yes indeed that it's so easy to be afraid, to be discouraged, to lose faith, to lose hope and to stop love because we feel unloved...But as long as God is with us, there's really nothing to be afraid of! And there's no better way to stick close with our Shepherd than obedience.
Yes, for me and my house, we will choose to serve the Lord. We will choose to not be afraid, not be discouraged, not to lose faith, not to lose hope, and never to stop loving, so help us God!!! :)
What is the world coming to? ;)
Anyway, today's reading was about days of Joshua... The guy certainly had some very big shoes to fill after Moses was gone. It was probably why God said to him and the Israelites numerous times that they shouldn't be afraid and be discouraged... for God is with Joshua and with them! The big shoes were not really caused by Moses' big feet, but God's big feet!
I guess the moral of the story is that unbelievers are like the Egyptians. The so called Christians are like the Jews. However, for people like Joshua and the Jews in his generation are the ones who were really 'born again' and lived transformed lives! This journey of faith is basically a constant 'push' from God..., pushing us and challenging us to turn from unbelievers to believers... and once we believe, God continues to push us to instead remain as believers to become actual doers!!! This is how the Lord shepherds His flock into that promiseland!
Yes indeed that it's so easy to be afraid, to be discouraged, to lose faith, to lose hope and to stop love because we feel unloved...But as long as God is with us, there's really nothing to be afraid of! And there's no better way to stick close with our Shepherd than obedience.
Yes, for me and my house, we will choose to serve the Lord. We will choose to not be afraid, not be discouraged, not to lose faith, not to lose hope, and never to stop loving, so help us God!!! :)
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Free Lunch...
Today, our cafeteria offered us a free lunch, a hot dog, bag of chips, 2 cookies, and a soda. It's intent was to let us know that they are done with remodeling and will officially be opened once again tomorrow. It's been closed for like a month or so...
Anyway, we engineers just can't resist free food... so the chioce was simple for me and Daniel. There were lots of folks out there too even as early as 11am!!! But fortunately the line moved pretty quick... ;)
And today, I was reading about Moses' last message to the Jews. It basically talked about the terms and conditions of God's blessings and curses... Our faith and obedience to God will basically guarantee us to be able to be fruitful and multiply... or our lack of faith and obedience would result in death and destruction!
God's salvation is free also, but for sure a gazillion times better than a hot dog! God knows that we are naturally unfaithful and disobedient, but may God have mercy on us and continue to guide us, attract us, or perhaps even occassionally shove us onto the right path so that we won't wander off to that road of perdition...
God had certainly been good to me and the wife by occasionally shoving us back onto His righteous path... Thank You my Lord and my Abba! :)
Anyway, we engineers just can't resist free food... so the chioce was simple for me and Daniel. There were lots of folks out there too even as early as 11am!!! But fortunately the line moved pretty quick... ;)
And today, I was reading about Moses' last message to the Jews. It basically talked about the terms and conditions of God's blessings and curses... Our faith and obedience to God will basically guarantee us to be able to be fruitful and multiply... or our lack of faith and obedience would result in death and destruction!
God's salvation is free also, but for sure a gazillion times better than a hot dog! God knows that we are naturally unfaithful and disobedient, but may God have mercy on us and continue to guide us, attract us, or perhaps even occassionally shove us onto the right path so that we won't wander off to that road of perdition...
God had certainly been good to me and the wife by occasionally shoving us back onto His righteous path... Thank You my Lord and my Abba! :)
Monday, January 21, 2008
The grace of God is indeed quite amazing...
I think both the love of my life and myself hit an emotional rock bottom on Friday..., especially after we prepared and ate a shabu dinner with my parents..., well, it was planned well in advance, it's just that we didn't realize we would be emotionally stucked in this valley of shadow and death on Friday... so anyway, with my mom's usual nagging, it most certainly didn't help our situation any better. I did say to wife that she could skip the dinner if she wants, but she insisted on performing her wifely duties and to honor her pre-plan arrangement to eat with my parents..., anyway, to make long short, it most certainly didn't go very well. My mom being her usual self certainly can only aggravate our bad moods. Even with her special birthday present for the wife, surely it didn'teven make a dent either..., but it was a nice gesture nonetheless...
Anyway, I personally have given up, as stated in my Friday blog, I was already tired and wearied... I didn't know how to deal with wife's anger problem, and my problem is that I just don't know how to comfort and calm down the wife... I'm not good at that with my own mother..., I'm not good in that with women in general... I'm pretty good with kids though, not sure why women can be that troublesome... But as bad as I am, I did try, but of course to the wife, my attempts have failed miserably. Whether it's me trying use my lame verbal ability to try to comfort her... or thru prayer and fasting... It seems I'm just not going to succeed no matter how hard I try. So It's only natural that I give up! "Lord, I give it up all for You!"
Anywho, I may have made it sound like I'm a man of strong faith, but seriously in my heart, I felt hoplessness... so the 'cold war' with wife continues... I'm just going to sleep with Jesus! ;)
But later on in the middle of the night. Amazingly, we began talking... and not only that, I think God helped us to be able to see our own problems... and see pass the problems of each other... and feel more sympathic for each other. Anyway, basically I think we also came up with an ultimate solution to our recurring problem thanks to God. This solution will just have to remain our little secret for now... ;)
And this sunday, Pastor Jim's gone golfing or something... so it was pastor Dawn. She delivered an initially boring, but later on quite moving sermon about God's grace. About how God's love can be redeeming... how it adds value to our self worth... how it sets us free... the same usual things most Christians heart numerous times, but because of what we just went thru, it was particularly moving for me... because it is once again confirmed that God is not a liar... His promise to the suffering Paul that 'My grace is sufficient' is indeed the truth. Now, we'll just have to wait to see how His perfect power can be demonstrated thru our weaknesses! :)
Today's reading was about Journey to the Promiseland. We the Christians are basically set free just as the Jews were set free from Egypt. This whole life is basically our journey. Will we ever reach our promiseland?
We just don't know for sure... surely we all have the potential to enter heaven, but we all still have the potential to not enter heaven too. We may be chosen, but God still gave us choices of our own. Judah was chosen personally by Jesus too. So it all depends on our faith in Him...
24 願 耶 和 華 賜 福 給 你 ， 保 護 你 。
25 願 耶 和 華 使 他 的 臉 光 照 你 ， 賜 恩 給 你 。
26 願 耶 和 華 向 你 仰 臉 ， 賜 你 平 安 。
(Numbers 6)
Anyway, I personally have given up, as stated in my Friday blog, I was already tired and wearied... I didn't know how to deal with wife's anger problem, and my problem is that I just don't know how to comfort and calm down the wife... I'm not good at that with my own mother..., I'm not good in that with women in general... I'm pretty good with kids though, not sure why women can be that troublesome... But as bad as I am, I did try, but of course to the wife, my attempts have failed miserably. Whether it's me trying use my lame verbal ability to try to comfort her... or thru prayer and fasting... It seems I'm just not going to succeed no matter how hard I try. So It's only natural that I give up! "Lord, I give it up all for You!"
Anywho, I may have made it sound like I'm a man of strong faith, but seriously in my heart, I felt hoplessness... so the 'cold war' with wife continues... I'm just going to sleep with Jesus! ;)
But later on in the middle of the night. Amazingly, we began talking... and not only that, I think God helped us to be able to see our own problems... and see pass the problems of each other... and feel more sympathic for each other. Anyway, basically I think we also came up with an ultimate solution to our recurring problem thanks to God. This solution will just have to remain our little secret for now... ;)
And this sunday, Pastor Jim's gone golfing or something... so it was pastor Dawn. She delivered an initially boring, but later on quite moving sermon about God's grace. About how God's love can be redeeming... how it adds value to our self worth... how it sets us free... the same usual things most Christians heart numerous times, but because of what we just went thru, it was particularly moving for me... because it is once again confirmed that God is not a liar... His promise to the suffering Paul that 'My grace is sufficient' is indeed the truth. Now, we'll just have to wait to see how His perfect power can be demonstrated thru our weaknesses! :)
Today's reading was about Journey to the Promiseland. We the Christians are basically set free just as the Jews were set free from Egypt. This whole life is basically our journey. Will we ever reach our promiseland?
We just don't know for sure... surely we all have the potential to enter heaven, but we all still have the potential to not enter heaven too. We may be chosen, but God still gave us choices of our own. Judah was chosen personally by Jesus too. So it all depends on our faith in Him...
24 願 耶 和 華 賜 福 給 你 ， 保 護 你 。
25 願 耶 和 華 使 他 的 臉 光 照 你 ， 賜 恩 給 你 。
26 願 耶 和 華 向 你 仰 臉 ， 賜 你 平 安 。
(Numbers 6)
Friday, January 18, 2008
Finally, I'm tanking...
Apparently this sort of gravitational effect is contagious... ;)
What can I do? How can I really soar like an eagle when it comes to my shortcomings?
I wish God can just teach me how to fly.
And today, it just happens that I'm reading about 'instructions'. God's instructions are just so tedious and hard to follow. Besides the OT Leviticus stuffs, even things in the New Testament are hard! How do we even do 'love'? With so many distractions in life, we don't even have time to love those we are close to... let alone our enemies...
Spirit is indeed willing to soar, but the flesh is just too fat to be able to avoid the gravitational effect of sinful nature...
O God, please forgive us of our sorry acts and weaknesses..., please also help us to learn to forgive other people's sorry acts or weakness against us. We know that Your grace is sufficient and we thank You for that..., but when can You demonstrate Your perfect power thru our weaknesses, Lord? Even I'm tired and wearied Lord..., I am flexible, but that doesn't mean I'm incapable of breaking, right?
What hope do I have? Except the hope that is in You, who's is the everlasting God who reigns forever! You are defender of the weak and You comfort those in need..., well, Lord, we are weak and we are in desperate need! We don't want to continue spiral downward anymore. Lift us up Lord God by the power of Your Word so that we may actually bring glory to Your name. Thanks... and we praise You for Your enduring love...
What can I do? How can I really soar like an eagle when it comes to my shortcomings?
I wish God can just teach me how to fly.
And today, it just happens that I'm reading about 'instructions'. God's instructions are just so tedious and hard to follow. Besides the OT Leviticus stuffs, even things in the New Testament are hard! How do we even do 'love'? With so many distractions in life, we don't even have time to love those we are close to... let alone our enemies...
Spirit is indeed willing to soar, but the flesh is just too fat to be able to avoid the gravitational effect of sinful nature...
O God, please forgive us of our sorry acts and weaknesses..., please also help us to learn to forgive other people's sorry acts or weakness against us. We know that Your grace is sufficient and we thank You for that..., but when can You demonstrate Your perfect power thru our weaknesses, Lord? Even I'm tired and wearied Lord..., I am flexible, but that doesn't mean I'm incapable of breaking, right?
What hope do I have? Except the hope that is in You, who's is the everlasting God who reigns forever! You are defender of the weak and You comfort those in need..., well, Lord, we are weak and we are in desperate need! We don't want to continue spiral downward anymore. Lift us up Lord God by the power of Your Word so that we may actually bring glory to Your name. Thanks... and we praise You for Your enduring love...
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Emotionally tanking?
Last night we had dinner again with Jacob, because A-kiang was still with us..., it was interesting that Jacob was reading about Job too. Anyway, we didn't really talk about anything all that personal, mostly because I don't want to be like Job's friends... offer them useless advice..., but we all agreed that, in the end, God really intends to bless all of us! We just hope that we can endure this race to the end...
Oh LORD, You are indeed our Shepherd, but how can we really go thru that valley of shadow and death without being afraid?
Today's reading was about Moses and the Laws. Everyone goes thru this period of being afraid, depressed..., it happened to Moses too. It happened to the Jews. It even happened to Jesus!
Lord God Almighty, our Father in Heaven, however You've strengthened Jesus, Moses, or Job, may You strengthen us and bless us the same. Please forgive us of our transgressions, help us enter that promiseland which You've promised us..., help us walk on the path You want us to be on... I'm not really sure what I should pray for..., but for Your name's sake, please help us to be able bring glory to Your name in the end. May the love, grace, joy, peace and all that is good be filling up in our hearts so that we can endure whatever hardships come our way. Thanks. We pray in Christ's name.
Oh LORD, You are indeed our Shepherd, but how can we really go thru that valley of shadow and death without being afraid?
Today's reading was about Moses and the Laws. Everyone goes thru this period of being afraid, depressed..., it happened to Moses too. It happened to the Jews. It even happened to Jesus!
Lord God Almighty, our Father in Heaven, however You've strengthened Jesus, Moses, or Job, may You strengthen us and bless us the same. Please forgive us of our transgressions, help us enter that promiseland which You've promised us..., help us walk on the path You want us to be on... I'm not really sure what I should pray for..., but for Your name's sake, please help us to be able bring glory to Your name in the end. May the love, grace, joy, peace and all that is good be filling up in our hearts so that we can endure whatever hardships come our way. Thanks. We pray in Christ's name.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Daniel's car tanking...
Yep, poor Daniel's car broke down again... so I picked him up from the shop in order get to work. In return, of course I got a free lunch! I guess I'll save the burrito I made for myself later... ;)
A-kiang arrived last nite to sort out the stuffs her ex-husband brought over at our house... and we all had dinner along with Jacob. As wife said, things were a bit depressing over dinner because both Akiang and Jacob felt kinda lost and stucked in life... even felt that perhaps they are cursed somehow...
Today's reading was acutally Job, I thought the plan skipped Job because at first glance, I didn't see it..., I wonder if this is really chronologically correct... Job being around the time of Abraham and Isaac?
Anyway, when trouble came, Job, too, thought that he was perhaps cursed... that perhaps it would've been better to not be born at all! But as complainy as he was, Job remained faithful to God. A-kiang too, she continued to remained faithful too. I just wish I can be of more help to her..., but I'm not really sure if I have the gift of comfort. Plus, I just don't want to be like the stupid friends in Job! ;)
However, LORD God, I pray that You will comfort them somehow... if You want to do it thru us, that's fine too! Just show us how. Also, please prepare them a way and show them where to go... what to do... You called them to the US for a purpose, may that purpose be revealed soon... most importantly, please just be with us... and help us to stay close to You too. I know that as children of God, we are not cursed, but blessed! Though we may be pressed but not crushed, strucked down, but never destroyed! Thank You for Your sufficient grace, please also grant us that peace which is beyond understanding... so that we can stay afloat in this falling, tanking world. Thank You... and we praise you. In Jesus' name.
A-kiang arrived last nite to sort out the stuffs her ex-husband brought over at our house... and we all had dinner along with Jacob. As wife said, things were a bit depressing over dinner because both Akiang and Jacob felt kinda lost and stucked in life... even felt that perhaps they are cursed somehow...
Today's reading was acutally Job, I thought the plan skipped Job because at first glance, I didn't see it..., I wonder if this is really chronologically correct... Job being around the time of Abraham and Isaac?
Anyway, when trouble came, Job, too, thought that he was perhaps cursed... that perhaps it would've been better to not be born at all! But as complainy as he was, Job remained faithful to God. A-kiang too, she continued to remained faithful too. I just wish I can be of more help to her..., but I'm not really sure if I have the gift of comfort. Plus, I just don't want to be like the stupid friends in Job! ;)
However, LORD God, I pray that You will comfort them somehow... if You want to do it thru us, that's fine too! Just show us how. Also, please prepare them a way and show them where to go... what to do... You called them to the US for a purpose, may that purpose be revealed soon... most importantly, please just be with us... and help us to stay close to You too. I know that as children of God, we are not cursed, but blessed! Though we may be pressed but not crushed, strucked down, but never destroyed! Thank You for Your sufficient grace, please also grant us that peace which is beyond understanding... so that we can stay afloat in this falling, tanking world. Thank You... and we praise you. In Jesus' name.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Economy tanking?
Maybe. Stock market dropped about 2% today. Citibank lost billions. Boeing's 787 maybe be delayed again(our stock dropped 5%, if this continues, we can probably kiss our yearly bonus good-bye) Even Apple lost about 7% in value today. The whole retail industry is just getting very depressing..., oh well.
Today's reading was about Abraham and Isaac. Anyway, this father of faith had doubts too. Doubts about his safety in Egypt, doubts about his future because he had no son. But as long as he inquires God about his concerns and as soon as he hears God's promise, he would believe. And God credited his faith as righteousness eventhough sometimes Abraham didn't really do the 'right' things...
Father of faith is not a guy who never had any worries. He's simply a guy who believes in God's Word.
So even in economically harsh times, should we be afraid? What does God say?
Gen 15:1 你 不 要 懼 怕 ！ 我 是 你 的 盾 牌 ， 必 大 大 的 賞 賜 你 。
:)
Today's reading was about Abraham and Isaac. Anyway, this father of faith had doubts too. Doubts about his safety in Egypt, doubts about his future because he had no son. But as long as he inquires God about his concerns and as soon as he hears God's promise, he would believe. And God credited his faith as righteousness eventhough sometimes Abraham didn't really do the 'right' things...
Father of faith is not a guy who never had any worries. He's simply a guy who believes in God's Word.
So even in economically harsh times, should we be afraid? What does God say?
Gen 15:1 你 不 要 懼 怕 ！ 我 是 你 的 盾 牌 ， 必 大 大 的 賞 賜 你 。
:)
Monday, January 14, 2008
New reading plan...
I finished the reading plan of Characters..., Bible survey... and Biblegateway.com has one more chronological reading plan, listing all the major events in chronological order... of course story such as Job, where we're not sure when it took place is skipped in this plan... Anyway, after this plan, I guess I'll just start reading the Bible from beginning til end, unless I find some other more interesting plans! ;)
Today's first reading was of course about Adam and Eve. This story alone is kinda like a mini-bible. It talked about how God created everything... it talked about how when humanity screws up, we tend to first cover up ourselves and blame others for the messes. It's also interesting how Adam and Eve went into hiding when God comes over... I guess fear of the LORD is indeed the beginning of wisdom? ;) And interestingly that in the beginning, it was God who made the animal "sacrifice" to cloth Adam and Eve with garment of skin. God really is doing 'everything', including cleaning up the messes!
This is the same basic formula thru out the Bible. Although time, location, characters may change, but the same formula is applicable thru out the Bible. Will humanity ever change?
Probably not.
As Pastor Jim said on sunday, we'll probably continue to:
1) worry about things, just as Eve worried about humanity not being wise enough... so she has to eat that fruit of knowledge!!!
2) doubt God. Surely we won't die by eating that?
3) regret... well, actually Adam and Eve probably had no regrets before the fall, but of course they probably regretted afterwards. But Pastor Jim was speaking mainly about us not doing anything... and then regret our inaction afterwards. He was saying it's better to live with a failure, than to live with regret..., but in A&E's case, I'm sure Pastor Jim was talking about avoiding regret by trying to do godly things, instead of try doing serpently things! ;) Nobody ever regret, 'oh shoot, I wish I had tried drugs... I wish I were divorced... I wish I had that affair...
4) focus on the wrong things. We put so much of our attention on the minor stuffs and we forget about the major stuffs. This is a problem for us since the beginning. Why were A&E focusing on that particular tree? If they really want knowledge, why can't they ask God for it?
So our worries, doubts, regrets, and wrong focuses will likely distract us away from God. This is why most of the bible stories continues on with the same formula. This is why things don't ever change.
Is it really all that easy to stop worrying, doubting, regretting, or majoring on the minor things?
Of course not. This is where we need help from God. We cannot climb back into our mommy's wombs to be born again, but we can only be born again by God. If God doesn't transform us, then there's absolutely nothing we can do. But of course first thing's first..., do we really want to undergo such transformation? That decision is left to us...
Interestingly pastor Jim also offered another alternative..., that is we act out our faith. We become actors!!! Yes, we are all pretty good hypocrites anyway, so turn yourself into a hypocrite! When you feel bad, act like you feel good! When you hate your wife, act like you love her! When you doubt God, act like you believe in Him. Basically to try to reverse your thinking. Learn to doubt your doubts! ;)
Of course this kind of wishful thinking won't really work in the end if God doesn't exist. But in all honesty, what benefit would it get you to act out your bad mood? To actually hate your spouse? To actually not believe in God and His Word?
May God help us all experience His grace and peace that's beyond understanding. Transform our old wineskins to be born again into new ones so that new wine can be poured in us...., so that we don't have to repeat the same old pathetic stories...
Today's first reading was of course about Adam and Eve. This story alone is kinda like a mini-bible. It talked about how God created everything... it talked about how when humanity screws up, we tend to first cover up ourselves and blame others for the messes. It's also interesting how Adam and Eve went into hiding when God comes over... I guess fear of the LORD is indeed the beginning of wisdom? ;) And interestingly that in the beginning, it was God who made the animal "sacrifice" to cloth Adam and Eve with garment of skin. God really is doing 'everything', including cleaning up the messes!
This is the same basic formula thru out the Bible. Although time, location, characters may change, but the same formula is applicable thru out the Bible. Will humanity ever change?
Probably not.
As Pastor Jim said on sunday, we'll probably continue to:
1) worry about things, just as Eve worried about humanity not being wise enough... so she has to eat that fruit of knowledge!!!
2) doubt God. Surely we won't die by eating that?
3) regret... well, actually Adam and Eve probably had no regrets before the fall, but of course they probably regretted afterwards. But Pastor Jim was speaking mainly about us not doing anything... and then regret our inaction afterwards. He was saying it's better to live with a failure, than to live with regret..., but in A&E's case, I'm sure Pastor Jim was talking about avoiding regret by trying to do godly things, instead of try doing serpently things! ;) Nobody ever regret, 'oh shoot, I wish I had tried drugs... I wish I were divorced... I wish I had that affair...
4) focus on the wrong things. We put so much of our attention on the minor stuffs and we forget about the major stuffs. This is a problem for us since the beginning. Why were A&E focusing on that particular tree? If they really want knowledge, why can't they ask God for it?
So our worries, doubts, regrets, and wrong focuses will likely distract us away from God. This is why most of the bible stories continues on with the same formula. This is why things don't ever change.
Is it really all that easy to stop worrying, doubting, regretting, or majoring on the minor things?
Of course not. This is where we need help from God. We cannot climb back into our mommy's wombs to be born again, but we can only be born again by God. If God doesn't transform us, then there's absolutely nothing we can do. But of course first thing's first..., do we really want to undergo such transformation? That decision is left to us...
Interestingly pastor Jim also offered another alternative..., that is we act out our faith. We become actors!!! Yes, we are all pretty good hypocrites anyway, so turn yourself into a hypocrite! When you feel bad, act like you feel good! When you hate your wife, act like you love her! When you doubt God, act like you believe in Him. Basically to try to reverse your thinking. Learn to doubt your doubts! ;)
Of course this kind of wishful thinking won't really work in the end if God doesn't exist. But in all honesty, what benefit would it get you to act out your bad mood? To actually hate your spouse? To actually not believe in God and His Word?
May God help us all experience His grace and peace that's beyond understanding. Transform our old wineskins to be born again into new ones so that new wine can be poured in us...., so that we don't have to repeat the same old pathetic stories...
Friday, January 11, 2008
Getting hungry...
It's interesting that although I did not plan on fasting my spiritual lunch, things tend to happen at work to cause me to skip my spiritual lunch anyway. But that's okay, I guess I can have my spiritual dinner! ;)
Anyway, fasting seem to have worked so far. Wife was full of raging fire on Wednesday evening. After fasting one lunch..., it was reduced to 60%. (I know because I asked her) After fasting for my 2nd lunch today..., it seemed she's now at 0%! Yippee! I will fast one more lunch on Saturday just to make sure that flame is out completely! ;) Jesus was right, sometimes prayer has to go with fasting. And hopefully this 'fire' won't ever be able to burn again..., or at least be more manageable. May God help us! Thank You Lord! :)
Today's reading was about John, the gayish apostle who loves Jesus so much that he'd often lay on his chest! ;) This apostle of love continued to encourage us in faith and to love each other, however, he warned us to not love this world too much though. Yeah, easier said than done. Lot of what's taught in scripture is easier said than done... we just naturally don't want to do the things we're suppose to do... and we end up doing the things we're NOT suppose to do. Lord God, please enable us with Your Spirit so that we can actually do them... so that we may not only be the children You love, but also the children You are pleased with! Halleluja!!!
Anyway, fasting seem to have worked so far. Wife was full of raging fire on Wednesday evening. After fasting one lunch..., it was reduced to 60%. (I know because I asked her) After fasting for my 2nd lunch today..., it seemed she's now at 0%! Yippee! I will fast one more lunch on Saturday just to make sure that flame is out completely! ;) Jesus was right, sometimes prayer has to go with fasting. And hopefully this 'fire' won't ever be able to burn again..., or at least be more manageable. May God help us! Thank You Lord! :)
Today's reading was about John, the gayish apostle who loves Jesus so much that he'd often lay on his chest! ;) This apostle of love continued to encourage us in faith and to love each other, however, he warned us to not love this world too much though. Yeah, easier said than done. Lot of what's taught in scripture is easier said than done... we just naturally don't want to do the things we're suppose to do... and we end up doing the things we're NOT suppose to do. Lord God, please enable us with Your Spirit so that we can actually do them... so that we may not only be the children You love, but also the children You are pleased with! Halleluja!!!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
I am a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God!
Yep, that's what Brother GD talked about last nite in prayer meeting.
Of course chosen by God doesn't mean I'm home-free and set to go to heaven. God's salvation is conditional upon faith. Do you believe?
Also, do we see ourselves as royal priests? Am I really royalty? Or do I see myself of little value? Have I been a good priest? Interceeding, mediating..., sacrificing my self, carrying the cross to follow the Lord?
Have I been holy? Or have I been giving Satan opportunities to accuse me, to take me down... Also, am I really a nation? Or have I remained a loner... doing my own things...
Do we really belong to God or to the world?
Lord knows and we know...
Brother GD had gave us a good warning to stay alert at the beginning of 2008.
After the prayer meeting, love of my life is still very troubled in her heart by various things. She doesn't want to be troubled by these things..., she doesn't want to be depressed, but she just cannot help herself. I and the kiddie cat can't really help her either, but we can only try our best...
So I'm gonna try fasting 3 lunches along with prayer to see if this can help. Wife actually want to cook dinner so I guess this won't be a real around the clock fasting..., but if it comes to that, the I guess we gotta do what we gotta do. Jesus did teach us that sometimes prayers along isn't enough... and fasting is also needed...
So anyway, hopefully this will help.
It's kinda cool to have no lunch actually. Today, I just worked thru it because I had to finish something quickly. Maybe I can go home earlier too since I didn't take lunch break..., but then again, I am taking a spiritual lunch break now... and eating my spiritual lunch now... ;)
And today's reading was about James. There were some encouraging words:
2 我 的 弟 兄 們 ， 你 們 落 在 百 般 試 煉 中 ， 都 要 以 為 大 喜 樂 ；
3 因 為 知 道 你 們 的 信 心 經 過 試 驗 ， 就 生 忍 耐 。
4 但 忍 耐 也 當 成 功 ， 使 你 們 成 全 、 完 備 ， 毫 無 缺 欠 。
Yes, may these trials help us gain more faith... and may more faith help us do more deeds so that God may be glorified...
Of course chosen by God doesn't mean I'm home-free and set to go to heaven. God's salvation is conditional upon faith. Do you believe?
Also, do we see ourselves as royal priests? Am I really royalty? Or do I see myself of little value? Have I been a good priest? Interceeding, mediating..., sacrificing my self, carrying the cross to follow the Lord?
Have I been holy? Or have I been giving Satan opportunities to accuse me, to take me down... Also, am I really a nation? Or have I remained a loner... doing my own things...
Do we really belong to God or to the world?
Lord knows and we know...
Brother GD had gave us a good warning to stay alert at the beginning of 2008.
After the prayer meeting, love of my life is still very troubled in her heart by various things. She doesn't want to be troubled by these things..., she doesn't want to be depressed, but she just cannot help herself. I and the kiddie cat can't really help her either, but we can only try our best...
So I'm gonna try fasting 3 lunches along with prayer to see if this can help. Wife actually want to cook dinner so I guess this won't be a real around the clock fasting..., but if it comes to that, the I guess we gotta do what we gotta do. Jesus did teach us that sometimes prayers along isn't enough... and fasting is also needed...
So anyway, hopefully this will help.
It's kinda cool to have no lunch actually. Today, I just worked thru it because I had to finish something quickly. Maybe I can go home earlier too since I didn't take lunch break..., but then again, I am taking a spiritual lunch break now... and eating my spiritual lunch now... ;)
And today's reading was about James. There were some encouraging words:
2 我 的 弟 兄 們 ， 你 們 落 在 百 般 試 煉 中 ， 都 要 以 為 大 喜 樂 ；
3 因 為 知 道 你 們 的 信 心 經 過 試 驗 ， 就 生 忍 耐 。
4 但 忍 耐 也 當 成 功 ， 使 你 們 成 全 、 完 備 ， 毫 無 缺 欠 。
Yes, may these trials help us gain more faith... and may more faith help us do more deeds so that God may be glorified...
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Philemon...
Sounds like one of the Pokemons... ;)
It's interesting that I heard Pastor Poncho talk about it this morning on the way to work... and I'm reading Philemon again during lunch. It's basically a letter by Paul to Philemon to plea for forgiveness of Onesimus. Not sure what Onesimus has done, must be something horrible for him to be sent to jail with Paul at the time...
Anyway, without Paul writing a letter to you, how easy it is for you to forgive someone? Even if in your heart you know that person is wrong and don't want to see or talk to that person ever again for the hurt caused by that person...
As hard as it is, God's forgiveness of our sins is 'conditional' upon us forgiving others who've wronged us. So can we really afford to hold grudges against others? Even if we are perfectly righteous and doesn't need God to forgive us, what benefit is there for us to continue to hold on to grudges anyway?
I personally think God wants us to sometimes learn to agree to disagree, but also to never stop loving one another. I don't have to completely agree with someone to love someone. This is how God can love all, but not agree with all. We as children of God are called to do the same. Of course it'd be even better if we have someone who we love and who we agree with... or who we're well pleased with. Just as God the Father loves Jesus and is well pleased with him..., but in less than ideal circumstances, even when well pleasing is out of the picture, love is something we ought to never toss out.
Okay, I think I'm done preaching..., just amazed at Hillary's win at New Hampshire. All polls showing her behind initially, maybe women gave her lots of sympathy votes?
My personal favorites are still Huckabee and Obama. If it comes down to those 2, I think I'll pick Osama... because I think I agree with him more... eventhough they are both brothers of Christ...
Anyway, may the best candidate win. God help us!
It's interesting that I heard Pastor Poncho talk about it this morning on the way to work... and I'm reading Philemon again during lunch. It's basically a letter by Paul to Philemon to plea for forgiveness of Onesimus. Not sure what Onesimus has done, must be something horrible for him to be sent to jail with Paul at the time...
Anyway, without Paul writing a letter to you, how easy it is for you to forgive someone? Even if in your heart you know that person is wrong and don't want to see or talk to that person ever again for the hurt caused by that person...
As hard as it is, God's forgiveness of our sins is 'conditional' upon us forgiving others who've wronged us. So can we really afford to hold grudges against others? Even if we are perfectly righteous and doesn't need God to forgive us, what benefit is there for us to continue to hold on to grudges anyway?
I personally think God wants us to sometimes learn to agree to disagree, but also to never stop loving one another. I don't have to completely agree with someone to love someone. This is how God can love all, but not agree with all. We as children of God are called to do the same. Of course it'd be even better if we have someone who we love and who we agree with... or who we're well pleased with. Just as God the Father loves Jesus and is well pleased with him..., but in less than ideal circumstances, even when well pleasing is out of the picture, love is something we ought to never toss out.
Okay, I think I'm done preaching..., just amazed at Hillary's win at New Hampshire. All polls showing her behind initially, maybe women gave her lots of sympathy votes?
My personal favorites are still Huckabee and Obama. If it comes down to those 2, I think I'll pick Osama... because I think I agree with him more... eventhough they are both brothers of Christ...
Anyway, may the best candidate win. God help us!
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Let the our word become flesh(physical action) too!
Politicians are known hypocrites. But I suppose most of us do also say one thing and do another. As difficult to trust a politician as it is, we are still left to choose one to lead us every so often.
I guess Obama probably will be the first ever black president in the US history if his lead continues. I pray that he won't be assasinated or anything like that... who knows, there are extremists in US too... if he is right for America, may God protect him from harm.
On the Republican side, Huckabee has slid to a distant 3rd, McCain is now leading a tiny bit with that Mormon Romney at 2nd. McCain is a war hero, captured as POW in Vietname for a long time, but I'm not sure about his faith... so for sure I'd prefer Huckabee over McCain or Romney..., but overall, I think Obama is probably the most ideal choice... anyway, God knows what's best for us..., may be best man win! New Hampshire is voting today, they'll probably seal the fate of many candidates...
Anyway, Nader emailed us saying that his Altima has broken down and the repair bill would've been huge... so he's going to get a new car. Daniel suggested a Lotus sports car. Saying that since he's still single, he should live large! Tigran also suggested him to get something upscale, like a Jaguar or something..., but I suggested him to get a TSX. It's old, but it's great... I told him he can get a great deal too! So he compared a bit..., load up the new Altima with comparable options of the TSX, then come up to about the same price! But given his bad experience with his Altima and with Acura's 5 yr warranty..., plus TSX come in a nice dark green that he likes... I think he's seriously considering getting one now! He was actually considering some hybrid car, but none of them comes with the cool green TSX comes with... all the hybrid has some cheesy bright green color..., plus, I told him that repair bill for those cars probably will cost a lot too 10 years down the road...
Anyway, I'm such a great salesperson, I should go work for Acura or something... ;) If only I can be as good as selling the Gospel to people. Maybe that's the problem, people think something is wrong or there's some catch when it's 'free'. Yeah, maybe I should start charging people with the gospel of Jesus Christ! ;)
Anywho, today's reading was about Titus. It was all about Paul teaching Titus what to do and teach... and how to appoint the proper elders..., but of course being godly isn't all about words, but also about action. We can all sound holy, but do our actions back up our words? Do we act like we believe in God? Or do we act as if there's no God?
May the most godly man wins the presidential race in both Taiwan and in the US.
I guess Obama probably will be the first ever black president in the US history if his lead continues. I pray that he won't be assasinated or anything like that... who knows, there are extremists in US too... if he is right for America, may God protect him from harm.
On the Republican side, Huckabee has slid to a distant 3rd, McCain is now leading a tiny bit with that Mormon Romney at 2nd. McCain is a war hero, captured as POW in Vietname for a long time, but I'm not sure about his faith... so for sure I'd prefer Huckabee over McCain or Romney..., but overall, I think Obama is probably the most ideal choice... anyway, God knows what's best for us..., may be best man win! New Hampshire is voting today, they'll probably seal the fate of many candidates...
Anyway, Nader emailed us saying that his Altima has broken down and the repair bill would've been huge... so he's going to get a new car. Daniel suggested a Lotus sports car. Saying that since he's still single, he should live large! Tigran also suggested him to get something upscale, like a Jaguar or something..., but I suggested him to get a TSX. It's old, but it's great... I told him he can get a great deal too! So he compared a bit..., load up the new Altima with comparable options of the TSX, then come up to about the same price! But given his bad experience with his Altima and with Acura's 5 yr warranty..., plus TSX come in a nice dark green that he likes... I think he's seriously considering getting one now! He was actually considering some hybrid car, but none of them comes with the cool green TSX comes with... all the hybrid has some cheesy bright green color..., plus, I told him that repair bill for those cars probably will cost a lot too 10 years down the road...
Anyway, I'm such a great salesperson, I should go work for Acura or something... ;) If only I can be as good as selling the Gospel to people. Maybe that's the problem, people think something is wrong or there's some catch when it's 'free'. Yeah, maybe I should start charging people with the gospel of Jesus Christ! ;)
Anywho, today's reading was about Titus. It was all about Paul teaching Titus what to do and teach... and how to appoint the proper elders..., but of course being godly isn't all about words, but also about action. We can all sound holy, but do our actions back up our words? Do we act like we believe in God? Or do we act as if there's no God?
May the most godly man wins the presidential race in both Taiwan and in the US.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Churches...
Pastor Jim talked about importance of churches in his first sermon in 2008. He talked about the humble beginning of his Faith Community Church... He talked about NOT just growing his church in numbers, but how to properly planting them in God's word and just allow the Holy Spirit to make them grow and bear fruit. He warned us that today, it is much harder to be a Christian compared to couple of decades ago... and he further warned that in another couple of decades, it'll most likely be even harder to be a Christian!!!
One thing that grabbed my attention was Pastor Jim described bars, clubs, and even gangs are just counterfeit churches!!! There's really no need for people to drink at bars or clubs..., they can drank much cheaply alone by themselves at home!!! However, people go there for 'fellowship'. Same with the gang members. Most probably come from broken family. So gang ends up being their 'family'.
Anyway, I think this is one area I'm kinda lacking... wife and I don't really have that sense of belonging just yet, but at least we have each other for now... and we know we belong to Jesus!!! Finding a peer group that we can 'click' with won't be easy..., but I suppose wife and I probably still need more time to click with each other first anyway! ;)
I'm still hoping that I can outreach to my own parents, but with them not really at all interested in Jesus and with wife's lack of interest to spend too much time with my parents, what can I do, Lord? Can you change my parents' hearts?
Speaking of things getting tough, I just heard from George that something 'nasty' happened at his former church in Seattle. I couldn't believe it at first... because I really loved it there while I was up there for a few months. I wish my own church could be like theirs... I wish we could have a pastor like theirs at home... I thought that'd for sure fix the problem at my church at home!!!
But who knew..., I don't know exactly what happened, George didn't say specifically, but all I know is that George left and pastor resigned... I'm not even sure if this is a recent event or perhaps happened a while back and he just mentioned to me today...
I just hope that not too many brothers and sisters fell because of this incident.
Today's scripture reading about Luke is at least kind encouraging... Luke warned that all those who want to live a godly life will be persecuted. Like Pastor Jim said, Luke also warned that things will go from bad to worse...
2Tim3: 14 但 你 所 學 習 的 ， 所 確 信 的 ， 要 存 在 心 裡 ； 因 為 你 知 道 是 跟 誰 學 的 ，
15 並 且 知 道 你 是 從 小 明 白 聖 經 ， 這 聖 經 能 使 你 因 信 基 督 耶 穌 ， 有 得 救 的 智 慧 。
2Tim4:5 你 卻 要 凡 事 謹 慎 ， 忍 受 苦 難 ， 做 傳 道 的 工 夫 ， 盡 你 的 職 分 。
Lord God Almighty, we will certainly try our best. May Your will be done...
One thing that grabbed my attention was Pastor Jim described bars, clubs, and even gangs are just counterfeit churches!!! There's really no need for people to drink at bars or clubs..., they can drank much cheaply alone by themselves at home!!! However, people go there for 'fellowship'. Same with the gang members. Most probably come from broken family. So gang ends up being their 'family'.
Anyway, I think this is one area I'm kinda lacking... wife and I don't really have that sense of belonging just yet, but at least we have each other for now... and we know we belong to Jesus!!! Finding a peer group that we can 'click' with won't be easy..., but I suppose wife and I probably still need more time to click with each other first anyway! ;)
I'm still hoping that I can outreach to my own parents, but with them not really at all interested in Jesus and with wife's lack of interest to spend too much time with my parents, what can I do, Lord? Can you change my parents' hearts?
Speaking of things getting tough, I just heard from George that something 'nasty' happened at his former church in Seattle. I couldn't believe it at first... because I really loved it there while I was up there for a few months. I wish my own church could be like theirs... I wish we could have a pastor like theirs at home... I thought that'd for sure fix the problem at my church at home!!!
But who knew..., I don't know exactly what happened, George didn't say specifically, but all I know is that George left and pastor resigned... I'm not even sure if this is a recent event or perhaps happened a while back and he just mentioned to me today...
I just hope that not too many brothers and sisters fell because of this incident.
Today's scripture reading about Luke is at least kind encouraging... Luke warned that all those who want to live a godly life will be persecuted. Like Pastor Jim said, Luke also warned that things will go from bad to worse...
2Tim3: 14 但 你 所 學 習 的 ， 所 確 信 的 ， 要 存 在 心 裡 ； 因 為 你 知 道 是 跟 誰 學 的 ，
15 並 且 知 道 你 是 從 小 明 白 聖 經 ， 這 聖 經 能 使 你 因 信 基 督 耶 穌 ， 有 得 救 的 智 慧 。
2Tim4:5 你 卻 要 凡 事 謹 慎 ， 忍 受 苦 難 ， 做 傳 道 的 工 夫 ， 盡 你 的 職 分 。
Lord God Almighty, we will certainly try our best. May Your will be done...
Friday, January 4, 2008
Will we have our first non-white US president?
Historically speaking, black male got to vote before women... so maybe history will repeat itself in this US presidential race? Personally, I like Obama better, no offense against women, I love women, but I'm just not that sure about Hillary. I actually quite like Bill Clinton..., it's too bad that he has such a problem with women... if Bill didn't have this weakness, I really think he could've been on of America's greatest presidents... anyway, for whatever reasons, I just don't like Bill's wife that much. She's running a close 3rd, so all hope is not lost for her yet I guess. It would be interesting to see Bill Clinton back in the white house again as the 1st 1st husband! ;)The surprise was on the Republican side... and conservative baptist minister won Iowa. Anyway, if Republicans can win the white house again after the Bush fiasco, then for sure it must be the work of God! ;)
Anyway, may God allow the best man to win, whether if it's in US or Taiwan. We need better leaders Lord God..., help us put the best man into leadership. We pray in Christ's name!
Today's scripture reading was about Timothy. He talked about how can one qualify to be church leaders. One important thing to consider is how the guy leads his own family. And I happened to be starting a family now... hope I can manage it well. So far so okay I guess. ;) You lead my way Lord! May my family be salty and shiny for You! Thanks!
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Paul's prayer...
Today's scripture reading was actually supposedly be about Epaphroditus, about how he almost lost his life for Christ and to help Paul. I'm not sure exactly what he did, but most of what I read was actually still about Paul!!! Anyway, that's cool I guess since Paul is my favorite apostle. ;) I particularly like the prayer Paul prayed for the Philippians starting in chapter1 verse 9: And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
I think I'm pretty good at this 'love' thing. Even before knowing Christ, I've always been coined as a 'nice guy'. I think little kids love me because of such quality I have. However, what I lack is knowledge and depth of insight sometimes. This is something my wife can be a very good complement for me! Of course my loving nature can also be good for my wife!!! Hopefully that together, we may be able to discern what is best... and together be pure and blameless until the Day of our Lord.
Wife is still pretty depressed about the fight with her mom... depressed that there's no one in the world who she can really talk to... especially after her best friend Ho-Ching past away... I don't know Ho-Ching that well. Supposedly we've met... and wife said that she's that kind of girl... who makes little or almost no impression on others..., but she's very well read... I think she's exactly the type of person Paul's talking about. Full of love, knowledge and depth of insight. She can talk about anything with my wife and is very good at comforting folks by diverting their attention to something else more interesting...
So I encouraged her to talk to Ho-Ching again! Saying things like... if she were still alive, what would you say? And how would she respond? And interestingly it almost felt as if spirit of Ho-Ching was with us. I think Ho-Ching was actually able to make my wife feel better again! ;) Hopefully the wife can learn to talk to her Lord in a similar way whenever she feels like she has no one to talk to... no one who understands her...
Of course I also reminded her that I'm suppose to be her next 'Ho-Ching'!!! I have to admit I'm not as well read as her... and like I said I often times lacked sufficient knowledge and insight, but I got the love of God baby!!! :D And practice makes perfect! And may God help me to become better than Ho-Ching!!!
Anyway, the love of my life was also kind 'bragging' about her knowledge and insightful ability..., this is why lots of her friends like to talk to her about 'things' they normally wouldn't talk to anyone about! If only I can pump some of my love into her, I really think she can be a powerful instrument for God!!! Anyway Lord, please teach me how... or You pump Your love into her Yourself, okay? ;) What can any one of us do if You don't help us, right? And I do believe You want to help us!
Hope the wife doesn't think that I'm just a positive thinker. ;) Positive or wishful thinking alone is for sure not enough. Paul rejoiced because of God. Whether if a ministry exists because of pure motive or false motive, Paul rejoiced because Gospel is preached. Whether he lives, he's glad to do the work of Christ, whether he dies, he's glad to be back home with the Lord. Paul's positive thinking ability is achieved by focusing on God, by his love for Christ. Paul is also not pretending that he's suffering no pain and all's well... he's pretty clear about his pains in his writings, but of course he never wrote them down as complaints. This is something we must learn from Paul. By focusing on God, I think naturally, even negative thinkers can begin to think positively. I think I'm that way... I'm by nature depressive, confirmed by Pastor Su's test, but I'm able to stay positive nevertheless... I think this is mainly due to my belief in God... belief in love... I dunno, maybe wife thinks that I'm just stupid or easily brainwashed or something! Maybe I'm just a sucker for love and for God! ;) But I really do believe positive thinking ability is just the natural result of focusing on God... and by no means I'm able to completely wipe out my negative thoughts. I just don't allow them to overcome my positive ones! ;)
Optimists and pessimists? Who's right and who's wrong? Who cares? Which is better? The positive thinking original Adam and Eve or the post-forbidden fruit eating Adam and Eve with the new knowledge of good and evil? They were naked before they ate, why did they become shameful after they ate? The circumstances didn't really change, but their mindsets have...
So my prayer is that our minds are being changed to think more and more like Jesus and our hearts are being changed to be able to love more and more like Jesus. I pray in the name of Jesus. Thank you Lord! :)
I think I'm pretty good at this 'love' thing. Even before knowing Christ, I've always been coined as a 'nice guy'. I think little kids love me because of such quality I have. However, what I lack is knowledge and depth of insight sometimes. This is something my wife can be a very good complement for me! Of course my loving nature can also be good for my wife!!! Hopefully that together, we may be able to discern what is best... and together be pure and blameless until the Day of our Lord.
Wife is still pretty depressed about the fight with her mom... depressed that there's no one in the world who she can really talk to... especially after her best friend Ho-Ching past away... I don't know Ho-Ching that well. Supposedly we've met... and wife said that she's that kind of girl... who makes little or almost no impression on others..., but she's very well read... I think she's exactly the type of person Paul's talking about. Full of love, knowledge and depth of insight. She can talk about anything with my wife and is very good at comforting folks by diverting their attention to something else more interesting...
So I encouraged her to talk to Ho-Ching again! Saying things like... if she were still alive, what would you say? And how would she respond? And interestingly it almost felt as if spirit of Ho-Ching was with us. I think Ho-Ching was actually able to make my wife feel better again! ;) Hopefully the wife can learn to talk to her Lord in a similar way whenever she feels like she has no one to talk to... no one who understands her...
Of course I also reminded her that I'm suppose to be her next 'Ho-Ching'!!! I have to admit I'm not as well read as her... and like I said I often times lacked sufficient knowledge and insight, but I got the love of God baby!!! :D And practice makes perfect! And may God help me to become better than Ho-Ching!!!
Anyway, the love of my life was also kind 'bragging' about her knowledge and insightful ability..., this is why lots of her friends like to talk to her about 'things' they normally wouldn't talk to anyone about! If only I can pump some of my love into her, I really think she can be a powerful instrument for God!!! Anyway Lord, please teach me how... or You pump Your love into her Yourself, okay? ;) What can any one of us do if You don't help us, right? And I do believe You want to help us!
Hope the wife doesn't think that I'm just a positive thinker. ;) Positive or wishful thinking alone is for sure not enough. Paul rejoiced because of God. Whether if a ministry exists because of pure motive or false motive, Paul rejoiced because Gospel is preached. Whether he lives, he's glad to do the work of Christ, whether he dies, he's glad to be back home with the Lord. Paul's positive thinking ability is achieved by focusing on God, by his love for Christ. Paul is also not pretending that he's suffering no pain and all's well... he's pretty clear about his pains in his writings, but of course he never wrote them down as complaints. This is something we must learn from Paul. By focusing on God, I think naturally, even negative thinkers can begin to think positively. I think I'm that way... I'm by nature depressive, confirmed by Pastor Su's test, but I'm able to stay positive nevertheless... I think this is mainly due to my belief in God... belief in love... I dunno, maybe wife thinks that I'm just stupid or easily brainwashed or something! Maybe I'm just a sucker for love and for God! ;) But I really do believe positive thinking ability is just the natural result of focusing on God... and by no means I'm able to completely wipe out my negative thoughts. I just don't allow them to overcome my positive ones! ;)
Optimists and pessimists? Who's right and who's wrong? Who cares? Which is better? The positive thinking original Adam and Eve or the post-forbidden fruit eating Adam and Eve with the new knowledge of good and evil? They were naked before they ate, why did they become shameful after they ate? The circumstances didn't really change, but their mindsets have...
So my prayer is that our minds are being changed to think more and more like Jesus and our hearts are being changed to be able to love more and more like Jesus. I pray in the name of Jesus. Thank you Lord! :)
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Happy New Year!!! :)
Wow! I really took a long break!!! Even break from doing my daily devotions... ;)
The trip to Florida sure was tiring... it wasn't relaxing at all. Although wife didn't like that place too much, but I think we still had sufficient fun over there... I thought it's cool to take the wife to travel around the world in half a day in EPCOT! ;) Especially considering that she had been 'trapped' in the USA for about 4 years now. Anyway, detailed pictures are posted in wife's blog.
As tiring as that was, best part of the vacation was of course the fact that we were all by ourselves! Without my parents. Without IMing people(cause wife had not internet connection at the hotel)... and without kiddie cat! So it was a real good bonding time for me and the wife!
Although I didn't do my devotions during the break, I did keep on finding spiritual programmings on TV though. PBS had a program talking about how Moses delivered the Jews from Egypt... and the other evening was about power of prayer... how prayers shaped America's past from the beginning to the Civil War and then to relatively modern times of Martin Luther King Jr. and Caesar Chavez... quite interesting programming...
Oh, another cool thing that happened during the trip was that I finally was able to fly on all of Boeing's planes!!! We flew on 777 to Atlanta... and then 767 to Orlando..., then we flew back on 757! In the past, I've only been on Boeing 747(for international) or 737s or AirBus/McDonnel Douglas planes on domestic flights... so now the only plane left is the 787!!! ;)
Anyway, the rest of the weekend was much more relaxing. We pretty much just 'chilled' at home... watching more Heros and I also played Gran Turismo quite a bit!!! I honestly don't know why I'm such a lover of driving race cars... even if it's just in video game... it's safer and cheaper this way. I just have this need for speed I guess..., I must appeared to be crazy to my wife... to drive cars around in circles again and again and again..., but of course each lap is unique and I'm trying to achieve my perfect lap!!!
And surprisingly near the end of this relaxing break, wife ended up having an argument with her mom on the phone. I'm not sure with 100% certianty what they were talking about cause they spoke mostly in Taiwanese..., but I think I get about 60~70% of what was said. After the phone conversation is over, after the crying is done, could I say anything to help her feel better? No, I don't think so. However, I could do things to help her feel better! So we just took a stroll at Target! To find some good deals and get her mind off things... ;) In real life, we can't all agree on everything, that's impossible, we're just designed and built differently. However, it's important that we let each other know that we do love each other no matter what. What does love means? I think it means letting other be right even if you do know with absolute certainty that you are right! Just as Christ's talk about letting other strike you on the other cheek type of deal..., but of course there's a limit. Christ is not going to allow us to strike him and crucify him forever...
Pastor Jim talked about 'where will you sit in 2008'. He talked about 4Rs: Remembering, Repenting, Redoing... or else the Lord will be doing the Removing!!! Are we remembering our own sins or other people's sins? After we repent, after we make a directional change... are we moving toward that new direction? That's where 'redoing' comes in. For me, that's the hardesst part. Sometimes it seems my 'repentance' wasn't genuine enough because I often repeat my same mistakes over and over again... even on the race track! ;) So should we just quit the game?
We all have our different weaknesses. It's perfectly 'normal' for us to screw up, to fall... God knows we don't normally live perfectly and fly up into the heaven like Jesus..., but of course we shouldn't use our weaknesses as 'excuse' to live screwed up lives or to never try to get back up... for us Christians, I suppose we ought to constantly ask for God's help to Redo things God's way. It may "feel" horrible for a while such as the Israelites did in the wilderness for 40 years, but no pain no gain I suppose. Either we enter into the promiseland or we will be Removed by God and perish. May the Lord Our God strengthen me so that I can complete my journey hand in hand with my wife. May the Lord help us, whether it's more faith or healing or whatever... Please make us more like You!
Today's reading was about Paul, my favorite apostle! ;) For sure this was a guy who remembered his past sins, repented and then re-did a lot of things for God. Yes, Lord, although we are weak, but You are strong! Teach us how to rely more on Your perfect strength from this time forward! Thanks!
The trip to Florida sure was tiring... it wasn't relaxing at all. Although wife didn't like that place too much, but I think we still had sufficient fun over there... I thought it's cool to take the wife to travel around the world in half a day in EPCOT! ;) Especially considering that she had been 'trapped' in the USA for about 4 years now. Anyway, detailed pictures are posted in wife's blog.
As tiring as that was, best part of the vacation was of course the fact that we were all by ourselves! Without my parents. Without IMing people(cause wife had not internet connection at the hotel)... and without kiddie cat! So it was a real good bonding time for me and the wife!
Although I didn't do my devotions during the break, I did keep on finding spiritual programmings on TV though. PBS had a program talking about how Moses delivered the Jews from Egypt... and the other evening was about power of prayer... how prayers shaped America's past from the beginning to the Civil War and then to relatively modern times of Martin Luther King Jr. and Caesar Chavez... quite interesting programming...
Oh, another cool thing that happened during the trip was that I finally was able to fly on all of Boeing's planes!!! We flew on 777 to Atlanta... and then 767 to Orlando..., then we flew back on 757! In the past, I've only been on Boeing 747(for international) or 737s or AirBus/McDonnel Douglas planes on domestic flights... so now the only plane left is the 787!!! ;)
Anyway, the rest of the weekend was much more relaxing. We pretty much just 'chilled' at home... watching more Heros and I also played Gran Turismo quite a bit!!! I honestly don't know why I'm such a lover of driving race cars... even if it's just in video game... it's safer and cheaper this way. I just have this need for speed I guess..., I must appeared to be crazy to my wife... to drive cars around in circles again and again and again..., but of course each lap is unique and I'm trying to achieve my perfect lap!!!
And surprisingly near the end of this relaxing break, wife ended up having an argument with her mom on the phone. I'm not sure with 100% certianty what they were talking about cause they spoke mostly in Taiwanese..., but I think I get about 60~70% of what was said. After the phone conversation is over, after the crying is done, could I say anything to help her feel better? No, I don't think so. However, I could do things to help her feel better! So we just took a stroll at Target! To find some good deals and get her mind off things... ;) In real life, we can't all agree on everything, that's impossible, we're just designed and built differently. However, it's important that we let each other know that we do love each other no matter what. What does love means? I think it means letting other be right even if you do know with absolute certainty that you are right! Just as Christ's talk about letting other strike you on the other cheek type of deal..., but of course there's a limit. Christ is not going to allow us to strike him and crucify him forever...
Pastor Jim talked about 'where will you sit in 2008'. He talked about 4Rs: Remembering, Repenting, Redoing... or else the Lord will be doing the Removing!!! Are we remembering our own sins or other people's sins? After we repent, after we make a directional change... are we moving toward that new direction? That's where 'redoing' comes in. For me, that's the hardesst part. Sometimes it seems my 'repentance' wasn't genuine enough because I often repeat my same mistakes over and over again... even on the race track! ;) So should we just quit the game?
We all have our different weaknesses. It's perfectly 'normal' for us to screw up, to fall... God knows we don't normally live perfectly and fly up into the heaven like Jesus..., but of course we shouldn't use our weaknesses as 'excuse' to live screwed up lives or to never try to get back up... for us Christians, I suppose we ought to constantly ask for God's help to Redo things God's way. It may "feel" horrible for a while such as the Israelites did in the wilderness for 40 years, but no pain no gain I suppose. Either we enter into the promiseland or we will be Removed by God and perish. May the Lord Our God strengthen me so that I can complete my journey hand in hand with my wife. May the Lord help us, whether it's more faith or healing or whatever... Please make us more like You!
Today's reading was about Paul, my favorite apostle! ;) For sure this was a guy who remembered his past sins, repented and then re-did a lot of things for God. Yes, Lord, although we are weak, but You are strong! Teach us how to rely more on Your perfect strength from this time forward! Thanks!
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