I know, the title sounds kinda kinky, but it's a slow news day... ;)
Yeah, people from Lesbos Island is suing the gay community so that they can get the name 'lesbian' back. I had no idea Greece has an island named Lesbos..., supposedly the home of anceint poet Sappho, who praised love between women... so I guess there's at least 'some' connection... ;)
Luckily Lesbos isn't an independent nation! Otherwise for sure that'll suck!
"Hi, I'm Lesbian!" ;)
Anyway, hope they can settle their issue..., no matter what happens... and whatever kind of Lesbians you are... at least one thing is for certain... that is God still loves you! ;)
Today's reading was about Abraham still... even if I could hear God's voice clearly..., would I sacrifice my son for God? It's an interesting question which I'm not sure if I want to answer..., I can only count on the fact that God never repeats things... so I don't really have to worry about having to make decisions like that for me! ;) Even if God were to repeat the same command to me... for sure I'll ask Him lots of questions to stall God... unless I'm sure that's what He really want me to do... I'm not sure if I can be like Abe to just go and do that...
Anyway, and later on, Abraham asked His servant to go find Isaac a wife... everytime I read that story, it reminds me of how I found my wife! ;) Yeah, that's the story which 'inspired' me to how to pray to God... and yeah, I asked a lot of questions for confirmations..., but of course I didn't ask a whole lot of questions... just three. I didn't want to impose too much on God... didn't want God to think that I'm a man of too little faith... ;)
In retrospect, it's really funny... I really didn't think things would work out from the very beginning..., but amazingly it worked out. We end up facing more problems down the road, and amazingly it's still working out.
Isn't God wonderful? He sure is...
Wife doesn't like to talk to herself, not sure what my problems is, although I'm not much of a talker, but I sure like to talk to myself a lot... is it because I love myself too much? Maybe you do. Be careful, okay? Okay. Now die to yourself so that you can really live for Christ! No, no! Don't kill me just yet!!!! Sorry, you have to die... otherwise I can't shut up and get back to work... so Die!
AAAAAHHHH!
(Gen 22-24)
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Got something to say?
Obama's pastor went defending himself publically recently... saying that all that had happened recently is not an attack against him or Obama, but an attack on black churches. He also went on saying that US government probably invented AIDS as a way to commit genocide against minorities...
While I also personally believe these conspiracies could be true, Americans had been pretty racist. America is also the only nation on earth that has actually used an atomic weapon against humanity. Yeah, US government can be pretty evil sometimes... and can certainly be capable of evil... but fact is, these are simply conspiracies. There's no proof to back any of those things up at this point... so why bother stirring these things up? Especially during Obama's campaigne?
Not sure what Pastor Jeremiah was thinking. Enough is enough. It's no wonder Obama has now seeking to further distance himself from the pastor.
In cases like these, we ought to just let God be our defense. Make sure we're right first..., if we're wrong, then repent and make things right! As for whether if others are right or wrong, just leave that up to God. Surely God will judge them! If somebody's really attacking black churches, don't you think Christ would protect his church? Would God also allow people to successfully commit genocide against His people?
Anyway, yeah, I'm a little disappointed with Pastor Jeremiah myself... if you don't have anything constructive to say, don't bother saying it... especially under public lime light.
May God show His mercy on all of us..., just as God showed mercy to Hagar as she was sent away with her son... God is a God who'd take care of us, no matter how hopeless the situation may seem. Of course Abraham and Sarah were foolish to use Hagar as a baby machine in the first place..., but then it's stupid of Hagar and later on Ishmeal to be so proud to mock Sarah and Isaac too! We all make mistakes, but if we all try to control ourselves to minimize these offensive mistakes, things could've worked out smoother. Of course sometimes we mess up inadvertantly..., but regardless how we mess up, the cool thing is that God can always remedy a situation for the better!
God is also a God who'll commit genocide against us if we're too out of control like people in Sodom and Gomorrah...
Anyway, point is, we all need to have more self control... so that we can avoid causing too much troubles for ourselves and for others... May God help us by giving us the wisdom and strength to control our flesh...
(Gen 19-21)
While I also personally believe these conspiracies could be true, Americans had been pretty racist. America is also the only nation on earth that has actually used an atomic weapon against humanity. Yeah, US government can be pretty evil sometimes... and can certainly be capable of evil... but fact is, these are simply conspiracies. There's no proof to back any of those things up at this point... so why bother stirring these things up? Especially during Obama's campaigne?
Not sure what Pastor Jeremiah was thinking. Enough is enough. It's no wonder Obama has now seeking to further distance himself from the pastor.
In cases like these, we ought to just let God be our defense. Make sure we're right first..., if we're wrong, then repent and make things right! As for whether if others are right or wrong, just leave that up to God. Surely God will judge them! If somebody's really attacking black churches, don't you think Christ would protect his church? Would God also allow people to successfully commit genocide against His people?
Anyway, yeah, I'm a little disappointed with Pastor Jeremiah myself... if you don't have anything constructive to say, don't bother saying it... especially under public lime light.
May God show His mercy on all of us..., just as God showed mercy to Hagar as she was sent away with her son... God is a God who'd take care of us, no matter how hopeless the situation may seem. Of course Abraham and Sarah were foolish to use Hagar as a baby machine in the first place..., but then it's stupid of Hagar and later on Ishmeal to be so proud to mock Sarah and Isaac too! We all make mistakes, but if we all try to control ourselves to minimize these offensive mistakes, things could've worked out smoother. Of course sometimes we mess up inadvertantly..., but regardless how we mess up, the cool thing is that God can always remedy a situation for the better!
God is also a God who'll commit genocide against us if we're too out of control like people in Sodom and Gomorrah...
Anyway, point is, we all need to have more self control... so that we can avoid causing too much troubles for ourselves and for others... May God help us by giving us the wisdom and strength to control our flesh...
(Gen 19-21)
Monday, April 28, 2008
Got troubles?
Oh yes! ;)
One thing for sure about this life is that we can expect to have troubles.
Another thing for sure is that God will help see us thru our troubles!
Over the weekend wife and I had another fight... Typically we get into disagreement on money issues, but this time it's not.
Anyway, our personality is really very different. Our opinions and values can often differ quite a bit. I'm not sure why this is, but all I know is that if we can really learn to become 'one flesh', we can be really wonderful!
Why? Because there are qualities which I lack, I know my wife is full of those things... and I also know that there are qualities which I have full of..., she in a way kinda lack...
I'm more 'gracious'... and she's more disciplined with 'truth'. Of course as we join together, we're not really suppose to compromise each other to become 50% gracious and 50% truthiness as if we're Buddhists... Jesus Christ our Lord is FULL of both grace and truth. These 2 things may seem contradictory... just as Jesus is both fully God and fully man... But how can God be like mortal man? How can mortal man be like God?
Well, I don't have answers to all the questions, all I know is that Jesus is physically human and spiritually God. All I know is that he's the most gracious person ever... and he is also THE TRUTH! In Micah 6:8, God wants us to act justly(in the truth), to love mercy(be graceful), but most importantly, we ought to humble ourselves to follow God.
Yes, even God knows that we can't act as justly as Jesus... nor can we be as gracious as Jesus..., but we can still try! God did promise us that we will eventually be holy just as our Father in Heaven is holy. Just because we can't acieve it now... just because we can't have it now, it doesn't mean we ought to just forget about it and give up.
We ought to keep at it... keep on trying... if we mess up, that's okay, we repent... and we try again! If we are truly humblying ourselves to follow God, there ought to be evidence of improvements! Even if the improvements are slow, so what? It's the improvements that counts. Turtles can still win races! And if we happen to be the rabbits, of course we shouldn't be so careless as to end up losing the race! ;)
We are all rabbits... AND turtles in various areas of our lives. It's important that we don't only "race" based on how the other racers are doing. If rabbit was only concerned with running the fastest race he can... trying to top his prior personal best... there's no way he could lose to that turtle! And as long as the turtle has tried his best, he also should be proud of himself even if he came in dead last relative to others...
When we're much better than everyone else, it's easy to be prideful... as long as we remain humble and just try to beat ourselves... and improve... How can we ever lose?
Pastor Jim continued on the series of worshipping God. There's no other way other than to just follow Him humbly... That means even when we don't feel like acting justly, we have to ignore that feeling. Even if we don't feel like being merciful..., we had to make sure if that's really what our Lord wants?
This is the only way we can get thru our troubles. This is how Job and Joseph and many other godly men got thru their troubles.
As humans, we inevitably screw up. Of course we should not use that as an excuse to continue to screw up..., but it's important to not lose hope for our future because God can always help us thru our troubles. Abraham has screwed up. Sarah has screwed up. Hagar has screwed up..., but by continue to obey God the best they know how, God was able to bless all of them eventually nonetheless. Things can only get better if we don't lose faith, hope and love for God and for each other.
My marriage won't be easy. I know that before I asked my wife out. I found out about more troubles as we dated... and as went thru marriage counceling with Pastor Su... Yeah, just like the song wife wrote for COG... except I can take out the word 'world' and change it to 'marriage'... ;)
I could clearly hear God telling me... in this "marriage", I'll have trouble. In Him, I'll have peace! God gave me clear sign to go for it... God was also pretty fair in warning me with all the potential problems ahead of time... so if I want to back down..., I could. Surely God doesn't want me to blame Him later on for forcing me into a marriage! ;) This is the choice I made... as long as I stay committed to Him and to my wife, I can overcome all odds! If God is with me, what can be against me?
Troubles are only temporary, God is forever. Plus, God can use troubles to help me become a better man... to become more like Him... In a way, we really need to learn from little pets. They do indeed end up becoming very similar to their owners! ;)
(Gen 13-15)
One thing for sure about this life is that we can expect to have troubles.
Another thing for sure is that God will help see us thru our troubles!
Over the weekend wife and I had another fight... Typically we get into disagreement on money issues, but this time it's not.
Anyway, our personality is really very different. Our opinions and values can often differ quite a bit. I'm not sure why this is, but all I know is that if we can really learn to become 'one flesh', we can be really wonderful!
Why? Because there are qualities which I lack, I know my wife is full of those things... and I also know that there are qualities which I have full of..., she in a way kinda lack...
I'm more 'gracious'... and she's more disciplined with 'truth'. Of course as we join together, we're not really suppose to compromise each other to become 50% gracious and 50% truthiness as if we're Buddhists... Jesus Christ our Lord is FULL of both grace and truth. These 2 things may seem contradictory... just as Jesus is both fully God and fully man... But how can God be like mortal man? How can mortal man be like God?
Well, I don't have answers to all the questions, all I know is that Jesus is physically human and spiritually God. All I know is that he's the most gracious person ever... and he is also THE TRUTH! In Micah 6:8, God wants us to act justly(in the truth), to love mercy(be graceful), but most importantly, we ought to humble ourselves to follow God.
Yes, even God knows that we can't act as justly as Jesus... nor can we be as gracious as Jesus..., but we can still try! God did promise us that we will eventually be holy just as our Father in Heaven is holy. Just because we can't acieve it now... just because we can't have it now, it doesn't mean we ought to just forget about it and give up.
We ought to keep at it... keep on trying... if we mess up, that's okay, we repent... and we try again! If we are truly humblying ourselves to follow God, there ought to be evidence of improvements! Even if the improvements are slow, so what? It's the improvements that counts. Turtles can still win races! And if we happen to be the rabbits, of course we shouldn't be so careless as to end up losing the race! ;)
We are all rabbits... AND turtles in various areas of our lives. It's important that we don't only "race" based on how the other racers are doing. If rabbit was only concerned with running the fastest race he can... trying to top his prior personal best... there's no way he could lose to that turtle! And as long as the turtle has tried his best, he also should be proud of himself even if he came in dead last relative to others...
When we're much better than everyone else, it's easy to be prideful... as long as we remain humble and just try to beat ourselves... and improve... How can we ever lose?
Pastor Jim continued on the series of worshipping God. There's no other way other than to just follow Him humbly... That means even when we don't feel like acting justly, we have to ignore that feeling. Even if we don't feel like being merciful..., we had to make sure if that's really what our Lord wants?
This is the only way we can get thru our troubles. This is how Job and Joseph and many other godly men got thru their troubles.
As humans, we inevitably screw up. Of course we should not use that as an excuse to continue to screw up..., but it's important to not lose hope for our future because God can always help us thru our troubles. Abraham has screwed up. Sarah has screwed up. Hagar has screwed up..., but by continue to obey God the best they know how, God was able to bless all of them eventually nonetheless. Things can only get better if we don't lose faith, hope and love for God and for each other.
My marriage won't be easy. I know that before I asked my wife out. I found out about more troubles as we dated... and as went thru marriage counceling with Pastor Su... Yeah, just like the song wife wrote for COG... except I can take out the word 'world' and change it to 'marriage'... ;)
I could clearly hear God telling me... in this "marriage", I'll have trouble. In Him, I'll have peace! God gave me clear sign to go for it... God was also pretty fair in warning me with all the potential problems ahead of time... so if I want to back down..., I could. Surely God doesn't want me to blame Him later on for forcing me into a marriage! ;) This is the choice I made... as long as I stay committed to Him and to my wife, I can overcome all odds! If God is with me, what can be against me?
Troubles are only temporary, God is forever. Plus, God can use troubles to help me become a better man... to become more like Him... In a way, we really need to learn from little pets. They do indeed end up becoming very similar to their owners! ;)
(Gen 13-15)
Friday, April 25, 2008
Got steaks?
Last night we're suppose to have steaks at home, but Jack didn't seem to trust my steaking cooking ability. So we decided to eat out... at some Taiwanese style steak place! I have to say that it's not bad. Haven't had steaks like that for the longest time. I saw them in the night markets earlier this year when I was at Taiwan, but wasn't really all that interested in eating steaks in Taiwan... I was more into genuine Taiwanese foods..., but anyway, I have to say the steaks weren't bad at all. I missed eating steaks like that! ;)
Anyway, today's reading was more of Abraham. I always thought he's not a very brave man because he's always afraid of people killing him over his beautiful wife! But then again, today, he'd gladly risk his life to go rescuse his nephew in captivity. He really didn't have to do that. They went on their seperate ways because he and Lot just couldn't live together peacefully anymore. Abe even went out of his way to let Lot choose where to go first... and then he'll go the opposite way. So I think for most folks today, when we split up..., we split up. Good luck with you! Bye! But Abraham is different. The split was for their own good..., and his heart is still with his nephew. Lot chosed a place that seemed better. If Abraham chose the opposite direction, then Abe went to a place that seemed worse. Will we choose like Abe? Only a true man of faith can do that. It doesn't matter what it looks like or what the situation might be, as long as God is with us, there's nothing to be afraid of... there's not going to be a problem. I can't have children? Hey, no problem! If God told me that I will conceive, then I believe! Hmm..., can we really do that?
Of course we're all human, including Abraham. Surely he can feel depressed or afraid at times..., that's why God had to comfort him to tell him to not be afraid..., but can we all trust in God as Abraham trusted in God? That kind of faith is what can get us out of our troubles. Without faith in God, by not following God, we'd for sure just die in that valley of death...
Jack is a man of little faith, this is why he couldn't get that big juicy ribeye steak... and had to settle for some cheap NY/Taiwanese steak! :p
Anyway, today's reading was more of Abraham. I always thought he's not a very brave man because he's always afraid of people killing him over his beautiful wife! But then again, today, he'd gladly risk his life to go rescuse his nephew in captivity. He really didn't have to do that. They went on their seperate ways because he and Lot just couldn't live together peacefully anymore. Abe even went out of his way to let Lot choose where to go first... and then he'll go the opposite way. So I think for most folks today, when we split up..., we split up. Good luck with you! Bye! But Abraham is different. The split was for their own good..., and his heart is still with his nephew. Lot chosed a place that seemed better. If Abraham chose the opposite direction, then Abe went to a place that seemed worse. Will we choose like Abe? Only a true man of faith can do that. It doesn't matter what it looks like or what the situation might be, as long as God is with us, there's nothing to be afraid of... there's not going to be a problem. I can't have children? Hey, no problem! If God told me that I will conceive, then I believe! Hmm..., can we really do that?
Of course we're all human, including Abraham. Surely he can feel depressed or afraid at times..., that's why God had to comfort him to tell him to not be afraid..., but can we all trust in God as Abraham trusted in God? That kind of faith is what can get us out of our troubles. Without faith in God, by not following God, we'd for sure just die in that valley of death...
Jack is a man of little faith, this is why he couldn't get that big juicy ribeye steak... and had to settle for some cheap NY/Taiwanese steak! :p
Thursday, April 24, 2008
As a branch...
Last night's prayer meeting, Brother GD talked about how to stay connected to the true vine! I have to admit that I don't completely agree with Brother GD's insight on things..., but of course I'm not saying he's wrong either..., just that I don't completely agree. Anyway, to me, a sign for being connected to the true vine is of course bearing spiritual fruits. A more practical way is to simply remain in Christ's love... to love each other... to obey his commands! Of course I don't believe I'm that perfect yet, I do wish that I can glorify God more with my life... this is why some more 'pruning' is still necessary. Nobody likes being 'pruned'... cause it hurts.
I was jokingly using marriage as example of God's pruning process during the meeting..., and it is actually true. ;) Wife and I even "pruned" each other again last night so that we can learn to love each other more later on. What is not good for us, should be pruned away... so that we can bear more fruits. May God continue to be with us and help us!
Today's reading was about Noah's descendants and then the beginning of Abram... Abram is a man with faults..., but at least he's super obedient to God. He remained in God and God remained in him... and blessed him from the very beginning. I hope God can bless me and bless other people thru me too... God knows I'm also a man with many faults, but may I be obedient to God as Abram was... may I never be too pround of myself as those who were trying to build that tower of Babel...
(Gen 10-12)
I was jokingly using marriage as example of God's pruning process during the meeting..., and it is actually true. ;) Wife and I even "pruned" each other again last night so that we can learn to love each other more later on. What is not good for us, should be pruned away... so that we can bear more fruits. May God continue to be with us and help us!
Today's reading was about Noah's descendants and then the beginning of Abram... Abram is a man with faults..., but at least he's super obedient to God. He remained in God and God remained in him... and blessed him from the very beginning. I hope God can bless me and bless other people thru me too... God knows I'm also a man with many faults, but may I be obedient to God as Abram was... may I never be too pround of myself as those who were trying to build that tower of Babel...
(Gen 10-12)
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Why You Make the Same Mistake Twice...
Just when I was wondering why I often repeat my mistakes on my last blog, God inspired somebody to write this article... ;)
At the end of the article, it says music teachers or coaches already know this. The brain has a tendency to practice whatever we do... even if it's a mistake. So the best way to learn isn't necessarily just to practice, practice, practice..., but to slow down to learn the right way... and then repeat that right way so that your brain can start learning this new 'right way' instead of repeating the same mistake over and over again!
I think in the recording studio, the tempo is set..., I was really practicing in the wrong way most of the time... so whenever we re-record..., I was basically repeating the same darn thing...
Anyway, I think our heart of stone or stiffed necks are really the result of our stubborn brain! Once we practice enough to form the neuro-networks in the brain... it'll be hard to re-wire our brains to do it differently...
May God help me re-wire my neuro-networks in my brain..., so that I can think and do the right things!!! :)
Today's reading was about Noah. Noah was a farmer, so it's not true that God only likes shepherds over farmers (Such as God prefers Abel over Cain...) And I guess the moral of the story with Ham(father of Canaan) was that love should cover up multitude of sins... instead of gossipping around... Still, I don't understand why Noah was so mad about that! He was the one who got drunk... maybe he was just mad about the gossip? Still, they're all family..., it's not like there were any strangers? Anyway, I guess the point is that we ought to just learn to love and respect our elders. We're only human, screw ups are inevitable because of the bad connections in our brain... ;)
(Gen 7:9)
At the end of the article, it says music teachers or coaches already know this. The brain has a tendency to practice whatever we do... even if it's a mistake. So the best way to learn isn't necessarily just to practice, practice, practice..., but to slow down to learn the right way... and then repeat that right way so that your brain can start learning this new 'right way' instead of repeating the same mistake over and over again!
I think in the recording studio, the tempo is set..., I was really practicing in the wrong way most of the time... so whenever we re-record..., I was basically repeating the same darn thing...
Anyway, I think our heart of stone or stiffed necks are really the result of our stubborn brain! Once we practice enough to form the neuro-networks in the brain... it'll be hard to re-wire our brains to do it differently...
May God help me re-wire my neuro-networks in my brain..., so that I can think and do the right things!!! :)
Today's reading was about Noah. Noah was a farmer, so it's not true that God only likes shepherds over farmers (Such as God prefers Abel over Cain...) And I guess the moral of the story with Ham(father of Canaan) was that love should cover up multitude of sins... instead of gossipping around... Still, I don't understand why Noah was so mad about that! He was the one who got drunk... maybe he was just mad about the gossip? Still, they're all family..., it's not like there were any strangers? Anyway, I guess the point is that we ought to just learn to love and respect our elders. We're only human, screw ups are inevitable because of the bad connections in our brain... ;)
(Gen 7:9)
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Taking initiative...
Last night I was watching a TV show wife recorded earlier... it talked about whether if a degree from a famous university can really help or not... anyway, one thing I got out of it was that there's a quality that employers really want, which I kinda lack, is someone who's motivated and takes initiatives.
I think I have been lucky... or God has been pretty good to me... that I do have a pretty good job. However, for sure I can do better. Not to be coveteous or anything..., but if I were to compare myself with my good friend Tigran, I really don't think he's that much smarter than me... nor am I lazier than him... ;) However, the main difference between us probably would be our personalities. His personality for sure can convey the sense of motivated... taking initiatives..., where as my personality tend to convey the opposite. This is probably why he's now making more than twice as much as me!!!!
Will I ever change? I want to... I try to..., but often times, I just couldn't. Just as in the recording studio... I wanted to... and I tried to sing better..., but again and again I screw up! Why? I don't know. I guess I'm just not perfect yet... The important thing is that we ought to keep the faith... and keep at it. If I know I'm wrong at something, it doesn't matter how many times I try to make it right, it is more important that we don't settle down with being wrong.
May God have mercy and help me continue on... so that I can be holy just as my Father in heaven is holy! :)
In today's reading, I just found out how annoying and weird are the descendants of Cain! Lamech was probably the first dude to take 2 wives. He also has the nerve to tell his family that he has killed a man for wounding him... and if Cain is avenged 7 times, he himself would be 77 times. Anyway, I hope he killed in act of self defense..., cause if he murdered somebody as Cain did... and expect to get away with it just like Cain did..., that's just annoying. Plus, at least God promised Cain such protection... this guy is just saying it himself..., but then again, why is it recorded in the bible? Wonder what is the point... Perhaps this is a guy who takes 'initiatives'? ;)
Also, it's also very confusing that there was also an Enoch in Cain's family..., just as there's also a Lamech, in Seth's family. Guess it's just the case of common first names...
Anyway, may God help me understand these early chapters better...
(Gen 4-6)
I think I have been lucky... or God has been pretty good to me... that I do have a pretty good job. However, for sure I can do better. Not to be coveteous or anything..., but if I were to compare myself with my good friend Tigran, I really don't think he's that much smarter than me... nor am I lazier than him... ;) However, the main difference between us probably would be our personalities. His personality for sure can convey the sense of motivated... taking initiatives..., where as my personality tend to convey the opposite. This is probably why he's now making more than twice as much as me!!!!
Will I ever change? I want to... I try to..., but often times, I just couldn't. Just as in the recording studio... I wanted to... and I tried to sing better..., but again and again I screw up! Why? I don't know. I guess I'm just not perfect yet... The important thing is that we ought to keep the faith... and keep at it. If I know I'm wrong at something, it doesn't matter how many times I try to make it right, it is more important that we don't settle down with being wrong.
May God have mercy and help me continue on... so that I can be holy just as my Father in heaven is holy! :)
In today's reading, I just found out how annoying and weird are the descendants of Cain! Lamech was probably the first dude to take 2 wives. He also has the nerve to tell his family that he has killed a man for wounding him... and if Cain is avenged 7 times, he himself would be 77 times. Anyway, I hope he killed in act of self defense..., cause if he murdered somebody as Cain did... and expect to get away with it just like Cain did..., that's just annoying. Plus, at least God promised Cain such protection... this guy is just saying it himself..., but then again, why is it recorded in the bible? Wonder what is the point... Perhaps this is a guy who takes 'initiatives'? ;)
Also, it's also very confusing that there was also an Enoch in Cain's family..., just as there's also a Lamech, in Seth's family. Guess it's just the case of common first names...
Anyway, may God help me understand these early chapters better...
(Gen 4-6)
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