More Words to Live by: 2013

Finding priorities

"Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this." 2 Timothy 2:3-7

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:28-34

2013 Resolution

2013: Maturity

"When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me." 1 Corinthians 13:11

2012: Integrity

Swirling Thoughts

The magnificence of reality is that the world turns in roughly the same orbit each year, yet humanity grows and changes in permanence. Yes, we have achieved great measures, but for what? People applaud for accomplishments of extraordinary men, but hearts are moved when ordinary people exceed their limits.

Hey, listen. We haven’t got much time for it all. You know what you have. Just run with it. 

Precious

There is nothing more precious than old promises being kept.
No such beauty exists, as eyes radiate with allure unmatched.
None are more cherished than you. None ever so dear.
Of sacrifices, keeping none for own.

To all those in pain and suffering, 

may God’s love materialize and bring comfort until the long awaited.

In Times of Trouble

"Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us." Titus 2:6-8

Never lose your cool. Spearhead the way. Be serious.
The silent partner.

Merry Christmas!

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Luke 2:8-14

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQeKdvXliIU

What's Christmas? Probably the Bible and some Charlie Brown :P

Collab: ReClaim/Mayfly, Part 1

Collab: ReClaim, Mayfly 
Tunes from "I Decide" - Heritage 

슬픔과 기쁨과 고난과 행복 
희노애락 가득해도 난 언제나 만족 
능력 주는 자 안에서 모든 것이 가능해 
눈 떠보니 구원 흰옷을 입었네 
주의 사랑 새벽 공기 맺힌 이슬 같이 
달콤한 단비 마음을 녹여 
매일같이 새롭게 주의 사랑 고백해 

No longer blind and bound to the past 
No more slave to sins so vast 
Sick and tired of any old ways 
Ready to move on do what God says 
Why dread tomorrow when God says follow? 
Today's the day the Lord has made 
I'll be walking forward chainless

"Jesus wept." John 11:35

World and the Spirit

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” Luke 2:6-7

 

“A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its head. Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who ‘will rule all the nations with an iron scepter.’ And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. The woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days.” Revelations 12:1-6

 

There is something about morning prayer sermons that I especially enjoy. It could be the brevity. It definitely could be the brevity. It seems pastors may be conflicted in preaching in this time of the year. One can certainly preach on about the nativity, as it is a timeless story for us to engrave in our hearts. Another can feel pressured to invoke new life in an old story.

 

Why not both? As one pastor connected the nativity scene to that in Revelations, I saw how blind I was to the spiritual realm. This may be nothing new to anyone else, but I found it fascinating. There was Jesus lying quietly in a manger, while strangers came to celebrate. On the other side, a great battle, the biggest suspense in all of history was occurring.

 

The fate of the souls of humanity was being decided, while mankind slept peacefully in their homes.

Hear Hear no Fear

Why do I dread tomorrow

if God's telling me to follow?

Today is the day the Lord has made.

Don't let life fade,

away with the restless,

come to him shameless

“And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people. You must speak my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious. But you, son of man, listen to what I say to you. Do not rebel like that rebellious people; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” Ezekiel 2:6-8

Rowing Along the River

"For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." Romans 1:20

One of the best memories I have is from St. Croix. As part of a summer program held by the high school, bunch of us students joined together to learn about science in nature. The first night, as always, was tough. With the heavy rainstorm, I woke up to seeing the window fall on me. Luckily the window was a hopper type, so I did not have to decorate myself with glass shards and stitches the rest of the camp. All sarcasm aside, the weather was actually wonderful the rest of the days.

I especially remember the rowing trip down the river. My good friend Dieter and I got on a boat, and we were to simply row along and enjoy the scenery. There certainly is something about water that calms the spirit. At times forceful, at times serene, the river would gently pull us towards, while other times, we would force ourselves against the current. At one point, we were just rowing like crazy that we missed a deer sighting. We got yelled at for not paying attention, but it was okay. We were having so much fun anyways.

Nearly half way around the trip, the water suddenly went shallow. We got to get out and walk along side the boat. The trees would at times provide cover. The rocks were certinaly one great percussion group. We also got to see a turtle. They sure were fast in water.

We eventually ended up covered in sunburn, but everything was just completely worth it. Memories like these brings gratitude in my heart, realizing there is a greater world outside our civilization.

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun." Psalm 19:1-4

Collab: AzuraChang, Part 1

You got your suit on, feeling like a king looking down on a pawn.

You and your office, on top of a palace,

sipping on wine, talking about "what's life?"

Man, life isn't a topic discussing with a straight face

it's of smiles and trials, tears to tears

it's about what's down here, cuz boy you are nowhere

think straight, find fate, live life and live love

Restlessness

알고 있어
하지만 포기할 수 없는 걸

Tigers, Ladies and Probabilities

In a reading assignment, I came across an interesting adaptation to a short story, and it goes like this:

The young man could open either door he pleased. If he opened the one, there came out of it a hungry tiger, the fiercest and most cruel that could be procured, which would immediately tear him to pieces. But if he opened the other door, there came forth from it a lady; the most suitable to his years and station that His majesty could select among this fair subjects. So I leave it to you, which door to open?

The first man refused to take the chance. He lived safe and died chaste.

The second man hired risk assessment consultants. He collected all the available data on lady and tiger populations. He brought in sophisticated technology to listen for growling and detect the faintest whiff of perfume. He completed checklists. He developed a utility function and assess his risk averseness. Finally, sensing that in a few more years he would be in no condition to enjoy the lady anyway, he opened the optimal door. And was eaten by a low probability tiger.

The third man took a course in tiger taming. He opened a door at random and was eaten by the lady.

Adaptation by William C. Clark, Original story by Frank Stockton

The original story is just as good. It's a bit long for a blog, so here is the link:

http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/LadyTige.shtml

Christos

감사와 겸손. 경건한 사람, 거룩한 신자. 계시에 따른 순종,

이어지는 고난의 시간. 기억나는 순간 그래서 기도하는 삶.

가슴 속 깊은 곳에서 외치는 세상을 향한 사랑.

Locked In

I visited the Youth Group lock-in couple nights ago. The seniors came earlier to make dinner for the rest of the students, maybe twenty some kids. After bowling and some games, I left to go home, while the students were to watch a movie before going to bed. Everyone seemed to have fun, so I left in good spirit.

On my way home, I thought about my past. My mother had asked that I go to the youth group in the Korean church she attended, since they were few in number. Being the foolish rebellious kid then, I had put up a bit of fight, but soon, I did as I was told.

The group got together every Friday night and learned about the Bible. Afterwards, they would hang out around the church. The group consisted of three other students and a teacher. It was not that there was a problem to the group. It was just that there were not a lot of Koreans around the neighborhood. Nonetheless, I felt like I deserved better. I had this notion that being small meant to be poor in quality. Even though I had great fun just being there, I stopped attending after several weeks.

God poured out such blessings, but I too often walked away from them. I especially felt my heart tug away at me when I thought about my teacher. She probably got nothing but stress from us, no appreciation whatsoever. I think it was from the gratitude for my teacher, for God, that I started attending youth group as a teacher myself. This group has nearly 30 students, and the church prepares appreciation meals every so often. God provides for me abundantly. How can I ever fall astray? Yet, oh, how I lack love. I guess this is the debt of love that we are to bear.

6 Years Old

He said I would remember this day for the rest of my life, and I have so far. It has been six years. I guess I’m still a child if you ask me, a child in a body of a growing man, new life in an old body.

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is the finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.” Acts 20:24

Happy Birthday; may I live with more patience in endurance.

“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Romans 6:4