Happy Birthday, Mom!

Happy birthday mom!

You have already given us more than we could ever ask for,

as the heritage of faith is all that is needed.

Thank you, and I love you.

Doors

“After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” Revelation 4:1

An interesting commentary on this verse highlighted the existence of a door. The door stood before man and God. It recognized that there is indeed a possibility of interaction between man and God, the world and the kingdom.

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Revelation 3:20

Seven Churches

To the Seven Churches

Ephesus – “Do the first works” Rev 2:5

Smyrna – “Do not be afraid” Rev 2:10

Pergamum – “Repent therefore” Rev 2:16

Thyatira – “Hold on” Rev 2:25

Sardis – “Wake up” Rev 3:2

Philadelphia – “Hold fast” Rev 3:11

Laodicea – “Be earnest” Rev 3:19

Beauty of Thee

Beauty too great, I am simply afraid

Beauty so vast, I am left aghast

Beauty far deep, I am baffled

Beauty, that is you

Still, my God

“Still, my God…”

The wonder of language, specifically words, words that are just normally used every day, is that they can be filled with all kinds of values and meanings, whole stories of universes if one wishes. Those three words held in consecutive order, “Still,” “my,” and “God,” can speak of all kinds of tales.

The subject is there, and it is about God. “God” is meant to signify the God of the Bible, Yahweh. The word “my” holds the story to be one of a personal story. It is meant to speak for what I have experienced. It could be felt by others, or it could be something completely foreign. Lastly, the word “still” holds the most spice to the story and it is one of which shows the most value. Though the word has several meanings, I do not mean the one where it defines motionlessness, but one that defines “nevertheless” and “all the same.”

Countless times have I failed in the eyes of the LORD. I have sinned and I have fallen. I often forget the magnificence of the Gospel, and I also seem to completely neglect God’s words altogether from time to time. Yet, God has always been there. Nevertheless, God has been there. Actually, God has been here, right alongside of me.  He has been in front, he has been supporting me from behind and he has been over and under my life.

He is all the same, despite what happens in my life, and I think it is soon time for me to stop calling it “my” life, and say “His life given.” 

Honest Thought of the Night

I always thought I would end up with you
Can you stop making more memories with him?
Let not my heart go to waste,
because I still think about you

Collab: ReClaim, Part 6

[GrasDeo]
Hands of time keep ticking away
at this seeming immobility, all that i say
is that the string of fate is but a twist away
for the power of prayer is of no match, nay
so whisper along, act with me, just pray

[ReClaim]
Just pray, I sometimes wish that things would be as easy as just pray. 
Just pray and things would be just okay.
like a magic wand, a genie in a bottle.
But when I pray, but a moment of a wholistic humiliation.
A fallin' on my knees in great despair and desperation.
I cry out to my father above, in heaven, 
I cry out my pain, but I hear no answer. 

[GrasDeo]

I hear, you hear, the voice is loud and clear

it never was easy, never will be sweet dear

have no fear, it probably wont last a year

ce la vie, look around, for your family's here

Coming Autumn

'ey yo, I got these emotions flyin'
fillin' the vast empty skies of autumn, leaves a fallin'
heaps of joys and merriment
extravagant, the adventures of great enlightenment
come along, come to me, oh so ever sweet
patience is my plea, my perfect year of jubilee

Unashamed Love - Ten Shekel Shirt

I remember back in college, when I used to help out with the high school ministry, the pastor at the time had sung this song with just a guitar. It especially came close to my heart, as I am someone who is constantly busy. God called out to lay aside all my worries, and find a place of peace, a time of joy, for Him only. 

I had wanted to share the song with friends here in Korea, but I couldn't find the translated lyrics to the song. 

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

This is my first attempt at translating a song, and I am sure I could do better, but nonetheless, here it is. 

You're calling me to lay aside the worries of my day
To quiet down my busy mind and find a hiding place
Worthy, You are worthy

I open up my heart and let my spirit worship Yours
I open up my mouth and let a song of praise come forth
Worthy, You are worthy

Of a childlike faith and of my honest praise
And of my unashamed love
Of a holy life and of my sacrifice
And of my unashamed love

하루의 근심 내려 놓게 주 나를 부르네
바쁜 맘 고요케 해 주 품으로 숨네
거룩 주는 거룩

내 영혼이 주를 찬양하게 내 마음을 여네
내 입 열어 찬양의 노래 흐르게 하네
거룩 주는 거룩

순결한 믿음과 진실된 찬양
부끄럼 없는 사랑
거룩한 삶과 헌신의 인생
부끄럼 없는 사랑

I'm still trying to find better words for "worthy" and "unashamed". Do make some suggestions!

Letting Him Go

Bear with me. This might me one of the longer ones.

Then say to him, "The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to say to you: Let me people go, so that they may worship me in the desert. But until now, you have not listened." Exodus 7:16

Quite possibly one of the most famous stories in the Bible is the story of Moses and the Israelites escaping Egypt. Thanks to Disney and the Prince of Egypt, most people should be quite familiar with the account of the ten deadly plagues. Other movies have been made with similar concepts, and frankly, stories of daring escape is an old friend in Hollywood. 

Talking more strictly in Biblical terms, however, the story is a bit more than just freeing God's people in the physical sense. Some biblical analysts say the ten plagues is a symbol for the gods of Egypt that have taken place in the hearts of His people.

Turning the Nile into blood was an act against Hapi, the Egyptian god of the Nile.
Frogs coming from the Nile was an act against Heket, Egyptian goddess of fertility, water and renewal (The god is portrayed as an anthropomorphic frog).
Lice from the dust of the earth was an act against Geb, Egyptian god of the earth.
Swarms of flies was an act against Khepri, the Egyptian god of creation, movement of the sun, rebirth (The god is portrayed as an anthropomorphic fly).
Death of the cattle and livestock was an act against Hathor, Egyptian goddess of love and protection (The god is portrayed as an anthropomorphic cow).
Ashes to boils was an act against Isis, Egyptian goddess of medicine and peace.
Fire and hail raining down was an act against Nut, Egyptian goddess of the sky.
Locusts storming Egypt was an act against Seth, Egyptian god of storms and disorder.
Darkness covering was an act against Ra, Egyptian god of sun.
Death of the firstborn was an act against Pharaoh, the "god" of Egypt. 

Now, as this post is labeled as Bible Comments, I thought I would share my account of these verses (The biblical knowledge was a patch-up from Google searching and this website: http://hubpages.com/hub/Ten-Plagues-For-Ten-Gods#). 

It has been a while since I have started attending school here. I have learned a lot, in the academic sense, the social sense as well as in the spiritual sense. Most of all, though, I learned of my basest, dirtiest self. I was selfish. I was childish. I was weak. I was naive. I was angry. I was senseless. I was proud. I was arrogant. I was all of it combined.

I had been holding myself back from meeting new people, meeting them in spirit, really opening myself up to them. I had been hurt by people, and I distanced myself from everyone, telling myself that I was better than them, so that I did not need them. The truth was, however, I was simply shying away, afraid to lose what comforts I had. I was the Pharaoh to my heart, my soul, that yearned to be with God. I wish to let His people go. I wish to soften my heart. I wish to let God take control yet again. I pray. 

말

“살아가면서 많은 말은 필요없다. 단 한 마디면 친밀함을 조성하기에 충분하다."

[비밀] - 폴 투르니에 

이기심

“결혼으로 이어질 수 없는 (또는 그럴 의사가 없는) 연애는 사람을 지나치게 이기적으로 만든다. 그렇기 때문에 지혜는 우리가 성공할 준비가 됐을 때 비로소 연애를 추구하라고 요구한다. 결혼이라는 분명한 목적이 있을 때 연애를 시작하라는 것이다. 관계에 대한 자신의 기대와 의도에 정직한 것은 상대방에게 최선을 행하는 길의 첫걸음이다.” 

[Yes 데이팅] – 조슈아 해리스

Why We Fight, Why We Pray

One popular TV mini-series released years earlier is the HBO special, Band of Brothers. It was especially talked about because Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg were the ones producing it. One of the episodes really came close to me, even to a guy who has never seen combat let alone gotten near any environment remotely close to the military. It was the last episode named “Why We Fight.” The premise was that the war was now over, and it was just time before the men were shipped back home. Without any work to do, many got in quarrels and troubles, and were bringing about disaster within the countries. Soon, however, scouts reported the existence of concentration camps, bringing purpose and gladness in the hearts of the soldiers. This was what they had fought for. This was why they were here, sacrificing their lives.

Christians are often paralleled with that of warriors and soldiers, ones of strict discipline and behavior. However, the attitudes of our lives sour quickly, discipline soon dwindles. We lose sight of why we are here by the mere dailies of our individual lives. We forget too easily our callings.

So, I ask again, why do we pray?

비전

비전을 잃은 건지 

방향을 잃은 건지 

눈이 어두워진 건지 

혹은 성숙하여 

그릇된 생각을 

내려 놓은 것인지