All Things for Good

Lessons from Fridays

2011-12-16T11:09:00.000-08:00

Today is the last Friday I will ever experience in the normal Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm working world. It's the last Friday I will have in this cozy office of mine which I must start cleaning out soon. And it's the last Friday that can teach me lessons about... well... life.

Fridays are often looked upon with a lot of excitement and joy. Everyone wants to end a boisterously busy workweek to start a perfectly peaceful weekend. Offices everywhere have at least one person saying, "TGIF" to a co-worker at least once every Friday. At my work, I am that person.

I love Fridays. And even greater are the Friday Holidays I don't have to go to work (Cesar Chavez Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving-...I know you keep track too). But as much as I look forward to this day, the reality of it is that good old fun Friday will always come to an end... in 24 hours. Fun Fridays become Fleeting Fridays. And so before this Friday fleets away, I want to celebrate my last Friday by posting some lessons this day of the week taught me about life. So... here we go.

Lessons from Fridays
1) There are always good/better days ahead.
We've all had tough workweeks (if not, where do you work?!) - the kind that gets you tired, exhausted, and pondering why you even do what you do. But no matter how badly busy and seriously stressful it gets, there is a glimmer of hope that shines through your eyes (even if they are super small like mine) when you think about Friday. The thing about Friday is that even if you're having a bad Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, you know Friday is coming with promise of rest. Fridays never fail you - it has and will always show up. And so Fridays teach me that there are always good days ahead. Of course we have bad days and times of hardship and busyness... but trials will end, rest will be provided, and relaxing days are sure to come. It might take a while, but it always shows up. Fridays teach you that there are always better days ahead and that's surely something to keep you going and enduring.

2) Press the brakes and take some breaks.
Fridays teach me that it's okay to take breaks. You always have something to take care of, something to accomplish, somewhere to be, but you also need to press the brakes and take some breaks. Rest is not forbidden - it is allowed and encouraged. Breaks will refresh you and help you to be much more productive when you go back to tackle your work. Can you imagine how ineffective you would be if you worked every single day - 7 days a week? Take a break. Enjoy family and friends and take care of other things. Take a breather, enjoy what you have and the people around - it's okay.

3) Finish Strong.
The biggest temptation when I see the end nigh is to slow down, be slothful, and finish weak. But friends, you don't finish your week by finishing weak (I'm getting really punny around here). Fridays teach me to discipline myself to finish strong. Fridays are unique in that though it marks the beginning of much needed rest, it still contains 8 hours of work. So, just because it's Friday does not mean you get to rest. Don't press the brakes until it's time to take the breaks (punny punny). Finish your work strong - it'll make your time of rest feel much more deserved and you'll start it off feeling accomplished and able.

Well... there are more but I must do my last work meeting ever soon so we'll just end here. Working life Fridays - it has been a good two years. Thank you for all your lessons.

Lessons from Mondays

2011-12-12T09:07:00.000-08:00

Today is the last Monday I will ever experience in the normal Mon-Fri; 8am-5pm working world. It's the last Monday I have in this cozy office of mine which is like a 2nd home by now. And it's the last Monday that can teach me lessons about... well... life.

Mondays are often looked upon with a lot of grief and dread. No one wants to end a perfectly peaceful weekend (does that even exist?) to resume a boisterously busy workweek (definitely exists). But the reality of it is that good old mean Monday, with the exception of Holidays (Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day - ...I know you keep track too), will always come. And though sometimes I do dread the menace Mondays bring, I am thankful for the lessons that Mondays teach.

I've been journaling what Mondays have been teaching me about life and such and want to celebrate my last Monday by posting some of those lessons here on my entry-deprived blog. So... here we go.

Lessons from Mondays
1) You can't outrun your responsibilities.
I'm sure I'm not the only one who has thought on Friday: it's the end of the week and I'll just hold off on this one! I've done that a lot in my short 2 years of working here. But the first thing Mondays teach me every morning when I sit down on my office chair is that I cannot run away from my problems and my responsibilities. It's always waiting for me when I return.... I'm going to have to take care it eventually. So... take care of it. Or else it's like the tortoise and the hare story - you are the hare and your work is the tortoise (spoiler: the tortoise wins the race).

2) You have responsibilities.
Mondays teach me that I have things I need to take care of. That I do need to get up and get somewhere or accomplish some task. That though the weekend was a time of needed rest, I have duties, responsibilities, and actual things I'm entrusted to do. It reminds me to get to work and be active rather than to be slothful and lazy. I need that boost and reminder... or else I would be accomplishing very little. Rain or shine, you must still rise. For this lesson, I am thankful.

3) You must get enough sleep.
My brave friend used to say that 'Sleep is weakness entering the body. I'll sleep when I'm dead.' That same friend once stayed up for 3-4 days straight and then suddenly knocked out for a full 24 hours. He has never repeated his statement since.
Mondays are probably the most sleep-deprived day of the workweek because Sundays are the hardest days to discipline yourself to sleep. This is probably due to many reasons like late Friday nights, which lead to Saturday sleep-ins and Saturday sleep-lates, which lead to the post-church nap (I can't be the only post-church napper), which lead to not tired Sunday nights, which lead to the Sunday stay-ups which lead to tired Mondays. Tiresome Mondays are not fun, especially with much to do. So Mondays teach me the importance of sleep and to discipline myself to sleep. I need it and am dependent on it because I am a weak creature. Therefore I have to discipline myself to sleep because 'sleep is strength entering the body' so that I can face Mondays.

4) Coffee works magic.
Mondays teach me that you will fail Monday lesson #3 very often. But, not to worry, there is an alternative solution called, 'coffee.' Absolutely amazing. I will let a comic strip I made do the talking for me here.

5) Work is a Grace Gift.
Yes, in all honesty, sometimes I absolutely dread coming into work on Mondays. But I think the biggest thing Monday mornings teach me is to chill, take a breath, and realize what I have. Every single Monday (no matter how stressful or dreadful) reminds me that I have a job with which I can support myself, pay the bills, and even save. It reminds me that my employment is a privilege and a grace gift. I do not deserve it at all and I am absolutely thankful that I have it. I have an amazing office that I love (full-loaded with a sling-shot and stress target), amazing co-workers who are fun and hard-working, and an amazing sick/vacation time and benefits package. It has been a good 2 years. Work has truly been a privilege.

Well... Working life Mondays - it has been a good two years. Thank you for all your lessons.

If He does not exist, then Pity me

2011-09-22T19:00:00.000-07:00

.

I've been pondering the life of Paul as I study his dying words in the epistle of 2Timothy. I can't believe the adventures Paul has been through by the time he writes this letter - from Persecuting Pharisee to the Appointed Apostle, Paul's life has had its fill of hardships. And after recapping his 2Corinthians11 list of troublesome journeys, he is finally near his end... awaiting his execution in a jail.

And thus this is perhaps why I don't understand when people say, 'Believe in Jesus, because if He exists and is God then you are going to heaven. But, if He does not exist, at least you've lived a good life.' Ever heard that before? I'm sure I'm not the only one. All I can say to that with all my heart's passion is, 'No.'

At the end of Paul's life as he reflects as a lonely man in his cold uncomfortable prison, jailed for the gospel, he can confidently say that it was all worth it. He can reflect on his life and say, 2Tim4:7 - 'I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.' (Amen brother Paul). What you do not find him saying is, 'Well, when I die I'll go to heaven and if I don't, then at least I've lived a good life.'

Are you kidding me? That is the last thing Paul would say. I cannot imagine Paul even coming close to saying such a statement. I cannot imagine Paul saying - 'If Christ does not exist, if He did not rise from the dead, at least I've lived a good moral life.' To the contrary, what I do clearly remember him declaring is, 'If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.' (1 Cor 15:19).

If it was just about morals... if it's just about following Christ's teaching in this life, but He never died nor rose from the dead, then pity me beyond anyone else. I have lived my life for nothing and for no cause.

Christians cannot adopt the saying above ('if He does not exist at least we've lived a good life'). We cannot adopt it because it is not true and because it is not about morals. It is about Christ. This isn't some easy road we're all on. This is a road filled with hardships and persecutions (2Tim 3:12), of self-dying and self-sacrificing for the sake of Christ. This is a hard long-endured long-fought life where family members become persecutors, friends become foes, and giftings become 'a waste of talent'.

There is no option 2 for the true believer. Believe in Christ because He is God. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He did die for your sins. He did rise from the dead 3 days later. And He does work in you and cause your heart to repent and turn to Him. Believe because He is.

I'm sold out. The gospel is true. That's why I believe. If I am wrong - then for goodness sakes this was not the good life. There is no safe way out for me. If I am wrong - then pity me for I am of all people most to be pitied.

But save your pity... God's Word is never wrong.

State of the Blog/10 Things I've Been Learning

2011-08-31T12:00:00.000-07:00

My blog sits empty, but my journal stands full.

When I visited my parents a few months ago, I found my old journal from when I was a little kid. It was the funniest thing I ever read. I was an awesome kid. I'm glad I have these writings to read and remember - it brought back good memories that I have long-since forgotten.

That said, I started journaling a lot more, which has led to blogging a lot less. Going to try to update at least once a month, but priority will be on reading and journaling over blogging.

Here are a few snippets of what I've been learning in the past few months:
1) You can tell a lot about a person's character by the way they treat difficult people.
-my own character included in this.

2) Biographies are hands down the most encouraging and edifying books.
-Profoundly impacted by the life and testament of Jim Elliot in the book - Shadow of the Almighty.
-Also deeply spurred on by the character and words of Corrie ten Boom's dad (Casper ten Boom) in The Hiding Place.

3) Co-workers are funny and a blast to eat lunch with, talk with, and work with.
-They are a special bunch and I need to stop being so introverted at times.

4) Physical exercise helps me in my spiritual walk in terms of discipline, energy, mindset, and flesh-fighting.
-Shortage of time makes me not exercise. But taking the time to exercise makes me utilize the remaining time much more efficiently.
-It also feels good.

5) Ezra sets a great example for me. Ezra 7:10
-Study, do, and teach the word of God.

6) Sleep is amazing. Forfeit it at times when needed, but when you can, welcome it gladly.
-Yesterday, I literally crashed onto my bed and fell asleep as soon as I got home at like 7:45pm or so. I feel like a new person today. I feel amazing.

7) Watch what you say and don't complain. Phil 2:14-18.
-It is all a joy. And it is all a privilege.

8) Lead by example. 1 Cor 11:1.
-Yes.

9) Stand firm. Phil 1:27.
-Know what to stand firm for and stand firm for it.
-Be someone with conviction. People won't remember what convictions you said you felt. They will remember what convictions you lived out. They won't remember what truths you said you believed. They will remember what truths you manifested through your life. Live out the gospel and stand firm in it.

10) Rebuking is necessary. Psalm 141:4-5.
-I expect the same from my friends. Seriously.

Short Simple Book Reviews

2011-07-05T16:24:00.000-07:00

I now hold a dear precious Kindle as my own. I used to be anti-kindle... but after 4 days of usage, it has won me over. I recommend it with enthusiasm.

Well... here are some short, simple, to the point honest thoughts on the few books I read in the past few months. If you want an actual in-depth review of the content of the books - let me know and I'll be happy to tell you about it/borrow it.

1) Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor: The Life and Reflections of Tom Carson - D. A. Carson
Please read this. I've read biographies of many influential peoples' lives and been astounded by their extraordinary greatness and success. This was the first time I read a biography on a 'mere nobody'... and no biography has impacted me more. D.A. Carson does a great job portraying the life of his father in a genuine manner with stories of childhood, historical events, and journal entries. But what is so great about this book is that it shows the life of an ordinary pastor who has never been famous or well known (unlike his son, D.A. Carson). He is relatable because the heavy majority of people will be labeled among him as 'ordinary.' I was tempted at the end of the book to label Tom Carson as an 'Extraordinary Pastor.' He isn't ordinary! That was my reaction. But after I soaked everything in I realized that he was ordinary indeed. He was ordinary, but faithful. If there is anything to take away from this book, it is to be faithful. This book was refreshing, encouraging, eye-opening, and convicting. Even if you aren't in ministry, this book will give you a glimpse into the life of your pastor or quite simply the life of a Christian.

2) Humility: True Greatness - C. J. Mahaney
This is actually my 2nd time reading this book due to the nature of my.. well... pride. It's a short book and could be a quick read... but I took it slowly to reflect and think upon each chapter. And this time around I took the effort to apply some of the book's applications to my own life as I was convicted of my own pride and need for humility. It was convicting because it helped me see how great God is and how sinful I am.

3) Basics for Believers - D. A. Carson
I'll be honest - you probably won't buy this book. It's an exposition of Philippians. This was given to us at the start of my church's ministry class to help us preach through Philippians. It is short and simple. It was supposed to be some sort of commentary book we were going to use, but we stopped using it right away because our leader said it wasn't in-depth enough. But I read it and found myself very blessed by it. It is clear and simple exposition from D.A. Carson on the book of Philippians... and exposition of the word = blessings.

4) The Silver Chair (Narnia Series) - C.S. Lewis
Classic Narnia. Although... I have to say that I miss the original characters - Peter, Susan, and Lucy aren't in this one. Eustace (the annoying cousin from Voyage) is back with his friend and this is his adventure. As usual the quotes make great illustrations - "'You would not have called to me unless I had been calling to you,' said the Lion." I have to say... the books are all better than the movie series.

5) John MacArthur: Servant of the Word and Flock - Iain Murray
This is a great biography - and the first I read on someone who is still alive. I can't believe Iain Murray (he is a great writer) wrote a biography on MacArthur. This was a fun encouraging read as I got to see the life and ministry of the man who may go down in history as the greatest expository preacher of our generation. The book takes you through the early days of John MacArthur, how he decided to go into ministry, the early days of Grace to You, and such and such. What was most encouraging was that MacArthur had and still has no ambition for fame - he only wants to simply proclaim truthfully the word of God and hold to the promise that God blesses his word. He has a clear love and confidence for the word which is something desperately needed today. I was very encouraged and respect the man and his ministry much more now and I encourage you all to read it. For all who went to Resolved and are wondering if there is a chapter on his wife - Yes... there is... but only 2 sentences on how he got her.. the rest is on how godly she is. And yes - there are pictures in this book (although I wish there were a few more).

Let me know what you guys think about these books if you read them. Or if you have any suggestions for me to read. Or.. if you want to borrow 2, 3, or 5.

Reflections on Resolved

2011-07-01T08:53:00.000-07:00

I admire the speakers very much (as many of you know). I admire them because of their ministry and their zeal and passion for the word of God. I also love their work, whether it be their books, blogs, sermons, and what not. And so to have this opportunity for the second time to go to Resolved to hear and see these men live was a huge blessing to me.

I've met all of these men before and taken pictures with all of them with the exception of John MacArthur (he escapes me every time). Here are a few from this year:

In order: Rick Holland, Al Mohler, Phil Johnson, Bob Kauflin.

The biggest reflection I've had on Resolved was not in the sermons, but in the opportunities and blessings given me by God. I walked around before a session and looked around to see the thousands of people who were gathered at this conference. Shocking - filled with excitement for the word and for worship. I looked to the front and saw some of my heroes in front of me. I realized I had gotten a chance to meet them multiple times and taken pictures with them. I looked in my bag filled with books that have spurred me towards Christ - some of them signed by their authors. I thought of all the books I had at home and how I was blessed to own them...though many remained unread. I thought of the sermons I had heard at earlier sessions, then to the sound teaching I get to hear week after week at my own church. Then I looked before me and saw my Bible, the very word of God, in my hands. I remembered the 5 other Bibles I had at home. I stood amazed and awed at how much God had given me - so many opportunities and resources to know Him more.

I am a Christian who is blessed beyond what I deserve. I can say that alone about just the mere fact that God has saved me. But to have multiple copies of the word, to have books a-plenty that spur my thoughts of Christ, to have met my favorite authors/speakers, to have sound teaching, to have consistent life-examples in my own life, to have conference opportunities like Resolved... these are gracious gifts abounding from God. They are meant to drive me more towards him and I am thankful. I don't want to waste any of it. I have been given these resources so I can use them and know Him more.

What good is it if I just own these books, meet these examples, attend these conferences, and forget about it soon afterwards? No - I've been given this opportunity that few people than we realize receive - why would I waste it? I will not waste it.

Been reading, praying, reflecting much. It has been good.

Resolved: To use all God has blessed me with - the Word (especially), the books, the examples, the sermons, the church family, the conferences, and whatever else he sends my way - to know the giver of these gifts more.

I'm a Hero

2011-06-14T15:53:00.000-07:00

I saved many lives at work today.

This particular man, I saved about 10 times. I performed CPR, used the AED machine, and performed more CPR. Probably broke his rib cage... but 'injury is better than death.'

Then this particular man turned into a child. I saved the child's life like 8 times. Amazing what skills I possess to do all that in one day's work.

Then... I saved a baby's life. Many many times.

Wow. I'm amazing.

Under my leadership:
"You, call 911! You, get the first aid kit and bring me the AED!" You, with the iPhone, take a picture of me saving this child's life!"

I am now 1st Aid & CPR Certified thanks to work.

Now I can save lost lives and lost souls.

I'm a full on hero.

Just give me Jesus

2011-06-10T15:47:00.000-07:00

Aha.
World - you can take away everything from me.
Be it money.
Be it health.
Be it family.
Be it my own desires and my own wants.
Be it everything I hold dear to my heart. Everything.
But you can't take away Jesus.

I'm going to finish my race even if I have to crawl on all four limbs like a dog; yes, even if I have to stretch and squirm like a worm. Christ has already finished for me - He has already made me His own. Therefore, I will finish for the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus fully.

Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
Just give me Jesus.

A Gospel-Preached, Gospel-lived Life

2011-05-16T15:50:00.000-07:00

A couple years ago I read John Piper's entry on his father's death.
I highly encourage you to read it.

I was profoundly amazed at the kind of life his father had lived just by reading this one line:

(Context: Right after his father's death, John Piper is talking to a random young man sitting outside of his father's hospital room).
"Hello, my father just died. One of the greatest tributes I could pay to him is to ask you, Are you ready to meet God?"

Wow - I know nothing else about Bill Piper (Piper's dad), but I can tell you that if that's what would pay him greatest tribute, this was a man who loved the Lord and spent his life spreading, preaching, and living the gospel.

When I die, I want to have lived in such a way that John Piper describes of his dad. That the most honorable thing for someone to do after my death to pay tribute to me is to share the gospel. Amazing - a life that spurs people to Christ and even afterward in honor spurs others to share the glory of Christ.

A Minister's Preaching - Valley of Vision

2011-05-13T17:00:00.000-07:00

A Minister's Preaching - from Valley of Vision (Collection of Puritan Prayers)

My Master God,
I am desired to preach today,
but go weak and needy to my task;
Yet I long that people might be edified with divine truth,
that an honest testimony might be borne for thee;
Give me assistance in preaching and prayer,
with heart uplifted for grace and unction.
Present to my view things pertaining to my subject,
with fullness of matter and clarity of thought,
proper expressions, fluency, fervency,
a feeling sense of the things I preach,
and grace to apply them to men’s consciences.
Keep me conscious all the while of my defects,
and let me not gloat in pride over my performance.
Help me to offer a testimony for thyself,
and to leave sinners inexcusable in neglecting thy mercy.
Give me freedom to open the sorrows of thy people,
and set before them comforting considerations.
Attend with power the truth preached.
and awaken the attention of my slothful audience.
May thy people be refreshed, melted, convicted, comforted,
and help me to use the strongest arguments
drawn from Christ’s incarnation and sufferings,
that men might be made holy.
I myself need thy support, comfort, strength, holiness,
that I might be a pure channel of thy grace,
and be able to do something for thee;
Give me then refreshment among thy people,
and help me not to treat excellent matter in a defective way,
or bear a broken testimony to so worthy a redeemer,
or be harsh in treating of Christ’s death, its design and end,
from lack of warmth and fervency.
And keep me in tune with thee as I do this work.

Good morning, God.

2011-04-18T07:45:00.000-07:00

Cho Yim. Reporting for duty, Sir!
What will you have me do today?

Humility Learned from Journals

2011-04-10T16:35:00.000-07:00

It's funny reading my old journal entries and seeing how far along I've come. Every time I read it, I laugh and think - What were you thinking?! You were so young. O, you fool. - Of course I have some entries that display a growing sense of wisdom... but in light of what I know now, whenever I read my journals, I can clearly see that I have grown. That I was young back then, but thought I was old and wise.

One day in the future, I will read my journal from this month and think - What were you thinking?! You were so young. O, you fool!

So... I think I will just admit now that I am young. I am inexperienced. I lack wisdom at so many levels. And I need guidance and help - much help. I think I know a lot, but I know so little. I have so much more to learn and so much more to grow. I write my thoughts on this blog and in my personal journal about theological things I've studied or come to understand, but I am merely a child and there are plenty thousands out there who know it, understand it, and can explain it much better than me.

And so I will look to the older men in faith who have much more knowledge in terms of studies, experiences, and life wisdom. I will learn from them. And I am thankful for them. Their guidance and even humility in serving with me and my foolishness has been the most humbling thing to witness and experience.

For everyone who has invested into a sinner like me, thank you so very much. I am forever grateful - truly truly so - for your example, wisdom, knowledge, and investment. I value it very much.

I'm only 22 years old. I'm so young. I have so much more to learn and so much room to grow... so here I go, in humility.

God, who never lies, promised

2011-03-28T16:49:00.000-07:00

(Titus 1:1-2 ESV)
[1:1] Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, [2] in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began...

Two things to catch here:
1) God never lies
2) God (who never lies) promised

Let's just think about this for a few moments. God never lies! It is against his nature to do so. And this God, who never lies, also promised! Oh how much surer and truer eternal life is since this is so.

The very character of God is one of absolute truth. His holiness and perfection has no room for any lie. The smallest of lies is worth an eternity in hell facing the wrath of God. He never lies - in fact Hebrews 6:18 tells us that 'it is impossible for God to lie.' This is His character - part of who He is as God. And if he never lies, then we can take him at his word without ever questioning him.

Some of us are blessed to have friends who rarely lie (because we are all liars). They're proven themselves worthy to be believed; their yes' are yes and their no's are no (for the most part). When they say they will be there at a certain time or say they will get something done, you know they will. But we have a God who never lies. When He speaks, only truth comes forth.

And our God does not stop there. But to reassure us, our God, who never lies, PROMISED. When the trustworthy friend who rarely lies also promises something, you know for certain that he or she will come through. But when the perfect God, who never lies, promises something... then there is no denying whatsoever that the things He says are true! (Because there was no denying it even in the first place).

This is comforting and incredible is it not? Every promise God makes in the Bible is true. It is His word. He never lies and yet He gives us an oath/promise to reassure us and make our feeble human hearts even more certain of his word.

What a great God and what great promises we have received and look forward to receiving in full.

How We Are To Love God

2011-03-24T09:50:00.000-07:00

One of the greatest sermons I've ever listened to in my life was preached by Eric Chabaneix while I was at UCLA KCM. I remember sitting there engaged through the entire sermon as my heart was torn to pieces at my own sin, and then sewn up by Christ love and the cross. And it made me love God more. Every point in the sermon spoke to me and caused me to search my heart and consider my love for God. Love the Lord your God with your all. Hmmm. It's a message I think we all should hear - adapted from Jonathan Edward's Religious Affections....

And yes, this is the sermon many of the youth kids at the most recent baptism referenced. And since many people have been asking me for it, I've uploaded it onto the only place I know how to upload to. I think it allows only a few downloads per every 24 hours. And it only stays up for 21 days. So if anyone knows of a better place to upload sermon files, let me know.

How We Are To Love God - What The Love of God is NOT - Eric Chabaneix
(Wait 25 seconds, and then click "Regular Download")

Ministry Class

2011-02-24T23:02:00.000-08:00

There's a few things I've been learning as my church has been doing something called "Ministry Training Class." This 'class' consists of 7 of us young inexperienced non-seminary-trained Christians who have the opportunity to preach in Sojourners - our college group. It's an interesting concept... that 7 of us preach in a rotating cycle through the book of Philippians week after week.

I'm writing this because #7 of 7 just preached today and the cycle starts over again. I'm excited for what I've learned from watching everyone struggle through their text and their preaching. We all seem to have one struggle/worry in common, regardless of our lack of training and our lack of giftings (so it seems).

This common struggle/worry/goal is simply to expound the word of God. To be faithful to his Word. To not worry about "wow-factor" and "compliments," but to make his word known and trust His word to pierce through the division of heart and soul, of bone and marrow. It has been the utmost encouraging thing to see... because it is precisely the only thing that seems to pierce any Christian's heart - both the preacher's and the listener's.

How crazy the thought we hold God's word in our hands.... How awesome the thought we get to proclaim it.

More Book Reviews!

2010-12-17T12:58:00.000-08:00

Driving back home to Las Vegas in less than a day. I'm absolutely excited to see my family, friends, and home city again. There's nothing quite like winter in Las Vegas. Perfect. It's a stretch this year, but hoping for a little bit of snow in the city.

Well, I know I said in an earlier entry 2 months ago that my passion for writing was dwelling up again... but that lived out in writing papers for discipleship, messages, and personal journal studies. Thus, this blog has suffered. However... while I was not blogging, I was reading! So here are some more honest short book reviews. Let me know if you want to borrow any (except Narnia - it's not mine).

1) The Unquenchable Flame - Michael Reeves
Wow. I've always wanted to know more about church history and the protestant reformation and this was the best book to start that study. It was fast, exciting, encouraging, and informative. I really didn't want to stop reading - it was like reading a mini-biography of reformers and their work in every chapter. You can't help but feel their passion - their unquenchable flame - as they fought for biblical truth and the glory of God. For someone like me who didn't know too much beforehand, this book was simple, clear, and edifying.

2) Adopted for Life - Russell Moore
This was a blessing to read. What I loved about it was that it not only talked about adopting real children on earth, but our own adoption in God's family as well. Russell Moore writes as a father of two adopted children and you can easily see that he's thought about this subject very much. He's so clear, passionate, engaging, and funny... yet serious. The book is very gospel-driven, very well thought out, and very encouraging. It's full of stories and great truths that you do not want to miss. Don't pass this book up just because you're not considering adoption. This book is literally for everyone who has been adopted by God himself. There is great truth and application for both adopters and non-adopters that will really cause you to think and glory in God.

3) The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, & Voyage of the Dawn Treader - C.S. Lewis
Yes - I've only read 3 of the 7 books. I thought I would never read these, but one night I didn't feel like heavy books... I wanted a simple fun read... and thus my journey into Narnia began. And let me tell you - woohoo I went full on into the world of Narnia and it has been a joy! Originally I planned to only read the 1st book (The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe), but after book 1 I needed more. I desperately sought out the rest and found them through DJS and SL (thanks guys). Then after I read book 2 (Prince Caspian), I saw the movie trailer for Dawn Treader (book 3), so I quickly read it so I could watch the movie later. The allegories, the illustrations, the imagination - C.S. Lewis is brilliant. What a great allegory of Christ and the Christian life. I can't wait to read the rest!

4) The Supremacy of Christ in Preaching - John Piper
I'm very grateful for the work of John Piper and his biblical preaching. It has impacted me so greatly in my early college years. And so reading this book was of utmost excitement for me. And let me say - this book owned me. It absolutely owned me. I remember after reading the first half of the book (Part I - Why God should be Supreme in Preaching), I just sat there wondering at the awe of it all and praying in praise. I felt rebuked yet encouraged, weak yet strong, sorrowful yet joyful.... It helped me understand the role of God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit and the role of the preacher. And the 2nd half (Part II - How to make God Supreme in Preaching) was edifying, uplifting and practical. I know it may seem strange to read this if you're not going to be a preacher... but I think it's still a good read for all.

5) Lectures to my Students - Charles H. Spurgeon
A lot of people know that Spurgeon is one of my utmost favorite authors to read. He is arguably one of the best preachers ever to live - I mean, come on! - His nickname was "The Prince of Preachers." Now that's a title. And this very same preacher has a book on preaching! I think what astonishes me is Spurgeon's utter dependence on God to work through the message being preached. He has full confidence in the word (not in himself) and preaches expecting people to come to faith. I also love how it is not only about preaching, but about pastoring - how a pastor is called to holiness, to prayer, to love, etc. Sometimes he seems too harsh saying that if you don't have a loud voice and don't have good annunciation you're probably not called - but I think that's because Spurgeon was a pastor of a very large church in a time microphones did not exist. However, this book is full of practical and biblical wisdom and well worth your time if you're going into ministry. If not... please read Soul Winner by Spurgeon!

6) Look Out, World: Meaningful Quotes for Graduates - Tom Burns
This book... is a picture book with quotes. My mother bought this for fun and gave it to me at my graduation ceremony. I read it later that night - it was quite funny and had some good quotes. But save yourself the time - here are the 3 best quotes:
"The best angle from which to approach any problem is the try-angle."
"The difference between "try" and "triumph" is a little 'umph.'"
"If you don't have time to do it right, you must have time to do it over."

The Wonders of Coffee

2010-10-29T09:35:00.000-07:00

Coffee gives me the runs. And by runs, I mean diarrhea.

Knowing this, I stayed away from coffee and chose the nice alternative of green tea.

But at work when my favorite tea was gone and my only other option was our Starbucks Coffee Machine, I went for that option. And yes, I did get diarrhea.

I'm glad to report that I can now go through a cup of coffee without diarrhea. In fact, 1.5 cups of coffee without diarrhea!

What kept me coming back to the coffee? Well... let me spare you 1,000 words....

Sling Shot

2010-10-20T23:20:00.000-07:00

Aha! Finally - my passion to write is returning and I can feel it!

I think I'll try to write more than once a month now. This will be fun.

Random thought: I like telling stories. Here's a random one.

Today, as I awoke to a new wonderful morning, my initial thought was: Yes! The rain has probably washed my car! I kid you not, I was incredibly excited! So much so that I quickly proceeded to walk outside and admired the beauty of my rain-cleaned car... but as I approached the rear... to my utmost horror... my car had again been bird poop bombed! O, how these birds are true ninjas.... But... to their utmost horror, what they don't know is... I now have a slingshot!

Say hello to my stress killer at work.
It literally hangs in my office, ready for its master (that would be me) to call it to use.

The crumbled pieces of paper (aka: my mistakes) = ammo

Yes, I can hit the bulls-eye. (Disclaimer: I really can. It just takes me 50 times).

It's practice... for you Ninja Birds!
(Disclaimer: I am really not going to shoot the birds. Come on. That's plain stupidity....That would probably cause me to break my window)!

Sarah Yim: God's gift for 14 years

2010-09-10T13:48:00.000-07:00

When I was 8 years old, there was a certain day that I had the runs... the good old diarrhea. My friend, Allen, was over at my place hanging out with Young (my brother) and me. I had recently gotten a puppy - the cutest little creature you could imagine. And when you're cute 8 year olds, your attention is on the cute puppy. So in my happiness and joy as we were hanging out, I called over to her - "Sarah ~ Sarah ~ Come here ~" I was sitting down comfortably with my legs out, tapping the ground as she puppy ran towards me at puppy speed. And then the unthinkable happened... as soon as she got to me, she puppy bit my crotch area... causing me to yell in surprise. "AhhhhH!" At this moment, I proceeded to diarrhea my pants in front of my friend, Allen. And then I proceeded to laugh because there was nothing else I could do.

When she grew up, she still ran the same way she did as a puppy. And when I saw her run, I would always remember the diarrhea incident. It is such a fond funny memory to me.

Everyone, this is Sarah Yim. I always thought my brother chose the name, Sarah, because he had a crush on a girl named Sarah... but I guess it was because he thought it was a cool name in elementary school. I wanted to name her 'Bingo.' (Fitting for a vegas dog no)?! It was because I had watched the movie, Bingo, and wanted my dog to be just like the dog in the movie. Sarah exceeded Bingo in every way a dog could.

She knew 'Sit,' 'Shake,' 'Other hand.' She knew 'Fetch'... well... or it was a natural reaction of all dogs... that is until she got old and didn't fetch ANYTHING I ever wanted her to! And my brother kind of taught her, 'Stay.' But she never listened to me on that commandment... but I think it's because she couldn't resist being away from me.

Sometimes when I came home from college for breaks, she would be so excited to see me again after so long that she would pee as she jumped and jumped and wagged and wagged. I took the above picture because I thought it was so funny that she was peeing 'her pants... or concrete.' Yeah - that's right Sarah - payback for making me diarrhea my pants!

We fed her from a pink bowl in the shape of a heart. I once told her, "Like master like dog! The way to your heart is food, just like mine!" But I was wrong. She loved me regardless of the food. I remember sometimes we'd go on family vacations and ask a friend to come over and feed her while we're gone. But she wouldn't eat until we came back. If that doesn't prove me wrong, then I don't know what does.

I found out last night that Sarah has passed. The vet said there was no chance for her (she was sick and wasn't eating much for weeks). My dad had to let her go.

Thank you Sarah Yim, for your loyalty and friendship. Thank you for keeping all my secrets and for being able to brighten any sad day. I never thought dogs could smile, but you always did. Thank you Sarah, for loving me.

R.I.P. Sarah Yim - October 23, 1996 - September 9, 2010.

My brother's blog entry about this - he's always great at seeing God in the picture.

The World is Ending! A True Story + A Lesson Learned

2010-08-10T13:16:00.000-07:00

At the end of my 8th grade year during finals, one of my teachers let us know that she was retiring. And with urgency since she no longer cared about keeping her job proceeded to declare to us that Jesus was coming and handed every single one of us a big packet of proof that the end of the world was near. Her estimated time-frame: September 11, 2002. Of course, being at a public school with very few Christians - people thought she had gone mad... and well... even as a Christian you would think so as well.

I may have been the only person who took it seriously as she so desperately tried to explain the events to take place. And with the world trade center attacks fresh in my mind, I could not help but give her a chance. So I studied that packet and came to the conclusion that my 8th grade brain could in no way fully comprehend everything it said. But I did know Jesus would come back one day. (darn Left Behind series was getting to my head)!

When September 11, 2002 came, I remember being a little more aware and alert, spending a little more time in prayer and reading (I was very skeptical yet a bit scared). And when the day passed, I was excited that I was still around. And I felt like a fool for even believing a tiny inkling of what my teacher had said. I bet she felt much stupider than I did! My friends and I laughed as we recalled that what our teacher had warned us about had not come to pass. We joked about finding her and calling her to mock her prediction that never came to be. I was too ashamed to let them know that I had been slightly fooled into thinking it just might happen.

This past Sunday, Pastor Tavi asked what we would do if we knew Jesus was coming back in 24 hours. What would our last actions be?! What would your last actions be?!

Thinking upon my 8th grade experience and realizing that I never evangelized that day, my thoughts were... hmmm... I would evangelize! To my family and to my friends! I would read and pray much more. I would preach wherever I could preach! And I would eat another Ruth Chris' Cowboy Ribeye Steak.... But regardless of that steak thought, there was much urgency to do as much as I could for the kingdom before Christ came back in 24 hours.

When Martin Luther was asked this same question, he answered, "I would plant a tree and pay my taxes." Meaning this - I would live my last 24 hours exactly as if I'd live any other day - normally!

The fact is, Jesus IS coming back and we'll never know exactly when... we just know that He is. So why wait till the last 24 hours? If I love God and truly believe, then any last 24 hour time-frame in my life should reflect and give glory to God. An everyday for God's kingdom and glory! attitude should be normal. The gospel IS urgent no matter how much time is left! So here's to "planting trees" and "paying taxes" till He returns or calls me home.

God is Mighty To Save!

2010-07-16T09:52:00.001-07:00

God is mighty to save!
Let me say again - God is mighty to save!

I had the opportunity to preach through Matthew 9:9-13 (Matthew's conversion) for AACF Medium group - and later today for High School Branching Out at CCAC (my awesome church).

Having studied the passage and thinking upon Matthew's conversion, my conversion, and the conversion of countless others. After reading articles upon articles on North Korean and Chinese conversions and how God is working there - it is so clearly evident that God is mighty to save!

And He's mighty to save those whom you least expect to be saved. The ones who show no sign and no desire for the things of heaven! He's mighty to save the prostitute, the drunkard, the adulterer, the murderer even. And He's mighty to save the most hardcore of Atheists. He is mighty to save!

He is mighty to save that co-worker whom you think will never hear anything of Christ. He's mighty to save the student reading that newspaper as you walk around campus evangelizing. He's mighty to save the family member who is so opposed to your church going and Christ-loving. He is mighty to save that friend who seems to have the hardest of hearts against God. And He's mighty to save that small group member at church who seems to be so apathetic to all that the preacher says.

He's mighty to save the North Korean and the Chinese people who have never heard of Christ! He's mighty to save the Ugandan , the Japanese, the Nicaraguan, and the Indian in whom is seen not even a glimmer of light (for you KCM mission trainees).

I think that sometimes we forget that we preach the Word of God. And that this word of God is truly living and active! That it is truly sharper than any two-edged sword. That it really pierces to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerns the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12).

Goodness. God is mighty to save! I am not! God is!
Therefore - I will share with full confidence the gospel that God proclaimed. Forever.
Whether from the pulpit, or from personal chitter-chatter, or from my life (which will be the best sermon I ever preached). God is mighty to save!

Books! Reviews, Inbetweens, and Future Reads!

2010-07-11T00:32:00.000-07:00

I was so excited to read so many books - but I have been busier than I've expected and have not been able to read as much as I've liked to. So here are a list of books I've read, books I'm reading, and books I will read!

If you want an in-depth review of the content and not my short non-content review, let me know and I'll be happy to tell you about it. I'll let you borrow too (as long as you promise to return it)!

Books I've Read in the last School Year
1) Boy Meets Girl - Joshua Harris
Though I did not agree with everything in this book - I found it very wise and helpful. My apartment-mates call this book the Fail Book - lol. Maybe we all just failed to apply wisely - hahaha. I like the story telling version Joshua Harris puts out to get his points across along with lots of scripture and wisdom. Not a must-read but a fun-read wise read if you have time.

2) Crazy Love - Francis Chan
Though I did not think it was as great as everyone in the world made it out to be, I highly highly recommend it! Read Chapter 2. It rocked me. Read.

3) Heroes of Faith: Charles Spurgeon - J.C. Carlile
A very short biography on the life of Charles Spurgeon (my absolute favorite writer/pastor of all time). Though just a simple biography, this book stirred me more towards Christ and made me want to live a God-glorifying life. I know everyone will say - psh - read the Dallimore version of the Spurgeon biography! Well - I bought it and plan to! But if you are short on time, read this one.

4) Soul Winner - Charles Spurgeon
Spurgeon is the master of painting vivid pictures with his words. He has the best analogies and the best clarity of anyone I've ever read. This book on 'Soul Winning,' or leading sinners to the Savior is the best book I've ever read on evangelism... ever (and I've read quite a few). Why? Because it absolutely drives me to God. And that drives me to evangelize and be a 'soul winner.' This book absolutely rocked me. It has filled me with so much wisdom and helped me to see my faults in areas I needed to see them. It heavily uses the word of God (it is Spurgeon after all) which pierces my heart. It is, I'd say, the best Christian book I've ever read in my life. MUST READ.

5) Just Do Something - Kevin DeYoung
The best book I've read on the 'will of God' for your life. It is very practical, very true, and very short. It can easily be read in one sitting, but I found it very helpful to read it in a week. I think every single college Christian should read this book. High schoolers too - but it may be more helpful refreshing yourself with this book during college and especially during senior year. The best description of this book is on the cover: How to make a decision without dreams, visions, fleeces, impressions, open doors, random bible verses, casting lots, liver shivers, writing in the sky, etc. It is something so few people seem to know how to do today in a world where things seem to sometimes be overally spiritualized. I say - must read.

6) Same Kind of Different As Me
I can never ever see homeless people the same again. A true story about a rich white man, a homeless black man, a christian woman, and a God who orchestrated their lives together. Though theologically there are some points I would raise a fishy finger at, this story is amazing and it is clear the people in this autobiography love God. Written in an alternating chapter by chapter style by Ron Hall (the rich guy) and Denver Moore (the homeless guy), this book calls for a touching story with insight in the minds of the two characters whose lives are changed. The true story about the grace of God in the lives of Hall and Moore and the transforming effect of the love of God. Must read.

Books I've Started Reading and Need to Finish
1) Life of Pi - Yann Martel
Interesting fictional book on a boy named Pi who gets stuck in a lifeboat with a hyena, orangutan, zebra, and a 450-pound Bengal tiger. How can Pi survive?!
2) Valley of Vision - The Puritans
I LOVE the prayers in this book. I'm going to try to read and pray one of these a day.
3) Stuff Christians Like - Jonathan Acuff
Fun read with hilarious truth in it that pertains to things Christians do/like, lol. Surprisingly... some of the funny truths in it are a rebuke to me - a fun free time read.
4) Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life - Don Whitney
I've been reading this book for over a year! But If you apply the applications and hear the reasoning - this book contains much truth. Read the chapter on Evangelism.

Books to Read in the Summer
1) Adopted For Life - Russell Moore
2) Spiritual Leadership - Oswald Sanders
3) Prayer - John Bunyan

I'm keeping it rather reasonable because last summer I listed 10 items and miserably failed!

Have you read any of the books listed above? Agree/Disagree? Like/Dislike? Any recommendations?

Wake Up! (From my Personal Written Journal)

2010-06-28T15:07:00.000-07:00

I moved to the Valley and my commute to work is pretty crazy now considering the 405 freeway is one of the most congested freeways in the world. To make going to work easy and save much gas, I've decided to come to work 1.5 hours early every morning. That means waking up 2 hours earlier than usual! That means... 5:20am....

I was rereading my private journal and found an entry I wrote while I was still in school. It was an epic battle between mind and body to wake up to go to a class I considered useless to attend. Now I'm glad I went and glad I wrote this in my journal.

I normally don't share private journal entries... in fact this is the 1st time I'm doing so! But... Here it is!

11/17/09 - 1:45pm - Tuesday
~Discipline in Waking Up for the Glory of God~
. .Yesterday morning (Monday) was such a struggle to wake up. I was tired - mentally + physically. Everything in me wanted to go back to sleep, to rest. Talking and self-motivating myself, I got up and even got dressed. But, thinking about my 8am Military Science 21 class, I thought...
. .Useless, no attendance, pointless to go.
. .Then I thought of excuses - I feel sick! And the crazy part is that I convinced myself that I really was, though I was not! I made my decision to sleep in, told Jon, and went back on my bed.
But God did not let me sleep - no, instead He made me think - really Cho? You're just going to give up? That was your fight?!
. .And as I thought, I came to a realization that in the future - especially w/ministry - I will face days just like these, sometimes even worse, but I can't just not show up. I can't just give in and sleep. I need to discipline myself, RIGHT NOW. I need to practice and fight now so that when days harder than yesterday come, I will be prepared to get up and glorify God whenever I need to be - wherever I committed to be.
. .Honestly, there are days I will feel like not getting out of bed. Eyelids will be heavy, sometimes heart heavier, but may the glory of my God always be heaviest that I may get up, discipline myself, and fully rely on God for strength.
. .Discipline now Cho! So you never miss a sermon, a work day, a promise. Discipline yourself to godliness Cho. Discipline - for the glory of God!

The Elevator Theory-Truth

2010-06-22T15:56:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks I have been at training for work and I came upon a particularly interesting observation (I know, finally right?!).

I call this observation... the ELEVATOR THEORY.
Well... it was a theory until Jon Kang and Jacob Shin bashed on me saying that "Theories can't be proven." So just to spite them, I now call this...

the ELEVATOR TRUTH.

The Observation:
Quite sleepy after finally finishing training, I entered the elevator with a few fellow trainees as we departed on a particularly long elevator journey down from the 8th floor. We stopped on the 7th floor... then the 6th... then the 5th... then the 4th - by now I was grumpy and half asleep and starting to go into what many people call, "La-la land." When the elevator stopped and opened on the 3rd floor, I had somehow gotten to the middle of the elevator (I must have been sleep-walking or something). I lifted my eyes as the elevator doors parted like the Red Sea and... Low and Behold! A man and a woman stood in front of me. The man looked at the woman and said, "Please do go ahead in." The woman looked at the man and said, "no no, you go in first." The man lowered his hands towards the elevator and replied, "Ladies first." The woman looked at the man and said, "No no, please after you."

And they just kept going... I was in disbelief and gave them a blank stare. During my blank stare the elevator doors started closing like the Red Sea did on the Egyptians. The two looked up as the doors had shut more than halfway and both their faces expressed shock. Both of them tried to reach their arm in, but both were too late. Everyone in the elevator could not help but giggle... I could not help but laugh.

Ironic how if either the man or the woman went first, both would have not missed the elevator... but since both were waiting for the other, both missed the elevator!

So the elevator truth is pretty simple: ...sometimes, you just have to do something!

Be courteous... but act! Don't wait around for others all the time; if it needs to be done it needs to be done. Take a risk =]

*Also note... that sometimes an act of courtesy is to accept the act of courtesy being offered to you.

*I have been very busy the past month and a half, but I have many great entries to come - I will not fail you - trusttt

Black Eyed Peas

2010-05-11T11:25:00.000-07:00

Just kidding. ... Got'cha!

This entry has nothing to do with Black Eyed Peas.

It has to do with a black eye.

I have a black eye.

I watched in the mirror as my eye began to swell up more and more (it was my first time and I was fascinated). Sure enough on Sunday morning it was still a little swollen and starting to turn black.

Some people at work don't buy my basketball story - they think I am G and got into a fight. This is hella awesome because in 1 day I managed to go from the good guy to the bad guy. I never thought I could pull the bad guy image before.

To answer the never-ending flood of same questions by 230582 people, here are my answers.
Are you wearing make up?!: No - it is a black eye
Did you get into a fight?!: No - it was a basketball incident
Elbowed in basketball?!: No - forehead/eyes collided
Does it hurt?: Only if you touch it. Stay away.
Do you feel cool?: A little bit. But it's more embarrassing than cool.

I eat lunch everyday from 12-1pm - almost all the time at Northern Lights.
Please come eat with me - let me know you're free by doodling here!

India, the Beggar Child, Dendrite, and the Gospel

2010-05-06T10:08:00.000-07:00

(This is not the boy I speak of in this entry)

The dirty, homeless, orphaned or abandoned, scrawny beggar child looked into my eyes and smiled. And this time it wasn't the devious smile I had seen for the past hour as we waited for our train. I had just fended off his constant nagging, pulling, touching, and begging. He wanted food or rupees (India's currency) and this kid would not give up. For fun I had seen him chase after an injured pigeon and kick it as hard as he could into the train tracks. He laughed as hysterically as you could when you're a child who knows no better. But here he was, finally calm and having fun, loving the attention it seems he never received.

And there after the smile, he expressed to me using his hands to stay here and wait for him. He took off running freely as if the train station was his jungle. I watched as he started getting smaller and smaller. He was a professional at dodging the bigger adult bodies moving around in the train station.

I smiled and leaned back, resting and thinking about what had just happened. Finally after shutting myself off to the beggar children in fear that I could do nothing for them; after only bad experiences yelling at the kids to leave or getting my hand shook by a beggar child's left hand (you wipe your poo with your left hand in India) as revenge for not giving (you clever little rascal), I finally had a good experience. Moments before Brian Fury (Missions Leader) had said, "More than money or food, they just want to be loved. They are just like all the other children you know. They don't get to experience the love we got to."

Convicted, I dug in my bagpack, took out stationery I was going to write notes and thoughts on, and started making origami. I made origami balls, origami planes, and origami cranes. On each one I drew a comic strip of the gospel and talked to the kids with the little Hindi I knew (a man on a previous train taught me). "My name is Cho. What is your name? Hashee? Hi Hashee." I would point to the man on the cross and say, "This person's name is Jesus." Then I would act out the gospel as much as I could. I realized they were much more fascinated with the "toy" itself. And I soon realized that they probably never had toys in their life! That they have never even seen origami before. That the paper ball, or the paper plane, or paper crane was the only toy they've ever had and they treasured it deeply though it was just paper... it was just paper.... I wanted to bury the gospel into them as much as I possibly could. "What is this person's name?," I would ask as I pointed to the man on the cross. "Jesus" They would reply. But they didn't care as much as they cared about the paper plane. But that's okay - they were just kids and we had a heavy language barrier.

He came back with a small folded cloth and a tube of half-used dendrite. He gave a hearty smile and offered it to me. My heart stopped for a moment. Then it broke. I was in utter shock. Dendrite is a strong superglue. In India, beggar children get high off dendrite - it makes them feel full though they are actually starving. It is one of their most valued possessions because through it, for a few hours they escape the horrid pain and despair they are in. I couldn't believe he was offering it to me.

(I got this picture online, but this person has just sniffed Dendrite)

It threw me into prayer. And that's all I could do. Pray.

In that one moment I learned more theology than I ever had at one point in my life. More than any book by Spurgeon (my favorite), Thomas Watson, the Puritans, Piper, MacArthur, Mohler, DeYoung, Harris, Mahaney, or Grudem (and you all know I absolutely love their books). In that moment I learned what true theology was. Everything I had learned in the 4 months of KCM Missions training and my life's worth of Bible reading and book reading came to life.

This is for you mission trainees going out this summer -
All this KCM training, all this theology - this is what it's about.
It's about holding the orphaned children in India telling them that though no one seems to love them, Jesus does. It's about drawing them a cross saying, "Jesus saves!!" and desperately praying that one day they'll come across a church with a familiar cross on top, enter, and hear the gospel in their own language. It's about befriending college students in Japan, teaching them English, and praying and hoping that they'll truly believe the very book you're teaching them English through - the Bible! It's about doing physical labor in Nicaragua while exclaiming you do this joyfully because of Christ. It's about comforting the frightened man in Uganda who is afraid the witch doctors are going to send evil spirits to him, saying to him that Jesus the one true Lord and Savior of the world can protect him. That's what it's about.

We're going to feel limited in these countries, but let us say with Peter in Acts 3:6 - "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you."

And what we have is much greater than any monetary thing you can give. They'll never remember your $$ and donations - that's how they survive. You just become another passerby who gave them food or money. Give them something they've never experienced and cannot explain - something that captivates them and makes them wonder what we have - give them the love of God. Now that's something they will remember.

Back when I xangaed (old times) I wrote about it more with more pictures below.

http://chochacho.xanga.com/614933240/the-language-of-love---gods-love-entry-of-the-century/

Aborting the WRONG Baby

2010-04-26T21:43:00.001-07:00

Today's topic is a controversial one that creates tension amongst many people in society, including amongst Christians themselves. Yes - this topic is Abortion - the murder of babies.

That's my stance - abortion is the murder of babies.

I'm not writing this entry to spite people for having had one or believing it is perfectly okay. I'm writing this because a very interesting newsworthy thing happened in Sarasota, Florida.

A woman with twins had decided on a "selective termination" of one of her babies who was identified as having down syndrome. However, the doctor made a mistake and aborted the wrong baby. He had killed a perfectly healthy female baby rather than the 'defected' male baby carrying the markers of down syndrome. He lost his license for this and was involuntarily hospitalized because he said he planned suicide.

Any way you look at this - this abortion of the healthy baby was murder. The mother knows it, the hospital staff knows it, the doctor knows it, and above all God knows it. I guarantee that the mother in all aspects regrets her decision. I guarantee that the doctor is filled with guilt (thus wanting suicide). And I guarantee people reading this are angered that this doctor could make such a mistake. For goodness sakes it made me furious. It made the whole city furious - one can only be filled with anger and sadness when they hear and read this story about a healthy baby whose life was wrongly taken in the womb. It was supposed to be the other baby! BUT hold your thought. If a healthy baby's abortion is murder, then every abortion is murder! Are people today with down syndrome any less human than all of us? No. They are amazing people with personalities and gifts special and unique to them like all of us.

Many healthy babies are being aborted today along with babies with even slight signs of defects. The twin baby with signs of down syndrome was NOT the right baby. The healthy twin baby that was aborted was not alone the wrong baby. ALL babies are the wrong baby.

**If you read this and have had an abortion - Please know that there is forgiveness and grace in God through Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior who takes away the sins of the world, including abortion. May Christ minister to your soul and may the church provide love and care for you. If I may point to a past entry (a reminder for Christians who agree with me and words of hopeful comfort to those who need forgiveness).

*First read about this in Al Mohler's Blog

In the Big Inning, God

2010-04-23T13:25:00.000-07:00

note: I'm back. Blogging starts again. I have much to write and to share and I am excited. So here we go.

This past weekend, the college campus ministry with which I serve, KCM, held an all-campus KCM softball tournament. Now, KCM stands for Korean-American Campus Missions. You put a bunch of Koreans together for a competition and what you get is a handful of passion. I mean hard raw passion where everyone goes all out. This meant multiple times a week practices, softball gear purchases, and batting cages.

I didn't go to this year's tournament due to various reasons, but I remember last year I went all out. I bought NEW softball gloves - and I mean expensive ones. I bought NEW softball cleats. I bought NEW softballs. I bought NEW socks. We as a ministry bought NEW softball shirts and hats. I went to almost every practice and even went to batting cages on days practices were not scheduled. I gathered people to play catch and practice throwing. My schedule depended on when softball practices were.

At the tournament itself - every team is set on winning. They want to win - who doesn't?! Moments get filled with intense passion as games get close. People cheer and their entire hearts and facilities get involved in the game - GO BRUINS GO BRUINS! LA KCM! (cause we really are the best). And at the end of the last inning one team stands tall as the victor, the champion of the multi-campus KCM Softball Tournament. Done. Trophy in one hand, Glory in the other.

As a freshmen to now, a graduated senior, I often wondered ... what if... what if we trained that hard, not for softball... but for God. I mean, if I can get so passionately fired up for 1 day of softball games, I have to be able to get passionately fired up for an eternity with God. If I can train hours upon hours with discipline for softball, making time for it in the midst of my busy schedule and my studies and work, then why don't I do the same for God?! Am I REALLY too busy for God? Imagine - all of us reading the Bible together, memorizing scripture, and evangelizing, regularly! Yes I care about winning softball games and tournaments, but in light of winning souls - I'd much rather be a soul winner for Christ.

In that perspective I give UCLA KCM Softball a HUGE Congrats for taking 2nd place. A small congrats to our arch-nemesis USC for being the champions (take the small one cause I'm humbling my Bruin pride to say that). <~~obviously a joke - don't take it personally. And here's to all of us "practicing" for God. Let's do this. There was no "Big-Inning" in softball. In the "Big-Inning," GOD. He is before "Big Inning." And with him there will be no last inning.

*Stevo - i jacked your "Big Inning" = Beginning pun from the jubo for this entry.

Today a Great Savior Died

2010-04-02T17:40:00.000-07:00

You really didn't think I was going to write about a great teacher dying and then not talk about a great savior dying did ya?

Blog post to come after Good Friday Service today =]

Get ready for this one.

Today a Great Teacher Died

2010-03-31T23:00:00.000-07:00

Some of the most under-appreciated under-paid people are our teachers - our teachers throughout our adolescence - through middle school and especially high school. Today I just wanted to honor a man who was an amazing teacher - but one whom I have never had or met.

Jaime Escalante - an ordinary man who had a passion for teaching yes, but even more of a passion for his students, "turned the failing calculus program at Garfield High School in east Los Angeles into one of the top in the nation."
The story goes that he taught long consistent years at Garfield High fighting for change and wanting the students to learn math. He passionately taught and delved into the lives of his students, who he believed could be taught and could succeed in life even though everything in the world was telling them they could not. Through his amazing persistence and love - by being someone who actually cared - his teaching kicked off and soon Garfield High - the lowest of lowly high schools had an AP Calculus program though no one still thought much could be done. Pretty soon students were passing the Calculus AP tests and every year the number went up. In 1982, 18 of his students passed the AP Tests but the Education Testing Service found it fishy and so 12 of the students had to retake the test in individual rooms to show they can pass it again. They did. This man would tutor his students late into the night and drop them off to their parents in his mini-van - he was committed. He turned this no name school into one of the top in the nation for Calculus. He turned students who had no care or thought of succeeding in life into students who felt there could be a future for them other than the streets.
There was a GREAT movie about this 1982 class called - STAND AND DELIVER. It is a must watch.

We need more teachers like this. And for all the teachers in my life that have so brilliantly spurred me on and taught me - thank you.

CNN Article about his death here
Another article here

Thoughts of a Post Grad... on being Grounded

2010-03-10T10:49:00.000-08:00

After a 2 month+ hiatus, I am back! Thanks for the encouragements from all my blog readers. So here's a shout out to Ashley Chin - thanks for peeling my tangerine when I was prideful saying I could do it... and for some reason had difficulty doing so.... And here's a shout out to Leo - here's to getting started in blogging again! Alright - straight to the important stuff.

My short Post-Grad life has taught me a very important thing - that is - the Importance of being Grounded.
It is so easy to be swayed by the people who influence you - by leaders, pastors, and peers who claim and seem to know it all. It's easy to jump into a movement or belief that has momentum to it. It's easy to follow pastors, then a new pastor, then a new pastor - whatever they teach. So here's my plead - DON'T - at least not blindly. Don't be grounded in PEOPLE. People are flawed, they will leave, and they will not be a solid rock on which you stand. For goodness sakes I plead with all my readers to be grounded in the Word - on Christ the solid rock. And do that now - not after post-grad.

I love John Piper. I love his teaching. My profile picture is a picture I took with him. However - my trust is NOT in him. I do NOT agree with everything he says (although I do agree with the heavy majority of it). What I'm trying to say is this - Have your own beliefs! Not based on what people say, but on the Word. Have your own beliefs and stick to it - own what you know and defend the truth. When a new leader comes with new beliefs don't be swayed left and right - stand on some solid ground. Be grounded.

A Graduation Story

2009-12-27T02:10:00.000-08:00

This is the UCLA Seal on the floor of the entrance to Powell Library. It has much meaning and significance. I remember during orientation, they told us never to step on this seal. "Avoid it at all cost!" They said that every time you stepped on it, you would fail a midterm, final, and/or be held back an extra quarter. As a freshmen, I remember glaring at it thinking... better not step on that... ain't risking it... shoot! Of all the places to put that, they chose the middle of the entrance?!

Heh. So you think the story ends there? No way.

This is my foot on the UCLA Seal in Powell Library. Before every midterm, before every final, and before every study session in this library, I made sure of one thing - to come to this seal and step on it, stomp on it, and/or jump on it. I was resolved to show the seal who the real boss was - I was absolutely determined to step on it and still get the A, to stomp on it and still graduate in time. Graduating 2 quarters early with a Magna Cum Laude Latin Honors GPA, I would now like to take this time to declare something to my longtime archenemy, the seal - BOO-YA! VICTORY IS MINE!

After my last final, the first place I went to was Powell Library - I stood outside for a few seconds to admire the beauty of the building. Then I walked in, stopped, and smiled at the seal. The security guard started watching me. I pridefully walked on, stomped on, and jumped on the seal. The security guard thought I was hella weird, but I didn't care. And then I took the 2 pictures that I put up in this entry. The 2nd picture is off-centered because the security guard looked like he was starting to get up so I just boned out (haha). As I boarded the shuttle to go back to my apartment, there was only one song that I could play on my phone, on repeat, repeat, and repeat all the way till I got home - All the Way my Savior Leads Me.

It was a long yet short journey, and I persevered with diligence and I beat the seal, but I humbly acknowledge and admit... all the way my Savior led me. My Savior was my strength when I was strong and my strength when I was weak. When I wanted desperately to give up my Savior was my hope to endure. It was He who gave me the opportunity and experience to learn and grow this much at UCLA, and it is He who supplied the willpower, ability, strength, and all else for me to come this far. Thanks God! Yay for graduation. Onwards towards the rest of life!

Something to think about on Christmas

2009-12-25T16:58:00.001-08:00

"In the creation, man was made in God’s image; in the incarnation God was made in man’s image. . . . He took our flesh that He might take our sins, and so appease God’s wrath. . . . Christ’s taking our flesh was one of the lowest steps of His humiliation. For Christ to be made flesh was more humility than for the angels to be made worms. . . . He stripped Himself of the robes of His glory, and covered Himself with the rags of our humanity."

- Thomas Watson

(Taken from defendingcontending.com)

Merry Christmas Y'all.

Las Vegas vs Los Angeles

2009-11-28T16:56:00.000-08:00

I don't know where to call home... Las Vegas or Los Angeles! But I do know that there are pros and cons of each city!

Las Vegas - Pros
-Amazing great SMOOTH WIDE roads
-Free parking everywhere (except downtown... but who goes there?)
-Very clean China Town
-Best pho on the planet
-Best tea/snack places
-Best buffets
-New nice clean Korean market - with nice parking
-The strip
-AWESOME lights (especially during Christmas season)
-Opportunity Village's Magical Forest (Christmas season)
-Red Rock Canyon
-Lots of nice business parks/plazas
-Nice cold winters! (I love cold weather)
-$1 bowling after midnight
-$3.99 steak, eggs, toast, hash browns after midnight
-Everything's open late night

Las Vegas - Cons
-SIN City (lots of temptations)
-STATIC ELECTRICITY! I Average 10 shocks a day... amazing....
-CHAP lips, DRY skin
-HOT summers

Los Angeles - Pros
-Sports teams!
-Nice weather for the entire year
-K-Town
-UCLA
-Korean Food Heaven
-Mexican Food Heaven
-Beaches
-Jason Lee

Los Angeles - Cons
-No Parking/Bad Parking Situations
-Too much traffic
-Rough bad horrible roads

A Familar Voice

2009-11-11T19:57:00.001-08:00

Yesterday, after a long tiring day, I sat down in the shuttle bus that so faithfully takes me to my apartment - the good old Wilshire Express - Oh the comfort of consistencies. Exhausted, yet talking amongst some of my fine friends I received a phone call from an UCLA office number. Confused, I picked up to find someone saying something among the lines of...

This is UCLA Murphy Hall's administration - is this Cho Yim? Yes. We need you to come in to discuss your graduation requirements. It seems we may have missed something and we need to discuss your possible staying of one more quarter.

As you can imagine, I was pretty furious and outraged. My entire extremely well-thought out plan to graduate 2 quarters early... my set agenda to save $25,000+ of UCLA out-of-state tuition....

"You know that's going to cost me an extra $10,000+ ...right?! How did you guys mess up?! Where? Okay - when can I come in? I'm on the shuttle right now but I'm going to drive there as soon as I get back. I'm coming in right now so someone better be there." I was pretty much set and ready to beat down the entire system, show up, and pull a crazy. Anger, frustration, confusion, sadness, madness, and sin ran down my spine, all at the same time.

And then it hit me... or at least I thought it did. Hmm... a familiar voice... I sure hope its a familar voice. I thought harder and listened harder... and then I knew it - I recognized this voice! But I couldn't be sure... the situation was too drastic, the cost of being wrong too high. So I had to ask... "BILLY?! BILLY IS THAT YOU? THIS BETTER BE YOU BILLY!"

At the sound of his voice and his response I was so relieved. My burning heart cooled down, my anger seemed to quickly fade away. I had nothing left but relief... pure relief and a calming comfort.

Talking to Billy and even me looking back at it, we're both somewhat surprised that the prank went that far. I mean sure, Billy called from work with a UCLA #, but as one of my closest friends... I did not recognize his voice.... When the first sentence, the first word, the first utterance from his distinct voice should have caught my attention and given him away, it did not....
I sure hope that when God speaks to me I can recognize his voice right away. Because it seems to me that when you don't, it can lead to a whole lot of misunderstanding, trouble, and grief.

Dear God,
May I read, love, and study your word. May I soak in your presence, your fellowship, and your love. May I lay at your feet and bow to your throne. May I take in your grace and reflect your glory. May I know you more and more and more and more and more so that I never ever miss your voice. That out of all voices I hear, Yours would be the most familiar of them all - please don't ever let me miss your familiar, comforting, loving, true word.

Must Have CDs for Long Drives

2009-10-31T11:20:00.000-07:00

My List
E.N.D. (Energy Never Dies) - Black Eyed Peas
The Wicked Soundtrack - Wicked
Epic Movie Soundtracks - Including the Rocky Soundtrack!
Call Me Irresponsible - Michael Buble
It's Time - Michael Buble
Lion King Soundtrack - Disney
Sarah Chong's CD Mix

What's your list?

*How could I forget?! I added the infamous Sarah Chong Mix!

The Valley of Vision

2009-10-20T01:42:00.000-07:00

LORD, HIGH AND HOLY, MEEK AND LOWLY,
Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,
where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights;
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.

Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
and the deeper the wells the brighter thy stars shine;
Let me find thy light in my darkness,
thy life in my death,
thy joy in my sorrow,
thy grace in my sin,
thy riches in my poverty
thy glory in my valley.

Quarter-life Crisis

2009-10-14T00:56:00.000-07:00

Quarter-life crisis... who would have thought I'd be going through it?!

God is Sovereign... God is Sovereign... when one person said that to me, I brushed it off even though I knew it was true. So cliche. When a second person said that to me today, it hit me as comforting. So true!
Sometimes we need multiple reminders from multiple people.

God is Sovereign.
Its not cliche if its really true =]

Rest Stop

2009-09-25T10:58:00.000-07:00

Wow it's been crazy lately! So much going on, so much more left to do - hecticness for sureeeee. But I love what Pastor Danny told me about a week ago.

Sometimes you just gotta stop and ask yourself, How's your prayer life? How's your devotional and quiet time with God? And you gotta just remember the former times when you first became a Christian, and you had no responsibilities, no leadership roles, no logistics. All you had to do was read the word, pray, and soak in God's presence.

I can't wait till today is over so I can do just that - I'm rather super super excited! I relish those moments.

How does free will exist with predestination?

2009-07-18T17:04:00.000-07:00

Let's learn a lesson from a fish.

I have a beta fish (back in UCLA) in the care of one of my friends (thanks). I love that fish and his name is Ninja. The above picture is not Ninja, but close enough (Ninja is definitely more good looking). He has lots of fun hobbies and he loves practicing his free will. He chases after little bugs/gnats that happen to get into my room (its awesome to watch). He makes bubble nests with lots and lots of bubbles (sign of happiness... and wanting to mate). He takes rests at the bottom on the rocks and swims between whatever he wishes. He also watches me study and encourages me as I work late into the night. With all that said - Ninja has 100% free will, HOWEVER he is CONFINED to his TANK as a FISH. He does whatever he wishes, but whatever he wishes to do is restricted by the fact that he is a fish. This means he needs water to stay alive, and he needs to stay in his tank. He cannot free will himself to be human, or free will himself to be a dog, or free will himself to fly, but he has free will.

Thus it is with humans. We have free will but we are bounded by the fact that we are humans. We cannot free will ourselves to be God or to fly ourselves out to space (without spaceships). But you can drop a pencil right now if you want or write a blog entry (like me) if you want right now. However, you definitely cannot free will yourself to salvation. You cannot free will yourself to believe. Here's WHY.

Humans in our NATURAL state of free will would NEVER choose God. Psalm 14:2-3, Romans 3:10-12. God looks down from heaven to see if there are any who seek God, there is none - no not one. We know that in our free will bounded by the fact that we are human we would never ever choose God. John 6:44, John 6:65. As a Christian, I am so glad that this be true because I know I would have never chosen God - I would love to rebel as that is my nature. Then the beauty of God's grace is that He pierces through that boundary and gives us grace and draws us to Him that we may believe. YET, it is not that God FORCES us to believe. Far be it from that. He as God draws us and wills us to believe through His grace and majestic wonder.

Thomas Watson in All Things for Good puts it this way:
"It is a sweet call. God so calls as He allures; He does not force, but draw. The freedom of will is not taken away, but the stubbornness of it is conquered. 'Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power' (Psalm 110:3). After this call there are no more disputes, the soul readily obeys God's call: as when Christ called Zachaeus, he joyfully welcomed Him into his heart and house."

And this... is my attempt to explain how free will exists with predestination =] Thank you Ninja for the help.

Question

2009-07-10T01:29:00.000-07:00

Hello fellow readers! K, I REALLY need your participation on this. I am just curious and I want questions to study SO... please leave a comment with an answer to this...

If you could ask one question to God about God, what would you ask?

(Thanks in advance)!

~Cho

Can you love God TOO Much?

2009-07-02T12:03:00.000-07:00

I hate it when people say, "You love God too much. You love and read the Bible too much." If you've been told that, take heart! Do not listen to such foolishness. Here are some wise words from Thomas Watson (my favorite Puritan).

"You may over-love the creature. You may love wine too much, and silver too much; but you cannot love God too much. If it were possible to exceed, excess here were a virtue; but it is our sin that we cannot love God enough. 'How weak is thy heart!" (Ezek. 16:20).
-Thomas Watson in All Things for Good

Earthly Family/Heavenly Family

2009-06-28T19:17:00.000-07:00

If knowing Christ can break the bond of family connected by human blood (Matthew 10:36)
Then it sure as heck better unite the family connected by Christ blood (1 John 4:20-21)

William Tyndale

2009-06-25T00:17:00.000-07:00

William Tyndale's words after months in prison that would lead to his death.

"I beg your lordship, and that of the Lord Jesus, that if I am to remain here through the winter, you will request the commissary to have the kindness to send me, from the goods of mine which he has, a warmer cap; for I suffer greatly from cold in the head, and am afflicted by a perpetual catarrh (a respiratory infection), which is much increased in this cell; a warmer coat also, for this which I have is very thin; a piece of cloth too to patch my leggings. My overcoat is worn out; my shirts are also worn out. He has a woolen shirt, if he will be good enough to send it. I have also with him leggings of thicker cloth to put on above; he has also warmer night-caps. And I ask to be allowed to have a lamp in the evening; it is indeed wearisome sitting alone in the dark. But most of all I beg and beseech your clemency to be urgent with the commissary, that he will kindly permit me to have the Hebrew Bible, Hebrew grammar, and Hebrew dictionary, that I may pass the time in that study. In return may you obtain what you most desire, so only that it be for the salvation of your soul. But if any other decision has been taken concerning me, to be carried out before winter, I will be patient, abiding the will of God, to the glory of the grace of my Lord Jesus Christ: whose spirit (I pray) may ever direct your heart. Amen. W. Tindalus"

Wow.... "MOST of all" in that cold long suffering painful place, "I beg and beseech" a Hebrew Bible?! God's word is awesome. Thank you William Tyndale, for your example and passion for the Word of God.

Summer Lists

2009-06-18T00:10:00.000-07:00

Obviously, I have some MAJOR Writer's Block. Therefore... instead of writing, I've compiled a summer to do list while I'm back in Las Vegas this entire summer.

Summer To Do List (In no particular order)
1) Midnight Bowling @ the Orleans for $1 a game
2) After Midnight Steak & Eggs @ the Orleans for $4
3) Bellagio Water Show
4) Ice Skate
5) Mini-golf
6) Golf driving range
7) Basketball
8) Eat a Dinner Buffet at the Bellagio OR Wynn (for the price of lunch)
9) Mandalay Bay Shark Reef
10) Drive to Red Rock Canyon (I live close), Hike, and Star Gaze
11) Make a difference in someone's life
12) Find a summer job

Possibly To Do List
1) Watch The Lion King Live at the Mandalay Bay

Things Already Done
1) Eat a live shrimp
2) Eat a live lobster
3) Watch Dragonball -... don't do it... its pretty bad...

Summer Reading List
1) Finish the Bible
2) Finish All Things for Good - Thomas Watson
3) Finish Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life - Donald S. Whitney
4) Doctrine of Repentance - Thomas Watson
5) Soul Winner - Charles Spurgeon
6) Crazy Love - Francis Chan
7) The Sinfulness of Sin - Ralph Venning
8) Prayer - John Bunyun
9) The Bruised Reed - Richard Sibbes
10) Mere Christianity - C.S. Lewis

Shine like the Stars

2009-04-30T01:02:00.000-07:00

Exactly a week ago on Wednesday, I was lucky enough to go to a planetarium here on the UCLA campus. I was excited out of mind! Ever since I was a boy, it was something that caught my eyes. There were only a few stars to be seen in the Sin-City lights of Las Vegas where I grew up, but still you could always see some and that's what you could always count on.
At the planetarium, as we sat down in the dome shaped room with the dome shaped ceiling, the lights darkened as "the sun went down." We were shown the star-view of the Los Angeles night sky. I sat there in awe thinking, Beautiful!
Then the observatory lights slowly got darker and darker and more and more stars started to be revealed - a massive amount of them! Stars that I have never ever seen in real life appeared abundantly. Stars that I had seen were brighter than ever and some were twinkling like diamonds in the dark sky. Majestic! This is way crazier than the Los Angeles star sky I saw just moments ago!
How could I not give glory to God in this planetarium?! After seeing the amazing stars, how could I not give praise? The stars resonated with God's glory and it could not be hidden. And you know what's crazier?! It got more and more majestic as it got darker and darker and darker. At its darkest, it was the most gloriest.
"At the darkest of nights the stars shine brightest."

Christian, are you going through a tough time? Finals? Midterms (for all y'all UCLA folks)? Financial issues? Family? Relationships? Is your schedule so packed that you lose much sleep? Are you being persecuted for your faith? Injured? Depressed? Struggling with sin?
I could go on and on, and so could you. Life is tough and that's no lie. But I just wanted to say - Keep On Fighting. Don't Give Up. There is purpose in all things, even sufferings. Suffering WILL come. But be strong - when you're going through the toughest darkest of times, your life will glorify God and shine His light all the more. Like the stars shine brighter and brighter as it gets darker and darker, so your life will shine Christ brighter as you stick firm in your faith trusting in Him completely through your darkest times.
Are you ready, Christian? Get back up - now is the time to lead, to rejoice, to glorify. Now is the time to be such as the stars that so clearly shine and twinkle when nothing but blackness surrounds it. Get up. Christ is your Lord and He gives strength to the weary.

Don't Give Up! =]

2009-04-19T20:21:00.000-07:00

Life only gets tougher. As you get older and more mature, you get more responsibility. You get busier and busier. You think you're busy now?!! WhoA! What now?! Busier than you thought you would ever be huh? And it just keeps adding on!

I guess then we better suck it up and learn to deal with everything we have now. We gotta conquer and have a I CAN DO THIS! mentality. How you say?! In Christ! What joy you can have in such a busy schedule when your life is all about glorifying God. Who knew studying and working and having a packed schedule could be so glorious?!

Feel like giving up? Don't =] Get back up. Strive! Crawl if you have to! Finish the race to the end - Christ will guide you all the way.

For this is God,
Our God forever and ever;
He will be our guide
Even to death.
Psalm 49:14 (NKJV)

Dead week ? Nope! Grace Week!

2009-03-10T20:05:00.000-07:00

I wrote a sermon for seeker group on the sinfulness of sin. Spent my whole time in the Masters Seminary library (during Shepherd's conference) searching over scriptures just on sin and anything that could relate. So many! But I realized I only needed a couple passages - I only needed to focus on one sin - the fall. One sin is wickedly wicked. And we didn't stop at that one sin. We kept going and still do keep going.
In light of this, I glory even more so in Christ because only He can make one so evil such as I righteous before God. And because of the death I deserved, for the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), because of the eternal wrath of God I should receive, because of the pure evil of sin, I cannot call 10th week, "Dead Week," as the entire college does.
10th week I have a final group project, 2 final essays, 1 final quiz, and 1 final - all within 4 days. Yet, I cannot bring myself to call it dead week. I have to call it "Grace Week" because this is nothing close to the death I deserve. Oh how great grace is.
Today I turned in 35 pages worth of a final group project and a final essay. The final quiz is out of the way. I have one more 7 page essay and 1 final left. All of this with a broken left hand that is hard to type with. God is gracious. What a beautiful "Grace Week."

In Jesus' Name, Amen

2009-03-03T20:01:00.000-08:00

It is utterly astonishing to me the final words of a Christian prayer... "in Jesus' name, in Jesus' name I pray, amen."

Almost everyone prays. In fact, I think everyone does pray - even the atheist. But what gives the prayer power? Is there power in prayer? Or is there power in the one whom they/we pray to?

I remember Pastor Eric glanced over this once in one of his bible studies. He said something along the lines of, "There is no power in prayer. Rather, there is power in the one whom they pray to. In Christ. There is no power in faith. Yes, faith alone saves, but faith IN Christ. It saves because there is power in the one whom they have faith in. "

I've been thinking about this subject a lot and it has not left my mind ever since. I'm mainly just focusing on the prayer part of this. But it blows my mind that prayers can become sin (psalm 109:7) and an abomination to the Lord (proverbs 28:9). It amazes me that only one kind of prayer has true power - the prayers prayed to the one true living God. The one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5). I stand amazed whenever I pray now, whether by myself or in a group. As I'm about to end a prayer, my heart jumps and beats faster and faster in excitement and in anticipation, waiting for the words, "In Jesus' name I/we pray, amen."

Oh how I've forgotten how powerful prayer was. Oh how I've taken for granted those last words of Christian prayer after praying thousands upon thousands of prayers. May it never again become just a scripted ending to every prayer. Remember the power in that name, in His death and in His resurrection. All other prayers are useless and powerless cause there is no power behind whose name they pray in, but ours we pray in the name of the one true Mediator (capital M). Let us remember this.

In Jesus' most holy perfect glorious awesome magnificent powerful name I pray,
Amen.

Generalizations, Christianity, and Love

2009-02-09T00:54:00.000-08:00

In Christianity, you find that there are many generalized statements.
You hear ...

"Adultery is bad."
"Premarital sex and pregnancy is not to be done."
"Drugs are not good - it is a god - an idol."
"Abortion is murder."

To these statements I say, and the Bible says - absolutely 100% true.

These are Biblical principles, and there are many more, but hear me out, readers of my blog, Christian and NonChristians. - drug addicts, pregnant teenagers, those who judge, adulterers, sinners - now let us show you the love of Christ. Welcome to church. Welcome to the body of Christ. We were as such as these. We know that we have sinned, and still in the grace of God, sin and fall. We struggle with our sin. But find hope and find joy in Christ. These statements and these truths may scare you, but many of us have been there - whether Christian or not, let us show you love of Christ.

Christians, Church - Don't you dare judge the pregnant teenager who walks in. Don't you dare judge the drug addict, the gang member, the messy dressed homeless man. Don't you dare look at the couple who had an abortion and give them looks of disgust, or talk behind their backs. Show them instead the love of Christ. Minister to them. They need it. And you very well have needed it much before.

Here's a reminder lest we forget that...

Paul was a murderer. He killed and persecuted Christians.
David was an murderer and adulterer. He had so much blood on his hands that God did not let him build God's temple!
Moses killed an Egyptian and buried him in the sand. He was sent to exile for 40 years!

Yet God gave them His love. Christ died for such as these.
And such were some of you. BUT you were washed, BUT you were sanctified, BUT you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthains 6:11.

Help them see past the generalized statements. Let us show them the love of Christ. Let us take them in and help them glory in the awe and love and grace of God. Generalized statements, yes. BUT, Let us love, church, let us love.

God-given Righteousness

2009-01-24T11:26:00.000-08:00

Charles Spurgeon is a bible gangster. I love this preacher.

I wanted to write about my new found God-given determination in everything I do. But I woke up this morning and started reading out loud an entire Charles Spurgeon sermon. And something he said/wrote shocked me - it hit me hard. He said this...

"Oh, to think that such an One as Jesus should be our Savior, that Heaven’s Darling should condescend to assume our nature and become bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh! That He should live such a life and die such a death! That He should present to God a work so perfect, without flaw, without excess! Is there not room for praises here? Now we are as clean before the Lord because we have been washed in Christ’s blood, yes, we are as pure as if we had never sinned! And standing arrayed in Christ’s righteousness, we are more righteous, even, than Adam before the Fall, for he had only a human righteousness, but we have a Divine righteousness. In Christ Jesus, the second Adam, we are nearer to God than if we had been born of the first Adam while untainted by sin!
-Charles Spurgeon - 09.03.1876 - "Good News for Seekers" - Psalm 22:26

I can't believe the righteousness I have through Christ Jesus, and Him alone. I can't believe its power, its magnificence, and its glory. A divine righteousness rather than a human righteousness. Thank you God. It never hit me what kind of righteousness I was given until now. And to think before that Adam's righteousness before sin was at par with my God-provided one. Ha - what foolishness; what grace... simply amazing.

Tick Tock NonResolution

2009-01-01T12:16:00.000-08:00

...tick... tock... tick... tock...
The familiar noise of the clock vibrates through my ears and catches my attention. Awake earlier than usual after a time of prayer - finally - prayer - I look up and gaze upon the shiny clock my family has in the living room next to the TV. I watch as the second-hand ticks away, second by second, tick by tock. Then comes a sudden realization that this sight is horrid to my eyes. Every second, every tick, every tock - it will never be redeemed again.

I have no resolution for 2009. No - instead - I have this prayer and this meditation.

So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12.

I think that upon this verse and this meditation rests everything I would put as a resolution. I have to redeem the time, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16). Yes, it is true that every tick and every tock brings us closer to eternity with God in heaven (praise God), but for now we live in a world where time is limited - we are bounded by time. God alone knows the days of our lives.

Thus sayeth the Psalmist after being surrounded by his enemies
I shall not die, but live,
And declare the works of the LORD.
The LORD has chastened me severely,
But He has not given me over to death.
Psalm 118:17-18

I am alive today, in this new year, because God wills it. I have been chastened (disciplined) severely in 2008 - with extreme chickenpox on my 20th birthday, with the quarantine from school, hardcore flu, return of asthma, stolen credit card, and much more, but God has not given me over to death - not yet. Like the Psalmist who went through harsher things, I will live and declare the works of the LORD. Time is short yes, it is like a vapor in the wind - like a ticktock of a clock - so teach me to number my days, that I may gain a heart of wisdom.

All Christians Struggle

2008-12-30T01:17:00.000-08:00

I went from being in one of my highest state of spiritual faith and growth to a time of hardcore struggle in a very sudden and short time. It is a very humbling experience. It is also a great reminder that all Christians struggle.
Too many times in my pride have I said I am so strong in faith that I will never struggle badly! Too many times have I looked down on Christians who struggled with reading the word, with spending time in prayer. But here I am in the same boat as everyone I judged, and the boat has capsized. I am holding onto the overturned boat for dear life. My hands slip - they are wet - and the boat is slippery - but I struggle to stay afloat.
Yes, all Christians struggle. Even the best of the best - thus we are all humans who desperately need Jesus. But, the one comforting thing I know through God's promises in His word is that He will never let me go. He who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).
I think the best part of struggles and tribulations is that you learn endurance. And that means you always come out with more character. And character produces hope. And hope does not disappoint. =] (Romans 5).

Grades and Character

2008-12-03T01:09:00.000-08:00

Spring quarter 2008, my second year at UCLA, I my first Von Blum class. I had an opportunity to write an essay of my choice on any visual poster that took a stance for a controversial issue and defend my stance on it. The class was an extremely liberal one, with extremely liberal classmates, professors, and TAs. My desire, my passion, my fervor was in writing an essay that was anti-abortion. I did hours upon hours of research, watching videos, learning more and more while being filled with anger at the injustice of abortion. I started my paper on this topic; however, hours later, my mind wandered and remembered that my TA was a very liberal female who was very reputable in giving bad grades, especially if the stances were against the majority belief of the class. In fear, in cowardness, I scrapped the whole paper on abortion that I had already started and wrote a new whole paper on the need to preserve our environment. It was the most shameful "A" I have ever gotten in college.

Fall quarter 2008, my third Von Blum class (I had taken another one over the summer), I have the opportunity to write a paper almost as open-ended as the time I gave up the abortion essay. The class, Professor Von Blum, and all the TAs are still as liberal as ever, but this time, I will not give up my passion and fervor on the topic of abortion. I will not fear a grade - a simple letter - that 'apparently' tells of how one excelled in school, in college. The grade does not make the person; it does not show people who you are. It does not necessarily mean you are smart; it does not mean you excel. There are many wonderous things about people behind just their grades. Its a sad thing that scholarships do not view it as so.

I love people with character. I love people who are a piece of rock - they are solid, and the choices they make reflect it. Talent is a gift my friends, but character is always a choice. This time, my God-driven passion and hatred for abortion - the murder of the unborn - is going to produce an essay that is true and not modified to please the hearts of men. Thank goodness I have an opportunity to do this again. What a joyous essay this is going to be to write. What a sigh of relief.

*If you want to know know all the reasons why I am anti-abortion, do not fear to ask. I will tell you, gladly, and I will not be nazi-like to you. I will just tell you the truth.
www.abort73.com

Man of God

2008-12-01T00:43:00.000-08:00

Today's sermon on what it means to be a man of God was awesome.
Guns? My guns are from my Bible - the living word of God!

It should be up soon on
http://ccac.ws/tinc?key=6cMqkMzG

I'm still going to work out though.

Convictions from Church Today

2008-11-23T16:03:00.000-08:00

So I didn't many notes at church for whatever reason, but I was convicted of a couple things today. So, to make sure I do not forget these convictions, and to make sure I apply these things, I write this entry.

#1
You spend time with what you love. I love my webcam. I love facebook. I wish I loved God more. Instead of coming back from class everyday and instantly checking facebook, or instantly going to videochatting with friends when I'm bored, why can't I just dive into the Bible?! That is my conviction. I love God. I cannot love that whom I do not know. I know God through the Bible. It is His words. Man, that conviction hit hard. I freaking love God's word, but by what I spend my time with, exceedingly I love facebook and my webcam more.

#2
I am super prideful. Everyone thinks I'm super humble, but honestly I am the least of the humble. I am not leaving any room to be gentle in this issue because this one has to hit me hard, and people need to know so they can pray for me and kill my pride. Why else do I constantly check facebook for updates, or constantly leave webcam messages? This pride issue was no part of the Bible study today, but as I was reflecting upon why I spent so much more time on myself and checking comments and what not, it hit me and reminded me that I find more satisfaction in myself than in God. Heck, last night I rewatched Piper's Boasting Only in the Cross sermon before sleeping. I love that sermon. And it didn't even hit me till today during church. Oh my crazy pride.

#3
I AM ashamed of the gospel. So many times, especially when I'm eating with a lot of nonchristian friends, or my co-workers, I pray really subtle prayers. Not that this is bad, but the fact that I try to hide my prayers. How foolish of me. And yet, with Christian friends I'm the one gladly saying, 'I'll gladly pray!' I am ashamed, but oh how I love the gospel. I need to not be ashamed. I love it so dearly.

#4
You all need to settle on a good church where you can grow and serve! This conviction is for y'all readers if you don't have a church. After 2 years at a church ... I was so happy to be free and away and not committed to being a member of the church that I went on a church hopping spree for 3 months. I knew the first church I checked out, CCAC, was awesome, but my free spirited will wanted to explore all the churches and be free! But, thanks to awesome spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ, I settled at CCAC. Now I couldn't be more happier and more blessed. Even people in the community church that I don't even know are encouraging me through little subtle actions that they don't even know are encouraging. Find a church - stop church hopping - and get plugged in! Serve =]

God bless y'all.

Compromise

2008-11-06T15:41:00.000-08:00

I am amazed and appalled at how much Christians compromise in the world today. I can't stand it and I don't understand it.

One thing that people seem to compromise is God's standards... in order to reach out to more people. Hmm, something there sounds funny. Giving up God's standards to bring people to God? Compromising God to bring people to God? When did salvation become of the preacher, of the evangelist, or the man? Salvation has been, is, and will always be "of the LORD." (Psalm 3:8 and countless other Bible verses). You don't compromise God for numbers. You don't say, "gay marriage and gay pastors" are okay so that you can have more "christians" among you to count in your numbers.

I got "rebuked" by a nonbeliever yesterday while evangelizing, saying that we should focus on the method of evangelism. That the success rate for us should be at least 50%, and if not, we are doing something wrong and need to change something. Other Christians and churches are receiving those numbers and those success rates. They are also the churches that say salvation is a short prayer, is attending church, is prosperity. They preach a reduced gospel that lacks truth. They deceive people; many in their congregation believe that they are saved, but are not! That drives me nuts. This is what compromise does. Man... since when was evangelism measured by success rates and numbers?! Since when has evangelism become methods methods methods - the smallest amount of truth to reach the biggest amount of people?

Boy, I sure am glad that Salvation is of the LORD! I am glad that evangelism is not about numbers, but about glorifying God! If it weren't, I would focus on numbers and success and I would end up compromising truth. There is nothing I can do to will someone into grace. I am only the messenger. And as the messenger, I will tell TRUTH. The BIGGEST amount of TRUTH to the BIGGEST amount of people.

I can't believe I'm seeing so much compromise in "christianity" today. Argh. Stop compromising. You changing God does not bring people to God. Only God brings people to God. He first Loves. He first draws. Thank goodness for the examples of the Apostales who never compromised and preached only truth. Don't compromise! Chop at everything. If you keep chopping away, the ONLY thing that will STAND is ABSOLUTE TRUTH!

Thankful for an Awesome Church

2008-11-02T21:14:00.001-08:00

There is one thing I've been really thankful for in the past few weeks, and that is a solid church. I settled at Community Christian Alliance Church (CCAC) about 4-5 weeks ago and it has been an amazing blessing to me. These are a few reasons (out of many) that I love this church.

1) Solid Biblical Preaching
-Dang! The sermons are so awesome because they are based on scripture - and the word of God does not fail to convict me. These sermons humble me in light of God's glory. And the expository style makes me want to read my Bible more and examine the scriptures.

2) They preach Doctrine
-Most churches don't and if they do, a lot of is doctrine taught out of pride. They say doctrine builds your heart in pride. It then hardens your heart. Goodness gracious. Doctrine should not build your pride nor should it harden your heart. The more you know doctrine, the more you know God, and it should humble you and soften your heart! Doctrine and humility go hand in hand because as you realize the greatness of God and the greatness of your sin, you realize you are nothing. I love how they stress this.

3) Praise
-I love the praise here. I don't know what it is about praise, but I love the song choices, and I love the environment of the fellow congregation praising together in this church. It just draws me to worship God with all my heart. Today we sang the hymn - How Deep the Father's Love - my new favorite hymn.

4) Welcoming and Sincere Congregation
-Out of all the churches I've ever visited in my entire life, this church has been the easiest to make friends, find accountability partners, and associate with. It took one thursday night college bible study (Sojourners) to get to know many of them. And they open up so easily to everyone who is new! I love my church members. I love the peers, the young ones, and the older ones. They are so encouraging - even in light of their sufferings.

5) Easy to serve
-It is easy to serve at this church. People are always needed to serve here in simple and harder things - from picking up trash, moving tables, to Fun Factory (Holy-ween type thing at Korean Churches for Halloween). Also, serving opportunities on the bulletins and announcements!

6) Multi-ethnic Congregation
-It started out as a English speaking Chinese Church, but is very multi-ethnic. We have a white pastor who can speak chinese! We have a multi-ethnic group of pastors and members that I love seeing. I love how easy it will be to bring friends or nonbelievers to church with me (unlike before where I went to a Korean church).

7) Amazing Spiritual Growth
-I am finally growing in church as much as I have been growing in KCM. Never have I grown in faith like I have in KCM - especially not in churches. But here, I finally am! When I graduate, KCM will no longer be in the picture, but church will.

8) God-focused, God-centered, God-everything
-It is focused on God and not us! God is the supreme, not us. It preaches no prosperity gospel, it preaches no reduced message. It preaches God. And it welcomes the nonbeliever, and it reaches out to the community (like through Fun Factory) and rejoices when someone comes to accept or even take a step closer towards being found in salvation. Oh how I love a God-centered church.

Just had to share that blessing. I feel rejuvenated after every week. Refreshed in having been able to relax and enjoy the presence of God together with my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. If anyone is looking for a church - let me know. This is an awesome one. =]

My Dream Funeral

2008-10-26T15:02:00.001-07:00

When I die (not saying I'm dying soon - dear God I hope not soon!), I want a huge funeral. And this is what I want at my funeral.

I want everyone I've ever known, everyone who has ever been an acquaintance, friend, or enemy to come. Everyone who is Christian and everyone who is non-Christian, and anyone else who wants to come, come.

I want everyone to celebrate at my funeral. I will be with God! They better be celebrating! I know I sure will be. I'll be in so much indescribable joy - it'll be fantastic. And I'll be waiting for you, brothers and sisters in Christ - to worship God together!

I want the gospel preached. Not just some prosperity gospel, or a gospel that is reduced, but a gospel that tells the whole truth - the cursings and the blessings - I want to go with a bang! Even after I'm dead! May my death be a time of gathering the many people I've met throughout my life - from Korea, to Las Vegas, to California - so that they may hear the gospel. Man, this is one of the main reasons I can't wait till my funeral. To everyone I've failed to share the gospel with, please be there. Hear it, and I hope my life lived it. I want it preached in English, and then in Korean. Hear it family, please hear it. There are big circumstances that keep me from speaking to you.

At my funeral, I do NOT want people to remember me as someone who lived a "good life." I do not want to hear people say - "He's in heaven for sure! He did so many great deeds when he was here on earth." I want them to know that deeds do not get them to heaven. I want people to know that without God no one is good or righteous. That without God, no one is capable of living a good righteous life, especially me.
I do NOT want people to remember me as someone who had a "good heart." I want people to know that the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick (Jeremiah 17:9). I want them to know that I once had a very sick heart - a heart that was made of stone, that did not seek after God, but after my own selfish ambitions and pleasures. But, the Holy Spirit worked in me and pointed me straight to Jesus Christ and helped me understand that the Lord and Savior Christ died for my sins, and renewed my heart from stone to flesh. And that without Christ as their Lord and Savior, they cannot have a good heart. They are not a new creation. Their hearts condemn them to hell. Not in a message of hatred, not in a message of the pride, but in a message of love that pleads with them and urges them to Christ.
I DO want people to weep and mourn my death. But after the preaching of the gospel, I want them to mourn and weep in repentence, in the knowledge of their own sin, and in the knowledge of the story of salvation given to them by the grace of God. I want them to weep and cry out more than they cried about my death.

Everyone wants to be remembered. I do too. But I want Christ remembered more.

I've only been to one funeral, and it was a little baby girl's funeral. I don't know if babies go to heaven after death or not... and I may never know until the day I die, but here's what I know. I know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28). I remember visiting the family's parents at the UCLA Pediatrics ICU every chance I got. I remember thinking every week, 'I'm going to go there and encourage them today!' But nay, every time I went, I was the one encouraged; I was the one blown away by their faith. For the 4-5 weeks they were in the ICU and their baby was dying, they took the time to go around to the children, and the parents of other possibly dying children, and preached the gospel to them. They not only preached it to them, they lived it - by prayer, by comforting, by everything. And they lived the gospel to me. At her funeral, they had the gospel shared, and I loved hearing it. Christian - everytime you hear the gospel again, don't you love it all the more? Don't you want to cling onto God and weep at the love and grace showered upon you as you realize even yet how sinful you still are? NonChristian - every time you hear the gospel again, does it bring you slowly closer to realizing your own sins and trespasses against God? Do you not feel God tugging at your heart?

Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:25-26

Romans 8:28

2008-10-19T21:26:00.000-07:00

28. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

I love this verse. It helps me find joy in almost every circumstance. Or as Piper puts it in his "7 point Calvinsim" - the best of all possible outcomes!

Plus I'm reading Watson's 'All Things for Good' aka 'A Divine Cordial.'
His chapter on how God uses temptation for the good of those who love Him is sick!
Here are some quotes...

"Temptation sends the soul to prayer. The deer being shot with the dart, runs faster to the water. When Satan shoots his fiery darts at the soul, it then runs faster to the throne of grace"

"This is all the hurt the devil does. When he foils a saint by temptation, he cures him of his careless neglect; he makes him watch and pray more."

"There is a great deal of difference between falling into temptation, and running into temptation. The falling into a temptation shall work for good, not the running into it.

Anyway. I just thought it was time to update this blog for the first time ever. And I guess why not start with the verse that gave it its name?

God Bless Y'all!