Grace Unplugged

"Grace Unplugged" didn't seem like it got really good reviews; but, I liked it.   It was fairly well made, the acting was pretty good, and the story line was not bad, though predictable.  There were some touching moments, like when father and daughter reconciled; or when Grace came back to her church to sing the song she wrote and to ask for forgiveness from those she hurt.  It was nice that they started and ended with the same worship song, but played differently, showing how both the father and daughter had changed in between.  The movie also sparked an interest in finding out more about the book "Own It - Discover your Faith in God" by Michael & Hayley DiMarco.   The publisher's description includes: "Without solid beliefs, poor choices are likely to follow. You must take the time to really know who you are, who you are becoming, and who God made you to be. It's your personal faith . . . own it!"

Chinese New Year '14

Looking forward to a good year, since the horse has long been one of my favorite animals.  In planning for Chinese New Year dinner, there were a few challenges, since it falls on a Friday; and it's most convenient to do grocery shopping on the weekends.  So, I had to plan for foods that were not to quickly perishable with ability to make-ahead since it will be a workday.  The menu I came up with includes:

• Dumpling soup - prepare the chicken broth during the week and use frozen dumplings
• Vermicelli w/Vegetables - use dried vermicelli and canned vegetables (e.g. baby corn, mushroom, bamboo shoot, mock abalone) and bok choy (which should last for the week)
• Lamb Stew - currently marinating the meet, and will slow cook it later in the week with daikon; and add dried bean curd sticks toward the end.   This can just be reheated in a clay pot right before serving
• Snow Peas w/Fish Fillets and Silken Tofu - The fish can be defrosted later in the week.  Hopefully, the snow peas will last
• Orange Chicken - Since this is frozen and packaged, it just needs to be baked that day
• Rice 
• Tapioca Bean Dessert - I wanted to serve a warm dessert; but, insisted that it be a Chinese dessert.  So, got this idea from dinner the other day.   

Tried making the Tapioca Bean dessert today; and learned a few things.   Firstly, most the recipes I found said to cook the mung beans and then drain; and also cook the tapioca then drain.  However, once the tapioca cooks, it seems hard to drain since it just becomes part of the water (maybe draining and rinsing helps get rid of the starch, similar to how it's done for pasta); Also, I assume a lot of the bean flavor and nutrients get into the water (much like pea soup).   Besides, it is a lot more work to cook in different pots.   But, one thing I did find was that milk makes a huge difference.   It really smooths the mixture and allows the tapioca to become more visible.  So, here's what I'm planning to do:  Soak the mung bean for 8 hours (it doesn't expand much); Soak the tapioca for 15 minutes (this expands to about twice the size).  Boil and simmer the beans until soft; mash it; then add tapioca and bring to boil and let sit till it reaches the right consistency; then re-heat and add coconut milk and sugar.  NOTE:  A half cup each of the mung bean and the tapioca pearls can be used to serve about 6

1-Feb:  The food for Chinese New Year dinner turned out well.  My parents, however, came only for 1 1/2 hours.  I do now have a lot of leftovers and do not really have to cook for the week.  I had modified the menu slightly.  Instead of dumpling soup, I opted for silken tofu and napa cabbage.  I felt that the tofu would be able to "soak" in the good flavor of the broth I had made during the week from soy-green onion chicken with lots of ginger.  The broth I made from the chicken with the Hawaiian rub was surprisingly less flavorful; but, the chicken was good with very light flavoring.  For the vermicelli dish, I decided to leave out the bamboo shoots.  For the lamb stew, I didn't add the beancurd sticks, since I didn't know whether it would be good cooking for so long (I ended up cooking the stew over the stovetop for 3 hours, then skimming the fat after it hardened overnight in the fridge; and then slow cooking it for another 8 hours in the crockpot till the meat and the daikon were really soft).   I used the tofu in the soup instead of the vegetable dish, so that it was only mixed with fish.  I may have baked the orange chicken a little too long, and it came out too hard.  For dessert, I also served an apple turnover pastry.  But, for the tapioca, I only used coconut milk (without the mung bean so that it would be smoother), and it was really good.  I did drain the tapioca in the small strainer; but, I did end up losing some of the tapioca that stuck onto the strainer.   However, the end result was definitely not as thick because some of the starch was able to be rinsed away.  And, then I just added the coconut milk and some regular milk to the tapioca, and added brown sugar.  So, there are some pros and cons to straining and rinsing the tapioca.  Either way, I would definitely make this dessert again.  Overall, for the dinner, the dishes were pretty healthy and tasted good.

6-Feb:  Following are some notes from having now made the Tapioca dessert a few times:

• Added some mangos and it did not work so well, especially when the fruit was not as sweet as the Tapioca
• Straining and rinsing the cooked tapioca is better for the warm dessert; but, if a thicker "pudding" is desired, then it is fine to leave the starch in.   Also, having the starch would work well for the summers, if freezing the dessert.  
• There may be "healthier" options by using some soy milk blends as well
• So far, the best is just the tapioca with coconut and regular milk.   Adding the mung bean makes it not as smooth but could work for the frozen dessert.  Have not tried the yams or taro yet.

Another Weekend

We're already a month into the new year and yet another weekend has gone by.  I just praise God that it has been a good year for me so far; and I pray that He may continue to guide and use me throughout the year.

Yesterday, I was able to step in and help with merchandise for Ross Jutsum.  In previous years, I had helped with other things as well, like the projection visuals.  It's nice to feel like I'm can be helpful and useful; and it was a nice surprise to receive the "Our Father Sings!" CD from Ross as a gift for helping out.  Actually, my favorite parts of his concert were when he had Pastor Terry, his friend of over 40 years, sing some of the songs he had written.   And also, when Ross just played the piano, like when he did the medley of "family favorites".

Class also went well; and I was pleased with the start to the Zechariah study.  There was good participation; and I'm adjusting to using the microphone, now that the class and the classroom have grown.

It was interesting that this week, I received the RZIM newsletter, and they had used the same passage from Isaiah 54:2 that my pastor preached on last week:
"Enlarge the place of your tent,
    stretch your tent curtains wide,
    do not hold back;
lengthen your cords,
    strengthen your stakes."
Whenever God repeats a message to me, it makes me stop and wonder what He is trying to tell me; and as I thought about it, the area that this would most apply to in my life is my class ministry.  It is certainly growing, and I even feel like it has grown larger than I'm comfortable with.  So, maybe God is telling me that I'm not supposed to get "comfortable"... and that I should continue to be prepared to be stretched, to strengthen my stakes growing deeping in the Word and in my relationship with the Lord, and to watch and see what amazing things He will do above and beyond what I can imagine.

There is still much that I need to do; and I'm still trying to work on my area of focus this year.   There are things on the back of my mind that are a little troublesome; but, I'm just praying and giving all of that to God; for, I do not know what to do nor what I could have done differently.  For example, yesterday at church, I felt prompted to invite this person I just met to come to class; but, for some reason, she seemed to get really defensive about it; and in response, I got really nervous.   I know I can learn to be a better communicator; but, I'm not sure why it just turned out so badly.   I just trust the Lord to do what He planned and to still use the situation; for, I was only trying to follow His prompting.  May He continue to teach me and mold me and use me.  Amen.

Truth Remains

What a privilege it was to be able to experience the Bible Exhibit at church.  It was put on by the organization Truth Remains (truthremains.org) whose mission is "to promote and proclaim God’s written Word, thereby stimulating greater love and devotion to the Incarnate Word, Jesus Christ, in His church".  It was so interesting and informative, not only to be presented with the history behind various Bibles and the people responsible for getting them translated and printed, but to also see the Bibles in person.  We were walked through the historical timeline:

• 3rd Century B.C - Greek
• 405 Latin
• 1454 Guttenberg Bible, Latin Vulgate
• 1517 Reformation
• 1522 Martin Luther
• 1526 Tyndale's NT English Bible
• 1535 Coverdale
• 1537 Matthew's Bible (Rogers - includes OT)
• 1560 Geneva Bible (John Calvin)
• 1568 Bishop's Bible
• 1611 King James Bible (brother of Mary Queen of Scots who became King of England after Elizabeth)

This instilled in me how precious and valuable it is to be able to have direct access to my own copy of the Bible.   Over the years, many have made sacrifices in order for this to come about.   Also, it enforced the validity of Scripture, that over all the years with the versions and translations available, they are consistent and accurate.

Long Weekend

It was nice to have a long weekend, even though I still had to work half the day on the MLK Holiday.  It was a full weekend.

In living out my area of focus so far this year, I've found that I started with my family, which is appropriate since it makes sense.  We've spent quite a bit of time together recently; and yesterday, we had a nice time at dinner.  I also had a chance to watch the second movie in the Hobbit Trilogy at the Bella Terra move theater with the nice stadium seating.   The movie was well-made; and I liked the characters and acting.  I especially liked the Tauriel she-elf character - she was a really good fighter and captain of the guard; but, she also showed a kind and caring side.   Of course, I liked the Thorin character, though, there was a time in the mountain when he was about to hurt Bilbo that made us wonder whether he really did have the greed that his ancestors reportedly exhibited.   The ending however left us hanging a little too much.  We knew there would be one more movie in the trilogy; and we can guess that the dragon Smaug will likely be killed by Bard, descendant of the Lord of Dale, with the last black arrow.  However, it would be nice if the movie had a little better closure.

It was also nice that I had a chance to take some items to the Salvation Army donation center.   It not only helps to clear some clutter but also gives me a good feeling that I am making a contribution to that organization.

At church, we celebrated and gave God glory for the provision of our now completed building.  With the addition of the new Multi-Purpose rooms, additional classrooms for children's ministry, riser extension area in the sanctuary, the building is not only beautiful but also functionally useful.  In my Pastor's message on "Enlarging the Tent" from Isaiah 54:1-3, he gave five applications:

• God can do miracles even when we face implausible circumstances (e.g. barren women giving birth); and we just just hold it up to God whenever we encounter "surprises"
• God calls us to be thankful and joyful even in times of "desolation"
• God causes His work to flourish in unexpected ways to unexpected levels - the growth is up to God, we just need to trust
• God counsels us to be ready for growth through Enlarging (i.e. stretch), Embarking (i.e. don't hold back), Embracing (i.e. look to new methods to "lengthen our cord"), and Entrenching (i.e. ensure our stakes go deep into the Word to withstand the "winds")
• God empowers His kingdom to spread, so be ready to be stretched

In the OT, they often built altars to sacrifice to God and give thanks.   We don't build altars of stone, but we can give offerings on the "altar" of our hearts.

In class, we concluded the Christmas Past, Present, and Future series.   We were encouraged to live out our faith by taking up our cross (i.e. dying to ourselves and living for Christ).  One passage that stood out was 1 Timothy 6 related to stewardship and keeping the proper perspective on "riches".

There were some things that some people said which encouraged me.  My Pastor said he was proud of me for leading a study in Zechariah, because it is not commonly done and because it has some challenges, like its references to end times.  Another person said he had a special place in his heart for me and looked forward to getting to know me better.

I also had a chance to do shopping over the holiday weekend.  I thank God for His provisions and allowing me to see His Hand in "divine intervention".   I was able to find what I was looking for on sale.  Then, I got a few pieces on clearance that are fun to wear - I already wore the boots and button down.  I also wore the Vera Wang blouse I had gotten previously, and it fit well and looked nice.  She really does know how to design well.

Restaurants

Had a chance to try a few restaurants recently and thought I'd make notes on some of them:

• Golden Star (9721 Bolsa in Westminster) - This restaurant was clean and was in a newer mall area.  There is even a section where they sell roast duck, pig, etc.   It is a Cantonese restaurant - the food was good and the prices were reasonable.   They also provided soup and dessert with the meal,which was nice.   The only thing was that there were no noodles on the menu; although there were a lot of hot pot dishes.  In that same mall, there is also a supermarket.  The vegetables and fruits were not very fresh looking; but, they had pretty good prices on some other things like dumplings.
• May's Kitchen (18323 Pioneer in Artesia) - This restaurant is a hole-in-the-wall.   The food and the prices were really good (there was a special when ordering 3 dishes).  However, my parents felt that dishes were too oily.
• Nayada Thai (11401 Carson in Lakewood) - This restaurant is nicely decorated and is clean.  It's prices are a little higher; but, the food is good.
• Loft Hawaiian (5950 Corporate in Cypress) - This restaurant was okay.  The food was pretty good, but prices were on the higher side.

Angel in the House

Watched a couple of movies with Ioan Gruffudd in it, the most recent being "Foster", also titled "Angel in the House".  "Foster" was a good movie.  It was nice to see the healing brought to the home through Eli, the "angel" character.   Eli was a really funny character, who convincing displayed the wisdom beyond his 7 years of age.  The movie even made a play on the names, with Samuel being the name of the son who died in the accident.  And it was neat that they mentioned in the movie that Samuel means Heard by God.

The other movie I watched was "The Adventurer:  The Curse of the Midas Box".   There are a lot of good actors in the movie; and it had a good storyline as well.  The ending definitely left it open for a sequel, for them to look for the missing parents.  The movie portrayed well how much the family members loved and cared about each other.

While neither of the movies were "astounding", but they were good family movies, well acted, with good quality.  I think that Ioan Gruffud shows character in the movies that he chooses to act in.  I first became a fan when I saw him in "King Arthur "and of course in "Amazing Grace".    I'm glad he was able to gain the fame he deserves when he was in the "Fantastic Four" movies.  He is an actor who, I think, can be proud of the movies that he has made and the work that he has done.

Death Comes to Pemberley

The BBC movie "Death Comes to Pemberley" is a good period romance and is enjoyable to watch, especially with its ties to the great Austen novel "Pride and Prejudice" though adapted from the novel by PD James.  The casting was good except for maybe the part of Elizabeth; and I have always been a fan of Matthew Goode.  However, it does not really come across as something that Jane Austen would've written.  Still, it was a well-made BBC movie with good acting and a good storyline.

To me, the most meaningful moment was when Darcy told his sister to marry for love and not to doubt the person they love; having learned from his own experience and mistake in judgment related to Colonel Fitzwilliam.  Also, I found myself cheering for the developing romance between Georgiana and Henry Alveston.  And, Lydia Wickham's character did a good job of blending being spoiled and selfish, but also loyal and fun-loving; while Matthew Goode played a convincing George Wickham with his mixture of charm, intelligence, but deceit.  One scene that stood out was when he was reprieved at the very last minute, after having almost just hung.  It makes us hope that this would be a life changing moment for him for the good.

16-Jan:  In keeping with the theme, I also watched "Austenland".   It was, of course, a totally different type of film, not intending to be a period movie.  It was also more of a romantic comedy and the storyline is not at a really high level of standard; but, it was still somewhat "cute" and funny.  They tried to make the romance between Jane and Henry play out like a take on Elizabeth and Darcy; and both characters were likeable.  This movie probably wouldn't win any awards, but it was okay to watch.

Zechariah 1

In terms of Historical timeline, we learn that Zechariah started prophesying two months after Haggai; during the time of the Persian empire under the reign of Darius in Oct/Nov 520BC.  He was mainly trying to motivate the exiles who returned to finish rebuilding the temple.   He was not only a prophet but also a priest.    His message to the people were to learn from the past, and not be like their ancestors who ignored the prophets and were exiled.

We are reminded not to repeat past mistakes; but also, to remember God's faithfulness.  We are not to pass up the opportunity to return to the LORD and restore our covenant relationship.  While Zechariah was motivating the people to finish rebuilding the temple, he didn't mention the temple in the first six verses; but rather, focused on their relationship with God.   This indicates what rebuilding the temple represents - that worship should be made a priority and it starts with repentance and our relationship with Him.

Zechariah is given a series of 8 visions, 2 of which are included in chapter 1:

• The first vision of the Man among the Myrtle Trees shows the pre-incarnate Christ interceding for God the Father to once again show mercy to Judah by ending the chastisement of the past 70 years of exile and captivity.  God responds with words of comfort, that the temple will be rebuilt and His people will grow and be prosperous; and also that the enemies will be punished for going too far with their mistreatment of their captives
• The second vision of the 4 Horns and Craftsmen further shows that the 4 conquering nations (horns) will be overthrown by 4 Craftsmen (each succeeding nation)

Both these visions can also have a long-term future fulfillment with Christ and His Millenial Reign, ultimately overthrowing and ruling over all nations.

Sharing

Just attended a webinar on "The Mesh:  Why the Future of Business is Sharing".  The presenter stated that there is a trend moving from full ownership to the idea of shared access.  Some examples are where there are data partnerships, so that a company will get a more full picture of their customer knowing where they have been and where they are going aside from their direct interaction.   In the technical world, the concept of sharing can be seen in OpenSource software and SAAS with the sharing of platforms.  The speaker ended with a quote saying that if we want to go fast, we go alone; but, if we want to go far, we go together.

It wasn't mentioned in the presentation, but Cloud services with the sharing of resources (utilizing what is not being used elsewhere and freeing it up when not in use) also fits in with the idea of sharing.  The practice makes sense in terms of efficiency.  In essence, it's almost like multi-tasking, utilizing all cycles we can at any given time doing other things when one thing doesn't require full attention.

However, this brings up new requirements in the area of security.   With "data partnerships" and sharing, it becomes more of a challenge to maintain privacy and restrict access where needed.

Also, this concept seems to fit well with the "personality" of our society.   As reflected in social networking, we are a culture that likes to "share" openly more than interact directly in private.  There are pros and cons.

Cooking

Most of the dishes this week will mainly be vegetables and fish.  I made:

• Fish Fillets - pan-fried bite-sized tilapia fish fillets, that were seasoned with salt, & pepper, with garlic, green onion, lime juice, ginger powder, and soy sauce.   I've made this before and is quite tasty
• Roasted Bell Peppers - oven roasted some red bell peppers with olive oil, onion, and cilantro with salt and pepper.  This turned out better than my usual with just green bell peppers alone
• Brussel Sprouts - pan-fried brussel sprouts with garlic, onion, salt, seasoned pepper, and herb powder.  The simplicity of the flavoring allowed the natural flavors of the vegetable to come out
• Fava Beans - heated fava beans in its liquid, added lime juice, salt, olive oil, parsley, onion, and garlic.  This will somewhat serve as a good protein when I'm not really having meat
• Crustless Mushroom Quiche - pan-fried mushroom in butter and onion; and beat eggs with half-and-half.  Filled pan with cheese, then layered with mushroom, and poured in the egg-milk mixture.  Then baked at 375deg for 25min.   This is another good option for quiche along with spinach; and is probably even healthier without the pie crust.

All of these dishes turned out fairly well; and I would probably make any one of them again.

21-Jan:  Over the weekend, I cooked another couple of dishes that turned out really well:

• Mediterranean Rice - Combined cooked garlic spinach, with rice, sun-dried tomatoes (soaked in boiling water, drained and cut), olives, oregano, salt, pepper, and chickpeas.   Served with feta cheese.   This was really good, and the "star" was definitely the sun-dried tomatoes.  While I used brown rice, this could be quite good with couscous as well.   The original recipe was a salad, so, I'm thinking that it was meant for uncooked spinach.   However, I find that this dish tastes better hot than cold (especially because of the rice).   It could be a good potluck dish, since it just needs to stay warm and doesn't have to be hot; and there isn't anything that really spoils (the cheese can be added right before serving)
• Jamaican Jerk Chicken - Marinated the chicken in Jamaican Jerk BBQ sauce.  Grilled on a cast iron pan, then finished in the oven.  This was a lot better than just baking it in the oven the whole time
• Radish Greens - In the past, I would just eat the radish part and throw the rest away; but, this time I cooked the radish greens.   They are bitter; and remind me a lot of the collard greens.   I still haven't found a really good way to cook them; but, it wasn't so bad with curry, thai sweet chili sauce, sugar, and fish sauce

Luke Conclusion

For the conclusion of the "Gospel According to Luke" series, we could see how Luke presented the life of Christ to us as if through a microscope where he focused closer and closer until we could see what was most important.   He started with Christ's Birth, Early Life, Baptism, Temptation, and Rejection at Nazareth; using only 4 chapters to cover the first ~30 years of Christ's life.   Then, another 5 chapters on 1 1/2 years of Public Ministry; another 10 chapters on the next 1 1/2 years of Teaching and Preparing His disciples for what is to come; and then 4 chapters on just the last week with the events leading to Christ's Death, Buriel, and Resurrection.  Then, 1 more chapter on the post-resurrection appearances.  This indicated that the primary focus was on what Christ came to earth for, to die on the cross for our sins and offer the way to salvation.  And this is also what the OT prophets were pointing to.

Looking through the Book of Luke for recurring themes and threads woven throughout; these can be summarized in ways we can apply to book to our lives through:

• Words (the Message) - The gospel message was clearly shown, the Kingdom was proclaimed, evidence was provided, fulfillment of prophecy was shown, techniques were given (e.g. parables or telling stories; answering questions with thought-provoking questions, etc), and the heart of Christ was shown in His seeking and saving that which is LOST (the rejoicing in heaven when the LOST is FOUND)
• Actions (Discipleship) - It was often emphasized that there is a COST to discipleship; and that we are to follow Christ's example in PRAYER, caring not just for the physical but also for the spiritual (i.e. the WHOLE person).  Also, the importance of faithful stewardship was emphasized as well as storing our treasures in heaven.  Apart from showing us how we can live our lives; we are also shown how NOT to live our lives through the warnings and rebuke given to the scribes, pharisees, and other religious leaders

Miscellaneous Thoughts

It was a busy weekend; but it was also a blessing for I saw God's Hand at work.

• Firstly, I found out on Thursday that I needed to prepare for class Bible Study lesson on Sunday, because the person who was scheduled to teach was not feeling well.   On top of that, it was not just an ordinary lesson; it was the conclusion for the "Gospel According to Luke" series.  Having only a couple of days to prepare for what normally would take me a week; it truly was God Who enabled it to be such a good lesson.   And I was blessed by the encouraging feedback I received.   One person said that he was motivated to once again go through the Book of Luke.  Another person who was new to the class said that she was amazed at how much we were able to glean from a relatively short passage.  One person said that he gained an insight that he had never seen before.  Praise God!
• I also ran the projector this weekend.   I was able to make some fixes that the pastor and the web person complimented me on, even saying that they wish they could "clone" me.   I was also concerned that my partner who runs the projector during the second Sunday service might not show up since he didn't acknowledge the PCO acceptance; but, he did.  So, it worked out with no need for anxiety.  Also, we now have access to the AV room (left index fingerprint)
• Then, all went well with the setup for the First Connection Luncheon
• And, everything worked out with the class potluck.   I was able to give the hosts the paper goods and utensils ahead of time.  Though I arrived late, I was able to bring orange chicken (from Sprouts) which turned out to be a popular and easy potluck dish to prepare.   I was able to bake it in the dish I brought it in; and the sauce was able to be warmed right in their packets.

Everything went well; and I just thank God for that.   Prior and even during the weekend, I had concerns about all the areas where things could "fall apart"; but, God answered may prayers and caused it all to work out.  And, at the end of it, I am encouraged, blessed, and joyful.

And, in the midst of all this, I was even able to catch most of the US Figure Skating Championships shown on TV.  Davis and White are such great champions; and it's neat that our ice dancing teams to be sent to the Olympics are our consistent top three.   I was impressed with both the gold medalists for the pairs as well as for the ladies, and am glad that they will be representing us in Sochi.  I'm also glad that Jeremy Abbott was able to pull it together and win; but, I am disappointed that Adam Rippon did not do as well as he is capable of.  Generally, we have a good team going to the Olympics, and I look forward to watching.

Puzzle

While putting together this puzzle that I'm working on, I realized that there are some life lessons that can be learned through analogy:

• For one, I've always enjoyed doing puzzles, so this is living out my intent to find the "joy in living" amidst my "hope of glory"
• Starting with forming the outside edge provides all the needed parameters and boundaries, and the straight edges are well defined - I see that as ensuring that I am clear on the absolute standards set by God's moral law, and my life is better defined within that
• When there are missing pieces and links, it is hard to see how it fits together; yet, once the piece is found, many others often fall right into place - so, it is a reminder to trust God, even when we don't see how all things will work out
• It is helpful to refer to the final picture - we have the "final picture" displayed in Scripture, and if we keep our eyes on that, we know that while all the individual pieces may not look like much; but, when put together will form a beautiful picture

8-Jan:  Finding the "joy in living" seems to be moving in the right direction, for I found myself more than once singing along with the radio this week.   There are add'l lessons I've also seen through putting this puzzle together:

• As more and more pieces are fit into the big picture, it becomes easier to see where the other remaining pieces should fit.   And some that I had not seen clearly before would fit in where I had not expected.   In life, as I progress along the path God is taking me, I do think that it becomes more clear how all the "parts" fit together according to God's Plan
• There were times that I was tempted to give up, especially when all the "easier" more identifiable sections were completed; and what was left was sky, water, or trees which don't seem so distinguishable from each other.  In life, if we continue even through the "mundane" less interesting parts, we can eventually build a beautiful "picture"
• As I work on section details, there are parts of the picture I hadn't noticed before; like an owl that was "hidden" in the tree.   In life, we might miss out on the precious details if we don't work on it or look for it
• Sometimes, I need to step back in order to see how beautiful the picture really is.   It's the same in life, when we are too involved with what's closely around us, we may miss the beauty of the "big picture"
• Pieces that are very oddly shaped or colored very uniquely are actually easier to find and fit into the puzzle.   So, in life, when I encounter something very different and even out of my comfort zone, I should remember that it may be a good thing and has the potential to be a unique and special part of my life
• Sometimes it just takes a change in perspective to help solve the puzzle, like working on a different section, going away and coming back, or even looking at it "upside down".   In life, we may need to find a different perspective sometimes, talking to others, taking a step away or back, etc
• Sometimes, the pieces cannot be put together by any reasoning of design or any really recognizable features; but, rather just by shape and color.  In life, we sometimes can't understand the reasoning, and may just need to let life "play itself out" before we can see how it fits in
• Sometimes it helps to re-organize (like putting together all like colors and shapes).   Later in life, it does help to re-organize; whereas, earlier there may have been to many pieces or parts to be able to efficiently re-organize

 When it is all done, it is nice to look at both the whole picture and that parts that made it up.  It's good to review all the "lessons learned" and to appreciate the artist who created the picture in the first place.   So, I praise God for the "picture" of my life and for putting it together has He has.

First Sunday '14

It's the first Sunday of 2014, and we're off to a pretty good start to the new year.

One of our assistant pastors preached on "How Sharp is this Sword?" from 2 Timothy 3:16,17, which reminded us that God's Word is 1) Inspired, 2) Inerrant, and 3) Authoritative.  Using the acrostic IMPACT, he gave a tool which can be used to give evidence that Scripture is Inspired:

• Impact - transforms people's lives
• Maturity - has been around for 3,000 years and is still relevant and going strong
• Prophecies - numerous prophecies have come true
• Accuracy - for all the areas the Bible addresses, it is always confirmed for all those that can be
• Consistency - 66 books written by 40 diff authors over 1500 years in 3 languages on over 100 topics, it is still unified and consistent
• Testimonials - the Bible calls itself the Word of God

He encouraged us to not lose the "take your breath away" wonder of God's Word and promises.  1 Peter 2:1-3 says we should crave pure spiritual milk (like a baby, it should be innate).  Is there anything getting in the way of our craving His Word?

In the message, I was also reminded that if we love God, we WANT to obey.  This was also enforced in the class lesson.   When the Word says that if we love God we obey His commandments, it's not so much that we should do it; but more so, that we desire to do it, to please HIM and to be like HIM.

After class, I had a chance to go to lunch with a couple that leads one of the other Sunday classes.   I was able to use a gift card I had to partially treat them to lunch (they insisted on paying the balance and the tip).  I'm trying to put into practice "Loving Others", but, it was a blessing to me.   If I ever get married, I would like my marriage to be like theirs.  They are such a loving caring and fun couple.

12-Jan:  In the continuation on the topic of God's Word, my Pastor preached on the Power of His Word, which are beyond our full comprehension and will never fail.  We can apply God's Word and promises to our lives by:

• Being dissatisfied with mediocrity
• Not trying to control our lives
• Surrendering completely to Jesus as Lord
• Believing His promises without reservation or retreat
• Fulfilling any conditions included in the promise
• Laving timing and manner of fulfillment to God

My Thorn Again

No matter what, the thorn when it pricks still hurts.   I may prepare for it, expect it, and know how it feels; but, I can't avoid the searing pain when it pierces the heart.  It is on the altar and His grace is sufficient for me; but, it doesn't stop me from feeling the heart-rending tearing pain.   And, it does not help to be going through this "loss" that I am starting to prepare for and adjust to.   It just makes me wonder anew, fueled by my doubts and insecurities.   I don't fully understand, but I trust in my Lord and God.   I can only hope that I continue to grow through this, that this helps me to be more compassionate and empathetic to those in pain, and that it will help me to draw near to HIM who supplies all my needs.  And I will continue to look to the Truths in His Word.

23-Feb:  It is interesting that a realization came to me today.   While I have felt that part of the reason that I am in my current circumstances is because I went along with expectations to become part of CCF.   Yet, when I thought of what really contributed to my being able to teach class at this time of my life, I attribute it mostly to what I learned and the experience I gained while serving as a Bible Study leader in CCF.  So, again, it enforces that God's Hand is in this, though it is my thorn.

5-May:  I learned that my thorn actually makes me vulnerable and susceptible to particular circumstances that I have to work extra hard to guard my heart and not let emotions cloud my eyes.  When I recently went thru disappointment again, I had to ponder why.  What I came up with is that I am now more aware of my "weaknesses".  But, I was also once again reassured that God continues to be with me, even with my thorn.  I was able to see first-hand what it looked like to get to know and interact with someone who has many of the qualities that I've been looking for - leadership, respect, communication, attention to and care for details, etc.   Also, being able to lead a study of the Bible and a discussion of our beliefs intelligently are very attractive qualities.  So, I was reminded that I really need to wait for these all important qualities and not to settle for anyone who does not have them.  Though it turns out that this person was not available and is not the right person for me, yet it was encouraging that he told me that I was not only smart but attractive, and paid me several compliments, showing that he was able to recognize the "treasure" in me.   I am disappointed; but, I still trust in the LORD for His Plan.  It's nice to know that I was able to connect with someone I respect and like.

30-May:  In my small group study, we had a lesson using 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 on the Thorn as one of the main passages.  A thought came to me during the study on Adversity, that those who have gone through the same adversity are in turn better able to comfort others; which reminded me that Christ is actually able to fully understand what I am going through with my thorn.

22-Jun:  God gave me encouragement at a time when I was feeling the pain of my thorn.  Just yesterday, one person from my class said that he's had conversations with others where my name would come up and people would say that they cannot believe that I'm still not married because I have so much to offer.  I also had a chance to meet his son.   It's nice to know that there are some nice single Christian guys out there.  Today, the mom of the person I had went on a blind date with actually stopped to ask me to pray for her son, that he will be led to the position of ministry that God calls him to.  It is good that I've been able to process through the blind date experience fully and am happy to be able to be praying for him.  But, it is interesting that him mom asked me to pray for him.   Then the widow of a pastor from my previous church actually came into my class today and asked if it was okay to bring a single guy that she knows to my class.  It's nice that there are people who would like to introduce me to others.

4-Jul:  I read an article today that talked about our "single identity baggage".   It's true that as we grow older, we accumulate more and more "bags".  We carry these bags around and hope that whoever we marry will like what's in our bags, and that we look at whether they have as many "bags" as us.  Another analogy used is being in an auction.  There are some who think they have more to "bid"; yet, end up single b/c they never try to bid.  The article concluded with a reminder not to rely too much on our "baggage" because our identity really should just be in Christ.

Devotions '14

I started using the "Life Principles Daily Bible" from Charles Stanley, and I really like it.  I'm just going to use this one resource this year; so that, hopefully, the quality of my quiet time would improve due to reducing the quantity of material.

To start off with, something from the Life Principles article for the January 1st reading, stood out since it was addressing my area of focus this year:  "But we cannot fully love one another until we have ourselves experienced the love of God."  In essence, obeying the greatest commandment enables us to obey the second.   So, what I learned last year, can apply to this year; in that, I can learn to love others more by following God's example of love for me as well.

6-Jan:  As I read Genesis 3:8, what a sad fact that our sin causes us to hide from the awesome and wonderful presence of the Lord.  And then, after the flood in Genesis 9:1, God gave Noah essentially the same command as Adam & Eve:  "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth"; which showed that this was truly a new start.  Sadly, man's sin nature manifested itself again in that very same chapter.  God is truly gracious and patient.

9-Jan:  As I was reading the story of Abram & Sarai, and the "mess" they made by pulling Hagar into the covenant that God had made with Abram; it reminded me that I am sometimes like that.   I may know what God has said; but, I might second-guess and wonder how He would fulfill it or maybe take the path that I can see how it might be fulfilled instead of trusting God to do what He said, even if it seems "impossible".

10-Jan:  Gen 18:14a "Is anything too difficult for the LORD?" clearly stood out in yesterday's devotional reading.   In fact, we've seen variations of this Truth throughout Scripture, like when God asked Moses "Is the LORD's arm too short?"; or when the angel told Mary "For nothing is impossible with God!"  God said it when Sarah laughed, not believing that she would be able to bear a child at her age; reminding me that I need to trust God in His promises and never forget that He is ABLE.

6-Feb:

• As Isaac was looking for a wife, Gen 24:63 says he went out to meditate, and when he lifted his eyes, he saw Rebekah riding on a camel.  I get the sense that when he was "meditating", he was spending time with God in prayer; and it makes me wonder if seeing Rebekah at that moment was a direct answer to prayer.  
• In Gen 29:35, when Leah gave birth, she said "This time I will praise the LORD" and named her son Judah, which means praise.   After trying to find happiness in her husband, her children, she finally looks to God and gives praise to HIM.   And interestingly, Judah is the one from whose line will be born the Messiah.
• In reading the story of Joseph in Genesis 41, we are reminded that we need to wait and trust in the LORD for His perfect timing and greater Plan; and that we can grow and be prepared, especially through dark times.
• In Exodus 5:22, when Moses said "O Lord, why have You brought harm to this people? Why did You ever send me?" was exactly the passage I was thinking of as I was going through a situation in which this applied.  It is just like God to bring me to this passage just a couple of days after the incident, to remind me that He is still at work even when we only see what appears to be our failings despite good intentions and obedience.  We just need to wait for Him to "finish the story"
• Exodus 13:17-19 contain several good reminders - we might sometimes be led into the "wilderness" because God is protecting us from something far worse, in essence letting us go through only what we can handle.  And Moses bringing the bones of Joseph out of Egypt showing Joseph's faith and assurance in God's promise of deliverance in bringing them back to the Promised Land.

9-Mar:  I read in devotions the Leviticus 10:1-2 passage from which John MacArthur undoubtedly got the title of his book "Strange Fire" from.  It was a really intriguing verses, where it was mentioned that Aaron's sons were consumed by fire from the Lord after they offered "strange fire" contrary to His commands.  From the context of the passage and what the book is about, it seems like a great title for the book.   I received it as a Christmas gift and am looking forward to reading it.

15-Apr:

• Exodus 32:15 shows that the LORD can "change His mind" through intercession, when Moses pleaded for God not to destroy the Israelites for their sin
• Exodus 36:1 talks about skillful persons "in whom the LORD has put skill and understanding to know how to perform all the work in the construction of the sanctuary".  This shows that not only are our spiritual gifts given by God; but also our natural gifts, and both can be used for His service
• Psalm 25:16-17 stood out, for these verses reflect a common cry of my heart:  "Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.  The troubles of my heart are enlarged; Bring me out of my distresses."
• Deut 9:3 is a good reminder that God goes before us and enables us:  "Know therefore today that it is the LORD your God who is crossing over before you as a consuming fire.  He will destroy them and He will subdue them before you, so that you may drive them out and destroy them quickly, just as the LORD has spoken to you."
• Deut 12:18 fits in with finding the "joy in living":  "You shall rejoice before the LORD your God in all your undertakings"
• Joshua 6 - The victory over Jericho was not about blowing the trumpets, marching around the wall, shouting, or any of the specific things that the Israelites did.   It was really all about OBEDIENCE.  God already gave them victory, they just need to OBEY.

18-Jun:

• 2 Sam 24:10 shows that a heart sensitive to the Spirit will be troubled when we sin, for King David was troubled after numbering the people, and then asked for forgiveness
• One application of the story of the healed blind man in John 9 is really beautiful - that though we may face difficulties and have people who criticize, we have the hope that God can be glorified in our circumstances.  And when we tell others what He has done in our lives, He will make us a great witness for Him!
• Similar to what God told Joshua, in 1 Kings 2:3, David encourages Solomon by reminding him that "success" comes from keeping God's commands
• 1 Kings 8:10 shows the presence of the LORD filling the Temple.  Today, He lives in hearts of believers, and when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are filled with His Presence which should naturally result in worship
• 1 Kings 13:1 refers to one prophet only as a "man of God", never giving his name.  Sometimes, we may be called to serve Him in quiet anonymity, but we can be assured that God knows our name and sees our service
• 1 Kings 19:2 is an example that great challenges often follow great victories.  Elijah had just had his great victory on Mt Carmel, and directly afterwards, his life is threatened by Jezebel, which fills him with fear and causes him to run and hide in depression. Yet God provides for him and reminds him of His gentle Presence; and then in 2 Kings 1:10, we see that after time alone with God, Elijah is re-energized and boldly speaks to King Ahaziah without fear
• In John 15:11, Jesus says that His joy may be in us and our joy may be made full when we keep His commandments and abide in His love.   Again, joy is linked to His presence, for we need to be abiding in Him; whereas, when we fail to keep His commandments, it hurts our relationship with Him

26-Jun:

• In 2 Kings 11:2, Satan tried to wipe out the Davidic line by using Queen Athaliah killing the royal offspring.  But, God protected Joash and hid him in the house of the LORD for six years.  This brings to mind that throughout history, Satan has also tried to destroy God's chosen people (e.g. during the time of Esther, the holocaust, etc)
• "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever"  (Psalm 73:26)  - The devotional used this verse to describe "burnout", and we are reminded that we can "return to the Flame and be rekindled".  Amen!
• In 2 Kings 19:19, King Hezekiah prayed for deliverance that "all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God".   God heard his prayer and struck the Assyrians in a mighty way.   What a reminder that "when we fight our battles on our knees, we win every time."

6-Jul:

• Typically, I don't find the genealogy passages in the Bible to be very interesting, but one verse in 1 Chron 7:24 stood out to me.  It talked about Sheerah "who built lower and upper Beth-horon, also Uzzen-sheerah."  Wow!  In that time period among this very patriarchal culture, a woman is credited with building a couple of cities.  There is not a lot of information on her, so there are not really any additional details.  It just encouraged me that God does use some exceptional women in special ways.
• In Psalm 77:4, Asaph said "You have held my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak."  This does bring to mind sleepless nights when something is troubling us deeply.  And the "solution" the Psalmist gave came in vs 11 "I shall remember the deeds of the LORD...I will meditate on all Your work....You are the God who works wonders".  This tells me that when we are troubled, we can focus on His Faithfulness and His ability to work wonders!
• In 1 Chron 13, after God struck down Uzza because he touched the ark, even in thinking to keep it from falling, vs 12a said that "David was afraid of God that day..."  It was a terrible circumstance, and David had even gotten angry about it.  But, out of the awful event, David was reminded to FEAR GOD, for He is Holy, that His commandments must be obeyed, and that He judges sin.  And it may be that this is what led David to be even more careful in vs 15:2 when he gave careful instructions regarding the ark.   We really must FEAR God, and remember that in His Holiness, He hates sin.
• In Acts 7:56, Stephen said he saw "the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God".  The note in the devotional Bible made an interesting point that I had never really seen before, that when Jesus ascended to heaven, He "sat down at the right hand of the throne of God"; yet here, He is "standing", possible to greet this first Christian martyr.   This demonstrates that Jesus is not just sitting and watching from heaven all that is going on with us; but, that He is actively involved and paying attention.
• 1 Chron 21:1 says "Then Satan stood up against Israel and moved David to number Israel."  This is a reminder that our Enemy, the Devil, does stand against us and is actively trying to tempt us to fall into sin.  In this case, he unfortunately succeeded with causing David to number Israel, thus incurring God's displeasure.
• The Acts 9 passage on the road to Damascus is an illustration of how God uses adversity to get our attention.   Saul received a "wake-up call" when Christ got his attention on that road, and his life changed forever!
• 1 Chron 29:9 "Then the people rejoiced because they had offered willingly, for they made their offering to the LORD with a whole heart..." supports what God has reminded me of this past couple of months, that giving to God is a privilege and it brings us joy to be able to give back to Him, what He has first given to us.

19-Jul:

• 2 Chron 13:18b "The sons of Judah conquered because they trusted in the LORD the God of their fathers" & 2 Chron 14:7b "'The land is still ours because we have sought the LORD our God; we have sought Him and He has given us rest on every side.' So they built and prospered"- Throughout Scripture, we see how God blesses and delivers those who trust in Him!
• 2 Chron 15:4 "But in their distress they turned to the LORD God of Israel, and they sought Him, and He let them find Him." - Another reminder that the who seek the LORD will find HIM!
• Psalm 81:8 was a reminder of how important it is to take the time to LISTEN to the LORD.  This inspired me to just sit quietly in order to sense God's Presence and to listen to His small still voice
• 2 Chron 18:13 "But Micaiah said, 'As the LORD lives, what my God says, that I will speak.'" - the prophet Micaiah stood firm against pressure to speak favorable words to the king, and did not waver in speaking the words God gave him, so much so that the king hated him and identified him as one who "never prophesies good" concerning him.   Yet, Micaiah spoke the truth and vindicated in his proclamation of disaster against the king, when "a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king" (2 Chron 18:33) - no matter what man does to the contrary, God's Word will come to pass
• Acts 16:30-31 clearly tell us how to be saved:  "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved."
• 2 Chron 20:15b "The battle is not yours but God's" - This truth is an echo of that seen in Joshua's battle against Jericho and in David's battle against Goliath.  No enemy can stand when He is leading us in battle.
• 2 Chron 24 - The story of Joash is one that ends tragically.   As a baby, God preserved him from death by hiding him in the temple with Jehoiada the priest.  In the beginning of his reign, he "did what was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest".  BUT, after Jehoiada dies, Joash abandons God and served idols.  At the death of Joash, he was so despised, especially for the murder of Zechariah the son of Jehoiada, that he was not allowed to be buried in the tombs of the kings.   There are so many lessons to learn from this story - to continually have good influence of godly people in our lives, to be able to stand firm in our own faith and not depend on others, and to be faithful to the end.

6-Aug: 

• Manasseh is generally remembered as an evil king, but, when God brought the Assyrians to capture him, "he entreated the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers."  And God heard his prayers, and it said, in 2 Chron 33:13b "..Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God"; and the following verses showed him making changes consistent with his restored relationship with the LORD.
• In Ezra 8:22-23, I was reminded that Ezra lived out his trust in God, just as he had declared; ensuring that his actions were consistent with his words, even in light of danger from the enemies
• In Nehemiah, the people had drifted from the LORD, and we are reminded that some signs of drifting are:  1) losing interest in God's Word, 2) neglecting Prayer, 3) losing interest in Church, 4) not giving time or money, 5) not sharing Jesus with others, and 6) no longer feeling close to God
• Nehemiah 13:26 demonstrates clearly why believers are not to marry unbelievers, maybe even more so than the unequally yoked passage, for here it tells us "Did not Solomon king of Israel sin regarding these things?  Yet among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel; nevertheless the foreign women caused even him to sin."

25-Oct:  

• Related to the Book of Job, we are reminded that "God Limits Our Adversity".   There are times when it may seem like our sorrow will never pass, but, it will.  God will only allow a trial to continue until it accomplishes His purpose in our lives; and He will bring it to an end according to His timetable.
• Ecclesiastes 5:19 reminds me of the that what God has given us, we are to use it to bless others - the picture is one of a funnel rather than an container
• In 1 Corinthians 11:26, it says that when we partake in the Lord's Supper, we "proclaim the Lord's death until He comes", which tells us that it is not only a remembrance of what Christ did for us on the cross, but also should help us to look forward to His Return
• Isaiah 3:10-11 is a clear statement that the righteous will be rewarded with the "fruit of their actions"; but the wicked will get what they deserve
• Related to Psalm 107:9 that God satisfies our soul, the devotional tells us that means God fulfills all our needs - belonging (in His family), worth (ransom paid by Christ), and competence (enabled by the Holy Spirit).  This reminds me of Valued, Able, and Loved.

17-Nov: 

• Isaiah 30:1 describes the rebellious as those who execute plans that are not God's....that's convicting
• 2 Corinth 9:8 essentially says that God gives to us that we may give to others; and points to Life Principle#23 that "You can never outgive God"
• What Paul said in 2 Corinth 11:28 about "the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches" resonated with me, because I sometimes feel "pressure" out of my concern for those in my class also
• Isaiah 43:7 says that we have been created for His glory, which tells me that our purpose is to manifest God' majesty and reflect who He is
• What a beautiful promise in Isaiah 43:20 "I have given waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people."  And as the devotional pointed out, it also means that God does not promise to keep us out of the "wilderness" or "desert", but that He will provide what we need to sustain us through it
• In Galatians 4:9, Paul said "I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you", and as the devotional pointed out, the goal is not just to "sin less" or "do better", it is total transformation until we reflect Jesus.  That's convicting....
• Eph 3:13 is an encouragement not to "lose heart at my tribulations", a reminder that God has a purpose through it all
• Isaiah 58:10 is a really good verse to encourage reaching out to those in need:  "And if you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted.  Then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday"

New Year '14

Well, 2014 has now arrived.  It's New Years' Day.   I am actually ready and looking forward to what God will be doing this year.   My prayer is that He will use me for His Kingdom purposes, and that He will guide me in all that I do, and that I will grow in HIM.

I'm reminded that we continually need to make decisions about what we allow into our lives, with the culture and media now upholding less and less of God's moral standards.  I'm disappointed that even a traditionally family event like the Rose Parade has decided to allow something that the majority of the country has shown by their votes that they do not agree to or support.   It is all around us and we are faced with it daily; so, we need to work harder to walk in His Ways in a culture that often promotes the contrary.

Last night, I celebrated New Year's Eve with some friends who invited friends who all brought their kids.  It's been awhile since I've been around so many kids; but, it was interesting.   It was a good time of fellowship.   Today, I will be spending some time with another friend of mine who will be bringing her kids.   I wonder what it says that I'm starting of my new year atypically surrounded by kids....  For both, I put together a fruit plate on a tray, mainly grapes and blackberries; and then cut some pineapple slices (chunks would've worked as well), and also cut some oranges (I cut them in bite-sized chunks after cutting off the skins; but, maybe slices would've worked as well also)

I place this new year into God's Hands.   May He be glorified.   Amen!