The End

"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind."
--Ecclesiastes 12:13, NIV

John 6

This chapter begins with the miracle recorded in all four Gospels, the feeding of the 5,000.  In this passage, we see Jesus going up to the mountainside to spend time resting and for retreat and prayer; in the midst of the demands from ministry and the press of the multitudes.  Yet, because of His compassion for the people and desire to teach His disciples, He cuts short His rest in order to teach and feed the people.  This miracle demonstrates Christ's power of Creation, as He abundantly fed the people with only five loaves and two fish, with a leftover basket for each of the apostles.  What a clear object lesson of how God can do the impossible and provide above and beyond what we can imagine.  He is the Prophet who provides and also declares the Word of God.

Then, with the section on Walking on Water, Jesus demonstrates His power over creation (e.g. winds, gravity, time-space, etc).   And the Matthew 14 passage records the appropriate response, "Truly you are the Son of God"

Church

It was a full "Church" day yesterday to cap off a busy weekend.  After going to my own church in the morning, I went to visit a friend's church about an hour away in the evening.  It was a truly beautiful church with an amazing view both inside and out in the patio.  I was able to see the sunset and praise God for the beauty of His Creation.

I also found it interesting to visit another Church.   It's nice to see how other parts of the Church body worship; and because it was all so new to me, I was able to pay attention to the details.   It was interesting that they take offering by having baskets near the altar and having us walk up and give it.   They serve communion weekly, they had Bible verses on the screens during the instrumental bridge sections of the songs, and when they did Scripture reading, at the end, the congregation responded with "Thanks be to God".   I could tell, not surprisingly because of their location and reputation as a "celebrity church" that they were a more outgoing, feeling-oriented, media-savvy.   But, it was nice to see the balance in emphasis in Scripture and prayer.

The message was interesting, using the passage with the discussion between God and Abraham about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.   Starting with the burning bush passage, it was pointed out that the question Moses asked (why the bush burned but was not consumed) was never really answered, but instead, Moses was brought to "Holy Ground" in the presence of God.   Similarly, the questions we ask in our most difficult moments may never really get answered, but, in the bigger context may be what draws us into the presence of God.  Then, going back to the conversation between Abraham and God, we see that Abraham's initial outburst about God's justice and mercy was modified, when he remembered that though God treated him as a "friend" in conversation with him, yet he really was in the presence of God; and was reminded that God is Just and Merciful.   The message was light when touching on sin and the holiness of God, but, was applicational and relevant.

I'm glad I had a chance to visit with my friend, though she found that her Bible Study group was no longer meeting after the evening service; but has been moved following the afternoon service.   But, it was nice that we had a chance to go to dinner afterwards to talk and catch up and share prayer requests.   We found a vegan restaurant that was pretty good - I had a Pad See U with soy fish, with kale and broccoli as the vegetables.   Interesting, and nice to feel like we were eating healthy.

The previous evening, my family tried an all-you-can-eat Hot Pot place.   It was Vietnamese, so the soup base was spicy and some of the ingredients were not what we were used to; but, it was tasty and seemingly pretty healthy.  And the price was pretty good at $12.99 per person.  They also had a nice sweet chili sauce for dipping.

In conversations with a couple of friends, I am convinced that it is all God that I am able to continue to juggle work (even with the extra major project), church (class, AV, COA, small group), remodel (will need to deal with the rental soon also), family and friends, etc; and have not really dropped any balls.   I feel that being abld to handle all this and with a joyful attitude has got to be supernatural.    Even the little things are not being dropped on the wayside.  Last week, I washed my car; on Friday, I cleaned house, Saturday, I reviewed Bible Study, exercised, did grocery shopping, took care of some tenant-friend things, and was still able to spend time with family; and Sunday was pretty much church and fellowship all day.  I am thankful to God for enabling me.  Amen!

US FS Nationals

This weekend is the US Figure Skating National Championships.  I've always loved watching figure skating, for the blend of artistry and athleticism.   The result of hard work, talent, and commitment is motivating.

I like a quote from one of the ice dancers, that if our dreams don't scare us, then they aren't big enough.   What a reminder to dream big!

But, without skaters like those in the past such as Michelle Kwan and Davis & White, I don't really have any "favorites".  There also aren't any who would be considered established champions these days.  Even though there are several with potential and have stood on the podium, none have been consistently on the top.

So, far, I've been most impressed with Karen Chen, and I liked her choice of music "Requiem for a Dream".   Good for her that she made it on the podium her first time at seniors just as she set her goal to do.   I also really enjoyed hearing the Piano Guys music being used in a figure skating program.

25-Jan:  I've always like Adam Rippon, but up until now, he really hasn't fully lived up to his potential.  It was so great that he was able combine all his great abilities together to throw down an excellent program for these championships!  I'm glad he made it back on the podium.  I also really like Jason Brown's personality, contagious excitement, and his performance ability.  I do hope that he'll be able to add a quad soon.  They were both great to watch.

Boundless

An article I read in Boundless had some points of note in it regarding characteristics for our future spouse.   It said that we should look for:

• Help Mate instead of Soul Mate - that there is only one soul mate for us is a myth
• Fruit of the Spirit instead of Fruit of Life - there are those that may enjoy the fruit of life due to looks, charisma, etc; but, evidence of the fruits of of the Spirit in their lives is more important and lasting
• Mr Righteous instead of Mr Right - it is important to find a person who seeks to be righteous
• Compatibility instead of Crush - crushes come and go; shared compatibility, especially spiritual is more important
• Faithful Ending instead of Fairy Tale - true happily ever after comes with someone who is faithful and will draw you closer to Christ

In His Hands

There are some things that are weighing heavily or are unsettling, but I am grateful for some time off, time to spend with God, and ways I see Him at work.

For my focus this year on telling of the wondrous works of God.   I think I've been able to encourage another by sharing how God was helping me through similar "attacks from the Enemy".   And, I'm able to enable others telling of the wondrous works of God by changing my class schedule to allow for sharing about one of the ministries a couple in my class started.

I've been tasked to manage a highly visible project at work with a short timeline and major dependency on many other people.   I'm working at trusting God through the stress and pressure.

There have been some disappointments, and it has affected me emotionally.  I keep looking to God and to the Truth to help me through this.

One source of assurance actually comes from an older praise song I came across in one of my music books - "Lord, I'm in Your Hands":
Lord, I'm in Your hands,
Lord, I'm in Your heart.
In Your Thoughts,
In Your plans,
Never on my own.
Lord, I'm in Your hands,
Lord, I'm in Your heart.
In Your Thoughts,
In Your plans,
Never left alone.
And when the darkness closes in
and fear begins to rise,
help me to remember
You're always by my side.
Lord, I'm in Your hands,
Lord, I'm in Your heart.
In Your Thoughts,
In Your plans,
Never on my own.
And when the darkness closes in
and fear begins to rise,
help me to remember
You're always by my side.
Lord, I'm in Your hands


Amen.

John 5:16-47

This is actually quite a difficult passage to understand, and it is very theologically packed.   This is testimony of Who Jesus Is from Jesus Himself.  I also think that it would be impossible to explain this passage without the doctrine of the Trinity.   Jesus clearly and emphatically ("Truly, Truly") says that He is equal to God the Father, is of the same mind, purpose, and will of the Father, has the power to give life at will, is to be as honored as the Father is, and has been given the authority to JUDGE.  No mere man could make such claims; only God can.  And Jesus said that He is qualified to JUDGE because He is fully God and fully Man.   This passage also provides information about judgement - eternal life to those who hear and believe; and condemnation to death for those who do not, because their deeds are evil.

20-Jan:   In Jewish Law, two or three witnesses were needed to validate testimony.  So, Jesus pointed to five witnesses who have testified to the truth:   1) God (Father and Holy Spirit), 2) John the Baptist, 3) His Works of signs and wonders, 4) Scriptures, and 5) Moses.   Yet, the Jewish religious leaders would not believe the testimonies because they were not willing to, and they preferred the honor of man over the honor of God.

Devotions'15

In addition to finishing up last year's daily Bible reading, I will also start using "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers.  I was chatting with one of the Worship Team members and she was yet another one of those who said that this devotional has been life-changing.    SO, I will go through it once again; and see if this time around, I may gain new insights that I haven't before....

19-Jan:

• Phil 1:20 was the verse used to point to giving "my utmost for His highest".  It was pointed out that there is a relationship between our giving our best to God and our need to seek holiness and "in nothing..shall be ashamed", so that in boldness we can glorify God.
• "Worship is giving God the best that He has given you."  That's an interesting definition of worship.  It is similar to the one I've often used - worship is ascribing to God the worth He deserves. We are encouraged to "pitch our tents" where we can have quiet time with Him.  "The lasting value of our public service for God is measured by the depth of the intimacy of our private times of fellowship and oneness with Him"  This would be excellent to expand upon and tie in with the passage on David not wanting to offer to God anything that cost him nothing; or the example of Jesus to spend time alone with the Father as an integral part of His ministry.

Devotions'14-15 (cont)

This year, I'm not going to start another read-through-the-Bible devotional like I have the past couple of years.   But, I will try to finish up the rest of the "Life Principles Daily Bible".   Based on my sharing about how "being still" is so important to living joyfully, I wanted to have an entry for Devotions so that this area would not be neglected this year.  I will use this as a continuation of the Jan 2, 2014 entry for recording notes for this year.

2-Jan:

• Isaiah 59:2 clearly shows how our sins can affect our relationship with God:  "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear."  In contrast, for their obedience, God said to the Rechabites in Jeremiah 35:19, they "shall not lack a man to stand for Me always"
• God's faithfulness, despite His People's unfaithfulness, is once again shown in His declaration in Isaiah 5:18, that despite the discipline that will be coming, "even in those days" that will not be completely destroyed.  The "remnant" is evidence of God's love and faithfulness.
• Col 4:17 says to take heed to the ministry we have been called to, that we may fulfill it - that's pretty clearly stated!
• Jeremiah 15:1 gives honor to Moses and Samuel (even though neither were "perfect"), in contrast to the unfaithfulness of the people.  I want to be counted among those who are counted as righteous, like Moses and Samuel  
• Jeremiah 17:8 very much reminds me of Psalm 1, of a tree firmly rooted that has no fear of the heat and drought, but will continue to be green bear fruit.   What a beautiful picture.
• In Jeremiah 21:5, God said that He Himself would war against His People, even in anger and wrath and great indignation for their sin and lack of repentance, not heeding the warnings of the prophets.  May I never cause God to be that angry against me.  Amen.
• 2 Thes 1:9 actually clearly states that there is "the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,"  contrary to those who say there is no eternal hell.  And the worst part of it, is eternal separation from God
• Jer 26:24 shows God's protection of Jeremiah from death before his time
• Jer 29:10-14 is used as the passage to remind us that "disappointments are inevitable but discouragement is a choice".   God is for us, we have hope, and we can always go to Him in prayer.
• Jer 33:3 "Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know."  - God promises to answer our prayers; and He can reveal to us "great and mighty things".  Reminds me of my focus for 2015, which seems to indicate that prayer plays a part in "telling of the wondrous works of God"
• Jer 33:20-22 was confusing when I first read it; but, knowing that God is faithful even when His people are not; re-reading carefully, and looking up supplemental material; what this verse is actually saying is that His covenant is as sure as day and night

JOY

Last year, God had taught me much through my journey on finding Joy in Living.  At church yesterday, I had a chance to share about this in the worship ministry team devotional time.  In preparing for the devotional, I was able to expand on some of the things I had learned about Joy.

The key verse is Psalm 16:11b  "In Your Presence is fullness of Joy" showing that Joy is directly related to the Presence of God in our lives. But, the question that may be raised is, but since God is always present in our lives, why are we not always JOYFUL?   It is because there are so many things that can rob us of our JOY by obscuring the presence of God in our lives.   So, when we are not JOYFUL, it is not because God is not present (even though it may feel like it, because during times of difficulty and sadness, a common question is "Where are you God?"); the truth is that God is always present, but there is something that is getting in the way of our awareness of His Presence.

Ways that help us to live more joyfully can be categorized into three areas:

1. Walk in the Spirit or Abide in Christ - Joy is a fruit of the Spirit, so we can more effectively bear the fruit of joy when we are walking in the spirit and abiding in Christ, as "branches in the vine".  So, things that can get in the way of walking in the Spirit are the Flesh and things of the World; because they are in constant conflict with the Spirit.   Therefore, sin is a major thief of JOY because it hurts our fellowship with God and cause us, like Adam and Eve after the Fall, to want to hide from the presence of God.  Related to that, if we try to find our joy in anything or anyone other than God, at most it can only offer us temporary happiness which is a poor substitute for true joy that can only be found in Christ
2. Be Still - We need to intentionally seek to be in the presence of God, like in prayer, devotions, or worship.  In the story of Mary and Martha, while Martha was busy running around making preparations, Mary was able to ENJOY the presence of God by sitting at Jesus's feet.   So, even if we are doing good things like serving, if we are too busy that it makes us forget Who we are doing it for or distracts us from spending time in His Presence, this too can "steal" our JOY
3. Give Thanks - Throughout Scripture, Thanksgiving is very much related to JOY.  When we see God's Hand at work, how He has blessed us, the things He has done, we cannot help but offer praise and thanks, which in turn fills us with joy.   Similarly, when we are feeling down, we we start singing praises or giving thanks, it will lift our spirits

Avoid the things that can rob us of JOY and focus on the areas that can help us to live more Joyfully.  And remember that since Joy is related to the presence of God in our lives, that is why we as Christians are able to have JOY no matter what our circumstances because God IS always present.   We truly can "rejoice in the LORD always" no matter what.

19-Jan:  1 John 1 talks about making our JOY complete through fellowship with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ; which is another example of JOY being related to the presence of God in our lives.

John 4:46-5:15

This passage depicts Jesus as the HEALER.  He performs His second sign in Galilee by healing a nobleman's son.   And, then at the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem, He heals the lame man.   In both of these situations, Jesus demonstrated the power of His WORD in healing, by just speaking or commanding it.  For the nobleman, he showed faith in Jesus's ability to heal by not rushing home from Cana to Capernaum right away.  And then his whole household believed, which showed that they were "ripe for harvest".  For the lame man, Jesus asks the key question "Do you want to get well?"   That is the question we all must answer, more so spiritually.   Jesus chose to heal this man, who neither asked Him for healing nor even knew Who He was initially.  Yet, Jesus showed compassion, and even found him afterwards to ensure that he was healed not only physically but also spiritually.  We once again encounter the legalistic Jewish leaders who miss the miracle of the healing by focusing on the breaking of their traditions and burdens on the Sabbath.   They missed out on the Joy of being in the presence of God Himself by being blinded by their legalistic adherence to their religion.

12-Jan:  "Do you want to get well?"  is a question that we must all answer at some point in our lives.  We were all inflicted with the fatal disease of sin, and Jesus is the only one Who can heal.
This passage also showed the sovereignty of God - Jesus chose the man to be healed; but, also our response, the man had to want to be healed and to respond in obedience by taking up his pallet and walking.
Legalism focuses on works and the Law which does not save, in contrast to the finished work of salvation by Grace of Christ on the cross.

Movies This Year

I've already watched a few movies this year, having started with my traditional "Facing the Giants".

• Storm Rider was actually a really nice surprise.   I like horses, but, I wasn't sure what I would think of this movie; and I ended up really liking it a lot.   Jacob Buster who played Jordan in the movie was really adorable; and it was not hard to see the big caring heart that uncle Sam had.  It was cute to see how at the end, it looked like Sam, Jody, Dani, and Jordan would become a family; and how everything worked out

• Fallen Angel was a touching story with a nice reunion ending.  The little girl in the movie was so loveable.   There were still some sad parts; but, it was a nice movie overall.

• November Christmas - Wow, what a tear-jerker of a movie.  It brings tears to see the strength of the little girl fighting cancer, the strain on the parents, but also the way it brought those around her together.  It was kind of nice that the start of the movie allows us to know that the little girl was able to win her battle against cancer as she told her story of "magic".  The most touching was when the girl came home from the hospital and the whole town had decorated for Christmas even though it was November; and they were all gathered at her house to welcome her home.  How special.
• Coffee Shop - This really was "UPlifting enterainment".  It had a nice story line, with a good outcome, and a good-looking cast.  I also liked how they were able to weave in references to helping support needs in Africa, quoting Scripture, etc.
• A Mile in His Shoes - I watched this movie again and was once more impressed with the Christian themes and the example of Mickey, who despite his autism is able to be an example of character and wisdom to all those around him.   It was neat to see the healing and growth the characters in the movie experienced.  This is definitely a movie worth watching with like a small group from church
• The Climb - This was actually a really good movie with a clear gospel message.   One of the main characters went from angry and arrogant to humble and recognizing his need, giving his life to Christ at the end and taking up the responsibility to be a father to his baby and husband to his girlfriend.  And the Christian main character exemplified Christ by being and example, standing up for what was right, and ultimately giving his life for his friend.
• The Valley of Light - This was a movie with sad overtones, but had examples kindness and love in it.  One quote in the movie stood out - the one in which Eleanor said "Maybe you'll find a valley where no one has suffered a broken heart, but I would wager to say that was a loveless place."  That's a loaded statement, but essentially says that when we love, we do risk vulnerability; and if you try to protect yourself from heartbreak, then you miss out on experiencing love.  It was nice that the main character stopped moving from place to place trying to "stay one step ahead of the pain and grief" and found peace and love in the Valley of Light.   It really was so sad that they lost the loveable little boy Matthew; but, it seemed to be a turning point for Noah.
• The Miracle Worker - Reviews say that this remake is not as emotionally gripping as the original; but, since it is still based on the real-life amazing story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan, it is still a motivational movie.  
• Rose Hill - This was a movie that demonstrated true love of family.   It was so neat to see the pack of orphaned thieving boys turn into really loving protective brothers who were able to succeed in the wild west.  
• Cupid & Cate - I'm not sure whether or not I liked the movie.  I would agree with a comment that was made about not really "warming up" to the female lead character, because she wasn't very likeable.  In contrast, Harry's character, the one she married, was very likeable.  And, the family relationships seemed to be realistic, with all the good and the bad.  It was especially nice to see that the sisters despite differences in personality and normal sibling conflicts did demonstrate that they truly cared about one another and were there for each other through difficult times.  
• Bridal Wave - This seemed to fit in more with the typical Hallmark movie.  The lead female character realizes that she was engaged to a person she didn't love and marries the person she meets and does fall in love with.  It's one of those movies that make me wonder if I could ever meet someone that way, when I least expect it.  Jaclyn Smith definitely looked like she had work done, and she played the snobbish future mother-in-law quite well.
• A Novel Romance - There were some things in this movie that didn't totally make sense and weren't that believable.   But, overall, it had me rooting for the male lead character the whole time; and it was nice to see the great support from and relationship with his publicist.  What I really liked was how the main characters met and how the male lead pursued and was so clear about how he felt.  And, we are glad that at the end, he finds who he is and writes a book he is proud of.

Knowing God

As I browsed through my bookshelves for a book to read to start off the New Year and to live out Phil 4:8, I decided to re-read J.I. Packer's "Knowing God".   I had read this back in college, so it's been awhile; but, I thought it would be good since it fit in with my class Bible study series.

Some of the statements and points from the author that stand out are:

• Going through life without knowing God is like being blind-folded and having no sense of direction.   That's a really good word-picture and reminder of why it is knowing God is such an important pursuit
• We shouldn't seek to know God merely for the knowledge about God, but, more so for knowing God Himself that we may grow in relationship to Him

New Year 2015

Still with one foot hanging onto Christmas and the other being dragged towards the New Year, it's time to reflect on this last year and look forward to what God will be doing in the next.

I've decided that I will go ahead with the focus of  "Telling of His Wonderful Deeds" reflecting Psalm 40:5 "O LORD my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them."   It will stretch me; but more importantly, it will hopefully bring glory to God for all that He has done.

So, what better way to start than to reflect on what He has done this year.  As I look back on the year, there are a few things that stand out:

• In some ways, my friendships have been shaken and put through the fire, and I have learned from the LORD what true friendship should look like.  What started as painful and feeding my fear of rejection, turned out to be life-changing growth and knowledge.   Praise God for the mysterious ways in which He works.  Best of all, I can appreciate "what a friend we have in Jesus"!
• I can't think of this past year and not have the work "remodel" pop into mind.   I was finally able to get started on what I have been planning for pretty much the last seven years.   The time was finally right; and I thank God for helping me through it all so far.   It didn't go perfectly; there were quite a few challenges, and I had to learn and grow a lot through this as well.  But, it's all part of life, and I'm pleased with the progress that has been made.   I thank God for His protection and His guidance.
• While things at work and church, and with family have not really changed in any dramatic ways; I will not take for granted what He is doing in those areas either.   He has blessed me, given me the privilege of serving Him; and I believe that He is using me.   
• I did try to live out my area of focus on "Loving Others".    My hope is that others were able to see God's reflection through my life, as I tried to love them as He has loved me.  Amen.

2-Jan:  For New Years, I once again watched "Facing the Giants".  It really is an inspirational and motivating movie.  This time, I made note of some of the stand out lines from the movie:

• We should "prepare the fields" to receive the rains that we are praying for God to send, whenever He may send them in His Time
• Our actions always follow our beliefs
• It's not about us, God put is here to honor Him with our actions and attitudes; so we are to give God our best and all we have and leave the results to Him
• Stay humble but confident
• God can do whatever He wants however He wants

I also watched a movie on Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  I respect him for his sacrifice and martyrdom; but, while I expected to be inspired by the story of his life and actions, his being the author of "The Cost of Discipleship", the movie may have recounted most of the facts, but it didn't seem to capture the heart.   Though, it was interesting that while I expected a strict and rigid theologian, it was nice to see the movie depict Bonhoeffer as a charismatic fun happy person.  Off hand, I probably wouldn't be able to quote anything he said; but, overall, to me, he would represent someone who stood firm in his convictions to the end.

That is something I would do well to follow.   I must admit that I ended the year badly in 2014; and I felt that in the New Year, I had to ask God to pull me out of the dark pit I had stumbled into.  I feel like I'm back on the right path, and have new resolution to not be knocked down and pulled off the path again; but, I was reminded in devotions last night from 1 Timothy 4:8, that it's not so much discipline that should be our focus, but rather godliness.   Laboring and striving are not end goals in themselves; it is for the purpose of being holy just has He is Holy.  That is my hope, goal, and desire - to be like Christ.

4-Jan:  The sermon today was so apropo.  We were reminded that David was not doing what he was supposed to be doing at the time he fell into sin with Bathsheba; and that in this story, it is Uriah who exemplifies what it means to be a "man after God's own heart" and who stands firm.  Pastor Rory encouraged us to repent of our past failures and to lay all our brokenness literally at the foot of the cross.  I do commit to walk in His Ways and to seek purity and holiness in my life.
My friend and her family came to visit today.   I must admit that she and her husband do much by way of helping me stay current on technology.   It was nice of her with her kids to pray for me right before she left.  That was special.   I also do see that with all her kids and the demands on her time, it is hard to have "quality" time with her.   I will just keep her in prayer and utilize what time we do have and to continue to share through whatever interactions we can.

5-Jan:  So, what are some changes planned for this year?   Well, I will get back into reading more Christian books.  And, I will make it a goal to play more piano and memorize at least one more piece of music.  I also plan to finish as much remodeling inside as possible, which would include kitchen, bathroom, painting, and carpet.  Hopefully, by the end of the year, the only thing left will be the backyard.  And then, I can use my home as a place to invite others over and to practice hospitality.

12-Jan:  Something that God seems to have been simmering in mind lately is starting to boil.  Various conversations I've had with the single women in my class have touched my heart with the idea that they may need a special ministering to.   As God has taught me so much and brought me so far in not only being content in my singleness, but actually being able to say that I can rejoice in the benefits of being single; it may be something that I can share with these other women or at least to be an example to them.  Most of my current areas of ministry are things that I have being serving in for awhile now; so, maybe it is time to "stretch" into new areas.   After I finish remodeling, I may be able to have these "singles" over more often, like near holidays (e.g. day after Thanksgiving, New Years, etc) or just for movie night or even just tea.  This is definitely something that I will be praying about.
Some additional thoughts are maybe to start a community group for singles.  We can get-together with a focus on fellowship with a lighter emphasis on teaching.   We could watch a movie with a Christian theme and discuss it afterwards; have a dinner with a topic for conversation (e.g. apologetics question); have a lesson on an interesting topic (e.g singleness, solitude); or go visit a place with a spiritual reference we can discuss afterwards (e.g. Reagan Library, Art Museum and then pull paintings from Bible from internet and discuss, etc)

John 4

The story of the Samaritan woman, or the woman at the well is a very familiar one.  She found the Living Water, never to thirst again.  Jesus "had" to go through Samaria because He had a divine appointment with her.

It was interesting that right after studying the passage in the previous chapter of Jesus's conversation with Nicodemus, we actually see some parallels with this conversation with the Samaritan woman.   Whether it was about being "born again" or the "living water", both did not fully understand the spiritual reference, thinking only about the physical "birth" or "water".   And both are examples of ways to evangelize.  There is a moment when confronted with her sin of having had five husbands and now living with someone who is not her husband, the woman tried to evade by turning to a controversial topic of where to worship.  But, even then, Jesus just pointed her to true worship of the Father in spirit and truth.

And then, He clearly tells her that He is the Messiah, using reference to "I AM".    While John clearly shows Jesus as GOD throughout his Gospel, but, in this passage, he also showed that Jesus was fully man "tired from the journey".  Jesus was fully God and fully Man.

31-Dec: The Samaritan woman effectively gives testimony to those in town, and they come out to see for themselves and believe that He is the "Savior of the World".  This is in contrast to Galilee where Jesus said "a prophet has no honor in his own country".
Jesus had used the analogy of birth and water for spiritual life, and now uses food as an analogy for doing the will and work of God.  In particular, the example given was sowing, reaping, and harvesting souls for eternal life.  In these analogies, we see that the essentials of our spiritual life are regeneration, worship, and doing the work of God.

Christmas'14

Christmas is here, and it's God's Hand at work that helps me to actually be ready for it.  With all that is going on in my life, I can see that it is God who enables me to handle everything that comes my way.   My Christmas decorations up, gifts are wrapped, my house is in as much order as it can be in light of upcoming remodel plans, I'm keeping up with work, church, etc, and I've still been able to put into practice "Loving Others".   Even a problem that I was facing with flies has now been explained by the farming at the nearby Base, which should now go away.  God is Good!

My theme this Christmas is JOY because of all that God has taught me this year about JOY.   Since it is directly related to our awareness of God's Presence in our lives, it makes sense that Christmas is a time of JOY because we celebrate Emmanuel, GOD WITH US!

9-Dec:  Went to the FISH Christmas concert last night.  I really enjoyed it; and it was even better than last year.  A theme that I heard through the sharing and songs was that of HOPE; that no matter what we are going through, we have HOPE that God will carry us through beyond it.

• The AFTERS - They were the ones most focused on getting the audience involved in singing in worship.   "Lift Me Up" and "Broken Hallelujahs" stood out
• Danny Gokey - He was very impressive, both with his singing in his very strong raspy voice, and his powerful delivery of songs.  His pianist was also really good.  I really enjoyed his heartfelt story-telling style, especially on "Tell Your Heart to Beat Again" which brought me to tears.  And his rendition of "Mary Did You Know" was really great.  He shared about losing his first wife, and the touching power of his music shows how pain and loss can really help us to grow and be used of God
• Aaron Shust - He seemed like "thinker" of the group.   He shared some of his thoughts and analysis, read from associated Scripture, etc.   And, I could tell that he was a classically trained pianist, not just playing chords.   Some of his piano arrangements were really beautiful and impressive, especially with "Unto Us", especially where he interspersed some other themes like from Handel's "For Unto Us a Child is Born".  I like how he shared that he started piano lessons at age seven and wanted to quit by eight; but his mom said "no" and look at what he is doing now.

11-Dec:  My message this Christmas is that our joy comes through the presence of Christ, Emmanuel - God with Us.

15-Dec:  My small group Christmas get-together last night was nice.  It was a little more subdued than in previous years, and it may be because of the different mix of people.  I brought a "grey elephant" but it didn't get picked till the end, maybe because people are afraid of large wrapped packages.  Oh well, at least it went to my small group leaders.  I picked up a candle holder and soap dish - at least it's better than glitter tattoo or the aflac duck and monkey stuffed animals.  For the potluck, I made a fruit green salad with spinach, arugala, kiwi, raspberries, blackberries, red onion, walnuts, and dried cranberries, served with a raspberry vinagrette.   The arugala may have been a little too bitter; and the vinagrette with the fruit may have been a little to acidic.  But, the walnuts and cranberries were good.
It was a really busy day yesterday with church, class, and then made lunch for a friend I gave a ride to.  I made a marinated chicken with asian marinade and green onions, which turned out pretty well, served with coucous which soaked up the flavors well, corn, and a mandarin orange spinach salad which was really good with ponzu sauce.
I also picked up our church Bluegrass Gospel concert CD.   It was okay; but probably would've been more fun and had a bigger effect in person.

18-Dec:  I sent my last eCards today, and all my regular cards are done, I think.  Gifts are all done also, except that there are a couple of AV guys that I want to get some small gifts as a token of my appreciation for what they do throughout the year.  So, I have a week to really ponder on and appreciate the true reason for the season.

22-Dec:  I was able to get some Paris Baguette bakery items for the AV guys along with cards.  They actually ate it right away that evening we were running AV, so it worked out well.   For the person who doesn't like sweets, he seemed to like the Garlic Frenchtoast.  Next year, with more time, I think I can give more gifts  to the rest of the worship ministry team; and I can gear it towards the area they serve in (e.g. I have a drum ornament I can give to the drummer)
A person at church I don't know very well gave me a gift box with some individually wrapped cookies.  It was unexpected, which made it even more appreciated.  And a couple people in class gave me gift certificates/cards which made me feel appreciated.  So, I can see how gifts can be special.
And our family was able to take my mom out for her birthday.  We went to the Cantonese noodle place we saw last time.   The food was a little bland, and it was funny that the best dish was a vietnamese vermicelli with grilled pork, which we don't usually order.

27-Dec:  Christmas has come and gone.  We spend so much time and energy preparing for it and looking forward to it; and it seemed to fly by so quickly.  I may not have spent as much time reflecting quietly as maybe I should have; but, from my class study of John, I was instilled clearly with the true meaning of Christmas,  that Christ came as our Savior, to give us the gift of salvation.
Overall, I'm glad that I was able to put up decorations.   I even hooked up some of my lights outside.  I went to my small group get-together, "worked" on AV Team pretty much all day Christmas Eve for services, after working about half day at my actual workplace, and spent Christmas with family.   This year for Christmas dinner, the menu consisted of:

•  Lamb Stew - it turned out well with the radish, carrot, rosemary, garlic, ginger, and lemon
• Breaded Coconut Shrimp - I only baked it and it was actually quite popular, the first dish to be finished
• Marinated Chicken - It was pretty tasty but probably would've been better served together with a vegetable
• Kale w/Fried Onions - I think it was a healthy dish and the buttery taste came out
• Broccolli and Cauliflower - Did a simple roast vegetables with olive oil, salt, and pepper
• Mashed Broccoli and Califlower - It was actually not a bad substitute for mashed potatoes
• CousCous - This was not very popular though I thought it would go better with the lamb than rice
• Bread - Just baked a La Brea Bakery multigrain loaf
• Yams - Just used up leftovers from Thanksgiving; seems like an easy go-to holiday dish that everyone likes

Served with Hot Apple Cider, and then a raspberry creamcheese coffee cake for dessert.

After Christmas, did a little shopping, but didn't really find a lot sales.

28-Dec:  Had my class Christmas-New Years get-together today.  It almost feels like it marks the end of Christmas; but, I do have to still get together with a couple of friends before the end of the year.
My pastor said something today that stood out.... He said that we often don't know how strong our anchor is until we are in the midst of the storm.   My anchor in Christ is the strongest!

Life

LIFE - that's a philosophical topic if ever there was one.  A couple of incidents this week reminded me of the fragility of life.

The wife of a person at church passed away suddenly and unexpectedly.  They had only been married for a few years.  I can only imagine what her daughter is going through, however, I can see how God is watching over her by having provided a step-father to take care of her.

Last night, I once again accidentally locked myself out when I took out the trash.  I was even trying to be careful not to lock myself out; but, it happened anyway.  And to top it off, it was cold and rainy.  It pointed out to me, that sometimes, no matter how hard we try, we can still fail; and so, we always need God in our lives.  I also had to once again remind myself not to "beat myself up too much", and hope that incidents like this just help me to be more compassionate towards others when they "make mistakes".   Also, I wonder if I was meant to go through this to learn about my neighbor's stroke.  When I went over to my other neighbor to make a phone call, they told me our other neighbor had a stroke over Thanksgiving.   Having learned this puts her on my heart to be praying for her.

Solvang

Spent the weekend with my family in Solvang.   It's always nice to visit since it is such a cute town.   I just regret having to miss the Bluegrass concert at my church.  However, on Sunday, we did visit TRC - The Ranch Church in Los Olivos.  It is one of the Calvary Chapels, the closest to Solvang.  The music was pretty good - the worship leader and band led well; though, it seemed like the key they sang in made it a little difficult to sing along with.  The message had good depth.  It was on "King David at his Best".  The key points were:

• What was God looking for?  A man after His own heart (1 Sam 13:14); and at David's anointing, we are reminded that the LORD looks at the heart and the Spirit came upon him in power (1 Sam 16:7 & 13).  So, God looks for those who seek Him with all their being.  Just as we cannot give ourselves a heart transplant, so too it is God who changes our hearts spiritually.   Every person no matter the culture has a "discontent" that is a constant reminder that this is not our home
• What did Samuel find?  A man who knew how to trust God (e.g. 1 Sam 17:37 against Goliath).  David knew God would never fail him and was a man who knew how to conquer his fears
• What did Goliath encounter?  A man who knew how to fight.  God equips us for spiritual battle.
• How did David respond?  He believed that God forgave and called him, and he was willing to pay any price to have both.

Over the weekend, we also had a chance to visit Old Mission Santa Barbara.  I was most impressed with the statues in the church depicting Jesus and Mary Magdalene in the post-resurrection encounter.  There were also some nice paintings.  The gardens were also nice to walk around.

On the way and back, Camarillo is a nice halfway point to stop for a rest break.   There's a mall with Target and other stores; as well as the Factory outlets.  We also stopped for dinner at Wing's in Santa Barbara.  While the flavor was okay; but, for the crispy noodles, they use Chung King, which was definitely not what was expected.  Food in Santa Barbara and Solvang is quite a bit more expensive also.  I did want to note that I had a nice fortune in my fortune cookie:  "AN ADMIRER IS CONCEALING THEIR AFFECTION FOR YOU."   If that is the case, I hope he works up the courage to reveal soon....

25-Nov:  Because I was away, I missed my Pastor's sermon on Sunday; but, I just watched it online.  Interestingly, it is very much related to what I have learned about joyful living.   Pastor was talking about thankfulness, and he preached from Philippians, the book of JOY.  This is just further confirmation that a grateful spirit is very much related to the awareness of God's presence in our lives which leads to JOY.  Even in the painful times, so we can give thanks in all things because God is greater than our deepest pain.

This is My Wish

I don't think I had even heard of Kevin Ross prior to listening to the Glade commercial where he sang "This is My Wish".  I only know that he graduated from the Berklee College of Music; but, other than that, don't know anything about him as a person.  Although, in one interview that I read the transcript of, he did mention God a few times.

Nevertheless, I was so impressed with his singing and song-writing skills, based on the commercial alone; that I thought it was worth noting.  His voice is really beautiful, and he has a strong falsetto.  With so many singers out there, it is hard to stand out, yet he does.  I really liked the song and the way he performed it.

I guess I wanted to write about this because there is something about excellence that really catches my attention.  It's something I strive for, though I personally have not reached any of those levels.   Yet, I can certainly appreciate it when I see excellence in others.

Hallways of Life

Came across an interesting and thought-provoking article on crosswalk.com "3 Lessons to Learn When You’re Stuck in the Hallways of Life". The hallways of life are analogies for our transitions when one door closes and before another one opens.  The article says:

• Embrace the Hallways - hallways can be a respite or place of rest before entering the next stage
• Your Worth is Found in Christ - since our worth is not found in whatever "room" the door has closed on, we are "whole" no matter what, even when we are in the hallway waiting for what's next
• What Happens in the Hallway Changes You Forever - the hallway may take patience as we wait for God in His Timing, but the lessons learned during the waiting period can be the life-changing 

While this analogy is interesting, when I considered how this might apply to my life, I actually found that I am not often in the "hallways" of life.  In general, I have just traveled from one room to another without much of a transition.  The article mentioned how not having hallways could result in burnout jumping from one thing to another without rest in between.  So, maybe I need to intentionally insert transitional periods into my life?  The other interesting thought is that most people might consider time in between relationships as a "hallway"; but, for me, it seems that the relationships are more like the transitions between periods of singleness.

Nevertheless, whether or not I have spent much time in the "hallways of life", I have already learned the lessons pointed out in the article - I do intentionally find times of respite or rest, I know my worth is in Christ, and I have certainly grown through times of waiting.