As he stepped in, he was welcomed by a fine, eloquent man.
"Charles."
"I prefer to be called Carlos."
"Pardon me. Carlos," said the well-groomed, middle-aged doctor. "Ahem," he cleared his throat. "Carlos, what brings you here today?"
"I think I need some counseling."
"What's wrong?"
"Recently, I've been unwilling to face my problems. I have baking deadlines, quotas to meet, and have been unable to get myself to work. I don't know how to approach all this work. I don't know where to start. On top of that, I see so many problems. Problem problems. Problems with starting the fire, problems with apple picking, problems in the kitchen, problems with mixing ingredients... I don't know how to fix or approach any of them. I just want to escape and not think about any of it."
The doctor maintained his gaze to the side and was silent for a few seconds. Without shifting his eyes, he answered, "Carlos... I'm sorry, Carlos. I can't give you any answers. All I can say is to keep praying. Only Jesus can fix your problems. I am just your alter ego--an alter ego of an alter ego. I have enough problems of my own.
By the way, happy new year."
Friday, December 31, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
70. Achen's Sin
"What is it this time?" asked Moses.
"Theft. Mostly women's money pouches and belongings. I don't know how he got into the camps," said Miriam.
"Did any of them catch a glimpse of what he looked like?"
"The women said he was tall and had a dark veil and was wearing a short plaid tunic, but it was too dark to see much."
The elders assembled to talk about enhancing the security among the tribes.
During the meeting, one of the elders Yoniel had a suspect. "One of the men in my camps acts a bit weird. However, people say he's usually like that. He's a Gentile and new to our daily proceedings. He's leaving tomorrow."
Josiah commented, "Ah, that man! He often wears a black veil and short tunic. He always wears short tunics."
"Whoaa!" exclaimed Aaron.
"Okay, let's not judge. We'll keep an eye out and pray for God to reveal this mystery to us," said Moses.
After the meeting, Hur told some of the elders that he'd rather have everyone search his tent so people wouldn't suspect him as well. Tensions were high, and everyone had an eye on his neighbor.
Night patrol. Report of suspicious behavior. Camp searches. Individual tents were instructed to be tightly secured when temporarily uninhabited.
How could the thief have gotten away with this? How could this have happened? And to God's own people too!
One day during the afternoon Scriptural reading and meditation, a young tribe leader named Achen self-reflected. He pondered his sins. How could he even be in such a position among Israel when he had committed such sins? Then, he thought of a possibility of why the recent theft was allowed to occur. Perhaps this breach--this defeat--was because of his sin.
Perhaps it was because of Achen's sin.
"Theft. Mostly women's money pouches and belongings. I don't know how he got into the camps," said Miriam.
"Did any of them catch a glimpse of what he looked like?"
"The women said he was tall and had a dark veil and was wearing a short plaid tunic, but it was too dark to see much."
The elders assembled to talk about enhancing the security among the tribes.
During the meeting, one of the elders Yoniel had a suspect. "One of the men in my camps acts a bit weird. However, people say he's usually like that. He's a Gentile and new to our daily proceedings. He's leaving tomorrow."
Josiah commented, "Ah, that man! He often wears a black veil and short tunic. He always wears short tunics."
"Whoaa!" exclaimed Aaron.
"Okay, let's not judge. We'll keep an eye out and pray for God to reveal this mystery to us," said Moses.
After the meeting, Hur told some of the elders that he'd rather have everyone search his tent so people wouldn't suspect him as well. Tensions were high, and everyone had an eye on his neighbor.
Night patrol. Report of suspicious behavior. Camp searches. Individual tents were instructed to be tightly secured when temporarily uninhabited.
How could the thief have gotten away with this? How could this have happened? And to God's own people too!
One day during the afternoon Scriptural reading and meditation, a young tribe leader named Achen self-reflected. He pondered his sins. How could he even be in such a position among Israel when he had committed such sins? Then, he thought of a possibility of why the recent theft was allowed to occur. Perhaps this breach--this defeat--was because of his sin.
Perhaps it was because of Achen's sin.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
69. Power of Prayer
After watching Grave of the Fireflies, I went to see what my parents were up to. I found mom in bed. She was having stomach problems. Telling me to pray with her, we struggled to get her out of bed and on her knees to pray. After praying for a while, she told me she felt a lot better. She was very surprised. Thank Lord Jesus! May He continue to guide our family so we may receive spiritual healing.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
68. Questions
Sometimes I'm afraid to ask questions in class because I feel that there are people who are more ahead than I am in the material and would be annoyed at me for slowing down the teacher with my questions.
Sometimes I'm afraid the teacher will think my question is dumb if I ask it.
Sometimes I'm afraid the teacher will make a joke when I ask my question.
Sometimes I'm afraid I will phrase my question poorly.
Sometimes I'm afraid the teacher will ask me to repeat my question.
Sometimes I'm afraid the teacher will choose to not answer my question.
Sometimes I'm afraid I will have to put my hand back down if the teacher doesn't see me raise my hand.
Sometimes I wish that nobody knew me, that nobody knew my name, that nobody would remember my face and voice.
Then, I could ask all the questions I want.
Sometimes I'm afraid the teacher will think my question is dumb if I ask it.
Sometimes I'm afraid the teacher will make a joke when I ask my question.
Sometimes I'm afraid I will phrase my question poorly.
Sometimes I'm afraid the teacher will ask me to repeat my question.
Sometimes I'm afraid the teacher will choose to not answer my question.
Sometimes I'm afraid I will have to put my hand back down if the teacher doesn't see me raise my hand.
Sometimes I wish that nobody knew me, that nobody knew my name, that nobody would remember my face and voice.
Then, I could ask all the questions I want.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
67. Amalekites, still here?
"As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning." (Ex 17:11)
Sometimes when we lift up our hands, we expect a sudden victory. We expect the Amalekites to conveniently kill each other, explode, or run away. However, when the Israelites were winning, it wasn't a sudden victory. Moses lifted up his hands, and the Amalekites were still there, as scary and ferocious as before, coming on to the Israelites with everything they had. "Winning" during that battle was gradual, not a one time atomic bomb that dropped right when Moses lifted his hands.
Sometimes our hands start to get tired. We start to lose hope and faith. "Am I really winning? My problems are still here. How come they haven't disappeared? I keep lifting my prayerful hands, but I haven't overcome this battle yet. What's the point? Is there even a difference if I just lower my hands?"
Indeed, the key to overcoming the Amalekites was Moses keeping his prayerful hands up. Even though the enemies still existed, they were winning. This is a spiritual eyesight we must also have.
Even though you've prayed many times, and it seems like the Amalekites are still here, don't give up. Remember, there are Aarons and Hurs lifting up your hands with their hands. Also remember, God has promised, "I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven." (Ex 17:14b)
Sometimes when we lift up our hands, we expect a sudden victory. We expect the Amalekites to conveniently kill each other, explode, or run away. However, when the Israelites were winning, it wasn't a sudden victory. Moses lifted up his hands, and the Amalekites were still there, as scary and ferocious as before, coming on to the Israelites with everything they had. "Winning" during that battle was gradual, not a one time atomic bomb that dropped right when Moses lifted his hands.
Sometimes our hands start to get tired. We start to lose hope and faith. "Am I really winning? My problems are still here. How come they haven't disappeared? I keep lifting my prayerful hands, but I haven't overcome this battle yet. What's the point? Is there even a difference if I just lower my hands?"
Indeed, the key to overcoming the Amalekites was Moses keeping his prayerful hands up. Even though the enemies still existed, they were winning. This is a spiritual eyesight we must also have.
Even though you've prayed many times, and it seems like the Amalekites are still here, don't give up. Remember, there are Aarons and Hurs lifting up your hands with their hands. Also remember, God has promised, "I will completely blot out the name of Amalek from under heaven." (Ex 17:14b)
Friday, December 3, 2010
66. Don't Call Me Naomi
"Can this be Naomi?"
"Don't call me Naomi! Call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the LORD has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?”
"Don't call me Naomi! Call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the LORD has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?”
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
65. More Interesting in Person
I was just trying to get into the dorm lobby, but it was locked. I knocked for a girl nearby to come open it, and she opened it. The dining hall was to the right of the entrance, so I went to see if they left anything out to eat. There wasn't anything, but the same girl was stuck in the cafeteria and was ferociously pushing the door, so I went to open it. Haha... what a coincidence...
haha..
It was more interesting in person.
haha..
It was more interesting in person.
Friday, November 26, 2010
64. Sweetbitter Anniversary
Sweet because of our intimate experience.
Bitter because it was a warning.
Sweet because it was out of love.
Bitter because it was painful.
Sweet because you reminded me that you care and are always watching out for me.
Bitter because I realized I didn't appreciate your care.
Sweet because you've never left me since the day we fell in love.
Bitter because I often left you.
Bitter because I failed you.
Bitter because I was unfaithful.
Bitter because I didn't keep my end of the commitment.
But...
Oh, so sweet, so very sweet, because you are greeting me yet again... with open arms.
It's been two years, and today is a Sweetbitter Anniversary where the sweet overpowers the bitter.
Bitter because it was a warning.
Sweet because it was out of love.
Bitter because it was painful.
Sweet because you reminded me that you care and are always watching out for me.
Bitter because I realized I didn't appreciate your care.
Sweet because you've never left me since the day we fell in love.
Bitter because I often left you.
Bitter because I failed you.
Bitter because I was unfaithful.
Bitter because I didn't keep my end of the commitment.
But...
Oh, so sweet, so very sweet, because you are greeting me yet again... with open arms.
It's been two years, and today is a Sweetbitter Anniversary where the sweet overpowers the bitter.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
63. Personal Decision
"I shall not die, but live,
And declare the works of the LORD.
The LORD has chastened me severely,
But He has not given me over to death." (Ps 118:17-18)
"I shall not die, but live."
This is a personal decision. This is a personal decision to choose life over death. Even though God has chastened him severely, and it seems that it would just be easier to give up now, he does not. Even though it seems that he only discovers deeper and darker falls, he still sees hope. Though no more chances should be given, there is a chance.
There is a chance because God has not given him over to death.
And where there is a chance, there is a choice. Will he choose to stay in spiritual death and take the easy way? Or will he choose to live and strive to diligently declare the works of the Lord?
This is a personal decision. This is a personal decision to get up, try again, and live.
And declare the works of the LORD.
The LORD has chastened me severely,
But He has not given me over to death." (Ps 118:17-18)
"I shall not die, but live."
This is a personal decision. This is a personal decision to choose life over death. Even though God has chastened him severely, and it seems that it would just be easier to give up now, he does not. Even though it seems that he only discovers deeper and darker falls, he still sees hope. Though no more chances should be given, there is a chance.
There is a chance because God has not given him over to death.
And where there is a chance, there is a choice. Will he choose to stay in spiritual death and take the easy way? Or will he choose to live and strive to diligently declare the works of the Lord?
This is a personal decision. This is a personal decision to get up, try again, and live.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
62. Overconfident Canine
Behind the bush, the wolf quietly sniffs for that scent. He shifts his eyes and verifies his detection. Lightly and swiftly, he makes his way up the forresty mountain, following the trailing odor of... the beast.
With agility, he keenly avoids crunchy leaves and noisy sticks. He sniffs again. That carnivorous beast is just a few feet ahead. The wolf hears a rustle. It must be the beast.
He slides behind a large oak and slowly peers his head to catch a glimpse of right where he thinks that clawed creature should be.
!
There's nothing there.
Suddenly, the wolf realizes he had not been careful enough. He realizes he had gotten too complacent and overconfident. His ears prick, and his eyes open as he discovers that there is something breathing behind him, inhaling and exhaling. Inhaling... Exhaling...
With agility, he keenly avoids crunchy leaves and noisy sticks. He sniffs again. That carnivorous beast is just a few feet ahead. The wolf hears a rustle. It must be the beast.
He slides behind a large oak and slowly peers his head to catch a glimpse of right where he thinks that clawed creature should be.
!
There's nothing there.
Suddenly, the wolf realizes he had not been careful enough. He realizes he had gotten too complacent and overconfident. His ears prick, and his eyes open as he discovers that there is something breathing behind him, inhaling and exhaling. Inhaling... Exhaling...
Friday, November 12, 2010
61. Lethargy, Much Lethargy
He reached for his phone to check the time. "8:24am? It's been a good 9 or 10 hours of sleep." However, class was at 12:30pm. He sluggishly flipped and turned around in bed for time to pass. He didn't want to get up. He was tired and unmotivated.
After finally getting up at around 10:30am, he wasted some time on the internet, ate, and went to class. After class, he went to an appointment with his professor to talk about a paper. Then, he went back to his room and thought about all the things he had to do: 2 problems sets, a big assignment, a research paper, an application, an online test, a problem session at 4pm, and the list goes on. Many things he should've already started. Many things he should be starting. However, he just sat in his room with no desire to work, no motivation to do anything--only lethargy, much lethargy.
Time passed and he realized he missed the problem session, hadn't cleaned his room, and was still swamped with much work he would have to do later...still swamped in lethargy, much lethargy.
After finally getting up at around 10:30am, he wasted some time on the internet, ate, and went to class. After class, he went to an appointment with his professor to talk about a paper. Then, he went back to his room and thought about all the things he had to do: 2 problems sets, a big assignment, a research paper, an application, an online test, a problem session at 4pm, and the list goes on. Many things he should've already started. Many things he should be starting. However, he just sat in his room with no desire to work, no motivation to do anything--only lethargy, much lethargy.
Time passed and he realized he missed the problem session, hadn't cleaned his room, and was still swamped with much work he would have to do later...still swamped in lethargy, much lethargy.
60. Come Quickly
For troubles without number surround me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
and my heart fails within me.
Be pleased, O Lord, to save me;
O Lord, come quickly to help me.
40:12-13
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
and my heart fails within me.
Be pleased, O Lord, to save me;
O Lord, come quickly to help me.
40:12-13
Friday, November 5, 2010
59. Trilemma
"Put your hands up and slowly walk over here."
"No, Albert, don't listen to them!"
As I stand in the middle of the uneasy bridge in confusion, I can feel the ropes beginning to tear and the rotted wood beginning to crack. Far below me is a dark valley, awaiting my death if I do not make a decision soon. To my left is a band of thieves, to my right a young woman.
"You know it's useless going back. Come with us, and you'll discover excitement you've never known. Stop being a coward and get on over here before it's too late!" The thieves laugh. "Hahaha. We know you want to come with us. Stop pretending."
"Albert, don't listen to them! They're only lying to you! You know there's nothing good about them. You know if you leave us and follow them, you will be destroyed. Albert. Albert, look at me. Come back."
AARGH. What am I doing on this bridge? How did I get myself into this trilemma?
"No, Albert, don't listen to them!"
As I stand in the middle of the uneasy bridge in confusion, I can feel the ropes beginning to tear and the rotted wood beginning to crack. Far below me is a dark valley, awaiting my death if I do not make a decision soon. To my left is a band of thieves, to my right a young woman.
"You know it's useless going back. Come with us, and you'll discover excitement you've never known. Stop being a coward and get on over here before it's too late!" The thieves laugh. "Hahaha. We know you want to come with us. Stop pretending."
"Albert, don't listen to them! They're only lying to you! You know there's nothing good about them. You know if you leave us and follow them, you will be destroyed. Albert. Albert, look at me. Come back."
AARGH. What am I doing on this bridge? How did I get myself into this trilemma?
Friday, October 29, 2010
58. What's wrong with me?
"And Jesus said to them, 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.'" (John 6:35)
Is it wrong that I sometimes don't feel inwardly satisfied? Sometimes I feel like I need other things to scratch an itch that I have, to fill a missing puzzle-piece in my heart. I know the empty space is Jesus-shaped, and I also have experienced the utter bliss and contentment of being close to Him. However, sometimes I get thirsty and hungry again, and quickly consult worldly mediums (pun) to temporarily satisfy myself. Even in prayer, I can't concentrate and still think about secular forms of self-gratification. Consequently, prayers like these don't cut it. I'm convinced that the problem is not with the inherent act of praying. Therefore, it must be with me. What's wrong with me that I still hunger and thirst?
What Jesus said in John 6:35 is a promise. What, then, is preventing me from taking hold of this promise? Luther B. Bridgers, writer of hymn 326, someone who is not a TJC member and doesn't have the HS, claims that Jesus "fills [his] ev'ry longing." Given that I do have the HS and am a TJC member, why don't I feel that Jesus fills my every longing all the time?
Perhaps I have experienced this fulfillment for a weekend, a week, 2 weeks, a month, or a summer, but the promise is not supposed to be temporary. "He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst."
I think the problem with me is that I may be lacking faith. Maybe I don't completely believe in Him and His power. Maybe the reason I don't have satisfying prayers is because I don't believe they can truly satisfy me.
I seek this faith--this faith that can lead me to still waters, this faith that can guide me to eternal satisfaction, this faith that can stir my heart to sincerely sing, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Sweetest name I know, Fills my ev'ry longing, Keeps me singing as I go."
Is it wrong that I sometimes don't feel inwardly satisfied? Sometimes I feel like I need other things to scratch an itch that I have, to fill a missing puzzle-piece in my heart. I know the empty space is Jesus-shaped, and I also have experienced the utter bliss and contentment of being close to Him. However, sometimes I get thirsty and hungry again, and quickly consult worldly mediums (pun) to temporarily satisfy myself. Even in prayer, I can't concentrate and still think about secular forms of self-gratification. Consequently, prayers like these don't cut it. I'm convinced that the problem is not with the inherent act of praying. Therefore, it must be with me. What's wrong with me that I still hunger and thirst?
What Jesus said in John 6:35 is a promise. What, then, is preventing me from taking hold of this promise? Luther B. Bridgers, writer of hymn 326, someone who is not a TJC member and doesn't have the HS, claims that Jesus "fills [his] ev'ry longing." Given that I do have the HS and am a TJC member, why don't I feel that Jesus fills my every longing all the time?
Perhaps I have experienced this fulfillment for a weekend, a week, 2 weeks, a month, or a summer, but the promise is not supposed to be temporary. "He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst."
I think the problem with me is that I may be lacking faith. Maybe I don't completely believe in Him and His power. Maybe the reason I don't have satisfying prayers is because I don't believe they can truly satisfy me.
I seek this faith--this faith that can lead me to still waters, this faith that can guide me to eternal satisfaction, this faith that can stir my heart to sincerely sing, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Sweetest name I know, Fills my ev'ry longing, Keeps me singing as I go."
Monday, October 25, 2010
Friday, October 22, 2010
56. Happy Independence Day
It is officially Independence Day! Did you know that?
At the set of sun at precisely 6:08:29 PM of Friday, October 22, 2010, I was freed from the bondage of nauseous attempts to debugging grossly inefficient C code. Oh, the release! Oh, the liberty!
On the other hand, at around 5:55pm, I was still futilely thinking, "Oh no, if I don't finish by Independence Day, I will have to work on it on Sunday." Indeed, we might sometimes think that Independence Day is a bondage. We can't get any "work work" done, and we have to put it all aside. However, it is not a bondage. Yes, I'm not done with the code. Yes, I'm still very behind on reading and studying for midterms. However, this day is a blessed day! A day of rest. A day especially set apart for us to enjoy freedom from the cares of the world.
By now, you are probably scoffing at my cheesy pseudonym for Sabbath. Of course, I'm talking about the Sabbath, our weekly Independence Day we get to cast all our stressful cares aside and reflect on the freedom Christ has given us through His blood: the freedom from the bondage of sin, from an eternal suffering, and just for today--this one day of the week--freedom from our toilsome labor in the world.
Ahh, indeed, happy Independence Day!
At the set of sun at precisely 6:08:29 PM of Friday, October 22, 2010, I was freed from the bondage of nauseous attempts to debugging grossly inefficient C code. Oh, the release! Oh, the liberty!
On the other hand, at around 5:55pm, I was still futilely thinking, "Oh no, if I don't finish by Independence Day, I will have to work on it on Sunday." Indeed, we might sometimes think that Independence Day is a bondage. We can't get any "work work" done, and we have to put it all aside. However, it is not a bondage. Yes, I'm not done with the code. Yes, I'm still very behind on reading and studying for midterms. However, this day is a blessed day! A day of rest. A day especially set apart for us to enjoy freedom from the cares of the world.
By now, you are probably scoffing at my cheesy pseudonym for Sabbath. Of course, I'm talking about the Sabbath, our weekly Independence Day we get to cast all our stressful cares aside and reflect on the freedom Christ has given us through His blood: the freedom from the bondage of sin, from an eternal suffering, and just for today--this one day of the week--freedom from our toilsome labor in the world.
Ahh, indeed, happy Independence Day!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
55. Frustration!
Have you ever felt really frustrated with people? Frustrated with school work? Frustrated with people and school work?
Have you ever felt so plain ol' frustrated that you can't even remember all the things you're frustrated about?
In moments like these, I like to write on this blog. This blog of nonsensical jargon. This blog of rambling and incoherent writing. This blog of patches and splotches of poorly transitioned prose.
But seriously. Have you ever tried to relieve your frustration by writing on your blog about writing on your blog and realizing that it was to no avail? If so, what should you do next? In the most desperate and honest plea: How would you get rid of this frustration?
Have you ever felt so plain ol' frustrated that you can't even remember all the things you're frustrated about?
In moments like these, I like to write on this blog. This blog of nonsensical jargon. This blog of rambling and incoherent writing. This blog of patches and splotches of poorly transitioned prose.
But seriously. Have you ever tried to relieve your frustration by writing on your blog about writing on your blog and realizing that it was to no avail? If so, what should you do next? In the most desperate and honest plea: How would you get rid of this frustration?
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
54. Burnt Brain
Toast is delicious, especially right after a light toast in the oven and an application of some butter. Crispy on the outside, and scrumptiously moist on the inside. But, what about burnt toast? Really burnt toast? ...Not so delicious.
Noted for its atrocious burnt smell, burnt toast is black on the outside and hard all over. Burnt parts can cause cancer and taste like death.
Right now, I can detect a whiff of that burnt smell. But, it's not burnt toast. It's burnt brain.
Burnt brain can be caused by uninterrupted studying, concentrating for three or more consecutive classes, hard-to-understand lecturers who talk about hard-to-understand concepts, and trying to read a textbook after all the above.
Symptoms include headache, loss of grip, sore joints, muscle tension, pain when trying to think, drowsiness, increased temperatures in cerebral areas, disinterest in doing anything, feeling stuffy, misspelling or mistyping words, messy handwriting, daydreaming about computer programming code, and, in some occasions, sudden episodes of "Where am I? How did I get here?"
Don't get me wrong. It's good to think. In fact, it's quite deliciously stimulating to think and learn. However, like bread, if you toast the brain for too long, it can get burnt too. Good thing we have cellular respiration and our brain can repair itself to a certain degree when we rest - unlike burnt toast, which cannot repair itself.
Therefore, as the saying goes, "If you smell a burnt brain, get some rest."
Noted for its atrocious burnt smell, burnt toast is black on the outside and hard all over. Burnt parts can cause cancer and taste like death.
Right now, I can detect a whiff of that burnt smell. But, it's not burnt toast. It's burnt brain.
Burnt brain can be caused by uninterrupted studying, concentrating for three or more consecutive classes, hard-to-understand lecturers who talk about hard-to-understand concepts, and trying to read a textbook after all the above.
Symptoms include headache, loss of grip, sore joints, muscle tension, pain when trying to think, drowsiness, increased temperatures in cerebral areas, disinterest in doing anything, feeling stuffy, misspelling or mistyping words, messy handwriting, daydreaming about computer programming code, and, in some occasions, sudden episodes of "Where am I? How did I get here?"
Don't get me wrong. It's good to think. In fact, it's quite deliciously stimulating to think and learn. However, like bread, if you toast the brain for too long, it can get burnt too. Good thing we have cellular respiration and our brain can repair itself to a certain degree when we rest - unlike burnt toast, which cannot repair itself.
Therefore, as the saying goes, "If you smell a burnt brain, get some rest."
Friday, October 8, 2010
53. Everyone Wants to be Right
Everyone wants to be right. You never want to be that guy that gets made fun of, that guy that said something weird, that guy that didn't make sense, that guy that says dumb jokes, or that guy that nobody respects. You never want to be that guy that was wrong. Actually, it's more than just being wrong. Nobody wants to be in an inferior position, looked down on, or disrespected. Nobody wants to be told, "You have the wrong idea." Right?
Quite the opposite.
Paul writes:
"Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?" (1 Cor 6:7)
Wanting to be right is utter failure. Instead of wanting to be right all the time, we should rather accept wrong and be cheated. Weird, huh? But, God says we will be blessed if we suffer for righteousness. If people think we're wrong even though we didn't do anything wrong, God will reward us for suffering the injustice.
But this carries to normal social situations. In conversation, don't we always want to be the guy that makes a good point? That makes a good joke? That people listen to? That people think is right? Don't we try to deflect embarrassment and try to change the subject when things could potentially be bad for us? Why not accept wrong and be cheated in these situations? Why not suffer a bad reputation? Why not be made fun of? Why not be criticized for making a bad point? Why not have people think poorly of you?
Sure, there's always the polite, "Oh no, I'm not really that good," but when it's not those obvious let-me-humble-myself-so-that-I-don't-appear-proud-to-others situations, are we willing to have people look poorly on us at our cost? Are we willing to have people think we're wrong?
Let us, instead, love correction. Let us love disciple (Pr 12:1). Let us love accepting that we made mistakes. Let us not always desire to have the upper hand in the conversations. Let us believe that we can always potentially be wrong. We should be willing to be looked down upon and not care so much if others give us credibility or face. Let us not always want to be right.
Quite the opposite.
Paul writes:
"Now therefore, it is already an utter failure for you that you go to law against one another. Why do you not rather accept wrong? Why do you not rather let yourselves be cheated?" (1 Cor 6:7)
Wanting to be right is utter failure. Instead of wanting to be right all the time, we should rather accept wrong and be cheated. Weird, huh? But, God says we will be blessed if we suffer for righteousness. If people think we're wrong even though we didn't do anything wrong, God will reward us for suffering the injustice.
But this carries to normal social situations. In conversation, don't we always want to be the guy that makes a good point? That makes a good joke? That people listen to? That people think is right? Don't we try to deflect embarrassment and try to change the subject when things could potentially be bad for us? Why not accept wrong and be cheated in these situations? Why not suffer a bad reputation? Why not be made fun of? Why not be criticized for making a bad point? Why not have people think poorly of you?
Sure, there's always the polite, "Oh no, I'm not really that good," but when it's not those obvious let-me-humble-myself-so-that-I-don't-appear-proud-to-others situations, are we willing to have people look poorly on us at our cost? Are we willing to have people think we're wrong?
Let us, instead, love correction. Let us love disciple (Pr 12:1). Let us love accepting that we made mistakes. Let us not always desire to have the upper hand in the conversations. Let us believe that we can always potentially be wrong. We should be willing to be looked down upon and not care so much if others give us credibility or face. Let us not always want to be right.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
52. Poetry
Need to go study.
Been writing emails for a while.
Hard to concentrate.
Homework beginning to pile.
Been writing emails for a while.
Hard to concentrate.
Homework beginning to pile.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
50. Many are Called, but Few are Chosen
"For many are called, but few are chosen." (Mt 22:14)
Two nights ago, as I lay in bed, this verse kept playing in my head. Then, I realized how strange it sounded.
Wouldn't it make more sense to say "Many are chosen, but few are called"? In church, we are told that we are God's chosen people (1 Pet 2:9). We've all been chosen. Only some people are called. Only some receive this unique experience from God where He clearly tells them to come out to serve, usually as a pastor or other form of full-time work. Right? Perhaps, it may not even be to that magnitude. God may (indirectly) call you to be an RE teacher, a sermon-speaker, an interpreter, a writer, a youth coordinator, or Bible study facilitator. And yet, not many (relatively speaking) are called to do these things.
So then, what does it mean "For many are called, but few are chosen" in this salvation-crucial passage?
First, "many are called." In the Parable of Wedding Banquet (the verse concludes the parable), many are called (or "invited") to the wedding banquet of a king. They not only don't come, but mistreat and kill the servants who were sent to tell them to come. Then, the king gives an open invite to anyone the servants can find. Of course, this is about preaching the message of the kingdom of God. Before, only the Jews were part of God's kingdom. However, they killed the prophets, including Jesus. Now, salvation has been given to everyone. And indeed, this is what it means to be "called." When people hear about TJC, when we preach the truth to others, they are being "invited" to this spiritual banquet of salvation. They are being "called" "out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Pet 2:9) - called to be a part of God's church and to live a holy life (1 Tim 1:9, 1 Thess 4:7) that is pleasing to God, blameless in His eyes.
However, "few are chosen." Just because we are called to live a holy life does not mean we automatically do it. It is something we must actively strive for. If we don't, we will not be chosen. We will be like one of the guests the king noticed not wearing wedding clothes. The king said to him, "Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?" (Mt 22:12) The wedding garment is the good deeds and righteous acts that constitute a holy life. In Revelation, the saints wear this garment to the wedding banquet of the Lamb (Rev 19:8-9).
If we end up not living a holy life, a life worthy to this calling (Eph 4:1), the king will say to us, "Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Mt 22:13) Earlier in verse 12, the king called him "Friend" because he was a friend who was invited to the grand banquet. He was a friend, called from the darkness outside to participate in a marvelous feast inside. However, because he did not wear the wedding garment, he was not chosen. Instead, he was thrown back outside into the darkness, a darkness which has become an exponentially scarier darkness than just the dark streets earlier in the parable, a darkness so painful you weep and gnash your teeth.
Now, I want to pay special attention to "Bind him hand and foot." Why didn't Jesus just say "Bind him, take him away..."? What is the point of indicating "hand and foot"? Again, this directly relates to the wedding garment - our deeds. Hands represent what we do. Feet represent where we decide to go. This guest's hands and feet were tied because he went and did unholy things, even though he was called to holiness. Because of his actions, he was not chosen even though he was called.
Friends, haven't we already been called to the banquet? In fact, might we already go church, feasting in the wedding hall filled with guests (Mt 22:10)? However, let's take a look at what we're wearing. Are we wearing the wedding garment of fine clean linen? Are we prepared for the banquet of the Lamb with righteous acts? If not, let us wash our hands from sinful deeds (Ja 4:8). Let us wash our feet from sinful ways. Let us actively strive to live a holy and blameless life, worthy of God's calling. For many are called, but few are chosen.
Two nights ago, as I lay in bed, this verse kept playing in my head. Then, I realized how strange it sounded.
Wouldn't it make more sense to say "Many are chosen, but few are called"? In church, we are told that we are God's chosen people (1 Pet 2:9). We've all been chosen. Only some people are called. Only some receive this unique experience from God where He clearly tells them to come out to serve, usually as a pastor or other form of full-time work. Right? Perhaps, it may not even be to that magnitude. God may (indirectly) call you to be an RE teacher, a sermon-speaker, an interpreter, a writer, a youth coordinator, or Bible study facilitator. And yet, not many (relatively speaking) are called to do these things.
So then, what does it mean "For many are called, but few are chosen" in this salvation-crucial passage?
First, "many are called." In the Parable of Wedding Banquet (the verse concludes the parable), many are called (or "invited") to the wedding banquet of a king. They not only don't come, but mistreat and kill the servants who were sent to tell them to come. Then, the king gives an open invite to anyone the servants can find. Of course, this is about preaching the message of the kingdom of God. Before, only the Jews were part of God's kingdom. However, they killed the prophets, including Jesus. Now, salvation has been given to everyone. And indeed, this is what it means to be "called." When people hear about TJC, when we preach the truth to others, they are being "invited" to this spiritual banquet of salvation. They are being "called" "out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Pet 2:9) - called to be a part of God's church and to live a holy life (1 Tim 1:9, 1 Thess 4:7) that is pleasing to God, blameless in His eyes.
However, "few are chosen." Just because we are called to live a holy life does not mean we automatically do it. It is something we must actively strive for. If we don't, we will not be chosen. We will be like one of the guests the king noticed not wearing wedding clothes. The king said to him, "Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?" (Mt 22:12) The wedding garment is the good deeds and righteous acts that constitute a holy life. In Revelation, the saints wear this garment to the wedding banquet of the Lamb (Rev 19:8-9).
If we end up not living a holy life, a life worthy to this calling (Eph 4:1), the king will say to us, "Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Mt 22:13) Earlier in verse 12, the king called him "Friend" because he was a friend who was invited to the grand banquet. He was a friend, called from the darkness outside to participate in a marvelous feast inside. However, because he did not wear the wedding garment, he was not chosen. Instead, he was thrown back outside into the darkness, a darkness which has become an exponentially scarier darkness than just the dark streets earlier in the parable, a darkness so painful you weep and gnash your teeth.
Now, I want to pay special attention to "Bind him hand and foot." Why didn't Jesus just say "Bind him, take him away..."? What is the point of indicating "hand and foot"? Again, this directly relates to the wedding garment - our deeds. Hands represent what we do. Feet represent where we decide to go. This guest's hands and feet were tied because he went and did unholy things, even though he was called to holiness. Because of his actions, he was not chosen even though he was called.
Friends, haven't we already been called to the banquet? In fact, might we already go church, feasting in the wedding hall filled with guests (Mt 22:10)? However, let's take a look at what we're wearing. Are we wearing the wedding garment of fine clean linen? Are we prepared for the banquet of the Lamb with righteous acts? If not, let us wash our hands from sinful deeds (Ja 4:8). Let us wash our feet from sinful ways. Let us actively strive to live a holy and blameless life, worthy of God's calling. For many are called, but few are chosen.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
49. Totes McGoats
Yesterday, a professor was talking to us about research and contacting him through email. "You think you get a lot of emails. I get more in one day that you get in a year! And I don't have Facebook or Twitter emails. They're all real."
Then, he was trying to convince us to send emails from our school accounts. He said something along the lines of: "Don't send me emails with your gmail. It goes straight to my spam. Do you know how valuable your princeton.edu email is? People try to copy it just so I'd read their emails. Once you graduate, you get an alumni.princeton email. It's worth a fortune."
On another note, today marks the first day in my memory I heard someone naturally say, "Totes McGoats."
Then, he was trying to convince us to send emails from our school accounts. He said something along the lines of: "Don't send me emails with your gmail. It goes straight to my spam. Do you know how valuable your princeton.edu email is? People try to copy it just so I'd read their emails. Once you graduate, you get an alumni.princeton email. It's worth a fortune."
On another note, today marks the first day in my memory I heard someone naturally say, "Totes McGoats."
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
48. Light in My Eyes
"My heart pounds, my strength fails me;
even the light has gone from my eyes." (Ps 38:10)
Ever seen people's eyes light up when they hear surprisingly good news? Or a child's eyes light up when he or she sees mommy or daddy? Light in your eyes is like energy - like a breath of life. In this glowing light, you can see hope, joy, and love.
However, the psalmist is pointing at quite the opposite. His strength has failed him. He is feeble, utterly crushed, and groans in anguish of heart. His heart pounds in pain and depression because of his sinful folly. His spiritual wounds fester. There is no peace. There is no rest. The light has gone from his eyes.
The light has gone from my eyes.
Therefore, I now pray, O Lord, please have mercy again. Even though my strength has failed me, You alone are the source of my strength. Even though I suffocate in weariness and isolation, You alone are my salvation and breath of awakened life. Return to my eyes Your light of joy. Return to my eyes Your light of hope.
"Look on me and answer, O LORD my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;" (Ps 13:3)
even the light has gone from my eyes." (Ps 38:10)
Ever seen people's eyes light up when they hear surprisingly good news? Or a child's eyes light up when he or she sees mommy or daddy? Light in your eyes is like energy - like a breath of life. In this glowing light, you can see hope, joy, and love.
However, the psalmist is pointing at quite the opposite. His strength has failed him. He is feeble, utterly crushed, and groans in anguish of heart. His heart pounds in pain and depression because of his sinful folly. His spiritual wounds fester. There is no peace. There is no rest. The light has gone from his eyes.
The light has gone from my eyes.
Therefore, I now pray, O Lord, please have mercy again. Even though my strength has failed me, You alone are the source of my strength. Even though I suffocate in weariness and isolation, You alone are my salvation and breath of awakened life. Return to my eyes Your light of joy. Return to my eyes Your light of hope.
"Look on me and answer, O LORD my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;" (Ps 13:3)
Sunday, September 19, 2010
47. The Young Adventurer
This weekend, a young adventurer traveled to the caverns of Louis where he met an ocarinist. He was encouraged to have a simple faith, to believe in God's promises like a child, and to pray to be led by God's Spirit because if we are led by the Spirit, we are not led by the flesh.
Then, he was blessed to be able to stay with the gatekeepers of Amwell. He was reminded of his duties as a son and student (He should fulfill these duties as if serving the Lord). He was encouraged to love and live for God in his school environment and local church. He was encouraged to pray before he speaks. He was encouraged to not compare.
Do not doubt God's promises and words. Believe and humbly accept His will.
The singer of the hill lands came along and reminded him that we should not assume. It's not about what man sees.
As the adventures came to an end, he saw even more clearly how deep God's love is. How can He love this sinner? How can He love this hypocrite? How can He love someone who does not heed His word and refuses to listen? Yet, He loves him so much to remind and encourage him - to show him His love through His messengers and faithful workers.
Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever.
Then, he was blessed to be able to stay with the gatekeepers of Amwell. He was reminded of his duties as a son and student (He should fulfill these duties as if serving the Lord). He was encouraged to love and live for God in his school environment and local church. He was encouraged to pray before he speaks. He was encouraged to not compare.
Do not doubt God's promises and words. Believe and humbly accept His will.
The singer of the hill lands came along and reminded him that we should not assume. It's not about what man sees.
As the adventures came to an end, he saw even more clearly how deep God's love is. How can He love this sinner? How can He love this hypocrite? How can He love someone who does not heed His word and refuses to listen? Yet, He loves him so much to remind and encourage him - to show him His love through His messengers and faithful workers.
Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever.
Friday, September 10, 2010
45. A Garden Locked Up
I find it quite superfluous to write out verbose, unrelated details in my dreams. I will attempt to be more succinct.
Two nights ago, I dreamt that someone was breaking into our house. We were home, but he was still breaking in through the window in the kitchen. I could see his bottom half - black dress shoes and black dress pants. I walked over to the kitchen and shouted, "Hey! Hey!" to let him know we were home. Then, he left.
Later, I was in the living room, and a bad guy came right through the front door. He wanted to rob us. He was throwing things at me. I kept saying "Hallelujah" and was praying in tongue too. He even stabbed my dad. Thank God we weren't hurt and nothing happened to us.
This reminded me of how we really need to guard our hearts.
"You are a garden locked up, my sister, my bride;
you are a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain." (Song of Solomon 4:12)
As the bride of Christ, our hearts are like gardens. We must lock them up and not let the thief/robber come in. We must keep our gardens clean and neat and not let evil defile it. Sometimes, evil will try to sneak in. Sometimes, evil will walk right through our front door. However, we must rely on God's power to fight evil and cast it out of our hearts. Lock up our gardens and preserve them for the Lord.
Why was I reminded of this? Because I need such a reminder.
If you happen to read this, please pray for me.
Two nights ago, I dreamt that someone was breaking into our house. We were home, but he was still breaking in through the window in the kitchen. I could see his bottom half - black dress shoes and black dress pants. I walked over to the kitchen and shouted, "Hey! Hey!" to let him know we were home. Then, he left.
Later, I was in the living room, and a bad guy came right through the front door. He wanted to rob us. He was throwing things at me. I kept saying "Hallelujah" and was praying in tongue too. He even stabbed my dad. Thank God we weren't hurt and nothing happened to us.
This reminded me of how we really need to guard our hearts.
"You are a garden locked up, my sister, my bride;
you are a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain." (Song of Solomon 4:12)
As the bride of Christ, our hearts are like gardens. We must lock them up and not let the thief/robber come in. We must keep our gardens clean and neat and not let evil defile it. Sometimes, evil will try to sneak in. Sometimes, evil will walk right through our front door. However, we must rely on God's power to fight evil and cast it out of our hearts. Lock up our gardens and preserve them for the Lord.
Why was I reminded of this? Because I need such a reminder.
If you happen to read this, please pray for me.
Monday, September 6, 2010
44. Cooking Rice
A few days ago, I was supposed to cook the rice. I washed it, added water, and placed the bucket in the cooker. However, when it was time for our family to eat the rice, we noticed it was watery and still uncooked on the inside. I may have accidentally pressed "Keep warm" instead of "Start." I had to quickly close the rice cooker and press the "Start" button, so the moisture and heat wouldn't leave, and the rice would finish cooking.
This got me thinking about how rice is cooked. After the rice is fully immersed and washed in the water, it must go through quite the process to be converted from hard, beige graininess to pure, white fluffiness. Though painful, this process is necessary.
After placing the bucket of rice and water in the cooker, the blanching (or cooking) process starts. The cooker heats up. The water level drops. Because the rice is no longer protected by this layer of water, the upper layers of rice get scorched by the steam. At first, only the outer layer is affected. However, as temperatures increase, the steam reaches deeper into the lower layers of rice in order to transform it. For the rice, gone are the days of cool water and fresh air. It is now surrounded by boiling water. It is now suffocated by intense steam. In each grain of rice, the heat must reach the very center in order to gelatinize the starch. The rice steams in the cooker until temperatures reach a blazing 212 degrees Fahrenheit. The Cooker knows that if temperatures exceed 212 F, the rice will overcook, so heating will cut off at 212 F.
Even though the rice experiences unbearable heat and pain, the cooker must not be opened or stopped. If opened, the cooker loses the original amount of moisture and the cooking environment cools. To the One who eats this rice, the rice looks white but tastes hard on the inside. Is this any better than before cooking the rice? In the beginning of the journey, the rice was completely hard and stubborn. There was no water in it: no moisture. If opened mid-way, the heart of the rice would still be hard. The rice must endure the entire rugged journey in order to become soft and fluffy, filled with water - no longer stiff and unyielding, but submissive and obedient.
If any grain of rice wants to be white and delicious, it must go through the heat and steam. There is no other choice. There is no option of escape. However, rest assured. It is worth it. Once the painful cooking is over, the rice can finally be enjoyed by the Master and His family.
This got me thinking about how rice is cooked. After the rice is fully immersed and washed in the water, it must go through quite the process to be converted from hard, beige graininess to pure, white fluffiness. Though painful, this process is necessary.
After placing the bucket of rice and water in the cooker, the blanching (or cooking) process starts. The cooker heats up. The water level drops. Because the rice is no longer protected by this layer of water, the upper layers of rice get scorched by the steam. At first, only the outer layer is affected. However, as temperatures increase, the steam reaches deeper into the lower layers of rice in order to transform it. For the rice, gone are the days of cool water and fresh air. It is now surrounded by boiling water. It is now suffocated by intense steam. In each grain of rice, the heat must reach the very center in order to gelatinize the starch. The rice steams in the cooker until temperatures reach a blazing 212 degrees Fahrenheit. The Cooker knows that if temperatures exceed 212 F, the rice will overcook, so heating will cut off at 212 F.
Even though the rice experiences unbearable heat and pain, the cooker must not be opened or stopped. If opened, the cooker loses the original amount of moisture and the cooking environment cools. To the One who eats this rice, the rice looks white but tastes hard on the inside. Is this any better than before cooking the rice? In the beginning of the journey, the rice was completely hard and stubborn. There was no water in it: no moisture. If opened mid-way, the heart of the rice would still be hard. The rice must endure the entire rugged journey in order to become soft and fluffy, filled with water - no longer stiff and unyielding, but submissive and obedient.
If any grain of rice wants to be white and delicious, it must go through the heat and steam. There is no other choice. There is no option of escape. However, rest assured. It is worth it. Once the painful cooking is over, the rice can finally be enjoyed by the Master and His family.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
43. Flying Backward
I was so busy last night - dreaming dreams...on Sabbath?
We ran out. We were hiding from someone or some people. Shawn, Michael K, and I ran into a portable to hide. They seemed to know what they were doing, so I followed. Michael stood still in one of the corners. Shawn faced him in the same corner and stood still. I stood to the right of Shawn and copied him. We all tried not to move.
Outside seemed pretty isolated. I was hoping they wouldn't come into the portable to check because I realized how awful of a hiding place that corner was. They could still see us in the open (through the window even). We weren't hiding under or behind anything. Then, someone came in. She noticed us and, in a friendly tone, told us to come out. I think it was someone from my acapella group. She was being very nice, and it seemed okay.
So we followed her to the field where some other people had gathered. I was getting suspicious. Then, I realized that they were going to kill us. I remembered that I had the ability to fly, so I jumped up and propelled myself. Then, I saw Debbie Y who had the ability to make people stop flying. I was worried she would use her ability on me. I think she did, but I told her not to because I needed to escape. Betsie, the president of the acapella group, was in charge of this all. She could also fly. I tried to fly away, but she was able to catch up. I immediately started flying backward and propelling myself. She didn't expect that, so I was able to keep flying higher and higher and more backward.
I was very high now, I think even to the point that I could see the whole earth. I had to quickly go back down and land somewhere. I was trying to choose where. I didn't want to choose anywhere too close to California because they might find me again. In the end, I chose to go to Dallas, so I clicked on Dallas, and I went down.
I was suddenly in a luxury cart. I think it was a compartment of a moving vehicle, but it was nice because it had a sink/drink station, bathrooms, tables, and other things. Betsie was there, but she said it was over now. She explained that the people there were those graduating from the acapella group. They choose some of them and kill them regularly. That's where all the graduates go. Some go on to grad school, some work, and some just disappear (aka, get killed). Then, she and some others went to the room next door, and I went to the bathroom. I realized I was the only guy there in the automotive compartment.
Later, I was taking a test somewhere. It was a standardized test because other people were there taking it too, but we have a peer grade it twice for us. I finished and exited. I turned my test in. Grady had graded it for me twice. I also turned in tests for Salvador and someone else. They both got a 6. I almost forgot to turn it in but realized in the last minute (This corresponds to real life because I was supposed to return Jon and Shawn's NYTS tests, but I still have them. hehe oops.) I was wondering why Salvador and the other person chose me to grade their tests. Did they think I would go easy? Or did they think I would grade it more accurately?
Later, I was in an Egyptian setting. On the top of the pyramid was lava that was flowing slowly. There was also a voice from there giving commands. It was a voice with a tone leaning toward evil. To the right of the pyramid, there was something like a sandbox. To the left, Bart was digging. The voice was telling Bart that he had to make two of these boxes before the lava comes down, so the lava can go into them. He was cutting the ground like bread, using a small knife, and then lifting the terrain. His cutout was too small though.
Later, in the same place, there was a mining area. Someone was telling me how they used to find gold there, then silver, then other things in decreasing value. Then, something poked up from the top of the mine, so someone had to cover the hole with sand.
Scene change. I was talking with some rucf people on what scene should be next. Phil was there. I think we were deciding between playing the scene with me flying (previous part of dream) or the batman scene. Last time when we did the batman scene, Phil wasn't supposed to actually shoot, but he shot me twice, so I had to drink two elixirs. Without really making a final decision, I heard two gunshots. Phil shot me twice on accident again, and I was in the batman scene now...by default. I landed in my garage, but I think my garage was suddenly more techy and scifi. I had two black ribbed cylinders. Inside were yellow-greenish neon liquid. It was my elixir, and I was drinking/sipping it. I saw either Crystal Cheung (or Margaretta. I don't remember.) in the driver's seat. She was sick. I offered her some elixir from my other cylinder. Later, I went inside, and Vivian Chan and Crystal were there. They were telling me how the elixir is just water and sugar. Way to burst my bubble.
fin.
Lesson's Learned?
*Sometimes people seem to know what they're doing and genuinely have good intentions, but as Christians, our fate is different. We are called to be blameless and to be co-heirs with Christ. We must not just go along with the flow of this world. If we aren't different, if we don't seem different to others, if we don't act differently, of course, our fate will not be different from those of the world, whom are doomed to perish (unless we convert them).
*Phil, don't shoot me. Let's talk it out before we decide on what to do.
We ran out. We were hiding from someone or some people. Shawn, Michael K, and I ran into a portable to hide. They seemed to know what they were doing, so I followed. Michael stood still in one of the corners. Shawn faced him in the same corner and stood still. I stood to the right of Shawn and copied him. We all tried not to move.
Outside seemed pretty isolated. I was hoping they wouldn't come into the portable to check because I realized how awful of a hiding place that corner was. They could still see us in the open (through the window even). We weren't hiding under or behind anything. Then, someone came in. She noticed us and, in a friendly tone, told us to come out. I think it was someone from my acapella group. She was being very nice, and it seemed okay.
So we followed her to the field where some other people had gathered. I was getting suspicious. Then, I realized that they were going to kill us. I remembered that I had the ability to fly, so I jumped up and propelled myself. Then, I saw Debbie Y who had the ability to make people stop flying. I was worried she would use her ability on me. I think she did, but I told her not to because I needed to escape. Betsie, the president of the acapella group, was in charge of this all. She could also fly. I tried to fly away, but she was able to catch up. I immediately started flying backward and propelling myself. She didn't expect that, so I was able to keep flying higher and higher and more backward.
I was very high now, I think even to the point that I could see the whole earth. I had to quickly go back down and land somewhere. I was trying to choose where. I didn't want to choose anywhere too close to California because they might find me again. In the end, I chose to go to Dallas, so I clicked on Dallas, and I went down.
I was suddenly in a luxury cart. I think it was a compartment of a moving vehicle, but it was nice because it had a sink/drink station, bathrooms, tables, and other things. Betsie was there, but she said it was over now. She explained that the people there were those graduating from the acapella group. They choose some of them and kill them regularly. That's where all the graduates go. Some go on to grad school, some work, and some just disappear (aka, get killed). Then, she and some others went to the room next door, and I went to the bathroom. I realized I was the only guy there in the automotive compartment.
Later, I was taking a test somewhere. It was a standardized test because other people were there taking it too, but we have a peer grade it twice for us. I finished and exited. I turned my test in. Grady had graded it for me twice. I also turned in tests for Salvador and someone else. They both got a 6. I almost forgot to turn it in but realized in the last minute (This corresponds to real life because I was supposed to return Jon and Shawn's NYTS tests, but I still have them. hehe oops.) I was wondering why Salvador and the other person chose me to grade their tests. Did they think I would go easy? Or did they think I would grade it more accurately?
Later, I was in an Egyptian setting. On the top of the pyramid was lava that was flowing slowly. There was also a voice from there giving commands. It was a voice with a tone leaning toward evil. To the right of the pyramid, there was something like a sandbox. To the left, Bart was digging. The voice was telling Bart that he had to make two of these boxes before the lava comes down, so the lava can go into them. He was cutting the ground like bread, using a small knife, and then lifting the terrain. His cutout was too small though.
Later, in the same place, there was a mining area. Someone was telling me how they used to find gold there, then silver, then other things in decreasing value. Then, something poked up from the top of the mine, so someone had to cover the hole with sand.
Scene change. I was talking with some rucf people on what scene should be next. Phil was there. I think we were deciding between playing the scene with me flying (previous part of dream) or the batman scene. Last time when we did the batman scene, Phil wasn't supposed to actually shoot, but he shot me twice, so I had to drink two elixirs. Without really making a final decision, I heard two gunshots. Phil shot me twice on accident again, and I was in the batman scene now...by default. I landed in my garage, but I think my garage was suddenly more techy and scifi. I had two black ribbed cylinders. Inside were yellow-greenish neon liquid. It was my elixir, and I was drinking/sipping it. I saw either Crystal Cheung (or Margaretta. I don't remember.) in the driver's seat. She was sick. I offered her some elixir from my other cylinder. Later, I went inside, and Vivian Chan and Crystal were there. They were telling me how the elixir is just water and sugar. Way to burst my bubble.
fin.
Lesson's Learned?
*Sometimes people seem to know what they're doing and genuinely have good intentions, but as Christians, our fate is different. We are called to be blameless and to be co-heirs with Christ. We must not just go along with the flow of this world. If we aren't different, if we don't seem different to others, if we don't act differently, of course, our fate will not be different from those of the world, whom are doomed to perish (unless we convert them).
*Phil, don't shoot me. Let's talk it out before we decide on what to do.
Friday, September 3, 2010
42. The sea, the cable, and the mountain
Last night I had a lot of dreams. Then I woke up, went back to sleep, and had another dream. Now, I only remember the most recent one. Oh well, here it goes.
I was at a beach. It was pretty empty and nice. Grady was there looking for something. There was a large blue sea. On the other side of the sea were mountains. There were small buildings/roads/cars here and there on the mountains. Joe called me on the phone and told me something. If I remember correctly, he told me he was going to propose soon (in the next few days, or that day). I was really excited. Then, I hung up.
I went to check if Grady found what he was looking for. He showed me the cable. He was looking for Joe's cable. One end was like the small USB-ish end you connect to cameras. It was in the ocean near the shore, but the cable kept extending all the way across the sea and then up the mountain because that's where Joe was staying. It was kind of thicker near the end. The other side of the cable was supposed to be a VGA connector to connect to Joe's laptop. Grady said he was originally going to just keep pulling the cable until he got the whole thing, but then figured it might not work. I called Joe back to ask what he wanted us to do. He said it was okay for us to just leave it for now. He'd come get it later after he's done.
I was wondering who Joe was going to propose to. Then, I saw some church people (west coasters) at the swings at the right of the beach. They were trying to guess who the guy was. They knew the person Joe was getting engaged to, but they didn't know it was Joe. They were swinging and chatting. Then I went back to where I originally was at the beach, and Joe was there. I asked him who it was, but he was quite secretive about it. Then I sort of saw a vision of how he planned to propose during dinner at a round-table Chinese style setting. There were more people in our group now, including some kids. From the left of the shore, indigenous/native people were coming. Their eyes were stitch-y. It seemed like they were attacking us. But, all they wanted to know was who Joe was getting engaged to. They kept trying to find out. The kids were closest and tried to cast them away. I advised the kids to just tell the natives that they didn't know because we truthfully don't know.
Later, our group ran away. The natives were behind us, chasing us. We were now on a trail up the mountain. Along this uphill road, we saw a house/shack. We went through it. As we exited the house to go back to the road, the natives were there. We had to split up. I told some of the people in our group to go downhill and lead the natives away, so we can keep going up the mountain. They did so, and the natives were distracted and followed them. Me, Grady, and some others kept going up the mountain. Some Chinese (da4lu4) people kept harassing us. I think one of them was Sida. They kept asking why we were going that way. They didn't want us to keep going. They even tried to lure us away. Sida said that there was a fun festival going on today at the bottom of the mountain, but I deflected his attempt, saying, "Ha! But Grady doesn't like to have fun!" Then, we went into another shack, but Grady exited from the entrance to spit something out. I went in and noticed how the air was very dusty. He probably got dust in his mouth.
Then, after going through the shack, I went out from the exit back to the road. Somehow, I was alone now, but there were multiple Chinese people ganging up on me. I saw the cable on the ground! I realized that they were trying to prevent me from finding it. This time it was a circular end. I kept pulling it, and eventually I got the entire cable!
That's all I remember.
Lessons learned?
*Joe is going to propose at a Chinese style dinner soon.
*Team work and unity is essential when we are facing the enemy.
*The enemy will often try to discourage us, tempt us, and try to prevent us from going up the mountain, but don't listen! Stay focused and keep climbing.
*Sometimes, in our spiritual lives, we are all alone, facing the enemy. These are the hardest times, but we have to stay strong.
*"We're marching to Zion. Beautiful, beautiful Zion. We're marching upward to Zion, the beautiful city of God."
May God guide and strengthen us in our journey upward to Mount Zion - the heavenly Jerusalem, the unshakable kingdom, the city of the living God.
I was at a beach. It was pretty empty and nice. Grady was there looking for something. There was a large blue sea. On the other side of the sea were mountains. There were small buildings/roads/cars here and there on the mountains. Joe called me on the phone and told me something. If I remember correctly, he told me he was going to propose soon (in the next few days, or that day). I was really excited. Then, I hung up.
I went to check if Grady found what he was looking for. He showed me the cable. He was looking for Joe's cable. One end was like the small USB-ish end you connect to cameras. It was in the ocean near the shore, but the cable kept extending all the way across the sea and then up the mountain because that's where Joe was staying. It was kind of thicker near the end. The other side of the cable was supposed to be a VGA connector to connect to Joe's laptop. Grady said he was originally going to just keep pulling the cable until he got the whole thing, but then figured it might not work. I called Joe back to ask what he wanted us to do. He said it was okay for us to just leave it for now. He'd come get it later after he's done.
I was wondering who Joe was going to propose to. Then, I saw some church people (west coasters) at the swings at the right of the beach. They were trying to guess who the guy was. They knew the person Joe was getting engaged to, but they didn't know it was Joe. They were swinging and chatting. Then I went back to where I originally was at the beach, and Joe was there. I asked him who it was, but he was quite secretive about it. Then I sort of saw a vision of how he planned to propose during dinner at a round-table Chinese style setting. There were more people in our group now, including some kids. From the left of the shore, indigenous/native people were coming. Their eyes were stitch-y. It seemed like they were attacking us. But, all they wanted to know was who Joe was getting engaged to. They kept trying to find out. The kids were closest and tried to cast them away. I advised the kids to just tell the natives that they didn't know because we truthfully don't know.
Later, our group ran away. The natives were behind us, chasing us. We were now on a trail up the mountain. Along this uphill road, we saw a house/shack. We went through it. As we exited the house to go back to the road, the natives were there. We had to split up. I told some of the people in our group to go downhill and lead the natives away, so we can keep going up the mountain. They did so, and the natives were distracted and followed them. Me, Grady, and some others kept going up the mountain. Some Chinese (da4lu4) people kept harassing us. I think one of them was Sida. They kept asking why we were going that way. They didn't want us to keep going. They even tried to lure us away. Sida said that there was a fun festival going on today at the bottom of the mountain, but I deflected his attempt, saying, "Ha! But Grady doesn't like to have fun!" Then, we went into another shack, but Grady exited from the entrance to spit something out. I went in and noticed how the air was very dusty. He probably got dust in his mouth.
Then, after going through the shack, I went out from the exit back to the road. Somehow, I was alone now, but there were multiple Chinese people ganging up on me. I saw the cable on the ground! I realized that they were trying to prevent me from finding it. This time it was a circular end. I kept pulling it, and eventually I got the entire cable!
That's all I remember.
Lessons learned?
*Joe is going to propose at a Chinese style dinner soon.
*Team work and unity is essential when we are facing the enemy.
*The enemy will often try to discourage us, tempt us, and try to prevent us from going up the mountain, but don't listen! Stay focused and keep climbing.
*Sometimes, in our spiritual lives, we are all alone, facing the enemy. These are the hardest times, but we have to stay strong.
*"We're marching to Zion. Beautiful, beautiful Zion. We're marching upward to Zion, the beautiful city of God."
May God guide and strengthen us in our journey upward to Mount Zion - the heavenly Jerusalem, the unshakable kingdom, the city of the living God.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
41. Sober
Last night I had a dream.
I was going to Rooftop Campus Fellowship (It actually felt like going to Philly or DC). I was sitting in the car and remembering that they keep a book there with song lyrics. Whenever people visit, they sing the hymn to you and write your name on it. I had visited a couple times before. Then, we got there. I was getting my stuff out, and as we got to the building, I remembered that it takes a while to walk up the stairs because it's on one of the higher floors. It ended up taking not as long as I thought. Anthony, Grady, Ray, and some other rucf people were there. Stuff happened, and I can't really remember much. Oh, I think I saw Paul there. He was wearing a white polo.
Later, I was at a church that looked exactly like Baldwin Park. It was probably Baldwin Park. It was Spiritual Convocation, and Pastor Hwang was speaking. I was sitting in my usual spot. Then, my aunt came and told me it was about time to leave. I looked at the time, and it seemed like it was time. I was supposed to start school that day. We left, and next thing I knew I was sitting in the living room of my house. I noticed I still had some time before I headed out to my first class of the semester, so I listened to a livestream of the SC. As I was listening, I got so engrossed that I lost track of time. Then, I noticed that it was late afternoon, and all my classes that day were over! I was so frustrated. I had a class at 11am! How did this happen? I kept thinking about what I would do. Some classes are important for you to be there. For example, for Spanish, you can't miss that many classes or else you get marked down in your final grade. What if I missed important things I needed to know?
Then, my dad came home, and he was talking about my flight back to NJ that Sunday. I suddenly realized I was still in California, and my classes already started. That meant I would have to miss Thursday and Friday classes too (it was Wednesday)! How did that happen when I was buying plane tickets? I was so flustered!
That's all I have.
Lessons learned?
*Be sober and vigilant at all times.
I was going to Rooftop Campus Fellowship (It actually felt like going to Philly or DC). I was sitting in the car and remembering that they keep a book there with song lyrics. Whenever people visit, they sing the hymn to you and write your name on it. I had visited a couple times before. Then, we got there. I was getting my stuff out, and as we got to the building, I remembered that it takes a while to walk up the stairs because it's on one of the higher floors. It ended up taking not as long as I thought. Anthony, Grady, Ray, and some other rucf people were there. Stuff happened, and I can't really remember much. Oh, I think I saw Paul there. He was wearing a white polo.
Later, I was at a church that looked exactly like Baldwin Park. It was probably Baldwin Park. It was Spiritual Convocation, and Pastor Hwang was speaking. I was sitting in my usual spot. Then, my aunt came and told me it was about time to leave. I looked at the time, and it seemed like it was time. I was supposed to start school that day. We left, and next thing I knew I was sitting in the living room of my house. I noticed I still had some time before I headed out to my first class of the semester, so I listened to a livestream of the SC. As I was listening, I got so engrossed that I lost track of time. Then, I noticed that it was late afternoon, and all my classes that day were over! I was so frustrated. I had a class at 11am! How did this happen? I kept thinking about what I would do. Some classes are important for you to be there. For example, for Spanish, you can't miss that many classes or else you get marked down in your final grade. What if I missed important things I needed to know?
Then, my dad came home, and he was talking about my flight back to NJ that Sunday. I suddenly realized I was still in California, and my classes already started. That meant I would have to miss Thursday and Friday classes too (it was Wednesday)! How did that happen when I was buying plane tickets? I was so flustered!
That's all I have.
Lessons learned?
*Be sober and vigilant at all times.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
40. Freewrite: Twelve
Freewrites are fun. There's no pressure. There are no rules. You can write anything you want. Coherence not required.
A freewrite is when you are given a topic. Don't think. Immediately start writing. Keep writing whatever comes to mind. Your pen or pencil (or fingers if you are typing) should not stop. Don't think about how you're going to say things, just keep writing. Don't go back. Don't change anything.
At EWR we did 5 minute freewrites. After we stopped, we had to write, "I noticed I am writing about..." Below is a freewrite from EWR on the topic "Twelve."
Twelve disciples. Twelve-year old girl who died. Twelve-year old Jesus. Twelve. Twelve. Twelve. Why is this number so important in the Bible? Jesus once said, “There are twelve hours in a day.” Yes, our time on earth is important. We must use all we have to serve God. All our time.
But a question comes to mind. Why does the number 12 signify completeness? The chosen people…those who are being saved in Revelations—the 144,000. That is also some multiple of 12? Or … wait.. I dunno if that works.
But nonetheless, twelve in an important number. If you add one, it becomes thirteen, which is an unlucky number.
Once, someone asked me, “What age would u want to remain forever?” I think we were talking about when we get to heaven and what age we would be.
I confidently answered, “Twelve.”
Then this person proceeded to comment, “What is because that was before you lost your innocence?”
I just laughed and changed the subject. Maybe because I knew that that was not the reason I said twelve. Or maybe it was because I was embarrassed that the truth was I had lost my innocence way before I was 12? But the real reason I said twelve was because that was a point in my life when I felt I was worry-free. Everything in my life seemed satisfying and I was very content. No worries about school—junior high or high school stress—just going to elementary school (6th grade) and then going home. Going to church. Going to choir. What a joyful time.
Though we often want to remain satisfied and never want to give up our own contentment and comfort, we know there are only 12 hours in a day. There is a limited time and we must serve God while we can.
---
I noticed that I am writing about using our limited/given time wisely as servants of God. I noticed I am also writing about joy?
A freewrite is when you are given a topic. Don't think. Immediately start writing. Keep writing whatever comes to mind. Your pen or pencil (or fingers if you are typing) should not stop. Don't think about how you're going to say things, just keep writing. Don't go back. Don't change anything.
At EWR we did 5 minute freewrites. After we stopped, we had to write, "I noticed I am writing about..." Below is a freewrite from EWR on the topic "Twelve."
Twelve disciples. Twelve-year old girl who died. Twelve-year old Jesus. Twelve. Twelve. Twelve. Why is this number so important in the Bible? Jesus once said, “There are twelve hours in a day.” Yes, our time on earth is important. We must use all we have to serve God. All our time.
But a question comes to mind. Why does the number 12 signify completeness? The chosen people…those who are being saved in Revelations—the 144,000. That is also some multiple of 12? Or … wait.. I dunno if that works.
But nonetheless, twelve in an important number. If you add one, it becomes thirteen, which is an unlucky number.
Once, someone asked me, “What age would u want to remain forever?” I think we were talking about when we get to heaven and what age we would be.
I confidently answered, “Twelve.”
Then this person proceeded to comment, “What is because that was before you lost your innocence?”
I just laughed and changed the subject. Maybe because I knew that that was not the reason I said twelve. Or maybe it was because I was embarrassed that the truth was I had lost my innocence way before I was 12? But the real reason I said twelve was because that was a point in my life when I felt I was worry-free. Everything in my life seemed satisfying and I was very content. No worries about school—junior high or high school stress—just going to elementary school (6th grade) and then going home. Going to church. Going to choir. What a joyful time.
Though we often want to remain satisfied and never want to give up our own contentment and comfort, we know there are only 12 hours in a day. There is a limited time and we must serve God while we can.
---
I noticed that I am writing about using our limited/given time wisely as servants of God. I noticed I am also writing about joy?
39. $607
So last night I had a dream that I was at my high school. Actually, before that, I was in the Assembly Room at Hillsborough Church. I was at some sort of school setting with other students. We were playing video games. I was playing too. Later, we went outside, and I was at my high school quad area. (This reminds me of another dream when I was in the quad area and looking for someone selling ice cream and later bought something else.)
School was over, and I had to get to McDonalds to wait for my mom there until she got off work (I don't know why I had to do this because I have probably never gone to McDonalds to wait for my mom). I started walking on Orange Ave. It would be a few more blocks till I get to McDonalds (Actually, this reminds of a dream where I was walking in the streets by myself, and I wandered upon this spa area. I was only looking for a place to have lunch.) I kept walking, and then I saw some people I knew so I asked them for a ride to McDonalds. It was the head preceptor from REL252 in the passenger seat (but at that time it didn't click that she was the preceptor - I only knew that I knew her), and someone else in the driver's seat (maybe my professor from REL252, but maybe not). I was in the back. They missed the McDonalds. I think it was because they drove too fast. It was sort of dark. Then, we kept driving down the street, and they weren't turning back. It seemed that they were trying to find a good chance to turn around. There were some chances for them to turn around, but I think they were still driving too fast. I took a good look at the street sign (it was a board on my left out the window). We were on Dance St going toward Hollywood Ave (?). I'm not so sure about the latter street name.
Now, I don't remember what happened in between because I'm not writing this until now, but somehow I got into my mom's car. She told me that we were going somewhere with my dad. It was supposed to be nice or at least a big deal. She said that each person costs $600 to go. I think I said something like, "We can stay at hotels with that money." We got to the place. We got out of the car and went in. It was a casino/gaming place. It was well-lit. It was day time. My uncle, dad, and one of their friends were their.
I went to the register where we had to pay to get in. I saw that each person had to pay $607 to get in. My uncle or my dad's friend was putting in quarters in one of the machines. There weren't many people there. The place was small and not very luxurious or anything. It was just like a regular store.
I was not very happy about this. It was very obvious that it was a bad idea. I knew my parents knew, but my mom didn't say anything because she wouldn't say something bad about an idea that my dad made a big deal about, and my dad wouldn't say anything bad about something that his friends think is a big deal. So, I just tried to find something else to do. My mom forgot something in the car, but she couldn't go back to get it because once we pay the $607 fee, we had to stay in. If we leave, we have to pay the entrance fee again. Maybe it was so people can't cheat. I was thinking that, but that doesn't really make sense anymore. I realized I left my water bottle and other stuff (work to do, maybe) in the car.
So, I found some toys on the counter that kids probably played with. It was wooden. It was a board with trails on it with farm animals on wheels. There were magnets so the animals can link together and roll on the trail. There was a pig, cow, a white tall one (maybe a giraffe?), and some other animals. I played around. Some magnets were not in the right place, so it repelled instead of stuck. I was still frustrated inside, but I didn't show it or say anything.
Then, I woke up!
Should I have said something?
Lessons learned?
*I shouldn't have played video-games with the other kids, but sometimes when everyone is doing something, and it seems like it's on the "agenda" or "things-to-do," we just follow. Don't conform!
*Don't get in a car with people who spread false teachings - they'll drive you right past your true destination and lead you into darkness.
*Submit to parents even if it's a bad idea on their part. However, if it conflicts with your beliefs, you have to say something. Don't just let bad things happen for your whole family (spiritually bad things) and have everyone say nothing about it. Yes, they might get mad if you speak. In fact, you already know how they will probably react, but if it's for the sake of religion and keeping the teachings of the Bible, it must be done.
School was over, and I had to get to McDonalds to wait for my mom there until she got off work (I don't know why I had to do this because I have probably never gone to McDonalds to wait for my mom). I started walking on Orange Ave. It would be a few more blocks till I get to McDonalds (Actually, this reminds of a dream where I was walking in the streets by myself, and I wandered upon this spa area. I was only looking for a place to have lunch.) I kept walking, and then I saw some people I knew so I asked them for a ride to McDonalds. It was the head preceptor from REL252 in the passenger seat (but at that time it didn't click that she was the preceptor - I only knew that I knew her), and someone else in the driver's seat (maybe my professor from REL252, but maybe not). I was in the back. They missed the McDonalds. I think it was because they drove too fast. It was sort of dark. Then, we kept driving down the street, and they weren't turning back. It seemed that they were trying to find a good chance to turn around. There were some chances for them to turn around, but I think they were still driving too fast. I took a good look at the street sign (it was a board on my left out the window). We were on Dance St going toward Hollywood Ave (?). I'm not so sure about the latter street name.
Now, I don't remember what happened in between because I'm not writing this until now, but somehow I got into my mom's car. She told me that we were going somewhere with my dad. It was supposed to be nice or at least a big deal. She said that each person costs $600 to go. I think I said something like, "We can stay at hotels with that money." We got to the place. We got out of the car and went in. It was a casino/gaming place. It was well-lit. It was day time. My uncle, dad, and one of their friends were their.
I went to the register where we had to pay to get in. I saw that each person had to pay $607 to get in. My uncle or my dad's friend was putting in quarters in one of the machines. There weren't many people there. The place was small and not very luxurious or anything. It was just like a regular store.
I was not very happy about this. It was very obvious that it was a bad idea. I knew my parents knew, but my mom didn't say anything because she wouldn't say something bad about an idea that my dad made a big deal about, and my dad wouldn't say anything bad about something that his friends think is a big deal. So, I just tried to find something else to do. My mom forgot something in the car, but she couldn't go back to get it because once we pay the $607 fee, we had to stay in. If we leave, we have to pay the entrance fee again. Maybe it was so people can't cheat. I was thinking that, but that doesn't really make sense anymore. I realized I left my water bottle and other stuff (work to do, maybe) in the car.
So, I found some toys on the counter that kids probably played with. It was wooden. It was a board with trails on it with farm animals on wheels. There were magnets so the animals can link together and roll on the trail. There was a pig, cow, a white tall one (maybe a giraffe?), and some other animals. I played around. Some magnets were not in the right place, so it repelled instead of stuck. I was still frustrated inside, but I didn't show it or say anything.
Then, I woke up!
Should I have said something?
Lessons learned?
*I shouldn't have played video-games with the other kids, but sometimes when everyone is doing something, and it seems like it's on the "agenda" or "things-to-do," we just follow. Don't conform!
*Don't get in a car with people who spread false teachings - they'll drive you right past your true destination and lead you into darkness.
*Submit to parents even if it's a bad idea on their part. However, if it conflicts with your beliefs, you have to say something. Don't just let bad things happen for your whole family (spiritually bad things) and have everyone say nothing about it. Yes, they might get mad if you speak. In fact, you already know how they will probably react, but if it's for the sake of religion and keeping the teachings of the Bible, it must be done.
Monday, August 30, 2010
38. 黑木耳
Today I had hei1mu4er3 (黑木耳) as one of the dinner dishes. It was yummy.
It's the black stuff on the right. This photo is of my bian4dang1 for tomorrow's lunch. We had enough bian4dang1's for all of us! :)
My parents were teaching me about this hei1mu4er3, and so I said it sounds like sa1mu3er3 (撒母耳) - Chinese for Samuel, the Bible character.
Me: What was it called again?
Mom: It's called hei1mu4er3.
Me: Oh yea, it sounds like sa1mu3er3.
Mom: There's also bai2mu4er3. Both are very good.
Me: Oh yes, but sa1mu3er3 is best.
Mom: I lost to you okay? I lost to you! You won. You won! You beat everyone, okay?
It's the black stuff on the right. This photo is of my bian4dang1 for tomorrow's lunch. We had enough bian4dang1's for all of us! :)
My parents were teaching me about this hei1mu4er3, and so I said it sounds like sa1mu3er3 (撒母耳) - Chinese for Samuel, the Bible character.
Me: What was it called again?
Mom: It's called hei1mu4er3.
Me: Oh yea, it sounds like sa1mu3er3.
Mom: There's also bai2mu4er3. Both are very good.
Me: Oh yes, but sa1mu3er3 is best.
Mom: I lost to you okay? I lost to you! You won. You won! You beat everyone, okay?
37. Saturday Afternoon
[[Below is an entry I started writing on June 12. Just found some time today to finish it.]]
----
I was wondering what time they usually start senior class. I went upstairs and saw some of the brothers and sisters finishing up their lunch. I sat down in an empty chair. My lunch of fried chicken, rice, and salad started to filter into my blood and take me into a partial food coma. Jacob, Isaac, Jessica Chu (Chen-to-be!) and Peter were talking, but I was too zoned out to hear anything.
“Albert, you look tired,” Jacob said. I smiled and tried to snap back into consciousness. I walked to the back of the room to check the schedule to see what time we usually started. Ah. 1:40-1:50pm is hymn-singing. It was 1:38pm. I went back to sit down. A few more minutes flew by, and it was well past 1:40pm.
“Are we even having class today?” asked Isaac. Some of the sisters had gone to Marian’s graduation, and we were the few left.
“We usually would have started by now,” said Jacob.
Jessica was playing with a pair of shades made of a sunglasses-shaped cutout of dark-colored film and two pieces of white hard paper for the ear parts.
“Those look like 3-D glasses,” said Isaac.
“Maybe we should watch a 3-D movie,” said Jacob. Jessica chuckled and wobbled the glasses around.
Trying to join the conversation, I asked, “Why do you have 3-D glasses?”
Jessica laughed. “Haha. They’re not 3-D glasses. I got my pupils dilated this morning, so everything’s really bright.” She leaned over to show me her dilated pupils. “See?” Yea, they were pretty dilated.
“You can’t just wear regular sunglasses?” I asked.
“Yea, but I didn’t bring any.”
Peter took some toilet paper, which was conveniently resting on the senior class table, and folded it into a nice square to blow his nose.
“Peter, every time I see you, you have allergies.” Isaac said.
“Yea, seriously. Every time!” Jacob affirmed passionately.
“Well, it’s not always this bad.” Peter replied.
Isaac disagreed. “But seriously, all year around, you’re like this--at least every time I see you. Maybe it’s only on Saturdays. You should take some Claritan.”
“No, you should take Zyrtec,” corrected Jessica.
“Oh yea, I mean… you should take some medication.”
Jacob looked over at me. “Albert, are you allergic to anything?”
“Hm… dust?” I replied. Peter scoffed.
“Oh! You should eat pu2tao2zi3,” Jessica exclaimed to Peter.
“Yea, I tried that before. I think they have pills,” replied Peter.
“Wait, like the kind in holy communion?” Jacob was confused.
“No, not grape juice. Grape seeds!” Jessica said.
“Ohh. I thought you said pu2tao2zi1.”
“What? I didn’t know you could eat those.” Now, Isaac was confused.
“Yea, it’s healthy,” Jessica replied.
“I always thought a tree would grow in your stomach if you ate the seeds.” Jacob was half-serious.
“Yea, remember that thing we saw with the actual people who had trees growing on them? Like tree people. Haha,” said Isaac. He was talking about something they saw on a show.
“Oh yea, I’ve seen that before.” I said.
“Oh, mhm,” Jessica remarked in affirmation that I probably did see it before.
“What? Where?” Isaac said in disbelief.
“On Youtube,” I said.
“Seeee,” said Jessica. She knew she was right.
Isaac continued: “Yea, it’s so gross. They were trying to cut it off. They had to cut off the wood that was growing so he could walk.”
“There were bugs growing in the wood too!” Jacob said.
Isaac shivered. “Ewww. Can you imagine that happening to you?”
“How do they even become like that?” I asked.
“The guys said, he had a cut on his knee when he was in the forest or something and then after that, he started to grow stuff on his skin,” replied Jessica. She always knows what she’s talking about.
“Ohh. It’s like his genes were changed…” I commented.
“1 in a million people are like that. So, there are like 6 people like that in the world,” said Isaac.
Jacob, the math-genius he is, corrected his brother, “Oh, you mean 1 in a billion?”
“Can you believe they have to go to the doctors every time they need to cut the wood? In the program, they were bleeding!” said Isaac.
“There was blood in their wood?” I asked.
“Oh. No, it’s the part where the wood meets the skin,” answered Jessica.
“Yea, where they mesh,” supplemented Isaac.
I thought about how that could even be possible. How does the wood and skin mesh? As the others continued to chat away, Jessica fumbled around with her benign pair of shades. She decided to put them on.
However, right after she put on her shades, something happened.
“Whoa! Why does everything look weird? Ow… Why does my neck feel so stiff!?” she frantically cried out.
“Jess, you’re… you’re a tree!... Wait… Ah! I can’t move my legs!!” Isaac screamed.
“Isaac, you’re a tree too! Why can’t I… huh? My arm is a… branch!” Jacob panicked.
I looked at myself and back at them. We were tree-people! Was I dreaming? What was going on? It was so surreal, like some sort of movie.
Then, I realized that this started happening when Jessica put on her shades, so I yelled to her. “Take off your glasses!”
“I can’t! I can’t move my arms!” She exclaimed.
Suddenly, a sweeping wind blew into the room, and the table, walls, piano, and white board disappeared. Everything became pitch black. I kept yelling “Take off your glasses!” but the wind was so loud that I could barely hear myself.
Then, a roaring voice louder than the violent wind spoke, “Cut it down! Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?”
I could hear Isaac screaming a few feet away, “What is going on?!”
Then, I saw before us a dim light shining on a man. It suddenly became very quiet. This man was kneeling with a tree beside him. He replied to the voice, “Sir, please! Leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.”
Then the loud roaring voice said, “Very well!”
The man disappeared, and we were swept about by the violent wind again. I could hear Jessica, Jacob, Isaac, and myself screaming, “Ahhhh!!”
Louder than before, the voice spoke, “Unless you repent and bear fruit, you too will all perish!”
Immediately, we were all back in our seats in the classroom, normal, panting, eyes opened, and trembling. Jessica was holding the pair of shades in front of her. Her jaws were dropped, and her hands were shaking. We looked at each other, not knowing what to make of what just happened.
What a Saturday afternoon...
----
I was wondering what time they usually start senior class. I went upstairs and saw some of the brothers and sisters finishing up their lunch. I sat down in an empty chair. My lunch of fried chicken, rice, and salad started to filter into my blood and take me into a partial food coma. Jacob, Isaac, Jessica Chu (Chen-to-be!) and Peter were talking, but I was too zoned out to hear anything.
“Albert, you look tired,” Jacob said. I smiled and tried to snap back into consciousness. I walked to the back of the room to check the schedule to see what time we usually started. Ah. 1:40-1:50pm is hymn-singing. It was 1:38pm. I went back to sit down. A few more minutes flew by, and it was well past 1:40pm.
“Are we even having class today?” asked Isaac. Some of the sisters had gone to Marian’s graduation, and we were the few left.
“We usually would have started by now,” said Jacob.
Jessica was playing with a pair of shades made of a sunglasses-shaped cutout of dark-colored film and two pieces of white hard paper for the ear parts.
“Those look like 3-D glasses,” said Isaac.
“Maybe we should watch a 3-D movie,” said Jacob. Jessica chuckled and wobbled the glasses around.
Trying to join the conversation, I asked, “Why do you have 3-D glasses?”
Jessica laughed. “Haha. They’re not 3-D glasses. I got my pupils dilated this morning, so everything’s really bright.” She leaned over to show me her dilated pupils. “See?” Yea, they were pretty dilated.
“You can’t just wear regular sunglasses?” I asked.
“Yea, but I didn’t bring any.”
Peter took some toilet paper, which was conveniently resting on the senior class table, and folded it into a nice square to blow his nose.
“Peter, every time I see you, you have allergies.” Isaac said.
“Yea, seriously. Every time!” Jacob affirmed passionately.
“Well, it’s not always this bad.” Peter replied.
Isaac disagreed. “But seriously, all year around, you’re like this--at least every time I see you. Maybe it’s only on Saturdays. You should take some Claritan.”
“No, you should take Zyrtec,” corrected Jessica.
“Oh yea, I mean… you should take some medication.”
Jacob looked over at me. “Albert, are you allergic to anything?”
“Hm… dust?” I replied. Peter scoffed.
“Oh! You should eat pu2tao2zi3,” Jessica exclaimed to Peter.
“Yea, I tried that before. I think they have pills,” replied Peter.
“Wait, like the kind in holy communion?” Jacob was confused.
“No, not grape juice. Grape seeds!” Jessica said.
“Ohh. I thought you said pu2tao2zi1.”
“What? I didn’t know you could eat those.” Now, Isaac was confused.
“Yea, it’s healthy,” Jessica replied.
“I always thought a tree would grow in your stomach if you ate the seeds.” Jacob was half-serious.
“Yea, remember that thing we saw with the actual people who had trees growing on them? Like tree people. Haha,” said Isaac. He was talking about something they saw on a show.
“Oh yea, I’ve seen that before.” I said.
“Oh, mhm,” Jessica remarked in affirmation that I probably did see it before.
“What? Where?” Isaac said in disbelief.
“On Youtube,” I said.
“Seeee,” said Jessica. She knew she was right.
Isaac continued: “Yea, it’s so gross. They were trying to cut it off. They had to cut off the wood that was growing so he could walk.”
“There were bugs growing in the wood too!” Jacob said.
Isaac shivered. “Ewww. Can you imagine that happening to you?”
“How do they even become like that?” I asked.
“The guys said, he had a cut on his knee when he was in the forest or something and then after that, he started to grow stuff on his skin,” replied Jessica. She always knows what she’s talking about.
“Ohh. It’s like his genes were changed…” I commented.
“1 in a million people are like that. So, there are like 6 people like that in the world,” said Isaac.
Jacob, the math-genius he is, corrected his brother, “Oh, you mean 1 in a billion?”
“Can you believe they have to go to the doctors every time they need to cut the wood? In the program, they were bleeding!” said Isaac.
“There was blood in their wood?” I asked.
“Oh. No, it’s the part where the wood meets the skin,” answered Jessica.
“Yea, where they mesh,” supplemented Isaac.
I thought about how that could even be possible. How does the wood and skin mesh? As the others continued to chat away, Jessica fumbled around with her benign pair of shades. She decided to put them on.
However, right after she put on her shades, something happened.
“Whoa! Why does everything look weird? Ow… Why does my neck feel so stiff!?” she frantically cried out.
“Jess, you’re… you’re a tree!... Wait… Ah! I can’t move my legs!!” Isaac screamed.
“Isaac, you’re a tree too! Why can’t I… huh? My arm is a… branch!” Jacob panicked.
I looked at myself and back at them. We were tree-people! Was I dreaming? What was going on? It was so surreal, like some sort of movie.
Then, I realized that this started happening when Jessica put on her shades, so I yelled to her. “Take off your glasses!”
“I can’t! I can’t move my arms!” She exclaimed.
Suddenly, a sweeping wind blew into the room, and the table, walls, piano, and white board disappeared. Everything became pitch black. I kept yelling “Take off your glasses!” but the wind was so loud that I could barely hear myself.
Then, a roaring voice louder than the violent wind spoke, “Cut it down! Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?”
I could hear Isaac screaming a few feet away, “What is going on?!”
Then, I saw before us a dim light shining on a man. It suddenly became very quiet. This man was kneeling with a tree beside him. He replied to the voice, “Sir, please! Leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.”
Then the loud roaring voice said, “Very well!”
The man disappeared, and we were swept about by the violent wind again. I could hear Jessica, Jacob, Isaac, and myself screaming, “Ahhhh!!”
Louder than before, the voice spoke, “Unless you repent and bear fruit, you too will all perish!”
Immediately, we were all back in our seats in the classroom, normal, panting, eyes opened, and trembling. Jessica was holding the pair of shades in front of her. Her jaws were dropped, and her hands were shaking. We looked at each other, not knowing what to make of what just happened.
What a Saturday afternoon...
36. Pop-up Flower Art
Last night was a busy night of dreaming.
I was in a big house or mansion. One of the rooms looked like the Assembly Room of Hillsborough Church. I was there looking for something in the closet. In the room were tables arranged for dining and all my cousins were there. They just finished eating. Then my grandma was there, and she asked me if the cousins could all eat at the dining hall at my school later, and that she'd pay for us. She was kind of quiet in asking me, and the others were looking at me to see how I would answer. I said yes. I think some people were seeing if I would let her treat us out because she's our elder. They were expecting me to say no plus something polite so that she would have to find some other opportunity. However, I could tell that she already thought it through, and she was pretty serious about it, so I didn't want to make it difficult.
Later, I walked out of that room and into the hallway. There was a lot of art work in the house - paintings and such on the walls. I forgot how I found out, but the mansion we were in was my grandma's house. Down the hall to my right were paintings of flowers with the pedals somewhat 3-D. My grandma told me that Shawn made those. I said, "Wow..." They were pretty good. I had no idea Shawn was doing this in his free time - nor that he gave them to grandma.
I forgot what happened in between, but later, the mansion was filled with people. I think it was a youth church event. We were all drawing and working on pieces of art. There were a lot of people. People were walking to and fro, and it was very festive.
Lots of things happened at the event, and here are a few things that I can remember:
At one point, I think Lisa C told me that we were going to move upstairs to work. So I took my paper and chair and pushed it up in the ceiling. The ceiling is the type where there are squares of foam boards, so one of the foam boards lifted up and my stuff went into the ceiling.
I was upstairs later and I was looking for my stuff. I was looking for a flap in the floor. I was in a classroom and there were a lot of people working on their project. I had to squish through to the place I thought my stuff was. I lifted it up and got my stuff. Then I started working on my piece. I didn't know what to draw. I first darkened the top with my piece of paper with charcole (not charcoal). Then, I started drawing a dog with big ears (like a chihuahua with big ears). I was only working on the ears. Close up it didn't look too bad, but when I kept looking at what I had, I was not very happy. I was trying to draw the ears, and it was hard.
Later, I was asking Jessica how to draw it because she's good with dogs. She showed me a picture (or a sketch) of a pochacco doll, but it was a doggy with a pochacco face (The Sanrio character).
Later, I was talking with Lina and Pastor Hwang. I forgot what we were talking about, but we all had to go somewhere, so we agreed to have a short meeting later. I don't know where I was going, but I was going toward the back of the mansion. Grady was telling me about his drawing. He was wearing a toy armor that he made with the plastic sticks. I think he was drawing that. We all these plastic sticks to build and make stuff with - it was like those connect toy-lego things. Some people made them into guns and were playing around. It was also to help us have a visual model when we were drawing. I think I had one of the stick guns in my hand. We were walking fast as we talked. It was time to pray, and people in the room were kneeling down, so Grady knelt down and prayed. I kept walking back.
As I was walking, it started getting more crowded. The press was following us. I got to the corner of the room where there was a door leading into the hallway. It was crowded. I turned around and Pastor Hwang was behind me, and the press and video crew were asking him questions. He was trying to get to the door too as he was answering them. I think they kept asking me questions too. I had around 4 mics in my hands.
I saw Pastor Hwang and Jia An, and I remembered that we were going to have a meeting. But, I didn't think it would be any time soon because it's so crowded.
I got out into the hallway, and people were lining up and walking into the room across the hall (I think it was the chapel?). Some people were dressed nicely. I thought to myself that it might be a wedding.
Later, I was thinking about my drawing and how I can improve. I thought about drawing a doll-like dog with the stitches still there and the eyes could be human eyes. I was thinking that it might still be unoriginal because some dog dolls have realistic looking eyes already. I also thought about using a picture online as a model because people were using the plastic connecting sticks to model things.
Anyway, what a weird dream.
Lessons learned? When people are trying to do something, and you can tell they are serious, don't make it more difficult for them - help them out. Shawn has secretly been working on pop-up flower art. Ceilings with the square foam boards are convenient for getting things from floor to floor. Ask people who have a background/experience in a field related to what you're doing - they can give you good advice/help. When working in church, it's good to have people from three different generations working together. Don't jump into doing things too quickly because thinking things through first can save a lot of time. Good ideas are from God.
I was in a big house or mansion. One of the rooms looked like the Assembly Room of Hillsborough Church. I was there looking for something in the closet. In the room were tables arranged for dining and all my cousins were there. They just finished eating. Then my grandma was there, and she asked me if the cousins could all eat at the dining hall at my school later, and that she'd pay for us. She was kind of quiet in asking me, and the others were looking at me to see how I would answer. I said yes. I think some people were seeing if I would let her treat us out because she's our elder. They were expecting me to say no plus something polite so that she would have to find some other opportunity. However, I could tell that she already thought it through, and she was pretty serious about it, so I didn't want to make it difficult.
Later, I walked out of that room and into the hallway. There was a lot of art work in the house - paintings and such on the walls. I forgot how I found out, but the mansion we were in was my grandma's house. Down the hall to my right were paintings of flowers with the pedals somewhat 3-D. My grandma told me that Shawn made those. I said, "Wow..." They were pretty good. I had no idea Shawn was doing this in his free time - nor that he gave them to grandma.
I forgot what happened in between, but later, the mansion was filled with people. I think it was a youth church event. We were all drawing and working on pieces of art. There were a lot of people. People were walking to and fro, and it was very festive.
Lots of things happened at the event, and here are a few things that I can remember:
At one point, I think Lisa C told me that we were going to move upstairs to work. So I took my paper and chair and pushed it up in the ceiling. The ceiling is the type where there are squares of foam boards, so one of the foam boards lifted up and my stuff went into the ceiling.
I was upstairs later and I was looking for my stuff. I was looking for a flap in the floor. I was in a classroom and there were a lot of people working on their project. I had to squish through to the place I thought my stuff was. I lifted it up and got my stuff. Then I started working on my piece. I didn't know what to draw. I first darkened the top with my piece of paper with charcole (not charcoal). Then, I started drawing a dog with big ears (like a chihuahua with big ears). I was only working on the ears. Close up it didn't look too bad, but when I kept looking at what I had, I was not very happy. I was trying to draw the ears, and it was hard.
Later, I was asking Jessica how to draw it because she's good with dogs. She showed me a picture (or a sketch) of a pochacco doll, but it was a doggy with a pochacco face (The Sanrio character).
Later, I was talking with Lina and Pastor Hwang. I forgot what we were talking about, but we all had to go somewhere, so we agreed to have a short meeting later. I don't know where I was going, but I was going toward the back of the mansion. Grady was telling me about his drawing. He was wearing a toy armor that he made with the plastic sticks. I think he was drawing that. We all these plastic sticks to build and make stuff with - it was like those connect toy-lego things. Some people made them into guns and were playing around. It was also to help us have a visual model when we were drawing. I think I had one of the stick guns in my hand. We were walking fast as we talked. It was time to pray, and people in the room were kneeling down, so Grady knelt down and prayed. I kept walking back.
As I was walking, it started getting more crowded. The press was following us. I got to the corner of the room where there was a door leading into the hallway. It was crowded. I turned around and Pastor Hwang was behind me, and the press and video crew were asking him questions. He was trying to get to the door too as he was answering them. I think they kept asking me questions too. I had around 4 mics in my hands.
I saw Pastor Hwang and Jia An, and I remembered that we were going to have a meeting. But, I didn't think it would be any time soon because it's so crowded.
I got out into the hallway, and people were lining up and walking into the room across the hall (I think it was the chapel?). Some people were dressed nicely. I thought to myself that it might be a wedding.
Later, I was thinking about my drawing and how I can improve. I thought about drawing a doll-like dog with the stitches still there and the eyes could be human eyes. I was thinking that it might still be unoriginal because some dog dolls have realistic looking eyes already. I also thought about using a picture online as a model because people were using the plastic connecting sticks to model things.
Anyway, what a weird dream.
Lessons learned? When people are trying to do something, and you can tell they are serious, don't make it more difficult for them - help them out. Shawn has secretly been working on pop-up flower art. Ceilings with the square foam boards are convenient for getting things from floor to floor. Ask people who have a background/experience in a field related to what you're doing - they can give you good advice/help. When working in church, it's good to have people from three different generations working together. Don't jump into doing things too quickly because thinking things through first can save a lot of time. Good ideas are from God.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
35. Truth and Reality
Have you ever confused reality with imagination? Have you ever gone so deep into a dream or thought or chain of logic that the pure fact and the stable reality become a blur?
Several times when I read the Bible I find something extremely edifying, and it's such a wonderful feeling. Recently, I had dreams where I'm reading the Bible, and I find something interesting, and I keep thinking and marveling about it. I get the "feeling" I get when I actually read something awesome in the Bible, but it's not real--I'm not actually reading something from the real Bible.
Sometimes, my mom gets mad because I say something or because something happens. She'll keep repeating what I said or what happened, but the more she thinks about it and the more she retells what happens, it seems what originally happened gets twisted and blurred. Details that did not occur suddenly become part of what enrages her even more. The more she thinks about it, the farther away from reality it becomes. The more she thinks about it, the more furious she gets.
Of course, I should not see this entry as a chance to complain about someone I love. Rather, it is to make a point.
During sermon interpretation, sometimes the message slightly deviates from what the speaker is actually saying - either on purpose or not. For example, if the speaker says, "I'm pretty sure every one of us has or has had a problem with living by faith and not by sight," we might get an interpretation like, "Some of us might have had a problem with living by faith and not by sight before." Not the same meaning, but close. And from the not so close interpretation, can come different reactions. A person who hears the former might think, "Yea, I guess I have... I will keep listening to see how I can improve," but a person who hears the latter might think, "Oh, some of us? I'm probably not in that minority. But I think I might know some people who are like that."
Another example: Say five of us agree to pray 15 minutes after lunch on Saturdays for missionary work in Africa. However, we actually end up doing it 1 or 2 times every month because we sometimes have to go to a meeting, talk with someone, or do other things. And not all five of us show up every time. Then, in a conversation about missionary work in Africa, I tell someone that the five of us pray 15 minutes after lunch on Saturdays. Is that accurate? Of course we try to do that, but in reality, we don't do it every Saturday. Acceptable accuracy would be that we "try" to pray 15 minutes every week. However, to say that we actually do, that would not be factual, right?
How important is it to insist on factual accuracy? Are there hidden motives when we do not give an accurate picture of things? When we respond in a way as to give others a wrong impression of reality, is that deception? We know that every careless word we say will be judged (Mt 12:36). Our minds twist things up, our imagination distorts reality. However, one thing will never change: the words of God. The words of God are truth. The words of God are absolute. Let us aim to live by this truth and be perfect.
Several times when I read the Bible I find something extremely edifying, and it's such a wonderful feeling. Recently, I had dreams where I'm reading the Bible, and I find something interesting, and I keep thinking and marveling about it. I get the "feeling" I get when I actually read something awesome in the Bible, but it's not real--I'm not actually reading something from the real Bible.
Sometimes, my mom gets mad because I say something or because something happens. She'll keep repeating what I said or what happened, but the more she thinks about it and the more she retells what happens, it seems what originally happened gets twisted and blurred. Details that did not occur suddenly become part of what enrages her even more. The more she thinks about it, the farther away from reality it becomes. The more she thinks about it, the more furious she gets.
Of course, I should not see this entry as a chance to complain about someone I love. Rather, it is to make a point.
During sermon interpretation, sometimes the message slightly deviates from what the speaker is actually saying - either on purpose or not. For example, if the speaker says, "I'm pretty sure every one of us has or has had a problem with living by faith and not by sight," we might get an interpretation like, "Some of us might have had a problem with living by faith and not by sight before." Not the same meaning, but close. And from the not so close interpretation, can come different reactions. A person who hears the former might think, "Yea, I guess I have... I will keep listening to see how I can improve," but a person who hears the latter might think, "Oh, some of us? I'm probably not in that minority. But I think I might know some people who are like that."
Another example: Say five of us agree to pray 15 minutes after lunch on Saturdays for missionary work in Africa. However, we actually end up doing it 1 or 2 times every month because we sometimes have to go to a meeting, talk with someone, or do other things. And not all five of us show up every time. Then, in a conversation about missionary work in Africa, I tell someone that the five of us pray 15 minutes after lunch on Saturdays. Is that accurate? Of course we try to do that, but in reality, we don't do it every Saturday. Acceptable accuracy would be that we "try" to pray 15 minutes every week. However, to say that we actually do, that would not be factual, right?
How important is it to insist on factual accuracy? Are there hidden motives when we do not give an accurate picture of things? When we respond in a way as to give others a wrong impression of reality, is that deception? We know that every careless word we say will be judged (Mt 12:36). Our minds twist things up, our imagination distorts reality. However, one thing will never change: the words of God. The words of God are truth. The words of God are absolute. Let us aim to live by this truth and be perfect.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
34. Expanse of the Sky
And God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters to separate water from water." So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it. And it was so. God called the expanse "sky" (Genesis 1:6-8a).
What is this "expanse," or "firmament" (NKJV, KJV) called "sky," or "heaven"? It certainly is not the heaven that God created in Genesis 1:1. That existed when the earth was still formless. This "sky" was created on the second day. It is specifically called an expanse between the water on the earth and the water above the earth. Is this water above the earth the water that rained down in Noah's time? Is it just clouds? Or is it another body of water that encapsulates the universe?
In Genesis 1:14, God created "lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from night." The lights, here referring to sun and moon, are IN the expanse. The stars are also set "in the expanse of the sky" (Genesis 1:17). We know clearly that the sun, moon, and stars are not between the clouds and the oceans. If there were to be a body of water surrounding the earth in Noah's time before the flood, the sun and moon would still be outside of it. Does this verse just mean that the light given off by the sun and stars shines into the expanse of the sky? Or is there something obvious I'm not seeing? Or is there something more profound going on?
What is this "expanse," or "firmament" (NKJV, KJV) called "sky," or "heaven"? It certainly is not the heaven that God created in Genesis 1:1. That existed when the earth was still formless. This "sky" was created on the second day. It is specifically called an expanse between the water on the earth and the water above the earth. Is this water above the earth the water that rained down in Noah's time? Is it just clouds? Or is it another body of water that encapsulates the universe?
In Genesis 1:14, God created "lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from night." The lights, here referring to sun and moon, are IN the expanse. The stars are also set "in the expanse of the sky" (Genesis 1:17). We know clearly that the sun, moon, and stars are not between the clouds and the oceans. If there were to be a body of water surrounding the earth in Noah's time before the flood, the sun and moon would still be outside of it. Does this verse just mean that the light given off by the sun and stars shines into the expanse of the sky? Or is there something obvious I'm not seeing? Or is there something more profound going on?
Sunday, July 11, 2010
33. A Loving Father
"For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me." (1 Cor 4:15-16)
One message from RETS that I really like is how as RE teachers, we should be fathers who love their children. There may be many instructors in the RE system, who teach class and then leave like part-time professors. However, we must not just be instructors. We must be fathers who love the students as their own children. This love is like the love of a good shepherd who is willing to give his life for the sheep. This love is a love of sacrifice. Therefore, let us not be hired hands. Let us not be mere instructors. Let us ask God for the heart of a father that we may truly love our children in Christ. We must set the example of love for the students - an example for them to imitate and follow.
One message from RETS that I really like is how as RE teachers, we should be fathers who love their children. There may be many instructors in the RE system, who teach class and then leave like part-time professors. However, we must not just be instructors. We must be fathers who love the students as their own children. This love is like the love of a good shepherd who is willing to give his life for the sheep. This love is a love of sacrifice. Therefore, let us not be hired hands. Let us not be mere instructors. Let us ask God for the heart of a father that we may truly love our children in Christ. We must set the example of love for the students - an example for them to imitate and follow.
32. RETS Happenings
Not really happenings. More like quotes by D. Liang.
D. Liang was giving a message about how our criteria for marriage should only be based on feeling (if you have feelings toward this person), same faith, and independence (mental, physical, and spiritual). He was saying that people often create artificial criteria like how people look. However, beauty eventually fades like a flower.
DL: After they have 2 or 3 children, they all look the same.
---
About Holy Spirit and good conduct. Can you identify that someone has received the HS by their good conduct (fruit)? The answer is no. The evidence is speaking in tongues. One is example is Cornelius who did good works but didn't receive the HS yet. Another is... Confucius?
DL: Of course Confucius did not have the Holy Spirit. He did not even hear of Jesus Christ.
---
There was a two-part class on "sexual purity before serving". We have to be clean vessels so that God can use us.
DL: If I gave you a gold cup and a plastic cup, which one would you use?
Student: Which ever one is clean.
DL: Yes. What if the cup had poopoo in it? What is important is if it is clean.
---
We were talking about the ideal age of marriage. DL said 22 is okay (right after graduating).
DL: What age is ideal? I got married at the age of 33 - Jesus' crucifixion.
---
DL was talking about how we should move courtship closer to marriage, and consequently, the engagement commencement closer to the wedding day.
DL: After courtship and commencement, you can get married the next day. Right? Double blessing.
---
He was talking about how we have to spend time to counsel students.
DL: Counseling is not like McDonalds - a few minutes and it's finished. No such kind of thing.
---
He once read in Reader's Digest that fathers usually spend 3-5 minutes each day with their children. The first minute is to ask the children to report what they did. The second minute is for the father to criticize them like how they didn't clean well enough or how they need to improve in HW. The third is to give commands.
DL: The fourth is to dismiss - "Everybody watch TV." ... No wonder so many problems.
---
About sexual purity and how we should never be in the same room alone with the opposite gender unless it's family, and how we should go to public places during courtship.
DL: Go somewhere like McDonalds. It's impossible to commit to fornication at McDonalds.
D. Liang was giving a message about how our criteria for marriage should only be based on feeling (if you have feelings toward this person), same faith, and independence (mental, physical, and spiritual). He was saying that people often create artificial criteria like how people look. However, beauty eventually fades like a flower.
DL: After they have 2 or 3 children, they all look the same.
---
About Holy Spirit and good conduct. Can you identify that someone has received the HS by their good conduct (fruit)? The answer is no. The evidence is speaking in tongues. One is example is Cornelius who did good works but didn't receive the HS yet. Another is... Confucius?
DL: Of course Confucius did not have the Holy Spirit. He did not even hear of Jesus Christ.
---
There was a two-part class on "sexual purity before serving". We have to be clean vessels so that God can use us.
DL: If I gave you a gold cup and a plastic cup, which one would you use?
Student: Which ever one is clean.
DL: Yes. What if the cup had poopoo in it? What is important is if it is clean.
---
We were talking about the ideal age of marriage. DL said 22 is okay (right after graduating).
DL: What age is ideal? I got married at the age of 33 - Jesus' crucifixion.
---
DL was talking about how we should move courtship closer to marriage, and consequently, the engagement commencement closer to the wedding day.
DL: After courtship and commencement, you can get married the next day. Right? Double blessing.
---
He was talking about how we have to spend time to counsel students.
DL: Counseling is not like McDonalds - a few minutes and it's finished. No such kind of thing.
---
He once read in Reader's Digest that fathers usually spend 3-5 minutes each day with their children. The first minute is to ask the children to report what they did. The second minute is for the father to criticize them like how they didn't clean well enough or how they need to improve in HW. The third is to give commands.
DL: The fourth is to dismiss - "Everybody watch TV." ... No wonder so many problems.
---
About sexual purity and how we should never be in the same room alone with the opposite gender unless it's family, and how we should go to public places during courtship.
DL: Go somewhere like McDonalds. It's impossible to commit to fornication at McDonalds.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
31. The One Receiving
I just remembered something from EWR. Annie was teaching us a hymn called "My Sin is Ever Before Me." She shared that it was her son's favorite hymn, Then, she said something along the lines of, "I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing."
With that digression out of the way, thank God for many edifying messages today! I feel that every time I think I'm going to be serving God and giving to God, I am actually the one receiving. What I receive from Him is so much more than I can ever imagine giving.
Earlier today, a woman was talking about the students from different areas coming to SSC. A woman said to me, "Oh, you're representing the California area."
My Aunt: Oh no, he's not going to be a student. He's counseling.
Woman (to me): Whoa. I thought you were in high school.
With that digression out of the way, thank God for many edifying messages today! I feel that every time I think I'm going to be serving God and giving to God, I am actually the one receiving. What I receive from Him is so much more than I can ever imagine giving.
Earlier today, a woman was talking about the students from different areas coming to SSC. A woman said to me, "Oh, you're representing the California area."
My Aunt: Oh no, he's not going to be a student. He's counseling.
Woman (to me): Whoa. I thought you were in high school.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
30. Couldn't Find the Key
Ah too many dreams last night. I can hardly remember now.
One part I remember is when I was doing laundry downstairs in the dorms. Then next door was a dining table and my mom and Shawn's mom were preparing food. Johnson brought a friend over who sat next to me. She was not Asian, but she could speak Chinese, so my aunt (Shawn's mom) was talking to her. My aunt was pretty excited to talk to her. There was another lady talking to her too. My mom was sitting a bit farther, so she wasn't talking to her as much. I forgot what they were talking about.
Later, Shawn, his mom, and I were walking to a restaurant. There was a guy who took off his shirt and walked into the restaurant. Then, they kicked him out. I went and saw that there was a sign that said if you take off your shoes next to the door, you get free mashed potatoes. I think the guy accidently thought it said "shirt" instead of "shoes." We went to sit down (somehow before we sat down we had already taken our orders, but I don't remember actually having our orders taken, I just knew as a fact that it was done). Me and Shawn had ordered the same thing (paste and something on the side) and my aunt ordered something else. Their orders came, but I had mashed potatoes in front of my seat. My entree didn't come yet. The mashed potatoes looked really good (they had some cheese on the top too). But, I didnt take off my shoes yet. I guess they were expecting I would. I went to take my shoes off and put them near the entrance. Then, I was eatin,g and I noticed I was wearing a white dress shirt. I was worried it would get dirty. I felt it was a little yellowish, so I kept checking the light to see if it really was.
Another segment was when I was driving to a storage place. There were a lot of cars, so I was stuck in the line. In the car, I was watching TV. I think it was Dragonball Z. I got really scared because I'm not supposed to watch TV because I have to prepare my heart for SSC. Then, I got to the place, and parked my car. There was a motorcycle parked next to me. I went to the storage and got a key and some metal parts. I went to open the shed. I was looking at stuff in the shed. Later, I saw Brady there. He was talking with Kaleigh. Then, I wanted to leave the storage place. I was looking for the key so that I could to close the storage and put the key and metal parts back to the small locker box area, but I couldn't find the key. I had a feeling I wasn't supposed to officially be able to get into the storage area, so I got more scared because I couldn't find the key.
I'm almost certain there were more dream segments, but I really can't remember.
Lessons learned? Being able to speak people's native languages is a plus in making connections, make sure we get the rules correct before we take action (2 Tim 2:5), and keep your eyes on the key so that you don't lose it when you need it!
One part I remember is when I was doing laundry downstairs in the dorms. Then next door was a dining table and my mom and Shawn's mom were preparing food. Johnson brought a friend over who sat next to me. She was not Asian, but she could speak Chinese, so my aunt (Shawn's mom) was talking to her. My aunt was pretty excited to talk to her. There was another lady talking to her too. My mom was sitting a bit farther, so she wasn't talking to her as much. I forgot what they were talking about.
Later, Shawn, his mom, and I were walking to a restaurant. There was a guy who took off his shirt and walked into the restaurant. Then, they kicked him out. I went and saw that there was a sign that said if you take off your shoes next to the door, you get free mashed potatoes. I think the guy accidently thought it said "shirt" instead of "shoes." We went to sit down (somehow before we sat down we had already taken our orders, but I don't remember actually having our orders taken, I just knew as a fact that it was done). Me and Shawn had ordered the same thing (paste and something on the side) and my aunt ordered something else. Their orders came, but I had mashed potatoes in front of my seat. My entree didn't come yet. The mashed potatoes looked really good (they had some cheese on the top too). But, I didnt take off my shoes yet. I guess they were expecting I would. I went to take my shoes off and put them near the entrance. Then, I was eatin,g and I noticed I was wearing a white dress shirt. I was worried it would get dirty. I felt it was a little yellowish, so I kept checking the light to see if it really was.
Another segment was when I was driving to a storage place. There were a lot of cars, so I was stuck in the line. In the car, I was watching TV. I think it was Dragonball Z. I got really scared because I'm not supposed to watch TV because I have to prepare my heart for SSC. Then, I got to the place, and parked my car. There was a motorcycle parked next to me. I went to the storage and got a key and some metal parts. I went to open the shed. I was looking at stuff in the shed. Later, I saw Brady there. He was talking with Kaleigh. Then, I wanted to leave the storage place. I was looking for the key so that I could to close the storage and put the key and metal parts back to the small locker box area, but I couldn't find the key. I had a feeling I wasn't supposed to officially be able to get into the storage area, so I got more scared because I couldn't find the key.
I'm almost certain there were more dream segments, but I really can't remember.
Lessons learned? Being able to speak people's native languages is a plus in making connections, make sure we get the rules correct before we take action (2 Tim 2:5), and keep your eyes on the key so that you don't lose it when you need it!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
29. It was Only a Dream
Last night was filled with dreams. Don't think I can remember them all, but here they come.
In my dream, I was in the BP church dining hall area. We were learning things. It was stuff about Jesus, along the lines of theology. Then, we moved over to another room, which is Ms. Matic's room in my high school. We were seated and began to take a test. The test was on the stuff we just learned. Mrs. Groover was the teacher, telling us the prompts out loud. I was sitting on the ground at the left side of the class writing the exam. Then, there was another prompt. These questions were more based on what we just learned in the BP dining area about Jesus. I was now sitting in one of the desks. The test was really hard. There was a list of things we had to have remembered. I forgot a lot of it and didn't finish the test. The time was up and people were leaving. I was still taking the test. Then, my alarm in real life rang, but I turned it off so I could return to the dream and finish the test. Chris was there. Andrea came and talked about how Chris is planning on going to grad school and works really hard in school right now so he could get in. Later, I realized that it was only a dream, and I didn't really need to finish the test. It was a relieving feeling.
Later, it was time for my first day of school in the new semester. My class was far away, so I sat in a small red wagon, which automatically drives itself and can take me to class. My class was in the "F" section. I think it was in room 259F. The wagon however turned right into the sections for A, B, and C because it just passes through all of them. I should have pressed the "F" button so it would just go straight there. By the time I got to the F section, my class was over. And it was night. I went out of the wagon to check the classrooms to see where mine is located. They were locked. I went around to the other side of the building to try to get in. It was dark so I was using a flashlight. I saw Helena, and she was helping me. Then, we decided to leave and go back to campus/dorm area. She had one of those plastic cars kids can ride in. She offered me a ride. I was still looking for my wagon, but I decided to just go with her. Then, we were in the middle of a street area, and it was day time now. I was getting into the toy car thing. I got in the drivers seat and tried to make room so Helena could sit on my right. Then, we drove off.
We passed a lot of nature scenes and were getting close to school. I think we were hungry. We were turning and saw a house on the hill to our left. I don't think we knew them, but I waved toward the house and said, "Ahma!" There was a lady, and she invited us in. She invited us to some food too. She had bread and these disks of bacon. They looked really good. I tried eating it, but I had my retainers on. I tried taking my retainers off, but even though I took it off in my dream, I could still feel it in my mouth, so I kept trying to take it off. Then, I actually took off the bottom one with my tongue in reality--and I woke up a bit. Then, I went back to sleep. The person with me wasn't Helena anymore. It was a guy. He went to the lady's son's room to change clothes because his clothes got wet. He borrowed the son's clothes. I think it was raining that night when we were in the classrooms. There was another guy in the house who went to Princeton (he told me this, but I don't know him). I was talking to him. I think his mom was there too.
Later, I was in a boat or a vehicle of some sort. There was water that filled the vehicle up to my knees. There were others in the vehicle. We were driving. I was sitting in the back middle seat. Someone in the middle row (it was like a van) got a call. He said that the person who called said there was a traitor in the vehicle. The traitor was in the bottom floor (under our floor level of the vehicle). I was thinking who it could be. Then, I got paranoid and thought that they suspected it was me. It was quiet and nervous. Then, I had a feeling that they were going to kill me because they thought it was me, so I ran out of the vehicle. It was a really dizzy moment. I couldn't see anything really--just flashes and brightness. I kept running, not knowing where I was going. I knew I was doomed. Even though I wasn't the traitor, he probably thought I was, especially because of how I dashed out of the car. He was probably going to shoot me.
That's all I remember.
Lessons learned? Many times the worries in life (things that seem important to us) are like that exam that actually doesn't matter in reality/the long run, know how long it takes to go somewhere (like getting to class) and leave extra time in case of unexpected detours, sometimes in the middle of our journey we need to rest and eat and change our clothes, and don't dash out of the boat like that, especially if you have no plan of what to do once you run out.
In my dream, I was in the BP church dining hall area. We were learning things. It was stuff about Jesus, along the lines of theology. Then, we moved over to another room, which is Ms. Matic's room in my high school. We were seated and began to take a test. The test was on the stuff we just learned. Mrs. Groover was the teacher, telling us the prompts out loud. I was sitting on the ground at the left side of the class writing the exam. Then, there was another prompt. These questions were more based on what we just learned in the BP dining area about Jesus. I was now sitting in one of the desks. The test was really hard. There was a list of things we had to have remembered. I forgot a lot of it and didn't finish the test. The time was up and people were leaving. I was still taking the test. Then, my alarm in real life rang, but I turned it off so I could return to the dream and finish the test. Chris was there. Andrea came and talked about how Chris is planning on going to grad school and works really hard in school right now so he could get in. Later, I realized that it was only a dream, and I didn't really need to finish the test. It was a relieving feeling.
Later, it was time for my first day of school in the new semester. My class was far away, so I sat in a small red wagon, which automatically drives itself and can take me to class. My class was in the "F" section. I think it was in room 259F. The wagon however turned right into the sections for A, B, and C because it just passes through all of them. I should have pressed the "F" button so it would just go straight there. By the time I got to the F section, my class was over. And it was night. I went out of the wagon to check the classrooms to see where mine is located. They were locked. I went around to the other side of the building to try to get in. It was dark so I was using a flashlight. I saw Helena, and she was helping me. Then, we decided to leave and go back to campus/dorm area. She had one of those plastic cars kids can ride in. She offered me a ride. I was still looking for my wagon, but I decided to just go with her. Then, we were in the middle of a street area, and it was day time now. I was getting into the toy car thing. I got in the drivers seat and tried to make room so Helena could sit on my right. Then, we drove off.
We passed a lot of nature scenes and were getting close to school. I think we were hungry. We were turning and saw a house on the hill to our left. I don't think we knew them, but I waved toward the house and said, "Ahma!" There was a lady, and she invited us in. She invited us to some food too. She had bread and these disks of bacon. They looked really good. I tried eating it, but I had my retainers on. I tried taking my retainers off, but even though I took it off in my dream, I could still feel it in my mouth, so I kept trying to take it off. Then, I actually took off the bottom one with my tongue in reality--and I woke up a bit. Then, I went back to sleep. The person with me wasn't Helena anymore. It was a guy. He went to the lady's son's room to change clothes because his clothes got wet. He borrowed the son's clothes. I think it was raining that night when we were in the classrooms. There was another guy in the house who went to Princeton (he told me this, but I don't know him). I was talking to him. I think his mom was there too.
Later, I was in a boat or a vehicle of some sort. There was water that filled the vehicle up to my knees. There were others in the vehicle. We were driving. I was sitting in the back middle seat. Someone in the middle row (it was like a van) got a call. He said that the person who called said there was a traitor in the vehicle. The traitor was in the bottom floor (under our floor level of the vehicle). I was thinking who it could be. Then, I got paranoid and thought that they suspected it was me. It was quiet and nervous. Then, I had a feeling that they were going to kill me because they thought it was me, so I ran out of the vehicle. It was a really dizzy moment. I couldn't see anything really--just flashes and brightness. I kept running, not knowing where I was going. I knew I was doomed. Even though I wasn't the traitor, he probably thought I was, especially because of how I dashed out of the car. He was probably going to shoot me.
That's all I remember.
Lessons learned? Many times the worries in life (things that seem important to us) are like that exam that actually doesn't matter in reality/the long run, know how long it takes to go somewhere (like getting to class) and leave extra time in case of unexpected detours, sometimes in the middle of our journey we need to rest and eat and change our clothes, and don't dash out of the boat like that, especially if you have no plan of what to do once you run out.
28. Remember
I was just reading through a document called "Counselor Guidelines Supplements" for SSC, and many things stood out to me. One was: "Remember we’re not here as babysitters, but here to develop relationships with our students."
To some people, it may seem surprising to see this as a reminder because it seems obvious that we are fighting a spiritual battle side-by-side with the students and trying to help them in their spiritual life. However, sometimes we might need this reminder. We might be influenced by others who think that RE is babysitting. We might be influenced by people who say that events like MVP are for youth who have nothing to do in the summer.
Behind what we can superficially see lies something spiritual. Sometimes we need a reminder to look toward the spiritual, so we are not blinded by the superficial.
"While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Cor 4:18)
To some people, it may seem surprising to see this as a reminder because it seems obvious that we are fighting a spiritual battle side-by-side with the students and trying to help them in their spiritual life. However, sometimes we might need this reminder. We might be influenced by others who think that RE is babysitting. We might be influenced by people who say that events like MVP are for youth who have nothing to do in the summer.
Behind what we can superficially see lies something spiritual. Sometimes we need a reminder to look toward the spiritual, so we are not blinded by the superficial.
"While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (2 Cor 4:18)
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
27. You Look Like a Ghost!
Friday night before the closing Bible study on Saturday morning, I had a dream. This is only part of it:
I was in a house. In the inner living room, I was with about 3 other people. We were about to leave, and they were coming with me. We walked to the outer living room to get to the door. People were praying there. Allen C was laying hands on them. Then, we went outside to the car. I was riding with Yolanda. Her family got in the car, and we realized there was only one seat left. I think she didn't know other people were coming. Then, I was in the car. I was looking at Yolanda's eyes. There was a dial I could adjust to make her pupils disappear. I was playing with this dial. Then, things zoomed out, and I realized they were now owls eyes that I was playing with. Things zoomed out some more, and I realized I was in a chapel. I let the owl fly forward. It landed on a pew in the front next to a lady. The owl was orange with white fur on it's eye/face area. The woman said to the owl in a friendly tone, "You look like a ghost!" The owl replied, "You look like a ghost too!"
What a weird dream. Anyway, after I woke up, I told some EWR participants about this dream that morning. Later, Esther and I flew back to Socal. We went to her house and I was talking with Yolanda at the dinner table. Then, there was a mug on the table wrapped in cellophane. On the cellophane, there was a sticker of an owl with flowers for eyes. Whoa.
Sometimes my dreams have a prophetic touch to them.
Good night!
I was in a house. In the inner living room, I was with about 3 other people. We were about to leave, and they were coming with me. We walked to the outer living room to get to the door. People were praying there. Allen C was laying hands on them. Then, we went outside to the car. I was riding with Yolanda. Her family got in the car, and we realized there was only one seat left. I think she didn't know other people were coming. Then, I was in the car. I was looking at Yolanda's eyes. There was a dial I could adjust to make her pupils disappear. I was playing with this dial. Then, things zoomed out, and I realized they were now owls eyes that I was playing with. Things zoomed out some more, and I realized I was in a chapel. I let the owl fly forward. It landed on a pew in the front next to a lady. The owl was orange with white fur on it's eye/face area. The woman said to the owl in a friendly tone, "You look like a ghost!" The owl replied, "You look like a ghost too!"
What a weird dream. Anyway, after I woke up, I told some EWR participants about this dream that morning. Later, Esther and I flew back to Socal. We went to her house and I was talking with Yolanda at the dinner table. Then, there was a mug on the table wrapped in cellophane. On the cellophane, there was a sticker of an owl with flowers for eyes. Whoa.
Sometimes my dreams have a prophetic touch to them.
Good night!
26. Ferrero Rocher
I think I had too many dreams last night than I can remember.
I was out with friends in some sort of department store. We were all looking for a bathroom. People were making calls on the phone to look for a bathroom. At first I was looking with Shawn. Then, I saw Danny and told him that we should just walk around to look for one instead of making phone calls to find out. Nearby, we found a bathroom and went in. After using the bathroom, we walked out and went upstairs. Upstairs was a large arcade, but people were in a line to go up the stairs to the next floor. The arcade was pretty empty. Shawn was in line too. I think he saw someone he knew, so he was able to cut some people. I went up to see what was going on. It was some sort of game. Then, I think I started to grow wings, spread out my wings, and fly because I was thinking of how I was going to get past all the people in the line just to see what was at the end of the line.
Later, a group of us were outside looking for a place to play soccer. There was a place with many floors of just soccer fields. We went to the top floor where the sun shone really brightly on us. I was thinking why we didn't just go to the floor right below the top one because the sun was too bright. We were sort of chilling before we started. Then, some other people came to the soccer field, so we didn't play there. We looked over behind us and there was a tennis court, but we didn't bring any tennis equipment. Other people were playing there already too.
Later, stuff happened that I don't remember anymore. Then, we were in a room with a large mat. There was a big scary guy with super powers. He was dark-colored, muscular, and veiny. He challenged Scott, so Scott went to the mat to fight him. (Scott, the one with the laser eyes). The big scary guy was winning. Then, he looked into Scott's eyes and shot laser. Scott and him were both shooting the lasers into each other's eyes. Suddenly, they bounced away from each other. Scott took on another form. He was a bit darker because it's as if the big dark guy's genes went into him. He was losing his balance and wandered off the mat. Then, he popped back to his own form. His face was pinkish and raw because lasers had just been blasted in his face. Jean was trying to help him. The big guy became a white spider and went to the room next door by going through the wall. He was trying to go back to the original room and his giant spider legs could go through the wall. Then, there was a hole in the floor in his room. There was a stream flowing under the hole. In his spider form, he took a drink. I think it had radiation so his head became enlarged.
Later, the spider guy was in the sewers and heard something like a voice. He went to a room in a hotel where he suspected was the source of the voice. The room was like a part of a scary mansion. It was dark and had books along the walls. He heard low bass notes of an organ and echoed laughter. The spider guy was just a normal guy now. Then, there was someone standing among the books talking to him. It was Beast (the blue one from X-men). Beast was wearing a detective outfit. The spider guy was asking him questions. Beast was being eloquent, smooth, and mysterious. Beast gave him some advice. Then, the spider guy was about to leave, but i think he hit the wall. Then, he realized that just hitting parts of the wall (or if there is noise from the sewer) can activate the low ambient sound and the echoed laughter. He was disappointed and left. Then, Beast had to change into a suit. I think I was Beast now. Someone knocked on my door. It was a woman who was on my side. I told her I still needed 10 minutes to change. Later, someone else was knocking, and I said I needed more time. Then, it happened again, but I think it was my enemies now. They were trying to get into my room. Behind me was an indoor balcony, so I just jumped off. I think I could somewhat fly too, so I just went out the large hotel window/screen at the entrance, breaking the window.
I was fighting crime now. I jumped/flied around toward a large mall tower. And it was night. The tower was lit with yellow lights. I broke in through the windows. I was throwing stuff up. They were the small chocolate balls in the golden foil wrapper with a little piece of black paper on the bottom. There were bombs in them, so when I threw them up, they would explode in the air. I saved the building from these bombs. I jumped outside, breaking another window. Outside, there was a guy talking. He looked scared. He was explaining why he put these bombs there. He had wanted to quit his job at this mall so he could go back to Taiwan, and he felt the only way was to blow up the mall. Then, there was one of the chocolates in his mouth, and it exploded in his face, but he was fine. There were some more bombs I had to throw up into the air. I left the arrest to some of the police officers there and jumped away into the night for my next assignment.
I was jumping/flying toward a cluster of buildings. It was still night. I had hawk/x-ray/super vision. I was zooming in from afar. I could see into the building. There was an extravagant party going on. It was someone's birthday. She was making a toast. She had white hair and her hair was so long, it was used to make a chandelier. She was under the chandelier. The party was very decorated. However, her hair was beginning to tear on the chandelier. She was also pretty drunk. As she made a toast, the chandelier ripped and fell on her. She was pretty knocked out. Then, a girl that looked like Candace F went under the hair and put it on her like a wig. Nobody noticed and thought the girl that looked like Candace was the birthday girl. It was disappointing and not really believable. By now, I was just watching this like a movie. So, the Candace girl walked off and the entourage followed her, still thinking she was the birthday girl because the Candace girl stole her hair. (Candace girl has brown hair in reality). She was all arrogant as she walked and she called for Steven, saying "Steven!" arrogantly. Steven was her butler. They walked to a theatre because it was time for a play. The scene was fencing. She was fencing with a guy. She was narrating it too, saying stuff like, "Hi, I am _____. And I have real white hair." Then, the guy pulled off her fencing mask and the white hair and everybody saw that it was actually the Candace-looking girl. They were shocked.
Then, we were in the car (a group of us). We were talking about how much that movie sucked because a lot of it was not believable. I was sitting in the back right seat. The driver was a girl. She said, "I can't find my keys!" Then, Daniel Y (or Sean K. I dont remember) said, "Now you should actually consider it, when we tell you to pray." I think she was a truthseeker or something. She was also holding a square holographic thing. You can see Garadose on it and other pokemon scenes.
That's all I can remember.
Oh, I just looked it up and the chocolate balls are called Ferrero Rocher chocolate balls. lol.
Lessons learned? We need to transcend the things of the earth by spreading our wings and flying like eagles, we have to start playing and filling the soccer court so that other things cannot come and fill it, don't listen to the big dark guy when he challenges to fight you, if you drink radiated water you're head will grow bigger, when someone comes to your scary mansion don't let them play around with your stuff, beware of the Ferrero Rocher chocolate balls because they are bombs, don't try to be someone you aren't and don't be proud, encourage truthseekers to pray.
I was out with friends in some sort of department store. We were all looking for a bathroom. People were making calls on the phone to look for a bathroom. At first I was looking with Shawn. Then, I saw Danny and told him that we should just walk around to look for one instead of making phone calls to find out. Nearby, we found a bathroom and went in. After using the bathroom, we walked out and went upstairs. Upstairs was a large arcade, but people were in a line to go up the stairs to the next floor. The arcade was pretty empty. Shawn was in line too. I think he saw someone he knew, so he was able to cut some people. I went up to see what was going on. It was some sort of game. Then, I think I started to grow wings, spread out my wings, and fly because I was thinking of how I was going to get past all the people in the line just to see what was at the end of the line.
Later, a group of us were outside looking for a place to play soccer. There was a place with many floors of just soccer fields. We went to the top floor where the sun shone really brightly on us. I was thinking why we didn't just go to the floor right below the top one because the sun was too bright. We were sort of chilling before we started. Then, some other people came to the soccer field, so we didn't play there. We looked over behind us and there was a tennis court, but we didn't bring any tennis equipment. Other people were playing there already too.
Later, stuff happened that I don't remember anymore. Then, we were in a room with a large mat. There was a big scary guy with super powers. He was dark-colored, muscular, and veiny. He challenged Scott, so Scott went to the mat to fight him. (Scott, the one with the laser eyes). The big scary guy was winning. Then, he looked into Scott's eyes and shot laser. Scott and him were both shooting the lasers into each other's eyes. Suddenly, they bounced away from each other. Scott took on another form. He was a bit darker because it's as if the big dark guy's genes went into him. He was losing his balance and wandered off the mat. Then, he popped back to his own form. His face was pinkish and raw because lasers had just been blasted in his face. Jean was trying to help him. The big guy became a white spider and went to the room next door by going through the wall. He was trying to go back to the original room and his giant spider legs could go through the wall. Then, there was a hole in the floor in his room. There was a stream flowing under the hole. In his spider form, he took a drink. I think it had radiation so his head became enlarged.
Later, the spider guy was in the sewers and heard something like a voice. He went to a room in a hotel where he suspected was the source of the voice. The room was like a part of a scary mansion. It was dark and had books along the walls. He heard low bass notes of an organ and echoed laughter. The spider guy was just a normal guy now. Then, there was someone standing among the books talking to him. It was Beast (the blue one from X-men). Beast was wearing a detective outfit. The spider guy was asking him questions. Beast was being eloquent, smooth, and mysterious. Beast gave him some advice. Then, the spider guy was about to leave, but i think he hit the wall. Then, he realized that just hitting parts of the wall (or if there is noise from the sewer) can activate the low ambient sound and the echoed laughter. He was disappointed and left. Then, Beast had to change into a suit. I think I was Beast now. Someone knocked on my door. It was a woman who was on my side. I told her I still needed 10 minutes to change. Later, someone else was knocking, and I said I needed more time. Then, it happened again, but I think it was my enemies now. They were trying to get into my room. Behind me was an indoor balcony, so I just jumped off. I think I could somewhat fly too, so I just went out the large hotel window/screen at the entrance, breaking the window.
I was fighting crime now. I jumped/flied around toward a large mall tower. And it was night. The tower was lit with yellow lights. I broke in through the windows. I was throwing stuff up. They were the small chocolate balls in the golden foil wrapper with a little piece of black paper on the bottom. There were bombs in them, so when I threw them up, they would explode in the air. I saved the building from these bombs. I jumped outside, breaking another window. Outside, there was a guy talking. He looked scared. He was explaining why he put these bombs there. He had wanted to quit his job at this mall so he could go back to Taiwan, and he felt the only way was to blow up the mall. Then, there was one of the chocolates in his mouth, and it exploded in his face, but he was fine. There were some more bombs I had to throw up into the air. I left the arrest to some of the police officers there and jumped away into the night for my next assignment.
I was jumping/flying toward a cluster of buildings. It was still night. I had hawk/x-ray/super vision. I was zooming in from afar. I could see into the building. There was an extravagant party going on. It was someone's birthday. She was making a toast. She had white hair and her hair was so long, it was used to make a chandelier. She was under the chandelier. The party was very decorated. However, her hair was beginning to tear on the chandelier. She was also pretty drunk. As she made a toast, the chandelier ripped and fell on her. She was pretty knocked out. Then, a girl that looked like Candace F went under the hair and put it on her like a wig. Nobody noticed and thought the girl that looked like Candace was the birthday girl. It was disappointing and not really believable. By now, I was just watching this like a movie. So, the Candace girl walked off and the entourage followed her, still thinking she was the birthday girl because the Candace girl stole her hair. (Candace girl has brown hair in reality). She was all arrogant as she walked and she called for Steven, saying "Steven!" arrogantly. Steven was her butler. They walked to a theatre because it was time for a play. The scene was fencing. She was fencing with a guy. She was narrating it too, saying stuff like, "Hi, I am _____. And I have real white hair." Then, the guy pulled off her fencing mask and the white hair and everybody saw that it was actually the Candace-looking girl. They were shocked.
Then, we were in the car (a group of us). We were talking about how much that movie sucked because a lot of it was not believable. I was sitting in the back right seat. The driver was a girl. She said, "I can't find my keys!" Then, Daniel Y (or Sean K. I dont remember) said, "Now you should actually consider it, when we tell you to pray." I think she was a truthseeker or something. She was also holding a square holographic thing. You can see Garadose on it and other pokemon scenes.
That's all I can remember.
Oh, I just looked it up and the chocolate balls are called Ferrero Rocher chocolate balls. lol.
Lessons learned? We need to transcend the things of the earth by spreading our wings and flying like eagles, we have to start playing and filling the soccer court so that other things cannot come and fill it, don't listen to the big dark guy when he challenges to fight you, if you drink radiated water you're head will grow bigger, when someone comes to your scary mansion don't let them play around with your stuff, beware of the Ferrero Rocher chocolate balls because they are bombs, don't try to be someone you aren't and don't be proud, encourage truthseekers to pray.
Friday, June 18, 2010
25. EWR Happenings 7
So Olivia was just showing us how to put away our sleeping materials. She did a demo and took the pillow out of the pillowcase to show us where to put the pillowcases. The pillow had a yellowish splotch on it in the middle.
Someone: Why is it yellow??
Olivia: Oh that's gross.
Lois: Maybe it's drool.
Albert: Maybe someone was eating jello.
Someone: Why is it yellow? Ewww
Esther: Maybe it's conditioner.
Stephen: Let's not play detective now.
---
Then, we went downstairs where Olivia showed us where to put the sleeping bags.
Olivia: Put the sleeping bags in these boxes. Each box can only fit three sleeping bags.
Charlene: That sucks.
---
Yesterday, we were talking about how Caroline used to intern for Apple, but is interning with Microsoft now.
Tiffany: I would never work for Microsoft. The only reason I would work for them is to destroy them and send Apple all their secrets.
Someone: Why is it yellow??
Olivia: Oh that's gross.
Lois: Maybe it's drool.
Albert: Maybe someone was eating jello.
Someone: Why is it yellow? Ewww
Esther: Maybe it's conditioner.
Stephen: Let's not play detective now.
---
Then, we went downstairs where Olivia showed us where to put the sleeping bags.
Olivia: Put the sleeping bags in these boxes. Each box can only fit three sleeping bags.
Charlene: That sucks.
---
Yesterday, we were talking about how Caroline used to intern for Apple, but is interning with Microsoft now.
Tiffany: I would never work for Microsoft. The only reason I would work for them is to destroy them and send Apple all their secrets.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
