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.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
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.
24. EWR Happenings 6
Work Session 6/17
Annie: What's another phrase for "expose our weaknesses"? What are other words for "expose our weaknesses"?
Stephen: Huh? Are you talking to me?
Annie: What's another phrase for "expose our weaknesses"? What are other words for "expose our weaknesses"?
Stephen: Huh? Are you talking to me?
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
21. EWR Happenings 3
Work Session 6/16
Me, Charlene, and Paulina were talking.
Charlene: Haha. Albert, isn’t it funny that the program is called WineHelper?
Me: Hm… no.
Charlene: What? But you said it was funny!
Me: Well, I didn’t mean it was hilarious funny. I meant a fishy funny, as in this-tastes-kinda-funny type of funny. And you were laughing, so you were asking if it was hilarious funny.
Meanwhile, Lois, Esther, and Stephen were talking about something else and burst into laughter at the other side of the table, “HAHAHHAHA”
Paulina: Now, that’s hilarious funny.
Charlene: What? What did you guys say?
----
Later, Lois explained what they were laughing about.
Lois: Stephen was saying that he helps Pastor Ko with troubleshooting on his Mac, so when Pastor Ko tells him that he misses him, it actually means he’s having trouble with his computer.
Me, Charlene, and Paulina were talking.
Charlene: Haha. Albert, isn’t it funny that the program is called WineHelper?
Me: Hm… no.
Charlene: What? But you said it was funny!
Me: Well, I didn’t mean it was hilarious funny. I meant a fishy funny, as in this-tastes-kinda-funny type of funny. And you were laughing, so you were asking if it was hilarious funny.
Meanwhile, Lois, Esther, and Stephen were talking about something else and burst into laughter at the other side of the table, “HAHAHHAHA”
Paulina: Now, that’s hilarious funny.
Charlene: What? What did you guys say?
----
Later, Lois explained what they were laughing about.
Lois: Stephen was saying that he helps Pastor Ko with troubleshooting on his Mac, so when Pastor Ko tells him that he misses him, it actually means he’s having trouble with his computer.
20. EWR Happenings 2
Dinner. 6/16
Me: One time, someone who came to our church for the first time was talking to Tricy, and Tricy told her, “My husband is the guy with the square face.”
Others: Hahahah.
Charlene (sitting farther away): Huh?? I can’t hear you from here!
Me: One time, someone who came to our church for the first time was talking to Tricy, and Tricy told her, “My husband is the guy with the square face.”
Others: Hahahah.
Charlene (sitting farther away): Huh?? I can’t hear you from here!
Monday, June 14, 2010
18. EWR Happenings 1
6/13/10
Patty: Albert, you're the only boy here.
Someone: There's also Stephen.
Patty: Oh, but Stephen's a man.
Olivia: No, no... Albert's already in college.
Patty: Oh...did he just graduate high school?
----
6/13/10
At dinner, I was talking with Lois.
Lois: Are you an only child?
Me: Yes. Do you only have one sibling?
Lois: Yes.
Me: One time I saw a girl that looked like Joe on Facebook. Then I asked him if that was his sister, and it was!
Lois: Whoa. Hahaha.
Me: She looked like Joe with long hair.
Charlene [curious]: Who?? Lois?
----
6/13/10
We were sharing about embarrassing moments (M+M "Get to know each other" game)
Annie: One time I was at the McDonald's drive-thru. I started telling them my order. Then, my kids stopped me and said, "Mom, you're talking to a trash can."
----
6/14/10
Three pieces of paper with devotionals printed on them were stuck under the leg of my chair, so I somewhat forcefully pulled them up.
Esther: Albert, now I see what you think of the devotionals.
Others: hahahaha
Charlene: What did he say????
Patty: Albert, you're the only boy here.
Someone: There's also Stephen.
Patty: Oh, but Stephen's a man.
Olivia: No, no... Albert's already in college.
Patty: Oh...did he just graduate high school?
----
6/13/10
At dinner, I was talking with Lois.
Lois: Are you an only child?
Me: Yes. Do you only have one sibling?
Lois: Yes.
Me: One time I saw a girl that looked like Joe on Facebook. Then I asked him if that was his sister, and it was!
Lois: Whoa. Hahaha.
Me: She looked like Joe with long hair.
Charlene [curious]: Who?? Lois?
----
6/13/10
We were sharing about embarrassing moments (M+M "Get to know each other" game)
Annie: One time I was at the McDonald's drive-thru. I started telling them my order. Then, my kids stopped me and said, "Mom, you're talking to a trash can."
----
6/14/10
Three pieces of paper with devotionals printed on them were stuck under the leg of my chair, so I somewhat forcefully pulled them up.
Esther: Albert, now I see what you think of the devotionals.
Others: hahahaha
Charlene: What did he say????
Friday, June 11, 2010
17. Contacts Mail
Last night I dreamt again.
I was at Irvine church. They were holding a music camp. The youth were going to sing One Day. My music professor was there, and he told me that I was supposed to play clarinet, but I didn't remember how to play. I actually never learned, but somehow in my dream I thought I could remember. The clarinet looked funny because you can press buttons with letters on them along the shaft. So, I tried to play. It was really hard. People were listening to a recording--it was a recording of One Day in 6/8. I, then, remembered I had recorded One Day in 4/4 and 6/8. Later, I saw an arrangement of One Day in 3/4 with 5 to 6 part harmonization. My music professor arranged it. Then, I thought, "If I'm playing clarinet, who's playing piano?" Someone told me that my professor was going to play piano. I wondered if it was okay for non-TJC people to play piano in choir presentations.
Then, it was time for rehearsal. Lina was conducting. We went through the song with me playing in a clarinet duet (I was playing the lower part and someone else had melody), someone playing the piano, and the choir singing. The run-through went really well. I felt the choir sounded good. Someone complemented me. I was surprised because I remembered that I had messed up a lot in the run-through on the clarinet. Then, it was time for the children's choir to rehearse. Lisa was conducting. She was talking about the children's choir in an introduction. She used to the word "magical"--I think either to describe the choir or the song. I told her it probably isn't a good idea to use the word "magical" and she agreed. Then, they started singing. It was acapella. The kids sounded really good, though a bit soft. They were singing about Japanese things though. I think "Naruto" was in the lyrics somewhere. It was a secular song.. and I was kind of confused as to how that could've worked its way into the program.
Later, I was outside and walking down a wide, spiral staircase of stone. It was night. There was a couple talking. They may have talked to me, but don't remember anymore.
Later, I was in a dining area with church people. There were two tables adjacent to each other so that the two would become one long table. Of course, it's still two tables. So I saw Clarissa, Emerlyn, Christine, and some other church sisters talking. I hadn't seem them in a while, so I went over. Clarissa's clutch was in a seat between her and Emerlyn. She moved it so I could sit down. She asked me, "Have you looked at my Facebook page recently?"
"Yes."
"Then you would have noticed that you can't see my contacts mail anymore." (I'm pretty sure she meant to say inbox messages, but she said something along the lines of "contacts mail")
Even though nobody can see other people's inbox messages on FB anyway, what she said seemed to make sense at the time.
Later, I was in a taxi that was taking me back to school. It was my stop, so I got off. There were other people in the car too. I went to the trunk to get my backpack and laptop, but when it opened, I couldn't see them. I looked over to my seat in the car. My stuff wasn't there either. I got really worried. Then I saw my backpack squeezed along the front wall of the trunk. What a relief. I got my stuff and left. As I was walking, I noticed I also had a light blue Computer Science workbook. I recalled that I had left my ComSci textbook and workbook in that taxi once. Where was my textbook now? I remembered that I somehow got my textbook back before because I sold it to someone already. Now, I have my workbook. I remembered when I had to copy the questions from somewhere else because I had left my workbook in the taxi. I was dropped off at a place a bit away from where I live, so I had to look around to see any familiar buildings. Even though the buildings were very much like those of my college campus, I couldn't find anything familiar.
Interesting: In reality, we never used a workbook in my ComSci class.
There was another segment when I was sitting at a table outside with my mom. We both had laptops, and we were talking. Can't remember much else.
Lessons learned? No secular music in choir, be careful of worldly influences, Clarissa configured her FB so that we can't see her inbox messages anymore, make sure you have everything before you leave somewhere.
I was at Irvine church. They were holding a music camp. The youth were going to sing One Day. My music professor was there, and he told me that I was supposed to play clarinet, but I didn't remember how to play. I actually never learned, but somehow in my dream I thought I could remember. The clarinet looked funny because you can press buttons with letters on them along the shaft. So, I tried to play. It was really hard. People were listening to a recording--it was a recording of One Day in 6/8. I, then, remembered I had recorded One Day in 4/4 and 6/8. Later, I saw an arrangement of One Day in 3/4 with 5 to 6 part harmonization. My music professor arranged it. Then, I thought, "If I'm playing clarinet, who's playing piano?" Someone told me that my professor was going to play piano. I wondered if it was okay for non-TJC people to play piano in choir presentations.
Then, it was time for rehearsal. Lina was conducting. We went through the song with me playing in a clarinet duet (I was playing the lower part and someone else had melody), someone playing the piano, and the choir singing. The run-through went really well. I felt the choir sounded good. Someone complemented me. I was surprised because I remembered that I had messed up a lot in the run-through on the clarinet. Then, it was time for the children's choir to rehearse. Lisa was conducting. She was talking about the children's choir in an introduction. She used to the word "magical"--I think either to describe the choir or the song. I told her it probably isn't a good idea to use the word "magical" and she agreed. Then, they started singing. It was acapella. The kids sounded really good, though a bit soft. They were singing about Japanese things though. I think "Naruto" was in the lyrics somewhere. It was a secular song.. and I was kind of confused as to how that could've worked its way into the program.
Later, I was outside and walking down a wide, spiral staircase of stone. It was night. There was a couple talking. They may have talked to me, but don't remember anymore.
Later, I was in a dining area with church people. There were two tables adjacent to each other so that the two would become one long table. Of course, it's still two tables. So I saw Clarissa, Emerlyn, Christine, and some other church sisters talking. I hadn't seem them in a while, so I went over. Clarissa's clutch was in a seat between her and Emerlyn. She moved it so I could sit down. She asked me, "Have you looked at my Facebook page recently?"
"Yes."
"Then you would have noticed that you can't see my contacts mail anymore." (I'm pretty sure she meant to say inbox messages, but she said something along the lines of "contacts mail")
Even though nobody can see other people's inbox messages on FB anyway, what she said seemed to make sense at the time.
Later, I was in a taxi that was taking me back to school. It was my stop, so I got off. There were other people in the car too. I went to the trunk to get my backpack and laptop, but when it opened, I couldn't see them. I looked over to my seat in the car. My stuff wasn't there either. I got really worried. Then I saw my backpack squeezed along the front wall of the trunk. What a relief. I got my stuff and left. As I was walking, I noticed I also had a light blue Computer Science workbook. I recalled that I had left my ComSci textbook and workbook in that taxi once. Where was my textbook now? I remembered that I somehow got my textbook back before because I sold it to someone already. Now, I have my workbook. I remembered when I had to copy the questions from somewhere else because I had left my workbook in the taxi. I was dropped off at a place a bit away from where I live, so I had to look around to see any familiar buildings. Even though the buildings were very much like those of my college campus, I couldn't find anything familiar.
Interesting: In reality, we never used a workbook in my ComSci class.
There was another segment when I was sitting at a table outside with my mom. We both had laptops, and we were talking. Can't remember much else.
Lessons learned? No secular music in choir, be careful of worldly influences, Clarissa configured her FB so that we can't see her inbox messages anymore, make sure you have everything before you leave somewhere.
16. Try It On
Today, I went to Nordstrom Rack with my mom. She was perusing the jewelry, so I somewhat browsed around with her. I saw this necklace made of big metal chains linked together, and I fancied that it would be quite comical if she were to try it on. So I said to her, "You should buy this. Try it on." Then, she turned around. She wasn't my mom. The woman looked at me and walked away.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
15. 母老虎要發威!
It was a cool summer night in the desert caves. It was that sort of night that seemed too pleasant and too enjoyable to let you get away without something bad happening. It was that sort of night when the hyenas might come out to lure innocent lion cubs into a skeleton of a mammoth and play mind games with them. On this unsuspecting night, Mama Tiger was preparing some Cordyceps Sinensis tea (aka caterpillar fungus tea, 冬蟲夏草茶). Baby Tiger was busy playing and Papa Tiger was lying on the communal slab of stone that they used for sleeping and resting.
When she poured the boiling tea into the cups, KA-BOOM! One of the glass cups exploded. It wasn't that sort of zap-into-millions-of-pieces explosion. Nor was it the kind where you hit them in their soft putty chest and they just disappear into oblivion. It was more like a pop where the next thing you know.. there are two pieces right before your eyes.
Then, Mama Tiger proceeded to force Baby Tiger to eat the delicious kiwis she had prepared, but Baby Tiger was convinced he was allergic to them.
When he wouldn't listen, she roared, "母老虎要發威!"
Indeed, do not rouse a mother tiger, or she will split you into two.
When she poured the boiling tea into the cups, KA-BOOM! One of the glass cups exploded. It wasn't that sort of zap-into-millions-of-pieces explosion. Nor was it the kind where you hit them in their soft putty chest and they just disappear into oblivion. It was more like a pop where the next thing you know.. there are two pieces right before your eyes.
Then, Mama Tiger proceeded to force Baby Tiger to eat the delicious kiwis she had prepared, but Baby Tiger was convinced he was allergic to them.
When he wouldn't listen, she roared, "母老虎要發威!"
Indeed, do not rouse a mother tiger, or she will split you into two.
14. A Garden in the Mountains
Whoa. I didn't know people kept gardens in the mountains. But there I was--on a garden in the mountains. The flowers seemed like they had just been watered and some of the vines had just been pruned. I walked up to a cherry tree in the garden to smell the blossoming branches.
Oi! There's someone whistling! I slowly peered across the leafy branches and discovered an old man trimming the bushes.
"Ah, Albert. You're here," he said as he turned around, revealing his soft, tender face--aged and wrinkled by years of gardening and crowned with grey hairs of wisdom.
"What?! How do you know my name? Who are you?"
"That's right," he replied.
"Oh... Wait. That doesn't answer my question."
"Indeed. How did you get here?" he asked.
"I...Come to think of it, I don't even know how I got here. Why am I on a mountain? What am I doing here?"
"Ah, there you go, young boy. Now you are on the right track."
"The right track to where?"
The old man reached into his pocket and pulled out a long white candle.
"If you can light this candle, you will understand."
"How am I to light this candle if I have no match?" Where was I going to find a match or a lighter in a secluded garden in the middle of mount nowhere?
"Ah, look at how beautifully the cherry blossoms bloom! Here is your answer: Blossoms cannot bloom if there is no tree. A tree cannot grow if there is no seed."
"What? Why are telling me riddles? And you haven't even told me who you are yet!"
"Alright, young boy. My name is Olgie. Yes, yes, I know. My name sounds like the possible name of a deformed teletubbie, an ogre-looking dwarf, or an adorable green pokemon whose only spoken vocabulary is its own name. But alas, I am none of these gruesome creatures! I am Olgie, the old man from--"
"Oh!! I think I know the answer: A seed needs to die in order to produce fruit! It remains only a single seed unless it falls to the ground and dies. But if it dies, it produces many seeds."
"Ah, good answer! That is very true. But not the one I'm looking for. Just remember: If you can light this candle, you will understand."
With that, the old man Olgie turned around and continued to trim the bushes, ignoring my bewildered countenance and attempting to muffle my ensuing questions with his whistling.
Oi! There's someone whistling! I slowly peered across the leafy branches and discovered an old man trimming the bushes.
"Ah, Albert. You're here," he said as he turned around, revealing his soft, tender face--aged and wrinkled by years of gardening and crowned with grey hairs of wisdom.
"What?! How do you know my name? Who are you?"
"That's right," he replied.
"Oh... Wait. That doesn't answer my question."
"Indeed. How did you get here?" he asked.
"I...Come to think of it, I don't even know how I got here. Why am I on a mountain? What am I doing here?"
"Ah, there you go, young boy. Now you are on the right track."
"The right track to where?"
The old man reached into his pocket and pulled out a long white candle.
"If you can light this candle, you will understand."
"How am I to light this candle if I have no match?" Where was I going to find a match or a lighter in a secluded garden in the middle of mount nowhere?
"Ah, look at how beautifully the cherry blossoms bloom! Here is your answer: Blossoms cannot bloom if there is no tree. A tree cannot grow if there is no seed."
"What? Why are telling me riddles? And you haven't even told me who you are yet!"
"Alright, young boy. My name is Olgie. Yes, yes, I know. My name sounds like the possible name of a deformed teletubbie, an ogre-looking dwarf, or an adorable green pokemon whose only spoken vocabulary is its own name. But alas, I am none of these gruesome creatures! I am Olgie, the old man from--"
"Oh!! I think I know the answer: A seed needs to die in order to produce fruit! It remains only a single seed unless it falls to the ground and dies. But if it dies, it produces many seeds."
"Ah, good answer! That is very true. But not the one I'm looking for. Just remember: If you can light this candle, you will understand."
With that, the old man Olgie turned around and continued to trim the bushes, ignoring my bewildered countenance and attempting to muffle my ensuing questions with his whistling.
13. O Raise up Your Heavy Head
(An Encouragement for Carlos)
O raise up your heavy head
Lift up your tiresome eyes
Weeping endures for a night
But joy comes in the morning rise
Do not give up
Do not grow weary
Though you feel lonely
Though you feel dreary
For at the proper time
With patient waiting
We will reap a harvest
With joy parading
Joy! Joy!
Glorious joy!
It brightens the night
The darkness destroy
O raise up your heavy head
Lift up your tiresome eyes
In the sky, our reward awaits us
Fix your eyes on the heavenly prize
O raise up your heavy head
Lift up your tiresome eyes
Weeping endures for a night
But joy comes in the morning rise
Do not give up
Do not grow weary
Though you feel lonely
Though you feel dreary
For at the proper time
With patient waiting
We will reap a harvest
With joy parading
Joy! Joy!
Glorious joy!
It brightens the night
The darkness destroy
O raise up your heavy head
Lift up your tiresome eyes
In the sky, our reward awaits us
Fix your eyes on the heavenly prize
12. S&J: To the Tent
He didn't know how much longer he could keep running. His lungs felt like collapsing. His legs were numb. His lips were parched. He couldn't even hear his footsteps and the familiar clinking of his metal armor anymore. All he could hear was the loud thudding of his heart like heavy battle drums beating the rhythm of war. Spotting the clan of his friend Heber, he saw the tent of Jael, wife of Heber the Kenite. He blinked and gave the tent another good stare to affirm this comforting sight. With a deep breath and a long audible exhale, he made a desperate run for the tent.
From far away, Jael could see Sisera running toward her like a half-dead ant that had been tortured and partially de-legged by a sadistic little boy. Sweaty, sun-scorched, and sandy. There was dirt that had collected on the dried blood on Sisera's rough skin and dusty armor. "It's Sisera..." she lipped, as her mind flooded with countless reasons the adversary might be running toward her and what course of action she could possibly take. She grabbed and lifted the left side of her waist belt so her garment wouldn't touch the ground and went outside to meet him.
From far away, Jael could see Sisera running toward her like a half-dead ant that had been tortured and partially de-legged by a sadistic little boy. Sweaty, sun-scorched, and sandy. There was dirt that had collected on the dried blood on Sisera's rough skin and dusty armor. "It's Sisera..." she lipped, as her mind flooded with countless reasons the adversary might be running toward her and what course of action she could possibly take. She grabbed and lifted the left side of her waist belt so her garment wouldn't touch the ground and went outside to meet him.
11. Power Up
Last night I lay asleeping, there came a dream so fair...
The earliest I can remember is when I was at a school. The teacher was talking about math I think. He asked a question that was really hard, and some people were raising their hands to answer. Across the room in the back was Chris, who was also raising his hand. I was in the left side of the room. I didn't know what was going on, so I obviously was not one of the eager ones to answer. Andrew Hicks was on one of the computers, and I think the teacher told him to get off. He was closing all the windows on the screen, which was taking a long time. He had a lot of windows opened. Then, the teacher went over and just clicked something and everything closed, and Andrew was surprised at how easy that was. Then, I was sitting in front of Chris in the right of the room. I was kind of shocked because I haven't seen him in a while and also because this was the last place I'd expect to see him--but I don't think I expressed this shock outwardly. Chris was whispering some stuff to me, but I dont remember anymore what he said.
Then, I was in an empty classroom. Everyone had gone home. It was night. I almost think it was a Chinese school. Perhaps I was in a different location, or the location became a Chinese school all of the sudden. I walked outside and realized the door was locked now. I noticed the room next door was unlocked, so I went in. A high but not too loud alarm started to ring (it was more of a monotone beeeeep). I tried to get my stuff quickly. I got some stuff from that room. Then I went next door through a door in the wall back to the original room to get my backpack and other stuff. When I was about to exit though the door, there was someone there because of the alarm. I was supposed to face him as my opponent. I started to power-up. "Ahhh!" with an upward inflection. He also started to power up. As he powered up, I noticed he had multiple heads. The head in the middle got bigger and bigger. He also got taller and more muscular. Uh oh. I power-upped some more. So did he. Then I tried to do a Kamehameha wave. "Ka-me-ha-me.. HAAA!" But nothing came out. I was still dramatic with my voice though so I think that sort of affected him. Then I think he exploded or something.
Then my alarm rang I think... so I was half-awake and half-dreaming that I was in my living room next to the piano thinking about how my dream could have ended. I recalled that in Dragonball, there was a Mr. Roshi, the old guy. Maybe my dream could end with an old lady instead, just to twist things up. Maybe she could come to save me in my dream and we could fly home. I was thinking she could fly on a stick with a parasol. Then, while I was in my living room, I had a white Japanese-looking parasol and I was trying to figure out how to use it, but it wouldn't function the way I wanted it to function. Then, people were plucking strings out of my piano because some strings were out of tune. I noticed they were pulling out a lot, so I was getting nervous and suspicious. I said, "You don't have to pull it out unless it's already broken. If it's just loose, you can tighten it." I went to see the strings and a lot of them were really messed up. The coils were pretty messed that I even thought maybe replacing would just be better.
Later, I was in a hotel room and other people were there with laptops. They were watching TV. Some weird stuff had happened. Then I was going to go shower, but I noticed that there was a girl that looked like Mystique in her purple form. She seemed like she was going to shower, but she was watching TV, so I think she let me go first. I opened the door and noticed a woman was already showering, so I quickly told the Mystique-looking person to go first.
Maybe other stuff happened but I don't remember anymore.
Lessons learned? I'm bad at math, Kamehameha waves are not real, sometimes we get too loose and need to tighten ourselves up (if we're really too messed up, we need to replace the old with the new), if you're out with a group make sure someone is not in the bathroom before you open the door.
The earliest I can remember is when I was at a school. The teacher was talking about math I think. He asked a question that was really hard, and some people were raising their hands to answer. Across the room in the back was Chris, who was also raising his hand. I was in the left side of the room. I didn't know what was going on, so I obviously was not one of the eager ones to answer. Andrew Hicks was on one of the computers, and I think the teacher told him to get off. He was closing all the windows on the screen, which was taking a long time. He had a lot of windows opened. Then, the teacher went over and just clicked something and everything closed, and Andrew was surprised at how easy that was. Then, I was sitting in front of Chris in the right of the room. I was kind of shocked because I haven't seen him in a while and also because this was the last place I'd expect to see him--but I don't think I expressed this shock outwardly. Chris was whispering some stuff to me, but I dont remember anymore what he said.
Then, I was in an empty classroom. Everyone had gone home. It was night. I almost think it was a Chinese school. Perhaps I was in a different location, or the location became a Chinese school all of the sudden. I walked outside and realized the door was locked now. I noticed the room next door was unlocked, so I went in. A high but not too loud alarm started to ring (it was more of a monotone beeeeep). I tried to get my stuff quickly. I got some stuff from that room. Then I went next door through a door in the wall back to the original room to get my backpack and other stuff. When I was about to exit though the door, there was someone there because of the alarm. I was supposed to face him as my opponent. I started to power-up. "Ahhh!" with an upward inflection. He also started to power up. As he powered up, I noticed he had multiple heads. The head in the middle got bigger and bigger. He also got taller and more muscular. Uh oh. I power-upped some more. So did he. Then I tried to do a Kamehameha wave. "Ka-me-ha-me.. HAAA!" But nothing came out. I was still dramatic with my voice though so I think that sort of affected him. Then I think he exploded or something.
Then my alarm rang I think... so I was half-awake and half-dreaming that I was in my living room next to the piano thinking about how my dream could have ended. I recalled that in Dragonball, there was a Mr. Roshi, the old guy. Maybe my dream could end with an old lady instead, just to twist things up. Maybe she could come to save me in my dream and we could fly home. I was thinking she could fly on a stick with a parasol. Then, while I was in my living room, I had a white Japanese-looking parasol and I was trying to figure out how to use it, but it wouldn't function the way I wanted it to function. Then, people were plucking strings out of my piano because some strings were out of tune. I noticed they were pulling out a lot, so I was getting nervous and suspicious. I said, "You don't have to pull it out unless it's already broken. If it's just loose, you can tighten it." I went to see the strings and a lot of them were really messed up. The coils were pretty messed that I even thought maybe replacing would just be better.
Later, I was in a hotel room and other people were there with laptops. They were watching TV. Some weird stuff had happened. Then I was going to go shower, but I noticed that there was a girl that looked like Mystique in her purple form. She seemed like she was going to shower, but she was watching TV, so I think she let me go first. I opened the door and noticed a woman was already showering, so I quickly told the Mystique-looking person to go first.
Maybe other stuff happened but I don't remember anymore.
Lessons learned? I'm bad at math, Kamehameha waves are not real, sometimes we get too loose and need to tighten ourselves up (if we're really too messed up, we need to replace the old with the new), if you're out with a group make sure someone is not in the bathroom before you open the door.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
10. Too Tired
"Whoops." Carlos gently rested the basket on the floor to pick up the stick that fell and lightly placed it back along with the other twisty sticks in the basket. As he let go, he watched the stringy arms that branch off the sticks cling to each other and entwine--the other sticks pulling their brother who had once been lost into their embrace again.
Tomorrow the villagers from Pelose Terra will come to make apple pies in Jardinville. In preparation, Carlos had to stack the sticks in the ovens.
Sticks, sticks, sticks. Big sticks and little sticks. Fat sticks and skinny sticks. Each oven needs a good mix. Yes, a good mix of all kinds of sticks to make a good fire. A good fire to bake the apple pies. A burning cleansing fire to cook the fresh apples into softness. A hot refining fire to make palatable pies of pleasing aroma.
As he put the basket on the dusty ground with all the other sticks, he twittled his fingers and looked around, as if a mouse looking for a piece of cheese it smells. Or like how squirrels rustle to and fro looking for a nut that had been meticulously buried. The nut is somewhere there. The squirrel knows. Every time Carlos was looking for something, he would twittle his fingers. And thus, he twittled them.
"Where are the dried cranberries?" He knew he was in for a long night. Dried cranberries were his source of energy to keep him working on these long nights as water in cacti keep them from dying during months of dreary desert drought. But he was tired. He had been collecting sticks all day. A small brown sack of dried cranberries. He could see it in his mind, but no where was this sack to be found.
He weakly lifted a few rags to check if the dried cranberries were there but let them fall back down with dusty dense clouds of disappointment--like a little girl trying to carry a bucket of water, getting a few centimeters of air, and then dropping the bucket in forlorn helplessness.
He wanted the dried cranberries. He needed the dried cranberries. As soon as his molars crush the dried cranberries and his saliva soaks in the flavor and sends the tangy sensation to his tongue, he would be up and working. Re-energized. Ready to face all challenges! Sticks, sticks, sticks. Short sticks and long sticks. Happy sticks and sad sticks. Sticks here. Sticks there. Sticks everywhere!
But he was too tired to look for them dried cranberries.
Tomorrow the villagers from Pelose Terra will come to make apple pies in Jardinville. In preparation, Carlos had to stack the sticks in the ovens.
Sticks, sticks, sticks. Big sticks and little sticks. Fat sticks and skinny sticks. Each oven needs a good mix. Yes, a good mix of all kinds of sticks to make a good fire. A good fire to bake the apple pies. A burning cleansing fire to cook the fresh apples into softness. A hot refining fire to make palatable pies of pleasing aroma.
As he put the basket on the dusty ground with all the other sticks, he twittled his fingers and looked around, as if a mouse looking for a piece of cheese it smells. Or like how squirrels rustle to and fro looking for a nut that had been meticulously buried. The nut is somewhere there. The squirrel knows. Every time Carlos was looking for something, he would twittle his fingers. And thus, he twittled them.
"Where are the dried cranberries?" He knew he was in for a long night. Dried cranberries were his source of energy to keep him working on these long nights as water in cacti keep them from dying during months of dreary desert drought. But he was tired. He had been collecting sticks all day. A small brown sack of dried cranberries. He could see it in his mind, but no where was this sack to be found.
He weakly lifted a few rags to check if the dried cranberries were there but let them fall back down with dusty dense clouds of disappointment--like a little girl trying to carry a bucket of water, getting a few centimeters of air, and then dropping the bucket in forlorn helplessness.
He wanted the dried cranberries. He needed the dried cranberries. As soon as his molars crush the dried cranberries and his saliva soaks in the flavor and sends the tangy sensation to his tongue, he would be up and working. Re-energized. Ready to face all challenges! Sticks, sticks, sticks. Short sticks and long sticks. Happy sticks and sad sticks. Sticks here. Sticks there. Sticks everywhere!
But he was too tired to look for them dried cranberries.
9. Rheum
There was another dream segment last night.
In my dream, I was trying to get eye mucus from my eyes. As I got some of the white-yellowish goo out, I kept realizing there was more. There was a lot of it in my eyes--especially my left eye.
Lesson learned? Sometimes there are things in our eyes impairing our vision. We need to remove them before we can see clearly.
Anthony told me that the eye mucus is called rheum. haha what a funny name. rheum.
In my dream, I was trying to get eye mucus from my eyes. As I got some of the white-yellowish goo out, I kept realizing there was more. There was a lot of it in my eyes--especially my left eye.
Lesson learned? Sometimes there are things in our eyes impairing our vision. We need to remove them before we can see clearly.
Anthony told me that the eye mucus is called rheum. haha what a funny name. rheum.
8. Sleepy Dinosaurs
Last night I dreamt.
The earliest I could remember was when I was in an underground parking lot with my mom. I think she had a problem with her eyes. We were walking up/out of the parking lot. I had previously seen a video about what would happen. The cure is to drop a small bomb into a channel/tube laid across her eyes so that when the bomb reaches the part of her eyes, it explodes. Then, I think she was okay, so we didn't have to do that.
Later, I was playing in the snow with church people. I think it was either in a park area or outside of someone's house.
Later, I was doing laundry. First, I think I was doing laundry with Amy, but I forgot to bring my laundry. We went all the way to the laundromat and I forgot. I felt bad. Later, I was doing laundry with Kim. We put the laundry in. Then I think we met a clown or someone wearing something weird. We talked to whoever this was, but I don't remember the conversation. Later, we weren't at the laundromat anymore and I realized I forgot to take the laundry out and bring it back. I also forgot to put detergent. Then we were frustrated because it would take long to walk back.
Later, I was at East Region SSC. I was a counselor, but I thought it was so weird that the counselors didn't sleep with the students because I was in my own bedroom. I was thinking that it was hard to get to know the students if we don't have those night sharings etc. Then, Jillian, Michael, Ramon, Helena, and Alaska were in my room. They started talking. I was looking for something in my bag. Then I realized that was Helena's bag. Mine was under the bed. I apologized because I didn't have my glasses on--I just woke up? Then I went to my bag. Later, they started singing. I forgot what they were singing, but they kept going down in the key. I jumped up an octave and kept going down. Then I said, "You can just jump up an octave and keep doing down." Jillian laughed and nobody else said anything. There was an awkward silence.
Later, I was driving down a road. The car was in the middle lane. I was in the passenger's seat and I couldn't see anyone in the driver's seat. But it was normal-feeling. I needed to go somewhere. When the car stopped at the traffic light, I tried to unlock the car door. It didn't work at first, but then it was allowed to open. I took my shoes and other stuff and ran out. I had a map. My map was also interactive. I could see an arial view of myself at the top 1/3 or 1/4 of my vision. I could also see the directions with information like how long it'll take me to get where. Also, my itinerary was there like my flight time and transfer flight. I ran from the road to the sidewalk on the left. I was running away from the traffic light (in terms of direction). I was trying to share-screen my map/vision with someone online.
As I ran, I got to this grassy plain area. The street was on my right. To the left of the grassy lawn/plain area, there was either a library or just a random dark-colored building. On the plain, there were dinosaurs--really big dinosaurs. They were resting there, the sleepy dinosaurs. As I ran I felt like I was using a lot of energy but it felt I was not getting that far. I was trying to get across the dinosaurs carefully, while still running. I recalled that people had been killed before by these dinosaurs when they weren't careful because the dinosaur might move/change position/roll over and crush them. It seemed like all the dinosaurs were resting. There were about three big ones. As they were sort of just rolling around and shifting, I was trying to run past them. I got near the end and there was a smaller but still big dinosaur resting on my right. I was thinking if it was the smaller kind because I would be doomed. There are small dinosaurs that are known to quickly catch and kill people in the area. Good thing it wasn't that kind of dinosaur. Then, I woke up.
Lessons learned? God might cure you, it's fun to play in the snow with church people, sharing time is important at SSC, don't forget your laundry, some things are too weird to say, be careful around dinosaurs.
The earliest I could remember was when I was in an underground parking lot with my mom. I think she had a problem with her eyes. We were walking up/out of the parking lot. I had previously seen a video about what would happen. The cure is to drop a small bomb into a channel/tube laid across her eyes so that when the bomb reaches the part of her eyes, it explodes. Then, I think she was okay, so we didn't have to do that.
Later, I was playing in the snow with church people. I think it was either in a park area or outside of someone's house.
Later, I was doing laundry. First, I think I was doing laundry with Amy, but I forgot to bring my laundry. We went all the way to the laundromat and I forgot. I felt bad. Later, I was doing laundry with Kim. We put the laundry in. Then I think we met a clown or someone wearing something weird. We talked to whoever this was, but I don't remember the conversation. Later, we weren't at the laundromat anymore and I realized I forgot to take the laundry out and bring it back. I also forgot to put detergent. Then we were frustrated because it would take long to walk back.
Later, I was at East Region SSC. I was a counselor, but I thought it was so weird that the counselors didn't sleep with the students because I was in my own bedroom. I was thinking that it was hard to get to know the students if we don't have those night sharings etc. Then, Jillian, Michael, Ramon, Helena, and Alaska were in my room. They started talking. I was looking for something in my bag. Then I realized that was Helena's bag. Mine was under the bed. I apologized because I didn't have my glasses on--I just woke up? Then I went to my bag. Later, they started singing. I forgot what they were singing, but they kept going down in the key. I jumped up an octave and kept going down. Then I said, "You can just jump up an octave and keep doing down." Jillian laughed and nobody else said anything. There was an awkward silence.
Later, I was driving down a road. The car was in the middle lane. I was in the passenger's seat and I couldn't see anyone in the driver's seat. But it was normal-feeling. I needed to go somewhere. When the car stopped at the traffic light, I tried to unlock the car door. It didn't work at first, but then it was allowed to open. I took my shoes and other stuff and ran out. I had a map. My map was also interactive. I could see an arial view of myself at the top 1/3 or 1/4 of my vision. I could also see the directions with information like how long it'll take me to get where. Also, my itinerary was there like my flight time and transfer flight. I ran from the road to the sidewalk on the left. I was running away from the traffic light (in terms of direction). I was trying to share-screen my map/vision with someone online.
As I ran, I got to this grassy plain area. The street was on my right. To the left of the grassy lawn/plain area, there was either a library or just a random dark-colored building. On the plain, there were dinosaurs--really big dinosaurs. They were resting there, the sleepy dinosaurs. As I ran I felt like I was using a lot of energy but it felt I was not getting that far. I was trying to get across the dinosaurs carefully, while still running. I recalled that people had been killed before by these dinosaurs when they weren't careful because the dinosaur might move/change position/roll over and crush them. It seemed like all the dinosaurs were resting. There were about three big ones. As they were sort of just rolling around and shifting, I was trying to run past them. I got near the end and there was a smaller but still big dinosaur resting on my right. I was thinking if it was the smaller kind because I would be doomed. There are small dinosaurs that are known to quickly catch and kill people in the area. Good thing it wasn't that kind of dinosaur. Then, I woke up.
Lessons learned? God might cure you, it's fun to play in the snow with church people, sharing time is important at SSC, don't forget your laundry, some things are too weird to say, be careful around dinosaurs.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
7. Joy
"Why are you smiling?" asks Dad.
"I was reading something funny." I unsuccessfully try to conceal my stretched grin as I stare at my laptop screen.
Oh what joy it is to ride on a one-horse open sleigh! But, more importantly, what joy it is to read a brother's online journal filled with hilarious yet spiritual writing. This joy and excitement gives me strength to write too! O how I have neglected the importance of joy and it's role in life. Joy in life is like a mouse running on a wheel to make a light bulb glow. Joy in life is like the powdery flavoring on Cooler Ranch Dorito chips--and one must not forget the licking of the fingers after the accumulation of this powdery flavoring. Without joy, there is no light. Without joy, there is no flavor. Without joy, there is no strength.
I've encountered melancholy attempts at focusing and working with the mindset that it just needs to get done. Even holy work. I've tried to coerce my lazy corpse to read Bible passages and come up with questions and comments. But to no avail! Work remains unfinished. It is still hard to concentrate. Maybe if I rest a little, I will be able to focus later. Maybe if I exercise a little, I can get my blood flowing and concentrate. Maybe if I play some piano, I can get my mind settled. Such silly suggestions, when the answer is so simple. The source of strength is joy. And joy is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. My answer is just a kneel away.
"the joy of the LORD is your strength." (Neh 8:10b)
"I was reading something funny." I unsuccessfully try to conceal my stretched grin as I stare at my laptop screen.
Oh what joy it is to ride on a one-horse open sleigh! But, more importantly, what joy it is to read a brother's online journal filled with hilarious yet spiritual writing. This joy and excitement gives me strength to write too! O how I have neglected the importance of joy and it's role in life. Joy in life is like a mouse running on a wheel to make a light bulb glow. Joy in life is like the powdery flavoring on Cooler Ranch Dorito chips--and one must not forget the licking of the fingers after the accumulation of this powdery flavoring. Without joy, there is no light. Without joy, there is no flavor. Without joy, there is no strength.
I've encountered melancholy attempts at focusing and working with the mindset that it just needs to get done. Even holy work. I've tried to coerce my lazy corpse to read Bible passages and come up with questions and comments. But to no avail! Work remains unfinished. It is still hard to concentrate. Maybe if I rest a little, I will be able to focus later. Maybe if I exercise a little, I can get my blood flowing and concentrate. Maybe if I play some piano, I can get my mind settled. Such silly suggestions, when the answer is so simple. The source of strength is joy. And joy is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. My answer is just a kneel away.
"the joy of the LORD is your strength." (Neh 8:10b)
6. Just a Little
"Oh no!" She sniffed the rice in the rice cooker again. Yup. The rice had gone sour. There was some rice from a while ago she accidentally mixed in with the recent rice. The recent rice was fine but now that it had been blended with the sour rice--all of it's ruined. It's okay, having noodles for dinner was yum!
Lady, don't you dare put that yeast in the dough!
Lady, don't you dare put that yeast in the dough!
5. Exhausting Ourselves
There was once a king who wanted to show his people what love is and how to love one another. So, he took off his royal robes and put on the dusty clothes of a slave. Even though they hated him, tried to kill him, and did not recognize him as king, he gave up his life for all of them.
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (Jn 15:12-13, emphases added)
How, then, do we love our friends by laying down our lives for them today?
"So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well" (2 Cor 12:15a).
Putting others before us. Spending not only our money and time for the sheep of God, but also expending and exhausting ourselves for the least of those that belong to Jesus.
Not concrete enough?
I think a good example is a brother who drove 3+ tiring hours to help out at a church event. I asked if he would have time later to help me with a piece of writing. And he happily helped me that night, denying that he was tired. Even though I was already satisfied with the help he gave me, he still wanted to help me make my piece of writing better. Then, the next day, after a long day of events, he drove me home--which meant 4++ hours of driving.
Love: Gladly spending everything we have and exhausting ourselves for the flock.
"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (Jn 15:12-13, emphases added)
How, then, do we love our friends by laying down our lives for them today?
"So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well" (2 Cor 12:15a).
Putting others before us. Spending not only our money and time for the sheep of God, but also expending and exhausting ourselves for the least of those that belong to Jesus.
Not concrete enough?
I think a good example is a brother who drove 3+ tiring hours to help out at a church event. I asked if he would have time later to help me with a piece of writing. And he happily helped me that night, denying that he was tired. Even though I was already satisfied with the help he gave me, he still wanted to help me make my piece of writing better. Then, the next day, after a long day of events, he drove me home--which meant 4++ hours of driving.
Love: Gladly spending everything we have and exhausting ourselves for the flock.
4. Apple Pies
As he scrubbed the metal pie pans along the crystal lake, he gave a great sigh.
"How are we to improve in making apple pies?"
Growing up, he always thought that the best that apple pies could taste were the ones from his native village Jardinville--because he had tasted no other. However, when Carlos was delivering spices to Polo recently, he discovered how diligently and seriously the Polians took pie-making. Many of them pick the freshest apples, use the finest spices, and time the oven-baking just right so that the pie crust is perfectly buttery and crispy! Now, tasting the apple pies of Jardinville was like experiencing a staler version of some of the Polian pies.
Carlos finished running the pans with some water and took out a rag to dry them. He noticed that some of the pans the Jardiners were using were cracked and unpolished.
Recently, he tried to share with some villagers of Jardinville some recipes and techniques he jotted down when he was at Polo. Some were eager to give it a try, others not so much. It seems like quite the hassle to have to change from something one is already comfortable doing. It takes a lot more time to search the trees for the finest apples instead of just grabbing a bunch. It takes a lot more money to buy the finer spices when generic cinnamon could work. And why check the oven constantly and patiently for just the right time when you can take the pie out whenever you feel it is probably done?
To his surprise, however, he did realize some people who still spent the time to really make good pies in Jardinville--few, but still faithful to the cause. It's like an oven--right when you thought you had to re-light it to bake a pie, you realize there is some wood on fire still and maybe all you need is to add some more sticks and blow in some air.
Word had been spreading among all the villages and towns that the king was coming to taste all the apple pies of Pie Kingdom. Hopefully, they can all get their pie-making into top shape before the king gets to their village. Perhaps at one point in time, Jardinville used to be the center for pie-making...
As Carlos stacked the pans in a neat striated tower, he took from his bag a slice of apple pie he made that morning. His teeth sank into the flakey crust. Filling oozed into his mouth. MMmm... but not good enough. The pie was getting cold too. How can he help the Jardiners if his own pie-making still needs some help?
Sigh.
"How are we to improve in making apple pies?"
Growing up, he always thought that the best that apple pies could taste were the ones from his native village Jardinville--because he had tasted no other. However, when Carlos was delivering spices to Polo recently, he discovered how diligently and seriously the Polians took pie-making. Many of them pick the freshest apples, use the finest spices, and time the oven-baking just right so that the pie crust is perfectly buttery and crispy! Now, tasting the apple pies of Jardinville was like experiencing a staler version of some of the Polian pies.
Carlos finished running the pans with some water and took out a rag to dry them. He noticed that some of the pans the Jardiners were using were cracked and unpolished.
Recently, he tried to share with some villagers of Jardinville some recipes and techniques he jotted down when he was at Polo. Some were eager to give it a try, others not so much. It seems like quite the hassle to have to change from something one is already comfortable doing. It takes a lot more time to search the trees for the finest apples instead of just grabbing a bunch. It takes a lot more money to buy the finer spices when generic cinnamon could work. And why check the oven constantly and patiently for just the right time when you can take the pie out whenever you feel it is probably done?
To his surprise, however, he did realize some people who still spent the time to really make good pies in Jardinville--few, but still faithful to the cause. It's like an oven--right when you thought you had to re-light it to bake a pie, you realize there is some wood on fire still and maybe all you need is to add some more sticks and blow in some air.
Word had been spreading among all the villages and towns that the king was coming to taste all the apple pies of Pie Kingdom. Hopefully, they can all get their pie-making into top shape before the king gets to their village. Perhaps at one point in time, Jardinville used to be the center for pie-making...
As Carlos stacked the pans in a neat striated tower, he took from his bag a slice of apple pie he made that morning. His teeth sank into the flakey crust. Filling oozed into his mouth. MMmm... but not good enough. The pie was getting cold too. How can he help the Jardiners if his own pie-making still needs some help?
Sigh.
3. Laughing
Yesterday after dinner, I took my bowl, which was once filled with chicken soup, to the sink. I noticed there was still some chicken, so I tried to finish it. I got some bone in my mouth, so I spat it out. Some chicken also came out. Then I thought... what if one of my parents goes and sees the chicken I spat out, thinks it was something I forgot to finish, and eats it for me?
I laughed to myself. Then, my mom asked why I was laughing.
I laughed to myself. Then, my mom asked why I was laughing.
2. Censured
Last night I had a dream. Earliest scene I remember was when I was walking toward the parking lot area of a school campus after finishing Bible study in a classroom. I was at Bible study with Daniel Y and Pr. ____. We were talking about whether the Bible study should be exclusive or not (we used the word "censured" which doesn't make sense.. maybe we were trying to say "censored"?).
At the parking lot I got worried because I didn't know how I was getting home. Then suddenly, I saw Eric Bazua and someone else and I was so relieved. I asked Eric if he could take me home. In the car, there were 3 passengers including me. Eric said they usually use some middle point and see who lives the closest and take who lives the closest home first.
Then, I was in a house and having Bible study again. It was with Pr. ____ again. Charlene was there too. I asked him if the Bible study should be exclusive/closed to entry after we start, and I think he said it shouldn't. However, I had my reservations because not many people signed up for the Bible study by the deadline, and now people were asking if they could join. The people now asking if they could join will probably come and then stop coming after a while. And if people try to join later, they might not be caught up with all the material. Then I told him about what happened earlier: I dreamed that I told him I had committed really grave sins and repented for them. I told him that later in the dream, he tried to frame me and kill me. After I told him this, he didn't say anything. Then, I told him that I actually did commit really grave sins and I was repentant for them. He didn't say anything.
Then, I was in the parking lot somewhere else. I think we were going to a Bible study again. I saw Pr. ____ far away to my right. He was making eye contact with a police hidden somewhere far away to my left. Pr. ____ told him to shoot me. I could see the police's eyes. Beside the police there were other eyes. Like a potato man, we could switch his eyes. They were kind of like stickers. You could put on shaded eyes, open eyes, closed eyes...
Then, I was stuck between being awake from my alarm and dreaming that I was a wall 2x as large--whatever that means.
Lessons learned? Don't be exclusive, God always provides, preachers usually are on your side except maybe in dreams, crave a double portion.
At the parking lot I got worried because I didn't know how I was getting home. Then suddenly, I saw Eric Bazua and someone else and I was so relieved. I asked Eric if he could take me home. In the car, there were 3 passengers including me. Eric said they usually use some middle point and see who lives the closest and take who lives the closest home first.
Then, I was in a house and having Bible study again. It was with Pr. ____ again. Charlene was there too. I asked him if the Bible study should be exclusive/closed to entry after we start, and I think he said it shouldn't. However, I had my reservations because not many people signed up for the Bible study by the deadline, and now people were asking if they could join. The people now asking if they could join will probably come and then stop coming after a while. And if people try to join later, they might not be caught up with all the material. Then I told him about what happened earlier: I dreamed that I told him I had committed really grave sins and repented for them. I told him that later in the dream, he tried to frame me and kill me. After I told him this, he didn't say anything. Then, I told him that I actually did commit really grave sins and I was repentant for them. He didn't say anything.
Then, I was in the parking lot somewhere else. I think we were going to a Bible study again. I saw Pr. ____ far away to my right. He was making eye contact with a police hidden somewhere far away to my left. Pr. ____ told him to shoot me. I could see the police's eyes. Beside the police there were other eyes. Like a potato man, we could switch his eyes. They were kind of like stickers. You could put on shaded eyes, open eyes, closed eyes...
Then, I was stuck between being awake from my alarm and dreaming that I was a wall 2x as large--whatever that means.
Lessons learned? Don't be exclusive, God always provides, preachers usually are on your side except maybe in dreams, crave a double portion.
1. Home
how shall i compare how i feel to be home? it's like...
...testing a tumor for cancer and then realizing it's benign.
...or losing your cell phone and then realizing it was under a few sheets of paper next to the piano.
...or like after eating all the brussel sprouts in your plate and then enjoying the chicken katsu and rice.
mm..
when i was studying for finals i really just felt it was so impossible. i didnt understand so much and there was too many things to study. so hard to concentrate and focus. taking the finals... aw man.. i could only ask for mercy from God afterward..
really thank God for taking me through those..
after finishing those final leaps, i was so glad to come home. back to socal for an awesome summer. back to parents who pamper me. back to relaxing and not feeling like i can't continue on.
but it seems like i'm too relaxed. that i can't really focus at all and keep alert. it's like i let my guard down and all parts open to attack. taking the finals, i had to really just hand everything to God. but now i have nothing like that to worry about... the sufferings have past...
and thus the testing began. and such failure.
how can we arm ourselves? especially in times of prosperity? relaxation from work? enjoying the katsu chicken?
1 Peter 4:1
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.
our weapon is the mind of suffering. even though our bodies may be resting, our minds never are. always alert, always ready. bearing an attitude of suffering--willing to suffer, reminding ourselves of the suffering that is necessary to live a holy life.
...testing a tumor for cancer and then realizing it's benign.
...or losing your cell phone and then realizing it was under a few sheets of paper next to the piano.
...or like after eating all the brussel sprouts in your plate and then enjoying the chicken katsu and rice.
mm..
when i was studying for finals i really just felt it was so impossible. i didnt understand so much and there was too many things to study. so hard to concentrate and focus. taking the finals... aw man.. i could only ask for mercy from God afterward..
really thank God for taking me through those..
after finishing those final leaps, i was so glad to come home. back to socal for an awesome summer. back to parents who pamper me. back to relaxing and not feeling like i can't continue on.
but it seems like i'm too relaxed. that i can't really focus at all and keep alert. it's like i let my guard down and all parts open to attack. taking the finals, i had to really just hand everything to God. but now i have nothing like that to worry about... the sufferings have past...
and thus the testing began. and such failure.
how can we arm ourselves? especially in times of prosperity? relaxation from work? enjoying the katsu chicken?
1 Peter 4:1
Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.
our weapon is the mind of suffering. even though our bodies may be resting, our minds never are. always alert, always ready. bearing an attitude of suffering--willing to suffer, reminding ourselves of the suffering that is necessary to live a holy life.
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