With every power for good to stay and guide me,
comforted and inspired beyond all fear,
I'll live these days with you in thought beside me,
and pass, with you, into the coming year.
The old year still torments our hearts, unhastening;
the long days of our sorrow still endure,
Father, grant to the souls thou hast been chastening
that thou hast promised, the healing and the cure.
Should it be ours to drain the cup of grieving
even to the dregs of pain, at thy command,
we will not falter, thankfully receiving
all that is given by thy loving hand.
But should it be thy will once more to release us
to life's enjoyment and its good sunshine,
that which we've learned from sorrow shall increase us,
and all our life be dedicate as thine.
Today, let candles shed their radiant greeting;
lo, on our darkness are they not thy light
leading us, haply, to our longed-for meeting?
Thou canst illumine even our darkest night.
When now the silence deepens for our hearkening,
grant we may hear the children's voices raise
from all the unseen world around us darkening
their universal paean, in thy praise.
While all the powers of good aid and attend us,
boldly we'll face the future, come what may.
At even and at morn God will befriend us,
and oh, most surely on each newborn day!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Heart Check
In a world where success is the measure and justification of all things the figure of Him who was sentenced and crucified remains a stranger and is at best the object of pity. It is not ideas or opinions which decide, but deeds. Success alone justifies wrongs done... With a frankness and off-handedness which no other earthly power could permit itself, history appeals in its own cause to the dictum that the end justifies the means... The figure of the Crucified invalidates all thought which takes success for its standard.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
June 4, 1939
One day we shall know and see what today we believe;
one day we shall hold a service together in eternity.
The beginning and the end, O Lord, are thine,
The span between, life, was mine.
I wandered in the darkness and did not discover myself,
With thee, O Lord, is clarity, and light is thy house.
A short time only, and all is done;
Then the whole struggle dies away to nothing.
Then I will refresh myself by the waters of life,
and will talk with Jesus for ever and ever.
one day we shall hold a service together in eternity.
The beginning and the end, O Lord, are thine,
The span between, life, was mine.
I wandered in the darkness and did not discover myself,
With thee, O Lord, is clarity, and light is thy house.
A short time only, and all is done;
Then the whole struggle dies away to nothing.
Then I will refresh myself by the waters of life,
and will talk with Jesus for ever and ever.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Ten Words of the Day
"REAL men...
Reject Passivity,
Exemplify Integrity,
Accept Responsibility,
Lead Courageously."
Monday, July 19, 2010
Empty Streets
Strangely, the most satisfying time with God this past Sunday wasn't at Sunday Celebration... rather,
It was blasting Christ Tomlin "Exalted" down Ann Arbor-Saline at 2am. No one but God and SB. Glorious.
It was blasting Christ Tomlin "Exalted" down Ann Arbor-Saline at 2am. No one but God and SB. Glorious.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Cultural Identity, Christian Reflections
After being in an international student setting for some time, I notice two general types of international identifications, those who come from a single predominant cultural background and those who are considered third-culture backgrounds.
1) By a single predominant cultural background, I am alluding to a person who was raised within a dominant social/linguistic/ethnic culture and they have not had significant exposure to another culture. These people maintain close relationships with people of their cultural background in higher proportion than those people not of their cultural background.
2) By a third-culture background, I refer to a person who has been exposed to several cultures during their lives. They do not necessarily identify wholly with a single cultural background but weave themselves with an individuality that is uniquely diverse due to their multiple experiences.
I think it is rather fascinating to observe the differences in interaction between these types of people. There are certainly exceptions to my generalizations but here are some thoughts.
1) People who come from a singular cultural background have a tendency to remain within their comfortable cultures. While many of these people remain in those comfort zones, some of these people remove themselves from the culture homogeneity after a period of time once they are consistently exposed to a different cultural environment. What are possible causes of this change? Several things come to mind. I notice it can be due to a shift in expectations. Some of these people who remove themselves from cultural comforts because they expect such new experiences to be of value to them in the future. They do not intend on completely submersing themselves in the culture from which they came and so they adapt themselves to a culture that is of value to them for future possibilities. Some of these people have a genuine change in preference because they find a new culture makes them feel more comfortable than the culture they came from. Or perhaps some of these people find they no longer hold such high preferences for their culture of origin. Lastly, some of these people just add another culture to their identity, not necessarily giving up a cultural preference but adding to their cultural experience.
2) People who come from third-culture backgrounds have a tendency to maintain a diversity of relationships, especially with people of third-culture backgrounds. However, some of these third-culture people have difficulty maintain any close relationships due to a unique individual experience others cannot personally identify with. Third-culture people seem to be more comfortable at flowing in and out of different cultural contexts instantaneously and relating with people of different backgrounds. But they seem to have a tendency to find difficulty finding meaningful relationships with people who are from single-cultural backgrounds unless there is a common interest of some sort that widens the cultural bridge. While they are comfortable building relationships with single-cultural background people, those relationships do not seem to be of as substance as single-cultural background people relating with other single-cultural background people unless a common experience prepares a fertile soil for such relationships to deepen.
Why am I reflecting on these observations? Because I think it's telling of why people do what they do and why they behave the way they behave. Also, it's worth examining why I do what I do while considering my background.
For instance, I am perfectly capable of holding a basic conversation in Korean. But why do I feel uncomfortable speaking Korean in certain contexts? More than anything else, it has to do with denying people the satisfaction of hearing me speak it after so much expectation that has built up a reputation. But underlying the situation, I find something uncomfortable with reinforcing a Korean cultural perception about myself. While it seems irrelevant for those who want me to be comfortable with speaking my native tongue and those who I already know well, I value my cultural flexibility where I demonstrate as little cultural preference such that there are no hindrances, at least on my side, to get people to be more open and comfortable around me.
Overall, I do not enjoy flaunting an unhealthy amount of cultural pride or preference because I have seen it hinder people from feeling welcome and comfortable. Being in an international student ministry, I'm realizing how important it is to tamper down cultural dominance especially when it comes to language and food. I have spent enough time in Global Access to not give much care when a language I do not understand is spoken in my presence. But I can imagine how big of a turn-off it would be if a new person had to endure it. English is safe (since almost everyone can communicate with it) so I will keep the Korean away.
I've grown to love the foods international students enjoy. I do not remember another time in my life when I've had such a diversity of foods. I've gone through a period of time when I despised Korean food because I had too much of it. I still love it and I hope to expose people to Korean food who have never explored it. However, I am unwilling to go as far as pronouncing Korean food as the best in the world. Korean is one of many types of foods and qualifying it as the best would be unnecessarily rude and a turn-off. Flaunting my opinion is not as important as being considerate to other people. Again, it's about making people feel comfortable and welcomed in any Christ-centered environment. Similarly, I love American food and I hope everyone gets to enjoy the best of it. However, on the other hand, remarks that disparage another cultural experience require restraint and possibly repentance. No culture is better than another in any way because God loves every culture, he created them!
In concluding, I've been asked why I am in Global Access frequently these days. I grew up in the US almost all my life but I find myself more comfortable relating with international students. I never fully identified myself as an American because I have always felt different in the American culture I grew up in, an immigrant at heart. It was never a culture I completely accepted because I always had one hand permanently grasping my Korean heritage no matter how much Americanization I underwent. While I've certainly adopted a majority of my social and political values from America, I have always appreciated and continue to retain my Korean values. Furthermore, I've come to appreciate a certain amount of cultural ambiguity, not because I have some major identity issues, but for the sake of the Gospel. My identity as belonging to Jesus Christ has risen to be of the highest priority. While far from perfect, God continues to work in me to make it true.
Being around international students has been quite an experience and it has been teaching me a lot of biblical lessons on what it means to be like Jesus across cultures.
1) By a single predominant cultural background, I am alluding to a person who was raised within a dominant social/linguistic/ethnic culture and they have not had significant exposure to another culture. These people maintain close relationships with people of their cultural background in higher proportion than those people not of their cultural background.
2) By a third-culture background, I refer to a person who has been exposed to several cultures during their lives. They do not necessarily identify wholly with a single cultural background but weave themselves with an individuality that is uniquely diverse due to their multiple experiences.
I think it is rather fascinating to observe the differences in interaction between these types of people. There are certainly exceptions to my generalizations but here are some thoughts.
1) People who come from a singular cultural background have a tendency to remain within their comfortable cultures. While many of these people remain in those comfort zones, some of these people remove themselves from the culture homogeneity after a period of time once they are consistently exposed to a different cultural environment. What are possible causes of this change? Several things come to mind. I notice it can be due to a shift in expectations. Some of these people who remove themselves from cultural comforts because they expect such new experiences to be of value to them in the future. They do not intend on completely submersing themselves in the culture from which they came and so they adapt themselves to a culture that is of value to them for future possibilities. Some of these people have a genuine change in preference because they find a new culture makes them feel more comfortable than the culture they came from. Or perhaps some of these people find they no longer hold such high preferences for their culture of origin. Lastly, some of these people just add another culture to their identity, not necessarily giving up a cultural preference but adding to their cultural experience.
2) People who come from third-culture backgrounds have a tendency to maintain a diversity of relationships, especially with people of third-culture backgrounds. However, some of these third-culture people have difficulty maintain any close relationships due to a unique individual experience others cannot personally identify with. Third-culture people seem to be more comfortable at flowing in and out of different cultural contexts instantaneously and relating with people of different backgrounds. But they seem to have a tendency to find difficulty finding meaningful relationships with people who are from single-cultural backgrounds unless there is a common interest of some sort that widens the cultural bridge. While they are comfortable building relationships with single-cultural background people, those relationships do not seem to be of as substance as single-cultural background people relating with other single-cultural background people unless a common experience prepares a fertile soil for such relationships to deepen.
Why am I reflecting on these observations? Because I think it's telling of why people do what they do and why they behave the way they behave. Also, it's worth examining why I do what I do while considering my background.
For instance, I am perfectly capable of holding a basic conversation in Korean. But why do I feel uncomfortable speaking Korean in certain contexts? More than anything else, it has to do with denying people the satisfaction of hearing me speak it after so much expectation that has built up a reputation. But underlying the situation, I find something uncomfortable with reinforcing a Korean cultural perception about myself. While it seems irrelevant for those who want me to be comfortable with speaking my native tongue and those who I already know well, I value my cultural flexibility where I demonstrate as little cultural preference such that there are no hindrances, at least on my side, to get people to be more open and comfortable around me.
Overall, I do not enjoy flaunting an unhealthy amount of cultural pride or preference because I have seen it hinder people from feeling welcome and comfortable. Being in an international student ministry, I'm realizing how important it is to tamper down cultural dominance especially when it comes to language and food. I have spent enough time in Global Access to not give much care when a language I do not understand is spoken in my presence. But I can imagine how big of a turn-off it would be if a new person had to endure it. English is safe (since almost everyone can communicate with it) so I will keep the Korean away.
I've grown to love the foods international students enjoy. I do not remember another time in my life when I've had such a diversity of foods. I've gone through a period of time when I despised Korean food because I had too much of it. I still love it and I hope to expose people to Korean food who have never explored it. However, I am unwilling to go as far as pronouncing Korean food as the best in the world. Korean is one of many types of foods and qualifying it as the best would be unnecessarily rude and a turn-off. Flaunting my opinion is not as important as being considerate to other people. Again, it's about making people feel comfortable and welcomed in any Christ-centered environment. Similarly, I love American food and I hope everyone gets to enjoy the best of it. However, on the other hand, remarks that disparage another cultural experience require restraint and possibly repentance. No culture is better than another in any way because God loves every culture, he created them!
In concluding, I've been asked why I am in Global Access frequently these days. I grew up in the US almost all my life but I find myself more comfortable relating with international students. I never fully identified myself as an American because I have always felt different in the American culture I grew up in, an immigrant at heart. It was never a culture I completely accepted because I always had one hand permanently grasping my Korean heritage no matter how much Americanization I underwent. While I've certainly adopted a majority of my social and political values from America, I have always appreciated and continue to retain my Korean values. Furthermore, I've come to appreciate a certain amount of cultural ambiguity, not because I have some major identity issues, but for the sake of the Gospel. My identity as belonging to Jesus Christ has risen to be of the highest priority. While far from perfect, God continues to work in me to make it true.
Being around international students has been quite an experience and it has been teaching me a lot of biblical lessons on what it means to be like Jesus across cultures.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Godspeed
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed?
And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?
And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
And how are they to preach unless they are sent?
As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"
Friday, June 4, 2010
Without Your touch, without Your love
You changed my world
When You came to me.
You drove a passion,
In my soul down deep,
Lord, to follow You in everything.
I don't want to go somewhere
If I know that You're not there,
'Cause I know that me without You is a lie.
And I don't want to walk that road,
Be a million miles from home,
Cause my heart needs to be where You are.
So I don't want to go.
So come whatever,
(Whatever may come)
I'll stick with You.
(Right by Your side)
I'll walk You'll lead me,
Call me crazy or a fool,
For forever I promise You...
That I don't want to go somewhere
If I know that You're not there,
'Cause I know that me without You is a lie.
And I don't want to walk that road,
Be a million miles from home,
Cause my heart needs to be where You are.
So I don't want to go
Without Your touch,
Without Your love
Filling me like an ocean.
For Your grace is enough,
Enough for me.
Never want to go somewhere
If I know that You're not there.
No, no, no, no.
I don't want to go somewhere
If I know that You're not there,
'Cause I know that me without You is a lie.
And I don't want to walk that road,
Be a million miles from home,
Cause my heart needs to be right where You are.
So I don't want to go. No, no.
Oh.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
Without Your touch,
Without Your love
Filling me like an ocean.
Your grace is enough,
I don't want to go.
I don't want to go somewhere,
If I know that You're not there.
I don't want to be there without You.
Without your touch,
(I don't want to go somewhere,)
Without you love
(If I know that You're not there.
I don't want to be there without You.)
I don't want to go. No, no.
(I don't want to go somewhere,
If I know that You're not there.
I don't want to be there without You.)
If You're not there.
Filling me, loving me.
I don't want to go.
Don't want to go.
(Don't want to go, don't want to go there without you.)
There without you.
(Don't want to go)
Don't want to be
(Don't want to go, don't want to go)
There without you.
(There without you.)
Saturday, May 22, 2010
The Godfather, the greatest
I never buy movies on DVD but this week, history was made for the 2nd time and possibly the last. I purchased Godfather Part II. Care to guess what movie I bought the first time?
I'm only beginning to scratch the surface of the cinematic beauty of the Godfather I & II. Every time I watch it, I discover something new that never occurred to me before. The story unfolds through these two films. One captures the honor, respect, family, prestige. Vito Corleone loves his family, being a man who did what he had to do to take care of those he loved, a man of principle who never crossed certain bounds. The other captures a fall, isolation, ruthlessness, brutality, cold. Michael Corleone gradually loses everything, his humanity, his warmth and innocence, the honor and respect have all but disappeared by the end of the second film. One portrays the rise and the other portrays the fall.
There are many scenes in the films that grip me but one particular scene is when young Vito is on the immigrant boat passing across the Statue of Liberty. The camera sweeps across the deck of the boat and captures the hopes and dreams of all the immigrants staring out at the symbol of freedom and opportunity. Their faces are lit as if reborn, their eyes are filled with hope and dreams of a new life, a second chance and a passage into a place where their destinies are completely in their control.
Another scene that I anticipate for is when Vito and Michael are sitting together in the yard and Vito speaks of all he wanted for Michael, a congressman, a senator, president Corleone. Vito wanted something better for Michael, that his son would one day be the one "pulling the strings." Its a moving scene of a father and son, a passage of rite, a father that shares with his son his regret for what he failed to do. Vito Corleone admits his imperfections while defending his actions as a family provider and protector.
The Godfather I & II are worth every scene. I do not regret owning them, they are worth owning because they are the epitome of American film. It's an American success story and yet an American tragedy. A superb story of America that grips and delights, that is heart-breaking and tragic.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.
Here I am. Use me Lord.
but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.
Here I am. Use me Lord.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Connection
The Gospel according to Matthew reads:
"The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham."
I cannot imagine life in a vaccum. How depressing would it be if live was meant to be lived alone. Life is really meaningful because of other lives isn't it? The relationships, the communication, the laughter, joy, togetherness, gchat, email, prayers, the connections. That's the good stuff. That's the essence of the Gospel, restoring relationships. Rebuilding those bridges. Being found. Being loved. Being complete.
Here's some examples I want to share. Enjoy. (credit to Joanne and Keran, awesome photographers)
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Completion
1 John reads:
"and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete."
John writes that the believer's joy is complete when our fellowship is with the Father, the Son, and each other. My own joy is not sufficient but the joy of other believers completes my joy. My interest ought to be for the joy of others and not mine alone. I hope that is what I will remind myself, seeking first the interest of others not only in joy but in service, worship, love, and faith. Jesus-pleasing joy demands the joy of others, I need to be more mindful of that.
This week has been undoubtedly the busiest and most traveled week I've had in a while. I've been lacks quite a lot of sleep due to many things on my mind. My body is fatigued but my mind is restless and refuses to be at peace. I'm wrestling with several things that just compounds the concerns and anxieties on my heart. I'm praying that the weekend should help bring things to a calm. But for now, I'm in the thickness of preparations.
God, grant me peace in my heart and mind. Obeying you was never meant to be like this, forgive me for my lack of faith in you. Thank you for being patient with a foolish sinner like me.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Calibrate
This morning, 1 Peter reads;
"All flesh is like grass, and all glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever."
The Word of the Lord remains forever.
A lot of things are running around in my head these days. Decisions,decisions, and more decisions. Waiting, waiting, and more waiting. Preparation here, preparation there. Finish this, start that, double check this, and repeat. All in all, I think my focus has been good and targeted, some convictions are solidifying. But it is always good to recalibrate my direction from what can be glimpsed at the farthest view.
God has revealed to me so much about myself I never knew, and to ignore such revelations would be utter disobedience. He does not show his children things for humor, he reveals things to his children because he has a purpose in mind for each child. God has spoken, he has revealed. Align my life to Your will, that is my prayer.
These are going to be some exciting days.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Sibby Art
I finally did it. What I should have done months ago.
My portfolio is up. woohooo! www.sungbumpark.com
Time to get me a job. Time to sell myself to the world.
In other news, not all 3 credit classes are equal. Some are as easy as snapping a twig.
Others are atrocious monsters that devour your weekend and spit you out when the weekday starts, all chewed up and a wreck.
Ugh why did I choose this class.
You know when your broke when the best things you look forward to is the next free meal of the week. Tomorrows got me all excited now.
Breakfast: Asiago cheese bagel tomorrow morning at 8:15 at the Alumni center
Lunch: Work, bring on the bibimbop
Dinner: Pizza and soda at 6 at the Alumni center networking session
I learned in my persuasion class that the average person can only keep attentive to seven things at any given moment.
1. Why am I blogging at this hour
2. I'm thirsty
3. Is my hair dry yet
4. My butts numb again
5. Econ 482 exam
6. Crap I need to study
7. Wow... finally.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Let's be frank
Especially when it comes to matters of opinion, why say regrettable things? Is it really necessary? is it worth it to expose yourself to artillery fire just cuz you dropped your water canteen in the middle of the field? Just don't do it.
Here's my point. Let me make it as crystal clear as possible.
I like Macs. Lots of people like Macs. Lots of people buy Macs and they like it and they buy lots of other Apple products. Clearly, people who hate on Macs are not convincing anyone I know. They are not convincing anyone because lots of people like Macs and they want Apple products and nothing Mac bashers say is convincing anyone. Macs are not inferior to PCs because it depends on what specifically is being referred to as inferior. I guess we could compare every PC part with every equivalent Mac part and somehow tally the points but let's be frank. No one buys a computer with a tally total of which computer has the most winning parts. It's the experience that makes people like Macs and lots of people who have experienced a Mac like it so stop flaunting your virus-infested Windows OS.
People don't like change but some changes are worth it. When people are afraid of change, they criticize it and spill all sorts of opinion and rumors they can because they don't like what is new and different. That is why Mac bashers are the loudest critics. To make my case, I do not know of any Mac user who bashes PCs as passionately as Mac critics. The children who kick and scream the loudest just cannot seem to get enough attention for themselves.
Stop hating on Macs, just let people use what they like.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
By the way
Jesus, your pure awesome. Not for any particular personal reason other than... YOU SAVED THE WORLD. Just thought I'd let you know.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Gull Lake
Gull Lake is the retreat site of choice: beautiful lake (frozen ice-fishing style), comfty beds (queen size for my fat body), buffet food (made me gaseous), and GA (a rag-tag group of asians who would eat each other if not for Jesus).
It's been a while since I've been at a fulfilling retreat that doesn't leave you passed out from exhaustion. It's also been a while since I've been at a fulfilling retreat that leaves me feeling glad I did go because it was worth it. This retreat was worth it. I have five homeworks about to bury me alive, horrendous amount of class readings that haunt me in my sleep, the month of february makes me weak in my knees just thinking about it. And let me repeat what I just wrote, this retreat was worth it.
Gull Lake has been a magical place over the years, unforgettable and a spiritual birthplace for many. It never loses it's special touch and there is no question who does it. Jesus does not make bad people good, he makes dead people live. He makes dead people live. Ravi Zacharia spoke those words some time ago and I never came around to forgetting it. Jesus raises people, what a crazy thought. What a crazy truth.
I'm so bad with remember people's faces it's getting embarrassing. I have got to start listening to people when they introduce themselves, at the very least I got to get their names down. I'm scared my brain can't hold as many faces in memory these days as my cellphone can hold phone numbers. Maybe I'm getting the onset of short-term memory loss, freaky. C'mon neurons, do your job.
For the next two weeks, meat is a no-no. I could try a no-no with solid food but I'd faint and I would be a no-go, and school will become a uh-oh. Fasting just is not a strength of mine and I am not quite in a position to find the limits to that strength. So to all the cows, porks, chickens, crabs, shrimps, fishes, squids, whales, pandas out there, I'm keeping an eye on you. Don't get too comfortable, I'll eaten to extinction soon enough.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Teeth
So today I went to the dentist and my dentist told me I have beautiful teeth and it made me quite happy. Plus, I love getting free stuff like toothbrushes and travel size toothpaste just in time for the retreat tomorrow. Woohoo!
Of all my time in school, hands down this semester I have the coolest professors ever. My Econ 482 professor is the funniest lecturer I have ever had. He's one geeky man but he can pull off some clever jokes. Although admittedly, the class material has gotten really dense, really fast.
I had my first discussion section for a polsci class and I wasn't sure if my GSI was a guy or a girl. Later on, with introductions and all the first class business as usual, I can confirm that he is a guy, and he is gay. My first non-heterosexual instructor ever in academia. Definitely a cool guy, should be one fun semester.
This semester is starting off with lots of firsts and quirks. However, going back to 8am wake-up call was never intended, never thought I'd go back to a class schedule this early since high school. I just might have to get a newer, louder, bigger, alarm clock to survive this semester but I'm broke so my cell phone will have to do for now. Chase Visa card might finally extract an interest fee off of me, what a sad month. Woe to you Chase bank Woe to you.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
Following in the Footsteps of My Lord
"Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered"
In this portion of Hebrews, the Holy Spirit inspired words reflect on the life of Jesus on earth. Verses such as these are memorable to me because they are the footsteps Jesus took, the very life he lived, the biblically principled conscious actions and imitations I can follow while on earth. The passage before it speaks of prayers and supplications Jesus offered, the loud cries and tears he shed, the very ears of God he captivated because of his reverence. If these are not clearest footsteps of Jesus, I do not know what is.
Jesus was God's begotten Son, however Hebrews clearly points out he learned obedience. Why is this significant? Even Jesus learned to obey, obedience that comes from suffering for the Father's will. Suffering is no natural feat, every natural instinct flees from suffering. Yet Jesus ran through it, gripped it, struggled through it, died by it, and is forever marked by it with his nail pierced hands. Those footsteps of suffering are marked most clearly yet the hardest to follow. I see them but I'm afraid of what I will lose and the pain of it all. I don't want to do it Jesus, I don't want to do it, anything but that my Lord.
Suffer, pain, agony, defeat, trial, surrender, and death. This is life and life to the fullest. This is how Jesus was made perfect as the following passage reveals. Perfection found in what the world refuses, abhors, denies, and rejects. Following the footsteps of my Lord is every step away from the world. And God smiles, the angels sing, the heavens ring, upon those who run in the footsteps of Jesus because he's worth it. Run hard, don't look back.
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