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)

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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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.

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011110

It's definitely premature but... I might have just gotten the best news of my life.

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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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