i’ve gotten into the habit of taking walks during lunch…

it started out as just getting a little exercise since i am in an office all day…

it’s become educational now – even with a Sociology background, i forget how diverse the world is and though we are to be free of the world’s ways, it’s perfectly fine to embrace the people who live in it. 

So that when we are the recipients of the privilege, we can share about Christ on meaningful terms and make a connection.  People will believe what they want to believe… earn their trust and friendship - they’ll at least slightly open the window to their hearts, just enough to let in the actualization of your faith that leads to the verbalization of what Christ has done for us.

Happy learning… ^__^

There comes events in every person’s life… bringing about pivotal moments of decision making that apears contrary to common logic and against the counsel of the wise…  but, I must move.  I must choose to move forward. 

Many people will oppose and won’t understand… but you have to move forward, for the mighty works of God requires faith in action, i.e., one step of faith…  That one step of faith is all that’s required; in fact, it’s all we’re capable of.  That initial movement is what God uses to create supernatural momentum towards the wonderous experiences He’s prepared – plans devised even before our own conceivement in the womb. 

The decisions I make aren’t “world changing” but it certainly has a tremendous impact on myself and my family and even some friends… It’s moving me in the direction of greater momentum of obedience and submission… and especially of the remembrance that “It’s not about me.”

It’s all about He who is in me.

Wanna go to Wendy’s?

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – A diner at a Wendy’s fast food restaurant in San Jose, California, found a human finger in a bowl of chili prepared by the chain, local officials said on Wednesday.

“This individual apparently did take a spoonful, did have a finger in their mouth and then, you know, spit it out and recognized it,” said Ben Gale, director of the department of environmental health for Santa Clara County. “Then they had some kind of emotional reaction and vomited.”

Local officials launched an investigation after the incident on Tuesday night and the medical examiner determined on Wednesday that the object was a human finger.

Officials are trying to determine if the finger came in the raw materials Wendy’s used to prepare the chili, Gale said.

Wendy’s International Inc. corporate office did not immediately return a call for comment. Wendy’s is the third-largest hamburger chain.

AND… I need one of these, too.

LONDON (Reuters) – Can’t get out of bed in the morning?

Scientists at MIT’s Media Lab in the United States have invented an alarm clock called Clocky to make even the doziest sleepers, who repeatedly hit the snooze button, leap out of bed.

After the snooze button is pressed, the clock, which is equipped with a set of wheels, rolls off the table to another part of the room.

“When the alarm sounds again, simply finding Clocky ought to be strenuous enough to prevent even the doziest owner from going back to sleep,” New Scientist magazine said Tuesday.
LONDON (Reuters) – Can’t get out of bed in the morning?

Scientists at MIT’s Media Lab in the United States have invented an alarm clock called Clocky to make even the doziest sleepers, who repeatedly hit the snooze button, leap out of bed.

After the snooze button is pressed, the clock, which is equipped with a set of wheels, rolls off the table to another part of the room.

“When the alarm sounds again, simply finding Clocky ought to be strenuous enough to prevent even the doziest owner from going back to sleep,” New Scientist magazine said Tuesday.

^___^

Confessions…

God’s calling… no matter what the cost, i must “stay the course”.  That’s what i repeatedly tell myself in those moments of doubt…it’s a struggle, but what can i do but grit my teeth and fight off my lack of faith?  …. i don’t always win though.

As i look at what the cost is, i can’t help but gasp at that price tag, “is it even worth it?”  “Do i really have to pay that much to be obedient?”  “Why do i have to be the one to do it?” 
i find myself disobeying “more than i care to admit…” and the words, “knowing what is right and not doing them is sin” echoes in the caverns of my thoughts.

Often, my choices…and behavior… are misunderstood… they don’t know the burdens i hide inside…  i’ve tried in the past to express it… but i’ve been told, “you are such a martyr”… maybe it’s true… and it’s true that i fall short… “more than i care to admit”  Maybe i need to change the way i make choices…???

Regardless, it discourages me from really opening… very few relate because they don’t comprehend my perspectives.  my experiences aren’t more spectacular or profound; truthfully, much of it is quite ordinary.  It’s just that my lenses focus differently.  it’s easier to let folks think what they want to think… let them be comfortable with the surface level who i am…because at least they’re familiar with what that is and know how to deal with it.  

i’m near bursting sometimes…people just don’t get it.  The things that i do get, it’s really nothing… if only people would open their eyes and ears… see and hear what He’s saying… and come to this realization:  “IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU! AND IT IS ABOUT YOU!” 

i recall an old classic, “The Pilgrim’s Progress”.  i sang in the choir of the musical version when i was 8.  i must be treading through a slough of something…  If you haven’t read it, you should go out immediately, find yourself a copy and start reading.  You can borrow my copy, just ask and it’s yours.

if this entry was weird…(shrug)  Do i sound sad?  i’m not.  Do i sound disappointed?  i’m not.  Am i depressed?  maybe…not.

i am joyful… the Word of God is alive to me and in me… so what’s up with this funky stuff?  (shrug) 

^___^

Ha ha ha ha… be happy.

I have some really big decisions to make… my brain must be melting, but at least i’m doing my best to avoid being a fool who seeks wise counsel and then choose to do the opposite…… at least this time.

God is GOOD!

Breaking news for all you Alaska folks…

US SENATE BACKS ALASKA REFUGE DRILLING

As U.S. oil prices scaled their new peak, the U.S. Senate gave Bush’s energy plan a major boost by voting to open Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil drilling.

While in my half-asleep state, the snooze button hisses, “PUUUUUSSSSSHHHHH ME!  PUUUUUUSSSSSHHHHH ME!”  In my weakened state, i can only succumb to the enticing invitation of the great SNOOZE BUTTON, hop back into bed, only to be commanded again 6 minutes later, “PUUUUUUSSSSHHHHH ME AGAIN!  PUUUUUSSSHHHH ME AGAIN!” ………i faithfully obey. 

My alarm clock goes off at 5:30 AM.  By the time i come to my senses, after having repeatly depressed the SNOOZE, it’s 6:30 AM.  So…. for an hour, I’m hopping out of bed every 6 minutes, pushing the snooze button and then hopping right back under the covers.  FOOLISHNESS!

I started doing this about a week ago… hopping in and out of bed every 6 minutes for an hour, EVERY STINKIN’ MORNING!  It only makes me more tired…

I started beating myself up for being soooooo LAZY and a SLUGGARD, a LOVER of SLEEP!  I started to think that i have real issues with apathy and laziness , loss of work ethic  and that maybe, i have deeper issues that inhibit my ability to face the day…

i wore a hooded sweatshirt to bed last night… normally, i just wear pajama pants (okay, stop making those grossed out noises ).  This morning, i popped right out of bed and got my day started…  What the heck! 

It turns out… I was cold in the morning.  

Because i only wore pajama pants and nothing on top, i was COLD .  The fix?  The hooded sweatshirt  HA HA HA

The moral of my foolish story…..
problems that arise in daily living may often “appear” complicated or a part of some deeper issue… and as i demonstrated, one can easily ESCALATE the nature of a particular problem’s complexity from being a simple matter of “being cold” to “issues that inhibit my ability to face the day”… sheesh   When you get to the point of over-thinking a problem and things get so mind-numblingly complicated, think simply – put on a hooded sweatshirt so you’re not cold in the morning. 

I wonder what Jesus is thinking… or is He laughing… or crying?  heh heh

(sigh)

My head is SPINNING!  I need a personal assistant…

The mountain top: INEFFABLY AMAZING… up there, the world fades.  God is there and i am there… no one or thing can burden me.  i am fully enclosed inside His Hands.  Those who’ve been undeservingly privileged know what it’s like to be on the mountain top… i was there because i absolutely DID NOT earn it; it’s just time that God ordained for me to be enriched and encouraged by the outpouring of His amazing blessings… finding restoration and healing.

Staying atop the mountain forever is what i long for… but selfish.  God’s extravagant mountain top experience is purposed for sharing the blessings – the encouragement of the body of Christ – not mine alone.  My life isn’t meant to be lived out in spiritual solitude… we are meant for spiritual solidarity: a never ending excavation of a singular commonality – Jesus Christ.  Excavation takes time and careful unearthing, minding every detail so nothing gets missed.

Kinda hard to encourage others from the mountain top, no matter how loud you think you can shout or how far you can throw rocks.  Noise or the shifting of rocks has been known to cause an avalanche.  ^__^

i am a bit fearful of coming down… i’m just realizing that God’s kneading of my heart has softened it to vulnerability…

i know… that’s why He tells us to put on the “Armor of God”: the Breastplate of Righteousness, the Helmet of Salvation, the Belt of Truth, the Gospel of Peace to protect your feet, holding the Shield of Faith in one hand and the Sword of the Spirit in the other, which is the Word of God. 

We are Prayer Warriors.

Take note: no armor is given to protect our backs.  That’s what our brothers and sisters in Christ are for.  i got your back.  Got mine?

“Pay attention!”

That’s the message i received tonight…  Some exciting things are happening in my life and there are also some tough choices that need to be made… and i started to lose focus a little bit…allowing some thoughts to drift to Earthly perspectives rather than Heavenly ones

Ironically, it was PBS that God used to send me the message… “Pay attention!”  Watching this lady, Suze Orman (a financial advisor), talking about building financial freedom… she mentioned something that brought me straight back to center…  “Don’t be in need of the company, but make the company be in need of you.  If they ask you to be there at 8 am.  Be there at 7 am.  If you’re supposed to get off at 5 pm, stay until 7 or 8 pm.  You don’t have to make them notice.  They’ll notice.  Strive to become the hardest working employee your company has ever seen.  It’s not about the money.  The money will come.  Don’t ask for raises, even if you work all those extra hours.  If you do, you’ve become just like everyone else.  Think long-term and build a career.  The money will come.”

The point isn’t about money…or the career…or even about becoming the hardest working employee your company has ever seen.  The point is that we are to be a witness, not with so much words (especially complaints), but with the display of our deeds.  You might think that pre-Christians won’t notice.  They’ll notice.  The point is to seek Christ first, to honor Him in the work place… school… the mall… even the restaurant with the waiter who gives bad service…  Your decision to choose your actions wisely or not… they will be noticed… choose wisely so He can add the rest as HE sees fit…

So, the motives behind the things we strive for… do they differ from world’s motives? 

Pay attention, jaebum!

Amidst our busy lives of going to and fro, we forget that God “lives in us”.  His Spirit isn’t some tag along… He resides WITHIN us.  Everything that we do… or don’t do… He’s always present.  What a refreshing thought to be reminded of that when we’re doing well, but if we’re not……… time for the knees to get a little raw.  ^__^  I think my scabs are still healing.. heh heh.