So, this past week, i came across a great deal on ebay.  Turns out it was fraudulent.

This guy wanted me to wire money to some “broker agent” in Florida who works for Square Trade [a legitimate company] but the thing is, Square Trade doesn’t broker transactions; they only deal with warranties.

So, this guy, “Bobby” and I have been exchanging e-mails; with each e-mail, he became progressively more aggressive, threatening to leave negative feedback if I didn’t send him that check for $3100… went on saying how he already paid for shipping, etc., and asked me if I was going to be one of those bad customers on ebay that would cost him $100 in shipping.  He wanted to send it UPS World Express, which is for international shipping, and there’s no way it would only cost $100.

He even had an e-mail doctored to look like it was confirmation from ebay.  Amazing… because the e-mail address was legit but the content was not.

The last e-mail I wrote him, I was like, “Are you serious?!?!”  He threatened me and said he would seek arbitration.  Can you believe that?!?!
I even did a search for his mailing address and it doesn’t exist.  What nerve…

I’m not upset because the deal was fraudulent so much as for the guy having the audacity to threaten me.
I can only laugh… not so much.

I told him I had confirmation from ebay and Square Trade that this deal is bogus…

He claims his name is bobby riggins and he “lives” in New Jersey but the agent “Michael Griffin” is in Florida.  I suspect that “bobby” lives there, too.
his e-mail addres is bob004806@aol.com
his ebay user id is bob004806

I only post this as a warning to others.

Anyways, all you online Christmas shoppers, beware.  If it’s too good to be true, it really isn’t.

God is good!
Thieves are not.

“It’s been a while since I wrote in xanga…”  LOL.
It’s such a cliche to write those words… Is it because I [and others] don’t know how else to start something that was long neglected, so we cop out with an overused phrase?
Other phrases like, “It’s been too long”… really?  Too long?  Why did you let things get to the point of “too long”?  LOL

I’ve been real busy and too lazy and/or forgot about writing in Xanga – that’s the truth. 
But I want to try writing more often and consistently, because it’s better than not doing it… because if I write about something valid, it’s worth the time.

We all know that’s it’s been a long time and we’d all [at least I'd hope] want to stay in touch with people… friends, pseudo friends, acquaintances… Why is it we have to say things like that when we all know that working and living keeps us preoccupied?  Anyways… random thoughts.

Tonight’s time of sharing and accountability with good Christian brothers found renewed energy in me.  The simple act of vocalizing your insides creates a different spin than rolling those thoughts around in your head alone.  We are social creatures after all…

I don’t know that you can find this kind of openness outside a support group of some sort [AA, grief counseling groups, etc.], because rare are the opportunities to peel away the layers. And when you do and you’re able to reach the core layers, several issues may be embedded, one of which relates to forgiveness.. rather, the lack of forgiveness and perhaps its twin, bitterness.  The inability to forgive – pride, disappointment, bad memories, and the list goes on… it’s one big dysfunctional get-together.

It’s an emotional stasis – that emotional injury freezes time until we can release it and heal… and then live again.  I realize we want vindication but it’s not necessary… I realized a few years ago, that it’s not even necessary for the other to ask my forgiveness… and it’s not by my power, but in relying on His.  All sins are against Him, not me.  All my sins are against Jesus alone and no one else… because He alone bore the sins of the world.

I’ve been complacent the last few months… indifferent to things that once held my interest.  I don’t know exactly how I get into this state or how to get out, but tonight, I received a hint… concern myself with others more than myself, starting with God – Matthew 6:33. 

…to be continued. 

Airline sacrifices goats to appease sky god

KATHMANDU (Reuters) – Officials at Nepal’s state-run airline have
sacrificed two goats to appease Akash Bhairab, the Hindu sky god,
following technical problems with one of its Boeing 757 aircraft, the
carrier said Tuesday.

Nepal Airlines, which has two Boeing aircraft, has had to suspend some services in recent weeks due the problem.

The goats were sacrificed in front of the troublesome aircraft
Sunday at Nepal’s only international airport in Kathmandu in accordance
with Hindu traditions, an official said.

“The snag in the plane has now been fixed and the aircraft has
resumed its flights,” said Raju K.C., a senior airline official,
without explaining what the problem had been.

Local media last week blamed the company’s woes on an electrical
fault. The carrier runs international flights to five cities in Asia.

It is common in Nepal to sacrifice animals like goats and buffaloes to appease different Hindu deities.

Nocturnal once again… Great!!!!!  

It’s something about the quiet of the night…
…the gentle whispers of flowing water,
the distant tick tock seeping through the walls from the bedroom…
and the ambient “klick klick” of keys resonating through my fingers…
It calms and restores equilibrium…
Therapy is in session. 

Craving the flavors of night,
not unlike the subtleties of French Pastries…
it’s a mystery how simple and light satisfies.
Definitely not skittles…
truffles…? 

As a child dwelling in thoughts………………….
story books,
dreams and endless possibilities, 
life’s limitations are patronizing and boring… that is,
mundane and repetitive.
Habitual living, thoughtless and without reason…
lacking sound structure and…
forgetting that there’s a compass pointing to the most desirable…
purpose gets lost in the midst of the race that has an ending…
but no victory lap.

the importance of white teeth, social stature…
planning for old age in our youth and worrying…
worrying about next of kin…
the companionship of worry with the rocking chair…
it’s classic.

The haunting lurks the seemingly shallow waters;
it stirs deep upon deep.
A man sinks in the depths of his heart…
it’s warmth intoxicates… penetrates;
leaves you breathless.

Why?  What is….?  Where?  When?

How?

Tradition answers “Our purpose is to please Him… live out His will…
make Him happy or variations and derivations thereof.”
No arguments here, but specifics aren’t there.

Who?

Enough of the sad poetic attempts…

Sheesh…..
I know what I’m ranting about now… it’s late and my mind is wandering….

but it’s nights like this that can keep me up for no real good reason; my mind is just broke the sound barrier.

it all seems like a thousand piece jig saw puzzle, all in shades of gray.
Can I use my crayons to color?
Do I have to “color inside the lines” again?
I want a new coloring book.
WAAAAAHHHHHHH! 

He will not fail to deliver me.

Ever hear those words before?  Ever have those words cut you deep?  Ever have those words keep you up at night or guilt you into doing things you shouldn’t be doing?

We’d all like to think we’re good people, esp. those of us who are Believers and actually try to live a righteous life… but not true.  Reality is, we’re sinners.  Reality is that cheating on your taxes is a sin just like murder is a sin.  Now, don’t get all excited and respond with your opinions that murder and cheating on taxes are not the same thing because i know that.  What i’m saying is, a sin is a sin and just one sin is enough to damn you to the lake of fire. 

Having that disclaimer, knowing what’s right and not doing it is also a sin.  The obvious sins are in the 10 commandments but I’m talking about those “gray” areas Christians love to debate about.  Yeah, I have to agree that there are “gray” areas, but for me, it should be black and white.  Other people should have black and white standards for themselves but not judge because someone’s black and white standards are not the same as mine. 

For example, a recovering alcoholic shouldn’t drink.  If I was a recovering alcoholic, I should set a standard for myself that drinking is in the black.  BUT for someone who is not an alcoholic, drinking isn’t necessarily a sinful act, but I, as a recovering alcoholic (hypothetically), should not judge that other individual for having a drink.  Make sense? 

Anyways, as a Believer who is supposedly “mature” in the faith, if I were to act in disbelief or doubt God when I clearly know that He is able, wouldn’t that consitute something sinful?  If I clearly know that God wants a certain something for me and I disobey, doesn’t that consitute a sinful act? 

At least for me, I believe it does.  I am convinced that a conscious act against God’s desire is a sinful act, esp. when I know scripture well enough and am aware.  So, in this way, I have been living a sinful life and becaue I consciously chose to live that way, God allowed my mind to be given over to depravity… i.e., I’ve chosen to not wear the “helmet of salvation” that protects my head or hold up the shield of faith.  By no means do I believe I’ve lost my salvation, but what I’m saying is, I’ve left myself vulnerable to the enemy’s attacks and that’s being given over to a deprave mind.

If all this makes no sense, please feel free to comment, as I have already indicated that my mind is depraved… for now. 

I am indignant in my remorse… ironic.
I need forgiveness… I need release…  I need to let go.

What do I know anyways? 
I just need to repent.

BLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!

Passing only requires 4 correct answers:

DON’T CHEAT!! ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS FIRST BEFORE CHECKING ANSWERS.


1) How long did the Hundred Years’ War last?

2) Which country makes Panama hats?

3) From which animal do we get catgut?

 4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution?

 5) What is a camel’s hair brush made of?

 6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal?

 7) What was King George VI’s first name?

 8) What color is a purple finch?

 9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from?

10) What is the color of the black box in a commercial airplane?



 All done? Scroll down to check your answers below.

































ANSWERS TO THE QUIZ

Passing requires 4 correct answers

1) How long did the Hundred Years War last? 116 years

2) Which country makes Panama hats? Ecuador

3) From which animal do we get cat gut? Sheep and Horses

4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution? November

5) What is a camel’s hair brush made of? Squirrel fur

6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal? Dogs

7) What was King George VI’s first name? Albert

8) What color is a purple finch? Crimson

9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from? New Zealand

10) What is the color of the black box in a commercial airplane? Orange, of course.



What do you mean, you failed? Me, too. And don’t try to tell me you passed!!

I got a refrigerator full of kim chee but no rice… that sucks.

Kim Chee sandwich? With Spam?
Speaking of… I still have that can of spam from the softball tournament in Vancouver last summer.

I spent the last 2 hours trying to find the correct driver to bring sound back to my PC… now there’s sound to the moving lips on the screen.  I’m about to convert to Apple.  I did cave and buy the new iPod… the tiny one that clips to your shirt.  It freakin’ CLIPS TO YOUR SHIRT I TELL YOU!

I should really go to sleep…

Father… tell me a story. 

It’s been a while since I really blogged…  and so much of life occured inbetween then and now. 
Wait a sec.. Do you spell occured with just one “r” or is there two?  Any English majors out there who can help me out?

I met a wonderful girl named Nancy… a Godly woman… a beautiful woman, inside first and out. 
….but it didn’t work out.  If you really must know why… well, buy me a cup of Starbucks and I’ll tell you all about it.
I thought there were so many reasons for breaking up…
and there were many reasons for staying together as well, but in the end, we broke up.

Needless to say, God is good. 
Regardless of the situation, God is good.

Simply put, God is good.  It’s His nature.

…but there’s always a lesson to be learned, in good or bad, if we really really search for wisdom.
Sometimes, you just have to search a bit more earnestly.

God is good.
No one can argue with that… unless you don’t “know” Him.

God is good!

Hey folks!

I’m in Nigeria on a “Vision trip”, to see how my church can help out in the future.  Please keep my team in prayer.

Rick Pak (Pastor)
Joanne Kim
Hyemin Kang
Grace Lee
Jae Bum Yu

I’ll put up an update after I get back (Feb. 2nd), but do remember to say a prayer for us!

God is good! 

It’s been so long since I posted on xanga…
so many things have transpired – some good, some bad and some just absolutely amazing…

and the summation of it all is this…

God is good!

Keep ‘duh faith ya’ll.

- jb