Palm Springs 2009

Family Vaca in Palm Springs for the Christmas season, well more techincally Indian Wells is where we're staying, but we've been traveling all around the area. From Palm Desert to Rancho Mirage to Palm Springs, there's just so much to see and so much to do!

Here I thought, "What in the world are we going to do in Palm springs for an ENTIRE week...??!" But lo and behold there are so many different natural wonders to observe, so many opportunities to be able to see God's creativity around us!

Here's a short snap shot of day 1 from the Indian Canyons:


Stay tuned for the desert animals and aerial tramway pics!

Archiving

Rummaging through old chats, and clearing my cache... I stumbled upon this jewel that I had saved previously... *drum roll please*.... how I was asked to senior prom.

I know seriously lame on both ends, but thought I would share a tidbit of "How Christine was like in High School"

dragn: hey you know im not a subtle person right?
me: uh huh
Me: why?
him: so you have any plans for prom?
Me: not yet
him: wanna go with me?
Me: haha
Me: sure~
Me: yours of mine?
him: ok
him: hm?
Me: your prom or mine
Me: ^_^
him: oh iunno
him: meh
Me: hahaha
Me: both?!
Me: lol
Me: jk jk
him: at any rate, we may just end up doing something else
Me: ya
him: something neater
Me: hahaha
him: and more exciting
Me: like ddr?
Me: ^_~
him: see now your thinking like me
him: i like that
Me: haha
Me: so why the sudden revelation/decision?
him: oh it just corssed my mind

Thanksgiving

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

-Psalm 100

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iZm9__sJL8

Collection of Food

The collection of food in the last quarter...

Small group reunion

The senior year small group reunion.

Delicious food, awesome company, and 31 dresses.

The vegs that Michelle made (gailan)

The 40 clove garlic chicken by Val
Creamed Spinach by Val



Mozarella, tomato, basil bites by Emily

Burn..

So.. what is this word that we hear often surrounding relationships... mainly crushing on people or wanting to get married...??

The word "burning" is used quite often. What does it mean? Well.. it has been used as such:

"Oh that boy is burning!" in reference to one who has relationships on the mind.

Where did this word come from though?
I am inclined to say college kids heard it and used it... the context biblically is from 1 Corinthians 7:9

The verse:

But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

The greek:

puroomai

from pur, "fire, to glow with heat," is said of the feet of the Lord, in the vision in Rev 1:15; it is translated "fiery" in Eph 6:16 (of the darts of the evil one); used metaphorically of the emotions, in 1Cr 7:9; (source: blueletterbible.org)

The context:

Paul is writing to the Corinthian church, the entire passage is about marital relationships, and his main emphasis is that we should not be discontent with where we are in life in terms of wanting to be married or wanting to be single, but we should be as God has called each of us.
[¹⁷Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk And so I direct in all the churches... ²⁰Each man must remain in that condition in which he was called. ²¹Were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it; but if you are able also to become free, rather do that. ²²For he who was called in the Lord while a slave, is the Lord's freedman; likewise he who was called while free, is Christ's slave. ²³You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. ²⁴Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.]


thats the greek context for today.

CNN Article... Monogamy overrated

A recent published article on monogomy done by CNN titled "Mate Debate: Is monogamy realistic?"

How to Set Up Your Desk: An Introduction

How to Set Up Your Desk: An Introduction

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life is fragile

the title of this blog is Life! Once again, today I was reminded of how fragile life is...

Over the last couple days there have been many tragedies, the earthquakes in the south east asian countries, the tsunamis brought on by those earthquakes... closer to home, two days ago a fellow student at UCLA was stabbed multiple times, resulting in critical hospitalization, and then today I was notified that my cousin had been hit by a car. He was not in a car when he was hit, but standing next to his car... a hit and run by an SUV. He's in critical care.

It seems as if tragedies come closer and closer to home. You don't seem to be extremely affected when it occurs in some other country. Yes we hurt for them... say that we care.. but often times, the thoughts we have on them, are fleeting. For me the closer and closer it got, the more I began reflecting on exactly how fragile life really is.

The death counts have been increasing worldwide, due to widespread violence and disease... and then there are accidents, and then old age. How many of these people who die... will see Christ in heaven? How many of these people who die... will end up in eternal flames?

How urgent then... is it to share the Gospel news. The news of Christ, come down to earth, fully man and fully God, born of a woman, born into a family, live life on earth without sin, was persecuted, was mocked, yet endured it all.

Christ endured it all in order to glorify the Father more, in order to satisfy the wrath of OUR sins. In order to save us from the depths of destruction, to call us to Him, a people, children of Him.

How selfish am I to with hold this love. This Crazy Love... emphasized again and again at Fresh 2009. The counter-intuitive love, the all encompassing, and... amazing love.

If life is so short, if life is so fragile, and could be taken away at any given time, why am I not more urgently sharing this truth, this love, this Person with all those around me... why am I not more concerned with pursuing each relationship with a desperation of soul saving?

life is fragile...

It is Well

It is well
with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

When peace like a river attendth my way
when sorrows like sea billows roll
whatever the loss, Thou hast taught me to say
it is well, it is well with my soul

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life,
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Encounters at starbucks

This weekend, starting on Thursday, I've been staying in Rosemead for the Health Care Missions Conference at Fuller, and at the house I've been staying at, there is not usable internet, no wi-fi. So after the conference each day, I've stopped by the local starbucks to use the internet, which is freeeee with a registration of a starbucks gift card =]. Starbucks ftw!

So some interesting encounters. The first night I was at the one off of Rosemead near the 10, using the table next to the outlet. First encounter, a lady asked to use the outlet. A gentlemen was helping her setup the new laptop that she bought.

Encounter #2. A young man, working adult, asks to sit across from me, since it was the only outlet that was free. We were seated across from each other, both with our laptops on, and I was listening to my music via headphones, one in my ear, the other out, just in case people came up and talked to me.
For a while, the both of us were working on our own thing, I was processing the plenary speakers' messages earlier that day about working with urban youth and he was... working, I assume. About an hour or so later, he looks up and made a comment about the person on the phone behind him who was talking very loudly into it "it seems like there's one of those at every starbucks." Then... conversation started, he asked my name and what I was up to, starting school and what not. In return I asked what he was up to, found out he is working IT etc. Then... out of the blue...

him: "Do you have a facebook?"
me: "No. I don't" (I recently deleted it)
him: "Oh you should get one... everyone has one. You should get one to just to stay connected"
me: "well, i prefer to have my contact with people in person."
him: "too bad, cuz now I can't add you as a friend."
me: "oh. ok."
end conversation

Start doing our work again, and then 15 min later, he leaves with his friend.


Day 2 at starbucks, one off Las Tunas and Rosemead.

Walk in, see and empty table, sit down. Gentleman I sat down behind was reading Spurgeon. Another gentleman walks in and asks to sit next to the guy reading, they converse for about about what he's reading, they both find out they're Christian, talk for a bit. A third gentleman comes in to meet the second gentleman, they all talk about Spurgeon, Christ and the like. Then first gentleman leaves.

End Encounter. Alright so the second one wasn't a DIRECT encounter, but it was definitely encouraging to see other Christians around, without a formal, I AM A CHRISTIAN sign. It was definitely cool to see "strangers" fellowship, and share. =]

exciting weekend. The last day of the conference is tomorrow, there is so much that I have learned, so much that I have been reminded of, and just ... amazed by the amount of love that God has for His people, and how we are called to show the same love.

Amazing Love.

Giving good advice

Don’t ever degenerate into giving advice unconnected to the good news of Jesus crucified, alive, present, at work, and returning.

—Seeing with New Eyes (P&R, 2003), p. 43.

From http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/Blog/

Biblical Understanding of Sleep

As I reflect on the prospect of turn 21 soon, after listening to the sermon title "Biblical Understanding of Sleep".... 7 Years of my life, I have spent in my bed. 7 YEARS.

That is crazy when you think about it. 1/3 of my life, spent in my bed.

Yes there are those days, where the long naps come about which takes up more than 1/3 of my day and then as you might be arguing, "well in college, there is no sleep etc. etc." it all avgs out in the end.

Speaking for myself, that is a lot of time, a lot of time, not spent glorifying God, a lot of time spent in worrying about the next day's events, a lot of time being lazy and not wanting to get OUT of bed.

"Whether, then you eat or drink, whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" 1 Cor 10:31

How can I uphold this biblical truth while sleeping? Listen on! The series is called Sanctifying the ordinary by Covenant Life Church and challenges and presents the ordinary things in light of the Gospel, in light of our wonderful God.

Grief, Friends and the Holy Spirit

So recently, I have encountered various friends who were hurting, grieving. And so... being one who likes to inquire, I was able to ask a pastor in which I was blessed to serve with over the past summer on missions.

Here's the following Q&A:

I had a question about grieving friends, and hurting friends. How do you biblically comfort and counsel them? And are you ever overwhelmed as a pastor with all the problems that you listen to... how do you deal with it?


3. A great question in which I can see your compassionate loving
heart in which our sweet Holy Spirit dwells:
a. I listen prayerfully and try to understand him/her/them, their
real root problem(s). If a non-believer? I ask for permission to
share Christ with h/h.
b. I try not to judge the person but the problem.
c. I pray with him/her/them on the spot, if a Christian. I ask h/h/t
to pray first. Then I shall pray for h/h/t. If h/s/t will not pray
verbally, after a while, I shall pray openly, verbally, and
biblically, using God's Word that I know/recall to talk with God.
d. At times I merely sit patiently with him/her/them and sob/cry with
them, if the situation justiies it. I am not shy to express my
"controled" sentiments under the Spirit's guidance. Sometime silence
and sobbing with the suffering saint, seem to be our better tools for
the Holy Spirit. But I don't cry merely for crying's sake. I ask the
indwelling Spirit to guide my sentiment. A word of caution: Satan,
the deceiver, can use emotions to trick us Christians into "loving"
people at any cost, especially those of the opposite gender. We've
got to let the indwelling Holy Spirit guide us and we listen to Him
all the time, silently, inwardly. Remember: we are not God and so do
not act as God.
4. Being a pastor, I am also a person, a person saved by God's grace
and serving Him by His grace for His glory. I can sympathize, rather
than empathize, with the needy person. I need to counsel with the
Word, having tried to apply it to my life first and foremost. That's
why I need my dear brothers'/sisters' intercession, exhortation, and
encouragement that I may serve as a more useful vessel in my majestic
Master's hand.

Be thou my vision

So recently, I have lost focus, similar to Peter when he started sinking, lost focus on how awesome our God is. "Going through a dry spell" as Alex would call it. But a hymn that has carried me through


Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

And this is my prayer Lord Heavenly Father, Be thou my vision.

Driven and tossed by the sea

This is a bit of a reflection on the past week at Many Farms, AZ where the church sent a team of us to serve alongside the Pastor there, as well as the Navajo people.

In the mornings we had Vacation Bible School for the children up to highschool, but the oldest that came was entering 9th grade, which was fine. I was given the opportunity to teach the 7-8th graders. The overall theme for VBS this summer was Follow! Worship! Live through HIM!
Chronicling the life of Peter, and the impact of his calling by Christ, and how he worshipped Jesus.

One of the days, we were talking about Peter walking on water. Simple enough story right? Many people have heard it before, Jesus walked on water towards a fishing boat, the people on the boat were scared and didn't realize it was Jesus, Jesus said don't be afraid, and Peter asks Jesus to allow him to walk on water. Basic bible story. Well known.

Here's the passage from Matt 14:22-33

• ²²Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. ²³And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, ²⁴but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. ²⁵And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. ²⁶But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear. ²⁷But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."
• ²⁸And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." ²⁹He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. ³⁰But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." ³¹Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" ³²And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. ³³And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."

1. Jesus is Lord
2. Jesus is Savior

Both based on Peter's response when he started to sink. Definitely a good focus for the passage. One by the commandment of Christ and the authority that Christ had, He is Lord. And when Peter cried out to Jesus as "Lord" Peter recognized Christ as Lord.

As for "Jesus is Savior" it comes down to one question, would you cry out for help to someone you know is NOT going to help you? No. You wouldn't You would yell "SAVE ME" to people you know would hear you and would be ABLE to save you. The recognition of Christ's ability to save Peter acknowledges Jesus Christ as Savior.

Last point. not in the two numbers. but if you notice... Peter started sinking...
It didn't happen spontaneously. Look again. "But when he[Peter] saw the wind..."
This is the point at which Peter lost focus. Before Peter was focused on ONE thing and that was Jesus. Once the eye contact broke, and Peter focused more on the wind and the waves... he was beginning to sink.

How much like Peter are we. That once we start losing focus on Jesus Christ... we ourselves begin to sink.

Post missions blog might seem out of place but for me at least, it seems very relevant.

Every morning last week, I woke up with the sole intent and purpose of serving and loving my God and the people that He loves. Can I truly say that a week later? back at school, back among my friends, back at work... in the comfort of my own bedroom or apt.

Am I waking up every morning with the sole intent and purpose of serving and loving my God? Or have I lost focus like Peter? and now beginning to sink back into the world....?

summer fun

Summer has arrive! and what does that mean my friends?
Time to PLAY! and Work of course. But I kicked off this summer post finals by being uber cultured. 2 trips in 2 days to 2 different garden-esque places.

Trip 1 to the Getty in LA, a nice 15 min drive from the apt, less if there was no traffic, but alas this is Los Angeles, when is there NOT any traffic?

Favorite Pictures:


























Los Angeles Skyline, somewhat smoggy



























Color pops right out!



And the waterfall



The Getty

Trip #2 UCLA Hannah Carter Japanese Garden
With roomies, Law and Alex
Journey to the garden was quite entertaining, we were unable to find it initially so we circled around Bellagio, in Bel Air for a good 20 mins. Not exactly 'wasted' time perse since we were able to unofficially tour the grand "houses", which were more Estates than anything, in the area.

History behind it: Originally a backyard, that was transformed into a Japanese garden, zen like because there is nothing like that ever in greater Los Angeles area. The house and the garden were both donated to UCLA later on, and now it is in this secluded area in Bel Air. many parts of the garden, the structures seen were imported from Kyoto Japan. The double door entrance has no nails in it and neither does the tea house. Quite pretty. Quite green. Quite serene.

Favorite Pictures:
The flower at the entrance





Cathy in nature, photoshoot




























Alex Ninja Photoshoot



































And ... the photographer in her natural element.


























The UCLA Japanese Garden

Challenge to Women.... from Desiring God

A Challenge to Women

Download:

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By John Piper January 1, 1995

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1. That all of your life—in whatever calling—be devoted to the glory of God.
2. That the promises of Christ be trusted so fully that peace and joy and strength fill your soul to overflowing.
3. That this fullness of God overflow in daily acts of love so that people might see your good deeds and give glory to your Father in heaven.
4. That you be women of the Book, who love and study and obey the Bible in every area of its teaching. That meditation on Biblical truth be the source of hope and faith. And that you continue to grow in understanding through all the chapters of your life, never thinking that study and growth are only for others.
5. That you be women of prayer, so that the Word of God would open to you; and the power of faith and holiness would descend upon you; and your spiritual influence would increase at home and at church and in the world.
6. That you be women who have a deep grasp of the sovereign grace of God undergirding all these spiritual processes, that you be deep thinkers about the doctrines of grace, and even deeper lovers and believers of these things.
7. That you be totally committed to ministry, whatever your specific role, that you not fritter your time away on soaps or ladies magazines or aimless hobbies, any more than men should fritter theirs away on excessive sports or aimless diddling in the garage. That you redeem the time for Christ and his Kingdom.
8. That, if you are single, you exploit your singleness to the full in devotion to Christ and not be paralyzed by the desire to be married.
9. That, if you are married, you creatively and intelligently and sincerely support the leadership of your husband as deeply as obedience to Christ will allow; that you encourage him in his God-appointed role as head; that you influence him spiritually primarily through your fearless tranquility and holiness and prayer.
10. That, if you have children, you accept responsibility with your husband (or alone if necessary) to raise up children who hope in the triumph of God, sharing with him the teaching and discipline of the children, and giving to the children that special nurturing touch and care that you are uniquely fitted to give.
11. That you not assume that secular employment is a greater challenge or a better use of your life than the countless opportunities of service and witness in the home the neighborhood, the community, the church, and the world. That you not only pose the question: Career vs. full time mom? But that you ask as seriously: Full time career vs. freedom for ministry? That you ask: Which would be greater for the Kingdom— to be in the employ of someone telling you what to do to make his business prosper, or to be God's free agent dreaming your own dream about how your time and your home and your creativity could make God's business prosper? And that in all this you make your choices not on the basis of secular trends or yuppie lifestyle expectations, but on the basis of what will strengthen the family and advance the cause of Christ.
12. That you step back and (with your husband, if you are married) plan the various forms of your life's ministry in chapters. Chapters are divided by various things—age, strength, singleness, marriage, employment choices, children at home, children in college, grandchildren, retirement, etc. No chapter has all the joys. Finite life is a series of tradeoffs. Finding God's will, and living for the glory of Christ to the full in every chapter is what makes it a success, not whether it reads like somebody else's chapter or whether it has in it what chapter five will have.
13. That you develop a wartime mentality and lifestyle; that you never forget that life is short, that billions of people hang in the balance of heaven and hell every day, that the love of money is spiritual suicide, that the goals of upward mobility (nicer clothes, cars, houses, vacations, food, hobbies) are a poor and dangerous substitute for the goals of living for Christ with all your might, and maximizing your joy in ministry to people's needs.
14. That in all your relationships with men you seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in applying the Biblical vision of manhood and womanhood; that you develop a style and demeanor that does justice to the unique role God has given to man to feel responsible for gracious leadership in relation to women—a leadership which involves elements of protection and care and initiative. That you think creatively and with cultural sensitivity (just as he must do) in shaping the style and setting the tone of your interaction with men.
15. That you see Biblical guidelines for what is appropriate and inappropriate for men and women in relation to each other not as arbitrary constraints on freedom but as wise and gracious prescriptions for how to discover the true freedom of God's ideal of complementarity. That you not measure your potential by the few roles withheld but by the countless roles offered. That you turn off the TV and Radio and think about...

Discernment

Big skit this year at UCLA AACF was on the topic of "Discernment" ....

AACF UCLA BIG SKIT 2009 "Discernment"

Appendix... and more

Recently came across this article while browsing the lighthouse community church website for sermons...

http://www.lighthousesouthbay.org/illuminate-blog/a-doctors-thoughts-on-the-appendix-ephesians-41-3/

An excerpt from it: [BOLD and Italics mine]

"However you fit in, and God, in His grace, has given each of us a role, the body must work together; there needs to be unity. “Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph 4:1-3). So how do we, with our diverse and unique set of spiritual gifts, work together in unity?

• We must be humble: every gift is important; maybe yours is more visible, but realize that it is a gift from God and that you are responsible to use it to edify the body, not flaunt it over others! The pastor can’t be heard without a sound person; the sound equipment can’t be bought without a finance team; the offering can’t be collected without ushers …
• We must be gentle: our spirit and attitude must be mild, we need to show self control; this results from a humble attitude. Sinful people working together will inevitability cause friction! How do you respond?
• We must be patient: when this friction happens, our humility and gentleness will result in patience – when that team member forgets to bring something or is late, how do you react?
• We must bear with one another in love: the first three attitudes all stem from and are seen in a forbearing love for each other. Love for God and one another underlies all that we do. Do we lovingly bear with one another, or do we complain, get bitter, gossip? "

Reflection upon my own life, and just this past year ... how do I respond. More and more I am aware that my responses are not loving, are not humble, are not gentler... nor is my attitude self controlled. A good reminder of this was during last nights SNL meeting, and reflecting upon the year as a whole, our small group interactions as a whole, and the function of SNL as well as our individual parts in it... very humbling experience.

Application:
Hide this verse in my heart.

But do you know, dear friends, that the nearness of an object has a very great effect upon its power? The sun is many, many times larger than the moon, but the moon has a greater influence upon the tides of the ocean than the sun, simply because it is nearer, and has a greater power of attraction. So I find that a little crawling worm of the earth has more effect upon my soul than the glorious Christ in heaven; a handful of golden earth, a puff of fame, a shout of applause, a thriving business, my house, my home, will affect me more than all the glories of the upper world; yea, than the beatific vision itself: simply because earth is near, and heaven is far away.

-c. h. spurgeon

desk top verses again =]

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my
power is made perfect in weakness”
(2Co 12:9).

"The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere" (James 3:17).

Romans 11:36: "For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen."

Proverbs 12:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.

Proverbs 15:32
Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.

Proverbs 13:1
A wise son hears his father’s instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

psalm 23 antithesis...

PSALM 23, ANTITHESIS
The clock is my dictator, I shall not
rest.
It makes me lie down only when
exhausted.
It leads me to deep depression.
It hounds my soul.
It leads me in circles of frenzy for
activity’s sake.
Even though I run frantically from task
to task, I will never get it all done,
For my “ideal” is with me.
Deadlines and my need for approval,
they drive me.
They demand performance from me,
beyond the limits of my schedule.
They anoint my head with migraines.
My in-basket overflows.
Surely fatigue and time pressure shall
follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the bonds of
frustration forever.
- Marcia K. Hornok

blogs galore

Oh the joy of finding new and entertaining blogs, from friends none the less. Always an exciting thought to be surrounded by people of the blogging community.

Blogs the best way into a persons inner child, or inner mind, where they might not necessarily share the world with you in person due to time restraints, or personal fear of what you might think, on a blog, all inhibitions are gone. Like going to a highschool dance, all inhibitions are gone, don't care if they think you look ridiculous dancing flailing your arms, mosh pit jumping to the song "I want it that away", lack of inhibition.

Amazing. What we share and interesting tid bits of info. More serious post in latter days to come. I know i keep promising but I will! Soon. as soon as the crazy of mcats leave at the beginning of may, there will be multiple days of long, extended, serious, thought provoking posts.

but as for now enjoy the random ramblings from the life and mind of christine.

as my sg leader likes to say....

peach out

kitties!

Its april! and almost Easter! and.. my kitten had kitties!! =] which my roommate says it needs to be dubbed a "cat"

and some additional comments from her...
June: you let your teenage kitty have kids!

yep. More pictures to come soon. and more informative whats on my mind posts coming soon, post MCATs

And this is my prayer...

'We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and growing-as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant... we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.'


To be in constant prayer, as prayer is the ultimate source of our strength, our strength through the Father. How often am I lost within myself, caught up within my own power and own will to try and work things out. How often do I forget that everything that I have, is through the grace of God in truth. Paul writes it better than I, and this is my prayer.

Martha and Mary

How often we get caught up in all the wrong things, caught up with getting things done for the sake of getting them done, studying because we need to, serving because we're commanded to, caught up in the minute details. Not to say that we don't need to pay attention to detail rather not focus so much on it that we lose sight of the larger picture, the ultimate purpose of why we do what we do.

In just the past couple of weeks I myself have been a victim to this type of mentality, where I am way too busy to remember the reasons for my business, rather more often than not I am so focused on the fact that I "have no time" that I forget to even be thankful I have time at all.

weekend

 

 

 

 

yeaaah vegaas =] during the long holida, presidents and valentines all in one weekend, talk about efficient calendar planning and school breakage

Influenza Virus transcription:
How to steal a Cap!

yes... that is right how to "steal" a cap. not "bust" a cap =]

Starts with knowing actinomycin D inhibits DNA based transcription; followed by alpha- amanitin blocks transcription by cell's RNA polymerase II.

1. Globin mRNA stimulates in vitro transcription
2. Remove cap with tobacco acid pyrophosphatase.
Uncapped mRNA does not stimulate in vitro transcription
3. Re-cap with 32P GTP
4. in vitro transcription without 32 GTP

what this all means...

1. messenger RNA stimulates transcription (the process of DNA --> RNA)
2. CAP is the protein on the end of the RNA that protects the string of nucleotides from being denatured/eaten; meaning that once removed that it is NOT PROTECTED from being excised (cut out)
3. Re Capped with 32 P GTP allows for labeling radioactively.
4. In vitro transcription allows for the newly transcribed RNA strands

Quotes on my desktop

My body was designed to be used exclusively to glorify God. To use it in any other way is to rob God of something that is his by right, for there are no morally neutral actions.

We give glory to God when we trust him to do what he has promised to do -especially when all human possibilities are exhausted. Faith glorifies God. That is why God planned for faith to be the way we are justified.


Christ tasted death for everyone, because it seemed fitting to God that the way to lead his children to glory was through the suffering and death of Christ

In other words the design of God-the aim and purpose of God-in sending Christ to die was particularly to lead his children from sin and death and hell to glory. He had a special eye to his own elect children. It's exactly what the gospel of John says in 11:52-that Jesus would die to "gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad."

birthday!

top song on billboard charts for my actual birthday
"sweet child o' mine"- guns and roses
the rest can be found ... here
http://www.joshhosler.biz/NumberOneInHistory/09/0905.htm

oxymoronic statements of the day

Clearly Confused

used in a sentence.

He was clearly confused with the situation.

The paradox of our age

Excerpt by an article by Dr. Bob Mooreland

"The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgment; more experts, yet more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion; big men and small character; steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce; fancier houses but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete. "

How true is this paradox. bolded and italicized are ones that are most true for myself. how about you?

public prayer

inauguration prayer from rick warren:

Let us pray.

Almighty God, our Father, everything we see and everything we can’t see exists because of you alone. It all comes from you. It all belongs to you. It all exists for your glory.

History is your story. The Scripture tells us, “Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God. The Lord is One.” And you are the compassionate and merciful one. And you are loving to everyone you have made.

Now, today, we rejoice not only in America’s peaceful transfer of power for the 44th time. We celebrate a hingepoint of history with the inauguration of our first African American president of the United States. We are so grateful to live in this land, a land of unequaled possibility, where the son of an African immigrant can rise to the highest level of our leadership. And we know today that Dr. King and a great cloud of witnesses are shouting in heaven.

Give to our new President, Barack Obama, the wisdom to lead us with humility, the courage to lead us with integrity, the compassion to lead us with generosity. Bless and protect him, his family, Vice President Biden, the cabinet, and every one of our freely elected leaders.

Help us, O God, to remember that we are Americans, united not by race, or religion, or blood, but to our commitment to freedom and justice for all. When we focus on ourselves, when we fight each other, when we forget you, forgive us. When we presume that our greatness and our prosperity is ours alone, forgive us. When we fail to treat our fellow human beings and all the earth with the respect that they deserve, forgive us. And as we face these difficult days ahead, may we have a new birth of clarity in our aims, responsibility in our actions, humility in our approaches, and civility in our attitudes, even when we differ.

Help us to share, to serve and to seek the common good of all. May all people of goodwill today join together to work for a more just, a more healthy and a more prosperous nation and a peaceful planet. And may we never forget that one day all nations and all people will stand accountable before you. We now commit our new president and his wife, Michelle and his daughters, Malia and Sasha, into your loving care.

I humbly ask this in the name of the one who changed my life, Yeshua, Isa, Jesús, Jesus, who taught us to pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

Amen.

Discussed during youth group tonight,more to come on thoughts later, but for now, an interesting site i stumbled upon while searching for previous prayer, an atheist site that kept count of how many times in the prayer God, Christ, Jesus, Lord was mentioned.

I thought the comments at the bottom were also something to think about.
http://friendlyatheist.com/2009/01/20/inauguration-prayer-2-rev-rick-warren/
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/024478.php
mm. teampyro.blogspot.com has some interesting posts leading up to inauguration

mmm yummy

Interesting article I came across today, a little old, but reminded me of our beautiful UCLA campus and the abundance of ....

SQUIRRELS!


Check it!

Many enjoy squirrel, however, simply because they like its taste. Mr. Carter said he didn’t know what he was eating when he tried it. But, he said, “at first bite, I thought it delicious.” Patchwork will send squirrel pâté, by the way, in return for a donation to “Save Our Squirrels” — but only within Britain.

If you want to grab your shotgun, make sure you have very good aim — squirrels must be shot in the head; a body shot renders them impossible to skin or eat. (You want to get rid of the head in any event, as squirrel brains have been linked to variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, the human form of mad cow disease.)

hmmm... o'course. makes sense...

'and so it begins'

an infamous quote from a dear friend on explaining the feeling of immediate dread or immense excitement. as the title suggests, this is one of those, 'here we go' moments as i like to quote from the Dark Knight as Joker is about to see the destruction of Gotham. Alright I know, a tad dark and whatnot, but this is the feeling of immediate dread of the upcoming week, mixed with immense excitement.

Now you must be wondering, what dread and what excitement, and why would you have such a feeling this early 1. in the morning 2. in the week 3. in the year.

Well I am glad you asked!
Dread- let us define the word [Extreme fear; deep awe or reverence; apprehension or anxiety as to future events. -OED]
yes so the dread that i will be using is the latter definition, of apprehension and anxiety as to future events.
As I am nearing the end of my journey in college, I am apprehensive towards any future decisions I will have to make, and as to what even is to come in the ensuing quarter here, worried about having a good balance. Something that is often said but something still i have yet to grasp. the balance between being selfish and being selfless.

more to come as i head to... class

snl limerick

This has got to be the best limerick I have seen. haha It was written by one of the small group leaders in the skit ministry i am a part of on campus known as "SNL" no not Saturday Night Live, but Salt N Light!

here goes


there once was a group of us
we made lots of skits and thus
we thought us so funny
our brains turned to honey
and now we say hippopotamus.
-kimmie

wedding pictures!

First take on the balcony at Mission Inn Riverside, for the 'fairytale' wedding.


Second take with the '大妹' as my mother calls themo'course can't have a wedding without a black and white! Susy and Lori

Outside The Chapel

Inside the Chapel, knights with swords! and a ruling scepter!
Family + Bride + Groom

Weddings

Weddings are interesting events I would say, [hm... it took me three attempts to write that first line] they are a public proclamation of two people's love for each other, and for Christ. This love isn't just a 'romantic' love, where the feeling of butterflies in your stomach, and the 'feeling' in your gut where you know 'Ohhhh this is the love of my life' type love. Not purely the Disney-esque happily ever after, although this wedding theme was... exactly that. No, weddings proclaim a different type of love, a commitment type love towards their spouse.

Recently re-listening to Rick Holland's Biblical Masculinity series<found here>, from 1 Peter, I came across a new definition of love, and marriage that I will definitely be pondering moreso than before. Love as defined in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 "4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails;"

A passage of love that is well-known, but not the first passage of love that comes to mind for me that describes marriage. Yet, why shouldn't it, if this is the love that is supposed to be characteristic of all Christians, of Christ-followers, then wouldn't it make so much more sense that it would be of marriage as well? The foundational relationship that God has provided for us, to allow us to understand the relationship between Christ and the church, Christ and His bride. One of submission and one of love.

to love like this, to learn to love like this, and to have a love like this from Christ our Savior. mind blowing, utterly mind blowing.