Dead and Risen!

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:7-8

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' "

Luke 24: 1-7

(American) Football

In a way, I cannot believe I am writing this, but I am. For a long time, I understood "football" to be the sport in which players kicked a black and white ball with their feet. My minimal exposure to this other sport, known in the rest of the world as "American football," where people geared up with helmets and tons of padding in order to pile themselves upon one another, made it difficult for me to understand what this sport was about. For a long time, I did not understand why people used their hands to play FOOTball and how a sport was played based on human pileups.

Then I came to this land where everyone seemed to be crazy about this "football" game. I learned that people would pay a lot of money for tickets, begin their tailgating hours before the games, eat a lot of food, and dress up in team colors. In my case, it was orange and blue, a color combination which I first found quite unusual. I also quickly learned that game time was the best time to go to the library or grocery shopping.

Years later, things changed. I lived in a town during the time our NFL team won the Super Bowl and our young college football team had an undefeated first half of the season and blasted its way up to the number two ranking. Feverish atmosphere.

In between, I learned about this great coach by the name of Tony Dungy, who loves the Lord AND football. He won the biggest prize in professional football and gave all the glory to God in front of millions of people. The book he wrote after his Super Bowl win, Quiet Strength, is a great read, and I am looking forward to reading his new book.

There is also this guy named Tim Tebow. A missionary kid, and perhaps the best college football player as many have contended, he understands that his athletic talents come from the Lord, whom he unashamedly proclaims, and always carries quite an infectious smile on his face, which either says "Phil 4:13" or "John 3:16" during game time.

Slowly but surely, I began to understand that the pileups was a way the game was played. I began to watch it more often, and slowly came to understand the rules enough to know the happenings on the field.

And then...(gulp)...I began to...(hmm)...enjoy...(clearing throat)...football...A few weeks ago, I was cheering loudly for the Gators during the BSC Championship Game, almost as much as I would for Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal when I am watching my beloved tennis.

As a bonus, my orange and blue team won.

New Year

Happy New Year!

It has already been over a week since 2009 began, and I have been thinking about the new year.

During the last sermon of 2008, based on Philippians 3:13-14 from the Apostle Paul, our guest speaker reminded us that it was not another year that brought anything "new," but the condition of our heart. If we do not have Jesus in our heart, the new year would only mean the flipping of another calendar.

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.
But one thing I do:
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3: 13-14, NIV

The Message version is more straightforward -

I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made.
But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong:
By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this,
but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus.
I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.

The year 2008 was a significant, rewarding and very memorable one for me in many ways. I even - warning: tennis reference - witnessed the greatest tennis match ever played during the Men's Wimbledon Final in July (on TV). There were also weddings, graduation and many precious babies. At the same time, I also know many who were (are) going through difficult times, and there was (is) plenty of suffering everywhere around the globe. I recently heard for the first time a song called He Will Carry Me by Mark Schultz. It is very comforting to know that whether we go through mountaintop or the valley, God is there. And as the Apostle Paul said, we are to put our eyes not on what is behind, but on Jesus, and run to Him.

In last Sunday's sermon, our other guest speaker talked about the end times and part of the Scripture he used was -

Remember the former things, those of long ago;
I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me.
I make known the end from the beginning,
from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.

Isaiah 46: 9-10, NIV

What a great way to begin the year by being reminded that my God is the One who knows the end from the beginning, no matter what year it is. So take off, run towards Him and do not turn back!

Merry Christmas

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

Luke 2: 8-18

Porcelain Cup

I recieved a beautiful Christmas present from a faculty member in my Department today. She gave me a porcelain cup hand crafted by her husband who had been making pottery for many years. I was very delighted in receiving this present and certainly appreciated the thoughtfulness and kindness.

Since our Department is in the process of moving this week, I took home my Christmas present instead of leaving it in my current office. During the ten-minute walk to my car, I was holding the cup with both hands to make sure I would not accidentally drop it or break it. When I got to the car, I wrapped it with my scarf so it could be protected during its ride home.

The gift made it home safely.

Nonetheless, I was wondering about something. If I was so careful about a gift - beautiful as it was, but something that would not last for eternity - how much care do I give to the Greatest Gift of all that is invaluable? Especially during this Christmas season, it is a great time to ponder upon the wonderful and humble birth of Jesus Christ. However, I am not sure how much I have been thinking about it this year.

I have been going Christmas shopping, wrapping presents, visiting the post office, writing my newsletter, decorating and doing all kinds of things to get ready for Christmas Day...... But while I have been making preparations to welcome the special season, I find myself going around the Center doing these things more than preparing myself.

I was reading Luke 2 in the Bible and was reminded once again that Mary had to put Jesus in a manger because there was no room for Joseph, Mary and the newborn King.

During this Christmas season, I pray that I remember Who is more important and learn to be like Mary who chose to sit at the feet of Jesus rather than keeping busy with things that could wait. I also pray that I would treasure Jesus more than I do a beautiful porcelain cup, and always have room for Him in my heart.

With All My Might

I lost my last two tennis matches, but that was not the end of this simple story.

During the first of these two matches, my partner and I fell behind 3-5 in the first set. It happened to be my turn to serve and we quickly fell to 0-40, down three set points! Yikes. I really did not want to lose the set so easily so I told myself to keep fighting, one point at a time, even though the chance of coming back from behind and saving the game was rather slim. But I served and we won the next point, and in a blur, we somehow won five points in a row and the game! It felt so great. We were now at 4-5 and would eventually play the tiebreak to decide the set.

On the second point of the tiebreak, I was at the baseline as my opponent placed a very short ball with a sharp angle that was out of my reach. I knew I would not be able to get to the ball in time, but I decided to run after it but ended up scraping my knee quite badly and bruising my pinky because of not-so-ideal movement (I did not get to the ball in time). It was the first time I had ever hurt myself playing tennis. In the end, we lost the tiebreak and went on to lose the second set 4-6. Close match.

The following match, my partner and I lost two tiebreaks so the match was even closer. I did not hurt myself, but I was fighting the entire time. We were behind in the first set, ahead in the second, even though we lost in the end.

Around the same time, I was doing a Bible study on the life of David entitled Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed with my Bible Study group at church (great study!). Right before I played the match in which I scraped my knee, we were studying how David danced with all his might as he brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. After a deadly mistake, David returned to God and did his best in following His lead.

As I was chasing down balls on the tennis court, trying to play the points the best I could, trying to come back, I was doing it with all my might as well. Although I lost the matches and had some trouble walking for a couple of days, I felt really great because I knew I had done my best in doing what I was supposed to be doing at the moment.

A fundamental rule in tennis is to fix one's eyes on the tennis ball during play and go after it. The Bible says that we are to love God with all our heart, our soul, our mind and our strength. When we fix our eyes on God, pursue Him and give Him our all, we might scrape our knees a little along the way, but it is well worth it.

Premature Patience

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1: 2-4, NIV

James’s exhortation was part of the Scripture I read one morning six weeks ago. A big part of my problem in the past weeks before that day had been not letting go completely to let God lead in the road ahead, career-wise. Thankfully, I received my MA in August but I had been unsure about whether to pursue a career in academe (PhD and beyond) or in other fields. I had my ideas, my desires, my timing, and thus, unfortunately, my worries. After the lessons I learned through Hanes a while back, I slowly came to my senses and decided it would be much better to be still and wait for Him. Stiff-necked I had been.

When I read the verse that morning, I was still unsure about what I should be doing. But I could not forget verse 4 which said “perseverance (patience) must finish its work.” Later on, I read Psalm 27 about “waiting in hope.” This hopeful, positive kind of waiting had been lacking in me. Undoubtedly, I was waiting, but I was “waiting in worry.” So God reminded me that I needed an attitude adjustment.

Shortly afterwards, I received my fourth reject letter (actually, email), but I was not dejected. Quite remarkably, I was perfectly fine with it. I was thinking about the verse all morning. I looked up various versions of James 1: 4 and found the Message translation very encouraging and uplifting -

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

“So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely” - had I not been doing just the opposite? I had been trying to get out of waiting. How foolish.

When the time matured and the waiting was through, God moved so swiftly that it could only be Him. Two days after reading this verse, I went to a job interview at the university. A few days later, I was offered the position to coordinate a graduate program. This position incorporated both my previous experience in administration and as a graduate student. I have been working for almost a month now and I enjoy my job very much (this new endeavor has kept me busy the past few weeks, thus the lack of posts recently :).

I am still praying to discern whether pursuing a PhD is God’s plan for me in the future. Yet, I know I am where I am supposed to be right now. I have peace and I will remember that I should not get out of anything prematurely, for patience must finish its work.

Peace and Unity

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4: 6-7

It has been a week since the election. Afterwards, my friend Pat linked two blog posts regarding the results and I thought I would share them here, because in a time such as this, it is so easy to feel discouraged, uncertain, and divided. Beth Moore, well-known speaker and Bible teacher with the Living Proof Ministries, calls for prayers for our President-elect and his family, and for the unity of the Body of Christ. Great reminder indeed.

If you would like a more convicting message, read the post from Lysa TerKeust of the Proverbs 31 Ministries. It is time to leave our comfort zone and wholeheartedly follow Jesus and be His hands and feet like never before.

And we can choose to look up to Him who alone holds the future.

Cat Hair on the Carpet

My sister-in-law's cat, Hanes, has been staying with us in the past months. She has been teaching me a lot of lessons, and I learned a new one this morning.

A long-haired cat, Hanes sheds frequently and her blobs of gray hair are highly visible on our beige carpet. This morning, as I sat in my usual spot in the living room for my devotional, I saw her hair in various spots in the living room. Together with her mice, ping-pong balls and other "toys" scattered all over the floor, there was no mistake as to where she had been in the house (generally she likes the living room and the staircase, loves to sleep on one of our dining table chairs, but dislikes the TV room - we don't know why but that room is free of cat hair). Where she hung out was no pertinent information, but the visual clues she left was so obvious that it was impossible to overlook.

This scene was by no means new and I usually just picked up the hair as I saw it. However, instead of cleaning up cat hair this morning, I had this thought: if I could tell where Hanes had been in the house by the hair she left behind, could the same be said about me? I don't shed like cats (don't worry), yet the Bible speaks of the fragrance believers have that comes from God. I wonder if I leave behind this fragrance where I have been, figuratively speaking through my words and actions, as naturally as Hanes sheds her hair, and as visibly as her gray hair is on the beige carpet for all to see?