Truth is, I’ve had an incredible summer.  The Holy Spirit has been grafting into my mode of operation, a certain lifestyle that is way more sustainable than what I had been under before.  And the only real difference is that where my own strength once occupied, grace now resides.  This doesn’t happen overnight and at times it’s painful.  My pride feels I’ve been kicked out of what was rightfully my own life to design.  Furthermore, it’s a continued process of progress, just with a guaranteed completion and destination.

Speaking of feeling “kicked out,” USC was “Keck’d out” last week.  No, I don’t mean they got kicked out of any and all NCAA football entitlements, because everyone knows that already happened.  I mean they were “Keck’d out” at the White Coat Ceremony to “Keck Off” a new school year for their medical students….

Here, maybe some picture will help explain my awesome punnage:

“Keck’d Out”

Cheng is now an official Trojan pre-doctor!  Please pray for him and others you know who are in similar education fields.  They study hard and listen to their lectures at 1.5x speed because they have so much to cover.  I admire their passion and look forward to their free and top-notch medical care.

I hear this phrase thrown around a lot, both by Christians and non-Christians.  I hear it when I part ways with someone, when someone’s praying for me, and perhaps most often when I sneeze.  Usually I hear it twice then, because my sneezes tend to come in pairs.  Double the blessing!

But seriously, what is a blessing?  How are we blessed?  These are some questions I’ve been asking while reading through the Apostle Paul’s letter to the saints in Ephesus:

Ephesians 1:3 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places…

It seems that Paul had a sharp understanding of blessings.  First, blessings come from the Father, through Christ.  We can’t separate spiritual blessings from Christ, not even a single one.  They don’t come from anywhere/anyone else and they don’t come by any other method.  Blessings are in Christ.  He goes onto imply a distinction between those which are “spiritual blessings in the heavenly places” and those which are not (simply by not stating them).  This doesn’t mean that certain types are true blessings while others are not blessings at all.  It may be that there are primary blessings and secondary blessings; one of the heavenly and one of the earthly.

The rest of the chapter really flows from verse three.  Paul reminds the church of what spiritual blessings they have in Christ.  Just in v.3-10, he mentions roughly six blessings and they all relate back to Christ.  When it matters, I think he thanks God for these specific blessings and not others because quite frankly, they are superior.  The chart above lists these blessings in black and some other “earthly” blessings in orange.  It’s my poor adaptation of v.3-10 (click to view large).

Now here’s something to think about.  If you’re a Christian, would it make any sense to thank God for any of the orange blessings before the black ones?  ”Lord I thank you for my education (since graduations are upon us).  Thank you for allowing me to attend college.  It was such a privilege.  Oh and by the way, I’m also very thankful for the redemption I have in you.”  Does this make sense?  No, it doesn’t.  But you see, I don’t even think this is the problem…  Because what we generally tend to do is we “count our (orange) blessings” and that’s it.  Often times we’re not even aware of our spiritual blessings.  Then a lot of us wonder why our relationship with God is so up and down.  When money’s rolling into our businesses, man, God is really close.  We love Him.  But when our health fails, where’s God?  He’s abandoned us.

Spiritual blessings on the other hand are set.  They are ours in Christ.  Once received, no one can take them away.  We must feed our relationship with God by dwelling in His spiritual blessings.  Let’s see how this can start to change my perspective in my relationship with God:

Unity – I am one with the Lord.  I am NOT God, but I am unified with Him and He is the bond.  My union with Christ can’t be severed.  He is always with me.  Sometimes I feel like God is not there.  Now I know that it’s a deception.

Holiness – I will get there.  He has already declared that I should.  He is faithful and he will do it.  This helps when I feel like I’m taking one step forward and three steps back.  I will be perfected.  God chose me and He said I should be holy and blameless before Him.

Sonship – I am God’s child.  I can trust Him.  I need Him.  He is my Comforter.  He is my Love.  I can run to Him.  He is my Father.

Redemption – I’ve been bought back with a price.  I’ve been restored.  I no longer have to live as though I’m outside of God’s Kingdom.  I need to live like a Kingdom dweller.  I don’t have to earn my way in.  I have a home.  I belong.

Forgiveness – When Jesus died on the cross as my substitute, he atoned and the Father forgave.  I don’t have to live trapped in guilt and shame.  I don’t have to hide and cover up.  I am free.  I’m not free like a certain preacher in Houston says I’m free; that’s reserved for heaven.  But I am free to lead a life built on God’s grace.  Sin has no dominion over me.  Even death has lost its sting.

Understanding – A mystery of His will has been revealed.  I know God loves me.  I know I have been blessed.  I know what awaits me.  It’s crazy to think about it.

What a God we have.  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places…

If you just happened to drop by the blog and you’re not familiar with Christianity, let me just say thank you for reading all the way through.  More importantly, I want to tell you that the spiritual blessings discussed here are all yours to claim, in Christ.  They are the effectual products of the g.o.s.p.e.l.  To claim is quite easy.  You just need to believe with your heart and confess with your mouth who Jesus is and what he has done.

May God bless you.

A radio analyst on npr observed that conspiracy theories materialize when there are tough questions.  How did the SEAL really do it?  Why did it take ten years?  How did Pakistan not know?  How do we know for sure that he is dead?  The questions can seem endless.  When our norms are shaken, questions are inevitable.  This was most strikingly the case when a man named Jesus was missing from the grave more than 2000 years ago.  Simply put, dead people are not supposed to come back to life.  So when he did, conspiracy theories emerged.

I refer to an excerpt from Gracepoint Church’s Course 101: Christian Foundations booklet, which includes material from Basic Christianity by John Stott:

The resurrection narratives in the four Gospels begin with the visit of certain women early on Easter Sunday morning to the tomb.  On arrival they were dumbfounded to discover that the body of the Lord had disappeared.

Not many days later the apostles began to preach that Jesus had risen.  It was the main thrust of their message.  But they could hardly have expected men to believe them if a few minutes’ walk could have taken them to Joseph’s tomb where the body of Jesus still lay!  No.  The tomb was empty.  The body had gone.  There can be no doubt about this fact.  The question is how to explain it.

First, there is the theory that the women went to the wrong tomb.  It was still dark, and they were dazed with sorrow.  They could easily, it is claimed, have made a mistake.

The second explanation of the empty tomb is the swoon theory.  Those who maintain this view would have us believe that Jesus did not die on the cross, but only fainted.  He then revived in the tomb, left it and subsequently made himself known to the disciples.

Third, there is the idea that thieves stole the body.

Fourth, it has been argued that the disciples removed the body.

Fifth, the Roman or Jewish authorities took it into their own custody.

These theories have been largely rejected time and time again by many scholars, theologians and thinkers in general throughout the course of history.  If you need verification of Jesus’ resurrection through personal observation, I cannot offer that here nor anywhere else.  However, if you want some explanations, I’d be glad to point you to some further reading.

John 20:27-29 – Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side.  Do not disbelieve, but believe.”  Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”  Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me?  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Most notable in my opinion would be the debate revolving the appropriate response and I’ve heard and read all kinds of sides on this. Biblically speaking, I think it’s pretty clear that as Christians, we are to express a heart of gratitude for the power and assurance of justice. In addition, and in preservation, we need to grieve the tragedy of this man’s life – a life lived in radical opposition to God. That said, it’ll be hard not to harvest intense emotional feelings of retribution for the man, especially if you were closely tied to 9/11 or were overseas for war (or there now). However, we need to flee those temptations. The Bible is very clear that vengeance belongs to the Lord (Deut. 32:35, Romans 12:19, Heb. 10:30).

On a personal level, I’d be much interested to see whether or not this would spark discussions on God’s justice, wrath and holiness.  These attributes seem to be by and large neglected in our American culture today.  That’s why we get questions like, “How can a loving God….”  so on and so forth.  All this remains to be seen.  Feel free to comment and share your thoughts if you’d like.

Please continue to pray for Japan.  They need cooperation, aid, hope and most of all love.

Below is a personal prayer from one of my good friends.  He’s not Japanese, but has a passion for the country and speaks the language really well (you do, right?).  Please, if you’ve somehow landed on this page, take a moment and pray alongside with us:

てんのお父様、

今の状況の中で何言えばいいか、何考えればいいかもよく分からないんですが、すべてはあなたの主権であることを知っています。あなたの心が日本の皆のために僕の心より倍に嘆いています。神様、私は彼らよりいい人間のわけでもなく、もしくは私がその悲劇を受けたかもしれないことを知っています。なので、あなたが日本にあわれみを見せてください。神様、影響を受けている人、被害者、そして愛する家族や友達をなくした皆のためにお祈りします。あなたがあわれみや恵みをみせることをお祈りします。私たちが値するからではなく、あなたはあわれみと恵みの神様からである。神様、どうかこの事件を、最終的にあなたの栄光や日本人の福音に対するこころを開くために使ってください。あなたは彼らが、あの十字架であなたが自由にくれる愛や恵みを知ることを何よりも願っています。あなたが回復の方法―補助、ボランティア、カウンセリングなどーを与えることを祈っています。そして日本にいる信者たちのために祈ります。こんな時期に動き出し、助けが要る人、愛が要る人に、あなたの手と足になるように。神様、悪魔に人の弱みに付け込む機会を与えないでください。日本人にこの時期に耐えられるように忍耐力と平安を与えてください。そして福島の原子炉の近くにいる人を見守り続け、炉心が冷めるようにしてください。最後に私の東京や東北に住んでる友達や、家族がいる友達をお祈りしますー真央、りょうすけ、まいこ、はな、アリス、リサ、だいき、りょう。。。彼らの安全や、想像できないほど大変な時期に凌げる強さを与えてください。

あなたは愛とあわれみの神様です。最後にあなたは勝者として在位します。神様、どうか日本をこの絶妙から救い上げて、そしてこの悲劇を、あなたの愛が知られる、見られる機会に変えてください。

イエス様の名前でお祈りします。

アーメン。

Dear God,

I don’t really know what to say in the midst of this situation, but I know you are sovereign.  Your heart cries out for the Japanese people infinitely more so than mine does.  God I know that I am no better than they are, no more righteous than they are, and it could easily have been me on the wrong side of that tragedy.  So I pray, I pray, that you will show mercy to Japan in this time just as you have shown me so much mercy.  God I pray for healing for the affected, the injured, and those who lost loved ones.  I pray that you will show grace and mercy, not because any of us deserve it, but because you are a God of mercy.  Lord I pray that you will use this event somehow, ultimately for your glory and to soften the hearts of the Japanese to the gospel.  Lord you and I both know that you want more than anything for them to come to know the love that you offer and the grace that you so freely give through the cross.  I pray that you will provide a way of healing – aid, volunteers, counseling.  I pray for the Christians in Japan – to mobilize and be your hands and feet to touch those in need of touch, help those in need of help, and love those in need of love.  Lord please don’t give Satan any opportunity to prey upon the lost, weak, and helpless in this situation.  Please give the people strength to endure and peace that will last them through this difficult time.  Please also protect the people around the nuclear reactors, and let the reactors cool down.  Lastly I just want to personally lift up my friends with homes and families there – Mao, Ryosuke, Maiko, Hana, Alice, Lisa, Daiki, Ryo..  Please keep them safe and give them strength to endure this unimaginably trying time.

You are a God of love and mercy, and you will reign victorious in the end.  Please oh God pick Japan up from this dire situation it’s in, and turn this tragedy into an opportunity for your love to be shown and to be known.

In Your son’s name I pray,

Amen

Click to view large

Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

“Faith” in the 21st century has taken on quite a different meaning.  The majority of faithful Angelinos use the term synonymously with wishful thinking.  It makes sense when we’re talking about our hometown team up on Sunset, but not so much when we’re dealing with Jesus and the Bible.  The Bible is clear that our faith is not blind.  It’s not wishful thinking.  With faith comes an aspect of being sure.  One cannot be wishful and sure.  It’s either one or the other.

Questions to consider:

1. Do you have faith?
2. Is your faith blind or is it sure?  (If you answered blind, go back to question one)
3. Does your faith have an object?
4. What is biblical faith?

I’ve heard a good analogy to Hebrews 11:1 a while back.  Picture a bungee jump (something I want to try before I get old – I’ve got time).  The honest participant’s hope while on the platform high above the ground is not, “I’m gonna make it, I’m gonna make it…”  Rather it’s the bungee cord securely tied to the waist.  What then, is faith?  Well faith is the jump, followed by elation.  Likewise, the Christian’s hope is in Jesus Christ and his promises securely tied to the soul.  Faith is complete trust in the Lord displayed in action.

Whew!~  I wonder what’s going through that guy’s mind.  *Photo courtesy of Mike Taddeo*

Btw, I like the Dodgers…  just not enough to let the team control my life…  or my fist…

Starry Night

From the birds that sing, in the tallest trees.
To the human life, of you and me.
From the desert sands, to the place we stand.
He is God of all, He is everything.

I’m giving my life to the only one who makes the moon reflect the sun.
Every starry night, that was His design.
I’m giving my life to the only Son, who was and is and yet to come
Let the praises ring, ’cause he is everything
‘Cause he is everything

From the autumn leaves, that will ride the breeze
To the faith it takes, to pray and sing
From the painted sky, to my plank filled eye
He is God of all, He is everything

I’m giving my life to the only one who makes the moon reflect the sun.
Every starry night, that was His design.
I’m giving my life to the only Son, who was and is and yet to come
Let the angels sing, that he is heavenly

Hallelujah (Hallelujah)
Hallelujah
I believe

Hallelujah (Hallelujah)
Hallelujah
I believe

I’m giving my life to the only one who makes the moon reflect the sun
On that starry night, He changed my life.
I’m giving it all to the only Son who gave me hope when I had none.
So let the praises ring,
Ohhhh Let the Praises Ring

I’m giving my life to the only one who makes the moon reflect the sun.
Every starry night, that was His design.
I’m giving my life to the only Son, who was and is and yet to come
Let the angels sing, that he is heavenly

So let the praises ring
‘Cause He’s everything.

I feel so small and helpless. The shaking of the earth, the rumbling of the sea and the destruction that follows… They are awful things to witness. But somehow, they all leave me in awe of God.  We must turn to Him who is sovereign and pray for mercy. Somehow, some way, behind all of this, God is at work. He hasn’t left Japan. Glorification will come to pass.

Please pray, those who know and hope in the Lord.

Some unreal photos

I remember when a friend taught me how to throw a curve…  it was amazing.  I never threw one, but my friend did (sort of) and it was cool.  I know the wiffle ball is way different from an actual baseball, but you gotta wonder…  some major leaguers have “nasty stuff” and it might look a little bit like this.  haha