Sometimes

I get really tired of being insulted and treated as if I don't know what I'm doing...

Happy January 1, 2008....Only 180 days to go...

A Wimpy Kitty.

Judah had his first shots yesterday. He was soooo wimpy. He couldn't do anything. He just laid on the couch all night until I took him into the bed. It was so sweet!

However, he's back to normal today...biting.

Thursday Night

Brought back some memories from my time in Russia. As I was sleeping, some kind of bug bit my face 6 times (and no, it wasn't a mosquito). My face became swollen and red, my left arm became completely numb and I had a difficult time breathing.

My friend came over and stayed the night to make sure I was okay.

I went to a pulmonary doctor to have my lungs checked out. (I've had asthma for several years but have had it under control for the past 8 years or so). He put me back on similiar steriods that I took in high school and college. Man, it feels good to breathe again!!

And even better, the (smart) doctor ordered allergy tests for me. I've been asking my doctor for one for a year now and he always says that I don't need one.

To All My Students

Who want to watch videos about Jesus. Watch this one. It's worth waiting for it to load.

Click ME!

T.G.I. Friday's

IS COMING TO TAINAN AT THE END OF JANUARY!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOO!!!

Volcano's Version of Go Fish's "Joy to the World"

We butchered it, but I was so proud of them. Remember, they are 2nd graders and English is a foreign language for them...and they only had 10 minutes of practice for 4 days!! And out of 7 performances, only 2 were about the birth of Jesus. So very sad. All they know is santa and snow.

Christmas Presentation: Barkley Park

We had our Christmas "party" on the 26th. I taught my 2nd graders "Joy to the World" by Go Fish. It was pretty interesting. I'm really proud of them. They had only 10 minutes a day for 4 days to learn the song and practice. I'll put up the video when I upload it. Enjoy pictures for now.

Christmas Lunch.

My co-worker invited me to his home for lunch today. It was so nice to spend time with his family and friends. It was such a better Christmas this year than last year. It was so nice to spend time and get to know people and eat some REALLY fabulous non-chinese food!!!!! I also found a card on my desk yesterday from a student. It made me cry. This is what it said:

Ms. C,
Merry Christmas! You have wasted many time and strength teaching me how to walk up and tell a story properly. I did my best and got the best grade in group B -- because of you! Thank you, Ms. C, thank you! And Merry Christmas again.
Your student,
Jason


I spent extra time after school to help this student to prepare for the Tainan City English Competition (the one my students did last December...see Dec 2006). I did it because he has so much potential and so I didn't mind all that much. He won 1st place over all students. I was so proud of him. I feel as if I didn't do anything. Just directed him. He did all the work and was the one who performed, not me! So, I can't take the credit.

(Oh, and Cody gave me chocolates)!

Christmas Morning.

So, I'm the only teacher that told my students that Christmas is about Jesus. I refuse to teach about santa and elves. I even slipped in one class and told them that santa is not real. But before you harp on me, if I told them that santa brought them presents, I'd be lying to them. I couldn't bring myself to lie to these children.

Not one of my students can tell you that Christmas is about Jesus. So, my classes today were mini-versions of what my Christian family and I on Christmas morning.

I read Luke 1 and 2 to them from the Bible and explained it to them. Then I gave them a gift of Christian music which included some songs about needing a Savior and being saved (which, by the way, they thought santa brought to them...I said, I bought the gifts for them and santa's not taking credit for something I did...haha)and we drank hot chocolate while listening to "It's Called Christmas -- with a capital C!"

Afterwards, we went downstairs for a presentation from another teacher. Teachers had to hide the gifts and they had to find their gift. The students purchased stuffed animals for each other.

Merry Christmas!

from Judah and I. We are still without water...on 2 day...still no shower...Someone tell me again why the city decides it has to shut the water not only at the beginning of the week, but duing work hours!

The Importance of the Law AND Grace

Tonight I'm evermore convinced that it is sooo important to use God's Law when sharing the Gospel with someone. Tonight I had the privilage of sharing the Gospel with a group of 12 South Americans and 1 person from the Chezch Republic. (This girl has grown up a communist).

I sat through a message this evening in which God's grace was not even presented. (Only Jesus wants to change your life because you are missing the "piece"...which is Him). The people behind me were laughing thoughout it. And, in a way, rightfully so. Why? Because it didn't make sense to them. Why do they need Jesus? What do they care if they ever find "the missing piece." There's truly no reason for them to. There's nothing about what's to come.

After the service, I asked my friends from Chile and Paraguay to bring all their friends into a small room. I laided out the Law, the reality of hell, and grace for them. I asked them to think about these things because it's a serious matter, for we are not promised tomorrow.

There was no laughter, no joking, not one word from the same people, who minutes before were making fun of my Lord and Savior. It's amazing how the Law shuts the mouth so that grace can be presented. My heart really goes out to these people.

Afterwards, my friends from Chile and Paraguay thanked me for sharing the Gospel with their unrepented friends. They said that it's something they both have wanted to do, but because they are friends, it's so difficult. Yet, another reason not to wait until we become someone's friend to share the Gospel. Once we are friends, it becomes harder...now there is a relationship on the line.

Fortunately, it has been set up so that my friends can follow up. I told them in about a week, ask them if they thought about what was said to them. I also pray for my friends to overcome the fear of sharing the Gospel with friends.

Please, don't let another minute pass by without telling someone...

Here are some pictures of us singing in Spanish. It was pretty fun considering we really never rehearsed. I'll try to put up the video later.

I'm Wishing...

the people below me would stop fighting and yelling in Taiwanese...

Your Linguistic Profile:

45% General American English 35% Yankee 10% Dixie 5% Upper Midwestern 0% Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

Teaching Hanukkah.

I taught Hanukkah all week (in preparation for Christmas). I taught my students why Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah, about the menorah, how to play the drediel and the Hebrew letters associated with it, the Hora, and today, I made latkes! I was surprised to find that it was a big hit! Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find applesauce over the past 2 years, so sour cream it was!

Heard of the Glow-in-the-Dark Cats in South Korea?!?

Mine's got glow-in-the-dark emerald eyes!!! :)

A Big Thank You...

to my Super C class girls. Thank you for the Christmas card. You girls are wonderful and I look forward to Friday night classes because of you! And, I'll try to make your tests easier...but you do so well as it is...

:)

Merry Christmas.

Vampire Kitty is Getting Big!!!

Everyday, I'm more and more convinced that Judah is a vampire. All he wants to do is bite my wrists!! They're so swollen and red!! My co-worker said that's a sign of a very happy kitten. I'm finding that he's more and more strange everyday. This week, he started jumping IN the shower with me!! I've never had a cat that likes water! And now, I can hardly leave the apartment. He runs to the door to try to keep me in, and when I scoot him away, he jumps and grabs hold of my leg!! I'm walking with a kitten attached to my calf! And when I come home, he's already at the door...more like a dog to me!

A Postmodern Christmas

While I was home, my mom kept calling me a scrooge for being offended by things I saw and heard in regards to Christmas. This story really reflects the things I found offensive. Read it. Perhaps then you'll understand why I view Christmas very differently. There's so much truth to this story; look what we've (as a society) have made Christmas out to be...



****************************************************
In the manner of the “purpose driven” generation & the Rick Warren Christmas special, we would like to bring you a new kind of Christmas, one that will encourage you (or at least make you feel less guilty). So, gather all the other dudes & dudettes around your laptop there at Starbucks & join us as we take you on a journey (revisionistic as it may be), in a sure to be classic Christmas tale, A POSTMODERN CHRISTMAS.

A POSTMODERN CHRISTMAS
http://thekingdomcome.com/a_postmodern_christmas


Now the birth of Jesus was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was engaged to Joseph before they came together (though if they loved each other a lot it would have been ok to come together), she was found with child.

Then Joseph her husband (well, technically they weren’t married yet but that's ok), being a closed-minded traditionalist & not willing to let go of his fundamentalistic ideas about marriage was minded to put her away privately, which would have been mean & judgmental of him.

But while he thought on these things, behold an angel came or he entered a Buddha-like dream state. At any rate Joseph came to his loving & compassionate senses & decided to not put Mary away.

While in the dream, Joseph heard a voice which who are we to judge which god it might have been if any at all, saying to Joseph: “Mary will bring forth a son & you shall call his name Jesus (or Yeshua if you want to sound more Hebrewish) for he shall help a lot of people feel better about themselves & their life experiences."

Now all this was done, that the text would look more consistent but of course we all know the Gospels were written a long time after Jesus had actually died, so it is possible the whole story is just embellishment by his followers – anyhow…

Then Joseph came out of the dream state & took Mary to be his co-partner in life. But he didn’t try to consummate the marriage like many brutish men would, as if the woman is just their property or something.

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem (which in modern times is rightfully controlled by the Palestinians since that land has been otherwise wrongfully occupied by Israeli Zionists) in the days of Herod (which could actually have been 4 B.C.E.), behold there came really cool dudes from the east.

When Herod heard these things, just like any other cruel authoritarian he became jealous. And when he had gathered all the really mean religious people together, he demanded of them where Jesus would be born.

And they said to him, "In Bethlehem" (which in modern times is rightfully controlled by the Palestinians…oh yeah, I already said that).

And you Bethlehem are a small place but out of you will come a great healer & a guy that teaches people to be real loving & peaceful, just like Buddha did & Gandhi would later.

Then Herod, when he had privately called the wise guys, he asked them a lot of questions about astronomy & astrology since Herod had been influenced by the western culture of Rome he didn’t know about the cool metaphysical stuff like they do in the east.

And so he told them to go look for Jesus. Probably using some sort of astronomical technology that the western people were too dumb to invent, the cool dudes found Jesus in a stable or it could have been a cave, we aren’t really sure about anything, not even our theology. At any rate, even then selfish, capitalistic pigs wouldn’t give Joseph & Mary a room so they like many people today were homeless & out in the street.

The wise guys went into where Jesus was born & gave him gifts which was their way of showing they understood that it was God's Dream for humanity that Jesus came to help poor people get back at mean rich people.

The rest of the story gets too mean but you know what happens – Jesus grows up & goes around the countryside preaching a socialistic Gospel of peace, sort of like a first-century version of conflict resolution & anger management but just like today there were mean people then who didn’t want to see poor people actually get anywhere so they killed Jesus, or he could have got married & lived in France & died of old age, we aren't sure of that either, but it's ok to be doubtful of everything you believe (it's the postmodern way).

Fortunately, lots of smart, trendy preachers today are getting back to Jesus’ simple message of love & world peace. They are trying to help people with all sorts of benefit concerts, ipod incentives & book sales.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays or whatever you want to celebrate – don’t worry, we won’t judge you.

The Only Things That Remain Constant In Life...

1. The devil is not only a liar, but he doesn't mess with those who are stationary and complacent.
and
2. Jesus Christ is Lord over all!

It's like everytime I have a breakthrough...there he is right in my face. And it's the same old stupid thing.

It's time to get aggressive. No more little pansy, "devil leave me alone." This is all out war. I'm more determined than ever to finish out my assignment in Taiwan.

I hate the devil...more than anything.

There Comes a Point...

where it just all has to end!

This is ridiculous already.

Hallelujah, You're Worthy

Two of my all time favorite songs. They've been in my spirit all day, so I'm sharing...

Victory Is Mine

Lessons Learned About Evangelizing.

I think Fernando misconstrued my intentions when I gave him the gift of the Gospel. I was walking around the Hong Kong airport and saw Fernando. Granted, he was waiting an hour for his connecting flight, and I was on the way to get mine. Well, Fernando decided to walk me to my gate and then asked for my phone number. I very well couldn't tell him I didn't have one because I had mine in my hand. So, I graciously gave it to him (my Taiwan number) but left off the country and cell phone codes.

Lesson learned: need to be even more clear on why I care about you.

Back in Hong Kong....One Week Later

I had a non-stop flight from JFK to Hong Kong. It was the best flight ever. I slept the ENTIRE way. This is unheard of for me. Anyway, I met a guy named Fernando. He's from Manila and he works for a cruise line as a bartender. I wanted to share the Gospel with him and get it on video, but he was always watching movies. Finally, before we left, I gave him a million dollar bill tract. I told him to read it because it's important. That it's about what will happened to him when he dies. He said he would go to heaven when he dies because he has faith. When I asked him what he had faith in, he said God. I pray that he means Jesus. I told him to read it anyway. He said he would. I told him I care about him and he was really touched by it....

So, pray for Fernando from Manila.

My flight to Kaoshiung leaves in 30 minutes...see you later!

Leaving on a Jet Plane...

but this time, I know when I'll be back again...

Goodbye, my fair country...I shall miss thee.

Back to Taiwan, I go...

I Miss My Grandma and My Blonde Hair....

*sigh*

Bottled Water vs. The Ten Commandments

I find this so incredibly offensive; I don't even know where to start. Marketing Jesus on bottled water. WOW! People whine, complain, and sue the government to remove the Ten Commandments out of public areas. I wonder if those same people will sue to remove the image of Jesus from their grocery stores...

I think what ticks me off even more is the response from the "religious." There's nothing mentioned about honoring and revering the precious name of Jesus Christ! The "religious" response is that it is BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT!!! This is me screaming....AARRRRGGGG!!

Sponsored By
Bless This Bottled Water
Forget Evian or Vitaminwater. The latest beverage trend: 'Holy Water.'

By Lisa Miller
NEWSWEEK
Updated: 1:24 PM ET Dec 8, 2007
You need only go back to the first chapter of Genesis to see how elemental water is to the observance of faith: "And the Spirit of God," the Bible says, "moved upon the face of the waters." In the Torah, water is used to ordain priests and to purify the sons of Aaron before they enter the temple. In the New Testament, John baptizes Jesus with water from the Jordan River. Observant Muslims wash hands and feet before they pray, orthodox Jewish women take ritual baths once a month—and every Christian denomination still uses water as part of its sacred rites. Mormons, when they take the weekly sacrament, drink water instead of wine.

So it's not surprising that a few savvy marketers would seize on this universal symbol of purity for financial gain. Inspired, perhaps, by vitamin and energy waters, a number of new companies have begun making more explicit claims: their water doesn't just promote good health, it actually makes you good. Holy Drinking Water, produced by a California-based company called Wayne Enterprises, is blessed in the warehouse by an Anglican or Roman Catholic priest (after a thorough background check). Like a crucifix or a rosary, a bottle of Holy Drinking Water is a daily reminder to be kind to others, says Brian Germann, Wayne's CEO. Another company makes Liquid OM, superpurified bottled water containing vibrations that promote a positive outlook. Invented by Kenny Mazursky, a sound therapist in Chicago, the water purportedly possesses an energy field that Mazursky makes by striking a giant gong and Tibetan bowls in its vicinity. He says the good energy can be felt not just after you drink the water but before, when you're holding the bottle.

The most recent entry in this niche is Spiritual Water. It's purified municipal water, sold with 10 different Christian labels. The Virgin Mary bottle, for example, has the Hail Mary prayer printed on the back in English and Spanish. Spiritual Water helps people to "stay focused, believe in yourself and believe in God," says Elicko Taieb, the Florida-based company's founder who was formerly in the pest-control business. All three companies give a portion of their profits to charity.

This small band of feel-good entrepreneurs may face objections from a surprising quarter. Some religious believers, also convinced of the elemental importance of water, are campaigning against its ubiquitous sale and packaging on the grounds that the practice is neither ethical nor good for the environment. "Water is life," says Sister Mary Zirbes, a nun in the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minn. "It really should not be a commodity to be bought." The Franciscan Sisters, together with a community of Benedictine nuns nearby, have launched a letter-writing campaign against the largest producers of bottled water and they've designed coasters to encourage people to drink glasses, not bottles, of water from the tap. The Vineyard church in Boise, Idaho, sells slim reusable plastic bottles in its bookstore, and it has placed water stations throughout the church. "In a world where a billion people have no reliable source of drinking water, where 3,000 children die every day of waterborne diseases, let's be clear: bottled water is not a sin, but it sure is a choice," says Richard Cizik of the National Association of Evangelicals. "Spending $15 billion a year on bottled water is a testimony to our conspicuous consumption, our culture of indulgence." Taieb calmly refutes the implication that his Spiritual Water is bad for the planet. People put fewer of his bottles in the trash, he says, because they don't want to discard images of Jesus or Mary. Instead, they refill them with other beverages. Obviously, even do-gooders can disagree. Some believe that water is life, while others believe that water is their livelihood.

URL: http://www.newsweek.com/id/74380

Ringo Chopped A LOT Off!!!

When it curls up, it'll be about shoulder length...I will miss my long, ratty hair...NOT! :)

Love Has No Doubts

Last week, someone was talking to me about 1 John 4:18, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: beacuse fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." The essence of this is that when love is not perfect, it is not mature. However, God's perfect (mature) love brings forth confidence, boldness, AND faith. I think the most important part of it, though, is faith. God's love builds faith.

I was reading Smith Wigglesworth's "Ever Increasing Faith" today. I just want to share a portion of the book entitled "Love Has No Doubts." It truly ministered to me.


"There is one special phrase from our text to which I want to call your attention: "And does not doubt in his heart." The heart is the mainspring. Imagine a young man and a young woman. They have fallen in love at first sight. In a short while, there is a deep affection and a strong heart love, the one toward the other. What is a heart of love? It is a heart of faith. Faith and love are kin. In the measure that the young man and the young woman love one another, they are true. On may go to the North and theother to the South, but because of their love, they will be true to one another.

It is the same when there is a deep love in the heart toward the Lord Jesus Christ. In this new life into which God has brought us, Paul told us that we have become dead to the law by the body of Christ, so that we should be married to another, even to Him who is raise from the dead (Rom 7:4). God brings us into a place of perfect love and perfect faith. A man who is born of God is brought into an inward affection, a loyality to the Lord Jesus that shrinks from anything impure. You see the purity of a man and a woman when there is a deep natural affection between them; they disdain the very thought of either of them being untrue. In the same way, in the measure that a man has faith in Jesus, he is pure. He who belives that Jesus is the Christ overcomes the world (1 John 5:5). It is a faith that works by love (Gal 5:6).

Just as we have heart fellowship with our Lord, our faith cannot be daunted. We cannot doubt in our hearts. As we go on with God, there comes a wonderful association, an impartation of His very life and nature within. As we read His Word and believe the promises that He has so graciously given to us, we are made partakers of His very esssence and life. The Lord is made a Bridegroom to us, and we are His bride. His words to us are spirit and life (John 6:63), transforming us and changing us, expelling what is natural and bringing in what is divine.

It is impossible to comprehend the love of God when we think along natural lines. We must have the revelation from the Spirit of God. God gives liberally. He who asks, receives (Matt 7:8). God is willing to bestow on us all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Pet. 1-3). Oh, it was the love of God that brought Jesus, and it is the samw love that helps you and me to believe. God will be your strength in every weakness (2 Cor 12:9-10). You who need His touch, remember that He loves you. If you are wretched, helpless, or sick, look to the God of all grace, whose very essence is love, who delights to give liberally all the inheritance of life and strength and power of which you are in need (pp. 17-18)."

For With God Nothing Shall Be Impossible (Luke 1:37)

I'm sharing this because this is what I felt last night in my prayer time. This morning I went to Brooklyn Tabernacle with Jason Choi (an old friend from college. Some of you Indiana people will remember he visited a few years ago). The message was "Nothing is Impossible." Then on the train ride home, I was reading my magazine and there was an article about Luke 1:37. The following is about what I've learned.
Brooklyn Tabernacle


Some of you know that I've had a very rough week. I've been listening to the devil tell me lies. Telling me to give up hope, stop praying, you messed up, you missed the opportunity....and the biggest....you fool for believing...

Everything in the Bible has a purpose. The Bible reveals God's character to us. When we read something, we need to ask ourselves: What is God reavealing about Himself? Why is this story in the Bible? And what does God want us to know about Him?

Since Jesus is the visible image of God, when we want to know something about God, we look at Jesus. However, in Luke 1, Jesus isn't born yet! Looking at verses 26-37, I've felt that the Lord wants to really hit these two points home with me:

1. Nothing is impossible with God.
Elisabeth was not only barren, she was a senior citizen. She was past her years of childbearing. She could not have children.
God doesn't go by what I think is feasable. When I think it's too late or the door of opportunity has been closed...NOTHING is impossble with God. When our prayers are truly from the heart, I believe that they never evaportate. I think that God keeps them until He says it's done.
Secondly, it's never over until God says it's over. We need to hang onto what God has put into our hearts until He says it's over. Looking at the life of Moses, one would think that it's impossible for Moses to start God's work at 80 years old. Moses felt like he blew his chance 40 years prior. However, God waited and prepared Moses' heart before he was released into his calling...NOTHING is impossible.

2. When it's not even logical, God can do it.
Jesus was born of Mary, who had never known a man (in the Biblical sense). It would be illogical for her to conceive a child. There was nothing to work with...NOTHING is impossible with God. Mary's greatness, which Elisabeth notes, is that she believed the Word of the Lord (Luke 1:45).
Sometimes in life God takes away everything and you have nothing but the Word of God. We have nothing to work with, only the Word. But God can take nothing and turn it into something!! After all, he created this world out of nothing, surely He can create something out of nothing for His children.

So, Lord, let it be unto me according to your Word.

*****************************************************************

After church, my mom invited Jason over for dinner. My mom's boyfriend and my cousin came over. I was super happy my cousin from the Seattle area came over. (He goes to college near my mom's house). I like him. He's a good kid. Last time I saw him was for the SuperBowl. I was so tired, I fell asleep on the couch, which was kind of rude of me. We watched football again...and I wanted to cry when the Jets couldn't hold it (but what else is new). It was nice to talk and laugh with him.
Matt and I

A Christmas Prayer

by Robert Louis Stevenson

Loving God, Help us remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and worship of the wise men.
Close the door of hate
and open the door of love all over the world.
Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting.
Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings,
and teach us to be merry with clear hearts.
May the Christmas morning make us happy to be thy children,
and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts,
forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen.

Beautiful. Simply beautiful.

Financial Freedom

I'm up at 6 am on Saturday, so I decided to do my final bills for 2007. I'm sooo incredibly happy right about now. In the past four years, I've paid off $35,000 in credit card debit! Unbelievable!!! And that includes my two years as a full time graduate student and 8 months of 50% cut in pay when I had my shoulder injury. I made my December payments...and I'm so close. By the time I come back in 2008...credit card debit free, baby!!!!

Never, ever, ever again.

And on Monday, I'm making my first investment. It's small, but it's a start.

I'd like to thank my good Lord for always providing for me AND teaching me...even when I make mistakes.

Woohooo!!!! The Vision is Coming ALIVE!!!!!

This is my Christmas present from my mom....now I can FINALLY make my movies scaring Taiwanese people!!!!!! (Not to mention, evangelizing...)

SNOW!!!!!!!!!!.....and one very fat cat.

This was at 4 o'clock in the AFTERNOON!



And this is Razz...our very fat cat. He's HUGE and keeps getting bigger!! Crazy, man!

My New Year's Resolution: Romans 6

It's not to lose weight, not to study more, work out more, etc, etc, etc...
It's to stop making the same mistakes that I know offend my God.

Romans 6
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Things Learned in the Past 6 Months...

-everyday, Jesus is more and more precious to me.
-I love and appreciate my country more than ever.
-I am soft and tender...(and am actually starting to like it).
-I want a simple life, things that used to be important are no longer as such.

Hong Kong

I haven't seen so many "foreigners" in months!!! Always a strange feeling. I have lots to say, but I will wait until I get home. I'm feeling so much better than even last night, but still finding it hard to catch my breath (literally). I think it's just the desire to be home and breathe non-polluted air. Right now, I'm thanking God that my mom moved out of the city to White Plains. Trees and clean air!!!!....and lots and lots of snow!!!

I'm realizing more and more every day, just how good God is to me and how precious His Son is!

I'm off to walk around...12 hours to Vancouver....6 hours to New York....yeehaw!

Got My Ticket...Leaving in the AM

I went to my travel agent and my flight was to cost $36,300...I paid today. I only paid $33,000. For some reason, I got $115 USD off the cost of my ticket...and I get to go to Hong Kong for several hours. Cool!

What a blessing.

I'm Glad I'm Going Home...

I found out this morning that the Tainan government is shutting off water supplies for the ENTIRE weekend. Now, you all know I like showers...

Everything is Snow.

To see snow.
To drink hot chocolate.
To wear scarves.
To ice skate in Central Park.
To relax.
To sleep.
To be refreshed.
To run away from fireworks.
To clear my head.
To be fed food I can stomach.
To be fed spiritually.
To cry.
To laugh.
To spend time with my Lord.
To spend time with my mom.
To have "me" time.

I'm leaving for New York on Thursday until 12/12. I need a break and can't wait until February. I've realized a lot of things in the past month, and I just want to go home. I truly wish it were for good, however, I must stay until next year. I have to finish my assignment. My dear, Jessica, who is in WA, and away from Taiwan, rest assure, I know exactly how you feel. Why is like the worse week of every year seem to be December 3rd?

Right now, I rest in God's promise, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose..."

May God's kingdom come, may His will be done, may He be glorified from now until forever...

Going Back to Singapore!!!!

WOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! My boss gave me February 22nd off so I could fly there and spend the whole weekend there for J.B.'s wedding. Super excited. It truly made my day. That and Eric comes to visit in 58 days! :)

It Never Ends!

Stop polluting the environment with your noisy, war-like fireworks for 15 hours! My head is splitting and my cat is freaked out. Seriously, it won't get you to heaven. It will only make people irrate.

I've been thinking...when I come home in 7 months, I think I'm going to start my own daycare center. Why should I work for people when I can be my own boss and do the same work? Looks like I need to start learning some things about business...

An Exceptionally Sweet Kitten...

I don't know what's wrong with Judah! He's been crazy sweet all day!! He took a nap on my bed this afternoon with me. He played nice for a while and now he's sleeping on my lap! Strange....

He's up to something! (Wow! I need to mop my floor)!

"God Loves You...Jesus Loves You..." (Warning: Rant)

and church is driving me bonkers more and more. It's starting to make me sick to my stomach, in fact. I'm tired of hearing feel-good, la la la sermons. I'm tired of hearing how God will speak to people and they will get saved. I'm tired of people asking me if I prayed a prayer with someone I presented the Gospel to! (By the way, I'm going to have them say a prayer if they are not repentent...God won't hear it and it gives them a false "security" that they are saved). I'm tired of hearing "God loves you and has a perfect plan for your life." (In fact, Jesus never says this. He says we will be hated, persecuted, and put to death...sounds like a "wonderful plan" to me)!

Where is this in scripture?

PREACHERS OF THE WORLD: Give me good Biblical, sound doctrine teachings!!! TEACH ME THE WORD!!! GIVE ME MEAT AND LEAVE THE WATER FOR THE MOSQUITOES!!! STOP WITH THE FEEL GOOD PREACHING!!! IF I WANT THAT I'LL READ A ROMANCE NOVEL! AAAARRRGGGGHH!!

Anyway, today, I got a whole lot of Bill Bright's "Four Spiritual Law Books," and I love these people greatly, and I think their hearts are in the right place, but they are wrong. Nowhere in this book does it talk about repentence (wait, it makes one brief mention and it uses repentence in parenthese), explain what sin is or mentions hell. This drives me crazy!!! We are filling our churches with bodies, but are we really filling the kingdom of God with souls?!?!

Yes, yes, God loves us and wants to be in relationship with us, BUT without explaining why we are separated from God it makes no sense. To walk up to me and say, God loves you, you're separated from Him becaused you sinned...OFFENDS ME! I don't think I'm a sinner. In fact, I think I'm a good person and will go to heaven. You just OFFENDED ME and now I will NOT listen to you. Or maybe I'll listen to you, but I don't "GET IT."

Moreover, we were told that the prayer is the most important part. In this prayer it says, "I open the dorr of my life and receive You..." READ: I ACCEPT YOU. Again, where is this in the Bible?!? The booklet refers to Revelation 3:20, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come into him and will sup with him, and he with me." The problem with this, is that this verse is for BELIEVERS!!!!!! John wrote that the church of Laodicea was lukewarm and HE IS CALLING THEM BACK. It's important to note the verse before, Rev. 3:19, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." This clearly supports the fact that Rev 3:20 is for BELIEVERS.

I'm not saying that Bill Bright is completely wrong. I'm saying it's out of order, unclear and makes NO sense to an unbeliever. It causes confusion and offense because God's method of salvation is not explained in a direct way.

This is what Dr. Bill Bright actually has to say:

"In his approximately 42 months of public ministry, there are 33 recorded instances of Jesus speaking about hell. No doubt He warned of hell thousands of times. The Bible refers to hell a total of 167 times. I wonder with what frequency this eternal subject is found in today's pulpits. I confess I have failed in my ministry to declare the reality of hell as often as I have the love of God and the benefits of a personal relationship with Christ. But Jesus spent more of His time warning His listeners of the impending judgement of hell than of speaking of the joys of heaven....I have never felt the need to focus on telling people about hell. However, as a result of a steady decline in morals and spiritual vitality in today's culture and a growing indifference to the afterlife, I have come to realize the need for greater discussion of hell....I have thus come to see that silence, or even benign neglect on these subjects, is disobedience on my part. To be silent on the eternal destinations of souls is to be like a sentry failing to warn his fellow soldiers of impending attack." [Bill Bright, Heaven or Hell - Your Ultimate Choice (Orlando, Fla.: New Life Publications, 2002), 32, 48]

Far too often, we leave hell out. People don't know they are walking off cliffs to their deaths...and we, Christians, are the one's who are to warn them!


Look at what Jesus did:

John 4 reveals to us how Jesus presented salvation to an unbeliever (sinner). Chapter 4 shows Jesus as the "evangelizer." So, how did He do it? First in verse 7, He tells the woman to give him water (things of the natural world). Then, in verse 10, He beings to talk about spiritual things. He segways from the natural to the spiritual by saying, "If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water." Jesus continues speaking of the spiritual realm, and then uses God's Law so that SHE EXPOSES HER SIN (verses 16-18).

Finally, after understanding that she has broken God's Law and HUMBLED, Jesus reveals Himself to her as the Messiah (verse 26). Now, God's love can be preached to her...

Without the exposure of sin, we are still proud. And God says He resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. In witnessing to others, and in order for them to receive God's grace and love (which is what Dr. Bright talks about in his Four Spiritual Laws booklet), the unbeliever MUST BE HUMBLED. Otherwise, grace is not given and a person can walk around believing he or she is a Christian, when in fact, they still have no knowledge of their sin.

I came to "accept" Jesus 7 years ago, and I knew that He died to me because I sinned. However, I really had no concept of sin. I could have died believing that I was a Christian, when in fact, I probably wasn't. Jesus wasn't precious to me. The Cross was just something that Jesus did so that I could go to heaven. Jesus was my "poster boy" for God's love.

That's why I'm so passionate about this. I'm not trying to critisize my friends, I just care whether people are really saved or just filling up seats.


Watch this video. It changed my life.

Hell's Best Kept Secret

I hope this makes sense. My head is throbbing from all the idols and their war bombs passing by my apartment....ALL DAY LONG!!!!