waiki's Xanga

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:35:36 GMT

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficults. For then I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor 12:8-10 NIV

easier to say no?

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 04:02:17 GMT

A friend of mine was looking to buy a place and she asked me for advice -- or more like a sounding board =). So we met up for lunch and she talked through her thoughts and concerns about a place she got inspected. Lots of concerns came back from the inspection -- and she spent most of the time talking about the concerns.

By the end, I told her that from the sounds of things she was already leanings towards no. She had told me little about what she liked about the place.

She planned to go talk with the neighbors in the complex to get a better sense of whether her concerns are valid. And hoped that when she talked to them, she would get a definite yes or no answer.

To which I replied -- "it's easy to get a definite no. When you talk with them, they'll tell you horror stories and the problems are still there... and you'll know to walk away. But say they don't share your concerns... does that necessarily alleviate yours? It might mitigate it a bit, but your concerns will remain and you won't find the definite yes. What could they possibly say that would make you think all the past problems with the complex wouldn't come back?"

It seems to apply to other things in life too. School, if classes go badly -- it's a sign you should probably drop it. Or if you are in a major you just don't get. =) With a job interview -- the interviewer may try and sell you on the job, but you should know their sales pitch may not match the actual position. But certainly, there are things the interviewer could say that could be red flags -- like "pager duty" =P. What about with God? It's easy to find reasons why you shouldn't be part of a ministry (kids always kick me, i can't sing, i ramble) ... but how often is it easy and clear that you should do something? perhaps when all your reasons...or excuses are eliminated? what if your concerns are never fully alleviated? when do you take the plunge?

US vs European democracies

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:55:00 GMT

Interesting article on democracy/attitudes in the US vs Europe.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121358021414976189.html?mod=rss_opinion_main

And an interesting video on why the US is NOT a democracy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MW6AKVyi6As

unwinding the mind

Fri, 30 May 2008 18:26:53 GMT

i was hoping that during my time off i would be able solidfy into writing some of the thoughts that have kept me preoccupied so far this year. i've got one day left before i fly back, and rather than find the time to write, God's placed more confusion to the queue. such is life. and i think i constantly add to my own queue too. i'm sitting now in dc library, with a stack of books i picked up from the used bookstore.

Got a good deal though, of course ;) sitting outside of the used bookstore is their clearance shelf. 5 for $2. I contemplated picking up an old psych 101 and soc 101 textbook. Psych was a great course, it taught me a lot about myself and other people think. awareness of the things that drive us is the first step to making changes in our lives to improve ourselves (for the glory of God and not for our own self-righteousness). I hated soc 101. We had a bad prof, but I keep thinking I probably would enjoy the subject and should read up on it. but the thought of hauling two large textbooks back to seattle stopped me.

instead, i picked up the classic, "more than a carpenter". "Letters to young churches" - a english paraphrase of the NT letters, "my hands held out to you" a book on the use of body/hands in prayer...looked different, "through suffering to victory" a book on the gospel of mark, and "confronting the idolatry of family" -- this is the first book that stood out to me, and has the potential to help me wrestle with some topics that have been on my mind....

What's been on my mind?

-culture and the seperation of what is truely from the bible. is the 'christian culture' as we know/experience, biblical? or is 'christian culture' now simply being socially conservative, as a culture that was once 'christian'.

-public vs private healthcare

-christian values and politics: liberal [ndp/democrats], conservatives [republicans], libertarian

-simplicity - why do we collect stuff?

-busyness - the obsession to be 'entertained' and/or the obsession to be 'useful'

-reconciliation of mind and heart (aka actions != heart)

-critical thinking and evaluation of the church, fellowship and brothers/sisters

-scripture, quantity or quality [aka, study vs devo]

-forgiveness and trust

-leadership by example. leadership by doing.

-financial responsibility

-....and a few more, but i'm running out of time here. hopefully i'll get around to sharing a bit about my thoughts the topics sometimes in the future...

Tulips 2008

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 06:12:44 GMT

Brief moment of sunshine... summer is late this year. =/ But managed to get out to the tulip festival, that was a lot of fun. Lots of fun pics! Check 'em out on facebook. Link below will work even if you haven't signed up [which you should. ;) ].

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=24445&l=3afb3&id=500012182
Only 3 colours of tulips at the farm we went to. But it was fun to take pictures, and just enjoy the sunshine.

Sky wasn't as clear as last year unfortunately. If you missed it, last year's pictures are here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1968&l=9f58d&id=500012182

The farm on 2007 had a lot more colours. Maybe next year I'll go back to this farm.

consumption and starvation

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 06:17:44 GMT

A thought provoking article about how the world markets work.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2008/04/14/ccview114.xml

Form Blazing Sword

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:29:41 GMT

Our Wallyball team name. =) I'm playing this summer with coworkers. Should be a lot of fun. Our work-team was able to form 3 different wallyball teams. We got the cool name: "Form Blazing Sword"! =)

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/throcket_luther/1866663820/)

Sound too funky? The other teams were called "Pretty Ponies and Rainbows" and "Sparkle Motion".

Mid April Brain Fart

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 07:38:21 GMT

owing taxes suck. but i have to remind myself that it was an abundant blessing that put me in this predicament in the first place.
openness, honesty and transparency. why is it so hard? is it selfishness or fear? i guess it could be both, one's fear leads to selfishness to protect themselves rather than be vulnerable, admit wrong and/or deal with conflict/disappointment.
winter was milder this year, more days of sunshine... but those days have appeared to have transfered from the winter to now... still raining, and it's already mid april.
alas, hockey season is done. last playoff game was against a bunch of toothless goons [literally, some were missing teeth]. didn't leave a good feeling afterwards. Dave asked me once about how to keep calm in a game and in sports while the other team is trash talking or playing rough. I wish I could say it was because I always offered grace and forgiveness. But I think it could come out in arrogant thought too, "I'm a better person than you are, I'm not going to sink to your level".
thankfully, we had a bonus game which was much nicer. evenly matched, and no trash talking. the ref'ing i think was biased, but well, what can you do. a much nicer way to end the hockey season.
Seattle to Portland. on a bike. 204 miles in two days. That's the goal this summer. Better get training!
Sola Scriptura: The bible is the highest authority. Evangelicals typically believe this yet why does it feel so lacking here? It disappoints me to be in so many discussions where concepts are driven by "I think that..." or "I read/heard that..." rather than going back to the scriptures or at least backing up points with scripture. What is evangelism? What is love? What is fellowship? What is forgiveness? What is it to look out for a brother? What is it to avoid temptation? ... it's all there. Deut 11:18-21 "Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."

need more discernment

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 08:38:11 GMT

Matt 7:15,21-23
Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

Matt 24:24
false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect

back east May 23-31

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:40:35 GMT

got a cheap flight back. time not planned yet, may or may not go to Kingston.