FLOURISH

"Some who turn to Christ find that his love comes in like a wave that instantly floods the hard ground of their hearts. Others find that his love comes in gently and gradually, like soft rain or even a mist. But in any case, the heart becomes like ground watered by Christs love, which enables all the forms of human love to grow." -Tim Keller


Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God... This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. [1 John 4:7-11]

haters gon hate

Well said. Great linsight. 

a million little PIECES

Our lives are broken. Into a million little pieces. Things are done to us, and we do things to others. Our hearts are broken over and over. Tragedies occur, and we encounter painful circumstances, guilt, and regret. We go through dark and lonely times. We go through bitterness, idolatry, addiction, divorce/breakups, family trouble, desertion, financial ruin, plans that don't pan out, you name it. And if you've never experienced any brokenness, FYI it will come one day.

If we were to imagine our lives as glass, then it would be quickly shattered & broken into pieces. But Jesus takes something as useless and ugly as broken glass and sweeps it up. He does not mend the glass nor replaces it, as we also never forget the past. But rather, Christ sweeps it up and puts it into a kaleidoscope. And when you hold that kaleidoscope up to the light... the light of the glory of God... then what you have in the end is something really beautiful. Because Christ does exactly that. You see beautiful patterns of grace and love in the midsts of the brokenness. He takes our brokenness and our uniquely damaged lives, and redeems us for Him, and makes it uniquely beautiful. Redemption. 

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." [Galations 2:20]

the saying is TRUSTWORTHY

"The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." [1 Timothy 1:15-17]

RING by SPRING

This past weekend I was blessed with the opportunity to witness one of my best friends (Billy) propose to his girlfriend Daisy. It meant even more to me because I got to see it come to fruition from the very beginning. During the early stages, when Billy was my roommate I would hear him park his car in the garage but not come into the apartment for an hour. He would use the toilet but not come out for an hour, murmuring and whispering to himself. Until one day, I finally caught on and he revealed to me "I think I like Daisy." And so it began... I was there for all the ups and downs, the weekly fights and makeups... Up to the time he bought the ring and planned the engagement. I'm happy for ya'll and the road ahead. I'm excited that they are both leaving and cleaving, and I'm definitely looking forward to the wedding day. Exciting times they are! But no doubt you guys will need much prayer, and I promise to do my part in praying for you guys. Grace to you, for 'tis only the beginning.... muahaha  :)

"When over the years someone has seen you at your worst, and knows you with all your strengths and faults yet commits him- or herself to you wholly, it is a consummate experience. To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us." [Tim Killer]

#YOLO

Dude I'm not sure if it's a good idea smokin that... It's okay, F*** it, YOLO!

Hey man I don't think you should hook up with that girl, what if she has STDs or something. Whatevers, YOLO!

You sure you could drive drunk? I dunno who cares, YOLO!

#YOLO - You Only Live Once. A phrase commonly used (and shouted) to defend an incredibly reckless and often idiotic action you are about to commit.

It's a cultural phenomenon. So ingrained in today's generation that oftentimes even I find myself thinking (sometimes shouting) this phrase, and doing certain things that I regret either the next day or whenever I sober up. Looking back I think to myself, "Wow that could've been really bad." Not only that, I realize it's so stupid in relation to the bigger picture of eternity. Our time on earth dictates where and how we will spend the all of eternity, which in our feeble, short-sighted minds we can't even begin to imagine. All we see and live for is this 70-100 years on earth--and actually, we don't even know if we will live to see tomorrow. All in the name of "F it. I need to experience it all. Here and now.~". Often forgetting it determines our fate in being in perfect joy with the Lord or in agonizing misery, for years on years with no end.

Yes, You Only Live Once. So let's make it count. Don't get caught up. Let us live eternally minded. Let us live for the Lord.

men are like TRUCKS

"Men are like trucks-- they drive smoother and straighter with a load. Adolescence delays this load carrying indefinitely. Wise men know this and load themselves up early in life to get their education, careers, families, and ministries started as soon as possible because it gives them a good head start on fools. So load yourself up. Take responsibility for yourself. Take responsibility for your (and children if or when you have them). Take responsibility for your church. Take responsibility for your company. Take responsibility for your city. Real men carry their load. Real men carry their own load." -Mark Driscoll

Such a perfect analogy (and easily understood) by men. In summary: A guy + too much time + no responsibilities = trouble. We all know this too well...

24 years of grace

24 years. You dance over me, sometimes while I'm aware, but mostly when I'm unaware. Lord you cease to amaze me with your unfailing grace. I'm amazed by how You've carried me thus far, even though I feel like a burden. How You've provided everything, most of which I take for granted. How great Your love is for me aka the cross, even though I am the most undeserving guy I know. I pray this year would be full of grace-filled learning, sanctification, redemption, and growing in the Word. It's great to celebrate my birthday with family, friends, coworkers, even the best among them... but in the end there is only One who satisfies. Thank you for being my friend, my Lord and Savior, my God. 24 years of grace and counting...

SINister minister

"Sin hath the devil for its father, shame for its companion, and death for its wages."

2011: Growing Pains

It's been only a couple hours since the clock ticked past midnight and brought us all into the new year. Upon reflecting back I notice the obvious theme of the 2011: Change. Basically in every major aspect of my life including: Career, Relationship, Friends, Family, and Church. Thus far in my old age of 23 years, I can say hands-down that it was the most difficult and challenging year I have experienced. It was a long year of wrestling with the Lord, but in the end He showed me that all things work together for good.

The year began and I was the rookie of rookies, fresh out of the Academy-- Shaved head, shiny boots (hence the nickname "the boot"), stressed and nervous as hell. A sheltered little UCLA Korean church boy who grew up in the ghetto suburbs of La Canada Flintridge, I was suddenly thrown into the world of pain, drugs, thugs, and things you should never see. I got no sympathy from the streets, and definitely none from my senior coworkers who treated me nothing short of "the boot". In February, I parted ways with the girl I'd liked since high school. I moved to a new city where I didn't know anybody, nor the street names, nor even a decent place to eat. I lived out of Billy's living room (which was probably payback for making Billy pay rent to live in my closet during senior year). Still, it was nice living with a friend except for the fact I worked the night shift so when I went to bed he woke up, and vice versa. During this same time I also left my church CCAC for personal reasons, little knowing that my search for a new church would be longer and lonelier than expected. It didn't help that two of my best friends moved to NorCal for grad school. They say when it rains, it pours... and boy it sure felt like it.

I'm not sure how I made it through that middle chunk of the year, which I'd rather call the Dark Ages. Long story short, I took it one day at a time, one step at a time. The combination of all the above mentioned events led into something I'd never really experienced before... Loneliness. And between rarely seeing my friends/family/roommate, no girlfriend, no church community, it was just me and Jesus-- Wrestlemania 2011. We struggled through a whole range of emotions and in the end, I realized I have absolutely no one who is always there for me. No one I could absolutely trust, and no one who could absolutely fulfill/satisfy me. Except Jesus Christ.

Looking back now I wouldn't trade that experience for anything. Though time seemed to go by ever so slowly with each day being a struggle, I realize it was all growing pains and I truly believe it helped me grow up in the major areas of my life.

Career - That 8 months of patrol training was the most mentally/physically/emotionally draining experience I've ever been through. But I learned more in one year on this job about the world/life than in all my years in college. Today, I am past my "training days" and I thank God everyday that I get to wake up and go do the job that every boy dreams of.

Relationship - The breakup was more humbling than I could ever imagine and opened my eyes to the rampant pride/selfishness in me. I basically did everything you shouldn't do in a relationship and in the process I learned lessons that I'll carry with me through out my lifetime. It also reminded me that God takes away anything that I make into an idol.

Friends - Some of my closest friends moved back home, which I am very grateful for. I was also reminded that there are only a handful of friends who will stick it through with you. C4L, my college roomies, and a few others. Cherish them, don't take them for granted. God also introduced me to a new category of friends that was brand new to me: Coworkers. I realize I spend more time with them than anyone else in my life, and I'm glad I formed relationships which I'll end up keeping for years to come.

Family - Towards the end of the year, I moved back home full-time for the since time since highschool. I'm planning on it only being temporary, but it's nice to be back with the dad, mom, and brother. It's a lot different this time around too, with my parents being more like my peers/friends than well... my parents. And I'm starting to understand that they were wiser than I ever knew growing up.

Church - Last but not least, my journey came to end. On Dec. 4th, I stopped dating the church and finally got hitched to Christ Central of SoCal (formerly known as CPC). I got confirmed and became a member at the church which I grew to love in just a short period. I love the community, the Word preached, my small group, the vision. I forgot how vital of a role the church community is in my life.

Miscellaneous - I finally gave in and converted... to Apple products. I stopped dressing like a freshman in college, though it was painful to hang up that old wardrobe. I went from Stevo back to Stephen. And I am allowed to have hair now haha, my favorite change. :)

What a roller coaster of a year! In the end though, God brought all things full-circle and tied up each loose end perfectly in time for the new year. I'm excited for 2012, I think it will be epic. I'll leave with this verse:

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

[Philippians 3:12-14]

"Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less." -C.S. Lewis

EX·CRU·CI·AT·ING

So here's a true story. Back in the day, there was no word to describe the immeasurable pain and suffering that one endured by dying on the cross. I mean, how do you explain the process of getting scourged, carrying a cross, getting nailed onto it, dying slowly of asphyxiation/hunger/thirst, being publicly humiliated, and finally being stabbed by a spear. There isn't. So the word excruciating was created. It's from the Latin word, excruciare, which is derived from cruciare, aka to crucify.

And guess what... Jesus died an excruciating death, so that we can have life. Tetelestai.

he is JEALOUS for you

Everybody knows Oprah Winfrey. Well in 2008, she did a show regarding her new mentor, New Age author and guru Eckhart Tolle. During the show one of her fans asked her, "How do you reconcile these spiritual teachings with your Christian beliefs?"

Oprah responded, "I reconciled it because I was able to open my mind about the absolute indescribable hugeness of that which we call God. I took God out of the box because I grew up in the Baptist church and there were rules and belief systems and doctrine. And I happened to be sitting in church in my late 20s... and this great minister was preaching about how great God was, and how omniscient, and omnipresent, and God is everything. And then he said, 'And the Lord thy God is a jealous God'. And I was caught up in the rapture of that moment until he said jealous. And something struck me and I was thinking God is all, God is ominipresent, and God's also... jealous? God is jealous of me? Something about about that didn't feel right in my spirit because I believed that God is love... and thats when the search for something more than doctrine started to stir within me..."

She goes on to talk about how that moment launched her spiritual journey to find the real truth. She let this idea that God is jealous to drive her away from her faith. I admit, on most occasions jealousy has a negative connotation. But the jealousy of God is a good thing. I really hope Oprah realizes one day that God isn't jealous OF her, but FOR her. God doesn't want your fame & fortune. He wants you.

God says, "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image... You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God." God made you for Him. He made you in His image, and He draws you to Himself in order to have fellowship with Him. But what do we do? We wander. We cheat on Him. We chase after other gods and idols. Yet God never stops. He relentlessly pursues us. He can't stand the thought of us pursuing some other worthless idol.

Haha, He's not jealous OF you, Oprah. He's jealous FOR you. It's a good thing. I pray you realize that one day.

How He Loves Us - David Crowder Band

REALITY check

Last Saturday, 22 Navy Seals were killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. They were on their way to help a group of Army Rangers who were in trouble, when they got shot down by Taliban insurgents. Not only was it a tragic day, it was the single largest loss of life for U.S. troops since the war began in 2001.

This week I read a CNN article on Aaron Vaughn, one of the Navy Seals who were killed. They reported that his wife, Kimberly Vaughn, "saw TV reports about the downed helicopter Saturday morning, but the tragedy reached her home when her doorbell rang. "I thought, 'Oh, hopefully it's just a neighbor,' and as I rounded the stairs I saw the men in uniform and I just fell to my knees," she said. "There's no preparing for it. It's something you see in the movies. It's not something you're supposed to live through." Her father was standing with her to hold her up as the Navy officers told her that her husband was killed in action. "I fell to my knees and cried and didn't want to hear it, but it's the truth," Vaughn said. "You want it to be a mistake. You want them to say it's the wrong person, but I wouldn't wish this on anyone."

Though she was still in mourning, she had a chance to to tell CNN what kind of man her husband was: "I want to tell the world that he was an amazing man, that he was a wonderful husband, and a fabulous father to two wonderful children. He was a warrior for Christ and he was a warrior for our country and he wouldn't want to leave this Earth any other way than how he did."

CNN then asked Vaughn's grandmother to speak about Aaron. She recalled their last conversation together, when she told him to be careful. Aaron replied, "Granny, don't worry about me. I'm not afraid because I know where I'm going if something happens to me.' Aaron was a Christian and he stood firm in his faith," she said, her voice heavy with emotion. "He's with the Lord now and I'll see him again some day."

Reading the CNN article gave me the chills, but it was also a good reminder about staying firm in my faith. On top of that, it happened to be on the same day a San Diego police officer was killed on duty when a suspect pulled up right beside him and shot him. I mean... I guess for anyone, you never know what tomorrow will bring. We could say when it's God's will, it's your time to go. Anyone could get in a car accident on the way to work, suddenly get cancer, etc. But in a way, let's be honest, my job has a couple more risks than the average person.

I hope everyday before work, I could have the confidence in Christ like Aaron did. I wish I could say like he did, "I'm not afraid because I know where I'm going if something happens to me." And I wish people would see me as a warrior for Christ.

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?- unless indeed you fail to meet the test." (2 Corinthians 13:5) We always talk about reality checks, but I realize I have one everyday. It's a scary thought, but at the same time I see it as a blessing. My hope is that it will bring me closer to God and make me appreciate everything around me.

Never know what tomorrow will bring... Keep your faith in the Lord always.

BOYS who can shave

What's the difference between a boy, a guy, and a man?

what the HELL?

Rob Bell (Nooma videos) recently sparked a major discussion on hell with his idea that hell doesn't exist. Many others, including Francis Chan, have come up with responses. Overall, I hope it challenges us to really think about what we believe and bring us back to the gospel.

I recently heard about this guy who approached a pastor and asked, "God’s so powerful and so good, why does bad stuff happen?"

The pastor replied, "I’m not going to answer the question, until you ask it correctly."

So the guy says, "How do I ask it correctly?"

And the pastor answers:

Here’s how you ask that question properly. You look me in my eyes and you ask me this. How on earth can a holy and righteous God, know what I did and thought and said yesterday and not kill me in my sleep last night. You ask it that way and we could talk.

But until you ask the question that way, you don’t understand the issue. Until you ask the question that way you believe the problem is out there. Until you ask the question that way, you believe that there are somehow, some individuals, who in and of themselves deserve something other than the wrath of almighty God. Until you ask me the question that way, until you flip the script and say “Why is it that we are here today, why has he not consumed and devoured each and every one of us? Why oh God does your judgment and your wrath tarry?” When you ask it that way, you understand the issue.

When you ask it the other way you believe in the supremacy of man. How dare God not employ his power on behalf of almighty Man. You flip the question around and you believe the supremacy of Christ. How dare I steal His air, because the last breath I took I borrowed it from Him…

We don't deserve anything. God doesn't owe us anything. YET, Christ still chose to love us and sacrifice Himself for us. That's what makes GRACE so amazing. Instead of asking, how can a loving God send people to hell, what about asking how can a perfectly holy and just God not send a sinner like me to hell? How can the almighty, sovereign God love me and even die on the cross for ME? It's a humbling thought. Don't cheapen GRACE.

HEAVyladEN?

Heaven will be an everlasting increase in joy. Beautiful.

God's

Riches

At

Christ's

Expense

writer's blogk

after over a year, i think i will start blogging again

TRUTH or dare?

The Supremacy of Christ and Truth in a Postmodern World

by Voddie Baucham