God put a smile upon my face - Coldplay

Man, I guess I'm just continually grateful for the people in my life. Friends, who I haven't seen in a LONG time, can just pick up where things were left off. *sigh* I miss you guys but we will always have our friendship. Life-long friendships.

But I'm also blessed with the good friends who I see every week here in this city. Man I'm encouraged by simply being in your presence. Thank you guys.

When I think of all of you my friends. I can only smile.... and its just not the gas...hehe

Back at it again...

Well, weekend was super awesome! I gotta see my super awesome Vancouver friends. Had some super awesome Van food. Met a lot of new super awesome people to add to my super awesome list of Van friends ! Man, I can really say that these friends are really a gift from God. I appreciate you guys! I love all of you with all my heart.

"I thank my God upon every remembrance of you."
Philippians 1:3

"Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend."
Proverbs 27:17

The only thing that sucks is the fact that I think I may have caught the flu. I may have a ear infection as I am hard of hearing in my left ear, it pops sometimes followed by a sharp pain. I've also lost my voice and coughing. Actually, one of my co-workers said today that I sounded more of a man... so a possibility that I might be hitting purberty again...

Windows Live Mail...

is HORRIBLE!

Didn't they learn anything about Human-Computer Interaction. The interface is not user friendly, application is slow to load and a few times has caused my IE browser to crash. The worst thing is, I haven't found a way to go back to the original layout. There is also a bug, that causes my msn to crash when i have both running.

Anyways, I'm getting pretty stroked that summer is around the corner! BBQs every weekend, camping and hiking trips... trip with the guys... man, so much to look forward to!

Oh crap... meeting in 5 mins....

New United Album is...

Super GOOD! Love the songs! Intimate songs and songs of declaration of the church. I can say so many things ... but I won't.

Yup, went to CP during lunch today. Great CD! I also picked up an extra CD for a friend, but apparently he also picked one up too today. So I have a extra album... oh well, I can always give it away to someone else.

Anyways... I was doing a google on Isaac Watts today on his book on "A guide to Prayer", I haven't read the book yet, but I've been curious to read it since Intercessory Prayer. I stumbled on this guy's blog. Its great! I've got to learn how to pray more and just yeah be more simple with my prayers. I encourage everyone to check it out.


Nature of Prayer


Gift of Prayer


Grace of Prayer


For those of you who don't know, Isaac Watts wrote the hymn "When I survey the wondrous cross" and other hymns.

On a side note:
I heard that the presidents were elected. *dang* ... Jill you'll always be president in my heart.... hehehe.... now got to convince you to stay in Calgary... hahaha...j/k

IMPACT

Whoa... doesn't Jonny look HOT with the PINK shirt?
Karen: That is soooooooo last year's color.

hahaha...

Anyways, Worship was awesome cause God was there. Need I say more?

I hope that we'll get a chance to be lead worshippers again on campus. It was so much fun! Thanks for the opportunity guys and thank you our Lord for recieving our praises to You!

Nathander for Prez!

Bored and highly unmotivated...

Man, its been a slow past 3 days at work... hahaha... got nothing really to do.


So to kill some time, I manage to ummm...download some of the new hillsong united: United we stand, songs from the Hillsong site. I have every intention on buying this cd when it comes out on april 4th. But I heard this one, ok ..two... ok... three songs that I absolutely needed to learn and sing!

And now, not only do I have them, but I also have the guitar tabs written out... yea!

Full length mp3 songs that I have are:
-Take it all (guitar tabs too)
-From the inside out (guitar tabs too)
-Came to the Rescue
-None But Jesus
-Revolution
-The Stand (guitar tabs too)

Man these songs are soooooo good. I'm EXCITED!!! Might have to buy two CDs!

If anyone wants the mp3s or chords, drop me a line.

A day worth celebrating!

Its 3.14 today! Happy PI Day everyone!




Yay for Pi!!!

0 for 12...

Stupid tim horton's... i'm 0 for 12 for the roll up the rim to win contest. Oh well, i'll give it 6 more attempts before I officially boycott Timmy's...hehe...actually i don't think I'll ever boycott Timmys I just love them too much....

Weekend was good had lots of fun with the guys (MANCON). We had a paintball fight (with slingshots) in Nose Hill park in some seclueded area where no one could see...hehe...It was alot of fun! Highlights of the event:
- My bro got shot in the face with a paintball, by a team mate...haha... bad aiming..but a good shot.
- Hmmm... in the middle of the playing field, I puked... and man, it was pretty steamy...
- A couple of guys had to take a piss during game play... easy targets....hehehe...

Across the waves, across the seas, seperating you from me...

Ok... this is not a love poem... sick....

So I got a call from a good friend last night. A friend I haven't seen nor heard from since summer. He's on the otherside of the world, mastering a language in which I've been trying to master my whole life...

Anyways, we were talking and catching up with our lives and sharing on what God is doing and wow, just hearing him I can sense a change in him. As we were exchanging stories, it was so encouraging to hear how through the struggle of change, loneiness, lack of direction (him being stuck in a foreign country) that God is using him and confirming things along the way.

Yesterday afternoon (yes... at work) I came across this passage in Romans. I remember memorizing this scripture a few years back.

Romans 8:28- "We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose."

But this time I let my thoughts dwell on it...and yeah if I were to re-write this verse, it would translate to:

"Disappointment, failure, and suffering are simply facts of life. But for those who are actively following God, He can turn disappointment and tragedy into new life" (Sam's version)

Ahhh...yes... NEW life...

and now... time to move forward...

Its better to ask questions... stupid organic coffee

So it was my turn to buy coffee for the office. I've never bought coffee in a bag before and as I walked in to the coffee shop, "Higher Ground" in Kensington. I was completely clueless as I was hoping for some sort of display or sales section on bagged coffee. There was nothing but a long lineup, and so yeah I just lined up. Trying to make sure that I won't look like an idiot, I began to think of questions to ask the workers there. Its funny, because as my mind became consumed with these thoughts, I wasn't paying attention and it was my turn and yeah, I wasn't ready so I blurted out, "Do you guys sell coffee?" The girl looked at me weird, like if I was lost, stupid, mental or something.... probably thinking 'of couse we sell coffee...its a coffee shop afterall...stupid idiot.' Well probably not that extreme, but I quickly threw in my next question before I gave her a chance to think further. "I mean, do you sell bagged coffee"... and "whew" what a relief. And then came the technical questions and not to look stupid this is how I answered...
girl: would you like organic coffee?
me: umm..sure

girl: what size?
me: what size do they come in?

girl: 1/4 pd, 1/2 pd and pd
me: umm..sure

girl: pd?
me: umm..sure

girl: umm.. ok...Grind or beans?
me: grind

girl: Medium or Dark Roast?
me: medium

girl: Ok..that comes to $15.50
me: umm... what???

Yeah, so I ended up paying $15.50 for a pound of coffee. I would have cancel the order but the lady was grinding the beans for me...

I did drink the coffee and it tasted alright, nothing special compared to other coffee...*sigh*...

Obession

Obsession: David Crowder

What can I do with my obsession
With the things I cannot see
Is there madness in my being
Is it the wind that moves the trees?
Sometimes You're further than the moon
Sometimes You're closer than my skin
And You surround me like a winter fog
You've come and burned me with a kiss

Chorus

And my heart burns for You
And my heart burns...for You
And I am so filthy with my sin
I carry pride like a disease
You know I am stubborn, Lord, and I am longing to be close
You burn me deeper than I know
And I feel lonely without hope
And I feel desperate Without vision
You wrap around me like a winter coat
You come and free me like bird


I think, is about our day-to-day "swing" of hearing God and then going through a drought and then hearing Him again. But all the time, our heart should burn for him and then we'll be surrounded like a fog. The past few weeks have been foggy nights and fog just clouds everywhere and you feel enclosed and that if you walked into a thick patch of fog, you'd be completely invisible and safe. Isn't it interesting that when driving through fog, bright lights make it worse so you can't use them and have to settle for just your regular headlights? That's how we have to remember tha God's there; not in the flashy bright light that we're looking for, but in the regular, dim, smaller light and the only way to get through the fog is to watch the regular light. You're always safe with a regular light in fog; just like you're always the safest at the center of God's will. Until the fog lifts. . . . follow the regular light.

Brokeness

Man, brokeness... I am broken, I don't think I can handle it anymore... I keep surrendering more and more of my life to You. Thats not enough, I need to surrender it all. Thats what makes things so painful. I try to surrender it all, but my plans keep coming back at me. I try to surrender again... and again the process repeats itself. And after each cycle, it gets even more painful.

There are some decisions I need to make in my life. I don't want to make them, but I have to. I wish God would speak to me...why does He seem so silent... I need His direction in this... I know He is faithful, I know He cares so much for me, I know He wants His best for me... but why does He seem so silent during this time... a word would be nice... even if its a harsh word... but silence...

My heart aches....

Help me Lord...

Help me Lord to trust in You this time. Lord you are good, you are good! Help me, give me strength as I go through this... I can't do this on my own.... my heart is broken....

Help me Lord, I can't get through this without You...

Shortsightedness...

Continous submission?

Its so hard to believe that during the times of pain and disappointment that God wants His best for You. Even, during the times that you spend so much time in prayer, perserving in prayer, asking God for something to happen, and He remains silent... not even a word. You ask people around to pray, you continously give up the situation to Him.... yet He is still silent. You pray with such faith, and ask with expectation (James 1:5-6) and yet He remains silent...

I guess what I'm realizing that the suffering, pain, disappointment and tears is the process of His best or perhaps even His best for me right now. So often and yeah...pretty much everytime...I can only see whats infront of me and yeah, its pretty shortsighted. But the funny thing is that God sees the full perspective. In the process of pain and suffering, there is brokenness. But yeah, brokeness is what God wants (Psalms 51:17)



3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (Romans 5: 3-5 MESSAGE)

Tired and so sleepy

Well, its about 1:30 in the afternoon and yeah... i can barely keep my eyes open. I'm so sleepy for some reason. I guess its a combination of having nothing to do, quiet office and full lunch. hahaha...even my laughing is weak.

Been thinking about a lot of things lately. I guess you can only think and analyze so much before you dive in. hahaha... I'm the guy that likes to take a calculated risk with backup plans of backup plans. To ensure that if something goes wrong, that i'm prepared for it. Hahaha..man, i worry about the stupidest things. Whatever happen to "trust in the Lord with your heart and lean not on your own understanding"??? *sigh* With all these thoughts crammed in my head, man I just want to stop thinking all together! and let things happen... perhaps that might be the best approach right now.... we'll see... "and in all your ways acknowledge him and he'll make your path straight" ... God, you are God! Thank you for your interest in my life and your interventions. Your intentions for me are the best for me. I know that you know whats best for me and the people around me... help me to be obedient to what you want me to do and give me the strength to follow through.

ok i know i'm not making any sense...hahaha...i'm just tired.... Thats what a blog is for just random and incoherent thoughts...hahaha

Man...shoot i just open my eyes and yeah apparently 5 mins just passed...

Time for a walk

Worthy

Have you every met people in your life that you simply don't deserve?

The friends and fellowship of those who sincerly care for you for who you are... Man I'm so blessed to have people who would go out of the way just to see how i've been doing. That would ask me the hard, tough and honest questions. So hard to find people who actually show that geniune care about you. God is good, these people are a great reminder that I am loved and worthy of love and to be loved.
I think it's just amazing how rich we become when we make things simple again and realize how many blessings we do have, no matter how big or small

God is good. Even the times when He seems so silent, for He is silently working in us. Thank You!

God you're good! :)

Holidays! 4 days till christmas...

Man!

I can't believe its almost Christmas! Man, I'm excited! So I thought I had all my shopping all done 2 weeks ago, but turns out that I didn't. Infact, I completely forgot about my cousins, all of them. Yeah not cool.

Lately, I've been thinking and just mediating on some scripture. I've been trying to memorize the book of Psalms. Not working too well so far, haha, but i do remember bits and piecies. Anyways, today I was just thinking about David and his psalms, his heart for God and I guess his character in general. Yeah, it was one of those days... I just sat on the toliet and just kept thinking... You know, I guess since graduation I've learn some things. I remember that I so didn't want to go to the working world. I wanted to stay in school and maintain my friendships and fellowship with crusade, classmates and friends. It was hard adjusting from a fast-pace life (from weekly assignments, exams and other weekly commitments) to a very slow down pace of the working life (lots and lots of quiet time). I guess when things slow down, you get alot of alone time. And yeah I do get lonely sometimes. I want to be in the presence of friends, want to fellowship with people, want to "tell the world that Jesus lives". Since school is over, its been hard to do these things. But yeah, i guess its about moving on to the next step in life. And yeah, God has maintained a group of great guys that I've kept accountable with and brought new people into my life. God is good!

Lately, I've been reflecting through the pages of my journal and past entries of this blog. You know, despite the loss of that community, I wouldn't trade this period of alone time for anything in the world. Man, I think I've learned more about myself and God in these past few months than I have last year (note: this may be highly exaggrated). I've been relearning old things and yeah, when I crack open the bible, I feel like a kid in a candy store. I'm like, "God, what are you gonna show me today?" and man... haha... it just gets exciting! All in all, its so simple and yes we've all heard it, understood it and can only be summed up in one way. "Be still and Know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). Its like understanding it for the first time again! woot! woot! hahaha...
Ok, I think my coworkers are getting creeped out by my giggling and laughing.
Ok, looks like lunch is over too. Crap... anyways:

Merry Christmas All! Really! I ask God for a increase of His Peace and Joy upon all of your lives!

Blessings!

December! 25 days till Christmas!

Man, its so cold outside. We were definitely spoiled last week.
I think i'm getting sick, all day yesterday i was sneezing and producing my own version of "wontons".

Anyways, on another note, its finally december! Yeah, i'm so looking forward to the holidays, I think i get like 14 days off. Haha...not bad, not bad at all. I'm trying to think of some gifts for some gals. Dang, its so hard to shop for women. I mean i understand that they want something thoughtful and creative and nothing too generic. But in all honestly, its so hard to think of insightful gifts without giving them the wrong impression. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Dang!

Dang, bad day.

So, i just got some tea from the office drink machine. Got back to my cubicle and sat down on my chair. Drinking my hot tea, I placed my free hand on the edge of my desk and began to pull myself to my computer. As I was pulling, my fingers slipped, and *punch*... I canned myself, fast and hard. In pain used both hands to comfort the sore area and yup, I forgot I had the tea, spilled my hot drink on my crotch area. Immediately, I jumped out of my seat and then my foot gets caught from one of the wheels from my chair and yup, tripped over my chair and *bang* the back of my head goes right into my filing cabinet...

Dang...what a bad day...

Multitasking....

You know if you think about it, I don't think I would ever have to wear pants again....
All it needs now is a microwave or oven...hehehe...to eat as you crap...haha...ok maybe not....