Being The Change

Ever since my first year of National Fine Arts Festival in Denver in 2005, I have never been the same. I saw my faith with whole new eyes. It wasn’t boring to me anymore. It wasn’t just another thing I had to do because my parents told me to do it. For the first time, it became MY faith. Probably the best thing about the week that I spent there was the chance to worship with other students who were on fire for God. Sure the worship bands were amazing, but just being in the same place with people whose hearts burned for God was life changing. Ever since then I’ve tried to find worship with that same zeal. But after a couple of weeks of pushing myself to worship with a real yearning, I found myself going through the motions. It’s been like that for a while–ups and downs dependent on which youth events I went to continued to frustrate me and my longing to find true worship. Part of it was that I couldn’t find people to surround myself with who were filled with the same longing I was. It was always the same for the youth group: after a youth event, our worship would be on fire for a couple of weeks. But after those weeks were over, we were as dry as we were before. I was tired of being fired up for worship just during youth events. After watching a Hillsong United documentary about how their worship team started out with only a handful of students who yearned for God, I decided to stop complaining and looking for a change and instead be the change. Why couldn’t our youth group be just like that? Worship isn’t bound by the physical fences we put up. Sure we complain about how dead the worship is or how awesome it is at this church or that church. Worship- raw, unbridled, and true worship- comes from the hearts of believers. When a believer’s heart for worship is seen by other believers, it is like setting of a chain reaction. Worshiping in spirit and in truth can’t be taught or learned in a manual- it is felt by those who have a passion for God’s work and want to be the vessels that see it accomplished. It calls for us, as united believers, to be completely honest with God, others, and ourselves. I’m on this journey myself, and I’m still learning how to die to myself every single day and let God have His way with me. Let God work in you and through you and together we can discover what it looks like when a group of believers worship in spirit and in truth.

2011
04/28
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My world is crumbling around me, and for the first time, I don’t know what to do……

What happens when everything underneath you collapses and you have nothing to grab hold of….

When the lights are extinguished and you can’t find your way…..

I’ve laid all my cards on the table and lost the bet….

I’m on this path, but now the map has been torn from my hands….

Help me to raise my hands in complete and utter surrender…..

2010
05/17
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TRAUMA

So I just started watching the new NBC show Trauma. I gotta tell you, it’s pretty good. It’s not like Grey’s Anatomy in that only a few minutes of each episode are spent in an actual hospital. Everything happens on the street. It follows the lives of paramedics, who, if you think about it, are the front lines of medicine. Before any patient reaches the hospital, they are the ones who do all the patching up. Just from watching this show, I have gained so much respect for the people we sometimes take for granted.

Kudos to medics.

2010
04/22
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iPad: The Future or Failure?

Since the release of Apple’s newest innovation, the iPad, there have been numerous opinions stated on what is said to revolutionize the computer business in the same way the iPod and iTunes revolutionized the music industry. With the advent of what Apple calls “a magical and revolutionary product”, many people have taken sides and few are left sitting on the fence. So with the consumer world so torn, let’s take a look at what is getting buyers so riled up.

On the plus side, the iPad is much much smaller than a computer. Essentially, it is just an enlarged iPod touch. However, this does not mean it is any less useful than a computer. In more ways than one, it is even better than a laptop. As mentioned before, it is smaller. Another thing is the screen. With the whole surface acting as a screen, mouse, and keyboard, many users argue that it is an efficient use of space. Photos come alive with the backlit LED display. HD movies look much better on this screen than on the screen of a laptop. Even reading has been revolutionized with iBooks and the large screen with which to read them. Of course, what would the iPad be without an iPod and iTunes. It is now easier to manage and listen to your music. Now this device is not just for entertainment purposes. It also acts as a calendar and contact book. It is perfect for both the carefree and the organized. Now if I read that and nothing else, I would be convinced that the iPad had indeed revolutionized technology. But with every ray of sunshine comes a chance of rain, and the iPad is no exception.

Recent buyers are already complaining about the iPad’s WiFi reception. Some people grumble about only having no reception in places where other devices get great reception. Others say that they have not experienced any hint of that kind of trouble. The thing I am mainly concerned about is the inconsistency. Is the iPad good with WiFi or not? I hate not knowing what the truth is. I would not want to buy something that I’m not sure will work for me. Another thing users are complaining about is the battery. Apparently, the iPad will not charge with anything other than the USB that comes with it. Apple says that this is because the iPad is different that the iPod or iPhone in that sometimes adaptors do not have the power to charge its battery. It sounds to me like Apple has a glitch to work through. Another problem with the USB is that users cannot play music off their iPads via USB in their cars. Yet another glitch.

All in all, I think the iPad is a waste of money. Many people have said that companies that produce tablet computers are now scrambling to improve their computers, but I don’t think they have anything to worry about. With complaints like these, the computer industry is safe from revolution by the iPad. Although I am sure it will be a good investment once improvements are made, the iPad is at the bottom of my birthday wishlist right now.

2010
04/13
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A Constant Reassurance

Today as I was walking back to my dorm I was listening to a sermon by Francis Chan. He brought up a good point that further strengthened my belief in Creationism. Since the tragedy in Haiti was foremost in people’s minds, he used it as a backdrop for one of the most important parts of the sermon. From an evolutionary standpoint, the Haitians who suffered in the earthquake are merely animals who failed in the survival of the fittest. And we should respond by ignoring their pleas for help. After all, they are the ones who could not evolve to their environment. We should be the ones to take their place in the everlasting chain of evolutionary events.

But remember that we follow the One who taught that helping the poor is like helping God Himself, and that ignoring them is the same as turning your back to the One who died to give us life. It is this simple, and sometimes overlooked fact that continually disproves, at least to me, the theory of evolution. It is living proof that there is a Creator from whom all things originated.

Let’s say, for a moment, that evolution was true. That all of us, everything around us, and everything that will be is all a part of some accident that happened billions of years ago. The why do we care about the people who suffered in Haiti? Where do these emotions come from. Are evolutionists saying that they are a part of the evolutionary process too? Even people who do not believe in God acknowledge that there is pain and suffering that they can, and want, to alleviate.

This is what always disproves evolution in my eyes. The love and compassion people, even nonbelievers, show to others is living proof that there is a God. So I encourage everyone, believers and nonbelievers alike, to unite and support Haiti in its time of need. It is the right thing to do as a Christian. It is the right thing to do as a human.

2010
01/28
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REALLY, WINTER!?!?

For those of you who don’t watch Weekend Update on SNL, there’s a section where Seth (previously Seth and Amy) vents his frustration on certain subjects and calls them into question. This is what I’m attempting to do here.

REALLY, winter?

You just couldn’t take  break for a month or two? Once the snow starts to melt and it starts to get warm, you decide to burst in and ruin everything? NOT cool, winter!

Why don’t you go bother Florida or California. They don’t seem to be getting much snow over there. That way they won’t hog up all the sunshine and we can finally get some here!

Just a tip, winter. But REALLY, think bout it. All of us Chicagoans would appreciate it.

2010
01/28
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Another Long Day

Today started out great but got progressively worse.

1. I didn’t tart class till 10:25, so I studied for my math test.

2. I took my math test which, I think was pretty easy

3. Wrote a review about a French movie, IN French.

4. Did a “scavenger hunt” for history, which is Dr. Smith’s way of making research “fun”.

And now I’m still sitting in the library pouring through all these books in search of an answer to just ONE question.

2010
01/26
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Weekends

Sometimes it’s just good to get away from it all. With all the nerds at IMSA, it feels good to come home to some resemblance of normalcy. Today a sophomore I was sitting by in my math class got mad at someone across the room because they said they got a different answer. He got irritated and half shouted “It’s the same thing! It’s just distributed!” That is the closest I have ever been to a nerd battle. But sometimes I wonder why I come home. I never get any work done anyway. And this ends up catching up to me in the middle of the week. Not a good plan to go by. I should probably stay on campus more often to stay concentrated on my work. I’ll just go home right before I go insane at IMSA.

2010
01/23
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First Day

Wow, today was not as tough as I expected. Besides the fact that I had seven juniors with me in my history class, I was a good day. Of course I’m not excited bout all the homework. Keeping up with the work is going to be harder this semester because of the new teachers and the different classes. Two history classes and two math classes. This is gonna be entertaining.

2010
01/20
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Here We Go Again…

So, it’s finally time to start classes again. I officially only have one more day of freedom. But that’s not until Tuesday. On a lighter note, we had our last karaoke night in a while. It was totally unplanned and actually really fun. I’m gonna miss these times.

2010
01/18
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