Day out ....

sting rays !

How to save a life.

Let him know that you know best
Cause after all you do know best
Try to slip past his defense
Without granting innocence
Lay down a list of what is wrong
The things you've told him all along
And pray to God he hears you

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
- The Fray (thefray.net)

i just bought this The Fray's CD couple days ago,
thinking about this song,
and thinking about wounded friends,
even myself (wounded meaning wounded in life),
and how we needed to be heal,
we needed to be heal spiritually,
be heal from heart breaks,
be heal from our own mistakes and such.

maybe i've failed to listen and someone had fallen -
maybe i've now learn how to save a life,
to listen,
from the heart,
listen to the cries of one's soul,
i think i know how to save a life.

this might be how ...
2 Cor 5:
18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
(NIV from ebible.com)

Everlasting?

here's a good quote to think on ...

fear not death, but an un-lived life or another quote that is equally compelling, every man dies, but not everyman truly lives.

those two quotes are really thought provoking ...

so is this one,

Jesus said : The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10 , NIV from ebible.com)

see the connection?

peace out.

Eagle nest lake, NM

night sky ...

mountains in northen nm
(i think this one is baldy)

we were really there :o)
at the Palisades ....

Palisades in the Cimarron Canyon where Jon and I camped out =)

it's amazing isn't it !?

then how much more amazing is the maker of it ?

at the St. James hotel in Cimarron,NM
(while visiting Jonathan :-) )

i live in one of these "adobe" style homes =)

Pictures from NM

View of Sandia mountains from the upstairs deck of the house i'm living in =)

Poverty,Sin and absolutes in the world ....

Derek Webb wrote a song years ago called "Rich young ruler"
paraphrase what Jesus said in the Gospel books about the rich young ruler and ask him to give up everything to the poor ...

yesterday i got a chance to serve at the community center down at SE ABQ with some people from churches in the area - we went out and served the people by giving them food, clothings, health check-up, hair cuts and such. The gospel was being shared as well, and we see kids and adults come to know Christ, the seed of gospel was being planted as well ...

couple thoughts really struck me hard yesterday ....
first it's that poverty doesn't discriminate,
meaning poverty doesn't say if you are certain race than you'll be fine,
or if you are single or married,
or put in anything that you would see on a EOE statement like race, gender, nationality, and in these days sexual orientation , veteran status and such ...
poverty doesn't discriminate -
i saw many people last night - i heard that was over 800 -
kids, adults, lining up for food and clothing -
there were all kinds of people - Asian, white, African American, Hispanics, immigrants, local folks, guys with caps, babies in stroller - they were all in need of help -
and the people who helped out - were across the spectrum as well - all kind of races - and some of them has just barely enough - but they were helping out - giving their time to tend their neighbors who are more in need than they are -

there's another thing in this world that doesn't discriminate -
that's sin and its consequences -
sin that doesn't discriminate because a person is the prime minister or president,
it doesn't discriminate because a person is poor or invented operating systems,
it doesn't and its punishment is universal as well - death to anyone with sin - but unlike poverty it's very absolute - it's black and white -

couple verses that hit me really last couple weeks can be found in John 16:8-11 ...
where it lays out 3 truths ...
1) regard to sin , b/c men do not believe in Christ
2) regard to righteousness, Christ is going to the Father
3) regard to judgment, prince of this world (devil) stands condemn ...

so ...
it's as black and white as it seems -
the gospel does not discriminates as well -
it's open to everyone because Christ is going to the Father -
the righteousness is open to anyone who receives it -

thus -
i hope that we will take up the invitation of Christ - because He's going to the Father - and we can take on His righteousness - and that dealt with the problem of sin - as for the problem of poverty - we as the body of Christ should continue to reach out to our community wherever we are - because we know we will also have the poor with us - and we should go and serve and bless the nations and people - poverty doesn't discriminate - well - so should the body of Christ.

(note : again - remember to be in the world, but not of it ;-) )





~ daniel

Mountains and Balloons

Mountains and Hot Air Balloons , what are great combination.
Waking up to the mountains, shining sun and Hot Air Balloons are not a bad deal, it's great actually.
i've been waiting for this moment for a while now,
out of Texas,
to the mountains.

There's just something about the mountain ranges,
it just makes me feel so small,
and God so big,
because His creation are gigantic,
yet intricate.

Welcome to Albuquerque,
a city tucked between mountains and dormant volcanoes,
a melting pot of Hispanics, Native Americans, Caucasians and many other races,
charming look of the Adobe style house,
and the neon lights of Route 66.

It's here i come alive again,
it's You that brought me here,
it's You who knows how to make me alive,
and why i'm alive.

You are the reason,
and only reason.

God.

The setting sun,
and the shades of downtown,
The rising sun,
and the shades of mountains,
points to You and You alone,
God.

indeed.
--
Daniel

Neon lights, Route 66

about three weeks ago - i sat down and pretty much decided my plans for this summer - seemed like i would be spending my time in the heart of texas for much of it - possible rejuvenating and such - but an email and some phone calls changes my plan - i'm heading out west to New Mexico for an internship - sounds kinda exciting - not sure really how to come to terms with it - i know God's plan and timing is always the best - and just when i thought i had it all figure out - i was wrong again ...

so - since then it has still been a waiting scenario - i really had to learn to wait patiently when some of my paperwork gets through, sometimes it's frustrating - felt like the last couple of days i haven't really gotten anything done - maybe this is just the break that i was waiting for - but TVs and Internet gets boring sometimes -

i started and finished a book called "Red moon rising" , my sister bought it for me for my birthday - it's about the prayer movement that started in the late 90s in England and Europe - it's amazing to see God moving around the world - the news and miracles of healing are NOT just isolated news from China, India and Africa anymore - it's happening in Bristol, Ibiza, Germany - it's happening here in the West - that's SO amazing - i was so encouraged as i read the book - yet at the same time i pondered about my own faith - and how sometime it felt like i'm still slumbering and not waking up to the realities of life and the works of God - the authors put it nicely in the book - pray until you know how to pray - and i think that's true, so many times i do not know how to pray - i just pray without asking how to pray - or - praying about how to pray - maybe i should try that ...

anyways - my journey heading west starts soon - actually it starts now at where i'm at in the middle of Texas - hopefully this is a good one.

just on the side note - finally got to see a live Soccer match on TV today with AC Milan beating my favourite Liverpool FC - anyways - good job for both teams ...

and i'm starting on another book - this time "God's Politics" by Jim Wallis where my girlfriend gave it to me on my birthday ... should be an interesting one.

i shall blog more.
soon.

d-mac/aggietech

City lights

City lights,
endless fights,
how do we deal with the pride,
that seems to bring more than a blow,
to our lives, characters and dreams?
we tried to escape,
but we ended up in a trap,
we fight on to rest,
yet we ended up weary and dead.
Where is the hope in life that we so looking forward to,
where is the peace that we always longed?
somehow we've lost sight of Christ,
the One who brings peace and hope,
the One that knows how to live,
the One that knows our needs,
come let us return to Him,
under the neon signs,
turn off the music and let us reflect,
the meaning of life,
and why we rush from venues to venues,
and missed the sights along the way.

Who have we become?
We are not an optimization problem to be solved,
because each of us are unique,
and our potentials are different,
and yet we try to generalize everybody,
no i won't give in to this,
i choose to live my life in the light,
only in the light .... and delight in the light ...

ballin'

i don't know why basketball sneakers can be sold at such a high price,
a pair of Air Jordan or other equivalents from AI or Melo' can go in the range of hundreds,
maybe it's the feeling of having what the pros have,
maybe it's the feeling of living bigger than your life,
maybe it's the thrill of having a part of a super star,
maybe.

i got a pair of Starbury One,
it's not Melo', Kobe or AI's,
it's Marbury the guard from New York,
he dishes passes like Jason Kidd,
and scores points like AI,
though his sneakers are down in the range of teen's
wearing'em still give me the same feeling,
i don't know how to explain,
maybe it's just the star power,
maybe it's human pride,
maybe it's the fame,
at a low price,
maybe is his (Marbury's) movement,
to end the dominance of overly priced sneakers,
maybe it's to fulfill the dream of a young boy,
who wanted something that he cannot afford,
maybe,
i'm just shooting hoops by my apartment,
wearing my Starbury One -

maybe there's nothing significant to it.

life as usual.

hmm...

don't know why i feel this way today,
feels like getting lost in the crowd,
drowning out the noise around me,
and the chatters and conversations,
sitting in a corner,
drowning in music,
somehow there's pain,
somewhere in my life,
i know there's a solution other than this,
and i gotta get out of here.

Entropy and Aching
Where have we been aiming?
Everything is fading out, fading out
We are the faded, splitted, and sedated
Everything is fading out, fading out

A pledge allegiance to a country without borders, without politicians
Watching for my sky to get torn apart
We are broken, we are bitter
We're the problem, we're the politicians
Watching for our sky to get torn apart
C'mon and break me
C'mon and break me

- Politicians Live from Austin , (Switchfoot)

2 Cor 12:9

My (God's) grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

sunshine and wind

it's a beautiful day full of Your grace,
it's sunshine with wind,
i felt the warmth of the sun,
and the real-ness of the wind,
the goodness and love of a Maker,
and His creativity that goes beyond ours,
to give life,
joy,
and everlasting peace.

tired

tired - and - somehow gloomy about life
about the decisions i have to make
and all the progress that i haven't made.

tired - and - somehow anxious about life
because of the all the pressures and events
and all the things that i cannot avoid

felt like all the responsibilities are catching up
with no where to go or hide
and no time to complete

i will run to You,
and You alone,
for You are my refuge

More than fine

everything caves in eventually ...... even apathy can get old after a little while .... [Switchfoot]
[listen to the live mp3 clip from Calgary]

i'm more than fine.
enough said, and well said.
i want more than just ok -
apathy - sighing - negatvity gets old -
why not live?
why not live to the fullest ? (John 10:10)
i'm more than fine -
despite what the rest of the world tell me.
despite what i think -
despite of my circumstances -
He's delighted in me. (Ps. 149)

more than fine.

goodness and mercy

seems like forever since i last posted something on this blog, or any kind of blog for that matter -
finally - here's some updates if you are interested =)

finally graduated from texas a&m university with my Comp. Engr Degree - it was definitely an awesome 4 and 1/2 years at a&m - all the good times working late in the lab or homeworks at Zachary - and not to mention all the friends that i've met just thru that - anyways -

and yet ....

i'm back again as a grad student -- hehe -- in the Computer Science department --
so far the experience had been challenging since most undergrad classes doesn't require
intensive readings (but massive - homeworks and projects , which were FUN) - the adjustment has continue to be challenging ...

on a personal note - finally asked a girl to go out with me ... hehe ... being in a relationship is definitely an awesome experience - not to take anything away from singleness - which is also amazing as well -

so - yep - that's just some updates bout my life -
God is amazing - He continues to provides as well (at times that i am least expecting ....) =)
what can we say to describe Him ?
impossible.

peace out.

Daniel

View of God

We only realize the power of the moral law when it comes with an "if." God never coerces us. In one mood we wish He would make us do the thing, and in another mood we wish He would leave us alone. Whenever God's will is in the ascendant[1], all compulsion is gone. When we choose deliberately to obey Him, then He will tax the remotest star and the last grain of sand to assist us with all His almighty power. - Oswald Chambers - Utmost for His Highest.

[1] = superior; predominant

4 years and 3 months later

It's cold outside,
After the first major freeze,
life is back to normal,
4 years and 3 months later,
arriving at the door of adulthood.
College had taught me much,
with 3 papers and presentations to go,
i have one foot in the real world.

Life events had brought me around the world,
to see the lives of other people,
which are equally beautiful,
equally important and precious.

I've seen my worldview changed,
thoughts changed,
ideas changed,
to see the world not from a temporal view,
but with an eternal view.

I've seen and feel heart breaks,
as well as love,
friendship,
as well as kindness.

Sometime i wish my day can be filled with music,
where Coldplay and Mat Kearney can cross path,
where KJ and Kanye can douce out,
where songs can speak for everything ..

Life is beautiful,
more beautiful that it was,
i love to smile,
i love a cup of hot coffee in deep winter,
i love starbucks in Texas,
makes me feel i am back in the Northwest,
i love driving down the country road with my window down,
i love life ...

I'm thankful -
for God's grace in my life,
for countless of hours in labs that taught me the meaning of procastination and its results,
for research that opened my eyes to the wonders of God's creation,
for friends who share joy and tears with me,
for songs that fuzzle up my heart ....

Sunrise , Sonrise

so i woke up this morning to the sound of my alarm clock,
i think today is going to be different,
i wanted to be more discipline in my life.
there are a lot of things to get done this couple of days,
will school in full swing and college ministry season starting,
ah -- welcome back to life.
though i am still waiting for news about my job as a peer teacher - which i really need it this semester - i guess eagerly i waited and waited and waited - and will continue to wait til the department calls me -
so, here i can again this semester - it's the last of my undergrad career - i wanted to make
it enjoyable yet interesting yet fruitful - i think all my classes has some kind of projects (and that's good) - and - i'll be working on a research subject with my AI prof - that would be really interesting !!

anyways - college ministry season - it's good - i think -
even though my group is kind of small, but i guess there's nothing
to be discouraged about - we've got a lot of people signed up saying they are
interested in checking us out - so i guess that's a plus ..

oh- i might go up to austin for a rally to end the genocide in Sudan - you should come too -
ya know - as Christians - and as humans - we should care about the welfare of others, even though they are like 10000s miles away - so - 1 pm on Saturday at the Capitol in Austion -

well - that's all i'm sayin.

peace out.
and um'
gig'em.

til then
daniel

Man on a mission

i'm a man on a mission.
you'll know after you've talked to me.

get excited about the semester !

aggietech aka daniel

Back in the heart of Texas

finally get to take a breather from my busy schedule of travelling from the last couple of weeks to work on some of my stuff (ie. homegroup action plans, comp sci research proposals and such) - it's great to be back in the heart of texas - and back in my favorite coffee shop (coffee station) - nothing beats a great coffee shop with great brews , sounds and decorations !! -
my summer was great - was kinda slow (and restful) until the last couple of weeks where i was travelling between 4-5 cities and 2 continents !

i am glad to be back in texas - culture shock !! yeah - after speaking mandarin for like 3 months, speaking english again is kinda weird - and trying to revert back to western minded kind of thinking with the eastern thought not far away - is kind of weird - but to be a east-westerner or west-easterner is important in this globalized world - to know the best of both cultures and take advantage of that fact will make a person - successful - i guess that's a business person would say.

anyways - i'm back !! still have a lot of stuff on my mind - especially again on intellectuals and Christianity -

well .... i'll write more on that later.

gig'em and peace out.

Daniel

Thinking about a lot of things (Part I)

There are much to be written about what i am thinking recently, from the books i've read, or situation that i've been in, or countries that i've visited - i'll try to come to some sort of organization for what i am thinking - it involves - pretty much everything from religion to technology to politics , conflicts between countries, and then about us - humans - and myself - obviously.

To start it off, i've been in multiple cities in multiple countries in the last couple of months, from my "home town" in the US to my "home town" in East Asia, there are much to be said, and much to be ponder about.

First of are things that we had taken for granted in the United States, from the technologies to food or sports - for one thing, as a follower of Christ, we've taken our faith and blessings for granted. As i am currently visiting the island of Taiwan, where the population of Christian are probably 2 to 3% which comparably lower than countries like Singapore, South Korea, and the US - but there are fervency here - some that i don't see in the States - the Christians here pray for revival and claim cities and neighborhood for Christ, they pray for healings of people's heart, they pray for physical healings, they are praying for God's glory to be displayed, in their country. The Christians here pray with authority that i felt we sometimes lacked in the States, have we stopped believing ?? or have we just sunked into the mindset of a Technopoly (i will refer to this book later) - where science had become our certainly, and not God ?? Let's just ask ourselves this question, who is constant, God? or the knowledge of this world ?? and who would we trust ??

if you've kept up with East Asian news lately, we all can see the struggle in Taiwan's democracy, where this "baby democracy" is still trying to learn how to be truly democratic, and how integrity is important , and how freedom needed to be used - very interestingly - just in the last couple of weeks and months, i can see that prayers are being offered for the Presidents, for the Parliament and such, for a government with Integrity - i hope this government will be truly transparent and truly free - and i am glad to be part of its audience as i watch it unfold ... and be part of the process by praying for it =)

Here's the next question i am going to pose - is United States getting less free - or have we just taken for granted of what we've know - or what we've inherited from previous generations of spiritual heroes ?? Have we gone soft of what we knew as truth ? Have we let the media or public opinion shaped the truth ?? I read some truly saddening news today where a valedictorian's speech was cut short (or blank out) because she mentioned her thankfulness to Christ as her savior - What is wrong with that speech ? A person truthfully thank her savior for saving her - yet doesn't have her rights to speak about that on her graduation ? In a free America ? what kind of argument is that? Persecution in America ? you tell me about that ...

I guess situations like that are fairly common lately, with the label of separation of Church and State , our country had taken away the opinion of my generation - we know the truth too - and when we share it, please do NOT shut us off ! Christians can be prominent figure too, we can be valedictorian as well, prominent scientists - even successful businessman , and stop branding us as backwards people, because we are NOT, and we refused to be branded as that -

okay, maybe i've written too much about that issue - let me know what you are thinking as you read this - and there's much more to come as far as what i think on other issues - definitely including the mid east conflict ... ahh ...

til then,
peace out,
Daniel

 

 

Football Madness - some 100 people gathered together to watch England vs Paraguay - England Won 1-0 

Music Fountain on Sentosa Island 

Merlion ! - Mermaid + Lion 

Capitol Hill ?? - Nope, Singapore Supreme Court 

Mall with a Chinese Design 

This is for you - Adri  

Singapore - where the east meets the west :-) 

Welcome to Singapore ! 

sitting in the airport , waiting for my plane to come ...

so here i go again - flying to singapore to visit my cousins then going to malaysia to visit the rest of my family.
my time in Taiwan had been great !! :o)
it was fun getting to know more about my parents ~ chill with them and such -
it was great getting involve with the local church , and getting to know the local believers - it was great ...
so , i am waiting for my plane to come - it time to really go home - ahh - bet ya don't know i am from malaysia - actually small town malaysia - i'll definitely post some pictures.

ok - for now - it's bye , til i see ya again.

daniel

Sunshine and Rain

i love the rain - because it cleanses the city - and the atmosphere feels cooler and fresher after a pouring rain. i love walking in the rain and sang "Grace like rain" by Todd Agnew - to remind myself of the grace of God and we've been washed clean !

anyways - i've been in Taiwan for more than 2 weeks now - it's still a - um - crazy experience - at times i was really boring because i lived with my parents at the 14th and 15th floor of a condo-plex - or because i haven't attempt to drive yet - i do walk and take the bus - lol -
anyways - i got a chance to share at the youth service last weekend - i talked about Christ being our friend - see John 15:15 - Christ called us friends - not slaves, but friends because He's telling us stuff that He heard from His father - what a priviledge to know Christ as a friend - and that's eternal life - John 17:3 -

so - one thing i've realize while i am here - is the prayer of the believers for their country - i don't know how much we pray for our country in the US - we prayed for our own needs, maybe the needs of our church, or the needs of our bible study and such - but do we pray for our country - i am amazed - although the population of Christian in Taiwan is not as huge as the ones in North American, but their fervency and their passion is as huge as or even bigger Christians in places that are more Christianized - anyways - so - while we in the US (okay i am not for the moment -- ) need to pray for the revival and renewal in our country as well - prayer is important - the harvest is here , the kingdom is near.

i've made some new friends here - through the Christian Fellowship on the college campus that my parents teach at. A guy named Phil that is absolutely on fire for God - he leads the worship that we have in the middle of the campus, although we only have 5-6 people to start with, students do stop by and listen and sing with us from time to time, that is amazing - and Phil, is awesome, he loves hip hop and rap just like me - except he was like - man, hip hop in US is so messed up, because they used some much cussed word .. then i introduced him to KJ52 and such - haha - it's kinda hard to explain gospel rap, but oh well ..

well - there ya go ... my post for the week ..
i'll put some pics up soon - and i'll be travelling to s'pore and m'sia next week to meet
up with my counsins and go back to my hometown for a couple of days,
oh yeah ..
Sweet Home Alabama!
(ok - not exactly Bama, but feels like that - like the movie - going home - back to the roots ..)

please cont. to pray for me :o)

thanks, God bless.
Gig'em

Daniel

My Primary Food Source - even in Asia - Filet O Fish ! 

Bro and Sis Gangsta Post ... oh yeah ! 

Shaved Ice 

My sister and I at Taiwan 

The other side of the world

ni hao from the other side of the world,
i've safely made it to home in taiwan :o)
it was a long trip but it sure is nice to be able to be at home with my parents and sister.
i am still adjusting to the timezone, lifestyle, culture, language and such, prayer will be appreciated :o)

it had been great so far, had an opportunity to sat down and pray with my family yesterday, something we haven't done at a family in a while because i was always MIA when they get together with my sister.

today will be fun - well the first day that i will have other human contact then my family, and it's going to be challenging (i think) - to get to know other people, to make friends and to talk and share my faith and such. Last time i was here, i was very very shy, hopefully today will be a little different !

oh anyways - the view from my room is awesome, especially at like 6 oclock in the morning - since taiwan had long abolished daylight savings time (it is too confusing) , day usually dawned around 5:30 in the morning (actually that's like Oregon with day light savings ... haha) - so from my window at the 14th floor, i can see the sun shining down on the city - that is absolutely gorgeous !

anyways -
that's my post for now - i'll take some pics of view and post'em up here -

take care y'all.

love and peace.

macster

this just came out a couple days ago,
check it out.

go KJ.

d-mac
(can't stop dancing to hip hop music.)

D-O-N-E

the semester came to an end at 5/9/2006 - 5:30 pm.
i am a free man.
whooop!

stuff to do before i leave town
- pack my stuff up (and store it in storage)
- pack for my trip
- pay my bills
- talk to prof about research
- find a sublease
- have fun as usual !

Sunrise , sunrise

it's been a while since i saw sun ray's in my own room,
i had them during my summers in Oregon where sun will rise and its rays will shine on my face to wake me up from my sleep ... today the same thing happened to my room in Texas - i guess after the thunderstorm last night, the sun decided to wake early and shine brightly, that was totally awesome. i am just starting my round of exams today, i thought i had a plan to study everything according to my time table, but i guess that doesn't really work out all the time - i am almost ready for today's test, but not tomorrow's ... i guess i am in a little bit of time crunch but hopefully i can pull it thru :o)
anyways - i'll be done by tuesday - and then the life after school (for 3 months) will began, what kind of journey awaits me ? it's still too early to tell, but i know next 3 months will be interesting, testing and hopefully enduring.

ah, how i miss the nature, mountains , waterfalls and beaches.
ah, how i miss the music, especially the smooth jazz that puts me into a happy mode ...
but, thank God for the day and a nice breeze in the middle of May,
especially in texas.

peace out,
daniel

i guess i am not supposed to write this but i will ...

it's finals week, finally !
the semester really flew outta my hand like a baseball - once its gone, its gone - and it will break that window .. jk
i guess i decided to post something in the middle of finals week because i am not supposed to -
i've been posted on my xanga for my dead days junk - but i decided to switch back to blogger because i like blogger better -
last couple of days had been wonderful ! - see my post in http://www.xanga.com/anfieldboyz
i think i am getting some studying done - not all - i hope to get at least my AI done tonight so i can start on other stuff like the OS final that i am sweating over -
anyways - last couple of weeks had been fun (and lots of ups and downs .. and whole lot of in between - mood wise ..)
i did get to go to Ring Dance last weekend, and that was fantastic :o)
just a thought - sometimes i wish that Ring Dance never ends - so the life can really be that dreamy (ya know - dances and such) ... but i know the dance did end, life just keeps on moving - sometimes i wish that church service will never ends - like um - sunday everyday to keep the spiritual momentum going - but it does (the corporate part anyways ...) ... so life goes on ...

i love finals week - because the library is packed and everybody is studying -
now A&M does look like Harvard or MIT (during finals only !) ...

ha.

funny.

well - if you are still reading this - shoot me back with something -
and i'll keep on posting.

oh btw i'll be in taiwan/m'sia for the summer - i'll def. keep everyone posted.

peace out.

macster.

Andy Hunter

Shadow proves there's sunshine

i love Switchfoot - their songs prove to be inspiring - the Nothing is Sound LP might seemed darker and rock harder than their other CDs, but i love it, i love the reality of it.
I've just read thru a book by Billy Graham on his last crusade in the NYC, i like how he is so relevant to our generation although he's pretty old, i love the examples that he drew from different sources, from MTV to BillBoard to Madonna, yet he stayed true to the message of Christ, reminding people the Gospel in the midst of this dark world. I didn't know that one of the most requested song / popular song is "Satisfaction" , "i can't get no satisfaction" is what they sang, and yet that is so true, i can't get no satisfaction, at my job , at my school, or my relationships with others. Sometimes i feel empty, just because my circumstances is down, or when i am very insecure - thinking what would other people think of me, or what would the next girl that i meet will have the first impression about me - sometimes i don't really care, i can be straight to your face and let you know the truth and be myself -

sometimes when i am down i just turned up my speakers and blasted away in my car with Avril jammin' out loud that makes the situation even worse - sometimes i can jammed with Andy Hunter's Techno music to just get me into my mood -
i guess i relied on outside influences too much sometimes - always hoping that the right song will come on the radio that kicks me into certain mode - like "Jesus takes the wheel" by Carrie Underwood or "Jesus walks" by Kanye or "Breakaway" by Kelly that lauches me into working coding mode - seems like i know there's one constant point in my life - which is Christ, yet sometimes i rely so little on it - i was so frustrated yesterday that i called my buddy up - and trust me i was emotional and crazy - he asked me to calm down - go pray - then call - don't just call him next time if i am in the drama king mode - haha - there's quite a bit of truth in that - i know the importance of community and accountability as Christians - yet another important thing - solitude with Christ and going to Him because He's the constant point of our lives is important too - that strikes accord in my heart again.

anyways - all those ramblings - just to make one point -
"spend time with Christ - go to Him in prayer and listen to Him"
that's the point.

peace.
Daniel

Vision

They are free
yet they are slaves
of the hurting and dirty and dying.
What is the vision?
The vision is holiness that hurts the eyes.
It makes children laugh and adults angry.
It gave up the game of minimum integrity long ago to reach for the stars.
It scorns the good and strains for the best.
It is dangerously pure.
Light flickers from every secret motive,every private conversation.
It loves people away from their suicide leaps,their Satan games.
…And this vision will be.
It will come to pass;
it will come easily;it will come soon.
How do I know?
Because this is the longing of creation itself,
the groaning of the Spirit,the very dream of God.
—Pete Greig, excerpted from The Vision