Witness Something Great

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

Hebrews 12:1

"The self-absorbed thinking conveyed in the line, "Well, me and Jesus got our own thing goin'," is hardly the defining characteristic of true believers. Being willing to stand alone against error is one thing, but individualism in general is nowhere commended in Scripture. Such thinking flies smack in the face of God's emphasis on building local communities of believers who are universally united in Christ around the true gospel."

-Crosswalk's Alex Crain (christianity.com)

As a kid, secrets were tough to handle. You just wanted to tell someone no matter who it was! It was like the secret itself was too much for my little, innocent boy brain to handle.

What about now? Should we continue to conceal the love of Christ within our own confined walls or do spread the love that is overflowing and never ending? God is not a secret at all; He's the most popular God on earth! The only secret is how God's love has been affecting your life, continuously molding you into a being that is worthy to call God's own as well as the world's witness in Christ.

Amen..! (Gotta wake up in 4 hours.. I'm pooped!)

Never Too Late

I've been having many conversations with people that have just been a real encouragement. Many of these people I would not even think would be having a talk about this topic is here right in front of me (well over the internet at times). The theme within all of these conversations were similar: I think I need God again.

These stories are similar as well. I know what is right, but I continue to do what is wrong. What is wrong has been such a drawing factor in their lives that this is what they believed was worth living for. Life has been so lively and fulfilling in terms of social life and social acceptance from other people that there is no longer a need for the love of an omnipotent God. The God that we once knew that pushed to the recesses of the mind and forgotten. God, in reality, who everyone needs in their lives, was just something else.

What we fail to realize, and I included need to hold this simple fact into my heart, that God actually waits for you. The common phrase goes, "Love waits for no one" is not entirely true; it does not apply to our Heavenly Father. Our God will wait for us, the prodigal sons and daughters, time and time again as we fall away. As we run away and decide that other things in our lives are of more important worth at the moment, I find it to be quite interesting that we always go back to God in the end.

Why to God? Why not to the things that we loved so much? I'm sure i don't have to articulate such a point because I am sure you have all felt it before and its not a good feeling.

In the end, it is never too late to go back to God. Take a sharpie and underline "never" on your computer screen.

Amen!

Compromise

There are just some people you don't get along with right? With all the conflicting personalities and interests, there is no way that I can get along with that person. Roommates begin as friends will end up hating each other; friends, who you thought you were cool with, begin to talk behind your back. There is a countless number possibilities of what one person can do to hurt another. I've been hearing so many roommate stories that its starting to get old. It is not that I don't care about the lack of compromise, but because I am sad that there is a lack of consideration and realization of Luke 10:27.

"He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

I am a hypocrite for writing this blog because I have [a] unsettled relationship[s]. Luke points it out very clearly to love the Lord AND your neighbor. Not one or the other; I believe that God would want his followers to obey His commands to love others as yourself rather than to hate others and just love Him only. I love God and this is why I will always attempt to love other people regardless of the situation. The basis of my love for you is because of who you are. The continuance and forgiveness of my love for you is because God tells me to never stop loving you when things go wrong. To forgive, let go, and to continue on encouraging one another in light of His's promises.

I believe that there is no such thing as no compromise. Although this is easier said than done, let God's will be done in that His love, in us and through us, shall endure forever.

Amen.

Messenger

I couldn't find a specific verse, but I just wanted to write. I shared a passage on Wednesday for Cornerstone's weekly prayer meetings. The message was about sinful habits based off of Hebrews 10:26. This passage was on my heart for the past week and I really wanted to share it with Cornerstone. Throughout the first two songs, I kept my eyes on the door hoping more people would come. As I finished up and dismissed everyone to go out and pray, that is when everyone started to walk through the door. As I was about to pray, a friend of mine saw me punching the wall and gave me a weird look. I sighed with disappointment and spoke with God for the alloted time.

I don't want to sound like all is well between me and God, but I wanted to share something that deeply convicted me; something that was also definitely applicable to Cornerstone. Despite the fact that I missed a few of my main points and my presentation was bleh, I was angry that there were so many late comers.

As we were about to close, my friend sat next to me and told me, "The people who needed to hear that message definitely missed out tonight. Don't be so hard on yourself. You are only God's messenger. Just let God and the Holy Spirit work their way into their hearts."

And that was it. I am just a messenger that relied a little too much on myself that day. I hope I realize that and really pray that I will continue to seek the Lord for assistance. I also pray that this messengers will get other opportunities to be a light for my Savior.

Amen..!

Pearly Whites

"He must increase, but I must decrease."

John 3:30

"How do you stay so happy all the time?"

I had to laugh a little when I was asked this. It is usually interesting how a non-Christian or a new believer views me. They tell me about life and complains about its hardship, yet they look at me. Am I an idiot? Has the world pushed me so far that I don't care anymore?

No!

When I was a young Christian, I had a group of guys that I always hung out with. I have to say that these guys were something else! They were funny, never uttered a single curse word, happy, optimistic, and just gung ho about everything. I thought that they were just a bunch of those closet angry people or something is missing in their heads, but no, something was definitely up.

.. and that was the love of Christ. As I was trying to comfort a friend, I explained, "I believe because I have seen; I have seen enough to know.. that God exists. I worship Him because He gave everything; gave and gave until He died. Likewise, I am trying to do the same because I know of this true Love. I am cheerful because I have the greatest Love in the world in my life!"

The response I got was something along the lines of, "Haha I should talk to you more often!"

Happiness isn't hard to come by. As a matter of fact, its usually right under your nose :)

Amen.

Prayer

For tonight's Cornerstone Large Group discussion, we talked about prayer. Prayer in the context of a sure "thing" that we have in our lives. Many of the responses that I got from my group was similar to things I have heard in the past before; this applies to me as well.

Our Prayers: selfish, only when we want something, only when we are happy, only when we
have time, easily forget to pray throughout our lives, non-existent prayer life.

It's time to stop fooling ourselves. When we say that God has been distant in our lives, who do you think is the one moving away? It sure as heck is not God that is running away from us.

Our lives revolve around so many things that it just pushes God to the back of our minds. We forget; but when we do remember, we are too busy and caught up with life to bring Him back.

I put it in this context: If you really cared for someone, what would be the one thing that you want them to have in their lives? God.

With God in your life, everything is bright and you should be able to taste the victory. Pray to your Lord and Savior because He is the most important thing in our lives; not because of what He does, but because of who He is.

Amen

Humble Hearts

For this is what the high and lofty One says--he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite."

Isaiah 57:15

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

James 4:10

God humbled me in terms of my abilities and what I can handle. I've heard stories from Purdue Alumni and how Cornerstone was run back in the past and I have to say, "WHOA!"

Having my heart and mind set, I thought that I had everything ready to be a small group leader. I was acting all high and mighty knowing that I had a direct influence on these people; I could actually save a life?? That gave me balls of steel.

But God gave me a wake up call. These abilities, emotions, wisdom, the knowledge, the leadership qualities, the laughter, the love was not of my own. I have been given provisions all my life and I've realized that I have not been giving enough credit to the One who gave it all. To humble myself to the One who is up in Heaven, knowing that this opportunity was given to me because of love for me.

Yes. A man who had everything came down to Earth to die for nothing worthwhile, but to choose to reside in this humbled heart of mine. Here I stand in humbleness and I am glad.

Amen.

And Naturally . . .

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:33

"O you of little faith?" Yep thats me. Holding a leadership position in Cornerstone, been walking with the Lord for so long, yet. . .

Like a pagan, I run towards things that I want. Oh man there are just somethings that I want with all my heart. I cannot disclose them for you, but considering the world, I long to conform. I considered God's provisions for me and for my future, but I am still wavering.

On my drive back to Woodfield today waiting on traffic, I prayed a loud prayer. "God that you would just continually change me from the inside out; so that I will seek you with all my heart. Things of this earth will not please me or love me like you do. Oh Lord, with all my brokenness, I come to you and lay my transgressions at your feet. God, I am an idiot."

Amen.

Profit and Salvation

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ...

Philippians 3:7-8

As a business major, the only word that sparks in my mind and everyone else around me is profit. A positive return on investments will make the world go around.

We look at the life of Jesus Christ. He came down from Heaven from the right hand side of God and made himself nothing. Nothing was to be gained in a worthwhile sense that would benefit God in anyway. Yet Christ died on the Cross to save all of our lives.

Now in the business world, Jesus would get fired for sure.

When I was a wee little Freshman, I was asked by my leader Tim Chou if I was interested in leading for Cornerstone during my Sophomore year. The opportunity seeker that I am, accepted immediately. At that point, all I wanted was the status that could be put on paper, you know, like my Resume. But by the grace of God, I soon realized that the reasons that I was serving were all wrong. My entire Sophomore year resulted in my own spiritual growth rather than me attempting to lead others to Christ.

And what a ride it has been! God has been so good to me through the people that He has allowed into my life and the things that He has shown me. There are ups and downs and downs and downs, but I will praise my Father in Heaven nonetheless.

I will probably take another perspective on this verse tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Amen.

Heart Failure

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 73:26

I am weak at heart. Scary movies, live performances, skits, singing in front of a crowd, COM 114 speeches, calling people up, you name it, I can't do it. I get the butterflies almost instantaneously as if I was actually a mutant butterfly man myself.

Just recently, an aura of dread and hopelessness has come upon me. It was very hard to see the light of things. I prayed for comfort and wisdom, but God did not deliver.

He did not deliver the one thing I wanted, but gave me something else instead: His Love.

I've recently realized how much I cannot do without depending on the Lord. My God, provider, portion, and redeemer. The Love that is the only one worthy to be considered true love.

So listen.



Through Him leading me through, I can lead Bible studies, I can pray in front of an entire church, I can share my testimony shamelessly, I can dance and sing, I can act a fool.. and a fool for God I can be!

Lord take this brokenness and piece it back together so that I can become more for you again.

Amen.

Scary

My Fear is this verse:

"... But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'"

Luke 13:25

This verse is from a passage titled "The Narrow Door" in Luke 13:22-30.

Many believe that they are saved. In America, numbers of people professing as Christians reach up to 80-90% yet how many of us really know Christ. Facebook profiles tell me that you're a Christian, but I do not see any fruits growing on your branches. Why this passage scares me so much is because "many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to".

This narrow path is Jesus Christ. We must realize that association with Christ will not bring us salvation, but identification with Him. Eating and drinking is not enough to maintain a solid foundational relationship with someone. We have to do more than that.

Relationships can never be one sided for it to work. This passage may infer that we need to do deeds/work in order to receive salvation, but is this not true? We need to run after God just as He sent His Son down to us.

Hearing "... But he will answer, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'" sends a chill down my soul. Let us repent and trust in the Lord.

Amen.

Repentance is First

This is what the Sovereign Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, says "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it."

Isaiah 30:15

Living according to this verse goes against all human nature. We live to run and succeed. Society elects only those worthy of status and ability. And that is why the second part of this verse say, "but you would have none of it." We are innately fixed on solving problems by ourselves. You should look to no one because that is only a sign of weakness, which disproves your own ability.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

Matthew 11:28-29

God wants us to rest in Him, not to be burdened over and over again with sin. Our salvation is not borne from a list of good deeds, but from out dependence on Him. With that we need to repent; to free ourselves from the burdens of this world, which drags us away from our Savior.

This week tore me apart. Exams, studying, misc. I was stressing out to the max. But I need to learn to take up the yoke that will give me rest, not the heavy yoke that I think I can carry by myself. The Lord calls us to rest on his gentle and humble yoke. And to do this, we need to repent.

When we repent, we are in agreement with God. And there is nothing else but rest when we are in unity with our Lord.

Amen.

Screw Stress Balls

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Romans 12:2

God is my stress reliever.

The part of the verse that applies most to me is the transforming and renewing of the mind. I fantasize a lot. As I told Richard while we were studying at the humanities library at Purdue, I daydreamed for a good 5 minutes while I was suppose to be studying.

I find it hard to keep my mind off of somethings. Starcraft, Facebook, you name it. These distractions only hinder me from knowing and being with my God. I've realized that all I really wanted was to love these things, but never allow them to surpass God's #1 slot in my head.

Every little thing is ticking me off this week. But I don't need anger management. I need God.

"I pray for transformation and renewal of my mind. Liberate me from what is currently clouding my judgement. Would you be the light for my path again as I attempt to walk with you again? Save me from my transgressions and quell my anger. For what I am now is not pleasing to you."

God is good, all the [explict] time.

Amen.

Home is Where the Heart is

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.

Ephesians 3:14-15

When I think about home, I always think about my home in Chicago. I tell people, "I will never call West Lafayette my home!" in all fun and foolishness. Purdue is where I go to school, not where I live.

My definition of home, in this case, was a point where my mother and father were, where my two sisters lived, along with all my cousins, aunts, and uncles.

I've come to learn that there can be more than one place called home. At Purdue, I've made so many friends and they've practically become family. We share stories with each other, give advice, and be there for one another when times are rough. We give each other Godly advice as well and share with each other the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

I am glad.

Because I have a family in Chicago and a family in West Lafayette. This I consider my earthly family.

Although my earthly family is not strong or stable. We fight at times and curse each other out. I am encouraged to know that my heavenly family is one with the Lord. Our heavenly family, with God taking care of us, will be so perfect that we will not realize the pain and bickering that we have caused each other here on earth, only to realize God's sovereignty and majesty.

"Home is where the heart is" My heart is with Jesus. Which means that my home is as well. I love my families everywhere and I pray that they will know Christ in any point of their lives, but I find much comfort in the greatest family of all in the body of Christ.

Amen.

What is Worship?

Music is just music, just as this song is. But if we take time to sit down and listen through all the beats and melodies of the instruments, we can hear the Holy Spirit speaking to us through these artists.

So let these lyrics pierce your heart as it did mine. As God washed away my blindness and broke through my deafness, He called to me time and time again hoping to catch me once more. Father, you've shattered my darkness.

The word "Again" in the chorus implies that there was more than one instance that we were alive. Being sinners, we have nowhere and no one to turn to except our Savior. By doing so we are saved and the gap is bridged from us to God. But because Satan is always trying to lure us back into Hell with him, we trip and we stumble.

Matt Maher's "Alive Again" helps portray the mercy that is of God. Whether we walk or fall, God is always trying to win us back. We die again and again, but because of God, we are Alive Again.

Amen!

Psalm 42:5,11

Because they're the same verse.

Here we go.

Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.

In this Psalm, the author repeats these lines twice. A repetition that I believe that comes from deep within the soul of this man. He asks himself why. Why am I so sad when I know of God? Why am I so disturbed when I know of my Savior?

The Psalmist knows, but cannot trust in the Lord.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?" - Matthew 6:25

This is me. I worry about the future and what God has in store for me. What? This is a oxymoron. I worry about what God has in store for me? This is truth; yet I cannot help it.

I will continue to pray for understanding for I know my God is a God whose hope does not disappoint.

Amen.

Faith That Waits

And the Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken. For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. Genesis 21:1-2

Yeah God. You allowed a 100 year old woman to have a baby.

When we take a look at Abraham and Sarah and their son Issac, we can take into account of God's faithfulness. It was all going to happen, we just have no clue when.

I can't say that I am not anxious when I am waiting on the Lord's promises in my life. As a matter of fact, I cannot wait until I see what the Lord has in store for me!

"What will I do after college?" "Who will I fall in love with and marry?" "Kids?" "Church?" "Ministry?" "FUTURE????"

I really want to know now and thats that. But what about God's timing in my life? Since my timing itself is terrible (absolutely terrible), I need God to continuously work in me. With that, I need to learn to become patient and accept God's way of doing things. For it is written, Romans 5:5 . . .

"And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."

I don't know what will happen next, but let your will be done in everything that I am!

Amen!

Small Groups Formed

What can I say, but to continually to encourage and cheer my fellow Cornerstone stewardship team on for the hard work thus far.

Joseph, Rachel, Dave, Chris, Alice, Chris, Gloria, Bryan, Sharon, and Esther.

Let's keep each other in prayer!

Every time we talk about small groups, I get pissed off. There is always an objectification of the members. "Love your small group!" and "Lets love these people!". There is a definite implication that we as leaders are to love these members just because they are a part of our small group.

Relationships go deeper than that. Especially since we are trying to model after the relationship that we have with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are to love them because they are our fellow brothers and sisters and they understand the meaning of True Love, not because it is an obligation.

Although it may seem easy to say now, relationships are hard to maintain especially if you fear the incompatibility between two persons. Just maintain a Christ like mindset no matter what. God sent Christ down knowing that the earth was full of weirdos (aka sinners eh eh). With that said, anything is possible with the Holy Spirit as our guide. Pray for your brothers and sisters who will have the pleasure of sharing their experiences/life/goals/walk with you in a small group environment!

Amen!

In Athens

Acts 17:16-23

I missed basically the entire sermon this Sunday due to some bad Chapaghetti I had Saturday night. I ended up taking my bible and reading this passage in the stall. This just means the Word can be read anywhere.

This passage depicts the mission of Paul in Athens. As he roams throughout the streets, he faces many faces of worship. The Athenians do not settle for just one idol, but many. As Paul preaches the good news and Jesus of the resurrection, all found him odd and confusing.

What? So we love Jesus. Looking at us from hindsight, you would have to agree: Christians are weird. Why do they act this way? It would be weird, if other people didn't think that we were weird!

Do not be ashamed. Speak and act the truth that is of verses Acts 17:24-31 and proclaim the Word of God as our life.

How refreshing to know You don't need us.

How amazing to find that You want us.

Amen!

I Finally Found the Reason for Living...

Its been a while since I've written here. The time between might not be written down, but it has definitely been memorable. The summer offered a countless number of blessings where God revealed Himself through the work of others. I was so humbled to the point where I threw myself at the mercy of the Lord. The love that pours out from the Cross and anoints my empty cup with overflowing love. What more can I say? I've never been so content!

During the summer, I did not get the job nor any other selfish things that I so longed for , but God provided me with so much more.

And 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 5:5