bryankyu's Xanga

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 22:52:47 GMT

sometimes we really need to stop rationalizing for ourselves and really take every opportunity to learn how we can do better for Him

all the rationalizing is one big reason why changes never take place and revival never came

song sharing

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:37:53 GMT

Who is There Like You - Stuart Townend

wow... I love this song... they just don't write too many worship songs like this anymore...

or am I just getting old?

so close... so close...

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 19:59:11 GMT

long time no update... well, my mom is having some health issues, that she's been going back and forth to Kaiser Urology and Gynecology departments. the doctors don't seem to be on the same page at all, some thinks she might need surgery, some said no big issues, making my mom very nervous and can't wait for the next appointment. However, because of these, it makes her cling back to God. yesterday she surprisingly told me that she has finished reading the whole Bible. I was like "..... wow.... o....k..." and she is also very close to believing even though she still has a lot of questions (which is better than no questions). I thank God because He's been giving me the wisdom to answer most of those questions truthfully and lovingly. She'll be going back to church with me tomorrow, and I really pray she can keep it up and know Him more and more, and I can continue be a good witness to her..

difference between faith and believe?

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:26:17 GMT

"Faith is believe with legs" -- Pastor Adrian Rogers

I think it's very true. the book of James tells us that faith without work is dead, and book of 1 John also tells us that true faith should automatically accompanied by many good deeds such as loving your brothers and sisters (not from our own effort, but by the fact that God has changed us). I once read a book that tries to describe "faith", it says that if we have faith in somone, we would do what the person says. for example, when my family was trying to buy a house, we had no one to turn to. This sister from our church is very experienced in real estate and really loves the Lord, so during all this house-buying process, we listened and did just about anything she told us because we have "faith" in her. Now, shouldn't God to be even more trustworthy than that sister or anyone else in this world? shouldn't we have faith in Him and His words...? If we choose not to do what He says regularly, what does that say about the faith we say we have...?

In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 01:54:39 GMT

Heard on radio last night, Pastor Adrian Rogers pointed out this last verse from the Book of Judges. He mentioned how eerily similar it is between Israel during the time of Judges and America today. Both nations began as God fearing countries. And then both began to turn away from the One who led them all this time. Pastor Rogers pointed out that most of the Israelites during that time weren't looking to do evil or the wrong thing, they wanted to do the right things. The problem is, being so far apart from God, they no longer could tell what is right and wrong. They could only do what is right in their own eyes. Isn't that what is happening today...? Pastor Rogers said that researches find that even more than 50% of the Evangelical Christians don't believe there is absolute truth today, which is very sad. We want peace, we want crime rate to go down, we wonder why kids are becoming worse at a younger age, but in the mean time, we continue to kick God and the Bible out of our schools, courts, and work places... we want God continue to bless us, but really don't want anything to do with Him.
I was actually weeping a bit as I was driving home last night listening to the sermon. Because just like many, I too, didn't want God to interfere with so many aspects of my life. As Christians, we all say we want to follow God, do His wills, worship Him, but how willing are we to invest our time and effort into His words to know Him more.? If we have little clue on who this God really is, what are His attributes, and what He likes/dislikes, then who are we really serving and worshiping...??

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 14:49:54 GMT

first time in 15 years, I went out to have dinner with brothers and sisters from English congregation last night... It was a cool experience that I wouldn't get to have if some of the bros/sis from my fellowship weren't out of town.

I need to stop whining and learn to wait more to see how God plays out each situation.

Friday, September 12, 2008

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 01:58:45 GMT

just had a big argument with my mom. Had a couple of these lately, and tonight was the big one. I tried to be peaceful about it and tell her what I think, but she still chose to get angry as if I said anything wrong.

I don't know, there has to be a time when she realizes that I am a working adult who is capable of making decisions that she can trust on.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 03:03:25 GMT

"As for you, son of man, your countrymen are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, 'Come and hear the message that has come from the LORD.' My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice. "-- Ezekiels 33:30-32

Saturday, September 06, 2008

Sat, 06 Sep 2008 06:35:28 GMT

funny He always seems to be taking away my crutches. As if He wants me to learn to trust and depend on Him, not focusing too much on the crutches. It's hard, but understanding more and more how He's been working in my life, I'm learning to learn whatever He wants me to learn.

Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 22:28:14 GMT

seems like every other day, I got one of those emails from one of the Christian organizations, telling us that one of those big franchise chains out there didn't listen to the Christian organization's "warning" and did something "unChristian" or "against Christianity", and now the organization wants us Christians to boycott the franchise.

I don't know, but I really have my doubts whether this is the "Christian" way of doing things. Seems to me, we are just taking a page out of other groups, boycotting stuff just so we could get our way. Would Jesus be doing similar things today, or is this just being an example of us "conforming" to the worldly ways...?

IMO, we have to realize what are our top priorities:
1) love God and our neighbors, including our enemies
2) spread the gospel

Does "boycott stores when they did something unChristian" fall into either category...? No, it would strike me as we are more worried about our "Christian rights" rather than hoping God would one day save those people running those franchises.... Seriously, what does sending letters to those managers saying "we are boycotting you because you didn't listen to us by doing this and that" accomplish...? Would it show our love or helping them to get saved....?? No, it would portrait us being no different from those other groups who are just trying to get their ways and worry about their rights! So they finally listen to us because of our boycott, so what...? they are still not saved and are probably even less likely than before!
Instead of writing those letters, can't we just pray for them, and then maybe write letters that tell them the reasons behind why we wish they could have done this and that and use that as a opportunity to show our love and share more about the gospel...?

sometimes, all we need is more communications that base on God's love, not rash action that aimed to protect ourselves.