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Year in Review

This year has been one of change.  From leaving investment banking and moving to Boston, so much has changed both personally and professionally.  The greatest lesson I’ve learned is how to let go of the past.  There’s always going to be “what-ifs” and “if-onlys” but if we dwell on these things and lose sight of the present, we’re only creating more “ifs” for ourselves in the future.  This applies not only to stock market issues but to personal and spiritual matters as well.  Christmas is a season of birth and renewal – a time for a fresh start.  God doesn’t focus on the “what-ifs” when we mess up but gives us a second chance when we don’t deserve one.  Letting go of the past is what I’ve learned this year and I’m thankful for the opportunity to reflect on this during the holiday season.  Thanks to everyone that made 2006 so worthwhile.  From the stories, to the jokes, random trips and just the opportunity to share our lives with each other - it's awesome to know we're not alone on this journey called life.  There’s a greater and brighter future out there for all of us and I relish the opportunity to make haste, and chase after it – no “ifs” allowed.

Charity Event

So I went to a charity dinner for the Boston Children's Hospital a couple of nights ago.  The head of my company bought a $10k table but couldn't attend so us associates got to go and and bring along some friends.  It was fun to see how rich people live.  The dinner was a huge 1,500 people event held at the convention center sponsored by the professional sports team in Boston - I saw the current Celtics players and also Robert Parish and Doc Rivers - they're all very tall, Steve Levy from ESPN was the MC for the evening. 

After dinner, there was a live auction to raise money, pretty cool stuff - batting practice with Red Sox players, dinner and show with Celine Dion in Vegas and get this, Red Sox baseball game in the owners seat with Ben and Jen (that is Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner).  The bidding got ridiculous though and the Ben and Jen package went for $80,000 dollars!  This lady kept bidding while her husband, who was sitting next to her, kept shaking his head, haha.  Overall they raised $4.3 million dollars, the most for a single charity event in Boston.  I'm happy the money will be used for a good cause although I think the people there could have afforded to donate even more.

As party favors, we got sport stuff (hats, shirts etc.) and a gift from TIFFANY'S - it was in a ribboned tiffany's box and bag and everything.  Noticed no one opened their gifts at the event so we didn't open ours until we got into the subway - it was a crystal dish where you can put jewelry, cuff links - pretty cool.  We got funny looks from all the people on the subway though, a bunch of 25yr old guys wearing suits and carrying tiffany's bag at 11pm is kinda weird. 

So that's it - had fun seeing how the rich and famous live and got some cool stuff.  If you ever find a Tiffany's bag in my apartment, remember this Xanga entry and not because I'm about to propose to someone.

it ends tonight

this is going to be a light-hearted post - i've been watching more tv than i should this past week and the all-american rejects song "It Ends Tonight" was literally played during every breakup scene on tv.  smallville, when lana gets together with lex, the camera zooms in on clark and plays the song.  then on laguna, they played it during a bonfire breakup scene, i think even heard it on grey's anatomy and maybe heroes as well.  Well all the airplay got to me and i bought the song from itunes - haha, i never thought i would sucumb to buying music i hear on tv but i gave in.  great marketing strategy.  heroes is a great show btw.

"it ends tonight" music video

i then got nerdy and found the song to one of the saddest love stories growing up...

"it ends tonight" to final fantasy VII clips of Cloud and Aeris 
(don't watch this unless you know what i'm talking about)

haha.

The Best Sermon I've Ever Heard on Pain and Suffering

This 8-minute sermon was delivered at an interfaith service in NYC on the eve of 9/11 last Sunday attended by President and Mrs. Bush, Senators Schumer and Clinton, Governor Pataki, Bloomberg, Giuliani and thousands of survivors and family of those who died during 9/11.

For those of you who have heard Tim Keller preach before, this is another one of his gems.  If not and you are ever in New York on a Sunday morning, you should visit Redeemer and hear him speak.  It's definitely a blessing.

Link to the transcript if you are feeling pensive.
http://kellered.blogspot.com/2006/09/tim-keller-way-to-speak-to-diverse.html

New York Times article:
http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F60F16F73F550C728DDDA00894DE404482

"Why I Like Keller more than Piper" from DJ's website:
http://www.djchuang.com/2006/09/d1369#more-1369

Below is a great summary I found from an online blog with some additional NYT quotes:

* * *

Tim Keller on the Eve of 9/11

Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, preached just about an hour ago at St. Paul's Chapel, right next to Ground Zero in lower Manhattan, at an invitation-only interfaith service attended by President and Mrs. Bush, Senators Schumer and Clinton, Governor Pataki, Mayor Bloomberg, and former Mayor Giuliani - plus thousands of survivors and family of those who died in connection with the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Keller's homily was brief but full of genuine empathy and gospel power.

In the initial aftermath of the attacks, he said, the city was laden with fear and uncertainty. Today, much of that has dissipated, though sorrow and, for many, anger persist. He decided to burrow anew into the difficult question ''Why?''

The question is impossible to answer completely, he said in his brief sermon. But Dr. Keller pointed to a theme that runs throughout Scriptures, that God identifies with those who suffer.

Keller had three potent points. The first related to the problem of evil, that we don't really understand how a good God could allow evil and suffering such as that caused by the terrorists five years ago. He pointed out that evil and suffering affects us all and is a problem for all people of every religion and belief system. Abandoning your belief in God when you come face to face with evil doesn't make the problem go away. It's a problem for people who believe in God, and it's just as much a problem for people who don't believe in God.

His second point concerned a hint from the past.  ''We don't know the reason that God allows evil and suffering to continue,'' he said. ''But we know what the reason isn't. We know what the reason can't be. It can't be that he doesn't love us. It can't be that he doesn't care.''  Whatever the reason may be that God allows suffering, we can be sure that it's not because he's unloving or unconcerned. In fact, God can empathize because he experienced the loss of his own son, Jesus Christ, on the cross.

He concluded with a hint from the future: the hope of resurrection.  He encouraged his listeners that even if they aren't sure that they believe in a resurrection they can cultivate a longing for it because there is hope for those who hope.  He urged those in the audience to yearn, even if it was difficult to fathom or believe, for a future time, when everything would be made right.