40 Days of Purpose VIII

The first purpose the pleasure of God.

We were made to bring pleasure to the almighty. The first two commandments were reflection of what God required of the Isrealites in worship. Bring pleasure to God has taken the form of worship; not just singing but in living our life out as pleasing to God.

Two thoughts are brought to the surface today: 'Worship is not for my benefit' and 'Worship is my life.' If we were made to bring pleasure to God, how come we seek to take pleasure from worship as well? Worship was not meant for us to "gain anything" but to give everything to God.

Is worship just music? I think that it is not, there are many more ways of "bringing pleasure to God" than just singing. How we live our life should be a worship offering to God. Many songs have been written on this but I think it is summed up nicely by an acquaitance of mine known as MOI.

I come tonight to yeild my right
I give you my life as a gift of offering
like the one that you gave me
It may not make a difference
It may not change a single life
It may not move a single stone
but it pleases you

Is my life that gift of offering that bring pleasure to God? It may have no earthly affect but i want my life to be pleasing to him.

40 Days of Purpose IV

I apologize for missing day III. For some reason things keep getting in the way. I know that is not how I am act during this time, and that I am to place time to read. But what is past is past and now is present.

Yesterday was day 4, Made to last forever.

Two things stuck out in my mind: 1) There is ultimately two choices, heaven or hell. 2) We as finite beings tend to thing short term when all of our descisions have long-term consequences, in fact eternal consequences.

I've known for a while that I was created to live forever. It was actually one of the first things I discovered on my own about Christianity. Unfortunately, it lead me on a path thinking that I was indestructable, immune to different things. Fortunately, it didn't get past my head. Although until recently, I hadn't felt the effects of my early life choices. One choice that has always left a dark cloud over my head was the fact that I never finished my senior year out playing basketball. I always wonder now what would be different if I had finished my Senior year. Would I have played in college? Would I have had a different major? Would I have the discipline that Coach was trying to teach me? I don't know, I can't answer that; but I can learn from my choices and make the right ones now. Although I am placed in a position that I cannot back out of so the only choice is to be disciplined and last through the season.

Until next time, your favorite asian.

40 Days of Purpose II

The second day of 40DOP states that you are an intentional creation. There is a purpose for you to be born. There is/was a purpose for everyone to be born or even concieved. Every part of you was purposed before it was created. RW states that "God is not haphazard." God does not go and make moves without thinking.

I am also reading JI Packer's "Knowing God." The chapter I am on, speaks upon the majesty of God and that he is both personal and majestic. JIP goes on to state that you cannot hide from God because he is always there (psalm 139).

These two ideas fused together and brought me to the fact that this God, awesome in splendor and glory, knows everything going on in my life. How then should I be living in and out of the spotlight of the public? Because I am never out of the spotlight of God.

40 Days of Purpose I

Yesterday, marked the beginning of the 40 DOP at North Hills Baptist Church. For those of you who do not know, it is a campaign that God gave to Rick Warren, pastor of saddleback community. It has affected millions of lives and the book is a #1 bestseller.

As Rick Warren states, the book itself is not a self-help book, but a guide/focus onto what is the true way to find purpose in life, that is to look to God, the one who created you, and plan a purpose for you even before you were concieved.

For the next 40 days I would like to leave 40 blogs of how God is revealing his purpose for me.

What has really struck me, was the truth behind 40DOP not being a self-help book. RW says you can try a numerous amount of things and become successful but that in itself is not fulfilling your purpose. Interestingly enough, you can find your purpose, not by anything of your power except by finding the one who created you. A creation/invention does not know its purpose because it did not create itself, only the creator/inventor can truly tell its purpose. And that purpose for our lives can be found in our "owner's manual": The Bible.

So the question becomes "Why do I not study my owner's manual more so I can find my purpose?"

I am really [four letter word synomymous with mad inserted here]-ed and am trying to be good about it. It concerns my girlfriend and one of her childhood friends, who turns out to be a leach and parasite all rolled into one. you know those people who claim to be Christians and know enough to be "dangerous" to real believers; thats her. She is using the Bible (luke 6: 37) to make my girlfriend feel guilty about what she is doing, and that is cutting her off. Before you jump on that, let me explain that my GF has done everything in her power to reconcile the friendship without giving in to her friend. But everytime, the friend just throws it back in her face.
Fortunately, I have a very smart and wise girlfriend who wont rise to the bait (had to hold her back ^_^). Instead, she's closing all forms of communication between them (at least on the internet). It was really tough for her, but this has been an issue that has been stressing her out. Please pray for her. If you have any other advice, i'm pretty sure it will taken gladly.

till the next post, the Crazy Asian

edited 2/16 10:31

Valentine

Verily, I say that today is a day of expressing one's love
Always taken out of context and misconcieved notions
Lost in spooniness
Every one is affected, like it or not
Take care to remember that its not about the act but
Instead focus upon that which important and remember to observe
National Single Awareness day
Excuse the list, but its the best way to express myself

I thought I might post, since I really haven't felt up to snuff in the update, everythings going well.

was in the dog house for about an hour but I got out, (whoo)

Talk to you later

TGIF

Thank God I'm Free

10. free of this week
09. free of students for two days
08. free of doing grading (because I just finished it)
07. free to let my mind focus on something else
06. free to work on the video for church
05. free to give God glory for all he's done (I've always been that)
04. free of a master who's burden would kill me
03. free to give up my freedom to a master who's burden is light
02. free to make choices that are pleasing to the Master
01. FREE TO LOVE MY MASTER AND OTHERS

What are you free of/for/to?