Lasts of 2008.

Last Thoughts of 2008.

Where did you begin 2008?
"Sigh....graduation year is here."

Stayed single the whole year?
That would be no.

What was your status by Valentine's Day?
Still praying.

Were you in school (anytime this year)?
Finished in July. In Italy.

Did you have to go to the hospital?
Yes; brother broke his leg. haha.

Did you have any encounters with the police?
Yeah, so funny story. I was driving Melody's car to my house one night after a day of fun with some friends, talking about our life stories and childhood insecurities and whatnot, when we decided to park in the parking lot of the park near my house (that sentence had more parks than a Korean wedding). As I continued talking, I noticed three things: a. the car next to us, with the windows fogged up, started to leave b. red and blue lights started flashing in the side and rear mirrors, c. I didn't have my license on me. All these funny little realizations snowballed into one big serious reason to panic.

This followed with an incredibly sincere attempt to convince the officer that: a. this was not what it looked like b. I did actually have a license and my house was right across the creek c. the situation is pretty funny, and no reason to ticket or arrest me.

That then followed with: a. sitting in the back of the police car, giving him my thankGodIremember license number as he put it in his thankGodhehasone electronic database. b. watching Melody put her hands on the front hood as we both laughed at each other c. lighthearted attempts from the both of us to charm the police officer into being nice....successful ones, mind you. :)

Where did you go on vacation?
Arrezzo, Italy. But that's my home now. So really, I'm on vacation in Walnut, California.

What did you purchase that was over $500?
Top 3 cutesy answers in place of a simple "nothing:"
3. Food.
2. Memories with friends.
1. A companion <- less cute more borderline sounding like prostitution.

Did you know anybody who got married?
Nope, missing it by a month!

Did you know anybody who passed away?
Nope.

Did you move anywhere?
Back to the 'nut.

What sporting events did you attend?
Vibe, Maxt Out, Prelude. Dance counts, right?

What concerts/shows did you go to?
I went to watch Wicked.

Describe your birthday.
Golden birthday. Obliviously hung out with Tiffy into the night. Obliviously walked up the stairs to my apartment. Obliviously opened the door to odd noises in the dark. Suprised by friends and a room with fun (embarrassing) facts about me all over the walls, courtesy of Mer and Tiffy.

What's the one thing you thought you would never do (or have to do) but did in 2008?
Stop a pickpocketer. Stop a pickpocketer twice. Stop a pickpocketer three times.

What has/have been your favorite moment(s)?
4. Getting to sit in the auditioner's seat for a change. [MCIA Auditions '08].
3. Walking through New York with my brother. [NY08].
2. Sitting on top of Roman aqueducts on a Sunday morning, in total solace, talking to God aloud. [Arezzo, Italy].
1. The day it became official, and the drawn-out, twist-filled, should've-been-expected, full-of-surprises journey that day to get there. [Aug 14, San Diego].

What's something you learned about yourself?
My overcommitment to many things actually roots itself in - and perpetuates - a newly discovered fear of commitment to one thing.

New additions to your family?
Palbin.

What was your best month?
June, July, August.

What music will you remember 2008 by?
"I'm Yours" - Jason Mraz

Who has been your best drinking buddy?
RJuice. She loves juice even more than me, and she makes excellent smoothies.

Made new friends?
I sure hope so. Make new friends, keep the old; one is silver and the other gold.

Favorite Night(s) out?
World concert in Rondine, Italy. Met a b-boy crew and ended up performing with them that same night.

Any regrets?
Count it all loss for the sake of knowing Christ. Phil 3:8.

Overall, how would you rate this year?
With star stickers, on a chart that starts at 1986.

What would you change about 2008?
Commit more. Commit waaay more.

Other than home, where did you spend most of your time?
On the road. Alseep.

Have any life changes in 2008?
Graduated college, moved back home, left a dance team, joined a dance team, lived abroad, snagged the g-friend. All very life-changing.

Changed your hairstyle?
Trying to equalize. I have the occasional fauxhawk relapse but I'm learning.

Got a new job?
Workin' with the pops.

Did anything embarrassing?
YES. But I say, a funny story is a worthwhile experience.

Bought anything new from eBay?
I thought the point of eBay was to buy something old.

Got married or divorced?
One thing at a time, Mer.

Be honest - did you watch American Idol?
Why wouldn't I be honest?! Loyal since season 4.

Did you get sick this year?
It comes and goes. And I picked up nasal allergies this year.

Started a new hobby?
the blogspot.

Been snowboarding?
3-4 seasons.

Are you happy to see 2008 go?
I'm happy to have had it at all.

Drank Starbucks in 2008?
I don't enjoy coffee, and my sleepiness is extremely powerful. I do like their apple cider and toffee almond cookies though.

Visited a different country?
I'm an Italian in America.

Cooked a gross meal?
Never got complaints.

Tripped over a coffee table?
Scarlet takes a tumble haha.

Dyed your hair?
Gotta hide the blonde...

Went to a party?
I would hope nobody said no to this. If so, let me know and we can work something out for 2009.

Read a great book?
Not intently enough.

Did you drive?
You gotta drive to crash, right?

Did you own a car?
You gotta own one to crash one, right? No, you don't. No, I don't own one.

Been naughty or nice?
Romans 3:23.

What do you want to change in 2009?
I want to lose bad habits.
I want to gain good ones.
I want to read a book a month.
I want to get in shape.
I want to be changed by the Spirit.
I want to get my foot in the door as an actor.
I want to finally access my potential as a dancer.
I want to have a piece in a Mavyn set.
I want to win a freestyle battle.
I want to be more consistent.
I want to be more family oriented.
I want to being late on posting.
I want to grow with her.
I want to have a peace that surpasses all understanding.
I want to be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.

What are you wishing for in 2009?
Increase.

Do you think 2009 will top 2008?
Oh yeah. Definitely.

i have a long history of giving crummy gifts...

December 25, 2008

I'm thankful for the gifts I got last night. The mom furnished me with her annual underwear package, complete with top and bottom thermals distinct only in color from the ones my brother was given. This year she threw in a hat, which I hastily ripped the tag from, only to be immediately relieved by the fact that the name Mervyn's guaranteed it non-returnable.

My brother took pictures, complete with the Canon clunk of that bulky flash. The digital age in all its advances is still easily put to shame by mom's 28-exposure wonder. She has two identical ones, one she bought to replace the other, which she had sworn was stolen by one of her mischievous three children (I'm the youngest) despite our best alibis, only to be found later under the sink. That was her doing, and no, I don't know why.

I chose not to give gifts this year. I told my family right at the beginning of our gift-giving rituals, and showed them the recent video I was inspired by (thanks Joe, Suj) . I mean, I always hear about the needs that need to be met in third-world countries, but I can always find a way to feel like "now isn't the right time" to respond. But how could I say no to now? I feel like a big fat hypocrite for entertaining and regurgitating all that talk of Christmas spirit and giving over receiving when it all ends up being poured into pretty paper and half-hearted thoughtfulness. Plus I have a long history of giving pretty crummy gifts:

Top 3
3. Purple and Gold Fuzzkin; To Patrick Villar, Christmas 2002
2. Pepperidge Farm Sausalito Cookies; To Mom, Christmas 2005
1. Marilyn Monroe CD from Rite-Aid; To Matt Rorabaugh, Secret Santa 2004

This year I just let World Vision decide. I've never given a goat before. But more than anything I resolved to worship this year.

"It started with worship."

My favorite Christmas song has got to be "O Holy Night." It really puts everything into focus. More than the night being silent, peaceful, humble...above all, the night is holy. Above all is who came down. In relation to the universe. In relation to mankind. That night - whether it be December 25th, April 6th, or Maugustber 38th - is the night mankind had hope of once more having a relationship with God the father through the much later sacrifice of Christ the son.

"In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." - John 1:4-5

The Conspiracy: success

Sinner to Sinner: A Christian on Homosexuality

This will be the last post of this series. I set my outline in the very beginning, and now I've followed through with it. It's been long, but read on to know why it's still imporant.

It's difficult to talk about the Bible these days. Statements like "Jesus loves you" or "because the Bible says so" now come with so many negative associations one can call it a good day if he can say these things without being mocked. I titled this as "sinner to sinner," because it's a good reminder that I'm not better than anyone else. I struggle to write this post for fear that my words will be taken as arrogant. Most people I know don't really know the Christian way of life. More often their idea is taken from thirdhand information. But I don't blame them; these days it's rarer and rarer to find someone who preaches the Bible, much less lives their life by it. The time is long past the passing of prop 8, and while prop 8 is still an issue (though a number of opponents joined more because it was a hot topic), this goes much further past it. I told you my personal reasons were biblical, and so I wanted to elaborate on that, as well as dissolve misconceptions about what the Bible actually says about homosexuality.

"The Bible isn’t proven."

This post is not to argue whether or not the Bible is true. If you don't want to believe in it, that's absolutely your freedom. This is for those who want to know - or feel they already know - what the Bible says about homosexuality. If you want to make claims about the Bible, you should know what it says.

“Okay, so what does the Bible say about homosexuality.”

I Corinthians 6:9 & I Timothy 1:10 both mention homosexuality literally in a list of sinful acts. Romans 1:26-27 provides the most commentary on the subject:

"For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error."

There are only a few texts that mention homosexuality, but it only needs to be said once. It may also be argued that the Bible is open to interpretation. Not all verses are of the same clarity, some are harder to understand. I invite you to suggest how this one can be interpreted another way.

"Yeah but homosexuality is a sin like other things are sins. So why do Christians think homosexual people are an abomination?"

Let me define the line here, because often even Christians get this confused. Homosexuality is a sin. Every sin is an abomination to God. So a person in sin is an abomination because of his sin. Any sin. I'm an abomination for my sin.

"What exactly is sin, anyway?"

It should be noted that sin isn’t based on cultural taboos, things that seem kind of mean, health issues, technicalities, dark-colored things, or superstition. Sin is any failure to conform to God’s law. Nothing more, but nothing less. God requires us to be righteous, but the Bible says that there is “none righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10). Everyone has fallen short of perfection, and the punishment for sin is death, which is eternal death in Hell (Romans 3:23, 6:23).

“Why can’t God just pretend it didn’t happen?”

God is holy and righteous, and so He can’t touch sin. What if I gave you a glass of pure water, except I told you there was a drop of pee in it? Likely you wouldn’t want it. Once the pee got into the water, the water ceased to be pure. He can’t touch sin or He is not holy. Also, God is just, and so he must punish sin or else he isn’t a just God. Would you let be okay with a judge letting someone off the hook simply because he sympathized?

"’Okay, so let he who is without sin cast the first stone.’ I mean, what place does a sinner have judging another sinner?""

An excellent and very sobering truth. Nobody is without sin, so no man has any place to judge another as less than anyone else. But what exactly does Christ deem as judging someone? He overturned the tables of moneychangers and rebuked Pharisees for their sin, though taught to love your neighbor. How does this make sense? Well, to tell someone he's sinning is alone not judgment. Christ loved everyone he encountered, down to the lowest of society. He visited the degenerate, the sick, the unclean, the prostitutes; he embraced them with compassion, yet he always told them to go and sin no more. Christ knew how to balance truth and love, not compromising either.

Then to rebuke someone in their sin without judging them as less than you is to compassionately hold them accountable to the Bible. The Bible says that if your brother sins, then you should go and show him his sin. I don’t blame anyone for being confused; the definition of sin and rebuke has blurred to the public. Many Christians – including myself – fail to properly exemplify them at times.

In terms of prop 8, it isn’t so much about pressing the Bible on others. I didn’t vote to force people to know the Bible. But like Christ, while he embraced others, he didn’t excuse sin. I have my moral convictions and that means I can’t support something that I don’t agree with.

"What about those laws in Leviticus like the one that prohibits eating shellfish? Christians can’t just go on picking and choosing."

All the laws in Leviticus are Mosaic Law, part of the old covenant of the Old Testament. When Christ died for our sins, he brought "the new covenant." And "in speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away (Heb 8:13)." Thus the laws in Leviticus are then null and void. You can find this in Hebrews 7-8.

“Well if sinners go to Hell, and Christians are sinners too, then how can they claim they’re going to Heaven?”

First off, not everyone who says they’re going to heaven really is. Christ says in Matthew “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”

The answer lies in the latter part of Romans 6:23, “but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” You see, that’s exactly why Christ came as man, why he died on the cross, and why that means to much to mankind. It was more than him being a good man, sinless, more than him being a perfect example of how to love and serve God the Father. He took on him the punishment for the sins - past, present, and future – of all who would believe in him.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16)

Christ's sacrifice, above all, is the center of the gospel of the Bible. He is the essence of the Christian life. Christ offers you, no matter who you are or what you've done, eternal life in Heaven by repentance. It isn’t about joining a name, a title, or a church. It isn’t about doing good works or trying to be a good person. Ephesians 2:8 says “for by grace are you saved by faith.” It’s by repenting of your sins and having faith in Christ as your Lord and Savior that guarantees someone Heaven. Nothing more, nothing less. As for the rest of the Bible, if you really believe in Christ as your Lord and want to give your life to him, why wouldn’t you follow it?

That's it. I hope this helps you understand where I’m coming from and what the Bible says. As for your question Roger, "What if your son was gay?"

I couldn't say how I would react since I've never been a father, only God knows that for sure. But let me tell you about a man I admire. His name is Jose, and I can say he’s sincerely a man of God. You can find him constantly studying the Bible, preparing messages that are convicting, uncompromising, and undoubtedly passionate. Jose has a son. Though his son grew up in the church, his son's views have become vastly different from Jose's. He and his son have gone from discussion to argument time and time again. One day my friend asked him how his son was doing, and he said his eyes immediately became red with tears. His son don’t see eye to eye, but you couldn’t deny for a second that Jose whole-heartedly loves his son. My heart breaks for Jose because I care about him and his son a lot, but I admire and trust Jose’s resolve to be uncompromising about the Bible. If my son and I ever disagreed like that, I can only hope to follow Jose’s example.

If anything comes from this series, I pray it be that you know who Christ is and the hope that he offers you. Of all days, today and tomorrow you should know why it is these days are celebrated.We despair at our sin, but we rejoice at hope in Christ. Merry Christmas and peace be with you.

Prop 8 - The Musical

Recently came across Prop 8 - The Musical.

The movie makes three statements I'm going to address:
1. Prop 8 is hate because it doesn't support homosexual desires.
2. Christians should obey all the laws in the Bible, including the ones in Leviticus about not eating shellfish.
3. Supporters of Prop 8 are afraid of gay marriage being taught in school.

Chrisitians should support samesex marriage because they're commanded to love?
While love your neighbor is a rule, it's second to the greatest command in the Bible: Love the Lord your God with all your heart. And in obeying that you have to obey all the commands of the Bible. 1 Corinthians 6:9 blatantly calls homosexuality unrighteous.

Well what happens when a person sins? He doesn't obey fully then, does that mean he doesn't love God? Yes and no. Yes, in that if he doesn't obey, then he chooses himself over God. But no in that his whole being isn't negated, his desires to obey are still valid even if in his sin he slips up.

So what then, doesn't God require perfection? Yes, and that's exactly why Christ died. John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that He gave His only son that whosoever believes in Him will have everlasting life." If you repent of your sins, you will be forgiven. But still, you should strive to obey.

So then you have to obey the laws about shellfish and stuff, right? The laws in Leviticus are Mosaic Law, part of the old covenant of the old testament. When Christ died for our sins, he brought "the new covenant." And "in speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away (Heb 8:13)." So no, we don't. You can find this in Hebrews 7-8.

And while those opposed poke fun at the thought of gay marriage being taught in schools, I hope they know that it actually happened. Where are the jokes about the teacher taking her class on an official field trip to her lesbian wedding?

Talking about the Constitution, and discussing what it says, that's how things should run. Instead the movie focuses on trying to manipulate the image of Christianity. If there's truth in the No on 8 campaign, then let it rest on that and not on jokes about Christians.

One more thing: The image of the marquee in the very beginning is actually a picture of my Alma Mater, Walnut High School. I thought that was pretty cool.