My Favorite Christmas Song.

It's "O Holy Night," hands down. The ambiance is peaceful, the melody is dynamic, and aside from all the nostalgia the lyrics are incredibly dense with meaning. Here's one stanza that stuck out to me in particular, and how it explains exactly what Christmas is all about:

"A thrill of hope"
We tend to think of hope as wishful thinking, as in "I don't know for sure, but I hope." But the hope mentioned in this song isn't wishful, it's actually a confident anticipation of what we know will surely come to pass. You see, in the past, God revealed Himself through clouds, fires, plagues, floods, miracles, and disasters that all spoke of a distant and powerful God. But not this time. This time it wasn't a split in the sea, a fire in the sky, or a quake in the earth; not an untouchable burning bush, but a small, vulnerable child, needing to be held.

"and they will call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us)."

Unlike before, God isn't just presiding above. He isn't a far away ruler, God is with us. The thrill is that heightened excitement you get on a rollercoaster when your heart jumps to your throat. In a single new indescribable instance, God is with us, and we're thrilled with hope. Why?

"The weary world rejoices"
In the past, men tried arduously to build their way to heaven. This is not foreign to us, we still do it today with religion and good works. Ultimately every man will try to build his way to that elusive heaven. The world is full of weary people, tired hands piling up an endless amount of good deeds in search of peace for their soul. The Bible is distinct from religion -- not once does it ever say that being a good person will get you into Heaven. Yep, not once. Quite the opposite, all it took was one sin for Adam and Eve to be banished from the garden of Eden forever. It's no wonder the world is weary. But now, on this night, the world is rejuvenated. Because of this single solitary life, the world is rejoicing. Why?

"For yonder breaks"
Out in the distance, a tiny sparkle of light. Now breaking over the horizon, a faded, foggy glow. This is the Christian hope. This is the confident anticipation in what we know will surely come, because we see it -- because we see him. Our eyes turn to gaze over yonder. Why?

"A new and glorious morn"
Because this night is just the beginning.

"She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

We know Jesus won't stay a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. He will grow up to become a person that every history book would affirm as unlike anyone else ever known. And he will live, to one day die on a cross for the sins of men, where that aforementioned glorious morn will finally break into day and God's love will be fully revealed. Why?

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him, should not perish but have everlasting life."

Salvation isn't about your good works, it's about the work that was done for you on the cross. This is the thrill of hope, the rejoice of the weary world, and the glory of the yonder breaking morn. This is Christmas, and Christmas is unequivocally Jesus.

Pt. 4: Check Your Answers.

You ever have one of those moments where you give a really good comeback, only to have your moment of victory ruined because you forgot to proofread?

Interesting how a little flaw can ruin a statement. But sometimes the flaw isn't just some surface-level grammatical snafu. Sometimes it's something much deeper.

We love those profound one-liners. Short, sweet, and stimulating. Phrases like “It’s about the journey, not the destination” or “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” We find them all over the place: books, commercials, classroom posters, bumper stickers, profile pages, mini-blogs and status updates. When it comes to structuring our argument for truth, our beliefs about life, we often include these popular quotes and adages in our building. But in perusing these thoughtful sayings you should keep an eye out for “the suicide tactic.”

Commonly known as self-refuting views, these ideas defeat themselves -- or commit suicide. Take the following for example: “All English sentences are false.” The statement is about all English sentences, including itself. This is a suicide statement because in order for it to be true, it has to be false. Here’s a few more:

I never, never repeat a word. Never.
This page intentionally left blank.
Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.

Some say that all truth is relative. "Everybody is right in their own way." But if that’s true, then isn’t that statement itself relative? What if I don’t think that everyone is right, what if I think only a few people are right and everyone else is wrong…am I wrong for thinking that? If yes, then it’s not true that everyone is right in his own way. If no, then it’s not true that everyone is right in their own way. When statements fail to meet their own criteria of validity, they are self-refuting:

There is no truth. (Is that true?)
You can’t know anything for sure. (Are you sure?)
Nothing is at it seems. (Is that as it seems?)
No one can know the truth about religion. (Is that a truth about religion?)

You might wonder why anyone would believe self-refuting ideas. Very few people knowingly affirm contradictions, but when contradictions are implicit, embedded in the larger idea, they are harder to see. This is why people are taken in by them. Everyone is at risk for believing in false ideas, therefore everyone should take the same caution. The same way we review our writing for mistakes, we need to employ the same scrutiny in reviewing our thinking for mistakes.

As you continue to build your view of the world, be sure to check your answers.

This is part 4 of the "Do Your Homework" series

Pt. 3: Show Your Work.

I wonder what the two other pigs were thinking. I mean, they all had to have gone shopping together, right? It’s not every day you find three young, virile, independent male swine deciding to build their own houses, let alone on the same land at the same time. That said, there had to be dialogue amongst them discussing what material to use. How did they decide?

"My parents use sticks, so that means I use sticks" the first could have sternly reasoned. "It's how I was raised; It's part of who I am.” Perhaps the second assumed all materials are basically the same. “No material is better than the other…it’s all about what’s right for you.”

They heard the third pig’s warnings, but for some reason didn’t budge. Maybe one of them was comfortable with his materials, and saw no reason to change. Perhaps the other actually found reason in the third’s admonitions, but felt uncomfortable with change, saying “it's just really hard to use bricks when you haven’t grown up that way.” In any case, the time came when the quality of their building was put to the test. This all three pigs had in common.

An argument for truth is a specific kind of thing. Everyone has one. Think of an argument like a simple house, a roof supported by walls. The roof is the conclusion, and the walls are the supporting ideas. By testing the walls, we see if they are strong enough to keep the roof from tumbling down.

You may have recognized the utterances above. Many times these are the kinds of responses people give when asked about why they believe what they believe. They don't see the need to test the walls. Most often beneath their passive attitude is the conclusion that all truth is relative -- whatever works for you is right. These are the most unsafe houses to live in. Support for these conclusions is scarce at best (I'll elaborate more on this in the next post).

It seems silly to us that they didn't choose stronger material, doesn't it? They didn't take time to support their houses, and in the end met the consequences for that. It's important to question, doubt, and test the strength of your beliefs, because there are some things in life that don’t cater to your preferences and opinions. Rather than hoping reality will bend to your argument, it’s up to you to make an argument that holds up to reality. Otherwise, when reality hits hardest, it won’t hold up at all.

This is part 3 of the "Do Your Homework" series.

Pt 2: Critical Thinking.

They say there are two things you’re never supposed to talk about at the dinner table. I’m only going to mention one (hopefully you’re not eating). I sympathize with the hesitation many have with confronting tough questions about their thoughts on life. There is a lot of sensitivity to these situations, and unfortunately some people disregard the “handle with care” sticker and just throw it around like a mud pie. Pesky trolls have been no help, either. It’s no surprise then why more and more people are turned off to this stuff altogether.

For some, they feel such conversation leads to nothing but mindless yelling (which it often does). Others are intimidated by the idea because they haven't done much study and fear getting trampled by dense textbook jargon and highfalutin rebuttals. Some think it’s futile because they figure nobody is right, while others think it’s unnecessary because they figure everyone is right. Some aren’t touchy about it…they just don’t care. Here sensitivity isn’t the case, its apathy. "Just live your life."

Do you relate to any of these? No matter which ones you subscribe to, the verdict is usually the same:

"Just let people believe what they believe."

I’m relieved to know that there isn’t a single person who consistently holds true to this creed. A society where people never argue anything would be a world in which you couldn’t distinguish between truth and error. You would not be able to tell food from poison or friend from foe. You could not tell good from bad, right from wrong, healthy from unhealthy, or safe from unsafe. A scary reality that would be.

Have you ever seen someone you care about make a stupid decision? Do you throw up your hands and say “just let people believe what they believe,” or do you try to reason with them? Has a friend ever talked you out of a bad decision? Would you have preferred they didn't, and "just let you life your life?"

The ability to argue well is vital for clear thinking. Arguing is a virtue because it helps us determine what is true and discard what is false.

Some are happy to speak their mind, and spread awareness of their conclusions about life with boldness, but are still turned off to the idea of hearing other views or even defending their own. The issue here is something else: insecurity. To those who are healthy in talking but malnourished in listening, I offer this challenge: Truth is that which conforms to reality. And if it’s reality, then there’s no reason to be afraid, because it will ultimately speak for itself. Not wanting to talk about it, then, might be due to a bad feeling that the beliefs in possession are quite possibly wrong ones.

Indeed arguing is often hard to understand, intimidating, mishandled, futile, and injurious to relationships. But other times, arguing is beautiful, respectful, and inspiring. And those times, it’s just what we need to hear.

This is part 2 of the "Do Your Homework" series.

Pt. 1: True or False?

#1 Butter pecan is the single best-tasting flavor of ice cream known to man.

#2 Insulin is used to help control diabetes.

The first statement, of course, is false – cookies ‘n’ cream is the best, after all. Okay, okay, best for me. It’s really just a matter of personal preference. But the same couldn’t be said about insulin. What if I told my doctor that I didn’t care much for insulin, so I’m going to use butter pecan instead? Well I’d pretty soon die. Cookies ‘n’ Cream might work better, but still not good enough. There’s no preference in controlling your diabetes; you need insulin. period. I just expressed the nature of two types of truth:

Subjective truth - what’s right for me, but maybe not for you.
Objective truth - what’s right for everyone. period.

Pop Quiz: Ice Cream or Insulin?

1. That shirt is ugly: Ice Cream
2. That shirt is cotton: Insulin
3. R. Kelly can sing: Ice Cream
4. R. Kelly can fly: Insulin (meaning there's only one answer)
5. God is dog backwards: Insulin
6. God exists: ______

The last question is not so easy to answer. Many today might say ice cream -- it’s just a matter of what you believe. But consider this: If I believe God exists, then God created the world. If I believe in the Big Bang theory, then God didn’t create the world. We are certainly allowed to differ on what we believe, but only one of us can be right…because we both live in the same world. And either He created it, or he didn’t. Reality doesn’t alter to conform to the truth we create. Instead, truth is that which conforms to reality. R. Kelly may very well believe he can fly, but what happens when he jumps off the Eiffel tower?

“Americans think of God, religion, and morals like ice cream and not like insulin. They choose religious views according to tastes, according to what they prefer rather than according to what's true." - Greg Koukl, Stand to Reason

Sad to say even many Christians have come to believe religion is something that’s subjective – what’s true for you. This is not what the Bible talks about (and for good reason; if God depended on what I believed to be true…is He still God?). The Bible, like many things in life, is objective truth. So either it’s wrong, and is one royally unparalleled waste of time & money -- or it’s right, and is the inerrant, true word of God that demands we submit to an all-powerful Creator and be changed by the death & resurrection of His son Jesus Christ.

This is part 1 of the "Do Your Homework" series.

¡Vamos!

Chat Log #2

[15:05] Julianthecoolian: telekinesis
[15:05] Julianthecoolian: for suuure
[15:07] mikefr0mtheBAY: teleportation is verry appealing to me right now
[15:07] mikefr0mtheBAY: zero travel time
[15:07] mikefr0mtheBAY: *snap* im there
[15:07] Julianthecoolian: yeah but think about the consequences
[15:08] Julianthecoolian: what happened after you got a car
[15:09] Julianthecoolian: people started asking you for rides, and your parents started making you run errands
[15:09] Julianthecoolian: can you imagine being the only one in the world with a car?
[15:10] mikefr0mtheBAY: oh hey julian. u got telekinesis. help me move stuff
[15:10] mikefr0mtheBAY: yeahhhh
[15:10] Julianthecoolian: hahaha
[15:10] Julianthecoolian: touche
[15:16] Julianthecoolian: brb
[15:16] mikefr0mtheBAY: you'd be back faster if you had teleportation

[16:19] Julianthecoolian: you still there?
[16:20] mikefr0mtheBAY: yep
[16:20] mikefr0mtheBAY: im at work
[16:20] Julianthecoolian: me too
[16:20] Julianthecoolian: hahaha
[16:24] Julianthecoolian: if someone asks me to help them move
[16:24] Julianthecoolian: i can say "sorry, i'm not available"
[16:25] Julianthecoolian: if someone asks you to take them somewhere
[16:25] Julianthecoolian: what are you gonna say?
[16:25] Julianthecoolian: sorry i don't have 30 seconds to take you somewhere

[16:31] mikefr0mtheBAY: OK new scenario
[16:31] mikefr0mtheBAY: you have a time machine
[16:32] mikefr0mtheBAY: but u can only travel to a point in time and u cannot return
[16:32] mikefr0mtheBAY: do u go to the past or the future?
[16:32] Julianthecoolian: hmm
[16:32] Julianthecoolian: the past
[16:32] Julianthecoolian: that way you don't miss anything
[16:33] mikefr0mtheBAY: lol. make billions on gambling and sports cuz u know the outcome?
[16:33] mikefr0mtheBAY: "invent" stuff?
[16:33] Julianthecoolian: bingo
[16:33] Julianthecoolian: i'll invent bingo
[16:34] Julianthecoolian: befriend celebrities before they make it big
[16:34] Julianthecoolian: skip buying the gamebody advance because you know the sp is gonna come out like a month later
[16:34] mikefr0mtheBAY: lol
[16:35] Julianthecoolian: that's something i wish i saw coming

http://superuseless.blogspot.com/

"I have slight OCD"

You’ve heard the phrase. Heck, you’ve probably said it.

OCD, right? So first you got Obsessive, noting an overwhelming passion; then Compulsive, characterized by an irresistible urge; and last, and most important, Disorder. Now people can very well have bad habits and idiosyncrasies, but for something to actually cross the threshold into disorder, you have to pretty much have a complete loss of control.

So how can any of this be slight? You wouldn't say “I have a slight disorder” and really mean it. That would be slightly ridiculous. Of course you don’t mean it, lest you actually make light of a mental condition complete with assorted damages. It’s just a saying. But why say it? Well, isn't it much more fascinating to say that "I absolutely have to have the hangers all facing the same way" than to just utter "I like having my hangers face the same way?" Calling it "slight OCD" makes you quirky without the drag of having to confess a real problem -- and really, it makes you just a bit more interesting, doesn’t it? I’ll elaborate more in a bit (stick around).

“I have slight ADD” encounters a similar problem.

You mean you just have a hard time paying attention? Okay, you’re human, we’ve established that much. More specifically, you’re a young, able-bodied person of moderate affluence living in what others have termed as the most selfish generation of all time. That much would make anyone struggle at having to pay attention to others. But tell you what: If Angelina Jolie comes up to you and tells you she has something really important to tell you so listen up, and you still manage to instead stare at the crow trying to snag an old taco from the trash can behind her, you got me. Otherwise, perhaps you can just work harder to pay attention to others.

I’m certainly not trying to deny anyone the right to claim a disorder, but what I want to make real is the danger that our pride can be. We are, by nature, self-centered people, and while we have the power in our character to fight it, sometimes it just feels good to be comfortable in our pride (especially when we know we can get away with it). For those of you who are comfortable, I can't offer anything. But to those who value humility, and strive for it, know it takes a keen and scrupulous eye to see through excuses for the problems of the heart.

"He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way."

- Psalm 25:9

No post today. Blame it on the boogie.

Michael Jackson (August 29, 1958–June 25, 2009)

"But that’s just who I am.”

The extent to which this conversation-ender is used relies heavily on what defines a person. That is, in order to verify if it is indeed a reasonable response, we need to figure out what it is that makes him “who he is.” Take for example the following dialogue:

“Jeremy, why didn’t you take out the trash like I told you to?

“Well…I just felt like being lazy.”

“Well, stop being lazy!”

“But that’s just who I am!”

Jeremy might further defend his case by saying “well, I can’t force myself to want to take out the trash.” There's truth to this -- if he doesn't want to, then he doesn't want to. But is this still reason for him to indulge in his laziness? Here’s where things get tricky: If Jeremy believes that a man is defined by what he feels, then his reasoning is sound. So when he's faced with the temptation to be lazy, he has no choice but to comply because that's the identity that nature has chosen for him. However if Jeremy believes that a man is defined by his actions, then his reasoning doesn’t hold up. The desire to be lazy is undoubtedly part of his nature, but he still has the power to make his own decisions despite what his feelings tell him. Yes, he may not be able to say "Heart, I command you to want to take out the trash!" but he is still able to say "Body, I command you to get up and take out the trash despite what Heart is telling you." Here we see that while above the body is the heart, above the heart still is the mind.

Even as temptations grow stronger, this truth abounds (we see this in former drug addicts and recovering alcoholics). The key is learning to define the line between temptation and action, because it's in that blurring of the line that misnomers occur about who we are. If it's true that we can accomplish what we put our minds to, then consequently we need to grab control of our identity; put away this "but that's just who I am" talk and take responsibility for our actions.

"Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

I will not be defined by my temptations.

O.L.J < P.T.L - A Sequel

Last week's writings were met with plenty of gracious response, chiefly in creation of the PTL blog. But as the phrase popularizes, it's important the definition remains intact.

Let's start with what it doesn't mean: the implication of the title is that PTL is not to be tagged as just another lifeless "religious" expression, nor is it a facetious parody of itself a la "Oh Lawdy Jesus-suh!" (O.L.J), to be more of a joke than act of worship. PTL is also not to be confused with "just thinking positive." Don't be mistaken -- PTL is very much about praising the Lord.

"Okay...so what does it mean to praise the Lord?"

#1: God is sovereign. He's in control over all things. I offer this as a caution to anyone who speaks out of emotional high or uninspired tradition – you gotta think. This means you cancel your subscriptions to things that contradict this view: luck, lucky pennies, lucky cats, fate, fortune cookies, astrology, zodiacs, your sign, superstitions, chance, chain letters, and even karma. They don't mix...at all. However in this truth - to cite a cute yet poignant aphorism - we can rejoice, because while we don't know what the future holds, we know who holds the future.

#2: God's ways are beyond your understanding.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord"

- Isaiah 55:8

The response to this is unbridled humility. To know this is to see even your greatest insights and academic achievements as foolishness compared to an all-knowing, all-powerful God in heaven. A remarkably difficult and counterintuitive task. This is also a comfort, in that even when we can't understand, we can rest in the truth that there is a God who does understand.

#3: God works things for good for those who love Him.

"And we know that all things work together for good, for those who love Him, and for those who are called according to His purpose ."

- Romans 8:28

Salvation by grace through Christ is the permanent signature of this truth. As Christians, we can know that our lives are being watched over and cared for, filling us with reason to rejoice in any circumstance. I know this part becomes very difficult at times, because so many events in life are hard to see as good. Definitely the hardest of the three to really believe, but crucial to seeing the purpose behind praising the Lord.

Mind you this isn't a thorough explanation. I couldn't expect to get into every detail in a medium like this, and the hope is that this spurs you on to seek God's answer to your questions through His word. Rather, this is criteria to keep in mind. With these three working together, how the believer sees circumstances in his life is radically different. Suddenly, everything is reason to praise the Lord. I pray PTL never becomes another lifeless religious expression, that it never becomes abused as a dull joke, or treated with indifference to God's character.

Praise the Lord, for He is good, and His love endures forever!

F.M.L < P.T.L

FML. If it doesn't already strike a chord of laughter within you, you probably don't know what it means. The phrase, coined by the liquor store employee in Superbad, means "F my life," as in "oh man, the worst thing happened to me today. FML." Yesterday, among frequent encounters with this cute little phrase I came across one that just so happen to epitomize the point I hope to make in this post:

“I just got a freaking parking ticket for not moving my car last night. F.M.L. I want to dieeeeee.”

Really? I mean, really? You got a parking ticket – at most a $40 dollar fine that doesn’t even end up on your permanent record – and you’re in such utter hopelessness that you want to dieeeeee? Yet this is no anomaly -- this is the very wish that users of this three-letter lament confess, that their life is in such shambles that death actually looks good. I’m puzzled as to how amongst all the cursing of your existence you somehow find the strength to Twitter it to your Facebook. As Marlo puts it, “your life is horrible, but you have access to a computer.” I sincerely hope advocates of people asking for their life to be F'ed don’t also try to advocate having a positive attitude about things, for there’s a grave inconsistency there.

“I went to the vending machine and pressed the Sprite button but it gave me Coke. I don’t like Coke. FML.”

All in good fun, I'm sure, but what happens when a community encourages and laughs at the idea of complaining about the littlest things? Helen writes:

"I think these mediums, amongst other social media, not only glamorize trivialities and complaining, but essentially centralize on the self. So many status updates and FML trivialities are basically telling others to pay attention to you, in the littlest (great & horrible) details. Another mode of distraction in our already distraction-inundated society."

When you exalt the bad, you demean the good. When a parking ticket becomes horrible, the fact that you still have a car becomes less satisfying. For those in Christ, this should be of little desire.

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice (Philippians 4:4).”

Notice Paul here isn’t making a suggestion – this is a command. Actually, two commands. It may seem harsh and counterproductive to command someone to rejoice, but this is along similar lines like "don't worry, be happy" or "be grateful for what you have." Many times rejoicing comes naturally, but other times it’s something that you have to work for and focus on. Instead of what's been taken away, you have to think: what have I been given?

Note this is no ordinary or general positivity. Christians are (admittedly imperfectly) thankful and content despite the circumstances God has given them because of the grace and love God has given them in Christ and the body of Christ. Make it a goal to praise the Lord for things – PTL!

“I just got a parking ticket, but I still have a job so I can pay it off. PTL!”

“I went to the vending machine and pressed the Sprite button but it gave me Coke. I don’t like Coke, but my sister does so I’ll just give it to her, plus I shouldn’t be drinking soda anyway. PTL!”

“Sometimes my life gets really hard, but I have a Savior who died for this life, so that I can have life beyond this life...and that's something worth living for. PTL!”

Let the PTL movement begin...

To: You.

Last week was my birthday. While I'm not all that made anxious by aging, around this time I'm always confronted with the question: what do I want? What would be a good gift? I'm hardly able to come up with a proper response, so I end up trying to avoid the subject altogether. So what does make something a great gift?

#1: A great gift is something you want. I struggle with determining if it's a better gift to get something you want, or something you need. I figure a new shirt or even a McDonald's gift card beats a nailcutter and toilet paper anyday.

#2: A great gift is something you don't deserve. I've never known anyone to write a thank you card to their boss for giving them their paycheck. However when my supervisor Gilbert hands me an extra taco at lunch it pretty much makes my day.

#3: A great gift has a cheerful giver. As a youth around this time of year I used to badger my cousins about what gift to get me. I distinctly recall the moment in 6th grade when my cousin Jennifer came to me at school with nicely-wrapped box and said "here's your gift you spoiled brat." I don't remember what I got that year.

#4: A great gift has a purpose. That purpose is most traditionally to build relationships. Neighbors give pies, supermarkets give samples, Realtors give notepads, all with the purpose of hoping to build a relationship with the recipient.


There is nothing more epitomizing of these qualities than in Jesus Christ.
Something you want? "These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full (John 15:11)."

Something you don't deserve? "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8)."

Something with a cheerful giver? “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)."

Something with a purpose? "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21)." That righteousness reconciles our relationship with a God we turned our back on in our sin.

You'll be happy to know that this is a gift that's offered to you. Yes, you. Christ offers you true happiness by believing in him, not because of what you've done, but because God loves you, and wants to have a relationship with you. That's what makes salvation truly a great gift -- all you have to do is receive it.

Other truly great gifts on the list this year:

A Tribe Called to Christ & Friends.

Surprise Party.

Birthday Card and the Pretty Lady behind it (all). Heck even the mullet.

Thank you guys. God is good.

Why or why not?

My friend Helen started an e-mail thread earlier this week that sparked a lot of interesting responses from different points of view. In it, she asks: “does society need to have a moral law (a standard of right and wrong that everyone must follow)?”

“I think that having a moral law that everyone must follow is unrealistic,” Annie replies. Although it would be ideal in theory, it would be impossible for everyone to agree on what constitutes as moral or immoral on every existing issue. I don't believe there should be a standard of right and wrong that everyone must follow because we all have different opinions of what’s right and wrong.”

The assumption here is that everyone needs to agree on a moral rule in order to hold them accountable to it. The problem is that this isn’t how society operates. The existence of a moral law simply means there is right and wrong; it doesn't mean everyone will believe it. This can be illustrated with the law of gravity. If you want to know what happens when you refute this law, simply get on top of the Eiffel tower and find out. You will be held accountable whether you agree or not. The US Constitution doesn't legislate rules because people agree with them. It does so understanding that men are given inalienable rights, under a moral law that is not to be violated, even as society changes.

“It's easy to say what's moral and immoral when you're protected and privileged: but there are a lot of gray areas,” says Scott. “I'm talking about women who need to sell their bodies to put food on the dinner table. In a way can't we argue capitalism is not really moral because it leads to so many social problems like human trafficking, sweat shop labor, and polluting the land of other people all for the sake of profit? So yes, before we even discuss having a moral law, we need to discuss and better understand what's really going on in this world.”

There is an inconsistency in this thinking. I agree that life is a very complicated thing and that we need to take time to understand people's situations. But while he suggests that a woman selling her body to provide food may not be wrong, he assumes human trafficking is a social problem. Gray doesn’t deny the existence of black and white. Life, yes, is very complicated, but at times we still have convictions that transcend those complications and still tell us something is wrong. The question is, without a moral law, how can we support those convictions?

If the answer is that there is a moral law that exists, the question is then "who gives this law?" To have moral law, you need a moral lawgiver. Some may say that we are our own lawmakers, but that poses a problem: nobody is wrong. And when nobody is wrong, there can be no justice, because there is no injustice.

I’m not saying everyone has to believe in the Bible. Of course, not everyone will. But if what the Bible says is true, then like Americans will be held accountable to the US Constitution before the eyes of men, whether they personally agree or not, whether they believe or don't believe, because it's just...humans also will be held accountable to God's law before the eyes of God, whether they personally agree or not, whether they believe or don't believe, because it's just. That's a reality we must all confront for ourselves, and is incentive enough to find out of the Bible is really true or not.

Refiner's Fire.

"Purify my heart,
Let me be as gold, and precious silver"

This post is coming much later than usual. I apologize for the wait and thank you for your patience (I sound like a call center). Recently I had been meditating on the song "Refiner's fire" and the peculiarity of its lyrics.

The simile he poses is not a pleasant one. Gold and silver are purified by a process called smelting, where metal is melted down in a furnace so that the dross (impurities) rises to the top where it can be removed. When the author here asks to be as gold, he's crying out to have his heart put through fire, where fire can only be understood as excruciating suffering.

A rather unusual plea. I mean, why would you wish for suffering?

It seems foolish to think someone would ask for hardship. Surely a good life is one that exists without having to deal with sickness, exclusion, exams, unrequited love, miscommunication, disappointment, and heartbreak. These are certainly not the moments we cherish -- far from it, we actually feel the opposite. Yet still, many people confess that out of their most painful and tragic experiences have come the greatest lessons they've learned in life. Even though it hurt to learn those lessons, they're better people for knowing them. We see this pattern in society -- the more impoverished areas of the world produce insightful, patient, and grateful people; whereas we too often find higher society to produce people that are shallow, brash, and unappreciative. There seems to be a very deep correlation between helplessness and faith, that in our lowest moments we recognize our highest need for God. This is best illustrated by an old poem:

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve;
I was made weak, that I might humbly learn to obey.

I asked for health, that I might do greater things;
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.

I asked for riches, that I might be happy;
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men;
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life;
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.

I received nothing that I asked for – but everything that I had hoped for;
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am, among all men, most richly blessed.

-- Anonymous Confederate soldier

The key to understanding the author's prayer is knowing that the best way to receive God's blessings is with a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17), like a driver no longer able to deny his unequivocal need for fuel when he's on the side of the road with an empty tank. And in that moment of emptiness, God will come by and pour into you something even better than what you had before: Jesus Christ.

"You don't even know me!"

The phrase made popular by vociferous guests on Jerry Springer has lost weight in recent years, Bertinilli-style. Now while many before me have already mounted the soapbox of critiquing today's social mediums and foreboding personality atrophy, I'm hoping to offer you something new. With the amount of social broadcasting we have today declaring "Me" to the world, can participants of such really resort to this kind of comment today? Think about it:

"You know what? I don't like you."
"Ugh trick, you don't even know me!"
"Uh, actually I do. Let's see, you're from San Diego, Mt. Carmel High class of '05, and you have 2 sisters. You read Twilight and listen to Death Cab for Cutie. You like wasabi, but you don't like sushi and 'yeah, [you're] just weird like that.' You supported Jesse Cheng for ASUCI Executive VP, and you're a fan of Jennifer Chung. Your favorite quotes are that one by Dr. Seuss about 'those who mind don't matter,' and that one from Coach Carter. You also had chicken last night, which you thought was "yummerz XD." Oh, and how did your family reunion go by the way?"

If men are books whose proverbial covers are not be judged, then Facebook now offers us CliffsNotes. By choosing his default picture, he displays what he thinks of his looks. By choosing his interests, he displays what's important to him. By controlling his wall comments, he displays who his friends are and what they say about him. By choosing his status, he displays what he gets excited for and what he complains about.

Originally the idea of being able to say a little bit about yourself, and offer your two cents to anybody looking for change, was a good thing. And it still is (I'm certainly not trying to bite the hand that garners me more readers than my Blogger does), but in moderation. With the ability to simply "be yourself" comes the danger that the uninhibited, idealized you, unfiltered by friends and environment, isn't the "you" that you really want to be.

Steve Carter (Rock Harbor) a few weeks ago was talking about how back in earlier centuries your identity was your community. It's a great way to think of the church. In a community you're taught to help one another achieve a collective goal, while realizing your place and self in the process. Likewise, the church isn't a building, it's a community of believers and even non-believers, who congregate to know God's truth for their lives, and share that with each other. The church doesn't just teach the Bible, it applies the Bible in unique and irreplaceable ways.

The church is not for the righteous. Like any community, the church isn't perfect. It's imperfect, made of imperfect people, who meet together that they might grow out of their imperfections, because "as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another (Proverbs 27:17)." It's been said that the church is a "hospital for sinners, not a museum of saints."

Indeed, it's a hospital for those sick of who they are, seeking to know who they're meant to be. And the medicine? The Gospel.

Casting crowns.

Miss California, Carrie Prejean, during the 2009 Miss USA pageant, was asked whether or not she believed all states should legalize same-sex marriage. The obvious leader for most of the pageant, she was put in a difficult situation. Now if this was a cartoon, this would be the part where a little devil Carrie and a little angel Carrie show up bickering on either of her shoulders. She knew what answer would satisfy judge Perez Hilton (asking the question), and certainly one little deviance from the Bible – the stronghold of her worldview – couldn’t hurt. She might even reason that the fib was a necessary one, to garner her crown and title, in which case she had even bigger opportunities to serve God.

"Do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not"

- Jeremiah 45:5

I’ve been contemplating the difference between God-centered ambition and self-centered ambition lately. Is it wrong to do things for your own benefit? What makes something self-centered? It is possible to do something for both God and yourself? J. Oswald Sanders writes:

“No doubt, Christians must resist a certain kind of ambition and rid it from their lives. But we must also acknowledge other ambitions as noble, worthy, and honorable. [Jeremiah 45:5] provides a warning for sorting out the difference. When our ambition carries out a burning desire to be effective in the service of God – to realize God’s highest potential for our lives – we can keep [this verse] in mind and hold [it] in healthy tension.”

Seeking goals that benefit you isn’t a sin…necessarily. But where do you draw the line?

Before Carrie could answer Perez, she first had to answer a question within herself, “Do I want to honor God more, or wear that crown more?” She had to answer truthfully to honor God, because God never gives us a temptation we can’t handle (1 Cor 10:13), so there is no excuse for sin. Had she chosen to “white lie,” she would compromise her integrity and obedience to God, revealing her intentions to be self-centered.

"It is motivation that determines ambition’s character."

Ms. Prejean ended up answering truthfully, speaking against same-sex marriage, while acknowledging it as her choice among other choices. “I did not want to offend anybody,” she commented in a later interview, “but I think with that question specifically, it's not about being politically correct. For me it was being biblically correct…[winning] wasn't what God wanted for my life that night.” And God’s plan for her is being revealed as a better one.

You see sometimes God has a plan for you that's better than yours, and in obeying His word you'll find it. She’s gained more attention for that decision than she would have had she compromised and won Miss USA…which ended up going to…um…I forget.

Loss for words.

#3 He doesn’t know why it happened. My fingers drag across the slotted brown table, contemplatively. He wants answers. My gaze is to the table now, gripping it by the little holes, shutting out external chatter and waiting to be inspired with something to tell him.

#2 Things are beginning to crash on her once again. It doesn’t matter how much she braces herself, one little detail is enough to send her reeling into it all over again. Sympathies provide a shoddy cushion, and, over the phone, troubled silence is not so distinctive from the negligent variety. Say something.

I’ve been meditating on 2 Corinthians for a while now. The passage seems to grow in profundity the more I have these vital encounters.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

Instance #1 happened about a couple weeks ago. My pastor, while in the Philippines, had congestive heart failure. He’s probably the closest person to me that’s been that close to death. I don’t think I’ve ever prayed so hard. Not just for me, but for everyone in my church, and then some. At 64, he continues to affect a remarkable amount of people internationally (hence, the trip). All those nights I stayed for dinner -- I lament how much I didn’t realize I was in the presence of such a hero of faith. Everyone in the youth started texting, calling, and e-mailing reminders that at 8:00pm, no matter where we were, we would drop what we were doing and pray for Pastor Ed. It was in that time, on our knees, feeling the corporate presence of so many pleas to God, that I began to feel that comfort Paul the apostle talks about.

I think the reason I’ve struggled to say things lately is because I haven’t been listening enough. When I dig into my head and heart for some words of consolation, I try to do it by my own history of trials. I often wind up in a dead end, but I know that even if I had some poignant and trying story to share, it would only help so much. To give supernatural comfort, you need to know supernatural suffering.

That’s on the cross.

“For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too”

To know Christ, to know the sufferings he endured, is to know the salvation he offers you. Salvation not only at the first moment of faith, but also in the face of life’s daily obstacles. For in finding Christ’s sufferings, you find his comfort. And in finding his comfort, you finally find the words to say.

Oh, and Pastor Ed is doing well now. But he'll have to cut out the chocolate and lechon for a while.

If He didn’t…

If He didn’t rise,
They’d be right you know.

If He stayed in bed,
If He stayed dead,
If Christ didn’t rise,
I’d be screwed.

If He didn’t rise,
I would’ve wasted too many hours,
Waking up early, trying to pay attention, giving money,
And the worst part about it,
Is that I forgot to get the receipt for my taxes.

If He didn’t rise,
The Bible would be a sham,
And they’d be right.
Do you know that?

I'd think to myself,
The church is evil,
There probably is no evil,
If there's no evil, there's no good,
And then why on Earth --
No, why the Hell should I help someone else,
Who couldn't help me even more?

If He didn’t rise,
Prophets would be schizos and swindlers,
The disciples a bunch of dimwits,
Paul would be a tool,
And Jesus would be either a con-man or a lunatic,
Wait, a masochist...definitely a masochist.

If He didn’t rise,
Jesus wasn't God.
And you’re still in your sins.

If in Christ we have hope in this life only,
we are of all people most to be pitied.

<3 Zac.

Celebrity Trivia. Who:

Is a fresh young actor born in the 80's?
Has 2 syllables in his last name?
Has a brown boyish haircut?
Also sings and dances?











You guessed it: Me.

Oh, and Zac Efron too...but I mean we're basically the same.

I'm the one on the right.

You're either thinking one of two things right now: 1. Ugh! How dare he think he's on the same level as my hubby Zackypoo. 2. Does he really expect people to believe that just because he lists off a couple coincidences?

Ah but there's more where that came from. Let's see...we both have 3 syllables in our first name, and we also both have a second first name (Julian Charles, Zachary David). We've both seen the movie Hairspray!, we've both enrolled in school before...we both have top and bottom sets of teeth -- I mean, really, I could go on. Still not convinced? Maybe it's because despite the impressive amount of the similarities, it's still dwarfed by the innumerable amount of the differences.

So how can people chunk religions together? (c'mon, you didn't actually think this was to make a point about two prominent teen hearthrobs like Zac and me, did you?). English journalist Steve Turner puts it pretty nicely (and sarcastically):

"We believe that all religions are basically the same...they all believe in love and goodness. They only differ on matters of creation, sin, heaven, hell, God, and salvation."

Some come to think that because by third-hand experience they notice similarities in different religions, that they're all "basically the same." Even if Zac and I have similar dashing features, the very core of our physical definition - our genetic makeups - are different. Then as things trickle down into our phenotypes the discrepancy just grows, so in the end similar eye-color is pretty trivial. Likewise while there are commonalities like, say, the application to treat others as you would want to be treated, they come from completely different mindsets and world views. And that's what a religion really is, a view of the world, isn't it? Well, at least that's what it used to be.

XOXO 143 637,
Zac-- I mean Julian Efron....I mean Leong.


p.s. something for Zeitgeist fans to think about.

just wanted to let you know.

"do what makes you happy, and forget the rest"

"make love, not war"

these statements are polar opposites.

they come from polar opposite mindsets.

neither of which are practical.

and so neither of which are actually applied.

well, some did. but they're all dead.

either dead because they didn't stick up for themselves, or dead because they didn't listen to anybody else.

just wanted to let you know.

Love is Not Easier

I was inspired to write on the topic after reading Jared Wilson's entry with the same title. It wasn't long until I realized that I simply couldn't have iterated it any better. He writes:

Many of us have this weird idea that Jesus loosened things up. Some of us think that for centuries emerging from the Old Testament Law, everything was rigid and difficult, and then Jesus showed up with his peace, love, and good vibes and just told everyone to love everybody.

Why do we think it's easier to love people than it is to just be religious?

I'm not sure people who think and speak that way really even know what love is.

Maybe the reason we don't all, in the spirit of unity and rainbows, just set aside our differences and love each other is because it's really freaking hard to do that.

Just as an example, Jesus said that if you lust after somebody, it's the same as sleeping with them, and if you hate somebody, it's the same as murdering them. Where in the world would we get the idea this makes things easier? It's a lot easier to not kill somebody than it is to not hate them. It's a lot more difficult to not lust than it is to not have sex.

And it's a lot easier to follow some rules everyone can see me keep than it is to truly, actually love people.

Anybody can be on their best behavior. But to love someone who hates you? That takes Jesus and his cross.

I had to memorize a lot when I was younger.

My Sunday School teacher was always giving us verses to memorize, rewarding the first one who got it with a bag of Kellog’s Fruity Snacks. That was incentive enough for me; plus I wasn’t very good at sports, so this was about the only kind of competition I could win with my friends.

"This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”– Joshua 1:8

My strategy always involved first retreating to the far corner of the room, the one boxed in by a bookshelf and a couch, with just enough space to fit my scrawny frame yet keep out anything that would hinder me from victory....sweet, cherry-flavored victory. Next came chunking the phrases, attaching each with some nonsensical, mnemonic picture like a Bible glued onto a tongue or something. This, done with the eyes closed and a lot of mouthing completed the process.

I didn’t even know what the word "meditate" meant. This isn’t meditation in the sense of mental silence, quite the opposite in fact. This is meditating on a thought kind of like how a cow eats grass, consuming it and regurgitating it over and over until the grass is finally digested through the cow’s whopping four stomachs. That’s because when you do that, eventually it just...clicks.

The verse explains that the purpose of meditation is for you to know what God wants by memorizing His word, so that when you're faced with conflict, you'll know what to do. Then the verse goes on to say that by doing that, you'll prosper and be successful. There's a logic to it, like a soldier memorizing attack patterns so when it comes time for battle he'll know how to win. God maps these things out so you'll succeed.

To a smaller degree that's exactly what I was doing. I was saying those words over and over, thinking about what they meant and letting them resonate to the point where I didn't have to think about them anymore. So, in the heat of the moment, my mind stayed focused to conquer my task and acquire the coveted gummy trophy.

This verse is probably one of the most concrete in my repertoire. Funny how I never realized I was applying it. Even in my immature ways and off-center goals God designed it so I’d make this particular one stick, so that when it came time to grow up and put away childish things, to stop fighting for artificial fruit, and seek real fruit in my life, I would know how.

Chat Log #1

Jhustin: im trying to give up rice for lent
me: oh man
how's that going
Jhustin: im finding it more difficult that cigarettes
i ate rice twice, without even realizing it til after the meal...
and then last night, i simply gave in...
and what sucks about it, is that i thought about it... contemplated... and still gave into the temptation
me: that most definitely sucks
Jhustin: yeah man. i definitely took a moment to pray and ask for strength. the guilt still lies though
me: well just keep truckin
honestly
the past failures are only a telltale sign that this is something you cling very closely to
so all the more reason to give it up for lent, which is supposed to be sacrificing for the Lord
what could be more of a sacrifice than an addiction?
Jhustin: mos def
me: God designed this guilt y'know
this feeling of shame and helplessness
not to hurt us
but to sober us
to who we really are without God
He designed it so our response after realizing it would be to turn to Him
so keep praying
Jhustin: thank you
me: and know that in Him is your refuge from even your worst addictions
Jhustin: real talk... i woke up this morning hoping to chop it up w/ u

Psalm 27:7-8

"7The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.

8 The Lord is the strength of his people;
he is the saving refuge of his anointed."

"I think too much."

A phrase I've heard from people, and one I find unsettling. I personally don't subscribe to this notion. So in disbelief I asked "can someone think too much?"

Many said yes, bringing up the case of spending too much time thinking about things that don't matter, things described as unnecessary, meaningless, irrelevant. I agree, this exists. Anxiety, for example. Still others argued no, explaining that a case like anxiety isn't too much thinking, just thinking into a dead end.

Nonetheless I don't think it's in these cases that people say "I think too much." That's because to say so means "I know I think too much." So the real question is, "how can someone know they think too much?" Doesn't make sense.

Everyone seems to agree "thinking too much" is a bad thing. Kind of like "driving too fast." So if you're speeding down a road at 90mph and you get the feeling you're driving too fast, why don't you simply ease up on the pedal? If you don't, that's probably because you don't really believe 90mph is too fast, otherwise you wouldn't keep driving that fast. You simply can't say "I drive too fast" and believe it, because you absolutely have the power to drive slower.

So can a person say he thinks too much? I say if he really believes that, and doesn't know how to fix it, then he probably isn't thinking enough.

Look left...cool. Look right....cool.

Okay, we’re good to--…great.

I was being cautious. I was. I was careful to look on my sides. I knew, it’s raining so I have to be careful. Yes, the radio was playing but it was on when I started the car and it was at a very reasonable level. And I was looking. I was going very slowly, and I was looking. Just not in the middle, straight behind me. Maybe if it wasn’t raining, maybe if that darn headrest wasn’t in the middle, maybe if I didn’t press on the gas that quickly. I was trying to be cautious, I was focused; and yet one simply miscalculation is gonna likely come out to…$400….$500?! It’s just a dent. How can just a dent cost that much money?! Can’t they just pop it back out?! Nobody was hurt, there is no damage to the systems, it did no damage to the inside or to the passengers.

I’m not freaking out. I’m not getting angry with anyone or even frustrated with myself…well the last is the biggest struggle…but I won’t succumb. All the things I wrote on my post no 1 Cor 10:13, as well as responses like Jen Chung’s “thanks I needed this” responses resonate in my head. God ordained this to test my faith, and I know I’m gonna pass. But as I sit in the car, I can only think about what she must be thinking. I tell her I’m sorry, and I want to show her I am without looking like I’m begging for sympathy. Where’s the line I draw? How apologetic do I have to be without crossing the line into pathetic? These are the test questions I just don’t know how to answer. If it were just me, and my car, and I hit someone, and I had to take care of it on my own I wouldn’t panic. I’d be fine. But it’s just so much harder when you’ve affected someone else, when someone else is paying for your mistakes. I didn’t study hard enough for this test. I don’t know the answer to this one and so I just sit in silence.

The woman as I see her.

A withered hand reveals two dusty copper coins, dented and discolored, likely the result of having been trampled on. Her visage doesn’t seem to reflect much better. Her face is washed out, her eyes sunken and her brow heavy. She clasps her hands over the coins and slowly raises them up to her wrinkled face, pressing her quivering lips against them as she mutters unintelligible prayer into the space between her thumbs. It’s not long before her eyes tear. She pinches the sides of her head covering and draws them in an attempt to drape her despair. Nobody is startled by her tears…they all know her, or rather, know her husband – knew her husband. What is surprising to them, though, is how a poor old widow can still afford to give offering...nobody is startled by her tears.

What is sacrifice?

My thoughts move towards the parable of the woman with two copper coins in Matthew 16. In that chapter Jesus sits to watch people putting money into an offering box. Many rich people put in large sums, but Jesus gives notice to the poor widow, saying she put it more than anyone else.

“For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on” - v. 44

So what does this mean for me? Well for one, it means I need to give more at offering. It also means that I need to stop measuring things by my accomplishments. It wasn’t in the measure of her contribution, but in the measure of her service. As a member of body – whether a church body or a dance team - I have to evaluate and confirm that my efforts are to serve the group and not to win praise or laurels. The significant trait about sacrifice, you can’t ask for anything in return. Otherwise, it’s not sacrifice. I imagine the woman faced inner conflict when making the decision to physically put those coins in the box, because once she did it, she couldn’t take it back. That was it. In order for her to decide to give everything she had, all she had to live on, she had to first be willing to give her life.

“For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” - v. 25

Christ didn't come down as man to be praised. He didn't proclaim himself as the Messiah to be worshiped. He did it to give hope, he did it so that when he died on the cross, people would know their sins would be forgiven; that if they gave their life, they would have life more abundantly. Life for the now, life for the after (John 3:16). So what will you give?

Ain't nothin like a good car ride.

I'm not always an advocate of relative judgment, but I have to go with the Goldilocksian method on this one:

The phone is simply too much pressure. No bard be I; I shudder at the thought of having to sustain interest by casual conversation without the aid of hand motion, facial expression, or environmental diversion. And how is one supposed to deal with prolonged silences? It's like the telephonic equivalent of staring each other in the face, slack-jawed and blank-faced. What? You simply blurt out whatever comes to mind in a desperate attempt to bridge the discrepancy between worthwhile topics? The random subject change becomes too fragile a walkway to cross, crumbling in translation and causing the adventurer to fall into indefinite awkwardness. Sigh, a fate I know all too well. Too intimate.

Instant messaging is easily a distant enough venue for nonchalant information and straight-talk, and the commitment flexibility dismisses most bad readings of quiet gaps, easily ameliorated with a "brb" or the opportune YouTube video recommendation. But this distance is unregulated, and in the circumstance in which you were aiming for intimacy, myriad problems arise. Both the poet and subtle comedian will find it difficult to exact the delicate changes in tone, timing, and volume necessary for appropriate expression, and "argumentative Arvin" is sure to leave the conversation in a frustrated huff of misunderstanding. Too distant.

Car rides provide the perfect medium:

- Little fear of disinterested parties. Everyone knew what kind of commitment they were getting themselves into -- I mean they literally got into it. It's not like they can walk out on the conversation, and - provided you control radio and iPod use - it's an arduous task to tune out. The car is a chat-room be default. Just intimate enough.

- No need for eye contact. Everyone has a window, and there is a world of images around you, each one approximate enough to justify a glance, yet ephemeral enough to prevent prolonged distraction. Just distant enough. Plus, nature tends to help ease things along. There's just something about vast blue skies or streetlight-lit scenery that seem to provoke deep thought.

- If all else fails, the radio is the quintessential social fire extinguisher -- break glass in case of emergency.

Of course, lunch & dinner dates are a close second, though one may need to be properly equipped with creative ways to end the rendezvous if necessary.

So let me know if you need a ride somewhere. If I can, I will.