Julian Charles Leong

My Favorite Christmas Song.

2009-12-24T20:43:00.001-08:00

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.

2009-08-27T22:47:00.001-07:00

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.

2009-08-13T22:59:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-07-30T22:09:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-07-16T22:00:00.000-07:00

#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.

2009-07-14T17:29:00.000-07:00

¡Vamos!

Chat Log #2

2009-07-09T17:13:00.000-07:00

[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"

2009-07-02T18:29:00.001-07:00

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.

2009-06-25T18:15:00.001-07:00

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

"But that’s just who I am.”

2009-06-19T14:40:00.001-07:00

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

2009-06-13T11:51:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-04T16:20:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-05-31T03:05:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-05-21T19:17:00.001-07:00

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.

2009-05-10T00:39:00.000-07:00

"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!"

2009-05-01T14:42:00.001-07:00

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.

2009-04-23T22:04:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-04-16T18:59:00.001-07:00

#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…

2009-04-09T21:44:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-03-24T23:37:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-03-24T13:49:00.000-07:00

"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

2009-03-19T21:35:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-03-12T22:21:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-12T21:09:00.000-07:00

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."

2009-03-10T12:14:00.000-07:00

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.

2009-03-05T21:43:00.000-08:00

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.

2009-02-26T22:05:00.000-08:00

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.

2009-02-25T14:20:00.000-08:00

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.

Creed by Stever Turner

2009-02-23T00:11:00.000-08:00

This poem from English journalist, Steve Turner, has been cited many times by apologist Ravi Zacharias. I recently heard this at his conference at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa entitled "Need God? What if I don't?" Turner eloquently cites worldviews I've never been able to summarize myself, wittily revealing the condition of today's society and the falsity of the beliefs to which it subscribes.

Creed by Steve Turner

We believe in Marxfreudanddarwin.
We believe everything is OK
as long as you don't hurt anyone,
to the best of your definition of hurt,
and to the best of your knowledge.

We believe in sex before during
and after marriage.
We believe in the therapy of sin.
We believe that adultery is fun.
We believe that sodomy's OK
We believe that taboos are taboo.

We believe that everything's getting better
despite evidence to the contrary.
The evidence must be investigated.
You can prove anything with evidence.

We believe there's something in horoscopes,
UFO's and bent spoons;
Jesus was a good man just like Buddha
Mohammed and ourselves.
He was a good moral teacher although we think
his good morals were bad.

We believe that all religions are basically the same,
at least the one that we read was.
They all believe in love and goodness.
They only differ on matters of
creation sin heaven hell God and salvation.

We believe that after comes The Nothing
because when you ask the what happens
they say Nothing.
If is not the end, if they have lied,
then it's compulsory heaven for all
excepting perhaps Hitler , Stalin and Genghis Khan.

We believe in Masters and Johnson.
What's selected is average.
What's average is normal.
What's normal is good.

We believe in total disarmament.
We believe there are direct links between
warfare and shed.
Americans should beat their guns into tractors
and the Russians would be sure to follow.

We believe that man is essentially good.
It's only his behaviour that lets him down.
This is the fault of society.
Society is the fault of conditions.
Conditions are the fault of society.

We believe that each man must find the truth
that is right for him.
Reality will adapt accordingly.
The universe will readjust. History will alter.
We believe that there is no absolute truth
excepting the truth that there is no absolute truth.

We believe in the rejection of creeds.

Steve Turner

Car.

2009-02-10T01:04:00.000-08:00

February 8, 2009
3:48AM

Groggily driving down the culdesac I find a sigh of relief is all I can utter to rejoice in yet another safe trip home. I also find something else. A car parked on the driveway. Not an uncommon occurrence, out of the many household cars already populating the private parking space we always figure a way to make room for visitors who don't want to be ticketed at 2:00AM for parking on the curb (probably the most Irvine thing about Walnut). Whoever it belongs to, they haven't had it for long, since there's no license pla--wait a minute...you're not....shoot.

My dad and I had been talking about buying a car, which mainly involved him getting me to answer the pestering dealership people calling us and replying to emails saying we're not ready to make a decision yet. I guess my dad didn't send me the memo that he was ready. I was much too tired to jump up and down.

Things I was also "much too" to jump up and down:
1. old
2. alone
3. outside

I'm happy the day is finally here. It's not the feeling of independence; I didn't purchase it, and I'll mostly be using it to drive to work with my dad (the latter being reason why I can't do the former without the help of the superior). It's not the feeling of possession; we haphazardly switch around cars depending on who needs to go where and when. It's not the feeling of reward; I definitely don't feel deserving of something like this.

It's grace. So much grace, from my dad, from my mom (who refused to enjoy buying a new car until she test drove this one), and from God. Grace from God to do His work. I often contemplate the burden I put on others, making them pick me up and drop me off, and the limit that creates in my ministry, though I do love riding in cars with other people. It's where I have some of them most memorable conversation.

The car is by far my chatroom of choice.

I can't wait to pick people up, to say "yeah I'll take you," to let people depend on me this time around. I can only imagine the future conversations. I could go off on how meek I've always felt having to ask people every single week to take me here and there, the need to ask a favor just so I can get from point A to B. Now I get to do that for others. No distance too far in theory, but not in gas money. Nonetheless I'm excited to see how far I can go. Who wants to come with?

Project Sea Turtles: Minutes of Execution

2009-02-05T17:47:00.000-08:00

11:30am
Sure enough I wake up, not to my alarm, but instead to a phone call from Buzz. He has no work and is willing to accompany me for the day.

1:30pm
First thing we do is go to travel to his neck of the woods where the Red Ribbon is located. Chicken empanadas for the pal, a slice of Ube cake for the little brother, and a nice 1/4 sheet Mocha Crunch cake for the gfriend. Buzz and I silently awe at the manager's deft icing calligraphy, nothing short of virtuoso, even erasing a bum letter with precision (a feat I prior thought impossible).

2:00-5:50pm

Driving, Snack purchases at Stater Bros., lunch at Pancit Planet fill the subsequent hours, Inspiration from Michael's, and presentation prep fill the subsequent hours.

5:55pm
Head to Irvine/Buzz's Freeways 101 Lesson #2 (may or may not include the 101fwy).

7:00pm
Stonefire grill for $10/head is an okay deal, but considering our recent purchases, it's at the utmost limit. Melody walks away from the table and I start to divulge my plan to Raffy. But before start can become continue she's already returned. Then she leaves again, but before restart can become continue she's once again returned. She sure knows how run errands. An intent stare and raise of the eyebrows gives Raffy enough of a heads up. Buzz and I get up to leave because I have practice (which is true, but I never actually said I would be going), and Raffy with that sharp mind of his asks me for my number to discuss "Mavyn stuff," sneaking in an inquiry about text message capabilities without any suspicion.

8:15pm
I catch up Raffy up on the plans via text. Buzz and I station ourselves at a local Starbucks (which says nothing about our location) to continue working on the display board. Likely the only thing more disturbing than the constant phone calls confirming plans is the sight of multi-colored pieces of felt enveloping the round little table and a chunk of cardboard taking the floor a la preparation for a b-boy cypher.

9:00pm (which a cranky Mike so necessarily argues is 9:01)
Last minute preps turn our little band of guests into a well-oiled machine:
Julian as head visionary consultant.
Geneyem as adhesive technician, adding tacky glue to tacky cutout letters.
Caleb as landscaping consultant, directing practical placement of yet-to-be attached turtles.
Buzz as assistant adhesive technician, making custom fit tape circles.
Raffy as cake-bearer, ready to light on command.
Mike as John Hancock impersonator, recklessly adding signatures to turtles I had originally prepared for backup.
Thomas as lookout, liason between the 4th and 5th floors
Helen as inquiry specialist, voicing her random questions about MCIA.
Helen's shy cousins offer their silent support.
Baby Sabrina on sleep duty, which is definitely the most helpful role for her at this time.

9:30pm
Sami sneaks an early group down to our floor to do some underground turtle dealing. Thomas signals 5 minutes til go time. Tiffy (co-coord of julian's 22nd suprise bash) & Lea (throwback bestie surprise of the year) join the bunch.

9:35pm
Go time.
Melody is on the 6th floor distracted by her fellow captains, Roxy "Roxstar" Shih and Rommel "OH!" Rosales, headed by Kevin "Krzydoo" Duh. Members of the team add their turtles, pre-made and freshly-inked alike, to the board while the rest camouflage our movement with real/faux run-throughs and Raffy lights the cake.

9:47pm
Patrick places me in the center with the board as he directs the team to cover me. Just then a disgruntled Melody, weary from discussing heavy leadership topics -- as she put it --“humph…on my birthday!” makes her way downstairs despite Krzydoo’s best attempts to extend the 15 minute diversion. The team is not in position yet, and my sustained exposure causes me to panic and instinctually decide to just crouch down behind the board. This of course comes in conflict with Raffy's instincual decision to crouch behind me…with the cake…that I have now just sat on. Not too many people notice, since they’re too busy cheering for one Melody Cruz, whose luster after being sucked away by her captains is being injected back into her by the crowd peppered with surprises she has yet to really take notice of. She eventually does notice, though, along with the team, of a fellow 22-year old vulnerably standing with cake on his hand...and bum.

“…and [czareine] was saying how last night was pretty perfect... julian fashion”
– Thomas

It was confirmed by the consensus that it just wouldn’t have been a “Julian story” if everything went as planned (a term they’re all well acquainted with by now). No objection here. It would be a far less poignant post in my opinion.

I’ll end this (krzy)doozy of a story with the thoughts I jotted down that night before bed:

The day was pretty cool Melody was happy and so I'm happy. Plus I won some major cool points with her and everyone around, points I gradually lost through the night by being myself (sitting on a cake, eating a candle, drooling, etc). That's nice. I'm happy things worked out, and yes I count the cake sit as things working out. Melody is happy and so I'm happy. I said that already. Well the look on her face is pretty hard to get out of my head. And a couple tears too? Perfect! Haha I threw out a couple high-fives after I saw that. I'm just so happy things worked out. I repeated myself again. Looks like happy is the word of the day. I'm cool with that. Thanks God.

Praise God for you.

She's...crying? This I didn't expect.

2009-02-03T12:18:00.000-08:00

I feel so bad. Oh, but she's kind of laughing too, so maybe it's not all that bad. She's either crying because she's laughing or laughing because she's crying. We walk her outside where we can hopefully figure out what her flurry of emotions is all about. Turns out it's all because of fear (this would explain why as we approached her father in the car she screamed "Noooo!") Mike seems to know what to do, but even if he didn't he'd probably make it look like he did. Smart move -- it's little consolation to join someone in their panic. In any case, a problem is a problem and the answer remains the same:

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Often culturally manifested as "God won't give you anything you can't handle," but there's so much more to it:

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man."
What sobering truth! This makes little of "woe is me" mentalities and says to the self-pitying man "mm…nothing new." How can one call the Bible outdated, when albeit technology and trends have changed, man's greatest problems - pride, greed, lust, anxiety, jealousy, bitterness, loneliness, etc - have stayed the same since the beginning of time. God has been dealing with the same problems for millennia! It's comforting just to know that what you're going through is nothing new, that men in the past have come across it, and by God's grace have been delivered from it.

She's afraid to talk to her parents about her faith, because they might get mad and not let her go to bible study anymore. The fear of man is a crippling one. No matter what kind of confrontation, we all fear men at some point. Mike proceeds to tell her about friends in the past who have had the same fears and have overcome them. Even though their parents ended up forbidding them from church for a while, they continued to live their lives faithfully while obeying their parents wishes, and years later their parents ended up becoming Christian themselves. "God is faithful." You've made it this far, right?

"he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape,"
This dispels any retort along the lines of "I couldn't help it" or "that's just who I am." Every man has endured temptation before, every temptation allows that possibility. But while there is a light at the end, there is still a tunnel to a traverse. The verse makes the point of obstacle, connotations of pain and suffering. Why?

"that you may be able to endure it."
Notice the "that" <- this marks that the following is the purpose. God provides a way of escape (SO) THAT you can endure it. So the goal is endurance. Why?

James 1:2-4
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. This is the difference between blind faith and a tempered faith. Nowadays the concept of trusting the Bible often comes attached with ignorance and irrationality, imagining the person following the Bible because it's all he's ever known, all he's ever been taught, and he doesn't know why he believes. This is not the future James describes. James says to rejoice when (meaning you will) meet trials, because if you manage to endure then it's going to make your faith stronger.

"Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn" - C.S. Lewis

Exploring Casentino Forest.

2009-01-22T22:17:00.000-08:00

here's to finishing up the journey.

Luglio 17, 2008
Days in Italy: 27
Known Bug-bites: i coin the term galaxy legs
Total Gelato Sessions: 21
Collective Fanta Consumed (mL): 14,640mL
Italy: 9:00 AM
America: 12:00 AM

"The world is so big."

So much profundity to Chelsea's simple utterance. We're told millions of people come by the Casentino forest every year, but Jesse our nature-walk guru assures us he never sees large tourism here. He's right. We're the only ones here. It feels like, for a few moments, we're the only people in the world. It's hard to explain, but I'm sure you already understand.

Along the 6 kilometer hike -which on an incline feels like a lot more than roughly 3 miles - I try to take in the green vastness and the vast greenness of my surroundings. It's crazy to think there are parts of this forest nobody has ever seen, and nobody ever will see. Crevices and cracks, tops of trees and sides of rocks, bits of dirt and moss no human will ever touch. Sometimes it's hard for me to understand that there are parts of this world not intended for mankind to claim.

That's what makes Chelsea's thought so insightful. The world is so big, so much bigger than we understand, so much bigger still that we can hardly understand how we don't understand. I mean, God created this in 6 days? If we can't even comprehend the world in front of us, how much less the secret ways of God?

Sure there are parts of this world man is not meant to know, but in all things God has a purpose. So what's the purpose of knowing that you can't know something? I wouldn't like to pretend like I knew the full answer, but I know that understanding how finite we are is one of the greatest lessons we can learn...and relearn. The hardest thing for a man to do is to accept that he's not God.

Dory ends up hurting her ankle pretty badly coming down the trail and laughs in pain. Dang, she really does laugh at everything but my jokes.

The word “religious” can be a puzzling one.

2009-01-15T20:12:00.000-08:00

The word is not too often frequented, but when it is it’s hardly in the first-person affirmative. That is, the word more or less is preceded by “I’m not very—“ or “yeah, he’s really—.” Ironically enough, those who fit the colloquial bill of being religious hardly use the term. Though it’s in the significant lack of the first-person affirmative that we can begin to find its definition in today’s culture.

What does a person usually mean when he says he’s “not very religious?” In the context of Christianity, he means that he doesn’t participate in Christian practices, i.e. reading the Bible, praying regularly, or going to church on days where something isn’t being celebrated or mourned. So then to be religious, in the Christian respect, is to participate in practices. While there is some truth to that - contrary to those who think Christianity is simply "just you and God" - it's important to note that it first starts in the heart and mind. To exalt Christianity as chiefly a series of practices is to grossly miss the point.

If you never understood before, allow me to briefly explain how Christianity works according to the Bible. Christ is the center, and so naturally to be a Christian you have to believe in Christ. This, of course, is not limited to just believing he exists, or believing that he loves you. The Bible mentions that even the demons know who Christ is. To make Christ the center is to believe in him as your Lord and Savior, that he is God, came down as man, lived a sinless life to die on the cross and bear the punishment for the sins of those who would receive the gift he offers of eternal life (John 3:16). To make Christ the center is to believe that Christ, as he proclaims in John 14:6, is “the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father but through [him].”

From there, the practices will come. Indeed, “if you love [him], you’ll keep his commands (John 14:15).” How can you call him your Lord if you don’t follow his teachings? Such irrationality couldn't be placed in the framework of any inspiration. It’s a process that starts from the inside and ends in the out, neglecting neither the internal transformation nor the external expression, that distinguishes a true Christian from someone who is simply religious.

Call me a player...

2009-01-14T01:13:00.000-08:00

...but I do write for other blogs and I'm not ashamed. I recently finished two articles for Thatsfresh.com, a dance community weblog I write for. I share news and thoughts on this season of America's Best Dance Crew, premiering today at 10:00 PM. Check 'em out, pen name Jules.

The gist of it.

2009-01-13T07:48:00.000-08:00

Dear Lord,

Give me this, this, this, and this.

Injius name I pray,

Amen

I should replace one of the this's with humility.

Funkspiration.

2009-01-10T11:02:00.000-08:00

Old performance from "Icon: Janet Jackson," MTV's ephemeral series of tribute specials. I used to watch this video every day in High School after I downloaded it off Kazaa Lite. I wanted to watch it again today, now with a keener eye for choreo and performance, and their performance still blows me away. I wish Pink, Usher, and Mya would dance like this more often. Also, I realized that Janet Jackson is a locker! Man, I had no idea what I was watching.

R.I.P BABI GURL

Another 2009 first.

2009-01-04T00:54:00.000-08:00

First "Julian story" of 2009:

So I walk into In-n-out, and I see my friend Bryan in through the glass door. I met him through Allen, and so I know him more indirectly than directly, but we're good enough friends. Our eyes meet and I continue to stare. It's awkwardness of choice, because sometimes I make it awkward on purpose to avoid making it awkward by accident. I pass the doorway and walk straight to him, offering a handshake. He obliges, and immediately after I hear "Julian!" I look to my right to find middle-to-high school friend Patty Lee. I didn't know they knew each other, but I guess it's a Korean thing. Next to spot is Charlene's ex-beau Jiun, as they point to the other booth to reveal a waving Steffi and Mike. It's crazy to find Bryan amongst all my Walnut friends. It's like a Walnut High school reunion, plus Bryan...who went to Rowland...and...actually...isn't the guy in front of me whose hand I just shook. In fact, it's Patrick Sun, someone I never actually spoke to before.

It's cool; he wasn't freaked out or asked "do I know you?" (<- I've been asked before amidst similar handshakes) so I assume that among all our mutual friends he at some point learned who I was. Yes, the sudden realization hitting my face, followed by attempts to conceal the rapid neuron-firing and look like i'm paying attention to the conversation, is very much cool...

Firsts of 2009.

2009-01-01T02:10:00.000-08:00

First memory: Driving back to the Navales house, regretting that I didn't call my parents and realize they weren't going to be home by midnight before I drove home, stopping at Lemon and La Puente,and checking my phone to realize that it's 12:01 AM.

First meal: Remnants of the same spaghetti Alfredo, steak of varying rarity & cranberry drink meal I had just 2 hours prior.

First conversation: At the Navales house front door, answering RJ's question as to why I was back.

First sleep: 12.5 hrs.

First priority in writing this post: Make something entertaining and thought-provoking to read Jan 1, 2010. (Second: Make something entertaining and thought-provoking to read Jan 1, 2009).

Lasts of 2008.

2008-12-31T02:49:00.000-08:00

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...

2008-12-30T18:22:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-24T08:29:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-04T13:19:00.000-08:00

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.

Why I Voted Yes: A Summary Thusfar

2008-11-15T19:39:00.000-08:00

Ahem, is anyone still around? Sorry all for the sudden disappearance. I took some time off from writing these last three weeks for a couple reasons: I didn't think it was wise to continue talking about it so immediately after the election, and it's been a little hectic lately, this past week being spent on an excursion to NYC to handle some bidness. But the protests are still very much alive and questions on a lot of people's minds, so as promised I'm continuing my posts. Momentum is significantly disrupted, so kudos if you're still paying attention.

First, I'd like to review a couple things. I'm not against the people's right to protest and fight for their beliefs. My aim was never to say that everyone should be for or against samesex marriage. But claims about me are being made that are untrue. This is not an attempt to ensure that people like me, but if you want to disagree with me at least know the intentions with which you're disagreeing. Allow me now to clarify what my goals are in writing these posts, and what they are not:

- I don't aim to convince people to be for or against the ban, or to make it seem as if they need to adhere to my beliefs. I maintain that my first post was defending why I voted yes, not why everyone should vote yes.
- I do aim to challenge those who are against it to know while there are valid reasons to be opposed, there are also reasons I find to be invalid. I don't think this can or should be one-sided. I think there are exaggerations on the Yes campaign too, which I don't agree with.

- I don't aim to tell people they shouldn't be fighting for gay rights.
- I do aim to tell people that they shouldn't be accusing people of hateful things for not supporting that fight. This isn't everyone; I do appreciate the ones being very kind and patient with me.

- I don't aim to tell people that they have to believe in any given standard of morality
- I do aim to tell people that one way or the other, you have a standard of morality, a conscience that makes you feel that something is right or wrong.

- I don't aim to impose the Bible on others, to force others into Christianity,
- I do aim to uphold my Constitutional right to have my own beliefs without persecution (though not without debate), and to have my views dictate my vote. My vote was not to put the Bible into schools; prop 8 is not about anything exclusively Christian.

- I don't aim to discourage others from challenging my thinking or disagreeing with my thoughts. I'm grateful to anyone who takes the time to respond to their convictions with integrity and temperance.
- I do aim to encourage other to consider my views and to read them fully and carefully before responding, lest they attach cultural associations and stereotypes that aren't directly expressed in my posts. If you question my statements, please keep them in context, and I'll work to do the same.

- I don't agree with all Prop 8 campaigning methods. I think I should have made it clear earlier that I don't associate with Prop 8 propaganda (because there is and there isn't propaganda on both sides). I don't aim to scare others into being on my side by strategically using children, schools, and exaggerations and in an insincere way. Please don't attach me to their methods, unless you see exaggerations here in these posts.
- I do aim to clarify the line between tolerance and acceptance, and that I don't have stand on the latter to stand on the former. I don't expect you to accept it, but hope you can tolerate it.

_________________________________________________________________
Now, regarding your comments:

If you still believe I was wrong for voting yes - for reasons of breaching an alleged line of tolerance or an alleged line that doesn't involve imposing your morality - please show me why I need to comply to your rules. The government allows me to believe what I believe, so you can't call it unconstitutional, you can't call it illegal. I was given the choice to say yes or no and I chose. I don't think I harassed, heckled, gloated, defaced, or violated. I didn't do anything more than what was offered to me as my right.

"You're imposing your religion."

This has been the response of many. I think it may have been misconstrued when I said my reasons were biblical that I somehow thought the prop itself was religious. If you still think the prop imposes religion, let me ask you this: did the actual ban on samesex marriage teach you anything new about the Bible? Did the ban coerce you into memorizing verses? Have you been forced into knowing anything about my God and Christ and Heaven beyond your will because of Prop 8? Did I force you into Christianity, or do you hold onto the same beliefs you held onto before the election?
What happened is that I made a choice based on what I believe. You made a choice based on what you believe. It happens that in the diversity of beliefs - because not everyone who voted Yes is Christian - that the majority of people personally chose to vote Yes. That's how a democracy works, right?
I don't understand why people assume that everyone who voted Yes not only was Christian, but had the agenda to force people into knowing Christianity. Having reason against samesex marriage is not exclusive to the Bible, and it doesn't force people to know the Bible. I may be imposing a view which is backed by the Bible, but that's not imposing the Bible itself.

"This doesn't affect you"

"what is this to you?" Olbermann asks. If you don't know this by now, then perhaps we can talk in person and get this clearer. Esther you mentioned how parents didn't have to sign the permission slip and thus their children didn't have to go to the lesbian wedding. While I find it doubtful that having the kid be the one that didn't go on the field trip is really sufficient to give parents that control you speak of, samesex marriage has nonetheless affected schools. What I was trying to point out is that people were saying that it wouldn't but it did.

If it's pushing morality to say samesex marriage is wrong, then it's pushing morality to say samesex marriage is right.

"Morals have changed in the past."

There are morals that have also stayed the same. Things change, and things stay the same. There's value in both. Because something has changed or stayed the same in history doesn't necessarily mean other things should follow suit. I'm not sure how using this defeats either of our arguments.

"Discrimination in any form is always wrong."

I suppose I shouldn't have picked those examples of discrimination, because now a lot people are assuming that I consider those examples as "exactly the same" as others. The point, however, I was making is that those are legislated forms of discrimination. Granted, we all agree upon those and don't agree on this one, but I was hoping to invalidate the use of the "discrimination card" as if all times discrimination is involved it's wrong. You agreed that the examples, while not tactfully chosen, are nonetheless examples of discrimination. The point is that there are many forms of discrimination that society deems necessary. Please know that the focus was the challenge the claim that has been made in the No on 8 campaign that "discrimination in any form is always wrong" and not anything else.

__________________________
ROGER BECKER

- I'm not for anti-racial marriage. I'm not sure what you meant by citing the website. It shows how those verses have been misinterpreted, and how the Bible doesn't actually talk about prohibiting interracial marriage. If you mean that verses aren't always what they seem, then you're right, they're not, and people often misinterpret. But unlike those verses (which use metaphor) the ones about homosexuality are clearly about homosexuality. This I'll get more into in later posts.

- As for the second verse you quoted, do you know why Isaac was told not to take a daughter from Canaan? I don't think you should quote it if you don't.
___________________________
HIDEKI FUKUSUMI
-"I was wondering why you say morality shouldn't be imposed on the state?"
I thought I made it clear that morality is imposed one way or the other, just a matter of whose morality gets legislated.

-Yes Christianity was called a cult before. It was also called a fad and was predicted to fade quickly. Can you recall who said that? I don't think people remember.

-In what you're citing, I'm not sure if your point is that we should give rights or we shouldn't take them away? There is a difference, because saying Prop 8 took away civil rights suggests that it is just for supreme court to go above our vote in the first place. I believe our vote is a civil right, don't you?

-As for your last comment, I don't think I claimed everyone in the LGBT community would do anything. Can you cite where I said or even connoted "everyone in the LGBT community" would do anything?
_____________________
GI PARK

-I agree that because something is tradition, it doesn't make it right. But also, because other traditions are wrong, that doesn't mean that all traditions are wrong. So the word tradition shouldn't validate one or the other. In other words, it doesn't guarantee anything. I don't think that's why people call traditional marriage traditional.

-I agree that cooties are a thing of the past; the cootie shot has long been in practice and has proven effective. I don't think that legalizing samesex marriage will turn everyone gay, and I also think it's dumb people are saying that.
____________________________________________________
KEITH OLBERMANN

"What is this to you?" he asks. This is my decision to not support something I don't agree with, plan and simple.

I asked if this prop is about the right to love or the right to express a preexisting love. Roger, you said it was the latter. I thought the same, and wanted to clarify this because the two are often blurred in campaign. Olbermann in my opinion wants to make this seem that prop 8 pushed people to be "alone in the world," which I think is an exaggeration. This prohibits marriage, and that is definitely a big deal, but it doesn't prohibit union. I'm not trying to minimize this issue, but take it for what it is.

As for Olbermann's comments loosely referring to the Bible, I don't think he really has read the context for the verse he cites. That I'll explain later.
__________________________________________

I feel like there's been a lot of misunderstanding in this series of responses. Perhaps we can schedule a one-on-one; I think that might help us understand each other better. Otherwise, stay tuned for the next post. I promise I won't wait as long this time.

Why I'm Voting Yes: The Follow-Up pt 2

2008-11-01T15:40:00.000-07:00

Two days from now Californians are faced with the crucial decision, among many, to vote on Prop 8. When I posted that I was voting yes, many responded with questions and claims against my decision. I'm going to address those that pertain to the legal aspect of the discussion, including what place morality has in all of this.

Legal standpoint

"What about the separation of church and state?"

Let me preface this by saying that separation of church and state (whether Constitutional) is a very good thing and it should be in force. Now on to my argument: morality is legislated all the time. Stealing is immoral, and it is illegal. Spousal and child abuse are immoral, and they are illegal. Murder is immoral, and it is illegal. These things are illegal because it is for society's good- for our protection and well-being. I hope no one here would argue that we should legalize stealing because it is a "moral" or "religious' issue. Legislating morality is done all the time and it is a good thing.

"This is about discrimination."

Discrimination is not always a bad thing. Not every choice is equally valid. Some have been saying that Prop 8 is bad or wrong because it denies humans a right to choose who to marry, but that assumes that every choice is equally good. We would never argue this way in other areas. For example, denying someone the opportunity to beat their child or drive drunk is a very good thing. We would not be up in arms about people being denied the chance to beat their children. We would not be upset about a class of people (those who want to drive drunk) not being protected from so-called discrimination.

"Does morality have a place in legislation?"

Supposedly this is not supposed to be a matter of morality. Yet the campaign for those opposed to Proposition 8 - including the official No on 8 website - is that "it's wrong." Legislation can't be made on the grounds that something is simply "wrong" because that's a moral conviction. This is an attempt to infuse morality in legislation. Surely this fact isn't going to stop those people from believing it's wrong, because to them, "it's wrong." So does morality have a place in legislation? Yes, both sides are doing it.

"This is about human rights."

Rather than elaborating on the alleged unconstitutionality of the matter, and campaigning that way, it's pushed as a violation of Human Rights. This is smart, because what does the public feel more emotional attachment to? The law, or their moral beliefs? Whether or not the term is used in law, packaging the issue as "human rights" doesn't cause the public to scrutinize the Constitution and examine the legality of the issue. Instead, it tugs at their sense of right and wrong - their moral beliefs. Why would you feel so emotional and passionate about something if it didn't set off that intrinsic red alert in you that said "this is just wrong!"?

Humans rights? If that's so, why are we stopping at two partners...why not more than two? If it's a fight for the right to love, then nobody should be discriminated against - polygamists and other groups continue to get ignored, as if their right to love is somehow less important or irrelevant. How is it that it's a fight for equality when it's only about what the gay community wants?

That's because you don't want equality necessarily for all, but just for gays and lesbians. Why? Because morally you feel like they should. It's not your desire for the law to speak for itself, it's your desire to fight for your friends, for yourself, and for those emotional attachments, all the while bullying those who don't feel those moral convictions by threatening them with accusations of unlawfulness or intolerance. You don't feel for the polygamist community, or the manboy love community? Probably because none of them are your close friends. This is about only two-person marriage, not for every man's right to marry.

"This is about fundamental rights."

If fundamental rights is the main issue here, why is it that they don't seem to care that four judges went above our right to vote? Prop 22 was passed in 2000, defining marriage as between a man and woman. Last May four supreme court judges in San Francisco overturned that in California, even though California had fairly voted on the matter. I'm sure it's debated back and forth between law students whether or not this is a violation of the Constitution. My point is not to conclude one way or the other on that (far be it from me to know more than the discourse of law students on the Constitution). My point is why are we not talking about it? The judiciary interferes with our right to vote and we just sit here and take it? Why is it absent among "No on 8" campaigners, from their official website, and from your comments on my posts? My guess is that since if it doesn't interfere with your morality, it's not that big a deal.

"Whom does samesex marriage affect?"

Let's now address the rest of your sentence, Massiel, "especially people whose decisions and lifestyles in no way directly affect our own."

If it remains legalized, Gay marriage will normalize as a part of society. Marriage will now be defined as between any two consenting persons.

Okay, then what?
Schools will teach it. Amongst all the defense regarding education, there is surprisingly no response to the event in which a 1st grade class had an official field trip to go see their teacher's lesbian wedding ceremony. Schools are very much going to be affected.

But schools are not required to teach about marriage.
Whether or not it's required to, it will. Why? Because marriage is a part of society. Marriage is connected to school subjects, it's mentioned in conversation, in pictures, it's connected to other topics. What happens when kids ask how babies are made? So in all the inclusion of marriage, schools would have to provide equal representation for all forms of marriage. Fairness under the law would demand it.

Okay, then what?
It gets to schools, and it gets to the home. All children become raised in an environment where marriage is between any two persons. This means that when Jayden thinks of marriage, there is no one picture that initially pops in his head. The whole idea of marriage becomes rethought for everyone in the next generation. How, then, do you explain that these decisions "in no way will directly affect our own?"

Samesex marriages will affect everyone.

This post isn't to say whether or not samesex marriage is moral or not, but to say that every person believes in one side, and pushes that belief on others. And the more you disagree with me, the more you prove my point. If this is to be dealt lawfully, then let our votes decide.

In maintaining the point of my original post, to explain why I'm voting "yes," I'm going to address what the Bible has to say about homosexuality. Thanks for reading.

Why I'm Voting Yes: The Follow-Up pt 1

2008-10-30T21:32:00.000-07:00

Thank you everyone who commented, whether or not you agreed with my post. I’m grateful for discussion and its reliable habit of refining my thinking. The response has been - I won't say overwhelming, as I should have know this was coming - a lot to handle, so I apologize for the wait. In my reading I’ve found the responses questioning my post seem to revolve around 3 main standpoints:

Universal standpoint - Is it respectful?

Legal standpoint - Is it just?

Biblical standpoint - Is it biblical?

Each of the comments has any one combination of the three, sometimes taking unlike positions in one paragraph. Note that these standpoints are not necessarily in agreement with one another, so for the sake of clarity I’m going to segment my posts thus. I don't know if I'm equipped enough in knowledge or breath (or the people’s attention for that matter) to reply to everything, but I will do my best to explain myself. I respect everyone's right to agree or disagree, to applaud or rebuke, and while I am firm in my response I assure you I'm not being spiteful. Okay, let’s begin with the universal:

Universal standpoint

- Is it okay to impose your beliefs on someone else?

Massiel: "Julian, everyone has a right to have an opinion. But where we as a society need to draw the line is when we try to impose our opinions on other people,"

The universal standpoint (others may have come across this concept as another term) is that, theoretically no one say imposes upon the other. Nobody can say what is right, and we are all right. Therefore for anything to be universal at all, unless all parties involved are already of one mind, nothing can be said. What happens when two incongruent beliefs come in contact?

"where we need to draw the line is when we try to impose our opinions on other people,"

We? Need? I didn’t consent to this. I want to draw the line where we can (kindly) impose our opinions on others. You see we’re already at a conflict of interest.

The statement is self-defeating. Telling me not to impose my opinion is, in it of itself, an imposition. Which is fine by me, of course, because I don’t draw the line there. The universal standpoint simply does not exist.

So is it okay to impose your beliefs on someone else? If done with patience and kindness, yes. It's natural, it's healthy, and no matter what, everyone does it. You don't have to agree, and you don't have to refrain from imposing your beliefs, because either you are, or they are. Now let's continue this discussion in a patient and kind matter, aware of exactly what it is we're doing.

In my next post I’m going to address the Legal standpoint, which includes the rest of Massiel’s sentence, "especially people whose decisions and lifestyles in no way directly affect our own."

Why I'm Voting Yes on Prop 8

2008-10-28T16:40:00.001-07:00

Taken from my Facebook:

I would like to begin by stating that my reasons are fundamentally biblical, which I'll elaborate on later. I simply wrote that I'm voting Yes on Prop 8 in my status. I left it at that because I wasn't sure what kind of response I was going to get; I suppose you can say I was testing the waters. My teal year spopper Ashley promptly commented:

"I respect your decision, but I really wish you wouldn't.
I'm not sure of your exact reasoning, but I'd just like to say a couple things about it.
1) Voting yes on prop 8 will take away a fundamental right of a group of people. (This is also known as discrimination)
2) Whether or not this prop is passed, there will still be homosexuals in existence, and individuals everywhere will still be exposed to them.
3) As it stands, gay marriage is permitted in California, and as it stands, I haven't heard of a SINGLE 'case of gay marriage' being taught in California.
4) This week, the California Superintendent of Schools released a commercial creating awareness about the TRUTH about gay-marriage-teachings; Schools are NOT required to teach about gay marriage.
5) The Yes on 8 commercial about the couple from Massachusetts is superfluous and irrelevant. Massachusetts' scholastic laws are completely different from California's.
6) The idea that gay marriage will inhibit religious freedom doesn't make any sense to me. If an individual believes that marriage SHOULD be between a man and a woman, THAT is what that individual can and WILL believe. There is no problem with that. There is, however, a problem in thinking that we as a people should be able to tell a minority group what they should and shouldn’t be allowed to do. ESPECIALLY when it has to do with love. Who are we to prohibit two people who want to spend the rest of their lives with each other that freedom?
Some will argue that the BIBLICAL ‘definition’ of marriage is that it is strictly between a man and a woman. While it DOES speak of husbands and wives, I haven’t seen a SINGLE sentence that pertains to homosexuality-positive or negative. If you can show me one anti-homosexual sentence in the bible, I might see an inkling of sense in the Yes on 8 campaign.
I hope this didn’t come off as disrespectful or anything of the sort—I just needed to share my opinion because though I’m heterosexual, I’m very passionate about this issue. Many people I love and care about are gay, and I’d like to make sure they are treated as equally as we are."

Thank you for taking the time to respond thoroughly and clearly, Ashley. No, you didn't come off disrespectful at all; quite the contrary. Nonetheless I appreciate you voicing your opinion honestly, and would like to do the same. That said, here's my response:

1) I keep hearing "fundamental right," but I haven't yet heard what right that is. Marriage? To call marriage a fundamental right is to say that those straight people who are unmarried are somehow treated unfairly. The reply may be that they still have the choice to get married, yet there are straight people who despite their best efforts never find the right one, or perhaps one even willing to marry them. Aren't they being robbed of their right too? How should that then get resolved? Arranged marriages? What then is the fundamental right? Pursuit of happiness? The "pursuit of happiness" argument certainly doesn't stop at marriage definition. You'd have to explain why we have all kinds of rules regulations. And despite societal standards, marriage is not necessary for happiness or even "greater happiness." As for discrimination, the argument I found on the No on Prop 8 website is that the amendment will be discriminatory against one group - gays and lesbians - which is untrue. If we're going to talk about who gets excluded, then we should include polygamists and minors without parental consent. Why are these groups not being fought for, or even acknowledged? If you change the structure of marriage once, who's to say it won't change again?
2) I have friends who are gay, and I agree that they'll exist no matter what I vote. That isn't in my reasoning.
3) School Field Trip to Teacher's Lesbian Wedding Sparks Controversy
4) Like in the article, while they may not be required to, that isn't to say that it won't happen.
5) I agree.
6) Prop 8 neither prohibits love, nor prevents two people from spending their lives together. Also, please keep in mind this won't eliminate civil unions.
God's word (the Bible) is my cornerstone for truth, and so my reasons for voting yes are both fundamentally and ultimately biblical. And while you could argue that I shouldn't be pressing my beliefs on others, I could argue the same to you. The pitch for voting "no" is despite how one feels, it's "unfair and wrong." Who says so? To say something is "wrong" HAS to fall on a set of beliefs, with which there is NO neutral ground. (I do believe there are moral absolutes, though, but that's another discussion altogether). In fact the Bible DOES speak about homosexuality. Per your request, here are some passages:

I Corinthians 6:9-11 - "9Or do you not know that the unrighteouswill not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

I Timothy 1:8-11 - "8Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers,liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 11in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted."

Also, in Genesis 19, Sodom (where we get the word "sodomy") and Gomorra were destroyed by God.
"The Genesis passage is very clear, that the sin of Sodom that brought on the destruction of the city was indeed linked to homosexuality." - R. Albert Mohler

I share a similar hope that I didn't come off as disrespectful, spopper. Please know that I still love and cherish my friendships with my gay friends. I would never hate or ostracize someone because of their lifestyle (whether gay, atheist, Buddhist, etc.), but I won't compromise the word of God. These choices clearly go against the Bible and I am not ashamed of the gospel and of Christ. May He be glorified in my actions and intentions with this post.