love = purpose?

What is the purpose and end of God's love? What does he say to the woman caught in adultery?

" When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, 'Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?' She said, 'No one, Lord.' And Jesus said to her, 'Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.' " [John 8:10-11]

Sadly in today's culture we emphasis the great message of forgiveness - "neither do I condemn you" - but forget the command to "go and sin no more." Both are equally important in understanding God's love toward us. God does not throw around His love carelessly, but purposely pours it out on His own children for their salvation and sanctification.


What does God desire from us as believers? I would say Colossians 3 gives us a good practical answer to that question. Done.

*Jaiqu

broken = dish?

One of my favorite quotes comes from a secular professor at Cal Poly.

"Christianity is for the broken-hearted" - Dr. Harlin

Of all he said, that alone is most true. For God breaks and mends. And what God has broken, He will mend in His time. Done.

*Jaiqu

soooo = long

It has been quite long since i posted on this blog. To all of you who have lost sleep wondering what insanity I have been up to; and what stories I have been withholding from these grand pages of the internet...I am now engaged to my wonderful wife-to-be, Chelsea Heath.

Yes, you read that right...I am engaged.

This seems to be a great surprise to many people. Perhaps because I used to be adamantly pro-single; perhaps just because I am a Software Engineering [who are not famed for their social skills].

So yes, I am terribly in love...and quite a sweet malady it is.

Chelsea and I have started a blog on our whole wedding planning process called "Married by March." I don't know how much more I will be posting on this blog, but if you care to keep up with me you can subscribe to our blog.

So long. Done.

*Jaiqu

be = sure

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14

God has, throughout all of human history, reserved for Himself a remnant. At the flood, He did not save the whole, but the remnant. At the calling of Abram, He did not save the whole, but the remnant. At the rescue of Lot, He did not save the whole, but the remnant. At the establishment of Joseph, He did not save the whole, but the remnant. At the anointing of David, He did not save the whole, but the remnant. At the exile of Israel and Judah, He did not save the whole, but the remnant. At the calling of His Church, He did not save the whole, but the remnant. And now, in this day, is God suddenly given to change? No! For the scriptures declare that He does not change [Malachi 3:6]. Then how is it that some are given over to the deception that all will be saved? For God, by His sovereign mercy, has not condemned all to their just punishment, but has saved some.

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' " Matthew 7:21-23

And if not all are saved, who are you to boast of your faith? Instead, boast - in faith - of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Indeed, how can we boast unless we know and are known by our Redeemer? Therefore, as Peter commends the brethren to "be even more diligent to make your call and election sure" let us, who are called, seek to know the fruit of our calling, that we may be confident in the work of Christ.

"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose." Philippians 2:12-13

If then we are called to fear and trembling; of what do we fear? But as Solomon taught his son "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge." And do we fear without reason, as one cowering before an empty shadow at night? But what does Jesus Himself say; "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Therefore there is a judgement and not all will be judged faithful. Know your salvation, that in that day you may enter as a son and an heir, and not as an enemy; unknown to God.

"Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." 2 Corinthians 5:9-10

How can we receive a blessing, and not the rightful curse of death, unless we bear good fruit? But good fruit only comes through the indwelling of the Spirit and the work of the Son. For no one, apart from faith, can do anything good deserving of blessing. How much more then are we incapable of earning our own salvation! But the fruit of salvation is good works. What comes first? The root or the fruit? It is the root which is established first and only after that grow the branches which then produce fruit. Therefore if we are not rooted in Christ we are unable to bear fruit. And if we do not produce good fruit then the work of Christ has had effect in us.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned." John 15:5-6

We know this then; that God has saved a remnant, that we are called to examine our salvation to know if we are part of that remnant, that we are to do so in reverent fear of the just Judge and that we are to know true salvation by the fruit it produces.

Done.

*Jaiqu

single = no

I am sorry that I have not posted in so long.  As many of you, if not all of you, know...I am no longer single.  Chelsea and I have been dating for almost three weeks now [wow have I really not posted in that long?].  She has been a constant encouragement and blessing to me the last three weeks, even the last three months.  The greatest thing is that she shares the same passion for Jesus Christ and for the Word of God.  How extraordinarily rare it is today to find even one godly woman who desires to know the scriptures!  How much more fruitful the church would be if we all desired to know and live out the truth of the Bible.  I desire to live my life in such a way that others would desire more to know the Word of God and furthermore to submit to it.  Just like in Malachi 3:10, what if we tried God in this, to submit to the entirety of His Word, to see if He does not sanctify and bless us who are His children for doing so.  That is my challenge to you today.  Done.

*Jaiqu

post = new

I'm working on a new post.  It's an open letter to my home church and her sister churches.  I actually wrote it a while back and just recently found it again.  Since I wrote it with scripture in mind, I am now typing it up as a blog post and linking in a verse to each phrase; as appropriate.  Since there will be so many links [twenty-two so far and I'm only a third of the way done] I'm going to be using link titles [like this: Nifflas Games], that way you can know which verse I'm referencing before you click the link.  I encourage people to read the verses in multiple versions, though I personally prefer the NIV and NKJV.  Hopefully I will finish the letter later today, though no guarentees.

In other news; spring break was awesome.  I went to Disneyland [happiest place on Earth...I still reserve judgment on that assertion], raced go-karts at Boomers [very fun], hiked Bishop's peak, went to the drive-in movie theater [we saw Monsters vs Aliens and Race to Witch Mountain...the first was funny, the second was alright] and spent a day in Monterey at the aquarium.  Overall a great week.  Plus I caught up on sleep and got to enjoy much good fellowship [and BBQs!].  Praise God.  Done.

*Jaiqu

Ebenezer = help

Before Ebenezer was a character in the play 'A Christmas Carol', before 'hum-bug' or the muppets, Ebenezer was the name of a rock.  Ebenezer literally translates 'Stone of Help.'  It's found in 1 Samuel 7.

"Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, 'Thus far the LORD has helped us.' " - 1 Samuel 7:12

This is the same passage refered to in that famous hymn 'Come Thou Fount' when it sings "Here I raise my Ebenezer / Here by Thy great help I’ve come."

So here I raise my Ebenezer.  YHWH has helped me thus far.  He has carried me through this quarter and has each day provided for my daily needs.

Praise God.  Done.

*Jaiqu

correction = good

"Do not grow weary in doing good" (2 Thessalonians 3:13).  I so easily grow weary.  Again; "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.  A man reaps what he sows.  The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers" (Galatians 6:7-10).

Today, on my way to hang out with a friend who has been sick all week, I passed through farmer's market.  At the end of the street was a hungry beggar (or so I deduced from the words on his sign).  I had half a pulled pork sandwich, fresh from Firestone's, in my backpack.  I could have given the man my sandwich and shared the gospel with him.  He might be my brother in Christ, but I won't know because I passed him by...I somehow thought that my friend could not wait an extra fifteen minutes.  How much more valuable is the gospel than fifteen minutes more with a friend?  I was so blasphemous as to think that I was doing good in entertaining my friend when my real purpose here is not to please men but God.  How is it that I had grown so weary of doing good that it was an annoyance for me to take the time to share the gospel?  The gospel is the good news of repentence unto the forgiveness of sins.   If I have been saved through hearing the gospel, how is it that I am hesitant to speak the gospel?  I have not yet understood the gospel aright.  For if I understood the gospel correctly, I would want nothing but to freely share it with all who would hear.  I would shout it out and not hold it back.

But instead of reaping blessing I reap bitterness and anger.  I grow callous and hard-hearted.  I spite and complain.  This is not my desire but the product of my wandering focus, my wayward heart.  So I, again, must get down on my knees and pray;

"Father God,

Forgive me for being self-centered.  Forgive me for being inward and outward focused instead of being upward focused.  Forgive me for my pride, my anger, my spite and my waywardness.

I praise you that you love me despite my inability to stay focused on you.  Thank you for rescuing me from the power of sin.  Thank you for salvation.  Thank you for constantly providing for me; physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

Circumcise my heart.  Cleanse my heart from any evil desire and plant right desires within me.  Cause me to stay focused on you.  Do not let me forget your lovingkindness.  For you are God.

Grant me wisdom and discernment; teach me to love rightly, that I might please you.

Your glory shines forever.  Blessed is your name in all the earth.

I pray this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen."

Done.

*Jaiqu

alive = still

I am still alive...barely.  I would write a blog about the effects of sleep deprivation on the body...but I'm too sleep deprived to think.  I guess that's one effect.  The quarter is almost over.  Just eight more days then I'm done [hopefully].  Everyone please pray that I survive through this week.  God is so good.  It's only because of Him that I have made it this far.  I can't wait for Hume Lake next weekend and spring break two weeks from now.  Oh, and Portland a couple weeks after that! And Felipe's wedding the weekend before that.  Wow I have a lot of cool stuff coming up...I just need to survive five more days to get to the first of it.  Praise God.  Done.

*Jaiqu

valentines = black

Happy black valentines.  I used to be outspokenly content in my singleness.  This year I celebrated black valentines by helping put on a valentines day dinner for 86 people.  Apparently I'm getting soft.

I find it interesting to understand how people perceive me, because I know how I perceive myself and how I think others perceive me...but I am sure that other's perception of me is different than I might intend.  So just to explain myself a little.  I don't focus much on my appearence because I never want anyone to like me just for how I look.  The obsession with looks in today's culture makes me sick.  I do appreciate beauty though, and I do dress up from time to time (though I don't think I will ever be comfortable in a tie).  I like the color black and it so happens that many of my clothes are black.  If anything, it is just a lasting remnant of the fact that I used to be depressed, nothing more.  I used to be emotionally mute, in that I sought to suppress or hide much of my emotion.  If I am ever not smiling, it is because I am stressed or tired or both (smiling may use less muscles than frowning, but doing neither is even less work).  I used to be extremely non-physical, so if you're my friend and I avoid a hug...it's only because I'm not in the mood that day, not because I don't like you.  I am easily annoyed by overly flirtatious women.  I have never been good with speaking my mind when it comes to certain topics.  If you think I am a jerk because I never complement you...I'm sorry, I don't complement anyone enough.  When I do complement you though, I mean it.  If I ask for your opinion, I want it (even if it doesn't seem like I heed it).  If I ask you how life is, I am looking for a meaningful answer.  I am notoriously horrible at keeping in touch with people, I still would love to talk to you, I am just too focused on whatever I am currently doing to remember to call you.  If I forgot your birthday, it's only because I didn't have it written down somewhere convenient.  I am constantly sarcastic, if you think I am making fun of you; I'm not.  I do the same stupid things and make a fool of myself too.  My laughter is just a recognition of our humanity.  I would never insult someone point blank.  I consider myself a trustworthy person and I disdain gossip.  There are very few people on this earth to whom I am fully committed, who could ask anything from me for their good and I would instantly seek to grant them whatever they asked.  I've probably never told you if you are on that list, but I bet you could figure it out if you thought about it.  I love those who are my family in Christ.  If I ever seem overbearing at all in my conversations about Christianity, it is only because I am zealous for your good.

So everyone; post a comment.  Let this be a poll of sorts.  Tell me your perception of me, candidly please; I have no use of lies or soft truths.  I'm also interested to know who all reads my blog, so tell me how often you read my blog (and your name of course).  Let my pride humble me.  Done.

*Jaiqu

If you want to write a particulary scathing or especially personal response you can email me at mersayochan [at] gmail [dot] com instead.

I just realized that I often write my blog posts in second person.  Just to be clear, I am not writing to just one person.  Often when I write 'you' I am writing to all my friends and family.

passage = Micah

Micah 7:18-20 (NKJV):

"Who is a God like You,

Pardoning iniquity

And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage?

He does not retain His anger forever,

Because He delights in mercy.

He will again have compassion on us,

And will subdue our iniquities.

You will cast all our sins

Into the depths of the sea.

You will give truth to Jacob

And mercy to Abraham,

Which you have sworn to our fathers

From days of old."

Do you know that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were not the original names of Daniel's friends?  Those names were given to them by the king of Babylon in homage to the gods of Babylon.  Their Hebrew names were all testaments to God's glory, not to that of false gods.  Shadrach was first called Hananiah which means "the Lord is gracious" while Meshach was originally called Mishael which means "who is like the Lord?" and Abednego was called Azariah which means "the Lord is my Helper."  I especially like the name Mishael; for who is like our God? Done.

*Jaiqu

focus = lost

I got three and a half hours of sleep last night.  Not optimal.  My ability to focus on anything right now is minimal.  It may be my curse that God has gifted me with the desire and ability to do so well academically that often my sanity is sacrificed for it.  But I'm going to sleep soon.  A passage for you to meditate on; Matthew 22:1-14.  And a blog for you to read; I'm all in, but only by His strength from my friend, and sister in Christ, Chelsea.  Of course, you can always see what blogs I am following by checking the sidebar under "what Jaiqu reads."  My father recently wrote an interesting post on his blog entitled; I didn't win the lottery.  He brings up many interesting points I wish I had the focus and background to address now.  I hope to write a post in the future addressing the seemingly most controversial of the five points of Calvinism; limited atonement.  I'm not decided yet though.  I know that the Bible makes many statements that, at least on the surface, seem to state that Christ died for everyone's sins.  But at the same time, limited atonement follows logically from the other points of Calvinism which are all backed extensively by scripture.  So I am intrigued by the controversy and seek to delve deeper into what scripture says on this topic, for we must submit to scripture and not to human understanding.  In all things, God is good.  Praise God that He saved me.  Praise God for those He has, is and will save; they are my family in Christ.  Done.

*Jaiqu

romans = encouraging

Romans 8 is incredibly encouraging.  Here is a shotgun snippet of Romans 8 that I have found encouraging today: Romans 8:1-4, 15, 18, 26-39.  But really you should read all of Romans 8.  Or better yet, all of Romans.  Or better yet, the whole Bible!  Praise God.  His will will be done.  Done.

*Jaiqu

micro = more

I realized today that if I updated my facebook status even slightly more often it could be considered microblogging.  It's funny how microblogging is something you do more often and not less.  I mean, I find that interesting...it seems that the word micro should have a temporal and not just spatial meaning.  But it doesn't in this case.  Da well.  Well I won't let facebook take away from my 'real' blogging.  Unfortunately, I have nothing more to say right now...so...yeah.  Done.

*Jaiqu

neck = hurts

I now know what helmets are for...they are for keeping you out of the hospital.  So a curb jumped in front of me...it just appeared right in front of me.  I hit it pretty hard and flew off my bike.  Praise God that He has gifted me with fairly good reflexes; I automatically went into a roll.  Unfortunately I rolled right over my head.  Since I was wearing a helmet all I got was a headache and not a trip in the ambulance...again.  I'm fine now, thank God.  Just scrapes and a sore neck.  Damn curbs.  Done.

*Jaiqu