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