A few years ago while I was a senior at NU, I remember talking with a friend on AIM and mentioning to her how much pressure there was for me during that particular quarter.  Had a bunch of deadlines to meet, job interviews to conduct, resumes and applications to square out, and other complications going on at the time.  I didn't feel like I was gonna collapse, but I also knew need that there was just a whole of pressure being placed on me to get everything done.  Thus the phrase came out during that conversation that "I'll either become a diamond or dust, the former being preferred..."

I don't know what most people in the evangelical world are thinking or feeling right now.  I know less of how the asian christian church views this too.  I can only say for myself that there is a sadness in me after I learned about the sex scandal involving Ted Haggard this past week.  I did not know him personally, never been to his church, heard any of his sermons, read any of his books, but a sadness still exists for him, for his church, and overall for the Body as a whole.  It is not our duty to condemn or ignore him, but a time to find a path of forgiveness and redemption for him, and for the Body as well.

I wonder though, for Ted Haggard, what was it about his position, his influence, the power that was handed to him, that led him down a grayish, and eventually a self-destructive path?  Is it just because he was involved with too many things like his church and the evangelical association?  Did he get carried away by the power that was given to him?  Was it a fear that he couldn't measure up to the standards of what us evangelical followers consider holiness and righteousness?    Did he have a group of people that he could confess to, be held up by in times of great pressure?

Becoming a diamond or dust... what makes the difference? 

Last weekend, Sofia and I went to NH to do some mountain climbing / hiking with some people from Mosaic Boston. It was really fun for me as I hadn't done any hiking since my last time in Vermont. Was one of those trips that you look forward to, but with a little cautiousness, esp. after two years of no real hiking. The turn out was pretty good, esp. since this was the first hiking trip for many of us.

The trip brought back a lot of good, scary, and funny memories from the other hikes I've been on. It was also a great way for the group to bond and to get to know each other. Shared some funny memories, and we definitely played with the "danger" factor of the mountain for our amusement.

Nothing like having a gust of wind smack you in the chest to get you to sit down. Funny thing is, Sofia apparently didn't flinch when the wind nearly blew me off. Guess she's used to my antics...

Just glad I was able to do this after a 2 year hiatus. Appreciated it even more to have been able to do it with new friends and Sofia. Moments like these should always be shared.

So this story came to my attention last week while I was listening to some of my techie podcasts, such as Slashdot and Buzz Outloud.  Apparently over a year ago, paleontologists (dinosaur scientists) came across a T.Rex bone in Montana.  In order to transport it, the scientists decided that they had to split the bone in two to make it fit in the transport they had available.  To their astonishment, they found UNFOSSILIZED BLOOD, SOFT TISSUE, AND BLOOD VESSELS in the "70 million year old fossil."

Now, according to what many of us have been taught since elementary school, this shouldn't have happened.  Fossilization is supposed to take millions of years to complete, in which the organic material of bones are slowly replace with sediment and mineral deposits.  I would think 70 million years would be more than enough time to convert bone into stone if we based this assumption on the generally accepted view of fossilization.  This dramatic piece of evidence immediately brought several things into mind for me:

• Does fossilization really take millions of years to complete?


• Are we sure that the bone is over 70 million years old?


• Are there more bones that have the organic material still intact?


• Are we even certain that the accepted teaching of fossilization is accurate?
  

However, these kind of questions never came into mind from the podcast reporters and hosts that reported this story.  They all clearly were bewildered, and a few were afraid that a Jurassic Park scenario would arise, but they never even brought up the possibility that maybe what we were taught about fossilization and dinosaurs might not be that accurate.  Yes, it bothered me...

I totally understand that an individual's worldview can lead them down to certain biased conclusions.  It affects everyone, follower of Christ or not, we all have our own personal biases that enable us to interpret and understand the world around us.  What kinda saddens me is the growing lack of questioning and childlike inquisitiveness within western culture these days.  Maybe it's because we're so overloaded with information already, like too many songs on one's iPod, but it's been just a strange epiphany for me lately.

For myself, I acknowledge that I hold to particular worldview that doesn't look at "macro" evolution as viable, though I can't totally say I support intelligent design (because I hadn't taken significant time to research it).  It is, however,  instances like the T.Rex soft tissue discovery, that has made me question my once heart felt position of "macro" evolution.  It took a couple of years after I came into relationship with Christ that this position of mine changed, but as I saw more and more of the holes and inconsistencies that I kept seeing from the supporters of this idea, I couldn't ignore it anymore.

Anyhows, another random musing, I admit.  Though, I will say...I really hope no one tries to go "Jurassic Park" on those blood cells.  I don't think that would be a very good idea at all...

As I mentioned in my last entry, Sept. 30, 2006 marked the day that Peter Sun & Chia Chi Tan came together to be husband and wife. It has been almost a year since the day that Peter proposed and now the new couple is getting ready to head off to their honeymoon to get some nice suntans. Hawaii must be extremely nice during the fall season. 

I have to admit that I've come to enjoy weddings for the most part. Though they are rather expensive affairs, which require a lot of planning, people, time, and money, there is something about the community aspects, the solemn vows, the officiality, and a clear monument for memories that makes weddings special for me.

I'm guessing my opinion is in the minority considering how our culture has been viewing marriage lately. So many times one would watch a TV show that featured weddings and over time, like the Miranda rights, one can recite those weddings vows on cue with the actors because of how many times they've been regurgitated time and time again. Even if the couple decided to do their own vows, more often than not in our times, the vows resemble more like the pop-music love songs we hear on the radio or iTunes.

Years ago, I listened to a speaker who commented that even if one were to create one's own vows, that the words "to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part" must somehow become incorporated in them.  Over time, I've come to agree with him.  Those words convey more than just...

Those traditional words point at a love that is...

Committed...not fickle.
Steady...not shaky.
Solid...not porous.
Courageous...not cowardly.
Sacrificing...not selfish.
Precious...not rubbish.

In a society and culture that is so confused about marriage, relationships, gender, morality, and justice, maybe what the followers of Jesus need to grow in is becoming a people who reflect the same kind of love and actions that reflect the love that Christ has for His Church & the submission of the Church to her Savior. Maybe, instead of putting so much of our faith in our political parties, our policies, our church bylaws, and our culture's expected behavioral rules, maybe we need to learn again what does it mean for a husband to unconditionally love his wife as a wife unconditionally respects and submits to her husband. Maybe that is where our culture needs to go back to, a time when marriage was more than just about us...but to a time when it pointed at the Divine.

Either case, just the self-reflections of a single dating guy again. I have high hopes for Peter & Chia Chi. It is very clear that they love each other, and by God, may they continue to do right by Him, with each other, and with the community as a whole.

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Other SunTan Wedding Photos (2 from Lisa S.)

Well, it's less than 2.5 hours away from the moment those two will tie the knot, exchange the rings, do the dance. Congrats to the couple and may their unity reflect something more glorious in the time to come.

Had an interesting past weekend as I went to BCEC's Fall Conference.   The topic at the conference interested me, and it was a good experience overall.  It was good to see some people again, hang out, talk, play some games, and come back smelling like charcoal.

Speaking of which, I think it is funny how when we grow up, we chide children whenever they get too close to a fire or start playing with matches, but when left alone, grown up men like to play with fire as well.    It must have been a funny site for the women at the bonfire to see a group of grown men take sticks and branches and try to ignite them in the flames.  Have to admit, it kept reminding me of "Survivor" or "Lord of the Flies."  Only side effect as I mentioned before... all of my clothes smelled like charcoal when I got back to the bunkhouse.

        

Normally after Fall Conference, I usually stayed a little longer to say bye to some people and just take my time back to Boston.  However, this year was different as I promised that I was going to attend a friend's bachelor's party later that afternoon.  I had supposedly 2 hours to get back to Boston, drop off my stuff, head to Braintree, and do some F1 Race Car racing.  Unfortunately, had to skip step 2 and just head straight to the race track because of time and the sudden downpours that swept by.

The F1 racing was SOOOOO fun!  You only go about 35-40 mph, but in a small indoor track, that's pretty fast!  Thankfully, no broken bones, no whiplash, and I didn't destroy the car.  Though, word of caution, watch out for those who keep breaking the rules.  During the race I experienced my first race car spin out, and that was definitely a weird sensation to say the least.  Not fun when two cars squish you from the left and behind and then let your car do a triple axle spin.  

Anyhows, a fun way to end the weekend and to celebrate the man of the hour before he takes his vows.  Who knows, maybe one day he'll think of this as a longtime career.  

So last night I was my parents' home, having dinner with mom as we watched the news together (a quasi mother-son thing we do I guess), and an interesting story came up that looked into a research study that Baylor University had just completed and published.  Baylor University, which happens to be a private Christian university, decided to do a national survey and attempt to calculate what percentage of US citizens believed in a "God" or "Higher Power".  I was quite surprised by the results.

What was even more interesting was when they delved deeper into the subject, they came out with #s on what were the major perspectives on what God was like.  The breakdown was followed:

Just got back from a weekend of fun, talks, prayer, music, and worship of God at Summer Teen Conference 2006. It was a memorable & meaningful conference for me because this was the last conference that my first Sunday School students could still participate in as "students." It's amazing to see how much these students had changed & grown over the 5 years I've been in YM. Still found it hard to believe that I had arrived to this defining moment.

The theme of this year's STC was focused on The Lead of Love of God in our lives. We talked about how He leads us is in the same way He led His Son, even to a Cross. However, despite the times of joy & hardship, they all are meant to lead us to discover that He is the ultimate treasure for our lives.

As for me, looking back at the road so far, my journey has had its own share of triumphs and scars. I never imagined 5 years ago that I would be where I am. I never imagined 5 years ago that I would have taught almost every grade in the YM. Nor did I ever planned on becoming good friends with several of these students, but God is good and gave me bonds with them that I would had only dreamt of.

All in all, it was a good way to close the summer and begin a new chapter in life. Where will He lead my students? Where will He lead me? Not sure, but then again...

God desires more than an act of faith, he wants active faith.

Wherever that goes, He is there.

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Summer TC 2006 pics

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And now for your moment of Zen...

Have a good week everyone!  Will let you all know how the "Family visit" goes at Montana when we get back!

Later.