The week of hell

I'm sure everyone just as I am is totally stressed out from school.

So my assignment/exam due list is as follows:
Group presentation tomorrow, Decision analysis project due monday, 50% security exam Tues, Possibly exam on thurs, final project due fri. 

So yea, we're alllll sooo busy, but I am reminded that we can find calmness among all of this that God is here with us, and God will pull us through.

Spend some time with God, lift everything up to Him when you feel stressed out, and I can guarentee you that you will be more focused, more energized, and more motivated to finish your tasks =)

God Bless

Godly Man

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ravi+zacharias+%22Godly+Man%22&search_type=&aq=f

This week I've been watching these talks by Ravi Zacharias
I really enjoy Ravi's talks on every topic. He gives this talk from the Book of Daniel
but he does it in such a way that it's heart wrenching and life moving.
If you guys have some time this week to watch these videos.
You never know, you may learn something :P
~Allan

Finding Calmness in the midst of Craziness

Soo, just finished writing my final, brain is fried.

A committee meeting in 10 minutes, a midterm in 18 hours and a project due in 30 hours. Things have been nuts, but finding calmness on the way to school.... small victories here and there.

So I wanted to ask everyone... how many of us can still sing praises while things are tough? When the things that we're encountering seem soooo.... dependent on the things of this world? When it's about things like... academics? Which are sooo dependent on studying, notes, etc?

How many of us can still sing praises when the going is tough and the keys to success seem soo... worldly? And not on God?

Wonders of the day

What was the first definition of Wonder that came to mind?

is it the Wonder in terms of pondering?
or is it the Wonder in terms of amazing happenings?

Well there's a bit of both.

Wonders (amazing happening)=

I woke up at 7:30 am when I usually wake up around 8:30 earliest.

Wonders (pondering)
As Christians, how many people do we deal with on a daily basis who do not know God?
How many people do we have on our phone list who are non-christians who we just never call?

I challenge everyone to call or talk to someone about God sometime this week, whether it be a short conversation or a long one.

Us Before Agrippa

This week was rather stressful and I craved all week to rest. Yet, forever reason, God did not give me the rest I required. This isnt really part of the story, I just thought I'd add it in.
All week I've been plagued by this ponderment of how to approach people withthe gospel. I had a rather interesting meeting with Bryan, and without revealling to much, he reminded me how sometimes when we evanglize there is something inside us that pulls us backwards. Why when we try to spread the word, the words gets caught in our throat, and for some reason they sound wrong when we play them in our head.
It made me wonder why, what was causing this disunity in me?
As I took a stock of everythign over the last week, I really got an understanding of depth of sin still in me. I quietly prayed and asked God to reveal it more and more to me and that I would have the power to change. How this disunity in me the "war in my soul" as Paul would put it. Really affects so much in my life.

Towards the 2nd part. About how to Evanglize...I looked to Paul before Agrippa in Acts chp 25-26.I won't go into to much detail, but if you have time look at how Paul dictates to the High Roman Crowd. Most of which are officials and how he explains his circumstances and how such circumstances have changed his life. I think that's the key, we need to reveal teh truth about Christ and the changing power.

~Allan

Sex, lust and all of that

Sex, lust is a huge topic to cover. There are so many guys out there (Christian guys) who struggle with this. Honestly, It's something huge I struggle with too.

I've been talking with lots of Christian guys about this and through this journey I've learnt so much.

Sex
First, God wants us to have awesome sex. Like seriously. He wants it to be the best most fun and kinky (in a good Christian way) thing we can share with our wives. But that's the thing. It's with our wives. As you all know, we shouldn't be having sex before marriage. Yes, it is immoral and all that but honestly it's because God wants the best for us. It's proven somewhere (google it, I'm lazy) that the more sexual partners you have before marriage the higher chance of divorce there is and it makes total sense! Look, if you had sex with like 12 chicks than got married. What would be in your head when you're making sweet love to your wife? Exactly, all those other 12 chicks. Comparing her to them and picturing them in your head. God wants the best for us. He obviously wants us to stay married and dedicated to one woman all our lives and that's why there's kind of that rule in the bible.

Not only that, but it may sound a bit crazy, but when you have sex with someone it's more than just having sex. Sex was only meant to be shared between your wife and you. When you have sex a spiritual linkage occurs. Sex is something so sacred and when you take something so sacred and spread it out like free candy it's going to take away how special it is between you and your wife.

I'll be honest, in my past relationship with my ex-girlfriend we had sex. It was the worst decision I've made and I honestly wish I could take it back. I thought I was in love with this girl when in fact it was just pure lust.

Surprisingly enough that happens quite a lot. We mix up our feelings of love and lust and we can't tell the difference.

I grew up with an abusive father that never truly showed me affection. That's why I was craving for love from her and I could only fill that empty void with physical satisfaction.

Masturbation
Now this is a huge thing we all struggle with. And if you say "PSH... no way" than sir, I salute you. I struggle with this quite a bit. It's something that some may be addicted to.

Honestly, the act of masturbation isn't a sin. Check the bible, it's nowhere to be found unless you're talking about old testament stuff with Onan who "spills his seed" and God zaps his arse for that. Onan wasn't choking the his chicken. What happened was his brother died so it was his responsibility as a brother to impregnate his brother's wife but what he did was he pulled out before he gave out his "seed." Anyway, the action of masturbation is one of those grey areas that many can discuss for hours.

The thing that IS a sin though is lust. Who honestly can masturbate and not lust at the same time? Well if thats you, than dang do you have a messed up mind. Anyway, when we lust it's basically committing adultery. I would find where it states that in the bible but again I am lazy and I'm sure it's there I've read it a billion times. So therefore, Masturbation is a sin because it leads or is caused by lust.

Checking Out Chicks
Oh boy, do I have a problem with this. And than again, so do many many other guys. You aren't alone!

God gave us two eyes to see, and if we see something beautiful we're going to go and look at it. If this really awesomely pretty girl walks down the street my eyes naturally are attracted to her. It's like how our pupils are attracted to lighter colors. It's like BAM! Woah... perrrrdyy gurlll.. But that's the thing. You can admire how beautiful a girl is but that's totally different from perving out on her.

What happens a lot is that I see a really beautiful girl, I'm talking stunning, walk down the opposite side of the road. I see her but than I glance away staring at the floor. When I first glanced I already acknowledged that she's a fine specimen of female but I choose not to stare again because I don't want her getting the wrong impression and most of all I don't want to be focusing on the wrong things.

If you catch your eyes staring at the wrong places than quickly divert them away. It happens. Our eyes automatically look for things. Focus on their eyes. Girls love eye contact but that's not what's important. What is important is that you aren't feeding that lustful side of you.

Because of what I've done in the past all those images really have stuck in my head. It sucks, I wish I could just rip them out of my brain but I'll have to endure it and pray against it.

In conclusion...

If you find yourself lusting, LOOK TO MARRIAGE. Everytime those thoughts come up in my head I start praying for my future wife and pray that God prepares me for HER. Through mind, body, and soul.

Weird happenings

Lately at work (Hollister), I've been finding myself in more and more spiritual conversations.  Most of them not started by me, but by the people who just suddenly decide to randomly ask me questions.

So one conversation I had was the "debate" between Creationism vs. Evolutionism.

It started when I was just doing my work normally, and there was this girl who was working on an overlapping shift at the back with me.  So she decides to start the conversation with:

Girl: "Hi, what highschool did you go to?"  

Jon: "AY Jackson" 

Girl: "Never heard of it
Jon: "It's a public school in north york"
Girl: "Oh, I go to a catholic school, but I don't believe in the Catholic ways"

Jon *intrigued*

Jon "So what do you believe in then?"

Girl "I believe in Evolutionism!"

Jon *chuckles* "So why do you believe in evolutionism rather than creationism?"

Girl "I don't know, you need to ask me specific questions"

Jon *thinks to self... didn't i just ask you a question?"

        "So give me an example of evolution"

Girl "Ummm.... you know the fish that live at the bottom of the sea? They had to evolve so that they can survive in that environment in the water pressure, lack of light, and stuff like that"

Jon "So, you're saying that fish originated from shallow water?"

Girl "NO! i'm just saying they evolved to that"

Jon *wonders.. wheres the logic in that???*

...

..

*more chatting that is similar to the illogical argument above*

....

...

Jon "So in school you learned all about creation and stuff right?"

Girl "Yea but I don't believe in that bullsh*t and I think Evolutionism explain things better"

Throughout the entire conversation I picked out a couple of things:

- People believe in what they want to believe.

- People are illogical/stupid

- She might have a negative past experience

But neway, that was that.  Interesting conversation.  Not very smart girl.

So last night, my manager was being really pmsy, and he was complaining about how he had to work alot tomorrow and asked why I couldn't work on Fridays.  I told him I had church to go to. He was quite shocked and asked Why i was going to church and goes on to explain how his mother's ex-boyfriend made him go attend a mass when he was a kid and forced him to miss the Finals for his soccer game with his friends and thus letting all his friends down.  He also explained that when he was a kid, he loved soccer and it brought joy to him.  So he goes on to explain how he thinks that what brought him joy also brought God "joy" and that religeon is just another form of slavery.
After hearing his story, I asked him: "So if some guy finds joy in mass murder, does that mean by killing other people, that will bring "joy" to God?"
He replies by saying that the guy who find joy in killing people is sick and doesn't bring "joy" to God.  Logically speaking... its the same.  But of course doing what gives you joy doesn't always give joy to God.

Final thoughts:

Among both of the conversations I've had, they both had a question that most people who don't (or refuse) to believe ask:
"Why does God allow all these bad things to happen to people, like earthquakes, hurricanes and stuff to happen?"

I'll leave this question for people to comment on.

Last Couple of Weird Days

The last few days have been interesting indeed.
I was riding that high after the Fin501 midterm and then everything sorta fell out of place
it's weird sometimes how when you don't feel like doing anything, you can't get into that grove of studying. You'd think after so many years of midterms you'd be amazing at it by now, but no, Epic miss indeed.

However, I havent gotten my results yet, so crossing my fingers for that.

I got a chance to share the gospel with one of my group members the other day. Wow that didnt go super well at all, however I felt it was necessary I felt him sort of shift and think about the possibility that One God can exist and that perhaps not all thought systems is right. It's hard to gather all your thoughts sometimes and make them into clear and effective sentences. I've been trying to spend the last few days to maybe lay out a game plan for how better to evanglize to the people around me. I feel everyone needs Jesus. From smallest to greatest. Without Jesus there is no hope....Jesus Needs to be preached!!!

fun times.

It is said that money cannot buy happiness, but i'll tell u, the lack of money is more than enough to purchase plenty of unhappiness.

My mom is currently unemployed and stays at home watching her stocks. for those that do not know, both my parents are from hong kong.. but they come from different worlds. my mom comes from the slums, where she tells me she and her 8 brothers and sisters lived within 4 walls covered by a tarp for a good portion of their teenage years. She came to Canada around 19 and has an incomplete high school education. She is also semi disabled in that only one of her legs fully function.. so she pretty much hops around.. painfully.

my father, was a lot better off as his parents owned some factories who have become relatively successful. He however has a terrible memory, and although he has a bachelor of arts from laurier.. well in monetary terms he has never been successful.

I am not going to get into it, but my parents have gone through some extremely terrible lows in their poverty. during the past week, ive seen my mom become more and more disheartened as she watched her stocks plummet.. our only true remaining asset is our house which is valued currently around $400, 000. This is the thing they have fought to keep for the past 10 years.. because selling it seemed a very viable option with their constnat financial and employment issues. but to sell it would almost mean they spent 30 years in canada and had nothing to show for it.

Ok so heres the thing, my mom asked me to pray with her that day we were watching their rrsps go to hell. during this prayer she goes through like a timeline of how gods been thorugh her life.. how she was able to have children.. marry a university student.. come to canada.. become a christian.. il tell ya.. some of the things she said rippedm e apart on the inside. by the end of it she was bawling and i was holding back the tears. she ended by saying "im not unhappy, i am extremely grateful for all that is in my life right now". this was sort of an epiphany for her as she was very unhappy during the prayer. i do not know where this is going.. but i cna honestly say that i agree. i have never been too upset at my financial situation.. but rather its impact on my family.. i too am extremely grateful for all that is in my life for i have so much more than so many others.. i have clothes, food, shelter, education, hope, and love. There's a lot more i can say as a majority of my testimony revolves around my poverty(we should b at or slightly below the poverty line),but that's for another day. il end off wit this..

if God is for us, who then can be against us?

Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008

Note: This will be done differently, like an interview. =P. Hope this works out.

Interviewer: Sooo, how's everything mr. brian yee??

byee: Well, things have been tiring and challenging. As this school year progresses, I feel..... slowly but surely... the sensation of burning out.

Interviewer: Why so? What's been happening?

byee: Well, there's just soo much to do. So many things pulling at me from different areas and different directions. And tho I believe I'm pretty good at keeping all things rolling, I feel a need to pull back at times. A time of rest.

Interviewer: Hmm.. interesting. So what's holding you back from taking a period of time off.

byee: Cause life wasn't meant to be easy. I know that... and I guess for me I see that this year has been such a huge growth period for me, so I continue the push. And with growth, there will always be pain and challenges. For me I guess, I just pray that He'll continue to take me through this year. Cause I can't do this on my own, not with my smarts, my heart, my efforts, etc.. but only through Him.

Interviewer: So you're relying on Him, God?? to.... be your refuge of rest and hope.

byee: Absolutely. Cause I'm nothing without Him. And if I'm good, it's only becuase He is.

Interviewer: Interesting concept brian.. mind if I ask where is that from before we finish up this interview?

byee: Definitely... from my favourite book, the bible. It's in the book of 1 John. "We love, because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19.



Brian Yee

Actually I forgot what I was suppose to post about, since I already read through Brian T's post i will just copy him and post about my week. Before I start I will like to apologize about two things one the late post, and two any grammar mistakes I may have or will have in these couple of paragraphs. By the way Happy Thanksgiving Day, hope we can post about things we are thankful for.

Now back on topic, My week was alright. god has taught me a lot over the duration of 7 days since last Monday. It's really cool how God teaches us through anything, from us reading the word to even just walking on the street. God can use anyone or thing to tell us what he wants from us. For me God has taught me what he wants from me day by day. Every time i pick up the bible and read it I learn something. Yesterday was a blessing from God, God taught me through the sermon yesterday. The sermon was on Ezekiel 16 :1-2, read this yourselves our pastor warned us about how most of us live our lives, how God loved us and blessed us, but we sin against him. It was a really powerful message.

Our church right now is going to do a book together called the Journey, I hope that you guys can pray that everyone will get something from it, and God will lead his church towards His will. Pray also for the unity in my church that there will not be any separations due to age groups and most importantly the growth in our youths towards The Lord God. Thanks

As i end I hope and pray that through this blog and through MSG we as a group will grow together in the Lord. May we encourage each other.

Thanks ~ Richard Chan

The first is the worst.

this is the first post of our brand spanking new blog... i have a feeling i could have foudn a more appropirate template wut w/e, it serves its purpose so you are all gonig to have to live with it.

Okay so this week has been, like most weeks, mundane yet busy. plenty of school stuff to do as i have missed a large percentage of my classes to date(in process of changing) and midterms were just around the corner. i must have stuided for like 3 days straight for my 2 back to back midterms (monday and tuesday).. i am always amazed at how a little fear, whether stemming from school or any other source can lead you right to God. People often say that we only turn to God when we help or something like that, and i do not disagree with them.. however i find that it allows us to experience certain characterisitcs of GOd such as love and mercy.. i mean we gotta admit it sometimes we pass a test or difficulkty due soley to mercy as opposed to the 5 pounds of goop in our heads that we have come to rely on so heavily.

I am trying these days to achieve a better level of physical health as i am trying to steer clear of the common cold... and whatever else the aging process has in store for me. Eating less, doing more exercise.. being more concious of what goes in my mouth and so on. Lol i have no idea why anyone would want to know this but its my blog so boo-erns to them. however, i do believe that our society is greatly falling prey to the sweet allure of ignorance when it comes to food and exercise. i mean, we all know that eating a whopper is bad for you, but do you really know HOW bad and why...? our bodies are gifts from god and meant to be taken care of(sometimes this is a lot easier than it sounds).

as far as issues i am having... there is definitely one thing. i curently attend my home church called TCAC for sunday service and sunday school. however the university fellowship i am part of takes palce at a differnet church. many people(whom i respect) have hinted to me that it would be more beneficial to attend both groups at the same church. the issue is this.. for the last maybe 5 years i have attended youth felowship because a friend brought me there when i had a falling out with the people at the church i attend on sundays. i have contemplated what to do for a whiel and prayed about it... but it seems there is definitly no easy answer because there seems to b inevitable sacrifice if i choose.

looks like i talk a lot.. 3 paragraphs and i barely said anything.. hah.
-Tse