Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Daily Reading!
2 Peter 1:5-8
New International Version (NIV)
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Daily Reading!
1 Peter 5:8-10 ESV
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Seoul Street!
Wen to dinner with my LCG and feasted! 라볶이, spicy chicken, garlic soy sauce chicken, kimchi fries!! So very good!
Daily Reading!
1 Peter 3:14-15
New Living Translation (NLT)
14 But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. 15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Daily Reading!
1 Peter 1:8-9
New International Version (NIV)
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Daily Reading!
James 2:14-17
Faith Without Works Is Dead
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good[b] is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Friday, October 26, 2012
Daily Reading!
James 4:6-8 ESV
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Daily Reading!
This is for my Dad. I think it speaks so true for our family and for him. I am so proud to call James Jeong my father after all that he has endured for me and our family. I ask for you to keep in prayer along with your fathers, too. They deserve a little prayer from us for all that they have done.
James 1:2-5
New International Version (NIV)
Trials and Temptations
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Daily Reading
Hebrews 13:7-9
New Life Version (NLV)
7 Remember your leaders who first spoke God’s Word to you. Think of how they lived, and trust God as they did. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
9 Do not let the many strange teachings lead you in the wrong way. Our hearts are made strong by God’s loving-favor. Food does not make our hearts strong. Those who obey laws about eating certain foods are not helped by them.
I have a prayer request for couple people here. One is for a fellow brother from church. He has been struggling for the past couple weeks because he is uncertain of his future, and he feels what he wants to do is not what his parents want him to do, and he doesn't feel that God is guiding him. Please pray for him to understand that God is sovereign over all. I won't mention his name just so privacy sake. The second is for my LCG (life change group/ accountability partner). He has been struggling the last few weeks with just a lot things. Balancing schoolwork and other commitments and keeping true to the word and prayer. I ask for you to keep him in your prayers. Again, I won't mention his name for privacy sake. Lastly, I ask for your prayers for my health. A simple prayer will do, but I have had this cold for over about a week now, and it is just another obstacle I have to overcome everyday on top of all the work I have to do.
9 Do not let the many strange teachings lead you in the wrong way. Our hearts are made strong by God’s loving-favor. Food does not make our hearts strong. Those who obey laws about eating certain foods are not helped by them.
I have a prayer request for couple people here. One is for a fellow brother from church. He has been struggling for the past couple weeks because he is uncertain of his future, and he feels what he wants to do is not what his parents want him to do, and he doesn't feel that God is guiding him. Please pray for him to understand that God is sovereign over all. I won't mention his name just so privacy sake. The second is for my LCG (life change group/ accountability partner). He has been struggling the last few weeks with just a lot things. Balancing schoolwork and other commitments and keeping true to the word and prayer. I ask for you to keep him in your prayers. Again, I won't mention his name for privacy sake. Lastly, I ask for your prayers for my health. A simple prayer will do, but I have had this cold for over about a week now, and it is just another obstacle I have to overcome everyday on top of all the work I have to do.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Lunch!
They were serving bulgogi and kimchi for lunch. I got so much expecting it to taste as good as my mom's. No where even close...
Daily Reading!
Hebrews 11:1-3
New Living Translation (NLT)
Great Examples of Faith
11 Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. 2 Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.
3 By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.Monday, October 22, 2012
Daily Reading!
Hebrews 9:28
New International Version (NIV)
28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Daily Reading!
Hebrews 6:19-20
English Standard Version (ESV)
19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
Daily Reading!
Hebrews 3:4-6
New Living Translation (NLT)
4 For every house has a builder, but the one who built everything is God.
5 Moses was certainly faithful in God’s house as a servant. His work was an illustration of the truths God would reveal later. 6 But Christ, as the Son, is in charge of God’s entire house. And we are God’s house, if we keep our courage and remain confident in our hope in Christ.[a]
Apologetics!
Read this and share it. If you can guess who said this, you will be just like him! This is for the people that logically cannot understand that God exists. This uses logic to show that God does exist.
A science professor begins his school year with
a lecture to the students, "Let me explain the
problem science has with religion." The atheist
professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then
asks one of his new students to stand.
"You're a Christian, aren't you, son?"
"Yes sir," the student says.
"So you believe in God?"
"Absolutely."
"Is God good?"
"Sure! God's good."
"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"
"Yes."
"Are you good or evil?"
"The Bible says I'm evil."
The professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The
Bible!" He considers for a moment.
"Here's one for you. Let's say
there's a sick person over here and you can cure
him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you
try?"
"Yes sir, I would."
"So you're good...!"
"I wouldn't say that."
"But why not say that? You'd help a sick and
maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we
could. But God doesn't."
The student does not answer, so the professor
continues. "He doesn't, does he? My brother
was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he
prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good?
Hmmm? Can you answer that one?"
The student remains silent.
"No, you can't, can you?" the professor
says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk
to give the student time to relax.
"Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?"
"Er...yes," the student says.
"Is Satan good?"
The student doesn't hesitate on this one.
"No."
"Then where does Satan come from?"
The student falters. "From God"
"That's right. God made Satan, didn't
he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?"
"Yes, sir."
"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God
did make everything, correct?"
"Yes."
"So who created evil?" The professor
continued, "If God created everything, then God
created evil, since evil exists, and according to the
principle that our works define who we are, then God is
evil."
Again, the student has no answer. "Is there
sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these
terrible things, do they exist in this world?"
The student squirms on his feet. "Yes."
"So who created them?"
The student does not answer again, so the professor
repeats his question. "Who created them?"
There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks
away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is
mesmerized. "Tell me," he continues onto
another student. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ,
son?"
The student's voice betrays him and cracks.
"Yes, professor, I do."
The old man stops pacing. "Science says you have
five senses you use to identify and observe the world
around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?"
"No sir. I've never seen Him."
"Then tell us if you've ever heard your
Jesus?"
"No, sir, I have not."
"Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus
or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory
perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that
matter?"
"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."
"Yet you still believe in him?"
"Yes."
"According to the rules of empirical, testable,
demonstrable protocol, science says your God
doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?"
"Nothing," the student replies. "I only
have my faith."
"Yes, faith," the professor repeats.
"And that is the problem science has with God.
There is no evidence, only faith."
The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking
a question of His own. "Professor, is there such
thing as heat?"
"Yes," the professor replies.
"There's heat."
"And is there such a thing as cold?"
"Yes, son, there's cold too."
"No sir, there isn't."
The professor turns to face the student, obviously
interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The
student begins to explain. "You can have lots of
heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited
heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we
don't have anything called 'cold'. We can
hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but
we can't go any further after that. There is no
such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go
colder than the lowest -458 degrees."
"Every body or object is susceptible to study when
it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a
body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero
(-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see,
sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence
of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in
thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the
opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it."
Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the
classroom, sounding like a hammer.
"What about darkness, professor. Is there such a
thing as darkness?"
"Yes," the professor replies without
hesitation. "What is night if it isn't
darkness?"
"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not
something; it is the absence of something. You can have
low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light,
but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and
it's called darkness, isn't it? That's
the meaning we use to define the word."
"In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you
would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't
you?"
The professor begins to smile at the student in front
of him. This will be a good semester. "So what
point are you making, young man?"
"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical
premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion
must also be flawed."
The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this
time. "Flawed? Can you explain how?"
"You are working on the premise of duality,"
the student explains. "You argue that there is life
and then there's death; a good God and a bad God.
You are viewing the concept of God as something finite,
something we can measure. Sir, science can't even
explain a thought."
"It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never
seen, much less fully understood either one. To view
death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the
fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing.
Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of
it."
"Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your
students that they evolved from a monkey?"
"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary
process, young man, yes, of course I do."
"Have you ever observed evolution with your own
eyes, sir?"
The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling,
as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good
semester, indeed.
"Since no one has ever observed the process of
evolution at work and cannot even prove that this
process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching
your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a
preacher?"
The class is in uproar. The student remains silent
until the commotion has subsided.
"To continue the point you were making earlier to
the other student, let me give you an example of what I
mean."
The student looks around the room. "Is there
anyone in the class who has ever seen the
professor's brain?" The class breaks out into
laughter.
"Is there anyone here who has ever heard the
professor's brain, felt the professor's brain,
touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one
appears to have done so. So, according to the
established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable
protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all
due respect, sir."
"So if science says you have no brain, how can we
trust your lectures, sir?"
Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at
the student, his face unreadable.
Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man
answers. "I guess you'll have to take them on
faith."
"Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in
fact, faith exists with life," the student
continues. "Now, sir, is there such a thing as
evil?"
Now uncertain, the professor responds, "Of course,
there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example
of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude
of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These
manifestations are nothing else but evil."
To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist
sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is
simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and
cold, a word that man has created to describe the
absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the
result of what happens when man does not have God's
love present in his heart. It's like the cold that
comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes
when there is no light."
The professor sat down.
A science professor begins his school year with
a lecture to the students, "Let me explain the
problem science has with religion." The atheist
professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then
asks one of his new students to stand.
"You're a Christian, aren't you, son?"
"Yes sir," the student says.
"So you believe in God?"
"Absolutely."
"Is God good?"
"Sure! God's good."
"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"
"Yes."
"Are you good or evil?"
"The Bible says I'm evil."
The professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The
Bible!" He considers for a moment.
"Here's one for you. Let's say
there's a sick person over here and you can cure
him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you
try?"
"Yes sir, I would."
"So you're good...!"
"I wouldn't say that."
"But why not say that? You'd help a sick and
maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we
could. But God doesn't."
The student does not answer, so the professor
continues. "He doesn't, does he? My brother
was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he
prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good?
Hmmm? Can you answer that one?"
The student remains silent.
"No, you can't, can you?" the professor
says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk
to give the student time to relax.
"Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?"
"Er...yes," the student says.
"Is Satan good?"
The student doesn't hesitate on this one.
"No."
"Then where does Satan come from?"
The student falters. "From God"
"That's right. God made Satan, didn't
he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?"
"Yes, sir."
"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God
did make everything, correct?"
"Yes."
"So who created evil?" The professor
continued, "If God created everything, then God
created evil, since evil exists, and according to the
principle that our works define who we are, then God is
evil."
Again, the student has no answer. "Is there
sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these
terrible things, do they exist in this world?"
The student squirms on his feet. "Yes."
"So who created them?"
The student does not answer again, so the professor
repeats his question. "Who created them?"
There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks
away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is
mesmerized. "Tell me," he continues onto
another student. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ,
son?"
The student's voice betrays him and cracks.
"Yes, professor, I do."
The old man stops pacing. "Science says you have
five senses you use to identify and observe the world
around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?"
"No sir. I've never seen Him."
"Then tell us if you've ever heard your
Jesus?"
"No, sir, I have not."
"Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus
or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory
perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that
matter?"
"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."
"Yet you still believe in him?"
"Yes."
"According to the rules of empirical, testable,
demonstrable protocol, science says your God
doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?"
"Nothing," the student replies. "I only
have my faith."
"Yes, faith," the professor repeats.
"And that is the problem science has with God.
There is no evidence, only faith."
The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking
a question of His own. "Professor, is there such
thing as heat?"
"Yes," the professor replies.
"There's heat."
"And is there such a thing as cold?"
"Yes, son, there's cold too."
"No sir, there isn't."
The professor turns to face the student, obviously
interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The
student begins to explain. "You can have lots of
heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited
heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we
don't have anything called 'cold'. We can
hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but
we can't go any further after that. There is no
such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go
colder than the lowest -458 degrees."
"Every body or object is susceptible to study when
it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a
body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero
(-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see,
sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence
of heat. We cannot measure cold. Heat we can measure in
thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the
opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it."
Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the
classroom, sounding like a hammer.
"What about darkness, professor. Is there such a
thing as darkness?"
"Yes," the professor replies without
hesitation. "What is night if it isn't
darkness?"
"You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not
something; it is the absence of something. You can have
low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light,
but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and
it's called darkness, isn't it? That's
the meaning we use to define the word."
"In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you
would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't
you?"
The professor begins to smile at the student in front
of him. This will be a good semester. "So what
point are you making, young man?"
"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical
premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion
must also be flawed."
The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this
time. "Flawed? Can you explain how?"
"You are working on the premise of duality,"
the student explains. "You argue that there is life
and then there's death; a good God and a bad God.
You are viewing the concept of God as something finite,
something we can measure. Sir, science can't even
explain a thought."
"It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never
seen, much less fully understood either one. To view
death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the
fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing.
Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of
it."
"Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your
students that they evolved from a monkey?"
"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary
process, young man, yes, of course I do."
"Have you ever observed evolution with your own
eyes, sir?"
The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling,
as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good
semester, indeed.
"Since no one has ever observed the process of
evolution at work and cannot even prove that this
process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching
your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a
preacher?"
The class is in uproar. The student remains silent
until the commotion has subsided.
"To continue the point you were making earlier to
the other student, let me give you an example of what I
mean."
The student looks around the room. "Is there
anyone in the class who has ever seen the
professor's brain?" The class breaks out into
laughter.
"Is there anyone here who has ever heard the
professor's brain, felt the professor's brain,
touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one
appears to have done so. So, according to the
established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable
protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all
due respect, sir."
"So if science says you have no brain, how can we
trust your lectures, sir?"
Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at
the student, his face unreadable.
Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man
answers. "I guess you'll have to take them on
faith."
"Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in
fact, faith exists with life," the student
continues. "Now, sir, is there such a thing as
evil?"
Now uncertain, the professor responds, "Of course,
there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example
of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude
of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These
manifestations are nothing else but evil."
To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist
sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is
simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and
cold, a word that man has created to describe the
absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the
result of what happens when man does not have God's
love present in his heart. It's like the cold that
comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes
when there is no light."
The professor sat down.
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