Shooting Stars

Ever wonder about shooting stars?
It so happened that yesterday evening, after a long day of school. I walked onto McNally field, a small acre of grass nestled into Biola University, and layed down with my back toward the ground and my chest toward the sky. In the still quiet moment, I pondered the emotions I felt that day. I reflected over all the knowledge I had learned at school. I looked back at all the people I met that day. Waves after waves of these musings flooded through my mind. All I wanted was to be able to stop thinking for a little while...Then shooting through the sky was a speck of traveling light. A shooting star. You know our lives on earth are like these rays of light...we are only here a little while. And before you know it, we are gone. So let us make the most of our lives. Step out from mediocrity, step into living a life towards eternity.

A quote from Stardust:
"You know when I said I knew little about love? That wasn't true. I know a lot about love. I've seen it, centuries and centuries of it, and it was the only thing that made watching your world bearable. All those wars. Pain, lies, hate... It made me want to turn away and never look down again. But when I see the way that mankind loves... You could search to the furthest reaches of the universe and never find anything more beautiful. So yes, I know that love is unconditional. But I also know that it can be unpredictable, unexpected, uncontrollable, unbearable and strangely easy to mistake for loathing, and... What I'm trying to say, Tristan is... I think I love you. Is this love, Tristan? I never imagined I'd know it for myself. My heart... It feels like my chest can barely contain it. Like it's trying to escape because it doesn't belong to me any more. It belongs to you. And if you wanted it, I'd wish for nothing in exchange - no fits. No goods. No demonstrations of devotion. Nothing but knowing you loved me too. Just your heart, in exchange for mine."

Finding Everlasting Grace

Why do we fight the tears that come? On those days when nothing seems to go right, what do you do, who do you turn to? I have been experiencing a lot of those days right now and not just me but some of my closest and best friends. There are some days when I feel drop dead weary. There are other days when I feel like the whole world is coming down. Yet, somehow, I also know that my Savior lives and His grace washes over me. Some of the hardest and best moments of my week is “being there” for my friends during their darkest times. Oh, “when the oceans rise and thunders roars, I will soar with you above the storm, Father you are King over the flood, I will be still know you are God.”
I hope everyone know that there is a Heavenly King who you can always turn to in your darkest and saddest days. Seek Him always…

What is this?

"Great Minds Think Alike"

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Everyday is Sweeter than the Day Before

"What a privilege to know You, like I know You...
To be loved like You loved me
What honor to worship, truly worship
From this heart that You have freed
From the rising of the sun…to the setting of the same

Everyday with You, Lord is sweeter than the day before
Everyday with You, Lord is Sweeter than the day before
Every morning I will worship, Every evening I'll adore
'Cause everyday with You is sweeter, sweeter than the day before"

How many of can really say every morning and evening is sweeter than the day before?
On good days, we may overflow with joy...But how about those days that never seem to end?
Can you and I find the words to say that everyday is better than yesterday if we have a day that goes all wrong...a car accident, a loss of a loved one, a broken relationship, physical pain, and emotional suffering. Only, if we have an eternal mindset set on heaven can we take everyday with joy and inner vitality. Then we can be planted like Living Tree. We can be unmovable and unshakable only when we are planted by streams of living water and rooted deep in
Christ Jesus.

A Night in Paradise on Paradise Cove

For He who promised is faithful
Hebrews 10:23

God is so faithful. And so much more. Loving and Kind. Tender and Merciful. Awesome and Majestic. God blessed me yesterday with the "time of my life".
The more and more, I seek Jesus. The more and more, Jesus rains down His spirit in me.

What a ride yesterday night, driving along towards a glorious God-given sunset. Savoring every moment of the ride along the beautiful Pacific Coastal Highway. And arriving at a Paradise Cove, where finally together I enjoyed one of the best meals ever, because I sat beside the most precious lady. Like two hearts in one, we shared life together. Things of the past. Things of the present. And even things of the future that we hope for, strive for, and live for...We found that our passion is for living out our short time here on earth. And looking for eternity with our Savior Jesus Christ.

May you also who read this blog find that our journey here on earth leads into eternity.
What you do today echoes into eternity. One random act of kindness can lead into a change reaction of good to come. Remember, we have a gracious God who forgives, accepts, and restores. So stop waiting ...start looking towards Eternity!

A Cold Morning in London...Memories of Nigeria

Sitting down with an iBookG4 in his lap, a young man is typing out something of peculiar interest. Well, we'll see anyway. As the camera zooms up to his face, the audience sees he desparately needs a shave and a proper shower.  Lifting the camera up and over him, there is a large fireplace, a crystal chandelier, and three comfy couches around him. Panning up above him, he is staying in a red brick townhouse in the London suburb of Acton Village. His story begins like this...

Looking into my memory bank of Nigeria, I wish to pull out some experience that I may recall for the rest of my life.  Its not easy to write about Nigeria.  There are not enough mere words to describe this experience. However, as Doug says, "I'll take it easy". 

During the Winterbreak 07 - 08, an SMU (student missionary union) team left from Biola to Nigeria.  The mission statement stated, "Our purpose rested on three E's: empowering others through the Holy spirit, equipping others with God's word, and encouraging others with what God's blessing on us.

There were three main parts of our journey: first in Miango, second in Kaduna, and third in Jos. The first two weeks, our team stayed up long nights with the missionary kids. I will never forget them. MK's are their own culture.  They live in a country not their own and serve people whom they did not choose. Three kids really stay in my head: Dwight, soft spoken, athletic, big smile, and a great guy. Heather, goofy, photogenic, spunky, and tomboyish. Angie, gentle, kind, always ready to help.  I am so passionate with high school kids doing crazy things, go karts, rock climbing, and game nights.  Praise God for the opportunity to serve these youths.

In Kaduna, our team visited Rakiya Sambo's home.  She is so thankful to God for His grace in her family.  Her dad is Muslim and her mom is Christian. Through all the differences in beliefs, they are still together. In addition, we visited two orphanages and spent time with toddlers. Playing with them, laughing with them, and throwing them in the air! And I could never forgot the many great games of soccer we played with the kids.

In Jos...

To be continued