$1,250

In the past 3 months, I've made two of my biggest purchases in my life thus far. The title of this blog sums up the total of the two purchases that I've made. It's a lot of money, no doubt. Now that I think about it, I could have used that money for more useful purposes like the water crisis or the AIDS foundation. Bummer.

The first thing I bought was a Dell Vostro 1520 for about $650. Here's a picture of it.



My second one is a Canon Powershot SX1 IS for about $600.



You guys might be thinking that I spent a lot of money on these two and you're right. But I don't regret any of these because I planned them out pretty well. I did all my math and made sure I could make all my payments. So I didn't just spontaneously buy these two but I really did plan them out and made sure I was financially stable to. So don't judge me!

Holmdel Park

My church holds an annual picnic every year right around this time. I love going to the picnic because it takes us physically outside the church building into a nice park where we can fellowship, worship, eat, and play altogether as a church. It's always a nice feeling to see little kids screaming and running around. It's even better to see the Korean adults do that. That's a sight you will rarely ever see but every year on this specific day, these Korean parents become like children like they once were before. I must admit, when the Korean parents play their organized games I get pretty jealous. The games that they play look like so much fun. I love going to Holmdel Park.

Another reason why I love this day is because I get to play massive amounts of volleyball. So I uploaded a video of some clips of my friends and I playing so hope you enjoy it!

Out With the Old and In With the New

I had a little late night fun. =)

4 Years Come and Gone

Oh brother. Here I am blogging away about how much I miss college already. It's only been about a week and a half since graduation and I'm reminiscing about everything. Man, time really does fly by so quickly. I can't believe I'm back home in New Jersey. I've become attached to living my life in Massachusetts so much that it feels foreign to me being in New Jersey.

Change is inevitable. Even as I was driving around my town, I noticed new buildings and stores and it made me think how fast things could change. Nothing is the same as it was before. It's a scary thought because people change just as much. I'm a person who is ok with changes for most of the time but for some reason, I don't want anything to change right now in my life. I don't want to leave the life that I lived the past 4 years at Umass. I don't want to leave my friends. I just don't. I don't want to accept that change. I can't. Or at least I can't right now.

What can I do now? Time is a force that I can't control and it's against me. Honestly, it's really hard for me to move on to the next stage of my life but time doesn't help it at all. I guess all I can do is hold onto these memories and cherish them with my heart.

Man, I would do anything to re-live my college years.....

But I guess it's time to grow up now and to move on....

You Will Suffer

I want to share this video I saw. It's a 10 minute video of some segments of John Piper speaking at a conference. It's deeply powerful to the point it made me tear. Not because he was telling some sad story but because he was speaking truth to my life. This truth that he's talking about is something that's been on my heart for so long and it makes just a little more sense to me now. Just a little bit. Enjoy!





What do you guys think? Comments? Agree? Disagree?

Heaven to Earth

Gosh, what do I write in this blog?

I never knew that writing in this blog consistently would be so hard! Anyways, I've been reading this book by Rob Bell called "Velvet Elvis." It's an easy read and I encourage anyone reading this blog to check it out. You don't have to necessarily agree with what he says or thinks, but it definitely gives you new and fresh perspectives on the Christian faith. 

There are so many things that I would want to talk about in this book but there are just so many. So I just want to write about one specific point he brings up. He quotes...

"For Jesus, the question wasn't, how do I get into heaven? but how do I bring heaven here? The question wasn't, how do I get in there? But how do I bring there, here?" (pg. 147)

Man, if you really think about what he writes, it actually makes sense. "How do I get into heaven?" is such a selfish question to ask. Christians are so consumed with their own individual lives. We try to "escape" this world because it's so evil, rotten, absent of morals, etc etc. We want to escape the "hells" of the world. But I believe that this isn't the story that God wants to write over humankind. It's not about figuring out strategies in getting to heaven, but rather it's a story of God using his people to bring heaven to earth. Believe in the power of the cross. Believe in the grace that is poured into your life redeeming you and setting your life free from eternal death. Believe that you have been saved. But God's heart is hurting from injustice, impoverished children, rape, genocide, etc etc. God is telling a story of redemption and restoration to you and I.
Jesus tells a parable about feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick, giving water to the thirsty, and welcoming the stranger. 

How will we fight against the "hells" of the earth? How will we bring heaven to earth?

The Season of Lent

Sorry to all my faithful readers out there for not blogging in a while! All 4 of you! =)

I know this is really, really late but I want to talk about the season of Lent. I'm not a theologian or anything of that sort so I'm going to try my best to inform not only all people reading this blog but also myself. I'm really doing this for myself because I believe it is important to have knowledge about Christian tradition and history which is something that I lack in. A LOT!

If you grew up in the church all your life, then you know this particular season to be a time when you "give up" something in your life for a period of time. Back in my youth group days, I gave up internet, fast food, certain types of food, and the list goes on and on. I've been told over and over again that we should "give up" something but never fully understood why and the importance behind it; if any. So that leads me to ask many questions...

First off, what is Lent?

Simply put, Lent is the 40 days that lead up to Easter (excluding Sundays). During these 40 days, all believers reflect and meditate on the Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is when churches heavily emphasize the importance of prayer, fasting, and repentance. Basically, it's a time where we get back on track with our relationship with God in whatever way you feel convicted. If you feel the need to pray more, then pray more. If you feel the need to read Scripture more, then read more. You get the point right? This is obviously not out of habit or duty, but it should come from a joyful heart that yearns and thirsts for an intimate relationship with our Father.  

When does lent begin and end and why is it 40 days?

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and leads up to the day before Easter Sunday.  Throughout the Bible, there are many significant numbers that are mentioned multiple times and this is one of them. Moses spent 40 days on a mountain praying to God, the Israelites spent 40 years in the desert, and Elijiah traveled to Horeb in 40 days. The 40 days represent the time Jesus spent in the wilderness praying, fasting, and getting tempted by satan. This is why many people "give up" types of food or even straight up fast for forty days to imitate what Jesus did.  

Is there any importance or significance to Lent or is it merely another "Christian" thing to do?

I believe there are many aspects why Lent should be of importance to all Bible believing and Christ following people. Of course, my reason may be different from yours and I would love to hear different aspects why Lent should be important and the things that we learn in this season. I also understand the argument that Lent is just another "Christian" thing to do on the list and that we don't need this season to reflect on the Death and Resurrection of Christ. I totally agree that we don't need Lent to repent of our sin and our need for forgiveness; that should be a daily part of our Christian walk. But knowing myself, I need this season of Lent to serve as a healthy reminder to myself to remember the Cross. I need to remind myself of the pain and sacrifice that Christ had to endure for my sin. Why do we have Veteran's Day or Black History Month or President's Day? We don't necessarily need those days; that's what textbooks are for. But honestly, if those days didn't exist on the calendar, then would we even remember the importance of those days? I don't even know when Veteran's Day or President's Day is. Oops.

So does that mean I have to fast?

That is totally up to you. If you feel convicted to "give up" something for God, then go ahead. If it will help you remember the Cross and the cost that had to be paid for your salvation, starve all you want. Well not literally, but you know what I mean. The point is, don't just "give up" something because you were told to do so in youth group or Sunday School. I think it's ironic how all the stories in the Bible that reference 40 all have something in common. You know what that is?

Utter Dependence. On God. 

Jesus Christ depended on God for strength and wisdom when getting tempted by satan for 40 days. The Israelites depended on God for 40 years in the desert for food and water. Elijiah depended on God for food and water when he traveled to Horeb for 40 days. Moses depended on God for food and water for 40 days on Mount Sinai. Get the gist? Yes, all the scenarios had to do with the lack of food and water which God provided, but what's the bigger picture? 

Dependency.