Music has some sort of magical, if not spiritual, element to the soul. I was almost envious of the worship team today. Almost because I wanted to play, but I know I want a break too. I went to Guitar Center to get a couple of capos for the retreat and while I was there, I played a couple of acoustic guitars and a bass. I was happy. I picked up one of the bass guitars that were hanging in the showroom and plugged it in and I discovered slap bass! That one style of bass that I was looking for (think the Seinfeld theme song)! After playing around and pondering about it, I decided that my current bass was not built for slapping. I still love my bass, don't get me wrong, it's just limited to deep frequencies. Slap was fun! Now if I want that sound, it would cost me. As for the acoustic, though I found cheaper alternatives that sound equally great with those that are more expensive. Anyway, I just bought what I needed and left. Music, however therapeutic, is, and will always be, expensive.
I went over to Annie's to hang out and who would have thought that I would be watching the Super Bowl? Well, mostly for the commercials, but I was entertained by the game either way. I watched it with Annie's Dad and I found that my Cantonese still needs work. That is, of course, if we were to talk about sports. Thank God Annie speaks English! Hahaha!
There was a leaders appreciation dinner that took place at church. I went because I don't participate enough. I ended up serving the food, which isn't bad. I love to serve and serving in this capacity is different from serving in youth ministry. The need is different and the interactions are more mature. I enjoyed it!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Day 128 of 365: More rest
I was...tired...again...this morning. I think I almost fell asleep during discussion time, but that was for about...5 seconds? Call it resting my eyes. Or praying, but I'll be honest and say I was resting me eyes. The meeting overall went well except the Teaching Leader got sick, so the Sub had to take over, which, by the way, was Uncle David Hau!
Assembly for the Saturday school wasn't much. Most of it was storytelling of Samson. Shared my thoughts about Samson, but it's really hard to get something applicable from this character without asking questions about the story's purpose. It's quite an awkward story with this guy that beats people up and such. I didn't want to go into too much theological study on this because of time and the fact that the crowd wasn't the right one. Then again...God has His ways...but maybe not this time.
There was a parents workshop after lunch. Good seminar for the parents! A little long (2.5 hours), but there was a lot of information in this session that helped the parents. Annie, Ben and I were the only non-parental people there, but I believed we benefit from it anyway. Good info for the future.
Annie and I went back to my place to chill, but it was mostly nap time for me. I was just exhausted... I really should get more rest, more exercise and more time to relax. The nap actually didn't feel like a comfortable nap. Felt like I was constricted somehow. Annie thought it might be the vest that I was wearing.
We went to this Singaporean/Malaysian restaurant for dinner because I wanted to try it. Want to know how it went? Read my Yelp review on it! Ha!
After dinner, we decided to call it a night. Both of us are tired and need rest. Soon, I don't have to drive Annie home. Well, I still would, but it'll be OUR home.
Assembly for the Saturday school wasn't much. Most of it was storytelling of Samson. Shared my thoughts about Samson, but it's really hard to get something applicable from this character without asking questions about the story's purpose. It's quite an awkward story with this guy that beats people up and such. I didn't want to go into too much theological study on this because of time and the fact that the crowd wasn't the right one. Then again...God has His ways...but maybe not this time.
There was a parents workshop after lunch. Good seminar for the parents! A little long (2.5 hours), but there was a lot of information in this session that helped the parents. Annie, Ben and I were the only non-parental people there, but I believed we benefit from it anyway. Good info for the future.
Annie and I went back to my place to chill, but it was mostly nap time for me. I was just exhausted... I really should get more rest, more exercise and more time to relax. The nap actually didn't feel like a comfortable nap. Felt like I was constricted somehow. Annie thought it might be the vest that I was wearing.
We went to this Singaporean/Malaysian restaurant for dinner because I wanted to try it. Want to know how it went? Read my Yelp review on it! Ha!
After dinner, we decided to call it a night. Both of us are tired and need rest. Soon, I don't have to drive Annie home. Well, I still would, but it'll be OUR home.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Day 127 of 365: The stuff
Kaiser came by today to filming the clinic in "action". Mainly used our staff to pose as patients. I had to sign a waiver to disclaim something. I was too busy at the moment to read everything, so I skim through it. While they were filming, I had to take a call. Has to be my most natural acting ever! Anyway, work was typical... Lunch was hummus... I'm starting to like that stuff. Surprising, given I use to think it's nasty.
There was a clinic dinner for one of our coworkers, whose last day was today. He's moving on to greener pastures, or calmer ones... That means more work for everyone else. That'll make next week interesting...
Fellowship was refreshing despite the fact that I was tired and drained. I taught a short lesson on contentment. Simple, but too the point. I hope the kids got something out of it... Hope God got them to take something from it...
Okay, I don't want to stay up too late. Got to finish some BSF stuff... Yeah, that's the stuff...
There was a clinic dinner for one of our coworkers, whose last day was today. He's moving on to greener pastures, or calmer ones... That means more work for everyone else. That'll make next week interesting...
Fellowship was refreshing despite the fact that I was tired and drained. I taught a short lesson on contentment. Simple, but too the point. I hope the kids got something out of it... Hope God got them to take something from it...
Okay, I don't want to stay up too late. Got to finish some BSF stuff... Yeah, that's the stuff...
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Day 126 of 365: Great night
So drained out from work because it was non-stop interaction with some many different people. Every day is slightly different and each day there has to be one patient that ticks me off. Of course, I can't blow up...that's reserved for paintball.
I had to drive to the downtown area to pick up BSF material from a leader that step down. The drive there wasn't too bad, it was the drive back. I got confused at one point, but I managed to get on Market and zip through Twin Peaks to get back home. I picked Amos up and we headed out for my meeting with my groomsmen.
It was a night of multiple celebrations and my birthday was the least of it. I was just glad to share a great meal with the guys at Bobo's. Man, it is the best steak I ever had! The crab was okay. Made me thirsty, but the Filet Mignon was the bomb! Next time, any Filet Mignon must be bone-in for extra flavor! Either that or Bobo's does it right!
We went to Starbuck's at Laurel Heights for a quick coffee and just stood outside and chat. Talked about the crazy things we did in the past and about cars. Haha! Most of the conversation revolved around cars...we're men, what can you expect from us?
It was a great night....
I had to drive to the downtown area to pick up BSF material from a leader that step down. The drive there wasn't too bad, it was the drive back. I got confused at one point, but I managed to get on Market and zip through Twin Peaks to get back home. I picked Amos up and we headed out for my meeting with my groomsmen.
It was a night of multiple celebrations and my birthday was the least of it. I was just glad to share a great meal with the guys at Bobo's. Man, it is the best steak I ever had! The crab was okay. Made me thirsty, but the Filet Mignon was the bomb! Next time, any Filet Mignon must be bone-in for extra flavor! Either that or Bobo's does it right!
We went to Starbuck's at Laurel Heights for a quick coffee and just stood outside and chat. Talked about the crazy things we did in the past and about cars. Haha! Most of the conversation revolved around cars...we're men, what can you expect from us?
It was a great night....
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Day 125 of 365: Bible man
Who would have thought that a walk to the clinic was refreshing? Well, what about 2 hours worth of walking? It wasn't tiring, but it did take 2 hours. One hour walking with the walking class group, and one hour to get to the clinic and back home combined. At least it's some form of exercise. On the way back, I got something to eat since I started the day empty. So that snack of char siew bau was my brunch.
After that, I picked Annie up so we could do some measuring at the church we'll be getting married in. It was productive at least. Got a lot of good information to get the planning process moving again. About an hour in, we were done. That's where I went to meet up with a paintball friend to pick up a part for my 98. It'll be useful, but not what I expected. Apparently, it's another version. I could still use it anyway.
I drove Annie to the airport to pick up her rental for the week. Almost didn't know where to go, but we always manage. Thank God! On the way back, I almost went to Target, but instead I was at Gamestop for a while. Soon after, I thought about going over to Annie's to pick up soup from her Mom. And that I did. Not too long after, I was home and planning to watch 'Book of Eli' with Amos. Vincent was there, so he joined in.
We had dinner at Carl's Jr. Ordered the Fish Tacos there. Two words: "Never again". I think the phase of Carl's Jr, or fast food in general, is over for me. In-N-Out is the exception, but fast food just isn't cutting it. I'm not satisfied at all. Full, but not satisfied.
The movie was not what I expected. Very slow paced, but it was daring in a sense that Denzel Washington's character was praying and quoting verses. No theological stuff in it, but it was a daring attempt to add Christianity into a movie. That actually triggered a thought in my head.
The Word of God and all its aspects cannot be twisted into what Hollywood, or the world, sees it as. They could make it look bad, by adding characters that are "Christians", but are completely self-serving, or they could make it look cool, like the up-coming movie, "Legion". Regardless of what the world tries to do, we can't make God fit the movie. We have to fit it. That's why adaptations of making Christianity cool like 'Bible Man' (I'm serious) can't entertain the public because God is not there as entertain. We can't adjust what we think about God to fit our lives, we have to adjust our lives to fit His will. Such examples are like the "Ten Commandments" movie. That was us telling the story as it was told in the Bible, though I thought that some parts weren't as accurate, but it's the world we live in...
After that, I picked Annie up so we could do some measuring at the church we'll be getting married in. It was productive at least. Got a lot of good information to get the planning process moving again. About an hour in, we were done. That's where I went to meet up with a paintball friend to pick up a part for my 98. It'll be useful, but not what I expected. Apparently, it's another version. I could still use it anyway.
I drove Annie to the airport to pick up her rental for the week. Almost didn't know where to go, but we always manage. Thank God! On the way back, I almost went to Target, but instead I was at Gamestop for a while. Soon after, I thought about going over to Annie's to pick up soup from her Mom. And that I did. Not too long after, I was home and planning to watch 'Book of Eli' with Amos. Vincent was there, so he joined in.
We had dinner at Carl's Jr. Ordered the Fish Tacos there. Two words: "Never again". I think the phase of Carl's Jr, or fast food in general, is over for me. In-N-Out is the exception, but fast food just isn't cutting it. I'm not satisfied at all. Full, but not satisfied.
The movie was not what I expected. Very slow paced, but it was daring in a sense that Denzel Washington's character was praying and quoting verses. No theological stuff in it, but it was a daring attempt to add Christianity into a movie. That actually triggered a thought in my head.
The Word of God and all its aspects cannot be twisted into what Hollywood, or the world, sees it as. They could make it look bad, by adding characters that are "Christians", but are completely self-serving, or they could make it look cool, like the up-coming movie, "Legion". Regardless of what the world tries to do, we can't make God fit the movie. We have to fit it. That's why adaptations of making Christianity cool like 'Bible Man' (I'm serious) can't entertain the public because God is not there as entertain. We can't adjust what we think about God to fit our lives, we have to adjust our lives to fit His will. Such examples are like the "Ten Commandments" movie. That was us telling the story as it was told in the Bible, though I thought that some parts weren't as accurate, but it's the world we live in...
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Day 124 of 365: Short entry
I got quite a scare today! I won't say what it is unless I have authorization to do so, which I haven't ask. Either way, I saw how God was able to see through this and my faith in Him was working. Thinking beyond this event, I hope that God will grant His grace in whatever it is that could happen. Grace to overcome the obstacles.
Other than that, today was rather...uneventful. Routine, routine, routine... I do have a lot to work on, so I'll try to get to it now. Hope I can finish... Anyway, this is another short entry!
Other than that, today was rather...uneventful. Routine, routine, routine... I do have a lot to work on, so I'll try to get to it now. Hope I can finish... Anyway, this is another short entry!
Monday, February 1, 2010
Day 123 of 365: Another balance
Monday...what a day... Finished a lot at work today, but it felt numb. I have little memory of what I did other than what I had for lunch, which was leftovers from the day before. At least things were done... Oh, is it me or people are slowly turning into psychopaths? Seriously, I tried to help a patient that had seem to think that the whole world is against him. If I used one word that was not of his liking, it'll trigger an explosive reaction of emotions. Crazy...
Anyway, enough about work. I didn't know what to do for dinner. Annie helped with the brainstorming and I ended up in Sunset Super, walking and thinking about what I could make. At the end, it was grounded pork, long green beans and eggplant. I think it came out alright, though there is plenty to improve on. Something to try for next time.
For the rest of the evening, I tried to do several things, but ended up doing that which is most important and had the highest priority: Premarital counseling homework. I really had to put a lot of thought into it for the first half and the second half needed less time, but there's a lot of them.
There was a revelation in my thoughts about marriage. Happiness is not one-sided. It's not just the husband doing things to make his wife happy or vice versa. It's both ways. Both husband and wife have to work together to fulfill each others' needs. If one has to compromise, then that's the step to take, but the other has to do the same. It's another balance that could be more delicate. Then again, anything you balance is delicate... That's why there's good and evil. Landing on either sides is easy. A balance between the two is challenging.
Anyway, enough about work. I didn't know what to do for dinner. Annie helped with the brainstorming and I ended up in Sunset Super, walking and thinking about what I could make. At the end, it was grounded pork, long green beans and eggplant. I think it came out alright, though there is plenty to improve on. Something to try for next time.
For the rest of the evening, I tried to do several things, but ended up doing that which is most important and had the highest priority: Premarital counseling homework. I really had to put a lot of thought into it for the first half and the second half needed less time, but there's a lot of them.
There was a revelation in my thoughts about marriage. Happiness is not one-sided. It's not just the husband doing things to make his wife happy or vice versa. It's both ways. Both husband and wife have to work together to fulfill each others' needs. If one has to compromise, then that's the step to take, but the other has to do the same. It's another balance that could be more delicate. Then again, anything you balance is delicate... That's why there's good and evil. Landing on either sides is easy. A balance between the two is challenging.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)