(written 122104)  i’m teaching sunday school for the young believers again because perze was transferred to the all time dreaded toddlers class who, although are adorabe in their own unique way, are very animated/misbehaved…but the Word Ministry felt it would be a great experience for him. the lesson was a blessing to me.  i liked how the book integrated well known basic educational tools such as Maslow’s hierarchy of needs into its lesson on temptation. the levels follow: 1. physiological needs- clothes, shelter, food 2. safety and security 3. love and need 4. self-esteem 5. self-actualization these are the basic human needs to which none are exempt in having.  but these are also the tools that Satan uses in order to tempt us, because we are manipulated and lured by its promises in exchange for forfeiting our trust in God. our basic example and proof, yet hope, is in Jesus, who was tempted by Satan in these levels because He was made flesh.  Satan asked him to turn the stone into bread, tempting his primary need for food since He was hungry, having been fasting for 40 days/40 nights.  jesus then was tempted at a high place, was shown all the kingdoms in the world, […]

yesterday, for the very first time, i was able to meet my absolute favorite writer. perze and i have really followed the publications of most of his books, to his recorded speaking engagements, and his organization which provides so many resources. and for personal reasons, his lectures have been, so many times, the shared interest between us, esp. during our dating period and the long car rides when we were engaged and newly married. last night, without going into too much detail of my first in person experience, perze, genny, lei, and i were able to be richly blessed w/ hearing one of the most prominent apologists of our time. only a small handful of people i know know him, although i’ve mentioned him countless times to friends, and esp. on my xanga when i make responsive blogs to his articles. this morning i couldn’t go back to sleep, so i decided to pick up his latest book. I couldn’t really get past the dedications page. honest. “To Sarah, Naomi, and Nathan, our beloved children. Three beautiful tapestries woven by God. Finish well, sweethearts.” metaphorically, he calls them unfinished tapestries, lives with past and unfolding events that progressively unravel the […]

i’ll post my devotion for this week. there’s this lyric from a song i’ve been hearing on the radio every morning: “Hold me Jesus cuz i’m shaking like a leaf. you were then king of my glory. will you be my prince of peace?” i know you guys don’t really get to see my depressing side…my sad moods, but when i was younger, i used to get depressed a lot. i really considered myself as a loner although i did have close friends. and these days, i still have bouts of sadness, moments when i just feel helpless and tired of everything, but this song reminds us that it’s ok to feel like that sometimes because God steps in and takes us with His might and just holds us. just like 1 pet. 5:7, we can cast all our burdens to Him, not just because he CAN handle it, but because he truly cares for us. his affection for us assures us that He’s not just the king of glory, with the power to move obstacles gloriously, but he’s also the prince of peace, with the tenderness to heal and comfort, to give us peace when life throws us around… i […]

taken from march 16, 2006   i know i’ve blogged of this often, but this quote rightly says it so:J. C. RyleGod has married together justification and sanctification. They are distinct and different things beyond question, but one is never found without the other. All justified people are sanctified, and all sanctified are justified. What God has joined together let no man dare put asunder. Tell me not of your justification, unless you have also some marks of sanctification. Boast not of Christ’s work for you, unless you can show us the Spirit’s work in you. Think not that Christ and the Spirit can ever be divided.how powerful… with so much emphasis on God the Father and God the Son, it’s no wonder we lose wonder on God the Spirit. what is this role? triune deity means three equal faces of God, not one with more power over another. one cannot function in isolation, but everything that the father, son and spirit does is always intertwined, always with the intention and consideration of the other. it is not exercise, but it is the nature of God. and all that the Father does, the Son and the Spirit works to glorify […]

(taken from 2006) i continued further in hebrews since 2 sundays ago, i taught on hebrews 5, spiritual maturity.  i wanted to finish hebrews since i only know it for that topic as well as its chapter on faith (ch.11).  those are the only two chapters i’m familiar with so i read ahead to chapters 6-10. although the crux of the chapters led to Jesus being the ultimate High Priest and sacrifice, it alluded to a character in the old testament- Melchizedek, a king and priest of God who had blessed Abraham during his wars described in Genesis 14.  This was still before the tribe of Levi was called by God as the ordinated priesthood to be set apart as the holy bearers of the Arc of the Covenant, and who performed strict sacrificial duties in the Tabernacle.  Although i’ve heard of Melchizedek, this was the first time i researched who he was in the old testament and to what purpose he served as a mention and function to the New Testament.  Who knew that a minor character of the old testament would resurface as a type for Jesus?  i know there’s still debate going on as to whether he was a representation of […]

(taken from 2003) it’s funny these days that i’m teaching about John 15:5 to my sunday school class.  Sometimes i wonder if they see me in their shoes, that i too go through their struggles as well, to some different degree, but i hope they will acknowledge that those lessons are not quite just out of the Discipleship book, but also from my experiences.  I know sometimes they may look at me as if i don’t understand, but i do. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches.  Those who remain in me, and i in them, will produce much fruit.  For apart from me you can do nothing.” This reminds me most 02 202 when the FIC retreat based its theme on this passage.  I remember the whole time being there just so desperate for guidance to what God wants of me, from what path to take in what was going on with my life.  There was so much confusion in which direction i should take with so many aspects of my life and i was frustrated with where i was.  “I never seem to be content with my present surroundings, i always want more” someone once told […]