so here i am, sitting at my desk on the first real day at the new apartment. this summer has definitely seemed to have passed by veri quickly.

so i ended up coming back from arizona because of injuries; the mexico trip was cancelled because not enough people signed up; and didnt get to go to hong kong because of ticket screw-up. instead i got an A for a summer class, found an amazing girl that i love, went to florida for life conference, had a blast coaching and playin ball for church team having the best finish we've ever had at second place, gettin closer with dozens of people: family, friends, learned more about how to respond to God's challenges for me and who He wants me to be.

life is interesting. the longer you live, obviously, the more youll see and experience. but how often do we pause to think or realize how God is in control and that the process of this life on earth is like preparation for eternity.

btw, please explain to me the verses, i dont get some of the lines:

Love is the Reversal

Welcome to the worldwide train wreck
Welcome to the come undone
Welcome to the big rejection
Welcome to the hit and run
Where mercy cries for everyone

Yeah, nothing is as good as it should be
'Cause this is the rehearsal
Yeah, in between the was and the could be
Love is the reversal

I believe we're underwater
I believe the engine's blown
Yeah I believe our secret longings
Tell us that we're not at home
But grace reclaims what the world disowns

one of the things that i continue to learn is that the process of living on earth and getting to know God is what matters. when we became christians, life wasnt supposed to instantly become easy. in most cases it becomes harder. its funny because this thought popped into my head a few days ago, altho im sure someone has came up with this a long time ago:

"If life is so easy, then we wouldn't need to live it out"

i guess ill edit if i think of more, feelin tired now

So here I am, sitting in my room writing an entry on my last night here in the dorm as a freshman. This year has passed incredibly quickly. It's interesting because a few of us were chatting yesterday and we said, "wow, and we thought today would never come. but now that it's here, now what?" it's true that a bunch of us dont have our summers planned out. we've been worrying bout finishing the year but now that we're done, whats next? obviously i wont be worryin bout soph year just yet. but how should i spend this summer? i will be going to arizona for the chinese nationals on memorial weekend. im still tryin to arrange to go to mexico for 4 days for a buildin project with casa por christo. hopefully i will be in hong kong for 2 weeks. the easy thing mightve been to go work at summer paradise but although i want to earn some money, i feel like God wants me to do something else, probably to explore all these options i have. leaving things like packing and writing a paper to last minute is not a smart thing. its making it harder for me to process my thinking as i write.

i guess ill write more another time but just wanna say, im reallie thankful for people ive met this year especially from worshipers small group. had a chance to chat with my roommate josh last night and have dinner with him, arthur, and terry before. i pray that i will discover and follow God's plan for me.

Philip's coming to cooper next year.

this summer should be quite interesting.

there could be just so much to write about...sometimes i feel like there's too much going on

good thing we heard about slowing down during sunday sermon

2 quotes that came to my mind this week were:

"We don't plan to fail; we fail to plan."

"First, we form our habits. Then our habits form us."

have fun thinking about those 2

Good friday service: pastor stanley mention something interesting...

first, are we remembering Christ's sacrifice when we give up something for lent?

and second, even if we are, after lent season is over, then what?

Tuesday night worship with starfield and 500 other people was great. One chorus that's sticking with me the most is from "Unashamed":

"I know I'm weak,
I know I'm unworthy
to call upon Your Name.

But because Your Grace,
because of Your Mercy,
I stand here unashamed."

we as humans naturally feel like we can handle certain things in our lives. how often do we go to God? i love how God lets me go through problems. sometimes i pray for struggles so that i can learn to rely on God more. sometimes i feel terribly about how i onli turn to God when i need help but put Him aside when things seems fine.

“The times when you need God the most are when you don’t think you need Him.”

we talked bout worship as a lifestyle this past sunday. i think there are so many areas in my life that i havent realized that i need to surrender to God in. i need to work things out between my and God but seriously, part of what it means to be a fellowship is to not just see the faults of others, but instead point them out to the person in a gentle way and encourage the person to improve. we need to stop bottling up things but speak out in love and patience.

before we go to each other, we should prob. pray first. ask God to transform the person, to give us the words to say, and the love to accept the person for who he or she is.

Wednesday's devotion was cool since i was thinking bout prayer. it basically talks about how sometimes we pray about exactly what we want from God and simply limiting His blessings for us.

“Pray the largest prayers. You cannot think a prayer so large that God, in answering it, will not wish you had made it larger.” -Phillips Brooks

"Do not presume to know what’s best
When you begin to pray;
But say to God, “Your will be done,”
Then trust His perfect way. " -Sper

"Large asking results in large receiving." -http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb-04-04-07.shtml