It is the day before Thanksgiving, no classes today, therefore, no students and no professors around, even staff are gone early, driving or flying somewhere to join their families for Thanksgiving. This morning when I came in, just Dr. Swanstrom was there, and then it is me, each of us in our own little office doing our stuff. My boss is nowhere to be seen, maybe he decides to take today off but has no idea what my phone number is, yes, that's him.
It snows today, it is beautiful, new snow is beautiful, that is if you don't have to walk on it and get all wet and slushy.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
2005 Thanksgiving
I have so much to be thankful for this year. First of all, I am thankful to be alive. No, I am not being morbid. I just don't want to take being alive for granted. Not only that, I am healthy and able. Many people on earth do not get to live to be 42 and healthy, but I do. And of course, God has given me people in my life whom love me and I love, this is such a great manifestation of what God's love is about. No, it is not quite like God's love for me, but as least all the relationships show some aspects of what God's love is like.
I am thankful that Dan is at the last stage of writing his ThM thesis, hopefully, he'll be done by Christmas, at least the majority of it.
I am thankful that Kioni is growing at she should, meeting all the
milestone of a 22 month old and sometimes exceeding them.
I am thankful that God has provided a job for me at Trinity that I could serve Him in a certain capacity and at the same time, provide for Dan and Kioni while Dan is pursuing his dream.
I am thankful that He has guided us for making the decision to go to the Philippines as missionary professors for two years. I anticipate these two years will open up our hearts and minds towards many things, world missions in particular.
I am thankful that even there are many deaths that happened towards the last half of the year, one of them is Dan's father, we do celebrate several births, one of those babies is Dan's brother's Chris and his wife's Cheryl's baby boy, whom was born yesterday (November 21, it was Dan's birthday) at 7:30 pm, his name has yet to be announced.
I am thankful for the health of my parents, whom I desparately want to see them come to know the grace and salvation of Christ.
God, thank you. I know even with all my might, it is impossible to live a life that is pleasing to you. I ask that you would guide me and help me every day to be more like you, and glorify you in everything I do and say.
I am thankful that Dan is at the last stage of writing his ThM thesis, hopefully, he'll be done by Christmas, at least the majority of it.I am thankful that Kioni is growing at she should, meeting all the
milestone of a 22 month old and sometimes exceeding them.I am thankful that God has provided a job for me at Trinity that I could serve Him in a certain capacity and at the same time, provide for Dan and Kioni while Dan is pursuing his dream.
I am thankful that He has guided us for making the decision to go to the Philippines as missionary professors for two years. I anticipate these two years will open up our hearts and minds towards many things, world missions in particular.
I am thankful that even there are many deaths that happened towards the last half of the year, one of them is Dan's father, we do celebrate several births, one of those babies is Dan's brother's Chris and his wife's Cheryl's baby boy, whom was born yesterday (November 21, it was Dan's birthday) at 7:30 pm, his name has yet to be announced.
I am thankful for the health of my parents, whom I desparately want to see them come to know the grace and salvation of Christ.
God, thank you. I know even with all my might, it is impossible to live a life that is pleasing to you. I ask that you would guide me and help me every day to be more like you, and glorify you in everything I do and say.
Monday, November 14, 2005
Friday, November 11, 2005
The best time to attack
The best time for our Enemy to attack is when we are making a spiritual difference. I cannot tell you how many times since we have accepted the teaching positions in the Philippines that I have voices in my head saying, "What do you think you are? You are not good enough to teach God's word!" or "Why go to the Philippines, life is good in America, it is comfortable, stable, safe. Kioni needs stabilities in her life. How dare the two of you dragging her all the way across the world and throw her in a developing country just because you think you are following God's call!" Many times, I knew our Enemy is giving me all these thoughts, especially during difficult times, to throw us off the course. Sometimes it is quite tempting to listen to these "logical" arguments and agree to them. But in the end, the Holy Spirit won my mind and heart over and helped me realize those were just big fat lies from our Enemy, whom doesn't want us to make any differences in anybody's life, it just wants us to live quietly, don't make a splash, don't stir up anything, just live a comfortable suburban Christian life. Go to church, lead a bible study, have some Christian friends over for dinner once in a while, that's good enough. Well, God has directed us otherwise.
Right at the time when we were deciding if we should go to the Philippines, two churches called Dan up and wanted to interview him for pastor's positions. Both churches are in the Washington D.C. area, which we both love to go back to. We know the city, we even know which neighbourhood to live in if we were to move back there. The thought of the possibilities of being able to have a stable income, to live in a nice D.C. neighbourhood and to minister there was very tempting. However, we both strongly felt that this is not what God is directing us in the next couple of years. So we turned them down.
It doesn't mean we will never live that way, but it is not the time now.
Right at the time when we were deciding if we should go to the Philippines, two churches called Dan up and wanted to interview him for pastor's positions. Both churches are in the Washington D.C. area, which we both love to go back to. We know the city, we even know which neighbourhood to live in if we were to move back there. The thought of the possibilities of being able to have a stable income, to live in a nice D.C. neighbourhood and to minister there was very tempting. However, we both strongly felt that this is not what God is directing us in the next couple of years. So we turned them down.
It doesn't mean we will never live that way, but it is not the time now.
Thursday, November 03, 2005
Chapter 2
Dan finished chapter two of his thesis last night, it is a good half inch thick, quite an accomplishment! Well, at least to me it is. The price for chapter one and chapter two are Dan being in the library for two months plus from 6:00pm to midnight, and then work some more after coming home from the library, and that is after a full day with Kioni and doing support-team building at the same time. I salute him for being this dedicated.
It sure has put some distance in our relationship, as one can imagine, the hand-the-baby-off time everyday is about 15-20 minutes after I arrive home, there is not much time to catch up with anything.
I'll be glad when this phase of our life is over, there will be new challenges along the way, I am sure, but I will be glad that this is over.
It sure has put some distance in our relationship, as one can imagine, the hand-the-baby-off time everyday is about 15-20 minutes after I arrive home, there is not much time to catch up with anything.
I'll be glad when this phase of our life is over, there will be new challenges along the way, I am sure, but I will be glad that this is over.
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