10/30/09: Sleepover~
Sleepover with the Thailand team today. It was fun. And it was nice to see them again. I have yet to meet a group of people that I can be more comfortable with. It's weird how comfortable we are from simply having lived with each other for a month. Crazy. I was really blessed by speaker K.P. Yohannan from the evangelism conference. My mission's heart is really aflame these days. God, in his ever-present grace, is growing me slowly. I'm not thinking much else lately.
Things I need to work on: Daily exercise. Waking up early. Going to class.
10/31/09: Halloweenie
Pretty normal Saturday. Woke up at Paul's place. Sleepover ends. We have some breakfast. Then off to the rest of the evangelism conference! Ray Comfort was a delightful speaker, with plenty of humorous anecdotes, an awesome New Zealand accent, and a powerful focus on spreading the gospel message. After the conference, I got to have a small discussion with Pastor Jonas about the distinction between Calvinists and Arminians. That cleared up a lot of stuff in my mind and allowed me to firmly establish myself as a Calvinist in my mind. I took Tina home after my chat with P. Jonas and we had a short but very fulfilling discussion about predestination and the total depravity of the human race as beings under sin. Then I headed off to praise practice where I had an exceptional refreshing time of worship (except for the fact that my thumb cramped up and it's still really sore right now). I can't shake the feeling that God is growing me for something in my future... He has something planned for me that's going to change my life and, whether it's a pleasant experience or a painful one, I'm never going to forget it. It instills a weird mixture of fear and excitement inside me. AHH!!!!
Things I need to work on: Eating right.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
10/28/09 - 10/29/09
10/28/09: Still not so good
It's still been tough trying to give up the extra time to God. I'm beginning to realize more and more that our culture is a media-saturated one. I'm diving into media without even realizing as I'm at school. I'm hoping that going home on Friday is going to help. I don't have much else to say for today. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.
Things I need to do: Read. The. Bible.
10/29/09: I'm getting there
I actually succeeded on many levels today in spending time alone with God. I was able to finish the book of Leviticus and start the book of Numbers. Like I've said in my previous post, I'm becoming more and more interested in the little things I pick up from reading the books. God is instilling a love for His word in my heart, something I've prayed for since before STEM. I guess now was a good time to answer it. I can't explain this weird awe and excitement I get when I read Scripture except as something divinely inspired. It was a good day today. I didn't really go to class (again) but it was a good day nonetheless. I was pretty terrible at KCM praise. My heart was really jumbled and my mind was elsewhere but I'm glad I pulled through it. It was my last time playing for them. A lot of things have been on my mind lately... John Piper really makes me think. A lot. I don't know if that's a good thing. I'm going to start reading Desiring God very soon. I hope it's as good as Eric says it is. Today I got to sit down and talk for an extended amount of time with a Jazz Guitar major. He's a sophomore and apparently he's a ghost member of KCM haha. He's an absolutely PHENOMENAL guitar player. I mean, I wouldn't expect any less from our music school but holy moly, he's GOOD. He taught me a few very very simple chord inversions to try out so I'm excited. His church's praise band is blessed to have him. Wow. It's four a.m. I haven't stayed up at school on a Thursday night since... I don't know when. Goodness. What a weird feeling.
Thing I need to do: PRACTICE GUITAR (BASS). PRACTICE DRUMS. READ THE BIBLE. PRAY. GO POO.
It's still been tough trying to give up the extra time to God. I'm beginning to realize more and more that our culture is a media-saturated one. I'm diving into media without even realizing as I'm at school. I'm hoping that going home on Friday is going to help. I don't have much else to say for today. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.
Things I need to do: Read. The. Bible.
10/29/09: I'm getting there
I actually succeeded on many levels today in spending time alone with God. I was able to finish the book of Leviticus and start the book of Numbers. Like I've said in my previous post, I'm becoming more and more interested in the little things I pick up from reading the books. God is instilling a love for His word in my heart, something I've prayed for since before STEM. I guess now was a good time to answer it. I can't explain this weird awe and excitement I get when I read Scripture except as something divinely inspired. It was a good day today. I didn't really go to class (again) but it was a good day nonetheless. I was pretty terrible at KCM praise. My heart was really jumbled and my mind was elsewhere but I'm glad I pulled through it. It was my last time playing for them. A lot of things have been on my mind lately... John Piper really makes me think. A lot. I don't know if that's a good thing. I'm going to start reading Desiring God very soon. I hope it's as good as Eric says it is. Today I got to sit down and talk for an extended amount of time with a Jazz Guitar major. He's a sophomore and apparently he's a ghost member of KCM haha. He's an absolutely PHENOMENAL guitar player. I mean, I wouldn't expect any less from our music school but holy moly, he's GOOD. He taught me a few very very simple chord inversions to try out so I'm excited. His church's praise band is blessed to have him. Wow. It's four a.m. I haven't stayed up at school on a Thursday night since... I don't know when. Goodness. What a weird feeling.
Thing I need to do: PRACTICE GUITAR (BASS). PRACTICE DRUMS. READ THE BIBLE. PRAY. GO POO.
Monday, October 26, 2009
10/26/09 - 10/27/09
I was going to wait until after my media fast was over to post all my blogs but then I realized no one would even bother to read a giant post like that so I'm going to be updating every other day or so lol.
10/26/09: Media fast begins
Wow. I failed already. Twitter, fantasy football, blogspot... I basically did everything except facebook... -_-;; Well. I'm going to cut back for sure tomorrow. I've realized that another thing is hindering my relationship with God: the inability to wake up early. I've asked people to give me wake-up calls to keep me accountable so we'll see how that works out. That's about it for today. I'm getting really fat. I need to start working out again. I still can't really run on my ankle. Also, the bruise on my foot hurts every time I walk on it. But I'm pushing through.
Rate my progress (1 to 10): I get a 1 for today. It freaking sucked.
Things to do: READ THE BIBLE. Finish my assignment for BISC. Prepare a song for the prayer meeting tomorrow. Pray, if time permits.
10/27/09: Epic fail... Again?
Hm. A lot of time spent on Fantasy Football today... It's going to be the death of me I swear. On the other hand, no youtube and everything else and I read a few chapters of Leviticus. Hm. Honestly speaking, even though I keep saying otherwise, I actually find Leviticus interesting. Am I weird? I like to read the crazy things God had the Israelites do to emphasize that He is holy. Consequently, his people had to be holy in all aspects as well and it's amazing, the lengths they had to go to achieve that. I feel so glad that Jesus came and became the fulfillment of the law for us. Anywho. That was my highly-lacking take on Leviticus. I hope I can continue this trend and keep doing a little better everyday. Praise God!
Rate my progress (1 to 10): I'm going to give myself a 2 for today. Yay me!
Things to do: READ THE BIBLE DANG IT. Go to Sophomore Accountability BBQ. Go to KCM praise band practice. SLEEP EARLY DANG IT.
10/26/09: Media fast begins
Wow. I failed already. Twitter, fantasy football, blogspot... I basically did everything except facebook... -_-;; Well. I'm going to cut back for sure tomorrow. I've realized that another thing is hindering my relationship with God: the inability to wake up early. I've asked people to give me wake-up calls to keep me accountable so we'll see how that works out. That's about it for today. I'm getting really fat. I need to start working out again. I still can't really run on my ankle. Also, the bruise on my foot hurts every time I walk on it. But I'm pushing through.
Rate my progress (1 to 10): I get a 1 for today. It freaking sucked.
Things to do: READ THE BIBLE. Finish my assignment for BISC. Prepare a song for the prayer meeting tomorrow. Pray, if time permits.
10/27/09: Epic fail... Again?
Hm. A lot of time spent on Fantasy Football today... It's going to be the death of me I swear. On the other hand, no youtube and everything else and I read a few chapters of Leviticus. Hm. Honestly speaking, even though I keep saying otherwise, I actually find Leviticus interesting. Am I weird? I like to read the crazy things God had the Israelites do to emphasize that He is holy. Consequently, his people had to be holy in all aspects as well and it's amazing, the lengths they had to go to achieve that. I feel so glad that Jesus came and became the fulfillment of the law for us. Anywho. That was my highly-lacking take on Leviticus. I hope I can continue this trend and keep doing a little better everyday. Praise God!
Rate my progress (1 to 10): I'm going to give myself a 2 for today. Yay me!
Things to do: READ THE BIBLE DANG IT. Go to Sophomore Accountability BBQ. Go to KCM praise band practice. SLEEP EARLY DANG IT.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Fast Time!
EDIT:
Pastor Jeff has postponed the Daniel Fast for our congregation. This has caused me to reconsider doing a Daniel Fast in conjunction with my media fast because I feel like it would be very difficult for me to carry on without accountability. Therefore, I will only pull off my media fast for three weeks starting today. Thus I will be back on November 15th. Thank you.
Still writing as if anyone cares,
Kevin
:ENDEDIT
Well. As the one or two people who actually read my blog know, our church's Daniel Fast is starting on Monday.
I remember my Daniel Fast from last year and I'm dreading it, gripped with an irrational terror that can only stem from understanding the dire situation that awaits me ahead. I never thought one could approach the brink of death from mere hunger. I lost 10 pounds those grueling 21 days (which I gained back within two weeks of ending the fast) and it remains in my memory archives as one of the hardest tasks I've ever put myself through.
Now that much wretchedness without reward hardly seems necessary. So what did I gain?
God revealed a few things to me. He ignited the first inkling of a missions flame within me and gave me the final push I needed to join the praise team. Oh, and Eric apologized to me for the first (and possibly last) time since I've known him.
But I think the greatest thing I gained was the fact that I had the self discipline to stick with this difficult fast and actually devote some of it to God. So this year, in an attempt to give even more of myself to God, I've decided I'm going to try a media fast (effective Monday, October 25th) alongside my Daniel Fast to make this time that I'm dedicating that much more focused on God and nothing else.
I haven't been praying as much lately, even with the bazillion things I need to pray for, and I'm hoping that this "Combination (Combo for short) Fast", as I'm going to refer to it, will give me the discipline I so sorely need at this moment in my life. Here are the details of my Combo Fast:
1. NO FOOD NOT ALLOWED BY DANIEL FAST STANDARDS
2. NO MEDIA
That's about it. I'm going to deactivate my facebook so that I won't notifications in my email, which I will be periodically checking. But even checking email is potentially distracting so please kindly give me a hand by messaging me whenever you see me on Gmail chat with a friendly "GET OFF BEFORE I KILL YOU". Thanks.
I will be chronicling my journey throughout the next 27 days as I struggle through my Combo Fast and hopefully I'll be able to post it here at the end. :)
And lastly... Please pray for me! This is going to be a tough one but I want to stick it through. Pray not only that I will be able to keep the conditions of my fast but also that I will take this time to truly grow in relationship with God. Pray that I will learn what it means to REJOICE IN MY SUFFERINGS!
1 Peter 4:13
But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
Romans 5:3-5
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
AMEN.
BE BACK NOVEMBER 21!!
Kevin
Pastor Jeff has postponed the Daniel Fast for our congregation. This has caused me to reconsider doing a Daniel Fast in conjunction with my media fast because I feel like it would be very difficult for me to carry on without accountability. Therefore, I will only pull off my media fast for three weeks starting today. Thus I will be back on November 15th. Thank you.
Still writing as if anyone cares,
Kevin
:ENDEDIT
Well. As the one or two people who actually read my blog know, our church's Daniel Fast is starting on Monday.
I remember my Daniel Fast from last year and I'm dreading it, gripped with an irrational terror that can only stem from understanding the dire situation that awaits me ahead. I never thought one could approach the brink of death from mere hunger. I lost 10 pounds those grueling 21 days (which I gained back within two weeks of ending the fast) and it remains in my memory archives as one of the hardest tasks I've ever put myself through.
Now that much wretchedness without reward hardly seems necessary. So what did I gain?
God revealed a few things to me. He ignited the first inkling of a missions flame within me and gave me the final push I needed to join the praise team. Oh, and Eric apologized to me for the first (and possibly last) time since I've known him.
But I think the greatest thing I gained was the fact that I had the self discipline to stick with this difficult fast and actually devote some of it to God. So this year, in an attempt to give even more of myself to God, I've decided I'm going to try a media fast (effective Monday, October 25th) alongside my Daniel Fast to make this time that I'm dedicating that much more focused on God and nothing else.
I haven't been praying as much lately, even with the bazillion things I need to pray for, and I'm hoping that this "Combination (Combo for short) Fast", as I'm going to refer to it, will give me the discipline I so sorely need at this moment in my life. Here are the details of my Combo Fast:
1. NO FOOD NOT ALLOWED BY DANIEL FAST STANDARDS
2. NO MEDIA
That's about it. I'm going to deactivate my facebook so that I won't notifications in my email, which I will be periodically checking. But even checking email is potentially distracting so please kindly give me a hand by messaging me whenever you see me on Gmail chat with a friendly "GET OFF BEFORE I KILL YOU". Thanks.
I will be chronicling my journey throughout the next 27 days as I struggle through my Combo Fast and hopefully I'll be able to post it here at the end. :)
And lastly... Please pray for me! This is going to be a tough one but I want to stick it through. Pray not only that I will be able to keep the conditions of my fast but also that I will take this time to truly grow in relationship with God. Pray that I will learn what it means to REJOICE IN MY SUFFERINGS!
1 Peter 4:13
But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
Romans 5:3-5
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
AMEN.
BE BACK NOVEMBER 21!!
Kevin
Monday, October 5, 2009
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