studying the book of Revelation

I've been studying Revelation for about a month now, and today I'm to the point in the book where there is nothing but hope for those who believe, and everyone rejoices in the New Earth. Exciting stuff, and a good reminder that as the Bride left on her wedding night, the Church is supposed to long for her husband.

I started reading the book with some definite goals, none of which have been completed, but I have learned a whole lot, and have realized yet again that pre/am/post thinking will really get you nowhere.

Anyway, wanted to link everyone with this wonderful batch of sermons on the book, all in .pdf format, and easy to read and understand. Also good on holding Scripture against Scripture, and to getting to the main point of the matter: glorifying God.

The Big Picture: Ramadan

Here are some pictures from all around the world, capturing images of Ramadan. Follow the link to go to the blog.

friends!post: Nova, Santy, Ika, Yuli, Ian, Ida

These are my friends who work at the English center where I study. Recently, there's been a lot of sharing going around the center, and there's been some really good conversations. The first two from the left are really good at meeting with university students and talking with them about life. They're crazy, easy-going, and friendly. Right now they have a couple of appointments to meet with students and hang out.
These are a couple of my friends. Ian is a civil engineer, very talented. Ida is a fashion designer, also very talented. You remember the appointments my friends from the English center have? They're with these guys. These guys, who have heard story after story, but don't yet understand them. Recently, after telling Ian I would pray that he would get his first "big job," he did, a testimony to the one in whose name I pray. One day the girl was talking with a friend of hers and for the first time her friend explained the idea of prayer to her, and she was intrigued. She wants to talk about that topic again later.

* * *

The two on the right have a standing appointment with house helpers every Wednesday. Together, they make Christmas decorations and learn new skills like sewing and cross stitch. These house helpers are usually low-educated women who grew up in villages. As they learn these new skills, they tell and discuss stories. In her personal time, one of the house helpers is learning stories that have a theme about the problem we have and how to fix it. Maybe she'll share those stories with the other women in the group--stories about disobedience, a brother's murder, a natural disaster, a son's escape from death, and even slavery.

a simpler explanation of Sarah Palin and the will of God

from Scriptorium Daily:

In my experience, churches like those Governor Palin attends use “God’s will” in a looser way. This can lead to confusion especially when secularists with a political agenda use misunderstandings to fuel fear and hatred of different religious ideas.

Why I like this editorial:
1) It explains a whole lot about evangelicals to those who don't believe.
2) It explains a whole lot about evangelicals to me--and I am one.

On the second point, I want to explain a little. For the most part, I don't like to use the words, "I believe this is God's will for my life" in referring to specific circumstances (i.e. giving something to someone, teaching a class, or moving overseas). I've never liked it, mostly because I've considered it Christianese which detracts from the Scriptures. For example, my saying, "I believe it is God's will for me to attend this seminar" does nothing to further knowledge about the Holy One, but to affirm that I'm in the right, that I'm doing well (which is the complete antithesis of the Scriptural view of human depravity).

HOWEVER, if I say, "I believe it is God's will for me to learn more about Him" then I am speaking the truth; the seminar might just be one of those avenues to learn more about Him.

Wow, that makes a whole lot more sense.

politcking.

As most of you know, I skim--er, read and meditate on, way too many blogs.

Since both conventions are over and November is quickly approaching, I've been trying to keep up with some politics, even though from my home hundreds of thousands of miles away from the States, I can feel the repercussions of these campaigns in the media at large. I'm already tired of hearing about Palin, McCain, and Obama. I don't care about their social lives or the things you can find that will help produce scandal. I live in a country where they have to report the wealth of their candidates, just so the citizens will know those candidates will not be persuaded into corruption later in office. Really, with all the politicians--whether they are a mom or a POW who can't type e-mails or an inexperienced soothsayer or Joe Biden, America will be alright.

America. Will. Be. Alright.

But, despite my overarching belief that America is going to pull through regardless, I have been trying to keep up with several political blogs/sites that help to inform, of course mostly with a conservative bent, and I figured I'd share those.

1. PolitiFact - checks their lies
2. RealClearPolitics - pretty unbiased
3. Instapundit - conservative, but one of the more unbiased, defends SP too much for my liking
4. Townhall - very biased, but intelligent
5. The Campaign Spot - conservative and biased

friends!post: meet Wicak

Wicak is one of my teachers and friends. He's a good guy. A really good guy. And, he's a giant in comparison to most Asians.

Aside from teaching, he translates books for a Catholic book publisher. In the coming weeks, he's going to be translating some stuff for me, since he knows his heart language a whole lot better than I do. (I am only learning the national language, and due to scheduling I haven't yet started to learn the other widely-spoken language here, aside from a few words and phrases.)

I don't yet know what I'm going to do after these things are translated. Maybe memorize them. Maybe form a bilingual study group for students who like to study English. We'll see what happens.

ok, so this is the plan

1) I have been really random and bad about this thing.
2) I want to post more frequently, to help you all know more about my life.
3) I want to post in a couple of specific categories, mostly there will be photo posts, story posts, and experience posts. There will also be justsoyouknow and friends posts so you will know what specific things are happening. I'll try to space these out every day or so. I want to highlight friends.

Here's the thing...
1) I'm really good at making goals and not following through.
2) The fact that my camera no longer exists makes me feed off the pictures from Erin, and mostly pictures from the past. Eventually, the pictures will run out.
3) I'm still going to have rambly posts and music posts and roller coaster posts which involve nobody but myself. Sorry, but it's one way to stay sane.
4) See #1.

We'll see how it goes.