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Back from MIA

Hi! Does anyone still read this? No matter I guess b/c whoever does, I hope that they see God's glory through it! 

I just started to get caught up this past month w/peeps and things after being MIA since my last post.  MIA b/c the night I got back from the retreat my corolla got hit so I had to deal with everything that went along with it in the midst of doing OT at work b/c of layoffs since the housing industry is not doing so hot and I work for a residential developer.  I can't complain b/c it's been blessing after blessing after blessing....

~ My only accident in the 8 years I had my car was this.

~ Nobody got hurt in the accident.  15 min after coming home from retreat, beach and dinner my car got hit as it was parked on the driveway by an uninsured, unlicensed drive. If I loitered at Macaroni Grill any longer, I could have been hit. (Driver was learning how to drive at night with his uncle's old 1988 car and didn't unwind from a right turn so went over the curb and hit the left back corner of my car.

~ My mom's new 3 layer garage door didn't get hit. I park 50% of the time on the driveway and this was one of those. There were tire streaks on the ground and the other car's license plate fell on the ground so if my car wasn't there, it may have hit the garage door.

~ My two neighbors which I never met before. One made sure the driver and passenger wouldn't leave the scene and another called the cops. That's how I knew b/c after my quick shower, they knocked on my door.

~ Driver willing to pay for the repairs. After lot of thought - give $ to missions, help pay for new insurance - I ended up not asking for $ b/c my corolla was beyond repairs according to insurance, person didn't have a checking acct., and didn't need the extra $.

~ Corolla beyond repair and new insurance?...yup, yup...Bbbbeeeecause I got a new big TOY GIFT from GOD!!  "Big" b/c it's a new car, "toy" b/c it's a 2007 silver Acura TSX so has all these gadgets/conveniences and navigation system (makes me think of my brothers and guy friends)  and "gift" b/c of the countless blessings.  Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of Lights (James 1:17) 

I looked at cars earlier in 2007 to the point of buying Consumer Reports and Car & Driver magazines for 2007 but decided I save more $ running my 8 yr. old 146,000 mi corolla to the ground instead of a trade in. Selling to a private party is better price, but I didn't want to deal with the possible sketchiness and time. This accident turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Even my Buddhist mom credited God for this (one of the biggest blessings out of this).

I did lots of research and advice from some friends and my brothers.  I was looking at a Prius, Rav-4 and Acura TSX, though it was on the high end of my budget.  I decided to quote for it to end my wishful thinking once I see the $#s from the dealers. Then God started to blow me away by His shower of blessings when I received my quote from Acura Glendale. I was looking for a '07 auto w/out navi since I have a good sense of direction and save $.  It was no longer in stock and so I ended up getting w/navi which my brother Alan was pushing for anyways b/c he has a TL w/navi.

Summary of my car buying experience blessings: communicated all through email with internet sales mgr (no bothersome phone calls where they try to trick you and emails to track), no swapping sales mgr when I visited, qualified for the special 2.9%APR under 36 months or 4.9% over 36 months b/c of my good credit (thanks to my fam for teaching me good $ mgmt), no hassle when mtg. w/financing dept., received $ from my insurance when my corolla was considered  total loss at the value if I was to sell it to a private party in excellent condition so used towards down payment, got 14 mi. car w/wheel locks when mgr. realized the car he quoted me already had 100 mi. on it and unbelievable price - nobody on Edmunds forum had posted this amount yet, lower than my friend's employee price, another dealer said he would lose $ if he matched the price and OTD $ was only a little more than invoice $. Only the combo factors of insurance $, APR special and super great price all b/c of God that I got this car.

My brothers joke if I've slept in my car yet, one asked if he can take it for a spin, if I'm still on cloud 9, etc.  Other than kinda parking far, I try not to let this car become and idol and consume my thoughts b/c I know I can easily let it.  That's why I didn't announce it to my friends, even the sisterhood but then I did hope to have this entry earlier.  I've had this toy for about 2 months. It's a GIFT from GOD to be used for God. Good thing I have a sense of direction and like to drive.  

(oh yay, another sign I'm growing up. My largest purchase all by myself.  )

Wow, I just realized that it's been about 7 or 8 years since I've been part of an English adult retreat (including crossroads young adult fellowship which I missed but not including college retreat). I think the last time was either when Pastor Curtis spoke for CBCSD @ Forest Home wintertime in 1999 or CBCSD's first summer at Calvary Chapel Murrieta Hot Springs in 2000?  I vaguely remember that one, but my first CBCSD youth retreat shirt was '01 God's Word: Learn It, Love It, Live It (like Survivor's logo). I've mostly been part of youth retreats since then.

This weekend I'm going to be part of CCCTO's adult retreat at Pepperdine. My fellowship, Hypernike, is part of this church. I almost went last year b/c an old boss and discipler's hubby, Henry Tan, was the speaker but it conflicted with REACh's beach rally.  Kinda surreal b/c 1) after so many years of not being part of an adult retreat, I will be leading a small group of not just peers but "aunties" too, and 2) the last time I went to a CCCTO retreat was as a non-Christian jr higher experiencing a retreat for the very first time. Unfortunately, the only things I remember is vaguely learning the Gospel and Christian basics in general, the "This is a What?" and mind puzzle games over meals, how cool I thought I was that I stayed up for over 48 hours with my roomies but then not being able to stand up right but sway in the last worship set, and the long detour home from Westmont College due to an oil train spill or something....so long that it was bright daylight when I left but dark when I got home and so slow that during the back local roads detour passengers could walk out and back to their cars. 

But then I am more excited for what God has in store than feeling kinda surreal: to be part of an adult retreat - Deeper Change, hear local Pastor Steve Larson whose church I've been meaning to check out, officiated Garrick and Elena's wedding and was Garrick's baseball coach; worship led by Garrick, Garrick's brother Justin, Hypernike friends and some REACh peeps - Jake and Justin, see Katie, body worship workshop by Elena and whatever else God has in store as some of us feel God is moving among the congregration.

Currently Reading The Discipline of Grace: God's Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness/Study Guide By Jerry Bridges see related

Ch# 1: Costly Grace

I've been reminded of the magnitude of God's grace and mercy lately.

"Cheap grace means the justification of sin without the justication of the sinner.  Grace alone does everything, they say, and so everything can remain as it was before." (p.43) "Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate." (p.45)

Costly grace ~ "Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life.  It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner.  Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: 'ye were brought at a price,' and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us...Costly grace confronts us as a gracious call to follow Jesus, it comes as a word of forgiveness to the broken spirit and contrite heart.  Grace is costly because it compels a man to submit to the yoke of Christ and follow him; it is grace because Jesus says: 'My yoke is easy and my burden is light.' " (p.45)  "Such a man knows that the call to discipleship is a gift of grace, and that the call is inseparable from grace." (p.51)

Reading Ch #1 of Cost of Discipleship reminds me of one of my favorite books, Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges.

"...pursuit of holiness must be motivated by an ever-increasing understanding of the grace of God; else it can become oppressive and joyless." (preface p. 7)

"To some, the pursuit of holiness sounds like legalism and manmade rules.  To others an emphasis on grace seems to open the door to irresponsible , sinful behavior based on the notion that God's unconditional love means we are free to sin as we please." (p. 12-13)

"Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace.  And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace." (p. 18)

Also, PLam, Sr. pastor of CBCSD-my home church =D, shared during PDalon's ordination, I mean Rev. Dalon Chin =D, that one of the characteristics of authentic ministry he's experienced and learned is that it is b/c of the mercy of God that you or I have ministry. It is not my/your ministry, but God's given to us by His mercy to shepherd.

"Therefore, since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart." 2 Cor. 4:1

REACh Pine Valley 2007 Reflections

A year ago there was an opportunity to be a counselor 2 weeks out for one of my bible study friend, Garrick's youth camp w/his sister churches. It was unlike me b/c I prefer long term ministry and I didn't plan to see the people much after camp, but  it was like me b/c I love youth ministry and I missed it. I came only knowing 1 person whom I met just 3 months before, but I came away experiencing God and knowing more peeps and sisters and brothers in Christ and new friends through the year.  I was given the opportunity to serve again this past June seeing old friends and making new ones. Hopefully I'll get to see "Flyin High w/Cabin 5" peeps and others this Sat. at the beach rally!!!

This year, God mainly reminded me of His sovereignty.

~ Sovereignty in joining as a counselor – I was asked back in April to be a counselor again and I responded with sure but to use the peeps that are already part of one of the participating churches first and then I found out they had enough. 3 weeks out I was asked (at least it was 1 week more than the first year ;p) again not knowing that few days later I would be taking over my old co-counselor’s cabin so I get my preference hs and 6 of my returning girls (of course who would want the same counselor?! ;p, surprise they remember I got their contact info and the cabin games we played last year

~ speaker, Arthur Hsieh of MBCLA, mentioned something similar to what I read recently in a Eugene Peterson interview in a magazine: Instead of how I can apply the passage to me (I master the Word), should be how can I obey (God’s Word master me)

~ Gospel for Real Life by Jerry Bridges– finished reading it at the end of May instead of original plan of reading to prep before Easter so it ends up being fresher in my mind and it covered much of what the speaker spoke about, esp. that Jesus finished it (see xanga)!!!

~ For me to not be discouraged in any way and focus on being faithful to what He’s given me: giving my testimony reminded me that it took me 6 yrs. to accept Christ; June's monthly women in youth ministry article that although you feel you’re not putting enough time w/your kids-you can’t do it all-God will take care of them, just be faithful to the work He’s given you, speaker's encouragement to the leaders that we all are pieces to the puzzle of someone’s life.

~ Gospel presented fully by Arthur to the point that it is for God’s glory and seemed heavy messages. I thought the youth would not be able to understand but youth came to know Christ, commitments, etc. especially jr hi and 80% of the non-Christians that the leaders knew about and prayed for

~ Surprise how God used me to touch my cabin girls (general out of respect to others)

~ Camp had cabin competition for the first time that helped in cabin bonding. My cabin won! =D