God's Word

last month, i was blessed with a wonderful opportunity to be a dt leader for this year. unlike my past dt groups/one-on-one who were college girls, i was called to serve as a dt leader for a youth group girl. she's 15 years old... i'm almost a decade older than her. wow -.- haha anyways.

after learning that i was to be a dt leader, i was given a free and brand new esv study bible by hope church. it weighs a ton but i love it so much! i admit that i used to think the bible was too dull and difficult to read. but that only shows how foolish i have been. i realize now that the reason why i thought the bible was "boring" was because i didn't know what i was reading. i didn't care to learn about the author, the date, the genre, the style, the theme, the purpose, occasion, and background. but this esv study bible has everything! it even includes an outline for each book, charts, timelines, lists of facts, and colorful maps and illustrations! (i always get excited when i see color in a book. does that still make me a kid? hmm... hehe) these supplemental information has been added to help a simpleton, such as myself, to comprehend God's Word in its entirety. thank you, so many theologians, for compiling this resourceful study bible :)

my dt girl and i will be going through 1 John. i love a lot of the NT books but for this particular one, i have a biased affection and an emotional attachment to it. i read this book twice back in '09 and '10. but now that i'm using the study bible, i am blown away by all the notes and commentaries of 1 John. ah, i love it. i love it. i love it!

it's no wonder pastor joe's sermons are so long. the bible is so dense and rich; there's so much knowledge to share. it's no wonder pastors need a lot of time to prepare a sermon. it's clear that God's Word cannot be prepared in just one day, or else you won't be doing any justice to it at all.

i am so fortunate to have this study bible. thank you, hope church. but ultimately, thank you, God :)

masquerade

what you see

will not always be what you think.

she may seem happy

she may be laughing

but behind that well-designed mask

she may not be okay.

she may be hiding

she may be hurting

and the pain

may only be getting worse.

Casting Crowns - Stained Glass Masquerade

Is there anyone that fails

Is there anyone that falls

Am I the only one in church today feelin' so small

Cause when I take a look around

Everybody seems so strong

I know they'll soon discover

That I don't belong

So I tuck it all away, like everything's okay

If I make them all believe it, maybe I'll believe it, too

So with a painted grin, I play the part again

So everyone will see me the way that I see them

Are we happy plastic people

Under shiny plastic steeples

With walls around our weakness

And smiles to hide our pain

But if the invitation's open

To every heart that has been broken

Maybe then we close the curtain

On our stained glass masquerade

Is there anyone who's been there

Are there any hands to raise

Am I the only one who's traded

In the altar for a stage

The performance is convincing

And we know every line by heart

Only when no one is watching

Can we really fall apart

But would it set me free

If I dared to let you see

The truth behind the person

That you imagine me to be

Would your arms be open

Or would you walk away

Would the love of Jesus

Be enough to make you stay

Well if the invitation's open

To every heart that has been broken

Maybe then we close the curtain

On our stained glass masquerade

Is there anyone that fails

Is there anyone that falls

Am I the only one in church today feelin' so small

fooled

i had a good phone chat with a friend. it's been a couple months since we've last talked. and nowadays, i rarely have phone chats. my cellphone minutes per month have been, like, 70 minutes. what a drastic change from jr high/highschool. man, i was always on the phone back then, until my ear and hand became sweaty, until my mom yelled at me to get off the phone. haha, i miss those days...

anyways. happy april fools. i've never been fooled on this day.. except for today..

friend: after updating me about his stressful life, he lowers his voice and whispers, "so.. i have cancer.. and i don't have much time to live.."

me: didn't really hear what he said so i laughed and pretended like i knew what he said. "hahaha okay."

friend: "um.. did you just laugh?"

me: "...yea.. wait, what?! did you just say you have cancer?!"

friend: "yea, dude. why are you laughing..."

me: "are you serious?! dude, i'm really, really gullible. so you better not be joking right now."

friend: "why would i be joking about something like this? like i said earlier, i have so many stressful things going on right now.. with my new relationship, with work.. and this adds to it."

me: "oh my gosh. you're serious.."

friend: "yea, dude. i have anal cancer... and no, i did not do the nasty with a gay guy."

me: googling anal cancer. "i am soo sorry... when did you find out? how did you know? did you tell your family?" reading up on anal cancer.

friend: "i found out just recently. i went for a check-up and learned that something was wrong. i haven't told anyone... except you now."

me: oh my gosh, i can't believe this. "i'm so sorry..."

friend: "hmm... you know, i haven't talked to you in awhile and so, your voice sounds really different. it sounds like you got more mature. and i was thinking that after i had told you about my cancer, you would be like, 'eff you. yea right.' but you're actually believing me... i think i need to stop this... i actually don't have cancer."

me: "WHAT?! o.O so, basically, because you think i sound mature now, you decided to play a joke on me?"

friend: "hahahaha yeaaaa.... april fool's, i guess?"

...wow -.-