The Last Lecture

Okay, I wrote lecture, but in reality it is just a short message.

The connotations with my title are of an old teacher who is sadly either retiring or knows of their imminent death. Though I am surely alive and well, to a large degree, my blogging career is not. Jonnnnnnnnnnn will officially be no more after this post. If only you liked my posts more often this would not have happened. Hoho, what a terribly, lame joke. Okay, I’ll put my serious hat back on. Nevertheless, I will use this one last opportunity to share with you one last message.

Though one side of me would thoroughly enjoy talking about sports, holidays, or fun times with friends, I choose to talk about a mission. More specifically, your mission, which some people refer to as a calling/ goal. Basically, just something that you know you want to do for the long run. But as usual, I am not going to stop short of applying a Christian and Biblical perspective on missions.

Missions can also be going about in the world to serve and spread the love of Christ.  Many know the great commandment and the great commission, and many act upon those two commands. But, for some, myself included, this is much easier said than done. I recently came across a song that brings to life those conflicting feelings through music. The lyrics read, “From the love of my comfort, From the fear of having nothing, From a life of worldly passions, Deliver me O God.” There is much more to it, but even this one stanza is powerful.

 Would our brothers and sisters in the church continue to show remorse with words and not budge from their personal desires? There is no shame in working in a field not related to theology, ministry, or the Bible. In fact, I think there are great ways to glorify God regardless of the career you go into. But to be driven by money, power, and recognition is to be driven by nothing, or rather everything that is meaningless.

The greatest work is often done for others, whether it be teaching, protecting the community, defending the oppressed, etc. Serving others is often the form humility and love takes shape in. So, I encourage the masses to evaluate inwardly. Me and my two little eyes have seen a gram of the hurt in a small part of the world, and I feel action needs to be done. I would like to be part of a body of people who cannot look the other way. This is my mission. I encourage you to find yours.

Jon-acity

Gratitude, Generosity, Tenacity, Humility, and Courage. What an interesting bunch of words. None more appropriate for Thanksgiving Day than Gratitude. Not to mention, the big roles Generosity and Humility can play in the upcoming season of giving. Well, Tenacity is probably the least well-known, and Courage may be one of the most well-known. All of these words are important, but in certain aspects, some have more importance than others. It would be most convenient to write about gratitude, generosity, humility, and courage, but tenacity deserves a shot to be heard. To begin, let me define this with the help of our good friend, Merriam- Webster, which basically says it is being “firm,” “strong,” “not easily stopped or pulled apart,” “continuing for a long time,” and “very determined to do something.” To have tenacity makes me think of a lion. I would say the king of the jungle needs this characteristic to be at the top. Though this is not often said, God seems to have tenacity/be tenacious, but of course it is on a different, unreachable level. Our Heavenly Father is eternal, all-powerful, unstoppable, but he does not need to be very determined in order to do something. His will is the way, and His way is good. If I were to keep going on with the tenacity aspects of strength and persistence, these are vital to the Christian in their journey of life. Not that we are full capable with this characteristic, but in God we are able to do so. Before this post, I thought there were more negative connotations than positive ones from this word. However, I now know, I had this all wrong. Tenacity is pretty darn important. Not only is it important for me as a student, but it is important for teachers, preachers, mothers, fathers, gentlemen, ladies, police officers, fire fighters, and everybody else. Personally, tenacity does not seem to be one of my strengths, but it is something I would like to improve. I would like to be so tenacious it becomes one of my main characteristics. Not so I could boast about tenacity, but so my actions would reflect it. To live with tenacity could come in handy for all the other words. I would be able to have a fierce determination to be grateful for all things, generous to others, humble before all, and have courage in all situations. But for now, I am well short of these things, but I will take it one day at a time. Then, I hope to grow to be a tenacious child of our Father. Perhaps this may not happen in my lifetime, but it will not stop me from trying. An interesting fact is there is an established organization with the mission to serve under-privileged youth in Boston by building their tenacity. By developing the skills and resilience of the youth, they are better-equipped to succeed academically and in life, as a whole. This goes back to the “continuing for a long time” definition which is about quality longevity. Not necessarily by solely living for a long time, but by being able to overcome the hardships and struggles that come in life. Thus, having such resilience and persistence, will improve the quality of life. Live Strong!

Jon-amorphosis

My life experiences have been largely influential to who I am today. Whether it was the interaction with certain people, struggles and conflicts, achievements and failures, etc., I was undoubtedly effected by what these things had to offer. So, who have I become? In other words, what makes me different from the six-year-old child I was when I enrolled into a public school in first grade? The obvious answers of intelligence, size, and maturity have no need to be discussed. But yes, each one of those has increased quite a bit. Back on to the topic, I would like to engage in thought with the topics of spirituality, values/character, and my outlook on life. Although, these all are different matters, somehow they all have come together to change me as a person. As a young boy, I grew up with simple circumstances and simple goals. I thought the world I was growing up in would be no different. Oh, how this could be further from the truth. After receiving an education, I figured I would live a comfortable life, help others and my family, and that was all there was to life. I was not aware of the hurt, pain, destruction, and darker side of the world. To be fair, I did not know of the hospitality, aid, humanitarian efforts, and countless charitable acts by kind beings either. My life was like the tune of Mary had a Little Lamb, now it is something closer to the Flight of the Bumblebee, more complex, more detailed, just more of everything. I presume you can say my outlook on life has also been changed because of my faith. In Christianity, the life you live should be for God. I mean, the hope I have is incomparable to what I originally had. Now, there is the Great Commission and Great Command, which encompasses what I should be doing. Loving God, Loving people, and Making Disciples. I believe doing this is the mission of all believers. Difficult it may be, impossible it is not. Lastly, though I am shaped by my experiences, I am not perfected by them. I expect to continually change from this never-ending process. Thank you.

Here’s a link to the Flight of the Bumblebee in case it escaped your memory http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QV1RGMLUKE

Or if you prefer a version by a world-renowned Korean Cellist, here you go http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdGwOmijRJ4

Screwtape Lessons

The battle between good and evil is particularly applicable today. This theme is relevant in the Screwtape Letters as there is the struggle or conflict of demons and man. In today’s world, there is war that is being waged by the fallen angel. His task is to bring as many people into the realm of darkness to be separated from the Creator. There is no question that the Devil is sly and quick-thinking. He will use a variety of tactics that he knows have been effective against mankind. In this novel, there are certain preferred methods of bringing people into Hell. Most often, a slow and steady approach is taken to have a more profound effect on the victim, or victims. The truth is there is little one can do apart from God. To be with God, is to not only be against the dark one, but also to trust and believe in Yahweh. No way? Yeah way! Lame, but true. Back to the point, which was what approaches to tempting found in the book, would be effective today. This was also touched on a few blogs back, but the slow and steady approach is what really sweeps someone off their feet without realizing it because it is not blatant. People are fooled into believing everything is fine and dandy, but it is not. In fact, it is often this mindset of being content with mediocrity that gets people into trouble. To clarify, not necessarily judicial problems, but spiritual.  Oh, but how sweet it feels to think that all is swell where I dwell. Take heed, sometimes there is more than what meets the eye in the situations society faces both cohesively and individually. In the words of C.S. Lewis “and out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history-money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery- the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.” To sum it up, I believe this is referring to one strong move the Devil makes. Putting the thought into our heads, saying “hey, you need more, God isn’t enough, and you cannot find satisfaction in Him.” Let us not be fools. It is not that our desires are too strong for God says Pastor John Piper, but they are too weak. Without a doubt money, fame, power, etc. are all attainable by a Christian. Yet, to make that our own ambition is selfish, and incredibly unnecessary. That is clearly not the chief end of humanity. Rather, keep our eyes on the Heavenly prize of eternal relationship with our Creator, free of suffering, and overflowing with Love. How can the people in this world apply this to their lives? Simple, as Pastor Piper puts it, “the chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever.” This kind of happiness is something C.S. Lewis says makes us serious. Let this world of believers be serious and intentional in being joyful in the Lord.

Pauleeteeks (Politics)

Definitely not my favorite thing to talk about. Definitely not what I would talk about if I had ten minutes left to live. Then, why even discuss it? Although politics isn’t my forte, and I don’t have much deep knowledge of it, I know it is important because it affects every single person, American or not. In this blog, I won’t discuss which country has a terrible political system and which one has the best. Nor will I be contemplating the effectiveness of certain laws in place or potentially to be put in place. However, I will share how I personally feel about politics in general. I am aware that the range of view on this topic is so widespread and unique that many will not agree with me, and conversely, I will not agree with many. To clarify, I am using “by many” to refer to a large amount of people, not a majority.  For the most part, there is nothing wrong with having different beliefs. Yet, wrong can come out of it if there is a destructive belief that is stubbornly, foolishly being held onto. I am not referring to anybody or anything specifically, but I am acknowledging it is a hypothetical situation that is possible. Now, time to try to go into specifics. Democrat? Republican? Left wing? Right wing? Truthfully, I don’t know and I don’t think I’ll classify myself as one of them. From the basic ideologies I know of them, I think I am closer to the Republican side than the Democratic side. However, I stop myself short of agreeing with all or even many of their ideas. Many will base their political standing based off their personal views, upbringing, religious values, etc. Also, they call out for separation of the church and state. I’m not sure where to stand on these matters because they are not simple. Call it ignorance on my part for not indulging in these important matters. However, growing up, it was not appealing for a young boy to actively seek out to learn these things. I was more preoccupied with sports, both playing and watching. Also, it didn’t help about everything associating politicians with not being trustworthy. Now, being a freshman in college, I realize it’s not too late, but I should be more involved in these matters. I haven’t voted yet, but learning about the system will infallibly help me in the near future. 

It’s a Holly Jolly Christmas!

Holidays are more of a worldly tradition we celebrate in this modern day. However, they have not lost all significance. Both good, bad, and controversial comes out of holidays these days.

If I had to choose, I would say Christmas is the holiday I most enjoy celebrating. As I have gotten older, I would say it’s the cheery atmosphere that is appealing, more so than the presents or the food. Additionally, connecting with family and friends while not having much, if any, obligations from school is a great bonus as well.

 It is a time of hope and remembrance of a lives-changing, world-inspiring, and mind-blowing event. Christ Jesus came into the world, fully Man and God, to knock the socks off the feet of both Jew and Gentile, to raise the roof as people celebrated the fulfillment of an important prophesy from the Old Testament, and to one day die for everyone, so that those who believe in Him shall not perish but have their sins atoned for and be saved. This leads to another important day, Easter, which many people celebrate. But, of course, it’s not always celebrated as a remembrance of the crucifixion on the cross, leading to His resurrection on the third day.

Another thing to enjoy about the winter season is the music. There are the classics like Silent Night and Noel, and the annoying likes of Jingle Bells, Little Drummer Boy, etc. Not to mention the “ultra-stupid” “songs” like I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus and Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer. Really? Just wastes the time your ears have to live. You may not agree, but it’s alright. We get irked by different things anyways.

Many will point fingers and bring controversy into Christmas, and the debate between how much of it is secular/materialistic and how much of it is Biblical relevant continues to this day. I think most Christians do stand behind the notion that Christmas is not a bad thing to celebrate, and in fact, good can come out of it. And as long as we do not lose sight of the true meaning, our actions will reflect a people who strives to make God the center. Bigger theological issues can arise from topics such as these, but in essence, many arguments made are folly and miss the point entirely. Basically, live a life worthy of your calling daily, and entrust God with this. Well then, Have Yourself A Merry Little CHRISTmas!

Free Bloggin’ ‘Bout BaseBall

Another sports update by yours truly. This is old news, but Dodgers did not advance to the World Series. Their opponent, the St. Louis Cardinals, now have the opportunity to win a championship against the Boston Red Sox. By the looks of the first half of game one, Boston looks focused and in control to win. The Cardinals, on the other hand, could not get much out of their ace, Adam Wainwright, and it doesn’t help that they cannot get their offense going. The Vegas odds put Boston as the slight favorite to win over Cardinals, and it appears like they are right. Enough about these teams, more about our nation’s favorite team.

Now that the Dodgers are out of the running this year, it’s time to move on. There is a lot of optimism for the next season. Many of their players will be back, and the front office is always looking to improve so there is a good chance for new, quality players. One possible target is David Price of the Tampa Bay Rays. He may not be a household name because he plays in a small market, but two years ago he won the Cy Young Award, given to the best pitcher in the league. However, this would only be possible by trading several talented prospects to the Rays, but it is a calculated risk that they may take. If the deal went through, their top three pitchers of Kershaw, Greinke, and Price would from the best trio in history. Another thing I look forward to is the progression of twenty-two year old outfielder Yasiel Puig, a flamboyant and exciting player. Many people questioned his maturity though his talent is unquestionable. He will either prove to be a respectable budding superstar or a talent whose brain couldn’t catch up with his brawn. Another player of interest is South Korean pitcher, Ryu hyun-jin. In the eyes of many people, he had a remarkable year. In his first year in the Major Leagues, he held his own against players who are far superior to the ones he faced abroad. It wouldn’t be a stretch to see him earn an All-start berth in his second year if he continues to improve.  All in all, I am expecting an improved offense and pitching staff as young players continue to improve and most of their players will be fully healthy by opening day. One of the biggest keys is to avoid the numerous injuries that plagued them this season, a whopping 25 trips to the disabled list is crippling for a team that many expect to be incredibly successful.

America, the Beautiful

The quote I want to touch upon today is found in the twelfth Screwtape Letter. This says “Indeed, the safest road to Hell is the gradual one.” My initial thought was, “What in the world does this mean?” However, I came to understand it by understanding it words that have similar connotations. I understand this does not work in all cases, but I though it worked this time. Basically, I tried to make this clear in my head by associating “safe” with “best” and “gradual” with “consistent.” The end product is that one is more likely to get to Hell through consistent experiences that are void of God. I added the “that are void of God” part, but it is an imperative piece once it is understood what the Word has to say about damnation.
Does this quote accurately represent the road that our world is on? In other words, is humanity on that gradual decline, towards Hell? In the standpoint of an atheist, I would assume, No. There is no Hell, or even a Heaven, for people who have faith in no faith. I can’t speak for all religions or beliefs, but in the viewpoint of Christians, I think this quote could be potentially misinterpreted without any context. This is because it is often preached that you don’t want to have a “roller-coaster” faith, but it is better to have an “even/ gradual” faith similar to a train ride. Believing in God one moment, then turning away the next second, would portray one example of a kind of faith that is not fruitful/ goes nowhere. However, the point is that going on an even-keeled journey of faith will lead to growth.
America, the Beautiful. Or is it…America, the Broken? (http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/16/opinion/rothkopf-five-reasons-washington/index.html?hpt=hp_t4). In this article by David Rothkoph, the system of politics we have is “broken.” From the policies to the people electing representatives, reform is essentially needed. In one sense, this is an opinionated piece by a man who knows how to catch the audience’s attention, and as a writer, editor, and CEO, that’s incredibly important. He has a point though, America IS broken, and needs some repair. To liken it to a Ford F-150, it’s running on wheels that are not locked in with the electronic control system. It has a leaky valves, and it does not help that the driver refuses to entrust the vehicle to the mechanic with a doctorate from Harvard. What do all these metaphors mean? It suggests that too much of America is broken, but it does not mean the situation is hopeless. Sure, there is not much trust between politician and citizen, but it’s important to work together to help the situation. Though this article is not much about Hell. It does show that brokenness did not come overnight. Rather, an accumulation of a group of factors led to this gradual decline. Thus, I conclude this post here, but hope I gave the topic some justice.
“America! America!
God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!”

Take Me Out to the Ballgame~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If I could choose anything to write about, what would it be? At the moment, I think I’d like to discuss the upcoming postseason games of Major League Baseball. Thankfully, the regular season is finally over. After an arduous schedule of 162 games, the Dodgers, my favorite team, are in the postseason for the first time since 2009. It may be due to their payroll of over 200 million, but the Yankees, who also have a payroll of over 200 million did not make it. Somewhat surprisingly, the Rays, a 57 million dollar team, have a shot to win it all.

I think the Dodgers have a great shot at winning the World Series, if they get that far. Their one obstacle to overcome would be the injuries to key players, Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier. Additionally, I saw in an online sports article that Las Vegas betting odds have them as the slight favorite to win. The reason they are favored is their great pitching staff, reliable bullpen, and decent lineup of hitters. Furthermore, they have the best pitcher in baseball, Clayton Kershaw, who I would consider as my favorite player. He’s not only an exceptional athlete, but he also supports various charities, including extensive work/donations in Africa. On a side note, he is pretty well-known as a Christian athlete, but not as much as former NFL quarterback, Tim Tebow. This concludes my short blog on one of my interests, baseball.

Quick review of Qualified Quaint Quotes

For this post, I’m going to really revel in  discussing the following two remarkable quotes.

“If a nation loses its storytellers, it loses its childhood.”
—Peter Handke

To begin, I’m not saying I know Handke’s intention with the quote, but I want to try to decipher it. Before starting, let’s take the Jane Austen’s and Larry King’s out of our minds. This quote is about storytellers, so picture people such as Walt Disney and Theodore Geisel. I can’t imagine the classic American childhood being separated from the works of Disney and Dr. Seuss. Who hasn’t seen Mickey Mouse or read Green Eggs & Ham a few thousand times? My guess is the majority of people have watched a majority of the following films: Finding Nemo, Toy Story, Lion King, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan, Little Mermaid, Jungle Book, Tarzan, Mulan, Aladdin, etc. The point is my childhood, your childhood, and the nation’s childhood would be different with the absence of its storytellers. You can still have a great childhood without storytellers, but it just wouldn’t be the same.

“Just write every day of your life. Read intensely. Then see what happens. Most of my friends who are put on that diet have very pleasant careers.”
—Ray Bradbury, WD

This quote reveals what Bradbury thinks is the recipe for being a successful writer. Not only that, but its advice that can help for other careers as well. You may be thinking who those friends were, and I took the liberty of finding those friends. Some of Bradbury’s good friends were: writer and actor, Forrest J Ackerman, producer/director, Ray Harryhausen, writer/director, Federico Fellini, director/producer, Chuck Jones, and writer/producer, Gene Roddenberry. I don’t think Bradbury was lying about the pleasant careers that his friends had. However, he doesn’t go so far as to say that you will be successful if you read and write every day. Rather, I think he is saying it will provide that jolt of inspiration, creativity, and energy that may lead to great works.

Thank you for reading. The End.