Proverbs 19:23

"The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble" - Proverbs 19:23

There is nothing quite like the feeling of knowing that you are living life to the fullest. You have taken all the chances and opportunities that have been given to you. You have taken the best road for your life without compromising who you are. You have developed a character that is respected and genuine. There is so much hope and a bright future ahead. I wish I could bottle up this time in my life and keep it for those days in the future when I am in the valleys. These blessings have all come from my Father...and I am so thankful! Everything is thanks to God and so all this joy, love, contentment and hope I have received I want to give it back in praise and service. It's not important what happens to you, it only matter how you respond to it. And if you respond positively then more positive things will come. In a time when no one really give faith a second thought, God is so real all around me - in the events in my life, the people that I've met and the moments that I've experienced.

"You are the God of my story...write every line for your glory"

Arirang

This is an excerpt from my monologue I wrote in the perspective of a NK refugee now living in Canada...
I had met a real defector from North Korea a couple years ago and after doing extensive research - this cause affected me so deeply. I hope to help speak for those who are not allowed to speak in North Korea, and tell the story of those who are ignored by the international community.

"In my city Pyongyang, the streets are desolate. There is a steely silence that engulfs the entire city. There is an artificial equality and there are heartbeats within citizens, but no one is truly living. The trains and the trams are running but no one is going anywhere because fear has paralyzed every living being. Arirang means beautiful country. But my country is no longer beautiful. I laugh here because my people cannot laugh there. I speak here because their voice is not heard there. I hope here because there is no hope there. I live here because there is no life there."

Hanvoice is an organization, making an impact http://hanvoice.org/en/

MJ

Marjane Satrapi is the animated icon of coming of age stories in contemporary lit. Read Persepolis or watch the film and you'll see why...
She chronicles her life story in the form of comic strips that exude as much emotion as prose. Born and raised during the revolution and war in Iran, her story still has a light-hearted touch

Crush

Hmm...
this is an entirely random post - but just fun for me to post

When people talk about celebrity crushes, the usual culprits spur absolutely no interest in me :S
Unfortunately they fail to make me swoon like every other member of the female population.
When a trashy tabloid if pulled and there are flashy images of the "hottest male stars" - they barely make an impression on me...and people think I'm so strange!

Brad Pitt? meh
Johnny Dep? nah
Zac Efron? blah

My celeb crushes are little more unexpected and are a lot more quiet...but they make me giggle like a naive school girl

My Lord, why do get into these obsessions with fictional/unattainable people?

So...who is my "celeb crush"?

Sean Flynn
You're thinking...who the heck is that?

The grandson of hearthrob Errol Flynn from the Golden Age of Hollywood

this is pretty embarassing - but plays a character named Chase Matthews from Zoey 101 haha!

If you know how he portrays his character; you know what I mea :)

oh sweeeet Lord, watch and listen him caress the strings ofl acoustic guitar and play this incredible song he wrote...the lyrics make me melt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8jTtQbHGA8

and you'll swoon right along with me!

I've always favoured quieter guys, the sweet, emotionally type who appreciate family, wholesome values and honestly. The ones that no one really notices because they do not try to call attention to themselves but are actually brilliant because of their strong moral character.

Call me a cheeseball but my tactic to find a good husband...is actually praying

One of my biggest fears is ending up with someone that I will despise later on after the honeymoon is done. And destroying a family because I settled on someone who wasn't the one. Hmm weird thing to think about when you're barely an adult...

But because of all the knowledge and experience that I learned from my mother...I have an understanding of how important it really is...

So nice guys, please don't give up hope and give up on being nice!
There are girls out there who are looking for just that :)

The Reminder

Windows of Residence at Victoria College U of T

My Future abode.

Dear God,

May I remember a few things when I'm experiencing my first year of university at U of T, and feel like I'm being beaten down by the system or just like one of a million...

• If it is required so that I can be shaped to be the person you destined me to be, may I not be afraid to make mistakes and even fail
  
• May I not feel offended or snubbed by learning from someone who is more intellectually cultivated that I am, may I listen and learn all that they have to offer
  
• May I continue to be open to new ideas but discern with a heart that has been raised by you
• May I not forget about you in my day to day life
• May I always stop and give thanks
• May I not let the gift hinder me from enjoying & experiencing my undergrad years
• May I not create a caste system in my mind and categorize people unfairly
  
• May I be diligent, concentrated and focused
  
• May I take every opportunity given to me
• May I live these years to the fullest!

Amen.

Flukes

Today was a day filled with beautiful flukes. Alex, Tor and I decided to venture downtown in search for the promise land of used book stores. We literally walk a dozen different directions to find this place, and end up in a sketchy area. We try walking into a random store to ask for directions and turns out this is an awesome used CD/DVD a few blocks north of Dundas...and we all pick out some gems.

I finally bought the American Beauty/Virgin Suicides duo that has been long recommended to me. Tor picks ups an album from harcore German band (oh the name escapes me at the moment, but I know it starts with a R) and Alex found Babel, a must-have on his list of films to purchase. And all for less than $10!

We are satisfied with our finds but we are searching for our original purpose, the discount book utopia. We circle around a few times, and at the height of our frustration Tor decides to ask a random security guard inside a building for directions. We enter and find him pre-occupied on the phone...

and at this moment, this fluke of a sign or omen is revealed to us.
We were searching for Edward street and right in front of us was 123 Edward Street
and right below this sign was "Victor Pharmacy" - and Victor is the name of Tor's father who recommended this bookstore to us.

We end up finding this bookstore, that was literally right across the street from where we were originally. However, I think we can all agree that it was well worth the walk and search. Incredible books in mint condition for less than $1o...on the subway ride home we calculated all the savings and we could sponsor a child from World Vision with the money saved!

This is definitely a must go place - it's called BMV books
right off of Dundas by the huge HMV, and beside The World's Biggest Bookstore

Another post to come about this day...

Peace

Happiness

Outside my house we have a beautiful crab apple tree that blooms bursts of pink every spring. And every year, I told myself that I would take a picture of this tree because it honestly leaves me breathless. But every year I always forgot because the days would become busier and the task would always slip my mind.

These blossoms only last for a week or so and then they are gone and every year I missed them.

I finally took a picture of these beautiful blooms and I was happy :)

These days that I've been living, I have been so blessed with so many bouts of happiness.
God has been showering me with immeasurable moments that I honestly don't deserve and I could not be enjoying life more...

I'm not even scared of all of this slipping away from me because I've kept a piece of it & I'm living life to its fullest.

"We must not expect happiness, Sayuri. It is not something we deserve. When life goes well, it is a sudden gift; it cannot last forever... " - Memoirs of a Geisha

Jesus Camp

I had mentioned the documentary Jesus Camp in my previous post talking about the detrimental effects of radicalist thinking.

Today we viewed this film in class and shivers were constantly running up and down my spine, witnessing the ludacracy of extremely radical, Evangelicial Christians manipulating their young children into fighting a "Holy War for God".

However, in a strange way, I'm actually torn by my truthful opinion about what's happening down in the Bible Belt...

My logical and rational thinking screaming that this is brainwashing and there is a dark and twisted motivation that is mangling the name of the holy spirit for more voting power in Congress.

but being a Christian, I was frightened that my faith was being represented in such a sadistic way. Showing Christians, as warriors being trained to fight the enemy - the atheists & other religions, namely Islam..

I recognize and identify myself with a lot of the terms and phrases that they use...

like "the wager of sin is death", "only Jesus can purify", "we are to put an armor of God to fight against the devil", "spiritual warfare", "the end is near and Jesus will come as a thief in the night"; these are passages that I have studied & interpreted myself...

and that's what scares me the most.

Watching footage of these kids at these evangelical training camps, makes me wonder...

is it really the holy spirit working in these children?

Does God work through those, who have manipuated the Word?

And if it's not God's spirit, that what is it that is possessing these kids to speak in tongues, shake, cry out, and convulse on the floor?

There was no doubt that there is a spiritual force working through these children and their church leaders...but is it the same spirit that I feel is working in my own life?

When do Christians cross the line from being devout to fanatical?

I have a lot of questions for God...

but I guess this is all part of the spiritual journey - to seek for the answers to the questions that we have on our hearts.

Sweetness in the Belly

This post is a tad early, as I have only read half of this book so far...

However, from my initial impression of this novel - it contains the most heart wrenchingly beautiful prose that I have read in a long time.

and it dismantles some of the negative stereotypes of Islam that have been created by the media.

"'This is not the true meaning of Jihad,' he spoke into the starless dark. 'Jihad is the holy war we have within ourselves. That is the meaning below the surface. Our internal struggle for purity...it is the war of ascendance over our bassal instincts. It has absolutely nothing to do with others. The only thing we can have control over is ourselves." (Gibb 56)

The extremist Muslims that you see on CNN manipulate the term Jihad to fit their political agendas, taking a peaceful document and twisting it to support their unprecedented violence.

Even Christians have taken the Bible and twisted it to condemn, accuse and radicalize a faith of Love. Check out the doc "Jesus Camp" if you want to find out Fundamentalist Militant Christians in action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97NFNXk8aFc

Radicalism on either side of the spectrum sadly destroys the original message
no matter how pure or purposeful as it was - that is humanity's curse
Using radicalism in order to identify one's ego with an ideology or doctrine.
This is how war begins and is continually perpetuated....

Moderation is everything.

Venturing into the Blogosphere.

Today in class, my friend wrote on a sticky note the URL for his personal blog.

Out of curiosity I decided to explore its contents.
I've always wondered about peoples fascination with blogging.
It sounds like an epidemic - individuals documenting their daily musings & adventures on squares of cysperspace.

I've always been a bit more traditional when it comes to preserving my notions & feelings...
heart/soul/mind to pen to paper
I always kept these words close by in my drawers never to be seen by anyone except my own heart for reminders and sentiments.
So why plunge into the world of blogging when I'm perfectly comfortable with my inaudible descriptions?

It was because of my shower today.

I honestly believe that the best place to reflect and contemplate on that last 24 hours you have lived on this earth are while soaking in the shower.
All the chaos and contents of the day just simply bleed together into a whirlpool of thoughts
Perfectly pure.

And I thought maybe, this is a good place to put all my "shower" thoughts...
perhaps I'm discovering the allure of this blogging epidemic
{expression}

this may just be a personal fad - something nifty that I decide to try out and ditch in a couple weeks

or maybe it will stick...who knows?