Membership Interview! (and the story of how I got to church...)

OK, so before I talk about the Membership Interview, I gotta mention about the trip from school to church. It was probably one of the worst TTC trips I've ever taken...probably because of how long I had to stand in the freezing cold! But anyway, here is my story for tonight:

So the plan was that when I end class at 6pm, I would take the usual 75-minute ride to church via subway, RT, and then Midland bus. But because it was snowing today, I estimated an extra 15 minutes, meaning I would get to church at 7:30pm, just 10 minutes late, which is still "on time" in terms of Chinese people! hahaha Anyway, I get to Kennedy station at 6:50, so still pretty good in terms of time because I still have 40 minutes to get to church. But then the problem came: RT was shut down because of some signal problem. This is what happened starting at 6:50pm.

6:50pm: I come up from the subway and hear that RT is out of service. I decide to just take the Midland bus from Kennedy station all the way to church. I approach the Midland bus platform and miss the bus because it was filled to the max. I begin waiting for the next bus.

7:00pm: 10 buses pass and still no Route 57 Midland bus. I start to worry about time...

7:15pm: Another 10 or so buses pass...now I'm REALLY worrying about the time...

7:20pm: Mom calls to see where I am. I tell her I've been waiting at Kennedy for half an hour for the 57 bus.

7:30pm: I think probably 30 buses have passed, and yet no 57 bus. I give Albert a call to tell him I'll be late to the interview.

7:45pm: Some bus that says "Check MW" comes by the Midland platform and because everybody's pushing to get on, I ended up on the bus. Luckily, it was the 57 bus.

8:20pm: I get to church...ONE HOUR LATE for my interview.


Anyway, that's the trek from downtown to SCAC. Standing outside at Kennedy station in the freezing cold is not good for your body or your frozen toes. Anyway, so I arrived at church and did the interview! It went really smoothly, so that's good. Then went to my Grandpa's 83rd birthday dinner! Man, Chinese food is so good...especially on a cold winter night!

OK, so seriously, the membership interview went well! Pastor Tim, Charles, and Albert were there to ask me questions to pretty much make sure I knew enough about membership, the church, C&MA, as well as just my overall thoughts on various church issues. In the end, it was nothing more than just a plain old conversation with church friends, and so it was a great experience! To top off the night, I had chinese food with my grandpa and family! ON A WEEKNIGHT! How special is that! It's always great to be with family, and I'm pretty sure my grandpa enjoyed the meal in the presence of his children and grandchildren! What a way to end off the day! =)

Kingdom Ethics: Redux.......also SCAC Decoded

I was talking to Daniela a few days ago and somehow we were discussing about how we were doing spiritually. One really amazing thing she mentioned was that she was behind on her re-taking of sermon notes. OK, the being behind part wasn't amazing haha...but the re-taking notes was pretty cool! I've never thought of doing that even though Pastor Tim has always posted up mp3s of past sermons for people to listen. I figured I'd give it a try and see if it will help me grow spiritually. So I began with the Kingdom Ethics series again today. I know back when Pastor Tim was preaching this series, I mentioned to a few people that I didn't get much out of it. Maybe it was because the passages were on the Sermon on the Mount, and I've heard so many sermons about it. I'm not sure why, but when I began with the first two sermons today (yes, I can listen to two sermons during a single ride to school), I felt like I'm hearing the message much more clearer. It's hard to explain, but listening to the sermons twice today helped me see the message a lot more clearer than back then. Maybe I'm not a morning person?! haha! But yup, we'll see where this leads to!

Secondly, I've decided to become a member of SCAC! I initially felt that I shouldn't do it because I had no idea what I would be doing after I graduate in a few months. I could be out of town or out of the country. But what I was really doing was putting circumstances ahead of what I really felt in my heart, which is that SCAC is really my second home. I've grown and learned so much in SCAC that I feel it is definitely a part of my life I want to be associated with. I know I am ready to devote my time, money, and spiritual gifts to SCAC. Therefore, I changed my mind and went ahead with scheduling for the membership interview!!! =)

In honour of Rickey Henderson's HoF induction...

...here are some Rickey Urban Myths!

1) Rickey… on referring to himself in the third person:
“Listen, people are always saying, ‘Rickey says Rickey.’ But it’s been blown way out of proportion. People might catch me, when they know I’m ticked off, saying, ‘Rickey, what the heck are you doing, Rickey?’ They say, ‘Darn, Rickey, what are you saying Rickey for? Why don’t you just say, ‘I?’ But I never did. I always said, ‘Rickey,’ and it became something for people to joke about.”

2) In the early 1980s, the Oakland A’s accounting department was freaking out. The books were off $1 million. After an investigation, it was determined Rickey was the reason why. The GM asked him about a $1 million bonus he had received and Rickey said instead of cashing it, he framed it and hung it on a wall at his house.

3) In 1996, Henderson’s first season with San Diego, he boarded the team bus and was looking for a seat. Steve Finley said, “You have tenure, sit wherever you want.” Henderson looked at Finley and said, “Ten years? Ricky’s been playing at least 16, 17 years.”

4) This one might be my second favorite. This wasn’t too long ago, I think it was the year he ended up playing with the Red Sox. Anyway, he called San Diego GM Kevin Towers and left the following message: “This is Rickey calling on behalf of Rickey. Rickey wants to play baseball.”

5) This one happened in Seattle. Rickey struck out and as the next batter was walking past him, he heard Henderson say, “Don’t worry, Rickey, you’re still the best.”

6) Rickey once asked a teammate how long it would take him to drive to the Dominican Republic.

7) Moments after breaking Lou Brock’s stolen base record, Henderson told the crowd – with Brock mere feet next to him – “Lou Brock was a great base stealer, but today, I am the greatest of all-time.”

8) Henderson once fell asleep on an ice pack and got frostbite – which forced him to miss three games — in mid-August.

9) A reporter asked Henderson if Ken Caminiti’s estimate that 50 percent of Major League players were taking steroids was accurate. His response was, “Well, Rickey’s not one of them, so that’s 49 percent right there.”

10) Henderson broke Ty Cobb’s career record for runs scored with a home run. After taking his usual 45 seconds or so around the bases, Rickey slid into home plate.

11) On being Nolan Ryan’s 5,000th career strikeout: “It gave me no chance. He (Ryan) just blew it by me. But it’s an honor. I’ll have another paragraph in all the baseball books. I’m already in the books three or four times.”

12) San Diego GM Kevin Towers was trying to contact Rickey at a nearby hotel. He knew Henderson always used fake names to avoid the press, fans, etc. He was trying to think like Rickey and after several attempts; he was able to get Henderson on the phone.
Rickey had checked in under Richard Pryor.

13) I didn’t believe this one at first. However, I emailed a few contacts within the Sox organization and they claim it actually happened. This is priceless, it really is.
The morning after the Sox finished off the sweep against St. Louis last October, Henderson called someone in the organization looking for tickets to Game 6 at Fenway Park.

14) The Mets were staying in a hotel less than a mile from Cinergy Field in Cincinnati. While some players walked, most took the team bus. A few minutes after they arrived — again it was less than a mile – the last players off the bus noticed a stretched limo that had just pulled up.
Of course, Rickey emerged from the back seat.

15) A reporter once asked Rickey if he talked to himself, “Do I talk to myself? No, I just remind myself of what I’m trying to do. You know, I never answer myself so how can I be talking to myself?”

16) OK, I know everyone has been waiting for it. Alas, according to both parties involved, it’s not true. I wish it were. Heck, both Rickey Henderson and John Olerud have said they wish it were true. But it just didn’t happen.
The story went that a few weeks into Henderson’s stint with the Mariners, he walked up to Olerud at the batting cage and asked him why he wore a batting helmet in the field. Olerud explained that he had an aneurysm at nine years old and he wore the helmet for protection. Legend goes that Henderson said, “Yeah, I used to play with a guy that had the same thing.”
Legend also goes that Olerud said, “That was me, Rickey.”
Henderson played with Olerud on the Blue Jays and the Mets.

17) Rickey was asked if he had the Garth Brooks album with Friends in Low Places and Henderson said, “Rickey doesn’t have albums. Rickey has CDs.”

18) During a contract holdout with Oakland in the early 1990s, Henderson said, “If they want to pay me like Mike Gallego, I’ll play like Gallego.”

19) In the late 1980s, the Yankees sent Henderson a six-figure bonus check. After a few months passed, an internal audit revealed the check had not been cashed. Current Yankees GM Brian Cashman – then a low-level nobody with the organization – called Rickey and asked if there was a problem with the check. Henderson said, “I’m just waiting for the money market rates to go up.”

20) In June 1999, when Henderson was playing with the Mets, he saw reporters running around the clubhouse before a game. He asked a teammate what was going on and he was told that Tom Robson, the team’s hitting coach, had just been fired. Henderson said, “Who’s he?”

21) This is my all-time favorite. Rickey was pulled over by a San Diego police officer for speeding. As the officer was approaching Rickey’s car, the window went down a few inches and a folded $100 bill emerged. The officer let Rickey and his money head home without a ticket.

22) When he was on the Yankees in the mid-1980s, Henderson told teammates that his condo had such a great view that he could see, “The Entire State Building.”

23) During one of his stays with Oakland, Henderson’s locker was next to Billy Beane’s. After making the team out of spring training, Beane was sent to the minors after a few months. Upon his return, about six weeks later, Henderson looked at Beane and said, “Hey, man, where have you been? Haven’t seen you in awhile.”

24) To this day and dating back 25 years, before every game he plays, Henderson stands completely naked in front of a full length locker room mirror and says, “Ricky’s the best,” for several minutes.

25) In the last week of his lone season with the Red Sox, Chairman Tom Werner asked Henderson what he would like for his ‘going-away’ gift. Henderson said he wasn’t going anywhere, but he would like owner John Henry’s Mercedes. Werner said it would be tough to get the same make and model in less than a week and Henderson said, “No, I want his car.” Turns out the Sox got Henderson a Red Thunderbird and when he saw it on the field before the last game of the season, Rickey said, “Whose ugly car is on the field?”

Feel good stories of the day

1. Being Missional....first hand experience!
I was with Michy and Pammy today at Eaton Centre and we were having lunch. After we were done lunch, a homeless-looking middle-aged woman came to our table and asked us for money for food. She didn't look super dirty or smelly, but she did wear a pretty beat up jacket and had dirty hair and crooked teeth, so she was one of the "less-fortunate" ones in downtown Toronto. So anyway, we didn't want to just give her money, so we offered to buy her a sandwich. It was an interesting opportunity because we had the chance to talk to her and see where she came from. Shocking enough, she said she was a Christian and does attend a "Metropolitan Church". Now I don't know if she's telling the truth, but it was still a good opportunity to talk about Jesus and I'm glad that she knew who He is. Anyway, we got her the sandwich and she was really thankful for it. I'm glad that she was grateful for it, but I'm kinda disappointed that we didn't get to pray with her, but in the end, I felt really amazed by how God can use a simple unexpected event to show us about the mission field in our city. I have to say this was a great first hand experience of being missional to the people around us. Especially because this was so unexpected, it taught me to always have my eyes open and to try to see the less fortunate because those are people that need to know Jesus. I feel like this is just a stepping stone for something greater this year. I really hope for more amazing things in 2009 as God continues to show me the little things that I can do to impact other people's lives...including mine!

2. Was lost...Is Found
I attended Revival Night 2009 tonight and though there weren't many people who attended (surprisingly), I still felt the night had its impacting moments. The topic shared by Bern/Dave/Emmanuel centred around the parable of the lost son, and focused on the three main characters: the younger brother, the older brother, and the father. I have a lot of thoughts, so I'm just gonna type them out in points. Hopefully they'll connect itself!
-The younger brother: The main focus was on how far away his life was from God yet somehow he was willing to take a 180 degree turn and go back to the father. Anything is possible with God, and it made me think about the chair #1 and chair #2 I have for this coming year. It's something Pastor Tim encouraged on Sunday to commit this year to have three people to sit in your 3 chairs. Chair #1 is a person who doesn't know Christ yet, but is our focus to bring him/her to church some time this year. Chair #2 is a person who does know Christ, but has fallen from his/her spiritual walk and need encouragements and guidance to come back to God. Chair #3 is for a person who is spiritually strong with you and would keep you accountable with the tasks for chair #1 and chair #2. Anyway, so I kept thinking about my two chairs and that no matter how impossible I think it is, somehow God has a way and I just need to give Him a chance to work things through me. The younger brother somehow turned his life around back to the father. God has His way of making things work!
-The older brother: The main point I got from him was about his jealousy and ignorance of what his father wants. Somehow he neglected that the important thing that made the father happy was the return of his lost son. In a way, the older brother showed how lost he was as well in terms of his spiritual connection with his father. But somehow, God used these two lost sons to show us what makes God, our Father, happy, which is whenever the lost is found. I also kept thinking about my two chairs throughout Dave's sharing about the older brother. God delights when the lost is found. He celebrates whenever a lost sheep is found. As Christians, we need to obey God and honour Him by devoting our lives in bringing the lost to Christ. This is definitely something that I can work on this year.
-The father: The main theme from this character I got was his characteristics. What amazed me the most was the reason why the younger brother turned his life around. It was because he remembered the father taking care of his servants, and how that treatment was even better than the pig sty he was working in. God is just like that father. God is a loving and caring God who longs for the lost to return to Him. The compassion that God shows when the lost returns to him is the essence of love that truly overcomes the blemishes in our lives. We are sinners, yet God longs for us to return to Him. Truly amazing indeed.
-I think overall, there were many thoughts in my head. I felt God telling me that there is still so much I can do with my life in terms of missions for the people I know as well as just those within Toronto. It's something that I'm really looking forward to. I believe I will have many opportunities to give my service to help those in need and those who are lost. I only pray that I will have the courage and strength to accept these challenges this year and do my best no matter what it takes for God's glory.

Feel good/bad stories of 2008

True to what I've been doing in the past, I'm going to talk about the good and bad stories of the past while...only this time, it'll be a good summary of what happened to me in 2008, the good and the bad. Note that the bad items I will mention aren't necessarily fully bad. They're just some things I am disappointed about, and thus, are things I can work on in 2009. I'm gonna talk a lot about my spiritual growth, but for people who know me better, I have to have some sports and school stuff on the side, just for kicks.

#10 Good
What a year in sports! You got the NY Giants upsetting the NE Patriots in the SuperBowl, then you have the crazy Wimbledon final between Federer and Nadal, then you have the Boston Celtics winning the NBA championship to give Kevin Garnett his first NBA ring (Anything is possible! Top of the world!), then you have Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt tearing up the 2008 Summer Beijing Olympics, then you have the Tampa Bay Rays going all the way to the World Series only to lose to the equally deserving Philadelphia Phillies....I can go on and on, but this year has to be one of the most amazing years in sports I've ever watched.

#10 Bad
Dang, why do the Toronto sports teams suck this year? The Leafs...well, rebuilding, finally! That's actually the right step in their part, but it still sucks to watch how young and inexperienced they are and that it'll take them quite a while before they can turn it around. The Raptors...wow, ok, I thought with Jermaine O'Neal, we can challenge the 4th seed in the East, but we pretty much suck with glaring flaws such as no wingman, and thus, we're stuck out of the playoff race. Hopefully we can turn it around (C'mon Bryan Colangelo!) and somehow squeak in to the playoffs! The Jays...ok, it was another disappointing year, but that's not the reason why I'm sad. It's the fact that the Yankees and Red Sox have both bolstered their team for 2009, and with the Rays still being young and talented, the Jays are gonna have to tank their team and rebuild. Sigh...tough times in Toronto for sports fans!

#9 Good
Had the opportunity to spend more time with school friends this year via school projects, coffee breaks, and other random get-togethers! Really fun group to hang out with, even though we always pull out random nerdy things to talk about! I really hope I can continue to be a good Christian example and one day lead them to Christ. Still a work in progress!

#9 Bad
OK, so school marks haven't been what I've expected, and so far, this university experience has been very humbling in a sense that I learned I can't get what I get. The only downfall is that when I really need the marks to go into Grad School, it gets a lot tougher. I spent quite a while researching about Grad School yesterday and the marks stuff just keep giving me lots of stress, but I just need to do my best and let God take care of the rest (as cliche as that sounds)!

#8 Good
I am truly blessed to have a wonderful family who have been present through the good and bad times with me. I'm really thankful God has given all of us good health and has even brought grandma to Christ earlier this year. Many times we take for granted simple things like good health, but for seniors, it's something definitely to be thankful for.

#8 Bad
OK, so having Jon out of town isn't bad. I actually enjoy the car all to myself, but the downfall with Jon gone is that I have to put up with more of the chores at home and just the random things my parents tell me to do. Jon isn't there to take some of the "over-caring parental guidance" and so it does get annoying sometimes, even though its for my own good! Anyway, being by myself does get a bit lonely sometimes. I did enjoy this Christmas break with Jon back because we got the chance to go shop and do other random things like stay up late playing games, watching random youtube videos and just other things that would be pretty boring to do if you were just doing it by yourself.

#7 Good
OneRepublic! Yes, I totally got into OneRepublic and their "Dreaming Out Loud" CD this year! It's such an awesome CD...I listened to it almost every day during the last half of 2008. I don't know why but all their songs somehow have a deeper meaning, and for a secular band to have those kind of songs, it makes them even cooler! I can't wait for more 1R music! =)

#7 Bad
OneRepublic canceled their Toronto concert this December! ARGH! I was so looking forward to it, but too bad they canceled. I was so hyped up for it, I even bought a 1R shirt to wear for that event, but sadly, no 1R concert.....sigh...guess I just have to wait for their next tour!

#6 Good
New TV shows I began watching in 2008 include My Boys, How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM), The Big Bang Theory (TBBT), Flashpoint (FP), etc.... Man, I had such hilarious and exciting moments watching these shows! I don't know why, but they are just great shows to de-stress! TBBT is definitely one of my favourite shows of all time! So nerdy and so funny at the same time! I'm so excited for more of these shows in 2009!!!

#6 Bad
You could see this coming, but I'm wondering how I'm going to find time to watch My Boys, HIMYM, TBBT, FP, Prison Break, Heroes, AND THE NEW SEASON OF 24!!! Oh boy...

#5 Good
SOFTBALL! OK, there's gonna be a lot to talk about here. I'll start with the many new softball friends I made this summer just being at my softball games as well as watching other softball games. It was fun just spending time with non-SCAC people to get to know how their softball teams ran as well as what their churches are like. It was also fun just establishing connections with other churches! Next was definitely pulling the SCAC Ravens together and making the playoffs again. Truthfully, I didn't expect to make the playoffs because of our hard schedule, but we pulled through with a big lineup with many rookies and even though we didn't get past first round, the season was a success! It was also exciting just spending time with the team on and off the field, establishing friendships and connections and just having fun!

#5 Bad
OK, the bad for softball 2008 was definitely the tainted championship that the Satellites won for the Junior Division. It was definitely a black spot for CCSA and good thing the truth came out and their title was stripped. Hopefully CCSA teams learn from this to never ever cheat their softball players' ages again! I guess another bad is that it was my last year in Junior softball and so it'll be something I'll miss just because of the care-fee attitude of having fun and the cheering that made Junior softball unique. On the other hand, I'm definitely excited for Senior softball this summer! Go SG!

#4 Good
2008 was a year where I had so many wonderful opportunities to chill with the younger ones. Yodel, michy, gps, a+b, etc.....these guys are amazing in their own way and I loved the times we spent together just playing games, chatting, eating, and just other random stuff! It's amazing how much you learn from just talking to them. You see a bit of yourself a few years ago, but you also get their perspective on other things, and for some reason, their way of seeing things just somehow makes sense. Besides that, I also enjoyed just joking around with them. The laughs and jokes will always be a memorable part of 2008! I can't wait for more learning, encouraging, and growing in 2009!

#4 Bad
I don't know why, but I do feel a bit "dang, it kinda sucks that they're not my age" just because they're so cool, but because of the age difference, I don't get to spend as much time with them. It's a bit unfortunate, but they'll always be great younger brothers and sisters to me, and for that, I'm just grateful to know them and to have gotten whatever moments I've had with them! =) I'm really thankful to God for the time spent with the young ones and look forward for more in 2009 as it unfolds!

#3 Good
Speaking of chilling with people, I have to say that it's been great chilling with the 1987s. To still have connection and to still be able to meet together ever 4 months or so for a dinner is just an example of friendships where people are committed to staying in touch, and for that, I am truly blessed. The times we spend are great in terms of relaxing and having fun and hopefully we get more of these as we get older even though that may mean it'll be harder to meet up.

#3 Bad
I love the 1987s. I enjoy being with them, but one thing I realized this year was that they're not as spirit-focused in my opinion (i.e. striving for God in every single aspect of their lives). By no means do I say I strive for God in every aspect of my life, but I do aim for that, and I really want people to have that goal as well so that with a unified goal, we can all spur each other on and be accountable to each other. I feel like that's something missing in the 1987s group, but what I realized this year is that the 1987s are who they are, and no matter how hard you expect them to be different, it's not something in your hands. A bit disappointing I must say, but it's for God to deal with. I really hope my fellow 1987s will continue to have God in every aspect of their lives...meaning they'll challenge themselves to learn more about God via Sunday School, or commit themselves more to spending time with God. We'll see how this goes, but this is definitely something I'll pray about in 2009.

#2 Good
It's now down to the last 2 "good" stories of 2008, and #2 was something I finally accomplished this year after so many failures in the past years. It's hard but when you like somebody for a long time, it's hard to let go. I don't really know what clicked, but after six long years of overthinking and confusion, I've finally moved on from liking this girl. Looking from the outside, you'd think that I was so stupid and weak for not being able to overcome for so long, but if you were in my position, you would really understand how hard this was. Having to see her twice a week did not help at all, but I'm glad that through lots of prayer and encouragements, I've finally come to the point that it wasn't meant to be, no matter how I saw it. I'm glad God finally worked that through me and because of that, the summer and latter part of 2008 was enjoyable as I did not have to think about her. It still kinda sucks how all of this unfolded the past 6 years but I'm glad I've overcome this and I'm sure God is in control this from now on, so hopefully I'll continue to lean on Him through this aspect of my life and we'll see how things go from here on out.

#2 Bad
So I know I just talked about overcoming the emotions of liking her and stuff, and I'm positive that I don't have any feelings for her anymore, but that doesn't mean that my friendship with her is fixed and perfect again. I don't know why, but whenever I'm around her, it just feels weird. It's not like I have anything to do with her anymore. I just don't know why there's still a sense of discomfort. It kinda sucks how a friendship gets messed because of all of this, but I just hope that somehow our friendship would get better eventually. I admit, we don't talk as much. It sucks. I just hope somehow time will continue to mend this broken (but fixable) friendship and maybe 2009 will be a time of good reflection and growth through prayer as God continues to take part in our friendship. I really don't know what will happen. It can get a lot better or it can get a lot worse. I just hope that I do my best in just letting God do His thing and trusting in His will, and accept whatever He wants in my life. Once again, we'll see what happens in 2009, and also once again, this is something to pray about.

#1 Good
It's the time you've all been waiting for (if you're still reading this! hahahah)! And now, the best "good" story of 2008 in my life was...SUNDAY SCHOOL! I've been truly blessed to teach Gr.10 Sunday School to the current Gr.11s AND now the current Gr.10s! They've been a blessing to me because I've learned so much about their struggles and growth and through all of that, I've come to know them better and to somehow see a resemblance in my life. Referring to the Gr.11s, they are such an amazing group of people, and even though they're a dispersed grade, there are many spiritual leaders in that group and so it was great to have them all get-together for a wonderful Hot Pot this past Christmas (see last post)! These kids have such great potential to do God's work and little do they know, they've worked a part in my life as well. Their care for each other and for their respective spiritual lives has taught me that spiritual encouragements are simple things in life that truly have great underrated value! I'm thankful for the time spent teaching them as well as with Daniela and I'm truly blessed to have been part of their lives! The last thing for these Gr.11s to be happy about in 2008 was that 4 of them got baptized this year! I'm so happy for these four and really pray for God to continue to be with them and their walks in life and hope that I can somehow be a somewhat adequate older brother in Christ to them. OK, and now for the current Gr.10s! This is another great grade of youthful and cheerful kids who have great potential to lead Didomi! I'm still getting to know them (kinda like what I was with the current Gr.11s one year ago), but if I get to know them as well as the Gr.11s, then I'm sure 2009 will be amazing! Sunday School has given me so many opportunities to teach, learn, and grow. I'm so grateful God has given me the time and inspiration to teach and I just hope I continue to do my best for Him through this ministry.

#1 Bad
OK, this isn't bad, but it is definitely something to work on. So the #1 thing to work on this coming year is my devotional life. I've been a bit lazy in terms of spending quality time with God. In 2007, I took the challenge of reading the whole Bible and I accomplished it! I don't know why I didn't push myself in 2008, but for 2009, I'm going to push myself to read AND make notes/journal various books of the Bible (to be determined based on what God is leading me to read). As I mentioned earlier, I want to have God be part of every aspect of my life, and it all starts with personal time with God. I hope to fulfill this goal in 2009 and just spend more time reading His Word and learning what He wants me to do in my life.

Final Word:
After all of these "good" and "bad" stories of 2008, there is one striking theme/message I heard, and it's that I have many things to work on in 2009 especially regarding my spiritual and prayer life and hopefully I can do my part in committing myself in prayer. Another theme I got from all of this is that I have so much to be thankful for in my life and God has truly blessed me with so many wonderful people in my life. I can never repay God for all of this, but all I can do is try my best to honour Him in every way I can. We'll see how 2009 goes, but looking back on 2008, it has definitely been the best year in my life!