sometimes...

i wish i could be snuggly and huggy like other people. i think i can be at times, but it's not my nature and i wish it were. i feel like i'd be able to relate to other people better, to be less aloof and stand-offish. but wouldn't life be boring without such awkward-turtle moments like the awkward half-hugs that people give and receive?

not urbana related

today was the first day of class. i woke up at 7 with my roommate to go work on our ivcf campus staff applications, then i had work and class. i ran into sarah again at the askwith media library (dvds and videos) where she went to get "pardoned" for her dvd late fees. the fellow who worked there was so great. he cancelled her fees (at the mercies of askwith media library), put in a request for the film reality bites for me ("i don't think many professors have requested this film" "but it's so existential!!"), and took 7 min to recommend five "new and smart" films for us to watch. (after 3 min of searching: "i'm guessing that doesn't include our beavis and butthead collection.") i'm so excited! they are:

running in high heels (documentary)
the fourth world war (highly recommended)
a mexican celebration for the days of the dead
da ali g show
paradise now

on an urbana-related note: i'm excited to continue the friendships that have started because of urbana. they're from all ends of the u.s.: florida, wisconsin, california... very, very excited.

taiwan GP

calvin chen has been putting together a taiwan global project for 2007. taiwan is often forgotten as a mission field. what's more is that there is swindling, corruption, and false prophets that pretend to claim Christ as their own. this is special for taiwanese and chinese americans to see taiwan more broadly as a mission field, not just a place to go around the holidays to see relatives they don't know. there is a special weekend to visit and reach unbelieving relatives. much of the work is with the marginalized populations like the blind and aboriginal people. all the work is in partnership with the taiwanese equivalent of IV (college kids).

please comment or email if you are interested!

'o 'oe 'io

'O 'OE 'IO, E MAKUA LANI

(You are ÿIo, Heavenly Father)

'O 'OE 'IO, KA WAIOLA

(You are ÿIo, the Living Water)

'O 'OE 'IO, E KUMU OLA

(You are ÿIo, the Source of Life)

KA MEA HANA I NÄ MEA A PAU

(The one who has made all things)

people, people everywhere

the great thing about having 22,000 people from over 140 nations is that the view of the church is bigger and broader than i would have ever imagined. at first, 140 nations didn't seem like such a big deal to me at first because i've probably seen it on video somewhere (a la "we are the world"?) but imagine--really, people of all different sorts. this became very real when i had a great conversation with sara, louann, and her roommate patty from UCSD. they have the largest IV chapter in the u.s. (500 people showed up to their first large group.) we talked about how our fellowship groups are structured, how the leadership patterns work... it was great. this is real; our brothers and sisters across the nation and around the world affirm God's mission and His good work. how great it is to see how He works outside of little ann arbor, and little great lakes east.

nous perseverons

i bought a really great cd today. they are called chorale of reconciliation; they are from montreal and they sing in french and english. the leader leads us in french and though i don't understand, their sound, both in word and in song, is beautiful. it is a unique sound. and a bass line like no other in "show your power".

*the last post was not some feminist jab, but an encouragement to see how the gifts of Asian women in the body of Christ are being affirmed and used for his glory, his public honor. there are some that believe women don't even have spiritual gifts, or that women can read scripture in public, or that women can stand at the pulpit. if we are called to be full in Christ's body, and if women are not secondary citizens in God's Kingdom, then they must have spiritual gifts to offer in worship to our Lord.