Everyday

Natalie, our Mexico missions trip team leader, had an 8-page anthropology paper due the day after we came home. She still chose to go because God had called her to the mission field. She shared a lot about how a lot of thePulse people feel that if they are willing to sacrifice their time to go care for the homeless or go on missions, God will bless whatever remaining time they have left to help them get done what needs to be done (give them better time management, etc.)

Personally, I was ready to not go to Mexico because I didn’t want to take my chem midterm early.

Yesterday, I felt that even though I’m quite involved with InterVarsity, God wanted me to get involved with a church as well, and possibly join a second fellowship.

I shared that with my mom, and the only thing she said was that it was my decision but just to be sure I didn’t overcommit myself (which is something I tend to do.)

As I was walking to to math class today, I felt God say that I was going to get into medical school. I clearly felt, though, that this wasn’t an excuse for me to goof off. If I wanted God’s promise and will to be fulfilled, I have to work hard. Rather, I think that God is saying that because He doesn’t want me to worry anymore. He doesn’t want me to do things that would further my resume for medical school, and instead wants me to spend that time furthering His Kingdom.

This is still a really new revelation. I’m still searching for confirmation, but I think God really wanted me to know that so that I can spend the energy I use worrying for medical school and channel it for ministry.

So last night, I broke down during IV worship out of desperation and conviction from the worship/message. I think I honestly talked to God for the first time since I’ve got here, and today, everything was different. =)

InterVarsity is hosting a medical missions trip to Mexico in a few weeks.

Medical missions is where my heart and future are.

But,

• I might have a chem midterm that weekend.
• My parents may not let me go.
• It costs money.

Please please please pray (or hope) for me that my chem midterm isn’t that weekend (that it’s on Thursday instead), that my parents would feel God’s peace in letting me go, that God would protect us, and that I would be able to come up with the money.

Thanks. =)

You know how people always say that what matters in a church is the people, not the building?

I think at home, it was hard for me to really understand what that meant, because every church had their own building with their name on the front lawn.

But in San Diego, it’s different. This morning, I went to Harbor Church, and I’m planning on trying out Flood and Coast Vineyard these next two weeks, and what’s really interested is that none of these churches have their own buildings.

Instead, they meet in public facilities, like community centers and high schools.

I think this is going to be a great year, God.

I have a good feeling about this college thing. A really really good feeling.

But the best part is knowing that college is not based on my feelings. God has promised an amazing four years where He will do things that I didn’t know were possible.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord. “They are plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” —Jeremiah 29:11

This past year, I’ve done a few things to boost up my professional resume, connections, and social capital.

1. I was a research intern at UCSF (which is super prestigious in the medical community), and basically did what a lot of high school students don’t get to do (like watch surgery.)
2. I made journalism at my high school, and got made a section editor my first year (which is sort of an accomplishment.)
3. I raised $3390 to help cancer patients and did a triathlon.

When I was waiting for UCSF results to come in, I thought to myself, “If I got this internship, my life will be complete. This internship will cover up all my past mistakes and shortcomings.”

When I got the email that I made journalism, I thought, “Now, my high school career will be complete.” Was it complete? No.

When I applied to be an editor for journalism, I thought, “If only I got promoted to editor, I would be REALLY happy.” Did it make my life perfect? No.

When I started training for my triathlon, I thought, “When I cross that finish line, I will be extraordinary. I would be a cancer patient’s hero, and my life would have fulfillment.” Am I extraordinary? Hardly. Was I a cancer patient’s hero? Yes, but only in their eyes. Is my life fulfilled because of this triathlon? No.

Do you see a theme here? I’m not trying to diminish my or your accomplishments. We were put on this earth to do great things, but I’ve learned over the past year that accomplishments don’t make you happy or fulfilled. People make you happy and fulfilled. And more importantly, God makes you happy and fulfilled, and gives you purpose.

I think pretty much everyone knows I want to be a surgeon. In middle school, I thought, “If only I was a surgeon, life would be perfect.” But it won’t. Because then I would want the good residency after medical school, then I would want to be chief resident, then I would want the best fellowship, and the best job, and then I would want to run my own hospital, then I would want to be in charge of the health care system for the county, state, nation. And if my life depends on these things, I will never be fulfilled.

Your sense of joy, fulfillment, purpose, and self-worth is determined by how much God values you (or how much you value yourself.)

There’s a quote on one of my friend’s Facebook page that says, “A gold medal is a wonderful thing. But if you’re not enough without one, you’ll never be enough with one.”

And it’s so true.

I thought there would be a sense of completeness in my life after my triathlon, knowing that I did something extraordinary. I feel complete because of Jesus, but not because of my triathlon.

And if you need fulfillment, I think Jesus is just waiting to fulfill you.

You know how the Bible says, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:5), how exactly do you take captive of the thought? (I actually want to learn if you know what to do.)

Name: Jonathan Chan

Age: 18

Date: September 12, 2009

Class: Male, 17-19

Overall time: 4:16:48

Overall rank: 844

Class rank: 4

Gender rank: 517

Swim (0.93mi): 00:36:48

Pace: 00:02:27

T1: 00:04:25

Bike (24.8 mi): 2:07:41

Pace: 11.60 mi/hr

T2: 00:03:22

Run (6.2mi): 1:24:32

Pace: 00:13:38 mi/hr

omgitzj0n0:

faithlovehopefreedom:

kiralp:

christ-follower:

humbleservant:

Because a little sin leads to more sin.
Because my sin invites the discipline of God.
Because the time spent in sin is forever wasted.
Because my sin never pleases but always grieves God who loves me.
Because my sin places a greater burden on my spiritual leaders.
Because in time my sin always brings heaviness to my heart.
Because I am doing what I do not have to do.
Because my sin always makes me less than what I could be.
Because others, including my family, suffer consequences due to my sin.
Because my sin saddens the godly.
Because my sin makes the enemies of God rejoice.
Because sin deceives me into believing I have gained when in reality I have lost.
Because sin may keep me from qualifying for spiritual leadership.
Because the supposed benefits of my sin will never outweigh the consequences of disobedience.
Because repenting of my sin is such a painful process, yet I must repent.
Because sin is a very brief pleasure for an eternal loss.
Because my sin may influence others to sin.
Because my sin may keep others from knowing Christ.
Because sin makes light of the cross, upon which Christ died for the very purpose of taking away my sin.
Because it is impossible to sin and follow the Spirit at the same time.
Because God chooses not to respect the prayers of those who cherish their sin.
Because sin steals my reputation and robs me of my testimony.
Because others once more earnest than I have been destroyed by just such sins.
Because the inhabitants of heaven and hell would all testify to the foolishness of this sin.
Because sin and guilt may harm both mind and body.
Because sins mixed with service make the things of God tasteless.
Because suffering for sin has no joy or reward, though suffering for righteousness has both.
Because my sin is adultery with the world.
Because, though forgiven, I will review this very sin at the Judgment Seat where loss and gain of eternal rewards are applied.
Because I can never really know ahead of time just how severe the discipline for my sin might be.
Because my sin may be an indication of a lost condition.
Because to sin is not to love Christ.
Because my unwillingness to reject this sin now grants it an authority over me greater than I wish to believe.
Because sin glorifies God only in His judgment of it and His turning of it to good use, never because it is worth anything on it’s own.
Because I promised God he would be Lord of my life.