Story of True Christianity

There was this well known painter and he taught his son how to paint. But the war came and his son served the country. One day, the father got the fatal letter saying that his son died in battle. The father grieved and weeped.

After a while, someone knocked on his door and he opened it and saw a young man in his military uniform. The young man said, "I was in the same unit with your son and he taught me how to paint because painting was something that I wanted to learn and do."

Then the young man pulled out a not so well painted picture of the son and father and said, "I painted this one and I want you to have it."

The father cried, took the painting and said, "You are my son." He then put the painting on his mantle where he used to hang his own work.

After a couple of years, he died and his possessions and works were to be auctioned off. People from all over the place came in hopes to purchase his wonderful works for a low price. So the auction started and the first piece to be auctioned off is the painting by the young man. The auction started at $1000. People scoffed at the auctioneer and told him to get rid of the painting and start with the real work. Then the auctioneer said, "Anyone for $800?" Again, people scoffed.

Auctioneer said, "Again anyone for $600?" People scoffed.

Auctioneer said, "Will anyone give anything for this painting?" While the people scoffed again, in the audience was the young man and he said, "I will give everything I have for that painting back."

Then the auctioneer pulled out the painter/father's will and said, "He who buys this painting will inherit all his work."

This story was told by our speaker today in our CMDA quarterly lunch meeting. CMDA has these free lunch meetings as part of evangelism. The speaker, Manson, spoke on true v. false Christianity and use this story to illustrate his point. True Christianity is when we are willing to give up everything in the world, essentially giving the whole world a "LOST" stamp, to just spend moments with Christ, which the young man did. The rewards of this is so tremendous that we can't even comprehend.He also said that it is about what God did not what we did because it should be that we are nothing and lost without God. This just really hit me and really cleared it up for me. True Christian is not just doing all the act but our hearts have to be in the right place. It just really sadden me to see people there today who just came for lunch and got turned off by the talk. They outrightly rejected God, but CMDA will be in prayer for those who left today. There were also a few Mormons there and I'm sure that they have conflicting issues. A side note, I'm definitely understaning more about Mormons since our class has so many of them.

Just my thoughts from today's meeting.

Colorado Springs!!!

Spring Break ended and I was back at school for two days before leaving again for Colorado Springs for a conference with all the docs. The conference was awesome in that I learned a ton. The docs there were so willing to teach. The minute that they found out I'm a student, they just flock around the studnets like they couldn't wait to impart their experiences and knowledge to us. Their view is that knowledge is the only thing that they can give away freely and still keep it for themselves. Throughout the enitre conference, I feel like God has definitely lead me into making the right choice in coming to ATSU-KCOM because our school has taught us so much for only being here 2 quarters. There are schools out there that are not learning half of what we know already. There were 1st year students from our school that are teaching the 3rd years some of the techniques that we were taught 1st quarter. It was amazing to put everything together and realized all the craziness in school is worth something and so is being away from home. A lot of the school call our school, ATSU-KCOM, the osteopathic manipulation mecca, and now I really see why. We were taught with all sort of techniques and that we get a lot more practice. We jumped right into it the first day school started. I'm really thankful that God has brought me here.

We have fun times too. I went to see the Garden of the Gods. It's a bit like Grand Canyon but mostly huge rocks along an 8 mile trail. It was gorgeous. I definitely got hooked on Taboo and Cranium Pop 5. These two games are really good to get to know other people because it really gets into their minds and see how they think.

I also met quite a few people and got know a few more people better. I met a few 3rd years from school. I met one of them in a funny way. Remi came up to me when me and a couple of other people were getting ready to leave to have a drink in a bar/restaurant before our evening event. He kinda made me feel bad about leaving just when he wanted to meet us, so I stayed and we talked for a bit. He's Hong Kongnese and from NY and we talked a little bit, get to know each type of info. Then the next day, I skipped the afternoon lectures cuz I wanted to talk to people from other schools and just hang out. I talked to people from Virginia and Touro, CA. After that I ran into Remi again, and he was like let's talk more and hang out before our school's alumni reception. So we walked around the resort's golf course (The Broadmoor). The funny thing is, and God has a great sense of humor, he is a Christian too and he's went through the same thing that I am, not finding a good church after a strong church in undergrad. He went to a solid church back in NY and had a hard time finding a good one in town. I'm having a hard time transitioning from GCC to something local. I haven't been to church since Jan and I know that has been completely my fault, but I have been going to Bible Study. I had Mon test every week and needed every minute to study and feeling like I couldn't afford 2 hrs to go to church. Then Remi just grilled me on John MacArthur and expository teaching because that's the topic he's studying right now in his life. So it was great just exchanging what we know and trading what we learned. God has just put this amazing guy in front of me out of nowhere, telling me that He still cares and that He wants me to get back into a fellowship. This was just a great gentle reminder that I need other Christians to keep me accountable in my walk with Him. So hopefully, I'll be able to keep in touch with Remi and share/trade more life tips.

So all in all, I think I'll definitely go again next year because not only do I learn more techniques from the practicing docs, I also met quite a few people. Only thing is now I have to catch up on the classes I missed so this weekend, I'll be a busy bee. It was also great to see that the practicing docs did not lose their sense of humor and boy can they dance. They still had time to fun things despite being crazy busy.

Interesting day for Birthday!!!

I am officially 23 and getting older and more adult even though I still feel like underage cuz I'm still in school. Anyway, Facebook had a busy day on my birthday especially with people that I haven't talked to in ages commented.

Thank you everyone for your birthday wishes! I had the most wonderful Asian made French birthday cake. I also had a ton of Chinese food. Yummy.

I figure this would be the easiest way to say thanks!

Update ... as promised!

The month of February had been horrible with tests been thrown at me with lightening speed but I'm very glad that I have God at my side to ground me and give me strength to get through it. I've also gone through more dark chocolate and racquetball than I want or planned to ::sigh:: Stress definitely got to me.

No more school talk, especially on the week that I'm home. =P

This past couple of weeks have been filled with happy and sad news. Starting with the sad news. Someone I know very well decided to drop out because he felt that God had given him a calling to do something else. I admire him for having the guts to withdraw and face the music, especially with his parents. I know it must not have been easy decision. Props to him. Sometimes I really wonder what God has planned for me. I just wished I could've known ahead of times but that's the beauty of God. He gives us amazing calling and comes in different forms.

The good news is that I'm involved in CMDA, Bible study, as secretary on the exec board and I'm excited in planning with the others for the next year and the incoming young'uns. Also I'll be going to Colorado Spings in about a week for a conference. It's all very exciting. Can't wait.

One more big thing I have to give thanks for. My dad made it through a successful surgery last Thurs and now is on a good road to recovery. I was nervous about his surgery especially knowing what I know now. Also I had a really hard time studying for my last final the day of his surgery. Thank God that He kept my dad safe and me sane. My mom and brother were not as nervous since they didn't know exactly all the anatomy but they were worried because it was such a long procedure. How funny. God loves giving us funny moments. By the time I got back home, my dad had already been in the hospital for about 2 days but he just really wanted to go home. He came home 2 days ago but he needs lots of TLC. Basically, he sort of immobile, so me and my family has to help him with everything to keep his back stable. Doc said it'll be about a 3 months recovery perhaps more. Something interesting was that my dad's doc is a big shot and also a pastor at his church. What a surprise that was to me!

I want to share a song that has helped me the last couple of weeks. It's a reassurance that God is always there and will never abandon me. It's called "Even If I Fall".

I may pass through the waters
But one thing I know, You are with me
I may walk through the fire,
But one thing I know, You are with me
Though my way seems uncertain,
In You I'll put my trust.

Chorus
(Men )
When You're with me, I will rise up
When You lift me up (repeat)
(Ladies)
Even if I fall, I'll rise again for You are my God
Even if I fall, You lift me up (repeat)

I may go through some trials
But I will not fear, for You are with me
I will go to the mountain,
And I will press on, for You are with me
Though my way seems uncertain
In You I'll put my trust.

God has definitely provided and well. He even gave me the opportunity to talk to a few girls in school that feel the way I do, like we are loners among our class because of our beliefs and the fact that very few people are at the same stage in life. I'm glad God gave me a couple of girls that I can talk to for certain things even though it won't be like the gals I know and love in college.

Thank the Lord for everything. Always in abundance.