A Christmas, yet non-Christmas Song

Holy, holy, holy!
Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee
There is a sign at the sight of thee
Merciful and mighty
God in three Persons, God in three Persons
Blessed Trinity

Holy, holy, holy!
Though the darkness hide thee
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see
Only Thou art holy
There is none beside thee
Perfect in power, perfect in power
In love, and purity

Holy, holy, holy!
Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy Name, in Earth, and sky, and sea
There is a sign at the sight of thee
There is none beside thee
God in three Persons
Blessed Trinity




May my heart and my lips sing as one.

A Political Blog?

I shy away from politics, a lot. I don't like dealing with unclear answers, biased opinions, and unrealistic ideals. And that goes for both major parties (even my own). However, since the beginning of this past election I've been making a careful effort to try to develop my own genuine opinions on today's politics. I don't want my beliefs to be based on my friends', school's, church's, or even my parent's beliefs. I want to own them myself. I still have a long way to go, but I feel like I'm starting to form some opinions that are genuinely mine. So, here it is: political blog #1. It's not epic, and it's not intense. But it's an opinion that I can feel confident in holding.

I was reading an article on the BBC about Western aid in Africa. What caught my attention was that it challenged Western aid and looked at it from a different perspective. You can read the article here. Sometimes I feel that people believe that hopping on these government aid programs for social justice is the best decision. I'm not saying at all that giving aid to people in need is wrong, but I don't believe that demanding the government to do something is always the best answer.

There's still a lot of reform that needs to happen in Africa, and I honestly believe that's going to happen with the help of people transforming it from the inside out. Corruption can't be fixed by government aid, but it can be changed by people. I do think government aid can help, but individual people need to be at the forefront.

I'll be the first to say that I'm still trying to figure out how I can do my part. Christ called us to be there for those who are in need. It's a calling that shouldn't be taken lightly, and it's the most genuine form of social justice this world will ever see.

A Song of Redemption

One of the most beautiful things about the Internet is to be able to connect with people you would have otherwise never met. In the past year I've stumbled upon a few movements that have really moved me. Some have been big and others have been very small and personal. One movement I've been wanting to share has been very close to my heart. It goes by the name To Write Love On Her Arms. TWLOHA was born out of a response to a call for help, which turned into a short story, which turned into a myspace, which turned into a community of people from all walks of life; and the most beautiful part of this story is that it all goes back to one very real idea: hope.

The heart of TWLOHA has always been offering hope to people who've abused themselves by connecting them with help. Since it began two years ago, this movement has reached far beyond the subject of self abuse and has turned into conversations about pain, how everyone can relate to it, the questions people have while going through it, and the hope of getting past it.

To me, I see redemption in motion. Salvation in action. The whole reason why Jesus came to show us how to live. So people could do things like this, offering hope and changing lives. It's truly a beautiful things to see happening in the midst of hopelessness. Every person knows at one time or another what it feels like to lose hope and to feel pain. And I've seen through people's compassion the hopeful and healing power of Christ whether it is by conventional means or not. I can personally say that God has used TWLOHA to give me hope at times when I felt pretty hopeless. It is our calling as God's children to bring hope to those who hopeless and healing to those who are hurting. TWLOHA is just one of the many beautiful expressions of the kind of hope we have in Christ. May the song of this great Redemption be forever sung...

3 Things

That have been said about me in the past week*:

1. My curly head of hair was automatically referred to as a fro.

2. My singing voice is not dissimilar to that of Chris Tomlin's.

3. I look more black than mexican.


what do you say about me?



*I approve each observation as positive/amusing. :)

On Your Mark, Get Set...

GO!!! It seems like JoJo's getting off to a great start this year as he embarks down the 180 day track known as the middle year of college. If you look at that instant replay, you can see that his footing seemed to be in a good place right as he left the starting line. He's now a few hundred yards down the track and still seems to be keeping a steady pace. I really think he has a chance at winning this thing if he can just keep his eyes on the finish. We've seen in previous races how some great athletes slipped up by getting too caught up in the crowd's excitement and missed qualifying for the next round by a fraction of a second. That's right, and if you recall from last year, JoJo almost missed qualifying for the next round due to fatigue and some blurry vision. But as you can see, it seems that he's getting off to a much better start this time around. If he can push through to the finish for the the next two races, I really think he has a chance at winning the gold. The only thing he needs to remember is to pace himself and save the sprint for those last few yards. We'll have live coverage as this race progresses. And be sure to check in later for boxing as we watch JoJo and some of our other top athletes fight the good fight.

Stay tuned.

Dear Blog

I'm sorry I've been neglecting you. School's begun and is selfishly taking up my time. And my lap top is failing me with its unwelcoming illnesses. But I will make this right. And for the time being, I will try to make a better effort to visit you more often; for surely there will be many tales to tell as this year progresses.


Sincerely,
JoJo

One Reason Why the Internet Is Sometimes Awesome

It's simple. Find a cause. Pick a sponsor. Create a spiffy-looking widget. Put this spiffy-looking widget amongst your many social networking circles. Earn some money to help your cause. Make a difference. Give it a try!*

*(This is a far cry from those e-mails you used to get about AOL donating three cents to an untracable dying baby.)

Today is a Good Day

1college algebra class has been finished forever.

2cd's have been bought for $2.99 each, which is great.

3more weeks left of summer vacation are to be spent.

4hours of some much needed catch-up sleep have been spent.

...and a new not-so-new song stuck in my head:

Thank You Father for a really nice day.

Oh What a Small World We Live In

So, the fine people here of Southern California got a taste of a 5.8 magnitude earthquake today. I was hanging out with my little brother at home when the whole place started shaking for a good 30 seconds or so! It was very exciting to the least. But anyway, by the time I logged onto my computer, the BBC (which is my homepage) already had a "breaking news" story on it within 20 minutes of the earthquake. It's amazing to think that an organization whose headquarters is located half-way across the world can keep its pulse on world events so proficiently. This world just became a little smaller to me.


The BBC's article:

Strong quake felt in Los Angeles

A strong earthquake has been felt in the US city of Los
Angeles.

The quake made buildings in the city shake and was
felt as far south as San Diego, witnesses say, but so far there are no reports
of casualties or damage.

The US Geological Survey said the tremor had a
magnitude of 5.8, after initially measuring it at 5.6.

The epicentre of the quake was located 29 miles south-east of
downtown Los Angeles, near Chino Hills in San Bernardino County, officials said.

In 1994, a 6.7 magnitude earthquake in Northridge, California,
killed 72 people, injured some 9,000 and caused $25bn worth of damage in the
area.

(I also have to note how I love that last little sentence BBC threw in there. I guess the news story by itself wasn't dramatic enough.)

You+Me=Wii

Today is a happy day. My family and I are now the proud owners of a Nintendo Wii! A friend of ours from the youth group was generous enough to sell his console to us for a decent price. Not only did we get the standard stuff that comes with the wii, but he also threw in Super Smash Brothers Brawl and a sweet controller dock! I definitely see good times to be had in the near future.

In other news, I only have one more week left of college algebra. I'm looking forward to not waking up at 6:00 a.m. anymore. well, at least until I have to take another early class. oh, college. Three more weeks of summer break...

There Are So Few Words That Never Grow Old

verses.1&2
O, for a thousand tongues to sing, my great Redeemer’s praise
The glories of my God and King, the triumphs of His grace
My gracious Master and my God, assist me to proclaim
To spread through all the earth abroad, the honors of Thy name

chorus.
So come on and sing out, let our anthem grow loud
There is one great love, Jesus

verses.3&4
Jesus, the name that charms our fears, that bids our sorrows cease
‘Tis music in the sinner’s ears, ‘tis life and health and peace
He breaks the power of cancelled sin, He sets the prisoners free
His blood can make the foulest clean, His blood availed for me

verses.5&6
He speaks and listening to His voice, new life the dead receive
The mournful broken hearts rejoice, the humble poor believe
Glory to God and praise and love, be ever, ever giv’n
By saints below and saints above, the church in earth and Heav’n

reflection.
There are so few words that never grow old
Jesus, Jesus


I pray that these words would never grow old. More than ever before, I've felt like I have to fight spiritual numbness in my life. Too often I feel too weak or simply not willing to put up a fight, to strive for God, to believe that this race is worth running. One thing that I wish I had more of right now is focus. Anything long-term seems so far away and out of reach to me, and the short-term is confusing, tedious, and honestly a little annoying. But even more, I feel like my core spirituality is starting numb. Salvation, the cross, Jesus - I know the reality of it, but I feel a disconnect that I can't understand. I know so well in my mind that these truths are alive, but my heart has a difficult time making that connection. I don't know what God is doing (or if it's just me). I'm writing this because I just wanted to be honest. At this point in my life, my faith is confusing and shaky; and I pray with every bone in my body that this season will pass. But for now, I pray that things will start making sense and become real to me again. I pray that Jesus would be my companion, not only my belief. And I pray that I will develop a willing heart to live my life for Him.

I also ask for your prayers. I know that the prayers of my brothers and sister in Christ can make a difference. If God should ever put me on your mind, pray that He would give me a sound mind, diligence, and a living passion for Him.

Ephesians 2:10 - “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

I Peter 5:10 - “And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.”


Thanks for reading to those of you who do. :)

God bless,
JoJo

Beautiful Evening!

The summer evenings have been really beautiful lately, especially today. Sunsets and cameras = a good time.

You Look So Defeated...

...Lying there in your new twin-sized bed. I think that Death Cab for Cutie has surprisingly been my new favorite band of the year. If anyone had told me that around this time last year, I probably wouldn't have believed them. To be honest, when I was first introduced to them by my now-room mates, I didn't really Death Cab at all. The music sounded too low key, the drums and guitars were produced weird, and Ben Gibbard's voice was kind of annoying. To me, they were just some alternative band that seemed to be really popular among somewhat-artsy and suburban-trendy twenty-year-olds.

But then something changed. Something happened during the fall semester that made me fall in love with this band. I couldn't get enough of "Title and Registration," "Transatlanticism," or "Brothers on a Hotel Bed." Every song just seems to be layered with beautiful melodies and the smallest musical details and idiosyncrasies. And Ben's songwriting? absolutely amazing! The way he is able to be so poignant in capturing human emotions astounds me. How could anyone not like this band???

But what changed? A year ago, I didn't appreciate Death Cab at all. Now I can't get enough of them. I'm not exactly sure why, but I feel that constant exposure to their music might have had something to do with it. Before I met some of my friends at college, I had a different view as to what I thought good music was. Last year, my idea of good music ranged anywhere from loud guitars and ear-piercing screams to heart-felt anthems and the occasional white-boy hip hop. I had never honestly listened the likes of Radiohead, Coldplay, or Simon & Garfunkel until my friends started introducing these different artists to me. I wasn't to interested in most of the bands at first, but after being exposed to them for while I began to gain some appreciation for them. Whether I realized it or not, my views were changing. And the influences of my friends had a lot to do with it.

I've begun to understand that the people I place myself around really do make a lasting impression on my life. In a way, they help me to determine the way I see the world. The influence they've had on my change (or more like expansion) of musical taste is a small example. In these past two years of college, I've seen my worldviews, theological views, ethics, and moral standards be challenged by the influence of my friends and contemporaries on campus. Sometimes it's been a welcomed challenge. Other times it's been a struggle, trying to reconcile my views with others'. Sometimes I'm forced to question whether my beliefs about something are right or true, but other times my beliefs are strengthened and encouraged. Dealing with this stuff can be really confusing.

But in the end, it all comes down to one question. Are the people who I'm letting influence me pointing me to Christ? If they're not, then there's a problem. I'm warned in Scripture about false prophets and the wisdom of men, about well-intentioned people who sadly miss the mark. I need to be surrounded by people who will help me walk down this narrow path called righteousness. Granted, all people are fallen and will sometimes fill me with not so great influences; but part of learning under God's grace is helping each other correct our flaws. The individuals that I let into my life will eventually help to determine the kind of influence I will be in others' lives. The Body of Christ is a fine thread, a chain reaction (or to put it in terms of a better Illustrator: the branches of a tree). What's poured into one person will be poured into another. Our influences reach far beyond ourselves and the people immediately in our lives. Am I being filled with hope? truth? faith? Love? And am I pouring these same attributes into the people around me? Is Christ alive in me and am I letting Him make Himself alive in others? I hope so.

Beach Day!

Finally!
It's now going two months into my summer vacation, and I still haven't been to the beach yet! Going to the beach is an automatic must if you live in socal. It's why we live down here, right? Ok, maybe that's not the case for everyone, but I'm in love with the beaches down here even if they're not as picturesque the Bahamas or Hawaii. The beaches out here just have their own personalities. Everything feels laid-back, busy, energetic, and and care-free all at the same time. The sunsets are always breath-taking. The bonfires are always intimate. I honestly feel closer to God when I'm there, being able to see a different side of Creation and the people that live among it.

So with that being said, it's been way overdue for a beach visit. It's also been way overdue for visiting friends I don't get to hang out with during the school year. Fortunately, I get to do both today. Awesome.

Also, I'm definitely up to more "beach" and "hanging out" type events for the remainder of my summer. Send a message my way!

JoJo


P.S. I'm absolutely in love with Coldplay's new album right now! After an unnecessarily long wait and a few e-mails and phone calls to Starbucks Music, my copy came in the mail yesterday. This album really surprised me by how much more mature the music was. The artwork was also amazing. Take a listen. You won't regret it.

Music Test

I've been looking for a way to post music on here, and I think I've finally gotten a breakthrough. Thank you playlist.com! I hope to utilize this more in the future. As for now, this is a song I've really been into lately. Hope you enjoy!

goodnight,
JoJo

A New Look

Today and yesterday I've been helping out at my home church's VBS. If you're not familiar with this, VBS is basically Sunday School on steroids. This year's theme was "Power Lab" and it turned out to be, quite literally, a blast! I was only able to join for the last two days of the week, but I heard from my family that it's been packed with a lot of energy. I was lucky enough to see the grand finale today, which consisted of the senior pastor conducting a few explosive science experiments on stage. There was nothing more satisfying than watching my pastor light a combustible balloon on fire. The explosion was probably equal to the sound of a gunshot. But the best part of VBS is always the excuse to act younger than you really are. I decided to take advantage that...well, my good friends and family decided to take advantage of that for me. Please say hello to mad scientists Dr. Franken Furter…

The Inaugural Post

hi there,
well, this is my first official blog post. I'm not exactly sure why I decided to do this, but I hope to make something out of it - even if it's small and insignificant. I've never really been one to blog, mostly because I think that I have nothing to say or that whatever I want to say has to be really defined. but I'm finally starting to understand a little better about what blogging is really about: anything I want it to be! so I hope this blog will be honest. creative. opinionative. a little raw. and maybe even a little inspiring. if you found your way here somehow, thanks for stopping by! I hope that this compilation of random entries will encourage you somehow as so many of other people's humble writings and musings have encouraged me.


God bless,
JoJo