Wow. It's been a while...

I would check in from time to time to see if anyone has posted anything new on the blog and it doesn't look like anyone has. I just wanted to share with everyone how a relationship recently brought me closer to God.

As everyone may all know 13 year old Jenny Le at church... She comes from a very broken home with so many people in her family that she doesn't get much attention, if any from her mother. Recently, her and I rekindled our relationship. I went to pick her up one weekend after she was so distraught about some things going on in her life, things like her mother moving out with her boyfriend, her school friend passing away, failing english, being put back in ESL and being lonely. It was a long drive there and a long drive back but it was well worth it.

We did the normal DC things like the going to the "mall" -not a real mall by the way... and it was perfect because they had a Reading Conference there for kids where we got to meet cartoon characters from PBS, like Curious George and Clifford. We also went to the Historical Museum and the Air and Space museum - all learning experiences for her.

Because she is only 13, I have to watch what I say and do around her, meaning... I can't talk about happy hours and such. We would get together over the phone about once a week to read a chapter in the Bible and although it's for her... she is helping me. I admit, I can't remember the last time I opened up a Bible never mind actually reading it. Now i'm trying to pick out chapters to read with her, go through and explain what it means... it really has been a great experience for me and I hope for her as well.

For those who ask for prayer requests, I ask that you pray for Jenny and I. For Jenny to continue on the Christian path and not let her surroundings influence her. For me, to lead by example and continue to do so, not just for Jenny but for those around me. I must admit, last month I had a situation that I put myself in... that I am very embarassed about. I wanted to just hide myself from everyone. Praying with Jenny really helped me get over it and learn that it was a mistake that I cannot change. As Audrey Hepburn put it, "...I believe tomorrow is another day..." I pray that I am more careful in putting myself in these kinds of situations inhibiting me from leading others on the Christian path... and inhibiting me from staying on the path.

Thanks for listening/reading.

Vi

Music Enthusiasts

Hehehe, here's an interesting story for myself to you guys. You all know how I've been trying to drive a way with the young adults group to get a bible study night in. Well Sunday night was the 2nd, of many more to come, bible study at Thay Nhan's house. The funny part is I was assigned to help remind people to come, and yet I was so tired after the VBS Festival I accidently slept till 7:09 onl because Linh woke me up. 7 is when the study began, well as I'm driving to Thay Nhan's house I tuned my radio to 90.3 which oddly enough was Sunday night 7-9 Urban music hours.

well anyways here is the song that got me excited last night.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCbCJdpcBFY

devotions...

SooooOooo...
I was thinking about the sermon this past Sunday, and it reminded me of how important it is to have personal devotion time. Thay Viet gave a great example of - if you went to school once a week, wouldn't you learn less than if you were to go to school 5 days a week?
Anyway, I know in today's world everyone is "busy." Especially our group because many have full time jobs, school, and family to worry about. I've decided to challenge myself starting today, to get in the habit of putting some time aside to do devotions with God. I challenge everyone to do the same, even if it's just 5 minutes. Think about it, one cannot say he/she does NOT have 5 minutes a day to put aside for God. (If you have time for facebook/people.com/tv, you have time for God!!!) So my idea is, start out small. Once you get the hang of putting aside some time for God, give Him more time as the days go on.
=) see y'all on Sunday!!!!

!D a Real and Personal thanks Blog

I have told everybody as of the past few months of how thankful I am of having a job. Well currently I was hired on full-time by the credit union, although I am very happy with that fact my actual attitude showed very little thanks. In my own mind i was relying on my own strengths that God has blessed myself with; I have been blessed in having a very adaptable personality, God has given me an ability to be able to interact very well with people along with an ability to understand and learn any task trusted upon myself. But even with what God has blessed myself with, I began to rely on my own abilities and put less reliance on God.
Over the past week I delved in on myself and asked God for forgiveness, and I thanked him for what he has granted me: in my job, my health, my family's support, and all the prayers and support of the church.
Just today I recieved a phone call from my HR. She tells me that she has good news and also more responsibilities for me! I found out today that although I was hired on for full-time with full benefits, I was only on a tentative tenure because I was originally hired on to only be temporary. Coming on as a temporary to hire they had only considered to keep me temporarily, but my work ethics had showed to management that I am an asset worth keeping, even though they had no position for me to fill. So my job was on the edge until today's news. Our card services manager put in her 2 weeks, in which I had no idea my name was put in to fill her position. But furthermore, I was not just slotted for the position I am now to be trained in the next two weeks to fill her position temporarily. I was told that this position saved me from the cusp of losing a job due to lack of necessity.
I have learned through life not to take God forgranted, but human nature is so weak that we tend to receive and forget so quickly how much he has blessed us with. But God's love is unending and I do thank him for loving us even with our faults.

Thanks to those who do read this and do try and understand my flaws!

Health Related Cut Back on Cell Phones

This world is surrounded in the need of gaining in excess; excess material needs, excess funds far exceeding the necessities and beyond, excess amoutns of time playing video games, excess amounts of television, excess time on the phone. From the little I have learned of the wonders of God is that he has created us all to be limitless in our love towards him and He towards us, but he has created us to set our own limitations.
Our bodies are to function in setting limitations, we cannot live a healthy life in over-eating for it leads to obesity and several unhealthy factors, we cannot even over-indulge in drinking too much water either. Like the water drinking competition on a radio contest in Los Angeles a few years ago where one of the competitors died of water intoxication.

Exodus 16:18 (Whole Chapter) When they measured it with an omer, [2 Cor 8:15] he who had gathered much had no excess, and he who had gathered little had no lack; every man gathered as much as he should eat.
Proverbs 25:16 (Whole Chapter) Have you [Judg 14:8; 1 Sam 14:25] found honey? Eat only what you need,That you not have it in excess and vomit it.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,389881,00.html

SUNDAYS 6 o'clock p.m.

Viet and I are trying to set up a discussion group small groups for Sunday nights. I know i sent an email, but it's always best to have a contingency plan even though everybody checks their emails more often than the blog.

Date: July 20, 2008 6 o'clock

Place: Barnes and Noble

Topic: discuss the plans for the small groups

To growing stronger bonds and ties, and to having a good time!

Do we belive in God through his teachings? Or are we finding our own loopholes and picking and choosing?

Just unlaoding some thoughts after reading this article. Many of us have probably at one point or another asked how could the world have been so wrong in the past when Jesus was walking the world and the grace of salvation was in physical form? Many of us have also questioned at some point how could the Pharisees have been so corrupt?
We do in the present day have many modern-day-pharisees, we may not be burning false sacrifices or hoarding in donations for personal uses. But there are those that offer up self-serving praise, and half-hearted devotions. Do we lift up God's love for others to see us raising him up, or are we whole-heartedly praising God's grace and majesty?

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,370588,00.html