Exodus 10:1-3 The Strict Worship of YHWH

6/20/10

Time Spent:

Main Idea: God had struck Nahab and Abihu dead for their violation of sanctuary principles

What I Learned about God: We cannot come to God our own way. He is holy.

Summary: After Aaron had been reinstated as priests, the book of Leviticus pans towards a practical application of the priesthood in action. However, it does not portray a positive outworking of the levitical priesthood as both of Aaron's sons are burned for offering an unauthorized fire to the Lord. We cannot postulate what that "unauthorized fire" was, but we can see that it was not pleasing to the Lord. It was because they had decided to come to God by their own terms, which seems pretty silly with all that God had written to them about worship this far. God wants people to worship Him in His own way. It is not open to interpretation.

Application: My worship for God may not always be proper YHWH worship. It's hard to place how we are to come to God in post-revelation times. Everyone seems to want to come in their own way, placing their talents and training as means to worship God. I think the best and safest way to worship God is through what He has said written in the Word. So can we have breakdance ministry? Yes, I think there's a time and place for that, but I don't know if I would go and call that "worship". God wants worship that honors and glorifies Him and thus is the model for our worship

Leviticus 1-5 Blood and a Pleasing Aroma

6/19/10

Time Spent: 15 min

Main Idea: The 5 major offerings listed in Leviticus 1-5 require blood and a "pleasing aroma".

What I Learned about God: Offerings made for fellowship or for guilt need to take into account the holiness of God

Summary: God has placed us to be holy people. This goes further by the fact that He wants His people to be holy. There are various ways in which people are said to do that. Even sins that are committed unintentionally need to be paid for with the purchase of blood and an aroma offering to the Lord. This requires that something must pay the price. The reason why "blood" wasn't drunk because it was a testament of life to the people. Thus, when blood is being poured out it is stating the life source of the being had been paid. The next thing that priest do was burn the offering as a fragrant aroma to God. Later, Paul will use this phrase to describe both Christ's self sacrifice and Christian giving

Application: An offering entails blood and an aroma to the Lord. When Paul calls us to be "living sacrifices" this means that those two are required in order to give service to the Lord. Any part of service that does not require these two things must not have been the sacrifice that Paul was thinking of. Indeed, Jesus' life is both the payment of my guilt blood and is my pleasing aroma, but I need to remember that my service to the Lord requires my full strength and service. I do not think I gave my full strength to the ministry these past weeks I had a break. Therefore, I want to try even harder by studying and especially praying for the minsitry longer than I usually do

Money Owed $18

Exodus 40:34-38 the Glory of the Lord

6/18/10
Time Spent: 15 min
Main Idea: The glory of the Lord descended upon the tent of meeting and lead the Israelites throughout the wilderness through cloud or fire
What I Learned about God: God-centered living is God-centered leading
Summary: After the lengthy discourse on the setup of the tabernacle, God has now brought Himself into the tent of meeting; dwelling with His people. The big hoop-la that surrounds this book is mainly focused upon God’s exploits to the Egyptians (and make a far more interesting read), however, the real good news comes as God desires to dwell with His people. This is even taking into account the apostasy that Aaron brings upon the people through golden calf worship. The glory of the Lord “dwells” with the people and leads the people and has this two-fold function. The glory of the Lord becomes both an object of worship and of leadership.
Application: The glory of the Lord is a nice Christianese word that we like to throw around. However, we don’t feel the full brunt of its meaning when we neglect the power it has in leading our lives. God had placed Himself as an object of worship in the tabernacle and also the power to lead the people in the desert. I do not think these ideas are mutually exclusive, but rather goes together like peanut butter and jelly. You can’t have God-centered worship if you are not obeying His glory; or you can’t be lead by God unless you are worshiping Him. I try to fix sins in my life by trying to pinpoint the area in which I fall and doing the best I can to isolate and destroy the problem. However, I do not care to think how that it may be a greater problem and that is that I’m not worshiping the Lord. Thus, I need to realize that as I work on my own bouts with sins that I continue to place God-centered worship at the forefront.

Exodus 29:44-45 God-made worship

6/15/10

Time Spent:
10 min
Main Idea: God is the one whom will consecrate the assembly and the priests so that He may be their God.

What I Learned about God: God is the initiator of His covenant people

Summary: God had given Moses an extensive manual on how He wanted His sanctuary to look like, even going as so far as picking out Aaron to stand on behalf of the people and God. This was to show that God had a very distinct process and idea on how His house should look like. There is nothing man-made about this tabernacle, but rather it was God-designed and God-initated from the start. The great "story" of Exodus is not that God miraculously saved the Israelites from the Egyptians. Rather, it is the good news that God had decided to dwell with the people. This idea is heightened by the fact that it is God that will do these things. God will consecrate the tent of meeting, the priesthood, the altar, and will dwell amongst the people. He will be their God and they will be His people.

Application: I am freely justified by His grace alone. God has granted me salvation as HIs covenant heir because of His initiated relationship towards me. It is not in my grades or my seminary degree that grants me access into His presence, but God has bought me and declared onto me "I will be his God, and you will be my disciple". Out of all the various things that I do for God must stem from this very concept. That I am a child of God, citizen of the kingdom of God. Thus, this should shape the way in which I serve the church. God has initiated relationship with me and that's how He'll use the ministry and myself...not as an extension of me, but rather as the source of power.

Exodus 23:12 Holistic Rest

6/14/10

Time Spent: 10

Main Idea: God has made sabbath for rest

What I Learned about God: He is gracious.

Summary: In this seemingly small blurb on the Sabbath, God has made the Sabbath so that people and animals could be refreshed. It was a day off for people to feel recharged from 6 days of working. This may show God's design for how people to work...It is funny how many people suffer burnout in our society today, yet there is no biblical fix of burnout. This may not have been a problem for the people because of their devotion to Sabbath-keeping rules.

Application: My Sabbath day was a day of rest, but I wonder how "restful" it was. I did nothing and even logged 5 hours on a DS game. This was not the type of rest God had in mind. God wants me to take my mind off of work, but not vacation away from loving Him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. It is sad to see that on my free days that I drift away from Him. I need to learn how to find my rest in Him instead of finding it other things or people.

amount owed: $16

Exodus 21 God's Social Order

6/12/10

Time Spent: 10 min

Main Idea: God teaching Moses on how to conduct societal living in a godly manner

What I Learned about God: The Christian life is not a privatized life but an all-encompassing life given to God.

Summary: After the 10 Commandments, God goes on to share what He expects from the people. Unlike popular society, it's not to not bother anybody and live your own spiritual life well, but rather God exhorts the people to have a communal society based upon His teaching. In this theocratic nations, things such as theft, slavery, land, and payments are all circumferenced under God's teachings. God is not just part of the private part of their lives, but their lives were to be wholly devoted to God.

Application: My Christian walk in my perspective is gauged based upon doing my QT and prayer. However, it should be a lot more than that. one of the things I realize is I need to stand out as a salt and light to my family even more. This means becoming more involved in work around the house and also being attentive to the needs of my family.

Exodus 16:19 Continual Dependance on the Lord

6/10/10

Time Spent: 10 min

Main Idea: God did not want the Israelites to save up the manna from heaven because He wanted them to trust Him

What I Learned about God: God wants to take care of His people

Summary: The first groans came from the people's need for foods. They complained to Moses and Aaron about how they longed for their lives back at Egypt. God hears their grumbling and brings them manna from heaven. The manna that fell to the ground was not able to be stored because it would rot right away. This was to ensure that the Israelites would continue to depend upon God for their substinence instead of any other thing. Truly, God is the one who provides.

Application: I wonder how much weight I give into my own abilities and my skills that I picked up from Talbot. I realize that I have been spending less time on my sermons that I normally did. This should not take place, but I am learning that I am depending on my skills more than I am depending upon God. This should not be happening and I need to set some things straight. I realize that I need to make it a habit of starting earlier on my sermons and also refining them to allow it to communicate to students instead of confusing them with stuff ripped straight from a commentary.

Exodus 13:8 Do This in Remembrance of Me

6/9/10

Time Spent: 10 min

Main Idea: The Passover was to symbolize the remembrance of the Lord's deliverance

What I Learned about God: God wants us to remember His hand in our salvation through a visible, tangible reality in the church.

Summary: By the time of the 10th plague, Moses was given specific instructions on instituting the feast of unleavened bread. This feast was made with bread without yeast, people were to don on their sandals and cloaks. These two things were to symbolize the haste in which they were preparing to leave by God's mighty hand of deliverance. It is strange that at the point of their dismissal, God wants them to sit down and eat a meal in a way which He wanted to prepare. This is the importance which God values people from generations to remember the miraculous saving work which He will deliver His people. This gets passed onto what we call the Lord's Supper, as we remember how Christ delivered us through His mighty hand. We drink the wine and partake of the bread as a reminder of God's deliverance of us today in the church.

Application: How many times should we celebrate the Lord's Supper a year? That question was posed to us by our Theo Professor and I couldn't think of a good answer. I think the church needs it at least once a month. We move onto the practical things in life so easily that we don't revel in the fact that God has graced us with every spiritual blessing through Christ. Jesus becomes such a minor factor in our lives that we fail to realize that He is the reason in which we are to live. I have no chance to change the policy of now, but I hope as I continue to serve within the church, ministering opportunities will be given where I could frequently call the people to the Lord's Table to remind them of the rich salvation which He had bestowed upon believers.

6/8/10: Ephesians 5:6-21

Time: 15 mins

Main Idea: Spend your time well

What I learned about God: God will shine on us

Summary: This passage is speaking about how we should not be deceived by the people of this world but instead we should be the ones to come out of the darkness of the world and shine like the light God has turned us into. We should not take any part of the ways of the world but instead we should part ways with the world and become a blessing in all that we do so that God will see us and be pleased with us. Do not judge yourself on what you have done wrong, but instead we should be the ones to be proud of what we have done. We must continue to support each other in His Word instead of partying and being drunk like this world tells us to. We need to continue to remember what God has done for us and always be thankful.

Application: In my life, especially through finals, my life has been in a muck especially with my grades being so poor. I need to stop having the desire to party with my friends at school's end instead of going to mission training, but due to my human and sinful nature, it is hard. Through prayer and remembrance of what God has done for me through Christ, I need to take myself from the world, from the drunkenness, from the debauchery, and I need to be the one in which He gave us life. I need to be a person who represents the love of the being that gave me life. In loving Him so much, I must strive to be more like Him in each and every step I take in life. Instead of wanting to party after finals, I will be striving to read His Word and to go to church and serve. I want to be someone who other people can see God's love through my works and actions.

Money: 15 dollars

-Andrew Park

Exodus 9:14 the Preeminence of God

6/8/10

Time Spent: 15 min

Main Idea: God brought upon the plagues on Egypt to show that there is none other like Him throughout all the earth.

What I Learned about God: God is God over all

Summary: By the time of the 7th plague upon Egypt, God tells Moses why He is doing these plagues. He states plainly in verse 14 that it is to show that there is none like Him throughout the earth. The plagues throughout Egypt was to show YHWH's dominance over the fake gods that the Egyptians worshiped during that time. When Moses initially asked Pharaoh for freedom on behalf of YHWH, Pharaoh states that he had never heard of such a god. Surely, his experiences will change his minds.

The plagues bring about a total upside-down shift in the mentality of the people. They feel the great force of the reality that this God is greater than all, as He continually destroys religioius motifs such as the sun and the Nile through miracles. Also, the plague of the firstborn which slays Pharaoh's son would've struck a huge cord upon the people, as the son is seen as divine. Surely, there is no one like our God throughout all the earth.

Application: Expect great things from a great God is a Puritan quote that I will always hang onto. When we acknowledge the size and reality that our God is greater than all, it helps us in encapturing the lifestyle in which we ought to live. Problems seem smaller, self-dignity seems less important, and grace seems that much greater when taking upon who God is. I can read how the Puritans thought about God through their readings and I wonder if my life reflects that. Do I really envision I am ruled by a God that is greater than all science, philosophy, moralism, etc? If I did, then how I react to certain situations and problems would be different.

Exodus 3:17-20 Compelled by the Mighty Hand

6/7/10

Time Spent: 14 min

Main Idea: God's deliverance of the people from Egypt will be through His mighty hand

What I Learned about God: God's mighty hand is what delivers the people; not Moses.

Summary: The phrase "Mighty hand" is seen throughout the book of Exodus and Deuteronomy used to denote the method which the people were delivered out of their slavery. Moses continues to talk with God about what is the way in which he should bring the people out of Egypt. While Moses looks at the problem, God is already harping on the solution. Moses continues to refrain and draw back, but God assures Moses that He will be the one that saves His people. It will be God's mighty hand that compels belief into the people as they witness the supernatural deliverance that God will bring to the Israelites.

Application: How much weight do I put into God's mighty hand of deliverance? I wonder that because of the way in which I do ministry. Is there a clear sense that I depend on the power of God to deliver supernaturally or do I look to myself, my preparations, or my gifts as tools in bringing salvation? I was convicted to preach a "narrative sermon" for this sunday and thought that it would be great. I thought that this would be a great way to capture the imagination of sparky to varsity alike. I was excited to preach an "effective" sermon. However, I confused entertainment for effectiveness, because no matter how much I plan or prepare, it is the Lord that brings about deliverance. Moses knew that and needed God's mighty hand. More than the length, the clarity, or relevance of my sermon, I need God's mighty hand to deliver His people.

6/7/10: Romans 12:1-2

Time: 15 mins

Main Idea: A Living Sacrifice

What I learned about God: God only accepts perfection out of us

Summary: This is a passage in which it explains to us the importance of being a living sacrifice in God. We need to be Holy and acceptable in God's eyes as that is our spiritual worship. WE cannot be part of this world anymore but instead we must be transformed and become not more God like in all that we do. While we are tested we will still be able to know what pleases God.

Application: In life in the Old Testament, people would have to sacrifice their most pure sheep in order to atone for their sins, but now since the sacrifice of Jesus we don't have to sacrifice anymore. Through our bodies, we are been given a sacrifice in that we should treat our bodies as a sacrifice now. Through this mentality, we will always remember the price that Jesus paid for us on that cross. He gave His life to save our lives and we should remember that in all that we do. Just as our bodies are a sacrifice, we should keep our bodies pure just like the sheep were intended for in the Old Testament Times. In my life, I have sinned countlessly throughout my life and I cannot consider myself clean, but through God's grace and mercy, He gave us mercy and we were allowed to consider ourselves clean because of Jesus' sacrifice for us on the cross. In glorifying His great sacrifice for us, we must be the ones to continue living in His light as He did for his short 33 years of life. He died for us so that we may live and we should continue to live in His light. We can do this by continually going to the Word and meditating in His name. We need to continue to seek Him in prayer in each time of day that we realize His great love and mercy. In my life, I also need to continue to spend time in His word and spent time in His love for without His love, we would all be dead.

Money: 15 dollars

-Andrew Park

Exodus 2:24-25 the Faithfulness of God

6/6/10

Time Spent: 10 min

Main Idea: God heard the groanings of His people and remembered His covenant

What I Learned about God: God is faithful to His Word

Summary: God is faithful both to His people and His covenant. The basis of His answering of the people's prayer is none other than His promise that He made through Abraham. This speaks volumes of the amount of depth and awareness He has on His own Word. This is an amazing idea, that God would wait this long to deliver the Israelite people. One of the reasons being He was awaiting for them to grow the right size before sending them out of Egypt. Egypt was giving birth to a nation, whether she knew it or not.

Application: I would like many things to be going right with church. I wish I was more polished as a pastor and preacher. I also have great desires for the church to finally stop fighting amongst ourselves and be unified for growth. I would love children's dept and youth dept to finally work together for once. All of these are growing into frustration as little seems to get done on the basis of these principles. THis is when I must turn to what God says in His word. Will His church be perfect? Someday. But, in terms of unity and love, the church has already been perfected through the Word of Christ. Therefore, I need to look towards the promises of God as He will never go back on His word.

6/6/10:Colossians 3:18-25

Time: 10 mins

Main Idea: Lord in the Home

What I learned about God: God is all or nothing

Summary: This is in the book of Colossians and this is explaining the role of serving God within the household. It speaks of women having to obey their husbands as husbands should love their wives and not to test their children unless they are discouraged. Children must obey their parents and as slaves need to be wholeheartedly serving. They must serve with their whole heart for they are serving God. Whoever that does not serve with their whole heart will be paid back in their own wrong doings. God does not give 50 percent of anything, it is all or nothing for God.

Application: This was a verse in which I asked a pastor of mine to reflect upon. I didn't know what to read exactly but I was looking for a passage that would help me put everything upon God and His Glory as I am entering the session of finals. It is a stressful time in my life as I am now moving homes, takings finals, mission training, and in the process of wanting to figure out what I want to do in my life. This verse gave me the strength in that I must be willing to give my all for God in not only serving at school, but also serving at home and at church. I must be the one willing to do everything for whatever I do in His will helps me please Him. It is my duty to give glory to God in all that I do. God is the one that truly will help me in my time of need, but I must be the one to continue to work on behalf of His name. I cannot just give a part of myself unto giving Him Glory, but I must be the one in which give God all my time and attention in giving Him Glory, as He will reward me in full or punish me in fullness of what I have done for His name.

Money: 15 dollars

-Andrew Park

Ephesians 1:4-6 Holy and Blameless

6/5/10

Time Spent: 10 min

Main Idea: God has predestined us to be holy and blameless in the presence of Christ, but that reality can be enacted in our lives today

What I Learned about God: It is God, not myself that grants me holiness.

Summary: Paul in his explanation of the work of God in the work of salvation, reminds believers that they were predestined for adoption to be holy and blameless in His presence. In His presence, most likely is talking about the coming of Jesus Christ, which would make this promise enacted in the future. However, throughout the Scriptures, Paul gives numerous exhortations to be holy and blameless as believers here. Some of the exhortations are for personal holiness, as it is used to display the Gospel message towards unbelievers. Also, believers in this present time are to be holy and blameless because it shows their separation from their previous father and their new relationship as sons and daughters of God. This promise is assured to all believers, but there's no sense of sitting on one's hands in anticipation for this. Rather, believers are to pursue and discipline themselves in this manner at the point of their salvation.

Application: The great substitution brought upon by God is a reminder that our standing before Him is holy and blameless. However, one could not readily identify this truth in my own life based upon looking. The spiritual reality does not match up with the physical life that I live here on earth. In this short time that I have on earth, I need to pursue being a person that tries to have those two things match up, not because of my role as a pastor, but rather as my calling as a Christian. One of the areas in my life I can work on this is on discipline. I have noticed that I have lacked self-control because I've placed myself as the center of importance. This is not the way to live, as my spiritual life must be comparable to my physical for the glory of God.

$15

6/5/10: Psalm 119:9-11

Time: 10 mins

Main Idea: Away from sin

What I learned about God: God gave us the Word to use be more like Him and less of this world

Summary: This is in the book of Psalm and it is explaining how we must be in order to remain pure in Him. If we seek Him earnestly with all our hearts, we cannot sin. Earnestly seeking Him will be us keeping His word in our hearts.

Application: If I truly love God and don't want to fall into temptation, I must put my life into Him. I must devote each and everything I do for His Glory, I need to continually go towards the Word and I must also put His Word into my heart. I must be the one in which speaks His Word and follow it in each and every day of my life.

Money: 15 dollars

-Andrew Park

6/4/10: Ephesians 4:7-16

Time: 15 mins

Main Idea: Be firm in love

What I learned about God: God came down to us so that He can teach us of love

Summary: This is Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus and it speaks about a text from Psalm 68:18. He explains how the person that went up must have come down. He is explaining how Jesus is a Heavenly being in which we much learn from. He came down to teach the prophets, teachers, apostles, and evangelists. If these people can learn from Him, than everyone else may be inclined to do also. He gave us this knowledge so that we may not have to listen to false teachings and sway into their visions, but we must stand firm as the wind howls at a mountain. We must be the mountain in which we are firm and strong and that we do not ever flinch at the ways of others. We must also encourage others in the truth and also grow stronger as a full body of Christ.

Application: In many ways, we must encourage others in my life. I caught myself today as I lost a basketball game, yelling at a little brother of Christ. I thought to myself as I read this passage, was that really showing God's love and encouraging Him. It was not the way God would have handled that situation. It was something that the devil put into me and grew in my a sense of hate for such calls on my style of play. I will be unable to continue to grow in Christ if I hurt a part of Christ's body. His body is my body and as I continue to learn from the Word that God has given to my teachers, I must also use that knowledge and apply into my life and encourage my brothers and sisters of Christ for we are all one body in His love.

Money: 15 dollars

-Andrew Park

6/3/10: Ephesians 3:1-21

Time: 20 mins

Main Idea: Mystery of the Gospel and Prayer for Spiritual Strength

What I learned about God: The spirit helps us in our time of need for when we ask for it

Summary: This is Paul's summary of the Gospel and the power of prayer. He explains how God gave Him the power as an apostle to know and love God but the mystery is why God allowed Gentiles to do the same. It then explains how when we are feeling weary and broken down, we have something that can give us the life in which we need in order to worship God. When we are rooted in Him, we can ask Him to relief us of our daily lives and ask Him for rest upon Him.

Application: My life is probably a living hell in which I am too lazy to finish measly assignment, not disciplined enough to keep on a schedule, and just plain stupid to figure out that I can do everything I want to if I focus myself. In this time of finals and moving and numerous other things, I need to remember to keep on pushing through not on my own will but the upon the will of God. I need to remember that through Him, He will give me rest, and He will help me through any obstacles. I must remember to first seek Him and everything will be provided. If I seek Him in all I do, God will help me find rest in His soul after everything is done and said, but this week is going to be the hardest week in my life in which I need God the most and I need to seek Him every moment in my life.

Money Owed: 15 dollars

-Andrew Park

the Spiritual "Walk" Ephesians 4-6

6/3/10

Time Spent: 30 min

Main Idea: Paul exhorts believers to walk in holiness, love, light, and in wisdom.

What I Learned about God: the Christian that is filled to the brim with God's immeasurable riches is the one that walks in this manner.

Summary: "Walking" in the NT is used to depict one's life with Christ. It is a frequent verb used by Paul to denote that idea. The spiritual "walk" is characterized by the top 4 ideas (holiness, love, light, wisdom) and should envelope the lives of believers. Paul goes on to exhorts believers in Ephesus to renew this idea in their minds as he shares with them how to live a life that is worthy of the gospel. He explicates each of these major sections with exhortations on how their lives should be structured, how to obey their parents, how to deal with one another, etc. with practical ways in which the believers should be exercising love for one another.

Application: My "walk" with God does not seem to be as all-inclusive as to the way that Paul describes it. I deem my walk with God based upon the sins that I commit, one in particular. I gauge my walk with Him based upon the level of my sins and to the extent of my day that I spend with Him. However, this is not the way which Paul had guided the people of Ephesus to follow. Paul exhorts people that their are several bases to "walk" with God, and holiness is just one of them. I wonder what God would say to me for "wisdom", I know God gives out what to do for husband wives, childrens-parents, and slaves-masters...but what of the student? Better yet, what of the pastor? I think I need to meditate what God would want my life to look like in walking with wisdom. I had gone onto search for wisdom through the Proverbs, yet was unable to find the gem of my search because I drifted away from the fear of the Lord, the beginning of wisdom. In any sense, walking in wisdom first starts with a devotion to God and His Word.

Ephesians Word Study: Heavenly places

6/2/10

Time Spent: 35 min

Main Idea: Heavenly places pointing towards the metaphysical spiritual warfare in the present.

What I Learned about God: God is the one who gives spiritual blessings through Christ by the putting on of the armor of God

Summary: "Heavenly places" shows up in three places in this letter (Eph. 1:3; 1:20; 6:12). At first glance, one might assume that the heavenly places that Paul is talking about is the future in heaven, where God will abundantly bless and enrichen the lives of believers forever. Although that is true, Paul was talking about the present reality of the metaphysical spiritual warfare that is going on. In Ephesians 6:12, Paul says that the there are demons and principalities that exist in this "heavenly place", thus, it cannot be heaven. It also does not make very much sense that we would have to put on the armor of God in heaven. What is there to defend ourselves from over there? Therefore, we can conclude that Paul is talking about the heeavenly places here on earth; that we are engaged in a spiritual battle armed with the victory that has already been won in Christ. However, we need to enact this victory through the placing of the armor in our lives.

Application: God has already won the victory through Christ, but my job is to put on the armor. The armor is not just some arbitrary pieces of discipline that I need to put on. Instead, the pieces of the armor should have some relevancy and relation to my relationship with Christ. There is no greater truth the the way, the truth, and the life, and thus donning this belt of truth is in meditation of what Christ has done for me. For my breastplate of righteousness I know that my righteous deeds are like filthy rags; the only righteousness that is accepted by God is not my own but His righteousness in me (2 Cor. 5:21). I wonder how much weight I put into putting on the armor of God and fighting this battle by myself instead of looking to my commanding officer who has guaranteed victory for me over the enemy.

6/2/10: Ephesians 2:8-22

Time: 10 mins

Main Idea: One in Christ

What I learned about God: God's love for us allowed Him to give us grace through Christ

Summary: This passage is explaining that God didn't have to give us love, He didn't have to let us live with Him. He could have given us eternal damnation, but through His great and endless love, He gave us Jesus and we didn't earn it by being sinful people, it was out of His love that we were saved.God wants us to remember that we did not earn eternal life through our works, but through God's love. We must now remember that and continue to grow and love God unconditionally just as the disciples and apostles did. We must continue to love and grow in Him in remembrance for His great and glorious sacrifice through Christ.

Application: Continuing to live my life is easy, but having to deal with missions training on top of school work is such a burden in which I cannot seem to juggle correctly. On top of moving into my new home, I have been thoroughly been using all of my resources. It has continued to burden me and using my time where I cannot afford to. I must always remember Jesus' sacrifice, for since He was on that cross for us, than each and every second is a gift from Him. He loves us so much that He sent His son to die for us. The ultimate sacrifice is truly one that can never be forgotten. I need to remember that each and everyday in which I must thank Him and to honor His sacrifice, just work in His name all the time.

Money: 15 dollars

-Andrew Park

Ephesians 1-3

6/1/10

Time Spent: 35 min

Main Idea:the Gospel: God's riches displayed and God's mercy received

WHat I Learned about God: True beauty found in the Gospel is when I look at who God is before I look at what He has done

Summary: In this first three chapters of Ephesians, Paul will use various ways in recording God's salvation and gospel as being "according to his riches". This is going to show that the gospel itself is a display of God's great and awesome nature. This is not a simple act of service, but speaks volumes as to what kind of God He is. Paul also goes on to share what He has done, which is because of the gospel, we have fellowship with Him through Christ. A rich man that gives may seem like an oxymoron today, but God is not thrifty in the dispensing of His riches, which He does abundantly through Christ.This is the major theme of these three chapters, the beauty of God and the gift of God; both showcasing His glory and power to those who are believing in Christ.

Application: We share the gospel as a means to salvation, but do we explain the kind of God He is? Paul seems so affectious in describing the kind of God to whom he is holding onto. This God is merciful, kind, glorious, powerful, almighty, etc. Paul could go on for days about the kind of God that He worships! I wonder as to what adjectives I would give to God. Before I look to "change" NET and AWANA or even myself, the first ocnviction I must have is being wrapped up in the beauty and character of God. Seemingly, these things do not come overnight, but as I studied in depth His Word today, I got a clue as to what I must dedicate ot in order to see that. I hope this break before school I will be able to hold fast to this ad spend more time seeking God through His word.

$14

6/1/10: 1 Corinthians 12:12-27

Time Spent: 20 mins

Main Idea: One Body, Many Members

What I learned about God: God formed us perfectly into the body of Christ

Summary: In this passage, Paul explains to us the importance of each other. He explains that we are all one body of Christ but if we go on and tell each other that because I am not this, I am not part of the body. Whenever we feel that we are not part of this body, or that we are insignificant in the body, God shows us that each and every one of us was made for a designed purpose. We are all part of the big picture but we can only go into this picture with all of our body parts collectively as one.

Application: In my missions team, we are filled with strong characters that would normally clash within a battle environment, but surprisingly, we mesh completely as one team. As I am meshed into this giant mission team, I have found that finding my individual role is a hard thing in that since we have such a big group filled with lots of role players I don't know where I fit into the mesh. With such a big team filled with superstars and role players, I don't know where I would come into the picture. It seems that taking the back seat as a bench warmer can even be a role that I must be but the intention of being a bench warmer might be a good one. Maybe God has placed me there on this team is that in case of an emergency, that I might be able to come in and step up to the plate when I am needed. Unsure of my specific role, it seems that God is telling me that I am part of this team and He reassures me in Scripture that everyone is important in their respective roles.

Money Owed: 15 dollars

-Andrew Park

5/31/10: Matthew 16:13-20

Time Spent: 10 mins

Main Idea: Peter confesses Jesus as Christ

What I learned about God: Jesus is the true Christ

Summary: This is when Jesus turns to the disciples and asks who the people say the Son of Man is. People list the prophets and John the Baptist and others but Peter exclaimed that it was Jesus. Jesus explains how this is not a fact that he learned on his own, but a fact that God the Father had given to Peter. Peter as a rock of salvation, jesus said that He would build His church upon Him and whatever we bind on earth it show be bound in Heaven and whatever we let loose on earth, we let loose in Heaven. He then told the disciples not to tell anyone of His true identity.

Application: I believe in this, Jesus is showing His true sovereignty in that He reveals Himself to His disciples, but instead of allowing everyone to know, Jesus is serving rather than to be served. He did not come to earth so that we would be able to slave over Him but on the contrary, He came to save us for the eternal slavery we would be in, due to sin. I feel this passage is here to remind me of God's true soverignty. Without His true loving sacrifice, we would not be able to bask in His love and glory that He has given to us. I will be able to no realize in life, that whatever happens, God is always going to be the one who pulls the strings in our lives. As we continue to live, we must know that every action God puts in our lives is meant to be there, whether it is to bless me. scare me, or teach me a lesson. An example of this would be me going to KCM and being involved with a small group. It was completely random for me to join a small group in the beginning of the year, even though I had not gone to the school, just being a part of that experience has helped me grow and walk in pure faith and love. The amount of accountability has truly helped me grow and continue to help me grow in all that I do. I know everything in life is planned by God so that He may use me for His glory.

Money Owed: 15 dollars

-Andrew Park

5/30/10: Proverbs 3:1-12

Time: 25 mins

Main Idea: Trust in the Lord with all your heart

What I learned about God: Trust in Him, He who provides

Summary: This passage in Proverbs in which it is instructing the reader to truly just never to forget this teaching. We must not let love and faithfulness ever burden us. By engraving them onto our hearts, we will always be blessed by the love and faithfulness that we receive in our own lives instead of receiving them as burdens. We must continue to trust God with everything in our lives and He shall make smooth all of our bumpy roads. We should not lead our own lives, but instead we should turn to the Lord in all that we need and He shall refresh us when we need. When we offer our finest things up to God, He will not only multiply our offerings into multiple blessings in our lives. Through the love of us, God gave us Jesus and therefore we must love Him and put everything in Him, because He gave His own blood for us.

Application: Missions training is truly getting more of a burden than a goal in my life. I continue to see the blessing of missions support into a fight for to see who gets the most amount of support the fastest. I feel that through all this weariness, I have lost sight of the true meaning of missions. I feel that through all of the pressure that is building up upon me, I need to remind myself of what missions is all about. I need to most importantly remember that it is in God that I should put all my faith and trust upon. I need to truly forget about how God is around my life, and focus upon how my life is surrounded upon God. I must put my full work upon glorifying His name. I need give God my best efforts, and in Scripture, God will give me all that I deserve. God will truly bless me when I start giving my best to Him. I am determined to do that through my missions training and school as finals approach me.

Money Owed: 15 dollars

-Andrew Park

Ephesians 1:5 Predestined to Love

5/29/10

Time Spent: 10 min

Main Idea: God's motive of election is by His love

What I Learned about God: God is not an impersonal force, but personal in His care and compassion towards us

Summary: The greeting Paul gives to the church itself is so rich in theology. It does not just "shoot the breeze" but goes straight to the weightiness of God and His glory right form the get go. He shares with them the loaded phrase that God had predestined His believers for good works. The reason that God does this is because of His love. People get up in arms when they talk about "predestination" because they see themselves as robots in a divine play that is being manipulated by an impersonal God. People feel they have no say, rights, or determination to factor their own life. They do not want a divine ideal lording over their life. However, those people fail to realize that they do have a divine ideal ruling over them: themselves, science, history, family, etc. What they fail to see is that they're being ruled and governed by an impersonal force that forces them to achieve or die. Something is going to be ruling your life. However, if we do have a God that elects and predestines, we might fear that we're in the same category as the people listed above, who may feel they're driven by their gods. However, we know that God cares and that's why He elects us.

Application: This shows the wonderful character of God. God loves us, elects us, dies for us. These are glorious truths of a soverign, powerful, and gracious God that we have. This God is personal and Has a vested interest in our lives; not out of duty, but because of His love for us. This is the God that sets captives free, even people who feel that "God" is the one who is doing the imprisoning. Predestination could be the most liberating idea because of the freedom it brings; showing God's love for you not based upon your goodness or your life, but by His grace. This is a God that we can worship and praise.

5/29/10: Psalm 1:1-6

Time Spent: 15 mins

Main Idea: The way of the righteous and the wicked

What I learned about God:God only knows the way of the righteous

Summary: This is the first chapter of Psalm and it is explaining the ways of the wicked and the ways of the righteous. It is definitely different in that it is first explained the ways of the righteous in how all there ways are so synchronized. The righteous are compared to a tree that bears its fruit when it must and it will have its leaves wither when they must. It then explains how the wicked are different in that they cannot stand the crazy amount of judgment that the Lord puts upon them. The wicked will then be judged and condemned to hell.

Application: In my life, I must remember to walk in the way of the righteous in that when God has something planned for me, I will be able to produce and when He wants me to be still, I will. Being wicked is being eternally dead and not being able to see His love and mercy for all eternity. In my life, I want to follow God's word and I want to follow His love in all that I do. In my life, I must continue to pray for what God's calling for me is, because I must devote my whole life and all of what I do in His name.

Money Owed: 15 dollars

-Andrew Park

5/28/10: 2 Timothy 4:1-8

Time Spent: 10 mins

Main Idea: Preach the Word

What I learned about God: He will reward us for our deeds

Summary: This passage is telling us of the person we must be. we must continue to preach the Word and be evangelists. Even when people will will start to believe in other religions, we must keep a pure and sober mind in that we will not turn away from Him in any place or time. We must remain loyal to the one who has saved us. Paul is explaining in the second part of the passage in that he is being used by God and he has devoted his whole life upon Him but now He is giving Paul rest in the kingdom. Paul is acknowledging that his life is almost over and how God is repaying Him for his life long commitment onto Him.

Application: In my life, I have always been so preoccupied with what I am going to do in the future, but I noticed today while speaking to a pastor of mine. Like in "The Bourne Ultimatum", as the assets within the CIA, we must be waiting for God's calling and only preoccupying us what we will give up for His kingdom. To be life Paul and the other Apostles, we must be willing to drop our lives for His name. In my life, I must find something that God will be glorified through, but when God calls I will be ready to work for Him.

Money Owed: 15 dollars

-Andrew Park

Ephesians 1:1-10 Spiritual Affluence

5/27/10

Time Spent: 15 min

Main Idea: God has made us spiritually rich through Christ

What I Learned about God: God is the one that brings us the riches in Christ

Summary: God is not seen as someone who withholds his riches, but he gives it out freely towards those that believe in Christ. Believers are not to have any thinking that they're poor whatsoever, but that they understand that Christ has given to them every spiritual blessing, not lacking in anything. This spiritual blessing then isn't in reference to spiritual gifts, but rather in terms of God's salvific work towards believers. This text is showing that it is through Christ that one becomes spiritually rich.

Application: Many times we don't feel as affluent as this verse calls us to. It states that we have every spiritual blessing under the earth, yet as people we continue to live like we don't more and more. We live like spiritual beggars, begging God for more as we always feel that we're lacking. I think this comes down to a focus on ourselves and a lessening focus about what has already been accomplished through Christ. If we focused on Christ as believers and the work that He did on the cross, then we would realize that we're spiritually rich. For me, I feel like I'm spiritually poor in respects to the way that I live. I live in constant guilt because of how I spent the day or particular sins which I had committed. Even though some of those things may not change, I need to realize that I should not focus upon those things but look towards the bigger picture of the Gospel. When I understand that I'm wonderfully accepted, God made me rich in Him, and picked me before the foundations of the world, it changes the way in which I view my life. Focusing on the Gospel is the way in which we should live our lives!

5/27/10: John 4:23-24

Time spent: 10 mins

Main Idea: Worship Him with a pure heart

What I learned about God: God is watching for those who are worshiping Him

Summary: This is Jesus speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well. He explains to her that all God is looking for is people that are worshiping Him, and to worship Him they must do it with all their heart and in truth.

Application: In my life, I feel that lately at church, I haven't been worshiping with all my heart. I think being so distracted by the world and my daily struggles, that I forget to give God everything in my life including my worries and all my daily struggles. I need to remember if I worship the One who saved me, I should do it with all my heart. I need to put all my worries unto God and truly just worship Him for His great love and mercy so that when He sees me, He sees me truly loving Him with everything I have.

Money Owed: 15 dollars

-Andrew Park

5/26/10: Proverbs 3:1-12

Time: 20 mins

Main Idea: Trust in the Lord with all your heart

What I learned about God: God loves and provides for us, all we need to do is believe in Him

Summary: This is in the book of Proverbs and this is just showing God's love for us. This whole passage is just describing problems in life and how when God does something, it is all out of love for us.

Application: This was definetily a turning point of my life this week when I found out that I was put on probation and potentially dropped from mission training. It opened my mind to th ethings in my life in whichh I thought that it was my fault and how if I had done something differently it would make my life easier and better. The case is that God planned all of these things to happen to me in order for me to live the life that I am now. I don't know what the future plans but waiting around and thinking of what is going to happen is not going to be any better than what I am doing now. Whatever desires I have in my heart are from God so in each and every action that I take, God is just leading me ahead. I finally figured out that my life is full of people always nagging at me and telling me what to do and I never stopped and asked myself what does God want me to do. I am at the crossroads of my life in which God will lead me and worrying will only just be an act of thinking within myself rather than trusting my life upon the Lord.
Money Owed: 15 dollars

-Andrew Park

Historical Background on the Book of Ephesians Acts 18:24-19:41

5/26/10

Time Spent: 13 min

Main Idea: the power of the Gospel has a transforming affect upon its hearers

What I Learned about God: The Gospel is the power of God for the salvation for everyone who believers.

Summary: The setting of Ephesus was in a port-city littered with supernatural magic and polygamous god-worship. It was both encompassed by Jews and Gentiles within its cities. Apollos goes in to teach the Jews that Christ was evident throughout Scripture. Paul then comes in to evangelize to both groups, either in the synagogue or in the marketplace to share about the gospel. Because of Paul's continual evangelism, it states the whole province of Asia heard the Gospel.

There was also a paradigm shift that occured within the city. People saw the supernatural healings that Paul was doing that even his hankerchief had healing powers...causing people to withdraw their magic books and practices on the basis of their newfound faith. Because of these events, the people who worshipped Artemis at her great temple in Ephesus caused a riot against Paul, citing that they have evoked people from the worship that was due their patronness goddess Artemis. Belief in Christ had caused all this because true believers had radically affected the socio-economic plight in the city.

Application: The church at Ephesus was probably less than 10% christian, yet their belief was enough to cause a severe recession towards the income of the people at the temple of Artemis. How are we doing here in the US, where over 50% of the population profess belief in Christ? There must be supernatural change that occurs within the person because of their belief in Christ. I think Francis Chan is right to note that the state of American Christianity is in trouble because they view him as a "radical" for trying to implement the Bible as literally as possible. Now, for me I think that my life has not been such "radical living" as it used to be. I would remember reading Christian books in my spare time in college in order to learn more about God. Now, since I do so much of that reading here, I have shied away and spend my leisure time doing more unproductive activities. I realize that there is nothing "counter-cultural" on the way I spend my time. After finals, I dedicate to reading 3 books before my summer session starts on June 21.

The Book of Ephesians Pt. 2

5/25/10

Time Spent: 17 min

Main Idea: God's Purpose in Christ - the central theme is the divine purpose and plan of God in bringing redemption to his people and the practical outworking of that purpose in the life of the believer

Summary: The letter is said to be Paul's quintissensial letter concisely summarizing the essence of Paul's faith and theology. One of the richest sections in this letter is Paul's statement of God's sovereign choice of election and purpose in the believer's life. The letter is divided into three sections; the first three emphasizing doctrine and God's divine purpose in CHrist and believer's position in Christ while the final three chapters speak practically concerning how believers ought to live in light of their position in Christ.

Application: How do I preach on election to junior high students? Does the Bible discredit women's roles in Ephesians 5? How do I preach that? When I decided to preach on the book of Ephesians, I did it somewhat selfishly because I myself have never gone into a deep study of this book. However, I feel probed into thinking how I would share these truths with a junior high student. I need a lot of prayer and wisdom to share these somewhat complex truths in its simplist form in order for it to be effective. Not only that, I realize that I cannot do QTs from this letter if I think about what I'm going to dish out to students. I need to remember that this is QT between me and God. Today, I could not come away with anything because I was bogged down with these questions. Maybe a later study and prayer time beforehand will weigh down my nerves and allow God to communicate His truth towards me

5/25/10: 2 Timothy 3:10-17

Time Spent: 6:30

Main Idea: All Scripture is God breathed

What I learned about God: God breathes life into all of us

Summary: This is in the 3rd chapter of 2 Timothy and the passage is speaking about how we must endure through all persecution and stay in God's love and steadfastness. It truly takes a firm believer to keep on being faithful and not paying attention to those who deceive and become deceived throughout their lives. If we continue in the road of God, then we are therefore blessed with the knowledge of having God's Word which was given to us at our childhood so that we are able to teach, correct, and rebuke throughout our lives. Even though it was given to us at our childhood, God's Word is eternal and never changing and therefore is always God breathed.

Application: In my life, I try to dictate my own life by showing my actions are the ones to truly give me judgment instead of God. I therefore trick myself in thinking that God is not the one dictating my life but truly in God's Word, I am judged and rebuked each and every action that I do. In life, I need to remember that God's Word is the Word that is eternal and God breathed and therefore it should be the guideline in which I live my life. This is how I must live my life, by abiding to the Word each and everyday and remembering what God's Word is teaching me and apply it to my life. I do not create my own lines and boundaries in life, but it is all in God's eternally breathed Word.

Money Owed: 15 dollars

-Andrew Park

the Book of Ephesians

5/24/10

Time Spent: 20 min

Main Idea: Man is separated from God because of sin and is only reunited with God through the free gift of grace provided by Jesus Christ; leading this new relationship to be characterized by the love of God with practical implications upon the believer's present relationships.

What I Learned about God: God is the initiator and giver of this free gift.

Summary: The Book of Ephesians written by Paul denotes the idea listed in the main idea; that it's about man's separation from God because of sin and his subsequent relationship with God if He receives God's free gift of salvation. Theologically, this is a very rich letter with some of the most compelling arguments for predestination, atonement, grace, etc. God is lifted up (as He should be) and this letter is characterized by His power, grace, and mercy. The latter half of the letter shares that now that we are one in God through Christ, we should be one with one another. During this time, Jews and Gentiles were far off from one another and Paul is exhorting them to find their unity to one another. Also, he expands that this new relationship with God has practical implications to relationships between man and woman, child and parents, slaves and masters and also how they live their life under God's rule with the armor of God.

Application: After giving it a brief read through I realize the magnitude of this letter is so weighty. The deep doctrines of God are hard to ponder and think about, but I am hoping and praying that these would become a reality to me. If I understand that grace was given to me, I would not think I am better than anyone else just because I'm a pastor. If I understood that I was elected even before I was formed, then I would not be someone who thinks that I earned my salvation because of my own goodness. I am praying that these truths are exemplified by the life that I live and seen.

Amount Owed: $13!!! WHAT THE HECK!

5/21/10: Romans 8:18-28

Time Spent: 11:40

Main Idea: Future Glory

What I learned about God: God is there helping us always

Summary: This is in the book of Romans as Peter is writing of the future glory. He goes on to explain how right now, it is unthinkable for us to even compare our current sufferings to the glory of God. We have been suffering throughout our lives waiting for Jesus to come and redeem us of our eternal life through His sacrifice. Even though we are waiting, we cannot grow weary in waiting for His return. We must wait and pray and even if we don't know what to pray for or cannot make up our minds, the Spirit truly helps you in all that you do. He basically finishes our sentences for us.

Application: In my life, I am an impatient man that gets irritated in all that happens around me. It kills me to see a person who cannot understand a simple fact of life or how to do the simplest task. Waiting on someone is truly the worst because then I start questioning my own motives and become frustrated in all that I do. In waiting for Jesus, I can't help but anticipate it. Through His great love and sacrifice, I feel He deserves for me to wait for Him and no one else. It kills me though when I am unable to do that for my own family members and friends. In the same way at the end of the passage, the Spirit will intercede according to the will of God, it will truly help me in all my struggles. In my daily Christian walk, I must restore myself in the Spirit in that I daily grow stronger in Him.

Money Owed: 12 dollars

-Andrew Park

5/20/10: 1 Peter 2:21-25

Time Spent: 15 mins

Main Idea: Submit to Authority

What I learned about God: He Shepherds the lost

Summary: This is Peter's first letter to the churches and he speaks about submission to God's authority. Jesus, calls us because we were t he witnesses to His love, in that we know our savior was found innocent but still was given the death penalty on the cross. Even though He was never found lying nor guilty, He faced the price that we had to pay. He never spoke badly to the people torturing Him in that He was obedient to the Father's will even to the point of death on the cross. It then explains how we are the roaming sheep and He is the one that rounds us up and shepherds us. We must not be the ones to judge, we are the ones who must be submissive to the one that judges.

Application: In missions training, they had this sermon in which we had to listen too. This sermon by Bob Sjogren started off with the definition of idolatry. Was Jesus idolizing His love for us over the Father's commands. This is completely wrong in that through the Father's commands, Jesus loved us. He did not follow His love for us to the cross, but rather the Father's command to the point of death. In my life, having heard that I feel that I should listen to every pastor and teacher that I know. Sometimes I know what to do, and yet I don't do it because of my human nature of wanting to sin. It destroys my life in which I know the Father's great sacrifice for me and yet I still act as if it never happened. In school, I am so lazy to the point in which I don't do easy work because I feel it is unnecessary. I need to follow the advice of what my family, friends, and mentor's give me. Most importantly, I must follow the Father's command in order to live in righteousness through His sacrifice in Jesus.

Money Owed: 12 dollars

-Andrew Park

5/19/10: Matthew 24:4-14

Time Spent: 15 mins

Main Idea: The End Times

What I learned about God: We will suffer for His name

Summary: This is Jesus talking about the end times. He explains how we must remain faithful in His Word and how there will be false prophets who will lead people astray. We will go through rumors of wars and just wars in general but then Jesus explains how that must be endured as the beginning of the birthing pains. I believe the birthing pains just resemble the on going pains we will suffer to see His Glory. We will then be put on judgment and how we will suffer for God's name. The world will be in complete anarchy and people will start to forsake Jesus' name but the ones who will endure will go into the kingdom.

Application: In my life, I suffer so much from the fact that I am very lazy and I have no motivation. Just thinking about the end times truly scares me in that I don't know if I can endure through the it. I think of how in my own life, I don't endure through my own homework or studies and how I just put church and KCM activities ahead of my own schoolwork. I guess prioritizing is a big factor in that but God will just give me strength. I noticed on the days in which I complete my devotions in the morning, I have a fairly pleasant day in which I see God's glory throughout my day. Through my devotionals, I shall continue to pursue God and know that in my daily time with Him, He will give me strength to go out through the day.

Money Owed: 12 dollars

-Andrew Park

1 Pet 5:6-7 Humility in Being Care-free

5/18/10

Time Spent: 5 min

Main Idea: One is humble in the midst of suffering when he is carefree

What I Learned about God: God's mighty hand delivers us from both present and future trials.

Summary: Peter writes to the church the importance of humility in the midst of suffering. Now "humility" does not seem like a common cure for those that are suffering, but those that put their hope on God and His deliverance are genuinely humble people. They acknowledge that they are powerless and God is powerful and mighty to save. Furthermore, the truly "humble" people in this passage are carefree! They cast all their anxieties upon God, leading them not to worry but to live a truly humble life. This is perplexing to know because this is an aspect of humility that many of us do not talk about.

Application: This freaking sermon took me way too long to do and to memorize. I am so tired and drained from trying to memorize this sermon for my class that I'm about to give up hope : (. However, I know that it's during these times God wants to cast my cares upon Him because He cares for me. I need to recognize my need for God by doing just that. This sermon is stressing me out something fierce, so I need to make sure I go and pray before I sleep to really apply this verse in my soul before I go out and preach this sermon. I want to be a pastor that lives out the sermons that he preaches. I know that I'm not perfect and have my limitations, but I really want to do it from this one. God, help me to know the humility of being carefree for tmrw!

5/18/10: John 15:18-27

Time: 20 mins

Main Idea: Hatred of the World

What I learned about God: God took us like Him and made us not of this world

Summary: This is Jesus speaking in the Gospel of John and He s speaking how we are to be hated in this world because we are like Him. Being like Jesus makes us not a part of this world and therefore it makes us different. The passage then goes onto speak about how when we are representing our God, when we are hated, He is hated through us and therefore the Father is hated through Him. Then Jesus explains how we are hated because of Him with no reason. It truly kills God in that they only hate Him for acting out of love for them. In doing something to make them not a part of the world, they hate Him.

Application: In a message from the UCLA KCM Pastor Woogie, he explained how when something foreign enters the body, we cannot cope with it and we can't figure out how to deal with it. In my life, as a new creation of God, I am not part of the world and therefore I don't need to have the same morals or same views in which the world has but instead I must follow God's example for He is the one that took me from the world and therefore I should follow Him. Taking myself out of this world is impossible without Jesus, therefore I need to follow His example and follow His footsteps in life. To take away the sins of the world for us, the only thing left in life is pure love of God. No matter what the world throws at me, God's love is always there to catch me and is able to help me endure these obstacles in life. As I continue to live not of the world, I must continue to live in God's light.

Money Owed: 12 dollars

-Andrew Park

5/17/10: Acts 9:1-19

Time Spent: 15 mins

Main Idea: Saul's Conversion

What I learned about God: God only sees the good in people

Summary: This is the story of Saul on the way to Damascus in order to persecute Christians. He was then struck by a beam of light as Jesus came to Him and blinded Saul. Saul is then blinded for 3 days as Ananias is sent to him on the 3rd day. Saul then became filled with the Holy Spirit and became an advocate for Christ.

Application: In my life, I have done so much wrong to not be deserving of God's love. God loved us all that He truly only sees the good in people and therefore He can't see the evil that we have done against Him. Even Saul, a man who persecuted and killed Christians, was saved through God and became one of the most well known apostles of Christ. In my life, I must not remember on what I have done to not deserve God's grace, but on how I should be thanking Him and working for Him because of His eternal love for us. My life has always been revolved around me but instead, I should make it my duty to work for His name in all that I do. In my life, the purpose to getting that A, or going to numerous outreaches a week is not trying to look cool or impress someone, but instead it is able to symbolize a thankful heart for God's sacrifice on the cross through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Money Owed: 12 dollars

-Andrew Park

Proverbs 31:10-31 A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised

5/17/10

Time Spent 15 min

Main Idea: The characteristics of a godly woman is described

What I Learned about God: This model of a woman personifies that there is no perfect woman, but points towards Christ as the ultimate type.

Summary: In this acrostic poem, the godly woman is described in these verses. The woman is praised for her industry, the way she takes care of her home, and keeps her home. This not supposed to be characteristic of any woman out there, this is the ultimate woman. This is the prima-woman that one could "set his/her watch to". It's funny to note on the side that the book of Ruth followed right after Proverbs in the Hebrew bible. Now, this woman is not only supposed to be an application for girls, but this woman embodies all the ideas that were talked about in Proverbs 1-30 beforehand. This woman is wisdom personified and displayed in her household.

Application: What would wisdom look like for a pastor? Well, for one thing it would be a man that prayed. I have not been praying as much as I want to in my life. My prayer life would not be seen as one of bountiful joy but of self-discipline and begrudging. I want to change that, but I know the legalistic answer to just grit my teeth and pray more is not the answer. Talking to my mentor today I realized that I have not been living out the implications of the Gospels in my life. Sure, I can preach a fine gospel to others, but that becomes meaningless when I cannot display the realities of grace and truth in my own life. I know that when I live outside the boundaries of the Gospel because my prayers become so self-seeking. Lord give me this for this and this for that and it may seem like holy supplication, but on the inside it is just using prayer as a means for getting what I really want. What I really want needs to be Christ. What I want must be a relationship with Him.

Proverbs 26:1-12 I Pity the Foo

5/16/10

Time Spent: 10 min

Main Idea: There is more hope for a fool than the man who thinks he is wise in his own eyes

What I Learned about God: Foolishness to God is pride because He is the exact opposite of it

Summary: Just like a the picture that Salvador Dali drew where up close the picture looks like a woman playing a chord then looking farther back makes the appearance of a sailboat is what this Proverb is an example of. One might begin to say that this Proverb is about the fool. It gives multiple descriptions about the fool and the warnings to other people in their dealings with him. He is a plague worth no honor as the Bible paints a ghastly picture of the fool. However, the narration takes a huge pivot when they realize that this Proverb is not about the "fool"....it is about the person who thinks they are wise in their own eyes. There is more hope for the fool than for him. This shows the stinging nature of pride. Pride blinds a person to oversee his shortcomings and doubts and even with all the self-destructive characteristics of the fool, there is more hope for the fool than for this man.

Application: This goes all to well to me presently. When I heard people speak, I somehow think that I'm in preaching class and I start critiquing them based upon the Talbot methodology of preaching. I note every stress, every subject change, non-applicable applications, etc. It didn't occur to me that while I was doing that today I had saw myself "wise in my own eyes". That in my own eyes, I was the one who was wise. How foolish this was for me to place myself on this podium, a desire I prayed earnestly against when I entered seminary. I need to remember the cross and God's Word towards me because I am realizing more and more that I need to move away from the paradigm of thinking of myself wise and looking towards the humility of Christ, who emptied Himself for sinners like me.

Proverbs 25:18 The Stability in Self-Control

5/15/10

Time Spent: 10 min

Main Idea: Self-control is an important aspect of defense against temptations.

What I Learned about God: God is most glorified when I am most satisfied in Him.

28 A man s without self-control
is like t a city broken into and left without walls.

Summary: In the wise words of Hezekiah, a man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. I guess in our modern translations it would read a gated-community sans the gate. It was implausible that a city would not have some sort of defense or guards in order to protect its cities from marauders or other nations. However, this is the case of the man without self-control. The man is utterly defensless to attacks due to his negligence and fleeting passions. He is always going to and fro from attacks. The reminder of temptation is that God will never tempt a person beyond what he or she could bear, thus it is not implausible that one can overcome the temptation through the victory in Christ. However, one requires a deep desire for God and also a discipline in saying no to things that come by.

Application: I realized this past week I was REALLY bad at doing my QT! This stems from none other than a lack of self-control. I realize that I had spent a lot of time on school, video games, FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE, and other things that I had distracted myself from studying God's Word and meeting with Him. This verse comes as a timely reminder that I need to practice self-control. Not only is it one of the fruits of the Spirit, but it also is a way in which I can fight temptation. In my personal spiritual life, I had notice I have digressed in some of the sins which I had hope I had killed off these past couple of weeks and I attribute that to spending less time thinking and meditating on God, and more time meditating on myself or my school work. Thus, I want to dedicate this next week, even if it's projects week, to doing my QT everyday!

Amount Owed: $8

Proverbs 24:10 The Character Revealing Truth of Adversity

5/13/10

Time Spent: 15

Main Idea: Adversity reveals character

What I Learned about God: God desires holistic transformation, not just when times are good.

Summary:

10 If you i faint in the day of adversity,
your strength is small.

This is 25 out of the 30 wise sayings listed in the past two chapters of Proverbs. It is in reference towards having days of trials and hardship. The ones who are not able to come out the other end has small strength. It does not matter what that person has done in life or how confident and strong he may appear to be, the great leveler of adversity will reveal the innermost of the person, whether for good or for bad. One must remember that the way they handle hard times is the way in which his character lines up.

Application: I am going through a rough patch where I am sick and got a ton of hw to do. I wish I could just fly away from these troubles and wonders why I had to get sick on this week : (. However, I must remember that even throughout this time, I need to stay faithful to God and to the work that I have to do. I cannot shrink from my responsibilities as a student and a pastor on the account of my sickness. I need strength from on high and when I am weak, just like it says in the Bible, I should be the strongest.

Amount Owed: $7

5/13/10: Galations 6:1-10

Time: 15 mins

Main Idea: Bearing another man's burden

What I learned about God: If we sow in the Spirit, we reap eternal life

Summary: This is in the book of Galatians and this passage is about how we must take up another man's burdens. This shows the love of God through our actions. We as people who are taught the Word must go onto others and teach them of what we learned. Unless we do that, people will continue to sow in the flesh and reap corruption but we must show them how to sow in the Spirit so that they may reap eternal life. We can't grow weary of doing this because it is our duty to help our body of Christ.

Application: When reading this passage, I was truly led onto thinking things of my own life. How when I am an Awana leader and a power jumpers leader, I get so weary of doing all these things, but to see this new perspective of how we have to be the ones to continue teaching because in the end we are truly just helping each other. This reminded me of a passage by Paul where it roughly says how if we don't take the chance in helping someone know Jesus and they die a non-Christian, then their blood is upon our hands. In my life, I must take every opportunity that comes my way in order for me to truly just be who God made me to be. I must be the hand of God that is reached out to those in the shadow so that I may show them the Light of Jesus.

Money Owed: 9 dollars

-Andrew Park

5/12/10: 2 Peter 2:13-20

Time Spent: 11:40

Main Idea:Christ's Glory and the Prophetic Word

What I learned about God: There is no coincidence, only God

Summary: This is in Peter's 2nd letter to the churches and in this part of the passage, Peter is explaining how this faith is not a story, it is not a myth it is their real life that he himself had experienced and came to know. Peter is explaining how none of this is a myth in that it is just based fiction but instead it is based upon real life in that Jesus was there, He was the Son of God, and He was the one who died for us. Peter than explains all this because in this time, Peter is imminetily awaiting his execution in Rome and he needs to reassure everyone of this fact that Jesus is King and that fact must live on through the ages even after his own death. Peter then ends this with how we must be the ones holding the candle in the dark place and how God truly plans everything down the the smallest details.

Application: This is showing me in my life that God is living in every step that I take because He is the one that is planning each moment that I breathe. In my life, whenever I feel that my life is going the wrong way, I must remind myself that God is the one that is truly planning everything in my life. I just need to remember how each and every moment that I feel might be good or bad for my life, God has already planned it out for me. I need to have faith that everything is part of His plan and I need to just trust in Him whole-heartily and just to know that God is planning everything for me.

Money Owed: 9 dollars

-Andrew Park

Proverbs 23:12-16 Wisdom Built Up

5/12/10

Time Spent: 15 min

Main Idea: Wisdom needs to be strived for with discipline and training.

What I Learned about God: Godly wisdom takes effort

Summary: The school of wisdom is not one that comes easy. The word for wisdom imparted is "musar", which means discipline and training. Discipline and wisdom does not come easy. It seems as though the parents are very firm and straightforward with the child in order to impart wisdom. This is seen through the use of discipline and "rod". Wisdom is not just gained through osmosis or through abstract, it is gained through discipline and through trials. This is the only way in which we can be imparted wisdom by God. In Hebrews, God states that He "disciplines the ones He loves". This further supports this verse because bad things still happen to CHristian and that's God's love for them. That God wants to refine them and make them greater in wisdom to God.

Application: Serving @ OMC has not been easy. I feel sometimes way too stretched along with the school work that I'm doing. However, I remember that God is stretching me not for punishment but because of His great love for me. Therefore, I need to remind myself in hard trials not to look towards the struggles, but rather to the work that is being done through the Holy Spirit by the trial. I used to recognize this when I journaled, which I have failed at doing. Tomorrow, I think I will journal and figure some stuff that's going on in my soul because of these trials.

5/11/10: Hebrews 13:16-18

Time: 15 mins

Main Idea: Sacrifices that are pleasing to God

What I learned about God: God is pleased with our sacrifices

Summary: In this passage, it is saying that in our own good will, we should do good and share what we have. We must be obedient to our leaders so that they will give an account of themselves to Him. We must do all things and commit to our leaders with a full heart in order for us to act honorably in God's eyes.

Application: Going on missions this summer, I have been paired up with great leaders and an amazing team to go to India with. I, as an outspoken guy, must learn to submit myself to my leaders and friends in order for us to work well. I must only input what is in my own repertoire in order for this team to truly worship God through our actions. We must all do it with a pure and giving heart in order for us to truly praise God through our actions.

Money Owed: 9 dollars

-Andrew Park

Proverbs 22:29 To Stand Before Kings

5/10/10

Time Spent: 10 min

Main Idea: Use talents in a God-glorifying way

What I Learned about God: God is pleased with those who glorify Him.

Summary: In this short verse, it states that those who exercise their talents have the opportunity to do it towards kings. Understanding that the use of one's talents for good can lead to fame. This is to stress the quality one must put into his/her own work. God had never stated to do your work with idle hands, but rather exhorts the opposite in both the OT and the NT. God wants His children to be adept at the work that they do with their hands.

Application: Christian music, art, and literature may never be "up to snuff" to what's out there outside. That is pretty sad. One of my friend's church emphasizes "excellence in everything", which relates to their praise, worship service, etc. Sometimes we can get by making mistakes because as Christians we are to exercise "grace". However, I wonder at some points when God would rather us strive for the excellence that is seen in this world. I know for a fact that I am not putting my best foot forward. I wish I had time to memorize my sermons so I could do them without the notes, but I fail to spend enough time on them. I look at actors and musicians and everything is so free and flowing without their scripts. I've learned in my pastoral preaching class that that's the freedom in which I should strive for. When school ends, I would love to excel in preaching so that in that way I would be able to glorify God, the true king

Amount Owed: $6 -_-

5/10/10: Phillipians 2:1-11

Time Spent: 3:00

Main Idea: Christ's example of Humility

What I learned about God: Jesus came to serve, not to be served

Summary: This is Paul's letter to the church of Philippi and it is titled Christ's example of humility. The passage goes from how we must not be selfish and thinking of ourselves but we should be the one to think of others before ourselves. Paul gives the example of Jesus dying on the cross for us and how He was obedient to the Father all the way until death. He reflects that even in His own majesty, Jesus denied Himself the sovereignty that He had because He needed to sacrifice Himself for the sake of us.

Application: In this way, in my life I need to learn not to be selfish in my own life. As the only son in 2 generations, I have always been pampered and never taught to care about others. In my recent years, I have seen the outcome of that type of breeding that my parents had given me and seen that I have become a selfish person in that when I help someone, I feel it is their need to give me back a service or whatever the prize. In my life, I must purge myself of what I have learned from my family and mankind and just focus upon what God has taught me through His Word. I need to be able to deny myself and just make myself the one to submit to myself and others so that others may gain through me. This is how I must act in order to be more Christ-like throughout my life.

Money Owed:9 dollars

-Andrew Park

5/9/10: Matthew 5:21-26

Time Spent: 15 mins

Main Idea: Anger

What I learned about God: God only receives the pure heart's offering

Summary: This is Jesus' sermon on the mount and how He is speaking of the topic of anger. He is explaining the current law against murder, but He then explains in ways to the law that if you are angry at someone, you are murdering them. If you are insulting your brother, you must go to counsel and if you are cursing your brother, you are condemned to eternal death in hell's fires. Jesus then explains in the way that is most applicable to the Jews of the time in which if they are offering up to God an offering while mad at someone, they must go and reconcile before they offer up their offerings to God. God only deserves a pure heart in which there can be no sin in it.

Application: This passage spoke to me because this very morning I got into a heated argument and before I showered and got ready for church, I knew that I couldn't go to church with this hatred in my heard because then Satan will just manifest more out of that small seed of hatred within my own heart. I must go to church only offering God my full and honest praise in which there is no hatred within my heart. As I made up with my parents on MOTHERS DAY!, I finally got ready to go to church but God wouldn't allow me to without doing my daily QT and the passage that I looked up truly spoke to me. I feel God has morals for us in which we learn each and every day but since we forget these morals, we must keep on going back to the Word for daily reminder of how to be more God-like. In my life, I must be more patient and always to settle feuds within my own circumstances in which when I go to God, I must not go to Him with anything less than a pure heart devoted in serving Him.

Money Owed: 9 dollars

-Andrew Park

Proverbs 21:25-26 The Self-Centerdness of the Sluggard

5/8/10

Time Spent: 15 min

Main Idea: The sluggard is lazy which leads to being self-centered.

What I Learned about God: God favors the righteous who are generous

Summary: The characteristic of a sluggard has been for his slack hands and his refusal to work. This verse tells us something new about the sluggard: he's selfish. One would naturally associate a lazy person with being selfish. The verse goes on to elaborate the hedonistic tendencies of the sluggard. Although he may be lacking in zeal, when he does work, it is for selfish gain. The way of the righteous is put against this picture of the sluggard and shows that he is righteous and does not hold back his gifts. Righteousness is usually associated with upright living, but he is associated with being generous and giving.

Application: The Bible seems to give a holistic summary of the sluggard. I need to make sure that I am keeping myself away from his tendencies, which includes more than laziness. In order to do that, I must look at the picture and grace of Jesus Christ. His days were filled with ministry and expectations which He did not retreat away from. He met those head-on through prayer and power. I hope to accomplish ministry in the way that Jesus did. Defined not by having slack hands, but rather one in which can be characterized by prayer and power. I will pray tonight for my ministries to apply this QT

Amount Owed: $6

5/8/10: Matthew 3:1-12

Time Spent: 15 mins

Main Idea: John the Baptist Prepares the way

What I learned about God: God has planned it all from before we were born

Summary: John the Baptist is introduced in the first Gospel written by Matthew. This shows John the Baptist and the conviction he had received from Scripture and God to prepare the way for Jesus. He then baptized them in the Jordan River and then he then exclaims of Jesus' great power and presence in that he can only baptize with water, but Jesus will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. John then attacks the Pharisees and Sadducees for being a brood of vipers in which they have lived a live as they stray away from God and the Word. He replies in that they must return back to the true meaning of God and live by His Word.

Application: John the Baptist is such a baller! its so ridiculous how amazing he is. John the Baptist lived on what God provided for Him and he was not greedy nor selfish but instead he was obedient and loving. He can be seen as a pioneer of evangelism in that he baptized people as the
people confessed their own sins. In my life, I don't need to follow a certain conduct of life in which ever tells me to but instead I must follow God's word because if I stray away from the Word, I will become proud and arrogant like the Pharisees and Sadducees in which I will become a viper. In my life, I must be able to go through all the distractions of life in order to accomplish whatever it is that I need to. Like this instant, I was tempted into going to watch Ironman 2 instead of finishing my missions homework and preparing for my day but instead I must stay on top of my priorities, and I must be doing the job in which God is preparing me to be anything in which He needs me to fulfill my duties for His kingdom.

Money Owed: 9 dollars

-Andrew Park

5/7/10: 1 Corinthians 9:15-27

Time: 15 mins

Main Idea: It is not our present

What I learned about God: God's eternal love for us is truly shown through His great sacrifice

Summary: This is part of Paul's 1st letter to the church in Corinth. Paul first explains how he would rather die than not being able to spread the love of Jesus that he received. He feels it is his duty to share the love that he received from Jesus. He then presents that even though he is free from sin, he puts himself as a servant to God so that he will be able to spread the news of Jesus. He then inputs that if you want to appeal to a certain crowd, you must become like them whether it is becoming poor or becoming outside the law to reach those people in need. Paul then says how we must practice the act of self-control so that we may be training for the moments in which Jesus will give us an opportunity of sharing the good news.

Application: Well this is the 2nd time I've read this verse through KCM. I think just having this insight must be very important for missions. I finally see the true meaning of Paul's words in that it isn't our present to give. It is only our job to spread the good news of Jesus with people that don't know His love. We must be willing to sacrifice ourselves in order to join the people in which we don't anything about. We don't have missionaries bring over people of India or Uganda or Japan to learn the Gospel in America as if we we're some school. We ourselves must go into their land, become like them, so that we can symbolize God coming into a foreign environment and show them God's love as He did for us. He came into a dark world in order to share of His love and share His kingdom to those who love. In my life, I must not be the whining shekki that I have been most of my own life, but instead I must give my life unto God and just know that I am doing all this because while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Therefore I must sacrifice my own life in service to Him.

Money Owed: 9 dollars

-Andrew Park

5/6/10: John 8:1-11

Time Spent: 15 mins

Main Idea: We are sinless

What I learned about God: God forgives us all of our sins

Summary: This is when the woman who committed adultery is thrown in front of Jesus by the scribes and the Sanhedrin. They try to challenge Jesus with the Law of Moses against His divine right. Jesus then starts writing on the ground and instead of denying the Law of Moses, He corrects the meaning in that the person with no sin should cast the first stone. As everyone starts walking away, Jesus picks up the woman and tells her to go away from her sinful life and to go on living without sin.

Application: This kind of reminds me of how Jesus forgives us of our sins how we are now sinless through His death. In the same way, people in my life have always sinned against me and given me the reason to curse them but instead I should remember that they are sinless in that I must be the one to forgive and love them just as Jesus did. This is how I must live my life in that I must love the ones that curse me and the ones that hurt me for even they are ones who are blessed by God to Heaven through His atoning sacrifice.

Money Owed: 9 dollars

-Andrew Park

Proverbs 20:5-7

5/6/10

Time Spent: 10:05

Main Idea: The Lord's favor to conscientious people who walk in an upright way

What I Learned about God: God is a just judge

Summary: This Proverbs was used to describe and compare the fool to the wise. These verses are to share about the "man of understanding". People should not identify a faithful man by the words that he uses, but rather through the lifestyle in which he or she lives. One of the most powerful examples that one can give towards a secular audience is a life lived out fully for God. There are several blessings attached to this exhortation; that God is merciful and just to those and this man of blessing will be able to bless others and his children (v. 5, 7). This is a great reminder in which we not only are accountable to ourselves, but also to the sphere of influence in our lives which God has called us to.

Application: I tend to think just like the regular American; I am not responsible for you but for myself. I realized how far-fetched this is in reality. I know that I am responsible for leaders, students, and parents all around the church. It is shrinking the calling which God has placed in my life to isolate just "myself" into this scenario. Now, showing that I am righteous is not just a matter of "talking myself up" or proving to people that I can do it, but rather is

Proverbs 19:16-23 The Good Life

5/5/10

Time Spent: 22 min

Main Idea: The "good life" is a life spent in fearing the Lord

What I Learned about God: The greater view of God one has leads to a greater life that one can live.

Summary: The "good life" is introduced in v.16 as one who follows commandments. From this general statement, it then goes on to list what this good life entails; be kind to the poor (17), be involved in your children's lives and discipline them (18) avoid friendships with those who lack self-control (19), acknowledge the rule of God (21), understand that love and integrity are what bring real happiness (22), and fear the Lord (23). All of these fall under the umbrella concept of fearing the Lord. The Proverb then is seemingly not listing what it takes to live a "good life", but rather that the fearing of the Lord will lead to the other things above. Thus a healthy relationship with God will bring the good life to a person.

Application: The good life for me consists of plenty of rest and reading. It is hard to imagine that a "good life" involves so much action and outside fruit. This goes to show that a life lived under God will be readily discernable to the world because of the fruit in his or her life. One of the areas where my life does not match this (besides the children one) is in the understanding that love and integrity bring happiness. I had always considered them Christian things to do and passed them off as mere duties. However, the verse is stating that these are the things which can bring true happiness. When I think about love, especially for the people in my life that are difficult to love, I must remember that it is not out of begrudging self-discipline that I endure them, but rather because it is the way towards the good life.

5/5/10: Luke 10:30-37

Time Spent: 20 mins

Main Idea: The Good Samaritan

What I learned about God: God is so merciful

Summary: This is in the Gospel of Luke and it is when Jesus is telling the story of the good Samaritan. The story is about a man who is lain half dead in the middle of a road is not helped by a priest or a Levite, but instead a Samaritan who is looked down upon by Jews helped the half-dead man. The Samaritan poured wine and oil upon his wounds, put him onto his own animal and paid in full and beyond for his room and care for him. This showed the Samaritan's compassion and love for a man that he didn't even know. This ends with Jesus showing the one of the most important commandments, love your neighbor as yourself.

Application: God shows through this story in that love is just how you can represent yourself. God's love is represented when we show love to others. This goes on to show that in our lives, we must show love unto everyone we see because if Jesus were a picky guy when He chose people to go to Heaven with Him, I don't know if He would have picked anyone of us because we are too sinful. Knowing God's love is the ultimant reward and in which we mustdo the same and just show our love unto everyone we meet and see.

Money Owed: 9 dollars

-Andrew Park

Proverbs 18:21 Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will hurt forever

5/4/10

Time Spent: 15 min

Main Idea: The power of words is great

What I Learned about God: God's Words are to be valued because that is the antidote for our strife with words.

Summary: The old adage, "the pen is mightier than the sword" may reign true, but more on the personable level one might say that the "tongue is mightier than the sword". In this verse, it shares that death and life are in the power of the tongue. The recurring theme of "words" found in Proverbs are used to share the grave seriousness of using speech in a God-glorifying wise way. The tongue's power comes from two qualities;

1. Penetration - What is done to you is of little account beside what is done in you. Proverbs 12:18 shares that words have the power to pierce like a sword, causing a wounded spirit. Other ideas such as one's attitude, self-esteem, beliefs, and convictions are all formed and exercised through the sharing of words.

2. Spread - Words implant ideas in other minds, whether for good or for bad. It states that a perverse man spreads strife with his words (16:27), showing the spreading power of words.

In these two forms, one can see that there's no one immune to the use of words. Words are what forms the person and in them control death and life.

Application: I can relate to the power of words today. Discussing the chapel with a classmate, I flippantly just said when a classmate asked who spoke as it was, "some korean dude". One of my classmates found offense to it and admonished me somewhat harshly, saying his name was "Billy Kim and not some 'korean dude'". I was shocked at the response he said to me but I can understand where he was coming from. Words will always carry some weight around them, whether spoken or not. Understanding the weight of these words it was not him overreacting, but rather a bad choice of diction on my part. It is true what the Proverbs say, that many words are for the fool; but it is the righteous who limits his or her words. Dude, I need to be careful with my words!