Baking Vs. Evolution

They say cooking is easier in baking, in that you are allowed to just toss stuff here and throw things there and Voila! You've created a Signature Dish!

Baking is not so, you actually have to follow the recipe to the exact measurements. If not, you can literally get attacked by a monster. My friend was trying to make something. She put a cup of mixture into the microwave, and minutes later we opened the door to gaseous fumes. First, everything seemed normal (beside the fumes). A couple seconds later, this charcoal grey BLOB starts oozing up from the cup! Of course we screamed... Finally we took it out and it looked like cancerous, frothy, tar, or dried lava. Anyways, not anything NEAR what it should have looked like.

So you gotta follow the recipe* (she said she did. so in this case, make sure the recipe you're following with is trustworthy).Today we have all the tools to help us bake/cook. And I still can't believe how precise you need to be. Even in cooking. Sometimes when a recipe calls for "one pinch" or "1/4 teaspoon" of something, I just don't put it in. What's the point, it's such a small amount! But surprisingly it makes the hugest difference, and can alter your ending product complETELY. Did I mention it has to be exact though? One time I put in 5 Tablespoons instead of Teaspoons of Baking Powder, and we got some NAAAAAAAASTY tortillas!

Anyways, this made me think about Evolution Versus Creationism. First of all, you can't cook without ingredients. In the same way, you can't evolve from nothing. And according to Wikipedia, "the Big Bang theory cannot and does not provide any explanation for such an initial condition; rather, it describes and explains the general evolution of the universe since that instant". Secondly, even if somehow "ingredients" appeared out of thin space, some "cook" had to have used the exact and precise measurements to create a habitable Earth, juuust the perfect distance from the Sun. "He" would also have had to have thrown together enough Bones for a sturdy structure, Muscles and tendons to fill in the gaps, blood to keep things going, organs to work for our health, skin and Hair to protect important parts, and teeth to be able to eat food; this is like the foundational cake. Tongues to experience the sweetness of fruits and treats, eyes to witness breathtaking and beautiful images, hands to be able to feel the warmth of a handshake, ears to hear melodious sonnets, noses to smell sweet aromas (or smoke): these are the icing. On top of that add the soul, spirit, heart. These are the whipped cream, nuts, and cherry-on-top.

This "cook" had to use exact measurements to ensure that bodies would function the way they are able to. Such an unprecedented masterpiece as this cannot possibly have just been "by chance" or even "thrown together". This is not even the art of baking. This is the work of a wonderful creator. "For the LORD is the great God... the LORD our Maker" Psalm 95

LIFE

I am so excited about LIFE.
I love seeing new LIFE.
Maybe that's why I want a pet, bring more LIFE to the home.
Maybe that's why I bought new plants and fruit trees, to cultivate LIFE.
Maybe that's why I love catching up with people and hearing about their LIFE.
LIFE LIFE LIFE
We only have one LIFE
Are we really living it to the fullest LIFE
Do we have true LIFE
where can we find LIFE
John 14:6- I am the way, the truth, and the LIFE
Jesus Christ = LIFE

Transmission

I washed my car today. Apparently I didn't do a great job because when I was drying it with a white cloth it turned black. Through this I witnessed "transmission" happen before my eyes. The act of passing something on in another place. The dirt on my car was transferred to the white towel. It has to go somewhere.
Just like our sins. Our black, filthy sins.
They can't just disappear. Either we pay the price for them,
or someone else does.
That someone else = Jesus Christ.

it'sa grind

{in iambic tetrameter}

Water the thirsty plants
Destroy unwelcome weeds
Research potential pups
Then munch on some munchies
Peek at a GRE book
Eat ripe fruit and just chill
Read a few chapters from a book
puis tuteur en francais
Listen to music, replay
Ponder and Sip on tea
Take a night stroll barefoot
Gaze up... Pray sincerely
witness a shooting star!
and don't forget to dream


random: Are violent burps the body's natural way of producing a heimlich maneuver?

On the Road Again!

Thurs-Saturday: Potentially last family trip
before we all grow up and get married!

Traveling Mercies God!



9/11: Back! What a blessed time.. there were moments in the beginning when I felt asd;flkj inside, of course [I'm sucha complainer]. But even through the short span of 2 days, walking the strip, getting well-fed from high-quality buffets, exploring together, I learned to cherish every precious moment. I really don't deserve to have such a wonderful family. Thank the Lord.

An $80 Lesson

Today, I went to the mall with some friends for the first time in awhile. Due to the nature of the evening, I had to have a "nice" dress; so we decided to browse around and *help Shalom find one*. Honestly, it was fun just walking around looking into each window to see what it had to offer. We walked into one dress store and started picking and choosing potential candidates, creating a mini-pile of options. One of the pool was turquoise with white and black stripes, which I called Tigress. (If my friends weren't there, I would never have even thought of trying it on). They were all 'cute' but a bit showy and suggestive. Then there was the "Wahn-jun eppuh" (completely pretty). It was black and velvety, and seemed on the more conservative side, while still being elegant and classy. We unanimously decided, "It's perfect." It was, *The One*. Sure a bit pricey, but what an investment! I could wear this to so many events~! So I bought it. Final Sale. No turning back.

I dropped off my friends, rushed home (only had 20 min. to get ready) tried on the dress and ran downstairs to show my brother and mom. "I'm ready! How do I look?" [smile]. [Blank Stare] Not the response I expected... Actually, I got: "I cannot approve" and a couple other comments. I was flabbergasted. But, it was perfect, it was the one. Didn't they know?? Can't they see???

But I ran upstairs and put on another dress, the one I'd wore for graduation (more flowy, longer, white and black). I was still confused in my head while I ran back down to hear an approving "Ah yes, that's better! That's the one!"

Shortly after I realized that I had been mistaken. I had been blinded and naive. I had compared the dress with all the other dresses in the store. However 'appropriate and perfect' it may have seemed then, it was exposed for what it was through the eyes of my family: tight-fitting, short, potentially suggestive, probably stumbling. I was so shocked, almost angry that I had let myself naively consider this dress "ok" to wear. I was so thankful that last minute I realized. Although this may seem a waste of money (and I don't have a desire to give to another sister), I am surprisingly not regretful of this purchase. I am actually very glad, and mostly thankful for this opportunity, this lesson learned. This will serve as a reminder, to open my eyes and consider not only myself, but how my decisions will impact those around. So before purchasing that cute shirt or nice dress, consider thoroughly.

recapitulate

After 1.5 sleepless nights back in the USA, my body is slowly readjusting.
But my mind is still in Osaka. I thank God for the amazing time spent in J-House. One month flew through my fingers as we waved goodbye to friends, new relationships developed in Japan. God showed us a thriving Christian community with passionate followers of Christ, living as lights among darkness. Everyday was such an unexpected blessing and testimony of how God moves in Japan.
3 days out of the week consisted of Church gatherings: Sunday Worship, Wednesday Prayer meeting, and Friday Big Wave Worship. Tuesday-Thursday our team traveled to Kansai, Kansai-Gaidai, Handai, Kangaku for Campus Evangelism in the form of "Funky Club"- MELT (My English Lunch Time), RUSH, ENT (Eat N Talk), etc. Meeting up with each new student was a unique experience and blessing. After getting to know them and develop a friendship, our role was to invite them to events; God brought them in. In each of the events we hosted, we experienced God's grace and providence in who came out and how the night went.
Each night after the event-filled day, we had "team-time". Richard used this time to share a devotional from a Bible passage. These were gold. Afterward we'd take the time to pray and ask God for the things of the day or at hand, to thank Him for his unwavering faithfulness, and to confess our sins before God and each other. I truly believe these times molded our team in our heads and hearts; it brought back the focus on the only thing that mattered: Are we loving God and His people?
Before we slept, small-group met in each respective room. It started well in the beginning, but only grew deeper as we were able to open up and share our thoughts and feelings- matters of the heart. We acknowledged the struggle, identified the sin, and confessed it. Proverbs 28:13, James 5:16.
I can say that after this trip, our team has grown deeper in the Word and has become more conscious of the words we speak- are they edifying and building up? or is it merely crude joking which serves no good purpose. The Bible says we will be judged for every careless word we say, and that the tongue of the righteous is choice silver (Proverbs 10:20). Therefore, being aware that words can either bring life or death, we should guard our tongues. In this I see tremendous change in our team, and I thank God that He allowed us to grow in this way.
One thing we all developed and would love to take home: the discipline of Morning Prayer. To start the day off with immersing yourself in the Word, what can beat that? Every morning at J-House, everyone gathers at 7 (6:55am), reads/devo for 30 minutes, then we sings songs of praise, pray together, then someone shares a devotional of the day. What an amazing thing! And a great challenge/conviction to apply.
God has taught me so many things. But most of all, to cherish His word, and to love Him by loving people, with the loving grace that He has shown us and loved us with.
Praise God. Give thanks always, in all circumstances, be an excellent worker, for you work unto God and not man. Let's continue to strive whether it be in Japan, India, Nicaragua, Uganda, or even in the US of A. May God's word dwell in our hearts and mold us daily!