role modelling.

Role model. As followers of Christ, we need to be good representatives of him, constantly reflecting Him. I've never really looked at myself as a role model, but the past year, there have been people that have told me that they look up to me. It was a shock. Why would you look up to me out of all people? What is it about that you admire? Why me?

Although i continue to question myself, over and over, knowing that there are people that look up to me, its different. Because there are people looking up to me, i have to put on my A-game like never before. I try my best to set that good example for them, in hopes that those who look up to me will learn and be influenced to do the same.

But it was today when I felt the pressure of being this role model. I want to set that example for others, especially for those younger than me, but today i felt like, for me to do that, i had to be perfect and have no flaws. I love it when I have people that support me, and that i can support, where there's a two way accountability, but sometimes its hard when you tell others to not give up (for instance), and then the next second talk about giving up. We can't be two faced, and we can't go against our word. But at the same time, you are dealing with your own struggles and you want to give up, yet today i felt like i couldn't share with anyone because it would make me look bad as a role model. So how do you balance that?

I do realize that being a role model doesn't mean perfection, but its hard to set a good example when you don't live up to what you say/do? Does that make sense?

Christ is the perfect example we should all be looking up to. We are humans, we fail and we stumble. There isn't anything wrong with looking up to one another, but we have to know that none of us are perfect. Set your eyes on Christ, the greatest example.

¹² Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 

1 Timothy 4:12 

under construction.

Are there any days where everything is just perfect and ideal? I doubt it, we're going to always be going through something, a struggle, or a challenge, with a friend, or with yourself. But life can never be perfect as disappointing as it sounds.

Because we are work in progress. God is constantly working on us, crafting and moulding us into something greater and something stronger. Undergoing all these changes brings up mess, everywhere. When you're renovating, making an art piece, working or studying, in the process of something, there is mess. From the dust and wood shavings, the paint and the clay, or the sheets and pencils, there is mess.

I personally hate mess, hate when things are unorganized, it makes the future (near or far) so blurry, and it worries me and i get anxious over it. Many times when things are messy, we forget to look at the big picture, and get pushed to the verge of giving up. We have to keep the final result in mind. We know that after we renovate, there will be a better, and new space. When we finish our art, there will be a beautiful masterpiece, and when we finish studying, we'll be confident for our test, so as God is crafting us, refining us, through all the hurt and pain, know that after all the mess, there will be brilliant, hand-made by the Lord of Lords.

⁶ being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6 

mistakes, not failure

Everyone makes mistakes, and everyone isn't perfect. We've all fallen short of God's glory. But although we make these mistakes, and stumble, we cannot admit failure.

Today was another embarrassing worship session for me. I always seem to somehow mess up on stage, and make a fool of myself. Do i save it well? I don't know, but today during a particular song, i was in the moment and thought the song was over, but apparently it was just the interlude, they played longer, and then i realized it was the chorus again. I go to sing again, but then they die down, and i assume its the end of the song, only to realize its not. So I sing the ling really oddly, say "SORRY" and keep going. Mistakes. They're acceptable, but i can't admit failure and just walk off the stage. I just laughed it off. Whats best was that I could look out into the congregation, and see my friends smiling back at me, and i couldn't help but feel reassured, and smile as well.

Many times, we get the vibe that following Christ means perfection, that we have to 100% holy and righteous, can't have any slip ups, but thats a misunderstanding. God knows we can't be perfect, but that doesn't mean we should just give up and stop altogether. Instead, we should strive for it. God knows when you're trying, so persevere!

¹⁶ 

for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again,    but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.

Proverbs 24:16 

dystopia

Ever since diving into this concept in gr. 12 english, a dystopian society has always been on my mind. As a quick crash course, dystopia is the opposite of utopia. Utopia is the concept of having a completely ideal and perfect society, and therefore dystopia is how we cannot have a perfect society, where things are corrupted and flawed.

Nothing is perfect. Nothing is perfect in this world. You'll never find a person who has the whole package, and be the perfect soulmate. Eventually you'll find something about them you may not be fond of. Society and media today understand this very well. I've seen in several tv series where they talk about dating, but how every single person they may date has a package, whether it be clingy, or messy and unorganized, nobody's perfect.

Although we understand such things, we are still going to that utopian world. We're constantly trying to make electronics, develop technologies that will last forever, and will never fail us. Has it worked? no.

Things fade.

Things fail.

But one thing doesn't. Our God, His Love. His Mercy. and His Promises. We place our hopes on such useless and meaningless things. Materialistic things. We're relying on technology more and more, we rely on friends more and more when we really should be focusing on God, not these flawed things/people.

Put our hope on something that is worth putting our hopes in. Its like betting i guess you could say. Would you rather bet on something you are unsure of, or something you have complete 100% faith in? Obviously the thing that will guarantee a win!

¹Praise the Lord! He is good.
God’s love never fails.
²Praise the God of all gods.
God’s love never fails.
³Praise the Lord of lords.
God’s love never fails.

⁴Only God works great miracles.
God’s love never fails.
⁵With wisdom he made the sky.
God’s love never fails.
⁶The Lord stretched the earth
over the ocean.
God’s love never fails.
⁷He made the bright lights
in the sky.
God’s love never fails.
⁸He lets the sun rule each day.
God’s love never fails.
⁹He lets the moon and the stars
rule each night.
God’s love never fails.

¹⁰God struck down the first-born
in every Egyptian family.
God’s love never fails.
¹¹He rescued Israel from Egypt.
God’s love never fails.
¹²God used his great strength
and his powerful arm.
God’s love never fails.
¹³He split the Red Sea apart.
God’s love never fails.

¹⁴The Lord brought Israel safely
through the sea.
God’s love never fails.
¹⁵He destroyed the Egyptian king
and his army there.
God’s love never fails.
¹⁶The Lord led his people
through the desert.
God’s love never fails.

¹⁷Our God defeated mighty kings.
God’s love never fails.
¹⁸And he killed famous kings.
God’s love never fails.
¹⁹One of them was Sihon,
king of the Amorites.
God’s love never fails.
²⁰Another was King Og of Bashan.
God’s love never fails.
²¹God took away their land.
God’s love never fails.
²²He gave their land to Israel,
the people who serve him.
God’s love never fails.

²³God saw the trouble we were in.
God’s love never fails.
²⁴He rescued us from our enemies.
God’s love never fails.
²⁵He gives food to all who live.
God’s love never fails.

²⁶Praise God in heaven!
God’s love never fails.

Psalm 136

music.

Tonight I was lucky enough to attend Bayview Secondary School's spring concert. To start off, I have a story for you. So I totally thought it was at their school, so i arrive at 6:45 as my friend told me to come earlier and the parking lot was completely empty. Scrambled in and found out it was at unionville. I had to drive home, and finally get my dad to drive me there. And i was late. And missed half of my friend's performance. How embarssing.

Anyways, listening to the music, and watching the band, a few things crossed my mind. How music is so universal, and how it brings everyone together. You can take it from the musical point of view, where there are so many different instruments, from the brass, the woodwinds, where you can be even more specific, the tuba, the trumpet, the oboe, the bass clarinet, how things so different, yet come together to make such a beautiful harmonic sound.

From a person point of view, looking at all the students playing, some are athletes, some are the artsy ones, some are the book worms, and some are the true band geeks. They all come from different areas and interests to come together to create music. Music was the one common thing they had together.

Similar to all that, God is what should bring us all together. We are all working towards serving Him, loving Him, and glorifying His Holy Name. God loves everyone, and this love brings all of us together, from different cultures, different places, different races, and different personalities. It isn't exclusive, its for every one out there.

At the same time, this can also relate as with teams. I remember for SNA, i really saw how God pieced us together. Bringing us together as a whole, as a unit. We all had different talents, different spiritual gifts and together we created SNA, a beautiful masterpiece for God's glory.

God has a plan for each and everyone of us, and it may draw surprising things, it may draw things you don't want, but they all have a purpose, a perfect purpose for you. Its up to you whether or not you're willing to let him go and execute that plan for you.

⁵ For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.

Romans 6:5

Road to Calvary (V)

Today is Good Friday. It was today, many many years ago that our Saviour was put on a cross, shed his blood for our sins. He gave up his life for us. A sinless, guiltless perfect man died for you and me.

So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. ¹⁷ Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). ¹⁸ There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

¹⁹ Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. ²⁰Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. ²¹ The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”

²² Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

²³ When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

²⁴ “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”

This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said,

“They divided my clothes among them
and cast lots for my garment.”

So this is what the soldiers did.

²⁵ Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” ²⁷ and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.”From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

John 19:17-27

Christ was crucified for us. If you looked into it, you were see exactly how extreme and how painful it really was, from the whipping, to carrying the cross, to being nailed, hung, and pierced. He went though a lot of pain for us.

We get to see a last glimpse of Pilate's character here, and like the speaker described in the sermon today, that some people respond to the cross by just touching it, not embracing it. Pilate recognized that God was guiltless, but he still gave into peer pressure in the previous post. Pilate wrote "The King of The Jews" as a statement, whereas the others wanted it to say that "he CLAIMED to be the King of The Jews". But Pilate stayed true and kept it how he wrote it, hinting at the truth and what he believed and saw. A sinless, guiltless person, taking the blame and the consequence for something he didn't deserve.

The next part, with the casting lots, it said that it was done to fulfill scripture as it was said in Psalm 22:18. I personally do not see and understand the significance yet besides fulfilling scripture. For instance, why did they cast lots for it? What was the point of that?

The last few verses, i feel like it shows the detail of God's plan. That when Mary saw her son up there on the cross, he had already planned for her to be taken care of, by his disciple. It shows how detailed our God thinks, how exact and precise, and to the tee. That all things are perfect in his hands.

²⁸ Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” ²⁹ A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. ³⁰ When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

³¹ Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. ³² The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. ³³ But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.³⁴ Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. ³⁵ The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. ³⁶ These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” ³⁷ and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”

John 19:28-37

"It is finished". Jesus' final words before he died on the cross. You can really see his true dedication to his Father and to the plan. He carried out every single bit of God's plan from beginning to end, not wavering or straying away.

Again, like the garment and the lots, scripture was to be fulfilled when Jesus was pierced. That no bones will be broken, only pierced, as referred to in Exodus 12:46, Numbers 9:12, as well as Psalm 34:20. Its amazing to see that even after Jesus' death that scripture is being fulfilled and God's plan is always in motion.

Jesus' body was then buried in a tomb, and he lay there the next three days, and while the world mourned, God above knew that something greater was coming.

Resurrection Sunday.

¹⁹ Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

John 2:19

Road to Calvary (IV)

Jesus was betrayed, arrested, and was lead to crucifixion. After Peter's denial, he is brought to Pilate, as he's questioned, but as the Son of God, he did not deny, and told the truth that no one believed. That he was the Son of God. Pilate looked through his records, and it was true, he hasn't committed any crime and did no deserve any form of punishment since our God is pure and sinless. He asked the crowd what they wanted, between Jesus and Barabbus (who was a robber), yet the crowd still wanted to bring down Christ. So Pilate gave in and gave them what they wanted (John 18:28-40).

¹ Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. ² The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe ³ and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.

⁴ Once more Pilate came out and said to the Jews gathered there, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no basis for a charge against him.” ⁵ When Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe, Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!”

⁶ As soon as the chief priests and their officials saw him, they shouted, “Crucify! Crucify!”

But Pilate answered, “You take him and crucify him. As for me, I find no basis for a charge against him.”

⁷ The Jewish leaders insisted, “We have a law, and according to that law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God.”

⁸ When Pilate heard this, he was even more afraid, ⁹ and he went back inside the palace. “Where do you come from?” he asked Jesus, but Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”

¹¹ Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

¹² From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, “If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.”

¹³ When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). ¹⁴ It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon.

“Here is your king,” Pilate said to the Jews.

¹⁵ But they shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”

“Shall I crucify your king?” Pilate asked.

“We have no king but Caesar,” the chief priests answered.

¹⁶ Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

John 19:1-16

Just as described, Jesus was ridiculed. He was spat on, he was made fun of, and insulted, with a crown of thorns and the purple robe (v. 1-3).

After the bit at the end of John 18, we see Pilate's growth here. He brings Jesus back out to the crowd, saying that he has found NO guilt in him, that he shouldn't be crucified. He's defending Christ! (v.4). Yet the people continue to order for Christ to be crucified. Have you ever thought, "wow if only i was born in that time, i would be able to see this great amazing God", but if you really think about it, what if you were one of thousands that were ordering Christ to be crucified. Can you imagine being in that moment, whether you were apart of the crowd or were against it. Seeing our Saviour beaten, torn, battered. The pain he must go through for us, out of love and grace.

Pilate goes crazy. He drags God back and tells him that he has to power to free him, but this one line that Jesus said was extremely powerful. “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” (v.11). Christ acknowledged what Pilate was trying to do, but it also shows God's power. He knows that no matter what anyone may try to do, God's plan will rule and will reign. It was Christ's purpose to be the final sacrifice for us, and His will shall be done. Pilate continues to try and save Christ, and the crowd says that if you release him, you are not a friend of Caesar's.

I had no idea it was going to be like this, but every single post, i continue to see links between the characters as well as us everyday. Judas represented the sinner in us, we will betray and fall short of God's glory. We may also be like Peter, two faced, denying Christ for our own benefit, out of pride or for our reputation. And once again, we can relate to Pilate. The crowd continues to shout at Pilate, and its exactly like the world today. Casear is the "king of The World" and the people are the people OF the World. And we are constantly being told what to do by the media, what standards we should have, how we should live, and it is up to us whether to decide to follow and give in or stand against. Although in the end Pilate gave in and followed the orders of the people, he still had a spark in him that wanted to do the good.

Like I mentioned earlier, that God's plan is so much more perfect and so much more powerful. Although Pilate did want to save Jesus from his death, but I feel like its possible that God made sure that Pilate wouldn't stand against. That he would eventually give in, and bring Jesus to his death because the plan will and must be carried out.

Where do you stand? As Easter weekend starts, instead of thinking about the chocolate you'll get, and maybe a visit from the Easter bunny, take some time to reflect on the pain and the journey Christ went through on his final days on earth. He lived out the truth. He fought for the truth. He was arrested for the truth. He died for the truth. He stood by the truth. He was the truth.

Jesus Christ is the greatest example we should live by that has ever walked on this earth. May he be glorified today and forevermore.

10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

1 John 4:10

"I'll be here for you."

I often see this phrase, "I'll be here for you", everywhere. It gets tossed around in multiple relationships and I feel like it's just a reassurance of accountability. But, do you say it? I know I do. I sometimes just say it to make someone feel like they're loved. To my close friends, i always say it because it's true. I'll never leave their side no matter how much pain, drama, stupidity, judgement that they've been through.

Do you actually mean it when you say it or do you just say it just cuz. Accountability is key in every relationship. As I'm helping my friend go through their problem i feel like i have the responsibility of sticking by their side no matter what happens to them.

Some relationships may end horrifically and those words will soon mean nothing. But look on the bright side, simply look up. God's always there for you. He'll keep his word when he says those words. It may sometimes feel like he's not there but if you take a step back, he is. He'll never leave your side. No matter how many things we've done wrong, no matter how many times we might have said something that dishonors him, he'll still be there. He won't judge you because he made you perfectly.

Hello, My Name is: Lamb of God

Lamb. The cutest, most purest animal. In its white wool coat, this animal represents our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

But this lamb was killed. The purest of all creatures, white as snow, was taken, beaten, killed and sacrificed, shedding his blood for all the sins of mankind. In the old testament, there would be regular offerings of the lamb, and the best, most healthy/fit animals were the ones to be slaughtered and not eaten as a sacrifice for their sins. But when God sent his Son down from heaven, he, Jesus was the lamb, that perfect sacrifice. Not only was he the PERFECT sacrifice, he was the FINAL sacrifice.

When Christ died on the cross, he died for all mankind. Not just the group of people that witnessed it, not only the generation that lived in that year, but for every single person that was there and was to come as well. Including me and you. He was the last, final, perfect sacrifice, granting us forgiveness of our sins, and salvation if we believed and took Christ as our Lord and Saviour.

We discussed this at our CORE leadership meeting for the MOBS Bible Study today, and it really popped out at me this one time. When we repent from our sins and turn to God, and we say the sinners prayer, we MUST realize that we are accepting Christ as our Lord and Saviour.

Saviour. That God sent his Son to die for us on the cross to save us from the eternal consequence of sin, Death.

LORD. Many people do not realize that when you do choose to run back to Christ and follow him, you're giving up your life for him to reign because you know that he has the best in mind for you and a plan for you.