reflections v3.0
6) Who is the most unique/creative person you know? Is this a different person from last year?

i would have to say brenda on this one. i'm really glad i got to know her better during this year, even though, i'd have to say, we wouldn't be friends if it wasn't for me. jk. but yeah, she has some sort of obsession with PAINT and she likes to draw all these funny pictures and stuff like that when she's bored. if you ask me, i think she needs a you-know-what, but hey, nobody asked me. so thank you brenda for the pictures that you have drawn me -- they really brightened my day =)


7) Who is the most inspirational person you know? Why?

for this one, i'd have to say all of the POP leaders. you know, it takes a LOT of patience and a LOT of faith to be a POP leader -- that's one thing i've really taken to heart this year. thank you for being out there every single day, even when you knew hardly anyone else would show up. AACM would be nothing without prayer, so thank you for everything.

pictured here is just one of those special people.


8) Who is the person that is the most extreme/different from you?

i've given this one a lot of thought, and i would have to say johanna yu. first of all, she'a girl, and i'm a boy. that's pretty extremely different, wouldn't you say? i guess you could say that we're both kids at heart, but i think we're different types of kids. she would be the little 4-year-old who asks 20,000 questions a day and says some funny, weird, kiddy stuff. i would be the obnoxious 10-year-old who's always trying to pull pranks and resist being serious.


9) What is one thing you regret doing/not doing this year?

over the course of the year, i've realized one thing: i really SUCK at being intentional in my friendships. i suck at keeping friendships, i suck at building friendships, i just suck. God's blessed me with a lot of great people, but i'd say if it was my own doing, i wouldn't have any friends at all.

one thing i really regret doing is not getting to know the seniors better. it's just a scary thing when it finally hits you that they're going away. FOREVER. just kidding, but not really? there's a long list of seniors i wish i got to know better, including panda, karen, judy, mark austin, jon wang, and alvin. i guess it's a gradual learning process, you know, finding out what it means to really have God-centered friendships, which is why i'm reading this book called "the pursuit of God in the company of friends" by richard lamb. anyone else interested in reading it with me?


10) If you could change one thing about your sophomore year, what would it be?

HAHA. i would change a lot of things. maybe everything. i wish i could start all over, i really do. i would start and finish strong with my small group. i would have avoided hurting some people. i would have thought more clearly about some stuff. i would have done everything different.

unfortunately, i've realized, to my dismay, that there's no rewind button on life. i don't even have access to the remote control, so all i can do is learn from my mistakes and try to do the best i can from here on out.

11) If you could have stopped time momentarily at some time during the year, when would that have been and why?

playing on got'em coach during IM basketball season was really fun. there's just something about playing sports in the midst of friends that's just..awesome. i really think that this is one area where AACM can really place more emphasis in. intramural sports is the perfect way to invite people in to join our community and really have good fellowship with them. hm, just 1 of the 234289098 ideas in my head about how to improve the fellowship.


12) If you could have fast forwarded through a short time during the year, when would that have been and why?

God really broke me this year. and for all of you out there who think i have a big head, yes, God humbled me. he's taught me to rely on him instead of relying on myself. heh, little did i know how much i thought i was in control. but you know, i couldn't have asked for more. i think we've all heard that pride is the source of all sin, and i mean, i've always prayed for God to really humble me, and i guess i got what i prayed for. hey, prayer really works.

so no, i don't want to fast forward through anything. God is good all the time. all the time God is good.

13) If you could have given yourself advice before the year began, what would you have told yourself to do/not to do?

trust in God. that's it. no matter what you're going through, thick or thin, trust in God. trust that He will provide. trust that He will pull you through. trust that He is always there for you. just trust in Him.

14) Name a risk you have taken (if any), and discuss its outcome.

i think the biggest risk i've taken this year is leading a small group, and i've already talked about that in previous questions. if you want to know more, let me know, and i'd be more than happy to share with you.

15) What are some main things you feel God has been teaching you?

God has been teaching me to have patience and to have some self-discipline. He will work everything out, but in the meantime, i just have to have faith. i don't need to worry about what other people are thinking/feeling. i need to worry about myself and the man God wants me to be. everything else will fall into place, sooner or later, all in His perfect timing. i just need to learn to give it all up to Him..easier said than done, trust me.

16) What trials have you been through this year?

there were many times in the year when i just felt totally burnt-out. whether it was school, ministry, or friends, it's been difficult at times to balance everything out. feeling burnt out is one of the worst feelings in the world. at times, i felt like nobody else cared about anything else that was going on, and even though i knew it wasn't true, i couldn't help but feel that way because i was so tired of having everything put on my shoulders. or so it seemed, at least. haha too bad next year isn't going to get any easier. sigh.

17) What big changes took place in your life?

i'm pregnant! just kidding. sorry i don't know why i put that. i don't know how i've really changed since i don't really have an objective view on my own life. everything changes so slowly, and by the end of the year, i feel like i'm the exact same as when the year started, even though i know that can't be true. sorry, for this one, i'm gonna have to say "i don't know." actually, never mind. how about a "you tell me."

18) How have your thoughts/opinions changed (if at all) regarding religion, the people around you, and life in general?

faith is an ongoing process. it's not just a one-time decision -- you should never get to a point in your spiritual life where you just think to yourself, "hey, i'm happy with where i am, i think i'll stay here." it's a journey.

God places people in my life for different seasons and different reasons. sometimes the people are there to stay, sometimes they're not. it's just a fact of life. i'm grateful for all the people who've stepped into my life this year and truly helped me to grow closer to Him.

life isn't fair. it could be all gravy one minute and all crap the next. it's not up to you to decide what happens in life, but it IS up to you to decide how you react to it. being optimistic is important, but most of the time, being realistic is more of a must. give your life to God and follow him daily, for He really does know what's best for you.

19) In whose dorm room/apartment was it the coolest to hang out?

i'd have to say jester west 151 for this one. there's just something about that group of guys that just makes you keep coming back for more. i don't know what it is, but i'd have to say that judging from what i've seen, they are a glimpse of what i wish the entire AACM community looked like. take that however you want to.


20) What was the coolest outing that you went on (i.e. birthday parties, concerts, adventures, meals, dances)?

i'd have to say phil's birthday bash was pretty spectacular. we owned him pretty good. for those of you who don't know the story, ask me.


alright that's it for now. be back in a week after recweek.