Still Alive!

Dad, me, mom, Jeh, "the husband." 
 

Are you drinking 1% 'cause you think you're fat?

I just spent the past hour and a half reading my peers' stories on how they got together, how they got engaged and how they got married. Crazy.

This calendar year started out with Sean and Emily (January) and I believe it is ending with Renee and Tony (tomorrow), with a couple couples (Greg/Suz, Jas/Abby) in between, a couple before and a couple coming after (maybe).

Coming off of that, there are people starting to date up the wazoo. I can't list them all because it's seriously too many to count.

I think it's this age group. People are starting to get serious about settling down. I wonder if God ever planned it this way. That the 20's would be the time when hormones rage, guys starting "getting to know" that special person and girls overanalyze that guy they have their eye on.

Haahaa... I just wondered what the pathophysiology of "falling in love" was. (not to say that it's a disease or has a specific etiology. well...it would be if Paul's description of it as "burning." [1 Cor 7] Burns have a pathophysiology. i think i've been studying for my clinical pharmacy final for too long).

I digress.

God is sovereign. God is a provider. I must be molded to the plan that He has in store, no matter if it's in marriage or in singleness. I was having a conversation with a friend the other day and the topic of contentment came up. I was having another conversation with my roomate and the topic of letting go came up. I think God is trying to teach me something.

Matthew 6:25-34. DO NOT WORRY.

Along the same vein, today a monster came out of me that reminded me why I am in need of so much grace. It usually comes out once a month for a couple days and then goes back into hibernation. It's the worst and it's something in me that I HATE. It's a time when the monster rears it's ugly face that test those around me as well as myself. It starts with a slight obsession. Something consumes my thoughts. Then it is precipitated into action (whatever that action may be) and it takes away from the immediate task that I SHOULD be focusing on. And then the disappointment and frustration come from either unmet expectation or feeling of personal failure. Then comes the emotional outburst usually anger or impatience that lash out like tentacles and sting those around me. Then something brings me back down and I wonder...what happened. This overwhelming sadness befalls my psyche and I pray to God for forgiveness.

This is a monthly (but not only) reminder of how much I need the redemptive sacrifice of Christ.

But why, oh why, if I'm saved that I'm not liberated from the talons of this dreaded beast living inside of me? God, please, slay this monster inside me.

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (1 Cor. 12:9-10)

Sufficient. Perfect. Power. Delight. Strong.

Home

Family is definitely so important and I'm SOOOOOOO GLAD that I didn't stay in The City to study for finals. It's nice to come home and
-hear/speak mandarin
-see my dad, mom, sister and brother-in-law (who flew in all the way from Boston!)
-have my mother ask questions about boys and give me pointers on beautification techniques that i'm too lazy to follow through with
-eat home marinated eggs, bean curd and sliced roast beef with my fingers
-drive
-sit on a toilet that DOESN'T have a cushiony seat
-fall asleep on our 20 year old couch where all the lumps are in the right places
-talk to my dad about matters of church and the implications of defining the church as family
-take a shower where the water gets hot instantly and the water pressure is always perfect

It's the start of the season where I get all reminiscent and reflective about how this past year has been. But, right now, there is this little boy that's following me around making shooting noises. I have no choice but to take evasive maneuvers.

Aha! Moment

I just had an Aha! Moment in class today. We were talking about the hydrophhobic effect and drug behavior as it relates to phase partitioning of octanol and water. This has major implications in the solubility of a drug when you take it orally. The aha! moment came because I had learned this application during my biopharmaceutics class when we were learning about what makes a drug, druggable and the major issue was solubility and whether or not the drug can get into solution in the gut and if it can be absorbed easily.

Anyway, sorry about the technical language.
I wanted to share about something else, but I forgot. Oh well, if it's important it'll come back.

::teaser::
What do you look for in a Church (say if you're moving to a new place)? Is it the community? Is it the teaching?
::end teaser::

GOING HOME FOR THANKSGIVING!!! EEEEEEEEEE!

Girltalk

Men, this post is not for you.

Women, I found this REALLY cool blog (written by CJ Mahaney's wife and daughters). Thanks, Karen for the link. :)

It's Femininely titled Girltalk

But it gives an interesting perspective on women in Christianity.

Oh here's a story for you. So I call my dad today thinking he was in LA (At home) being himself. Here's the conversation that ensues:
Roz: Hi Dad, what are you doing?
Dad: I'm in New York City right now.
Roz: WHAT THE HECK? What are you doing in New York City?
Dad: I needed 5000 miles to make 1K for United, so I decided to take a trip here.
Roz: WHAT THE HECK? Why are you in New York City? You should have flied to Boston to visit Jeh and DJ.
Dad: Yeah, but I wanted to see the WTC (world trade center) and I've never been here. I'm thinking about taking mom sometime.
Roz: Oh, ok. When did you get there?
Dad: This morning.
Roz: When are you leaving?
Dad: Tomorrow at 7am.
Roz: ok...How much was your ticket?
Dad: oh, about $400
Roz: When'd you book your ticket?
Dad: About 2 weeks ago? After this, I'll get 3 upgrade vouchers. For $400, (this ticket) we can upgrade to $5000 (business class) tickets on our next family trip. That's a 10-fold return on $400!
Roz: How did you get time off?
Dad: Today was my day off.
[my dad works 9 hour days and gets every other friday off]
Dad (again): I was thinking, Hawaii tickets are only $293. Do you and mom want to go to Hawaii this winter?
< end pertinent conversation >

I'm thinking, dude, my dad is wu liao and my mom needs to come home now. He came back from a vacation overseas weeks ago. That means, the day he got back, he booked tickets to New York City. WHAT THE HECK? I'm not complaining or anything, in fact I think it's really cool, but dang, my parents are superactive. I hope they stay that way.

Reading Material

It's been a BEAUTIFUL week, weatherwise. I wish I had my camera, then I'd show you.

But here is an article I found in the Chronicle about missions and the "Church" in that big red closed country across the pacific ocean. (mad props to David Young who found it online)

China tries to keep the flock in official churches
Government favors party-run version of Christian faiths

In other news: Roz is now a fully licensed intern pharmacist in the great state of California. Watchout, world. I have arrived.

Shameless Plug:
DOES ANYONE WANT TO GO TO YOSEMITE THIS WINTER?
Dec. 20-23
We'll be staying in the heated tent cabins of Curry Village in Yosemite Valley.
Cost: $64/person for lodging.
Transportation will be provided from BOTH Southern California AND Northern California
let me know if you're down.

Roll call starting from me in the billabong sweatshirt in the back going clockwise: Roz, Kathy, Jen, Gina, Marcus, Dave Lee, Dave Peng, Judy, Lily, Nardine, Aiyin, Kate, Tracy, Winnie, Dave Young (at the apex), Rich, Lara, Nike, Heather, Phil, Grace, Danielle, Shelly, Aileen and Tina. Ken is the photographer.

Such a good weekend

My week started out a little rocky. But I couldn't have asked for a better ending. Thanks God. :)

I went to see Chris Tomlin/Matt Redman/Louie Giglio on Thursday Night. I didn't go with SFCers because the tickets sold out before we were able to get them, but someone from my fellowship at school had extra tickets, so I jumped on the chance. It wasn't a concert. It was a praise service. The one thing I got out of it was how GREAT and INDESCRIBABLE our God is. It was really cool, during the "intermission" there were Bible verses that flashed up. It was a really good time of fellowship and meditation (because I saw Vivian, Salina, Andrew Chau, Alex Cheung and Sharon TQ). But going along with the theme, the message was how small we are, but at the same time Jesus shed all that greatness and power to die for those who are utterly insignificant in His creation. How often do we turn away and "cheat" on our creator with other things (like money, relationships, self) but still God is there, he loved us and knows every hair on our head and our number of days. That's indescribable.

But the fun doesn't stop here. I went on a fall retreat with my fellowship at school and fellowship immediately followed. For the first time in a long time, I got to lead worship, jam with brothers and sisters, play apples to apples, laugh, pray and bond with sisters during small group time.

On the 2nd day of our retreat, we hiked to the beach and had lunch and worship there.

On our first day, our game was a photo scavenger hunt and one of our tasks was to find a heart because the theme of the weekend was "Heart Healthy." This is what we found.

Our last activity was to play "the game." I think it's a stanford thing (so obviously my first tiem playing). But I had a LOT of fun! We ended up driving all around the city looking for clues and they ended up at the most beautiful places. One of our last clues took us to Cliff House at sunset.

This retreat was the first time I ever played guitar on a beach. Actually my first time ever leading worship for this group of people. I love hearing everyone sing and being in a position where I can ear everyone so clearly, it's so beautiful. :)

I've decided to pledge the professional fraternity Phi Delta Chi. Just to get to know my classmates, and a lot of friends from fellowship are pledging, too so it'll be another big fun party.

B'yeah, I knew San Francisco was a beautiful city, but this weekend just reinforced that. I visited Marin, Vista Point, Golden Gate Bridge, Palace of Fine Arts, Crissy Field, Sutro Baths, Cliff House and Ocean Beach. And I get to call this city home for the next couple of years.

It was a good weekend. Thanks God. :)

Growing UP

I decided against studying today as the long weekend is coming up. I'm choosing to relax. So the default thing to do now is to watch TV. I turn to the channel that's most interesting: MTV. Lo and behold, TRL is on. For you kids who don't know what TRL is, it's Total Request Live. Apparently what all the cool kids watch. I used to watch it almost religiously in high school when Carson Daly was still the hottest VJ eVaR~!

Now I'm watching and I realize, oh my goodness. The target demographic of TRL is for younger folk who write angsty poetry in their journals and yearn after that HOT guy who has the locker right next to them. Granted, I still have a locker (only big enough to hang my white coat, though no hot guy next to me) and write in my journal, but it's for the blooming adolescent struggling with growing up in a cookie cutter world.

I've grown out of this stage or pubescent drama and have moved onto the world of interviews, studying for a doctorate degree, making myself more marketable and trying to make sense of what the Lord has called me to do.

At this point, I can say "Boy, I'm getting old." But no, I WILL NOT BE MOVED. I'm only 22. Granted by age 25, my fertility will be on the decline, but I still have the energy of an 13 year old and am at the age where I can do pretty much anything I want to. I still have dreams, I'm still ideal and I still want to get so much accomplished. I'm NOT getting old. I'm just starting out. That's kind of a cool thought.

And for those of you who don't like to read, here's a picture to entertain you with.
Sarah's "Surprise" Dinner at the Elephant Bar

The Movie List

There are movies I want to watch. Do you want to watch them with me?
Jarhead
The Constant Gardener
Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
In the Mix (It's an Usher movie so guaranteed to be quality)

Job is an amazing person. Just wanted to say that. I just started Job through the daily quiet time yesterday and it warmed my soul. God's timing in teaching and revealing his will is...incomprehensible.

"Naked I came from my mother's womb,
and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised."
Job 1:21

Beware of pictures.

I have a midterm tomorrow, but I feel like I need to do this. A collection of things in the past year that have been big trips with the people I love. Therapeutic procrastination, if you will.

For some reason i REALLY like this picture. Taken in North End, Boston while visiting my sister and brother-in-law.

Helping out at my first health fair. Check out all those free samples. (San Mateo, CA)

this is one of the most beautiful sights i've ever seen in person. When I was in china, this is pretty much what we saw every day. Seeing stuff like this makes you want to hum "how GREAT is our God." Thinking about being overseas makes me joyful beyong measure.

This is me. A work in progress. we were on our long layover in Hong Kong and I saw this and thought, "cool." But yeah, i think this accurately describes me pretty well. English, Chinese and a work in progress.

look at how cute these kids are. Yup, i'm so proud of them and i love them so much.

This is my oldest and one of my best friends Jane. We've been through elementary school, jr. high, high school, college, boys, breakups, classes, graduating MCB together. I love you, Jane! :)

there's also something about this picture that I love. I think it's all the movement and yet the victory of samonthrace remains stationary. kind of cool. (Paris, France on a trip with Ms. Allison and Jay)

Go BEARS! I took this with Jay on one of our night shoots when I still had my nikon. I miss shooting with you, Jay and I miss being on campus. It really is a beautiful campus. (Berkeley, CA)

this is the SFC gathering at Venice Beach after Sean and Emily's wedding. Hanging out with these guys makes me also joyful beyond measure.

good times good times. :) Roomate spades anyone? haahaa (Praise Dinner 2004)

This is Christina. If i were a ruler and you were a rock I'd say "you ROCK, christina." and you'd reciprocate with "you RULE, roz" :) (Lake Tahoe, CA)

Older cousins from the Hsu side. sorry, some of them are married, but i know, I have attractive family, you don't have to say it. :) (Redondo Beach, CA)

So yeah this is all that has happened in the past... 1.5 years. It's been good.

community

Midterms never stop. Like seriously, they never stop.

At any rate, I've found a fellowship here on campus: Sonrise Christian Fellowship.

It's a really great community of brothers and sisters all students here having a thirst to study God's word and to know Jesus better.

The first couple of times I've gone, yeah, everyone was really welcoming. That's SO important and I felt like this was a place where I can serve and be challenged in my walk. The really cool thing about it is that we're all students and all working out our faith with "fear and trembling" in the context of being healthcare providers. Very cool.

Sonrise is pretty much the highlight of my week, every Thursday. :)

Wow

i'll say it again...

wow.

::hilarity::