East coast weekend

Friday
- Shanghai Cafe
- Kyotofu
- MObar @ Mandarin Oriental
- One If By Land
- Pravda

Saturday
- Smorgas Chef
- Highline
- Chelsea Market
- Alice's Tea Cup
- Next to Normal
- Halal cart
- 48

Sunday
- Redeemer
- Jojo's
- Guggenheim
- Rockefeller
- Magnolia's cupcakes
- Bianca's
- Momofuku milk bar
- The Education
- Hala cart

Monday
- Saigon Grill
- Soho
- Yiyin's homecooking!
- Playing with Caleb

Tuesday (Philly)
- National Constitution Center
- Christ Church and Ben Franklin's grave
- Elfreth's Alley

- Liberty Bell

- Independence Hall

- Amada

- Capogiro Gelato

Wednesday
- Chick-fil-a!
- Dunkin donuts
- Playing with Caleb

- Knitting / Settlers / Modern Family

- Tre Familigia
- Haddonfield

Paul Tripp quotes

This side of eternity it's very hard to keep what's truly important in your life. It's hard because sin is idolatrous and there's always inertia away from the Creator toward the creature. Things rise to a level of importance to rule your heart, and what rules your heart influences your behavior.

You don't live life in big moments. You live life in the utterly mundane. If God doesn't rule your mundane, then he doesn't rule your life. The character of a life is set in 10,000 little moments, not big moments.

You are the most influential person in your own life. you talk to yourself more than anyone does. What are you saying to you about you?

The writer of Hebrews addresses that. As long as sin still lives inside of you, there will be spiritual blindness and you will need help. The only solution is daily intervention. Not just occasional, but daily, intentionally intrusive, Christ-centered, grace-filled people surrounding me. People that step into my life because I'm scared to death of my blindness...Personal spiritual insight is the product of community. So get help. Step into the community so that you may see yourself with accuracy and receive the continual resources of grace that your Savior died to give you. Don't live in denial, hiding, or fear. Live in hope and courage. Get help.

Lent

This year, I think I want to give up Farmville for Lent... Wish me luck.

Update: I think if I give up FV, then I have to give up FB...what will happen to my planted grapes?? Or my FV gifts?? Ah!

Nothing's happening

People have got to stop thinking that something's happening when nothing's happening.

1. Neighbor to Albert: Here's a money tree for Chinese New Year! I didn't want to get bamboo branches because your wife's pregnant and all. Albert: Um, no she isn't. Neighbor: Oh, sorry! That's what everyone was saying!!!

2. Coworker to me: Weren't you going to grad school? Me: Um, thought about it, but nope, no grad school for me. Coworker: Oh sorry! I was wondering why you were still here cuz I thought you were headed to grad school.

The question board

At work, there's a "Question board" by the bathrooms. The question that appears rotate weekly and everyone always glance at the board as they walk pass to see what new answers have been added.

This week's question: "What historical event would you want to witness, with no danger to yourself?"

At first, I thought Pompeii. Then I thought the fall of Adam and Eve. Then I thought about Good Friday. But fearing that would make me too sad, I thought about the birth of Christ instead. But that made me think even more about Good Friday and why I wouldn't want to witness that. True, it would be wrenching...but how convicting... I can't describe it just yet. Actually, I can't choose between Good Friday and Palm Sunday, when Christ rose from the grave.

I think at the core of it, I just want to SEE Christ. I'm like doubting Thomas so much of the time -- I want to see before I believe.

1 Peter 3: 15-18

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. (1 Peter 3: 15-18)

This past weekend, Andrew from Redwood Baptist Church knocked on my door and asked me whether I would like to know Christ. I failed 1 Peter 3: 15-18, stammering something about being baptized and going to church already, as I tried to ease out the front door. Trapping me in the corner of the porch, I could tell he was a little doubtful about my faith, based on my answer.

"Would you like to take 30 seconds to hear the gospel?"

For a second, I felt a little indignant, thinking why? Go tell to someone who really needs to hear, not me! Then I felt a bit of arrogance, thinking, alright, let's hear what this fellow has got to say and whether it's even biblical, ha!

As he shared, I was humbled. Not that I heard anything new, but here was a guy, not even a "pastor", who was so sold out for Christ that he would take a Saturday morning to walk around the neighborhood and share the good news. How often am I willing to rise up from my laziness and step out of my comfort zone for the sake of Christ? If I truly believe that everyone NEEDS the good news, shouldn't I be more passionate and urgent about telling others about the gospel?

And even though it's not NEW news to me, it's certainly news that I need to hear every day.

My nose

...is a funny little thing. I'm the only person I know who gets the teasing nose tickles EVERY TIME I have to talk in a meeting. People are constantly asking whether I have allergies! I suspect this is a psychological thing...

Trashcan, part II

(What's with trash cans being the bane of my existence?)

Dear garbage man,

I don't mean to be picky, but could you please stop throwing the garbage can cover inside the garbage can after you've emptied the can? That way, I don't need to reach into the nasty innards and fish out the cover in the dark of the night while wearing my white jacket.

Thanks.