sixty sevennnnnn
Lovely day today... Great weather, especially after yesterday's gloomy weather....
Woke up not feeling too well though... Stomachache, fatigue and nothing seemed to go right..
On my way to Gangnam for church, my student card didn't want to work... So I couldn't get past the station gates... I may have broken the chip inside or something - a new one needs to be reissued [sorting it out tomorrow].
It's annoying because there was $20 in that card and I'm not sure if I can refund it.... We'll see..
I ended up buying a single ticket after asking the station manager clarified that my card isn't readable... But it's okay... In the end, it's a solvable issue, no-one is hurt and it's just money. Have I grown to idolise money? Perhaps.
When I got to church for the worship session (an awesome one at that)... They played Your Grace is Enough and Cornerstone... It was also mission giving Sunday... The pastor called us all to think about our riches and our sufficiency... And there I was, being bitter and frustrated that I had potentially lost $20 in that card... I indeed have grown to idolise money.
In the past, I'm sure we all know the concept of offertory and 'cheerful giving'... Needless to say... When that offertory bag passed by.. without hesitation, I gave what I had. =].
The sermon today was on Leviticus 10:1-3 - The Priority of Holiness
In summary... God's Holiness is higher than my rights.
Sometimes we are too casual with God... In the beginning of the week after a Sunday, we may see Him as sacred.. see Him as important and we're all in high spirits.. But as the days go by we get lazy, casual and less focused.
It's like a new car... when we first get a car, we treasure it - washing it and cleaning it on a weekly basis and making sure it is scratch free by doing laps around it before getting in... But once that first scratch or dent comes in... We get more and more casual about it and our weekly washing turns into monthly... and so on..
But even worse, we perhaps find something more important and something more 'reliable'.. and end up replacing that 'sacred' thing we held on to previously...
The passage of the sermon mentioned the death of Nadab and Abihu by fire from before the Lord. The reason for their death is because they offered an incense and an 'unauthorised' fire...
It means that... It was an offering that was not what God had commanded them to do.
It is the difference between something 'sacred' and something 'casual'. To be sacred is to be kept apart.. In Leviticus, there is a huge list of rituals and commands on how to offer sacrifices in worship to God. It is the book with the most quotes/commands from God and it is the first book that Jewish children read in the synagogue... Therefore there are implications that there is Priority in Holiness.
When we look at Cain & Abel's story... When Cain offered fruit to God and had been rejected, Cain wasn't very happy... But Abel's offering was accepted because Abel offered the very best of the first harvest to God. There are suggestions that Cain's offering wasn't 'holy'... It wasn't the best of the best, unlike Abel's.
Furthermore in Jacob and Esau's story... They fought over the rights to the first-born blessing. There is something sacred about being the first-born... The same way that there is something sacred about being the first harvest.
But if there is something sacred about first-borns... what about God giving His only Son Jesus to die for us?
Did He hold back?
Are you holding back?
The pastor then left us with this line..
[Offering everything to Jesus safeguards us from sin.]
And so... worship wasn't always about what God gives to us... It isn't about the experience or the atmosphere...
It was always about what we give to God. Whether our offering is 'sacred'. Does your mouth praise God on Sunday but curse others during the weekday? Does your wallet seem to open willingly when you're on a date with your boyfriend/girlfriend but it's shut when the offering bag passes by? Are we half-assed when it comes to getting ready for Church but are so energetic and excited when we get ready to do other things?
I know I struggle with all these.. and more... but there needs to be a firm acceptance in my life of Holy worship.. beyond a "it's okay, God's grace is enough anyway" mentality.
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After Church, I met up with Blair (one of my mentors) for fun and what-not =D. She goes to the Korean mother church of mine.
We got a bit lost on the bus [She's a funny one LOL] but still managed to find all these kool places.
Han River underneath Gangnam.
We then caught a bus to this... European street in Apgujeong... It's known as Europe in Korea because of its shops and overall atmosphere.
This cafe is apparently one of the biggest in Seoul... Movie actors and celebrities often come here to drink.. In the picture, you'll see a man wearing a black and yellow jumper (blocked by the woman in black) on the left... He's a contestant from a Korean TV show - Superstar K. Anyway, this cafe was more like a club... Sure had that atmosphere.
We then went to Insa-dong... Very good for souvenirs and what-not. =].
A spiral shopping centre..
Up and around.
And around.
After that, we kept walking.. towards Gwanghwamun to walk along the stream in the middle of the city. It was very pretty =].
Ajisen Ramen LOL.
AJISEN.
YEUH.
The stream.
This was the place one of the contestants from Superstar K used to perform... He used to play his guitar here in the cold... and when his hand was getting numb, he'd warm it up by touching this light.
The end.
FISH.
More fish.
A political campaign concert LOL. RIGHHTTTTT.
After this, we went over to the Anguk area for dinner.. We had baked chicken.. IT WAS SO GOOD. No pictures though because we were too hungry... LOL. $7.20 ea for the chicken... Defs going to go back.
After that, we went back to Wangsimni and got frozen yoghurt - most similar to Noggi/Moochi/Yogurberry so far but you don't get as much customisation as you would in N/M/Y... O well!
We then walked towards my dorm and she met up with her boyfriend... Awks because her boyfriend was very protective haha! When we were saying bye, he'd stand closer to me and say bye, etc... He was nice about it though! He seems like a good boyfriend as well, and he is very lucky to have Blair. I think she's quite a nice, cute but good-hearted girl... She's like a taller version of 'her'.
Funnily enough... On the topic of bf/gf, Blair was very surprised when I said I didn't have a gf or that I haven't had any real relationships in the past... Silly her...
Anyway.. we had a few good moments of talking about Christianity and her life in general.. She's bringing her bf to church every now and then, and he's very accepting of it. =].
When I got back to the dorm.. I had a short but refreshing talk with Jody S. and it was awesome =]. Reminded me of some things and encouraged me to continue fighting the good fight.
=].
Another week of school... woooooooo...................... =[.
STUDENT CARD. MUST GET. =].
Thankful: Though objects, money and other worldly materials may fail me, my God is eternal and will remain as that.
Prayerful: A life of sacred worship. A life NOT of whore-ship where I am pursuing other idols over God.
Dangers: I feel like I'm becoming more and more easily angered... Not sure why...
