End of an Era

So, after about 15 months, that was the end of working for Starbucks. You know, it was a pretty good experience. It was my first "real" job, having to deal with people (it's difficult), learn to be efficient, that kind of thing. I really never expected to work this past year, but it just turned out that way.

I enjoyed the discount, the free weekly pound of coffee, the people I met, and the knowledge gained. I appreciate the resume-padding, the food-eating (yum), and the wallet stuffing, of course.

There were frustrating moments. Moments where I embarrassed myself. Or humiliated myself. Or found myself incapable.

But you know what... it was a learning experience. I don't regret it at all. Even though I'll be going to Waterloo and not working while I'm studying... because I'm in a Co-Op program, I can go into those interviews knowing what it is like to have been in an interview. To be able to confidently say that I understand what it is to be stressed (though, to be fair, I'd hardly call working at Starbucks stressful, most of the time). I can flaunt my credentials.

Oh, and that new Vivanno stuff is good too.

PUs

For those who are curious, PU is a term for Parental Unit. And no, it's not an actual term. I think my sister invented it at one point when speaking to others, as a way of saying she needed parental permission. (Something like... "I need to ask my PUs first").

Which leads me into what I have been thinking about. How important is it to follow our parents religiously? Exodus 20:12 clearly states that. But to what extent?

I mean, it is relatively clear that we should honour our parents when possible. However... should we listen when they ask us to falsify about our age to get a cheaper fee? To tell someone a lie about the parents' whereabouts? To refuse to help someone?

And then, of course, there's always the question between our wills, our parents' wills, and God's will. Clearly, one should be followed. But how do we approach this?

At the same time, this makes it too easy to disobey our parents and to go our own way. Just throw in that excuse, and voila!

Anyway, just a short blurb. Just in my head right now, making me think...

A New Computer!

Well, today my father and I went and got a MacBook Pro (15-inch). Very cool stuff. It also came with an iPod Touch (sweet). I've been fooling around with it for a bit and it's quite user-friendly. I think I may stick to Macs more often now.

Theology and "Irreparable Differences"

The sermon today at the church that I will soon be leaving was held by a guest speaker. The man, an Asian, humourous fellow, professed his belief in Calvinism. While prefacing his sermon with the fact that he is not necessarily right on everything, and that church members should follow the teachings of their individual churches (?), he did offer a staunch defense, armed with passages from the Bible and quotes from well-known Christians. The main argument of his was that predestination is real, and that God elects people who, when hearing the word of God, would come to accept it (while all others would not). He also said that it is impossible to know one is actually saved until Jesus returns or he or she leaves this Earth. Other arguments essentially defended Calvinism, mythbusting the rebuttals that claim that Calvinism makes evangelism or whatnot worthless.

Of course, this angered some people. Clearly, if this is true, it would be natural for some people to develop a dislike for God, as the preacher seemed to allude to the fact that God picked people to perish (the verses in scripture supported this). It also makes no reference to The Fall... did God know that was coming? Logically, the answer would be yes. But it doesn't seem that way.

Anyway, I'm not here to argue about Calvinism against Arminianism. My question is, while theologically, there are complete opposites, and really have a profound effect on our world... does it really matter to us at this point? It's good to be knowledgeable (and I am happy to see the sermon come up... honestly, it's appalling to see how many people don't realize that the church we attend believes in predestination)... but should it change the way we act?

Both still promote the Ten Commandments. Honestly, I don't think our behavior should change, regardless of what we believe. And I think that one does not need to know the correct theology (as if that wasn't hard enough) to be a Christian.

So yes. It was a great sermon, and it opened the eyes of many. But we have to remember... it's not everything.

Leaving

I've hashed and rehashed the subject of leaving for postsecondary already.

But there may be another change I have to make.

With a heavy heart, and after talking to a few very close friends, I have decided that, after August (when I finish playing the piano for the worship team), I will not be returning to Fujian Evangelical Church, at least not in the near future.

Looking introspectively, I found that I have not been growing at the church for a long time now. In fact, I'm unsure why I still attend. In the past, I had no choice, car-less and without a way to attend elsewhere, I went alongside my parents. However, with the freedom now to choose any church I wish (Celine chose Thrive, and I applaud her bravery for that), it is time to move. With Waterloo coming up, I will be at a new church anyway. But I don't see myself coming back to FEC, even during Christmastime or whatnot.

As a traditional Chinese Church, things will always be done a certain way. Our church seems to have been encompassed in a time capsule, never changing or growing. While major events (such as the one two years ago) do occur, shaking up things, in the larger picture, they are just minor blips on an unmoving object. Take a look. Things don't change. Same people, same types of events, same whatever.

Why do we go to church? Do we go for real, pure, reasons (To Worship God? To Learn More?) Or do we go for friends, family, whatever?

I think the answer for me became very clear. And it's time to fix it.

I'm done.

The door isn't locked, but it's closed.

Agape

Where do I find this?

It's not in my closet.
Nor on my computer.
Not in my car, or at school.

And it's sometimes definitely not found in the way I am towards others.

Taking Sides

Yesterday, I was at a party when I noticed something interesting. Everyone in attendance held a certain belief.

Now, this isn't, in itself, what is wrong with the situation.

The real problem lies in the fact that everyone invited held a certain side in a relatively large argument. The more saddening part? This argument happened almost two years ago now.

Which brings me to the fact that wounds take a long time to heal. One would expect that adults could learn to forgive. Clearly, it is not human nature to do so.

To be fair, I'm sure that the flip side has happened, that the other "side" has had the same things as well. That doesn't make it right. For everyone. This only divides further, and, if it continues, will create a neverending cycle downwards.

In short... the healing process has stalled. Or hasn't begun. People from all over will point to others as the reasons behind this failure to reunite... but everyone is to blame.

That's not to say that things should be swept under the rug. But we don't have to yell.

As for the party, it was a ton of fun hanging out with the other children (who, I suppose, are quite innocent from this mess), but that didn't mean that this lingered on the back of my mind.