The best

I'm a small group leader in this youth group at university, called KYCF (Korean Youth Christian Fellowship). I've been attending this group ever since I was a first year, and I'm really stoked that I've been given the opportunity to serve as a small group leader before I graduate this year.

Yesterday we had our weekly youth group meeting, and during small group session, I asked my peeps their prayer requests. Both of them (unfortunately I have a lot of absentees each week) said that they would like to be able to do their best in all aspects of life, all the time. I guess wanting to be your best self and wanting to do your best in everything is a universal desire.

Today, I read an awesome Oswald Chambers quote on this notion of "the best":

The good is always the enemy of the best.

We can always be better, and do better. Let's not be satisfied with "the good". Let's always want and strive for "the best", and no less.

Have an awesome weekend.

G.

루아흐 (Ruach)

I don't listen to as much Korean music as I used to in high school, but my iTunes contains some gold stuff. I love this one group called Brown Eyed Soul, and one of the guys in the group, Na Ul, is one of my favourite Korean musicians ever. He has an amazing voice and writes really great songs, and he's a Christian. Actually, I think that the whole group is Christian. It's funny, they'll produce a fantastic album, and sneakily slip in a Christian worship song in the mix.

I recently discovered through Yeri that Na Ul is also a member of another group called Brown Eyes (I suppose the apple doesn't fall too far from the nomenclatural tree), and these guys also do the "make a wicked album and chuck in a Christian worship song" thing. Their latest album has this song called "루아흐 (Ruach)" on it, and it's absolutely wonderful. It's simple (piano and Na Ul's vocals), but beautiful. "Ruach" essentially means "the Spirit of God" in Hebrew. I'll try my best to translate the Korean but I'm afraid it won't sound as rich and poetic in English with the differences in the languages and my terrible skills.

참 많이 어렸죠 너무 어리석었죠
돌아보면 당신의 수많은 그 눈물이
나를 지켜줬던거죠
참 많이 울었죠 그댈 원망했었죠
이젠 알아요
내곁엔 항상 그대가 함께 한다는걸

I was young and foolish
But when I look back I realise
Your many tears had kept me safe
I cried a lot and blamed You
But I know now
That You're always with me

나는 믿어요
귓가를 스치는 바람도
어깨를 적시는 비도 그대임을
참 좋은걸요
이렇게 그대를 느끼죠
많은 시간이 흐른뒤에 알게 되겠죠
내 모든 시작과 끝은 그대인걸
약속할게요
언제나 그대 편이 되어주는걸

I believe
That You are the wind whispering in my ears
And the rain that falls on my shoulder
It's wonderful
I feel Your presence in this way
After much time has passed, I'll know
You are my beginning and end
I promise
That I'll always be on Your side

나는 믿어요
귓가를 스치는 바람도
어깨를 적시는 비도 그대임을
참 좋은걸요
이렇게 그대를 느끼죠
많은 시간이 흐른뒤에 알게 되겠죠
내 모든 시작과 끝은 그대인걸
약속할게요
언제나 그대 편이 되어주는걸
나 영원히

I believe
That You are the wind whispering in my ears
And the rain that falls on my shoulder
It's wonderful
I feel Your presence in this way
After much time has passed, I'll know
You are my beginning and end
I promise
That I'll always be on Your side
Forever

잡아주세요 내 손을 잡아주세요
안아주세요 나만을 안아주세요

Please, please hold my hand
Please hold me, and only me

Yeah, it definitely sounds better in Korean, but that's the best I can do, I'm afraid! I hope that I've conveyed the vibe of the song. The singer has a deep and intimate relationship with a loving and selfless God. He feels God's presence everywhere, through everything, and he delights in God's nearness. Although he's been through some tough times, he's committing himself to being on God's side, because he knows that everything he is and everything he has is found in God. He yearns for God; he's incomplete without Him.

This song illustrates the kind of relationship I want with God, on a sustained basis. I guess it's unrealistic to hope to be on a spiritual high all the time. But I don't think that's what this is. I think it's more a calm, quiet and personal conviction of knowing who God is, genuinely believing in what He's promised to fulfil in my life, being aware of His constant being with me and renewing my commitment to Him daily.

I love this song. Hope you have a great day.

G.

The habit of keeping a clear conscience

A couple of months ago, my best friend and flatmate Yeri Ahn recommended that I get into the classic Christian devotional book "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, because it was awesome. I have done so, and as always, she's right. It's basically a book with 365 devotional entries, so you read one per day for a year to get through the book. I'm a bit gutted that I only started reading it from late April, but better late than never, right?

Chambers has some really insightful things to say about God and how to live well as a Christian. I don't know if I agree with absolutely everything he says, but a lot of what he says resonates deeply with me. And he writes very well.

The following bit of the May 13 devotional entry ("The Habit of Keeping a Clear Conscience") particularly spoke to me:

Conscience is that ability within me that attaches itself to the highest standard I know, and then continually reminds me of what that standard demands that I do. It is the eye of the soul which looks out either toward God or toward what we regard as the highest standard. This explains why conscience is different in different people. If I am in the habit of continually holding God's standard in front of me, my conscience will always direct me to God's perfect law and indicate what I should do. The question is, will I obey?

Whatever your conscience dictates, follow it. Better living, everyone.

G.