I’ve been going through a spiritual valley lately, and trying to re-align myself with God through getting back to the basics. Growing up in a Christian home is great, but it also means that there are many things that I take for granted. There are also many times where I fall into legalism, and my relationship with God isn’t as close as I think it is.

My problem: Trying to re-understand the meaning of knowing God. It’s not about the Bible studies, or the quiet times and devotions, or knowledge of God’s Word. It isn’t about a check off list that I go through and see which items I’ve done or not done. I’ve been falling into that trap, billions of times. And the thing is, I know all of this in my head. I’ve been taught that all my life. Yet, it still needs to get to me. I need to *know* God, and personally meet Him… again.

Philippians 3:10 (AMP)
For my determined purpose is that I may know Him, that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly…

So I’ve been struggling to get to that place. A place where I can say that I am getting to know God. A place where I can say that I and walking closer to Him day by day. A place where my head is no longer playing guilt trips on me about my relationship with God. I may never completely get there, but I’m just hoping I’m on the right path.

Just for the heck of it…. (THANKS JOYCEY!!!!!!!!!!!!), I’m going to start my post with something other than “so”. I guess I like that word a lot! Hahahahaha….! =P

All righty…. been sick for the past week and a half… Finally got an appointment to see the doc this morning and got some codeine for my cough. Hopefully a couple of doses will make me aye ok again… It’s getting a little tiring coughing so much. I just want to sleep…. =(

Apart from that, nothing much is going on… Mid-October already… Halloween season is in the air…. Kids are ready to go crazy again…

So my little bro, Jeff, has finally decided to get baptized! Woohoo! Praise the Lord! =D And yes, many of you may be surprised that he hasn’t already done so after all these years. Well, the time has come. His church is actually having their worship and baptism at the Alameda County Fairgrounds this Sunday at 10am. So worship will be at 10am, lunch at around 11:30-12:00, and the baptism at around 1pm. I’m still not quite sure how they’re baptizing people at the fairgrounds, but I’m sure they have a way. Plus, it’s a huge church, so they’ve probably gotten it all figured out anyway. It’ll be a happy, happy day! =D

So I started a Bible reading plan, which was supposed to take me through the whole Bible in 1 year. However, seeing how I am, I don’t think that it would be reasonable to expect myself to be able to successfully complete that. Plus, I’ll probably get discouraged that I missed some readings or didn’t get through it, and may stop altogether. Also, I’m still attending BSF this year, so I’ll have that to do as well. Therefore, I decided to split it in half, and complete it in 2 years. This year (well, October 2007 – October 2008), I’ll be reading the Gospels and the wisdom books, and the rest of the Bible the following year. It seems more attainable that way. I’m looking forward to it! And I just pray that I rely on God’s strength to take me through this and not my own! =D

So my registration sticker got stolen sometime last week. Didn’t realize it until yesterday when Arthur was dropping me off back at church for my AWANA conference after getting a Starbucks break. He was like, “What happened to your sticker?” So I’m guessing it was sometime last week – but I really don’t have any clue when. Apparently, the thief pulled off the current sticker (2008) as well as my 2007 and 2006 ones. I guess they were kind of stuck together. When my Honda “H” logo thing was stolen, I decided not to replace it. But it’s not like I can go without my sticker…… So I went online to the DMV site to check it out. And now I have to pay like $17 to replace it. It’s not like it’s a whole lot of money, but I was like “What the heck?! So my sticker’s stolen, and I have to PAY to replace it?!” So I’ve been kind of bummed and bitter about the situation…. And getting an appointment with the DMV isn’t the easiest thing either. It’s not like I can take some time off work to get it done. It has to be after school hours, and they don’t open real late either.

So I’m just a little on edge about our neighborhood lately….. Maybe I should bring the bikes inside the house in case they get stolen next…..

All right, I guess it’s time for me to start blogging again. It’s been quite a while since I’ve really updated anything. I kind of stopped writing on my xanga, and have just been working on my teacher site. Plus, it’s not like I really “blog” on my teacher site. It’s more of providing information, links, and files for my students more than anything else.

I must say that things have been going fairly well lately. Started the new BSF year in a new group in Los Altos, started helping out with AWANA at church, so it’s been a little hectic after school. Plus, I have all the meetings that I need to attend after school for CEA as well as other committees that I’m on at school. Other than that, things are good.