I'll Be Right Beside You

I was listening to the radio one day and this song came up.

I have to admit...I was first attracted to the music.  It was very catchy!  I attempted to look it up on YouTube and this is what came up.  As a person who is very "relational", I found this song extremely touching.
On a semi-different note, I really like how Dawn Michele from Fireflight sang with Building 429 in this song.  The duet really gave the song the feel that a couple is supporting each other in their relationship that's under God.  I have heard of many songs that is a love song to God, but rarely have I heard a Christian love song to a significant other.

Anyways.  Lyrics of the song after the break.

New Member (part ii): Alfie

Recently,  Ive been thinking about moving into my own place by the end of this year.  Since my house is so empty, I have been pretty active in thinking about getting a dog as a companion in the house.

A few weeks ago, a good friend of mine was going on a trip for the day and needed some assistance to watch over his dog, Alfie, for the day.  Realizing its a good opportunity to help a friend out and also re-sharpen my dog owning skills, I decided to help out.

That Saturday morning, I picked Alfie, and headed home.  I did not know what to expect.  Alfie is an inside dog.  My previous dog was an outside dog and 3 times Alfie's size.  It was almost as if being a first time dog owner all over again.  Needless to say, I was a little nervous...but really excited to get started.

The first thing that came to my mind when I picked up Alfie is, "how am I going to get him to not hijack the car when Im driving?"  But even though he's so high energy, Alfie is also very well trained.  In the car, he would cutely (learning to say this word publicly with less shame) sit on the front center armrest.  He didnt even attempt to crawl in my lap, or even try to take over the steering wheel.  thank goodness!

When I got home, I played fetch with Alfie in the backyard for a while.  Because Alfie loves his tennis balls so much, he tries to hoard as much many of them as possible.  What's cute about this is his mouth is only so big...but he wants ALL the tennis balls that's available to him.  So, if you gave him two tennis balls he will try to hold both in his mouth at the same time...without any success.  Then when you approach and try to grab one of the tennis ball, he would frantically try to decide which one to grab.

The hardest thing after playing fetch was getting Alfie back into the house.  I probably spent 30 minutes just to get him inside.  Alfie is so smart!  He can read my mind (scary thought) and just know that I want him to go inside.  Also, if I try to trick him into going inside and failed...he would not fall for the same thing twice.  Except one...I ended up using his Achille's heel...the tennis ball.  I threw the ball into house and he ran straight inside.  hehe.  That never failed.  muahahaha...I know I can be evil.  :P

Throughout the day, I was at home, studying, and Alfie would find ways to keep himself entertained.  Playing with his giant lobster, or just taking a nice nap.  Other times he would stare out the glass sliding door...really hoping he can play outside.

Sometimes I really wish I can just be a dog...being able to sit at home, lie down and just sleep... or maybe just running around an open field, playing fetch.

For the most part, everything went well.  I really enjoyed my time taking care of Alfie.  In some ways, he made me miss my family dog who passed away 3 years ago.

Old video of my previous dog chewing on a bone.  *recollecting myself*  

That weekend was so awesome.  I had a greater urge to get a dog...as a matter a fact, I have visited Sac County pound, Sac City pound and the SPCA the past 4 weeks.  But, taking care of Alfie brought to my attention a few issue about dog-ownership I never really thought of too much.  How long did my friends train Alfie to get him to be so obedient...Im sure a lot more than just a few days.  Possible separation anxiety can occur if I own a dog...how do you address that?  How do you house train a dog...I mean I dont want my house to be poopville.  Where should the dog be when I am out of the house...8 hours a day...I mean I cant bring him with me to work.  What about all the dog hair during shedding season?  Would my dog end up chewing everything?  How am I gonna give him a shower/bath?  Alfie did not have any of these issues when I was taking care of him...but the fact that a dog was actually in my house, made me think of these things.  Making me realize I have a lot to work out.  Since a lot of the breeds Im looking at has medium to high energy and at least 3 times bigger than Alfie, it made me really come down to reality regarding owning a dog.

Now...the big question...am I ready for that?  I think I am...but what I think is still a little ways off from reality.  There are a lot of unanswered questions and still a lot to think about and iron out before I can truly pull the trigger.  But we will see what happens...who knows...maybe my next New Member post might be about my new best friend.  ;)

Thanks George and Lisa for giving me the privilege of taking care of Alfie!  :)

Setting your heart FREE!

During my last year in college, God had given me a small taste of what it means to have joy.  I did not fully experience it, but I realized, I dont have to be happy to be full of...

But if you know me...I worry...A LOT.  So after graduation, the taste of joy was shattered by worry...caused by uncertainty, frustration, and pain.  I would go through day by day, being happy, smiling and being polite to people.  But if you pulled me aside, and ask how I was really doing, you would know I had some major problems.  I longed to have the taste of joy that God was beginning to show me.  As a result, one of my biggest prayers and desires was for God to help me experience joy.

Now, three years later, I think God had answered my prayers.  I have learned to be at peace and content with where I am at in my life (for the most part).  This does not mean I dont want things to change.  I mean I still want to know what does God have planned for my career, what my purpose is, if I am ever going to somehow find that special someone.  But...for the most part...I just feel content and ok with whatever is set on my path.  I realized three years isnt exactly a short journey.  But there are many lessons that I have learned to come to this point...and much more lessons to come.  Here are some of the things that I found out about joy.

*  *  *

In my book, happiness and joy are pretty different.  I realized I can be happy without having joy or have joy without being happy.  

To further understand what I am saying, let's look at happiness first.  Happiness is temporary, and surface level.  For example, if you look at some drug commercial on TV (or almost any commercial)  and you see people playing with their kids and their dog or hugging their husband/wife with a big smile on their face (the American Dream)...that is a good picture of happiness.  But, let's pause on that happy scene. *press pause button*  Let's look at the things that might be burdening the hearts of these people...they might be worried about losing their job or home, might be going through a hard break up with a significant other, mourning a death of a family member, or some other significant event that might cause one to struggle within the heart.  The picture shows people having a good time and being happy.  But, happiness does not always reflect on the condition of the heart.  

So what about joy...Joy is on a deeper level.  It's a sense of peace, contentment, and being unburdened in your heart.  The best way I can describe it is true freedom.  Day to day, when we begin to worry about things that goes on in our lives (how am I going to pump out this project by next week, what am I doing with my life, what does he/she think of me, am I going to pass this class, etc.), we become enslaved by those repeating thoughts (aKa: worry).  It's like worry is taking us hostage.  Your mind might end up replaying different scenarios to solve a problem, or just not sure how you can accomplish the seemingly impossible task.  As a result, your heart is burdened and the deep sense of peace, contentment and joy can not be achieved.  This is the reason why you can be happy when you do things you enjoy, but be enslaved by your worries...causing you to lack joy.  

To be free from being enslaved by worry, our hearts need to let go of the worries...in other words, stop worrying.  This is where Christ comes in.  If we can truly trust that God is in control and He knows what is best for us, worry is useless to us.  If what will happen is going to happen, worrying will not change the outcome.  So I try my best to live by this...do your best, work your hardest, and God will take care of the rest.  Anyways...I ran across this quote the other day that really does a good job illustrating my point:

"I define joy as a sustained state of well-being and internal peace - a connection to what matters."  

~Oprah Winfrey

So go and set your heart free!  May it no longer be a slave or hostage to your worries.  (yea...I know...easier said than done.)