Had trouble posting my cowboy pic. I miss the horses and ranch I worked at back in my college days. One day, I will own a ranch and raise horses. Of course, if that's God's will. I know it is a strong desire I have. I love life and God has been faithful to me in the midst of everything. God has taught me over these last few weeks what His love truly is, and how He is showing me everyday His passion for His people. He has given me the opportunity to feel what He feels and has shown me that He has been more faithful than the knowing night will come and a new day will dawn. It happens again and again, yet God is more faithful than even that law.
I used to be so pessimistic on how reality would never measure up to my ideology. I needed to adjust my vision and look to the Source of Life to understand life itself. I am learning about eternity and how my life should be measured according to eternity and not according to this world's version. I know it seems simple, but sometimes I think way too much and over analyze and just get sobered up to the reality of how life is hard across this world for so many, and I have it easier, yet can tell myself my problems are worse. This is not true and I am glad to be free from that line of thinking.
God is so amazing. He has taken something dead and turned it into life. He has taken something evil and turned it into something good. He has taken me and made my life worth living even before I was born, and I am so happy and blessed to know that God will love me just the same and no different--even if I was the most prominent preacher in all the world and was used to save many people, and gave all my wealth to the poor, and was used to do many miracles; God would love me. Yes, and even if I had nothing and lost everything and ended up living under a bridge, eating from trashcans and addicted to drugs; God would still love me. My Father makes no distinctions in His love, and He favors no one over another. I love Him with all my being and will let His love move me to do His will.
I AM MY BELOVEDS AND HE IS MINE!
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Mellen Family Wedding #2
Here is my sister's wedding. She got married this year (2006). As you can see I gained a few lbs from the last wedding. I couldn't help it. I love the food in Hong Kong and my job requires me to sit and teach most of the time. The air quality is poor and that's my exuse for not exercising. It's hard to believe that I'm an uncle and will be one again after the New Year. I love having extended family whom I can call brother and sister-in-law. God is so good.
The Mellen Family
So here is my family in Shanghai for my brothers wedding last year June.As you can see, we are all hotties! :) My brother has lost about 75lbssince then. He lost about 50lbs before the wedding. He is expecting a child onJanuary 1st, 2007. I will be an uncle again. (Christianna is My sister Jessica's baby. She's in the yellow.) She got married later on.I love my family. Alesha (next to the Bride) lives in Colorado.The Bride's name is Summer. And yes, her name is now SUMMER MELLEN Hehe! I love it!My Beautiful Niece--Christianna Chan
Isn't she just adorable? Her name is Christianna which
means "Annointed One" Her Chinese name isChan Tin-Oi (Teen-Oi)meaning "The Father's Love" Is that not a powerful name?! She is so lovely.She was born on October 1st, 2006--Chinese National Day.That is the same as America's Independence Day
She will bless many Nations and will draw Nations together for the Lamb's Reward.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Thanksgiving
So this past week was Thanksgiving. Yes, what a wonderful holiday where good food meets good fellowship. There was turkey, some funky stuffing, mashed taters, cranberry sauce, and all sorts of dips and chips and appetizers of fruits and vegetables with an amazing artichoke dip. This was fun. We celebrated on the roof of a 24 story building in Hong Kong. All around us were taller building and a somewhat black view of the Harbor.
It was fun to celebrate with such an international crowd, yet my favorite part was the four American exchange students who came with me, and it was fun to finally have someone who understands American culture and humor. I love Hong Kong, but sometimes I feel like I am one crying out in the wilderness.
I love giving thanks! I am thankful for friends who spur me onward and won't walk away from e no matter what. I am thankful for enemies who God puts in my life to bring me closer to Him and teaches me forgiveness and mercy. I am thankful for a church whose ministry is blessing people left and right, and I am blessed to be apart of it and able to serve the church as well.
I am thankful to know that as far as the east is from the west, that's how far God has removed my transgressions from me. I am thankful to be redeemed and blessed to know life on earth is temporary and eternity is forever and I'm so happy to know that. It's a relief.
It was fun to celebrate with such an international crowd, yet my favorite part was the four American exchange students who came with me, and it was fun to finally have someone who understands American culture and humor. I love Hong Kong, but sometimes I feel like I am one crying out in the wilderness.
I love giving thanks! I am thankful for friends who spur me onward and won't walk away from e no matter what. I am thankful for enemies who God puts in my life to bring me closer to Him and teaches me forgiveness and mercy. I am thankful for a church whose ministry is blessing people left and right, and I am blessed to be apart of it and able to serve the church as well.
I am thankful to know that as far as the east is from the west, that's how far God has removed my transgressions from me. I am thankful to be redeemed and blessed to know life on earth is temporary and eternity is forever and I'm so happy to know that. It's a relief.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Free Will: Sometimes it Hurts
So the past few weeks have been full of emotions. There has been good, bad, and ugliness all around. My life was shaken to the core with my former (not due to the incident, rather because I moved to Asia) pastor Ted Haggard's admission of guilt, a friend’s failure after doing well for so long, and another friend's choice that has caused me to step back for a moment to understand better what her intentions are.
Choices are made everyday by everyone all aver this world. Some are good choices and some are bad choice. I, myself, have been know to make really good decisions, yet others only know me by my extremely poor decisions. Life has taught me over and over that good choices breed good consequences and bad choices breed bad consequences. BUT, Romans 8:28 does provide hope for me when I do choose poorly.
All this emotion hasn't left or gotten much better either, but I have chosen to stay the course that God has laid out for me. He brought me to Asia for a purpose and I will learn everything I can from this pain inside me everyday. It's very interesting that none of this pain seems to have been because of my bad decisions. Well, unless it was the decision to be open and vulnerable with others--then I guess making a good decision can sometimes breed bad consequences. But I embrace this pain and this wonderment of life.
Before when I was child I was afraid of pain, but now as a man I have learned to just embrace it and let God comfort me. Forgiveness is beautiful thing. My heart goes out to my friends who are navigating their way through life right now--just like most of us. I am on my knees constantly for them.
I have also learned the true value of prayer. I know that my life cannot impact and cause another's life to change for the better without that relationship with Jesus. I also know the value prayer for others as well (1 Timothy 2:1-6) and have determined that prayer is the only thing that can save a friend or foe from evil's deadly purpose. Prayer not only saves, but it something that God loves. He loves it when we intercede for those he loves because He does that very same thing. (Romans 8:26-27, 34b)
Regardless of all that happens in my life, I know that God is constant and the one thing I know God has given mankind is Free Will and sometimes it hurts. It hurts when friends make poor decisions and their consequences affect me. It hurts when I make poor decisions and hurt my friends. No matter the pain, I have found that pain, when dealt with properly, can cause a deepness to grow amongst friends. I cannot stop my friends from making bad decisions or cause them to make good decisions. I can only pray and build them up and encourage them to live with their life close to the Father's heart, and to spur others along in love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24).
I have come to realize the importance of grace, mercy, and forgiveness. I know that before I was so caught up in justice and making right the wrongs by seeking justice and maybe vengeance, I am now convinced that God loves mercy just as much as justice and somehow they are in intertwined.
I love my friends and will continue to be there for them when needed or just to hang out and do ababsolutely nothing just being friends regardless if they choose rightly or wrongly.
Choices are made everyday by everyone all aver this world. Some are good choices and some are bad choice. I, myself, have been know to make really good decisions, yet others only know me by my extremely poor decisions. Life has taught me over and over that good choices breed good consequences and bad choices breed bad consequences. BUT, Romans 8:28 does provide hope for me when I do choose poorly.
All this emotion hasn't left or gotten much better either, but I have chosen to stay the course that God has laid out for me. He brought me to Asia for a purpose and I will learn everything I can from this pain inside me everyday. It's very interesting that none of this pain seems to have been because of my bad decisions. Well, unless it was the decision to be open and vulnerable with others--then I guess making a good decision can sometimes breed bad consequences. But I embrace this pain and this wonderment of life.
Before when I was child I was afraid of pain, but now as a man I have learned to just embrace it and let God comfort me. Forgiveness is beautiful thing. My heart goes out to my friends who are navigating their way through life right now--just like most of us. I am on my knees constantly for them.
I have also learned the true value of prayer. I know that my life cannot impact and cause another's life to change for the better without that relationship with Jesus. I also know the value prayer for others as well (1 Timothy 2:1-6) and have determined that prayer is the only thing that can save a friend or foe from evil's deadly purpose. Prayer not only saves, but it something that God loves. He loves it when we intercede for those he loves because He does that very same thing. (Romans 8:26-27, 34b)
Regardless of all that happens in my life, I know that God is constant and the one thing I know God has given mankind is Free Will and sometimes it hurts. It hurts when friends make poor decisions and their consequences affect me. It hurts when I make poor decisions and hurt my friends. No matter the pain, I have found that pain, when dealt with properly, can cause a deepness to grow amongst friends. I cannot stop my friends from making bad decisions or cause them to make good decisions. I can only pray and build them up and encourage them to live with their life close to the Father's heart, and to spur others along in love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24).
I have come to realize the importance of grace, mercy, and forgiveness. I know that before I was so caught up in justice and making right the wrongs by seeking justice and maybe vengeance, I am now convinced that God loves mercy just as much as justice and somehow they are in intertwined.
I love my friends and will continue to be there for them when needed or just to hang out and do ababsolutely nothing just being friends regardless if they choose rightly or wrongly.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Thoughts From the Heart
The heart knows such troubles and sorrows that no one man or woman could comprehend or see, taste, touch or feel. My heart has evil and good, yet no man can tell the difference between the two. For no one can fathom the deceptions of the heart or feel the pangs of love and fear mixed with emotion that only can confuse and fail a man when his character is put to the test.
Humans can only sit back and cast their judgements of someones behavior. There is nothing good that can come from man, yet man is puffed up and idolized as something so significant when goodness and honesty are preached, but as soon as any hint of vileness and evil spew forth from his heart, he is judged and condemned by his fellow human being who most likely struggle with the same things if not better or worse.
My heart fails me and my bones ache with pain and sorrow at the fate of friend and loved ones who have been feeling pain and sadness, fear and anger, bitterness and death. I try and I try, but nothing can save my friends from bad decisions, save that of Jesus Christ and his ultimate grace. There is nothing good that can come from man or woman that comes from themselves for we are all sinners and should be condemned to death for even the vileness in our hearts that we battle on a daily basis.
I am not a saint in my flashiness that wants to rule and reign over my entire body. No, I have nothing good that lives inside me that I could boast as something I should receive credit for. No, only by the grace and mercy of a loving God and the cross of Jesus Christ can I even breathe a single breath or speak a single good word.
I cannot stand by and watch people suffer and hurt when it is within my grasp to help them. I will not stay silent and not confront my friends and their shortcomings, but I will supply the grace and mercy and love that could turn them from death to life.
I have lived life long enough to know that forgiveness is key, mercy sets free that which should receive condemnation, and grace moves us to continue to fight for that which is right, true, and just. Without grace and mercy judgement would condemn, and justice could not do its true and proper work.
I have friends who need prayer. I, myself, am in need of that. Please, if you are reading this and are a believer in Jesus Christ--pray for me and my friends--doesn't need to be complex, but just simple and full of faith. Thanks you and God bless you.
Humans can only sit back and cast their judgements of someones behavior. There is nothing good that can come from man, yet man is puffed up and idolized as something so significant when goodness and honesty are preached, but as soon as any hint of vileness and evil spew forth from his heart, he is judged and condemned by his fellow human being who most likely struggle with the same things if not better or worse.
My heart fails me and my bones ache with pain and sorrow at the fate of friend and loved ones who have been feeling pain and sadness, fear and anger, bitterness and death. I try and I try, but nothing can save my friends from bad decisions, save that of Jesus Christ and his ultimate grace. There is nothing good that can come from man or woman that comes from themselves for we are all sinners and should be condemned to death for even the vileness in our hearts that we battle on a daily basis.
I am not a saint in my flashiness that wants to rule and reign over my entire body. No, I have nothing good that lives inside me that I could boast as something I should receive credit for. No, only by the grace and mercy of a loving God and the cross of Jesus Christ can I even breathe a single breath or speak a single good word.
I cannot stand by and watch people suffer and hurt when it is within my grasp to help them. I will not stay silent and not confront my friends and their shortcomings, but I will supply the grace and mercy and love that could turn them from death to life.
I have lived life long enough to know that forgiveness is key, mercy sets free that which should receive condemnation, and grace moves us to continue to fight for that which is right, true, and just. Without grace and mercy judgement would condemn, and justice could not do its true and proper work.
I have friends who need prayer. I, myself, am in need of that. Please, if you are reading this and are a believer in Jesus Christ--pray for me and my friends--doesn't need to be complex, but just simple and full of faith. Thanks you and God bless you.
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