Archive Page 2
compliments to pkbchomie8789
The perks of having my roommate Sato as a sushi chef at a new local restaurant:
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sweet tea and chess
Today at OCP I ran into a friend that I met last year while volunteering at the Little Grill. After helping prepare lunch, we had some downtime so we went to make some sweet tea while we were catching up.
As I stood next to him at the counter, he grabbed a mason jar from the adjacent shelf and made sure to use plenty of the iced tea mix. He even added some extra sugar for good measure. He filled his jar to the brim, ice and all, and ever so gently stirred his tea as to not spill any. I went ahead, and tossed a little mix into a regular clear plastic cup. I grabbed a few cubes of ice, and poured some water for myself. He handed me his spoon, and after a few seconds of stirring, we were on our way to find a table to play chess.
He was clearly better than me, but I saved myself the embarassment by forewarning him when he asked me to play. I wasn’t doing too terribly, and I had a couple of his white pawns. I remember though, he was taking one of my rooks with his knight when he told me that he was thankful for his cancer. This crazy 35 year old was actually thankful for this quiet, relentless enemy that was slowly poisoning his adrenal glands, and as of recent, his liver too.
As soon as I made sense of what he just said, I couldn’t think straight and ended up making a move that made him ask me “um, are you sure you want to do that?”
“eh, yeah…” and with his turn, another bishop of mine was gone.
I took a sip of my tea. It was really watered down by then, as the few cubes of ice I had were fully melted. Actually, my tea wasn’t very good to start with. I glanced at his jar of tea, and it looked incredible. It was still half full, and it almost looked like the glass was frosted over.
Out of utter confusion in my heart, no, in my soul, I asked him what he meant. Any veteran church goer could have guessed what he was going to say next, but I needed to hear it myself.
As he was carefully placed his pieces in response to my thoughtless moves, he talked about how the cancer humbles him every day. He was explaining how it reminds him how short this life is, and how much sweeter Heaven will be. In a few minutes, his testimony of discovering grace melted away the complacency and the apathy in my heart, and for the first time in a while, I felt a deep brokenness and longing for my Maker. The deepest part of my soul wanted to know the satisfaction and the peace that he knew so well.
Our chess game was cut short, and lunch started with all thirty or so people holding hands, going around and sharing one-by-one something or someone we’re thankful for. Most people said they were thankful for their family, or for good weather. A few folks expressed their gratefulness for God’s love, and one man said he was thankful just to wake up this morning. When it was my turn, I wanted to say that I was thankful for this guy to my left, for showing me God’s heart, the brevity of life, Godly perspective, and for loving on me through a game of chess.
I just smiled, thought for a second, and said to everyone “I’m just really thankful for the great conversations I’ve had here today.”
The sloppy joes were awesome, and so were the baked beans. Oh, and my sweet tea was much better the second time around.
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women & burgers
This entry is dedicated to Jimmy Won, who told me my blog brought him joy. Tonight, he brought me joy by visiting from Philly and buying me Oegadgib, a wonderful Korean meat buffet/extravaganza.
During my car ride home tonight after Oedgadgib, I realized that I like my women like my burgers.
1. Quality
It’s about the quality of the beef, and the quality of the ingredients. Kobe or Wagyu beef takes time and effort to produce, but the end result is the truth.
2. Taste/Flavor
Like any burger connoisseur, the burger must have great taste and a distinct flavor, but I’m not picky. I like barbecue/bacon burgers, guacamole/poblano burgers, teriyaki/pineapple burgers. I like quiet girls, outgoing girls, weird girls.
3. Size
Yesterday I was at Fuddruckers with Phil and Sam. I went with the 2/3lb burger over the 1/2lb burger. I don’t want my girlfriend to look like a Mcdonalds breakfast sausage, I want a good sized burger. Then again, I’m down with double cheeseburgers also, so small girls are cool too.
4. Color
I know many FOBs desire a woman who looks white as snow, perhaps to remind them of the cleansing power of Christ’s blood. On the contrary, I like a gal who is golden brown. Not one who rocks the fake and bake, which is probably something Jezebel would do, but one who is tan… from hours of gleaning my field.
5. Toppings
A great burger doesn’t necessarily need toppings, but a great burger with toppings only adds to the flavor profile. For instance, I love sauteed onions, mushrooms, and bacon. I also love a girl who can sing, cook, or play music.
6. Presentation
There’s a difference between presentation, and mere looks. Many foods can look disgusting, but in actuality, be amazing. Pardon my aside, but for example, a girl can look like jja jjang myun, basically noodles in diarrhea, or soondae, the droppings of a healthy, regular adult. However, sprinkle some crisp cucumber over the jja jjang myun, and you’ve got my attention.
7. Aroma
Before my meal during prayer, I’ll often bend my head over closer to the food to entice me and tease me for those 15 seconds or so. Its nice when a girl smells nice. Its not nice when she smells like fish sauce. Example: aroma of roasted garlic in my burger, vs. the odor of bleu cheese, which smells like satan.
8. Cheese
I’m not crazy about bleu cheese, but I really enjoy most other cheeses. I love muenster, mozzarella, cheddar, swiss, provolone, gruyere, and even parmesan. A girl that can “cheese” with a beautiful smile can make my heart melt. Mmm…melted cheese.
9. Essentials
All burgers must be seasoned with salt and pepper, two essential ingredients. My partner must know, and love Christ.
10. Messiness
I don’t mind my burgers messy, and I actually prefer them that way. If nothing is falling out of the burger as I’m enjoying it, then something is wrong, and the burger is probably lacking in one way or another. I’m not expecting a perfect girl. If some bacon falls out of my burger, I’ll pick it up and enjoy it anyway. If she can’t keep it together all the time, that’s okay… I understand gravity.
11. Heat
I like my burgers with some heat. I’ll use Sriracha, Tobasco, Texas Pete, Cholula, Jalepenos, or whatever is available. I like a girl who can get fired up about something. In this day and age where it’s so hard to find passionate people, there is nothing hotter than a girl who lives with purpose and drive. I don’t care if she’s passionate about social justice, or music, or cooking. Please, annnyyythingggg.
12. Nice buns
hehehe
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lets do breakfast
I remember back when I was in youth group, a handful of us did this thing called breakfast ministry. Every other Saturday morning, we’d go to Ihop at 6am, and after waking each other up with some laughter and smiles, we’d head to church for a quiet, intimate prayer meeting.
There’s something truly special about mornings with people that you love and care about. Hopefully this year some of us spend some quiet mornings together. If we’re daring, maybe we can even pray together.
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Played Nathan in three games of 21, beat him twice, and he won the last game because I gave him a 5 point lead. We walk inside and I grab a glass of water.
Nathan: hyungah, want a popsicle?
Joash: nah i’m good
Nathan: are you sure?
Joash: alright I’ll have one
He walks over and hands me this:
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the search continues…
I was watching Diners, Drive-In’s, and Dives with Nathan while snacking on the grilled cheese he made us, when I remembered a fun story from this weekend.
So after leading worship at New Hope Church with the band this past Sunday, we were driving over to Fresh Fire Church to say hey to Pastor Joey and the folks over there, when Caleb (our lead singer) called me from the car in front of me. The conversation went something like this:
“Hey Caleb”
“Hey Jojo”
“Whats up?”
“Jojo, I’m just calling ‘cuz I want you to meet this girl…”
“uhhhh what the random…?”
“Yeah I mean, I don’t know if you’re into like, mexican chicks, or indian chicks, or white chicks, but this one happens to be asian!”
“uh huh…”
“Yeah I met her on my last day at [work]. Dude, haha….she’s a fox.”
“HmMMMmm…but does she love Jesus?”
“Dude, you know I wouldn’t bring her up to you if she didn’t.”
“haha, okay okay”
“yeah we’ll go stop by [her work] for dessert later and say hi”
“sounds good dude, thanks haha.”
So at that point, I was pretty hyped. Later on, Caleb reminded me again that she was 1) super cute, 2) actually Korean, and 3) loved Jesus. That trio is almost as enticing as beef, pork, and chicken…
I got home from Charlottesville late Sunday after a full day of practice and songwriting (we have a new tune that has a chorus in a 7/4 time signature!), and out of curiosity I looked her up on his facebook friends list.
This is what I found:
Great so basically she’ll be graduating high school when I’m finished with my masters degree in teaching high schoolers.
the search continues….
*edit* Caleb informed me today that he thought she was much older.
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above all else
So christianaudio.com has the audio book of Francis Chan’s Crazy Love available for free download during the month of July, and after hearing about how it’s really impacted John’s life, I downloaded it and listened to it this past weekend. It was a couple hours long, but between all the driving I did from here to Charlottesville and back, it was just enough time to get through all of it.
It got me to start reflecting on my life and my personal ministry, including the way I view people, the way I perceive the opportunities in my life, and even the way that I give. More than anything, it really got me to take a real good look at Jesus again. I also started reading this book called Spiritual Leadership by Oswald Sanders. It outlines the role and calling of a servant of the church. As I read through it, I can’t help but fixate on the gap between where I am now and the where I’m called to be.
It’s tempting to just think about the ways that I need to change. You know, the behavior modification that we try to force on ourselves with sheer discipline, driven by shame. However, I have to remind myself that it is only by Jesus, for Jesus. He wants to do a greater work in me than I could ever aspire to myself.
Jesus, my passion in life is to know You
may all other goals bow down to
this journey of loving You more
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a tribute
This is an American made Fender Highway One Jazz bass that I refinished into Shell Pink. Before you cast judgement, it was inspired by one of my earliest influences as a bassist, Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers. An AOL-Time Warner executive gave Flea a 1961 Shell Pink Jazz bass as a gift, and it’s estimated to be worth around $30,000. Ever since I sold my MIA Jazz V, I missed that classic jazz growl so much. The pickups have been upgraded to Lindy Fralins, 10% overwound, and the bridge is a Leo Quan Badass II. It purrs.
It took a quart of lacquer thinner, latex gloves, tons of paper towls, several different grades of sandpaper, super glue, a can of nitrocellulose primer, a can of nitrocellulose color, two cans of nitrocellulose clear lacquer, tons of elbow grease, and a lot of patience.
Before:
During
After
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