I'm Jumping on the Bandwagon

So I've never professed myself as a Warriors fan. When people ask me who my favorite basketball team is I say "I don't have one. I would like to be a Warriors fan but they suck so bad." And they really have since the days of Chris Mullin, Tim Hardaway, and Mitch Ritchmond (RUN TMC). And even then they weren't that great.

But last night I watched game four with Daniel Chang and I have to say that I was really impressed. Baron Davis is the man. I never really thought much of him because he looks very modest, not flashy. But I've underrated him. I can't say that I was as excited about the team as I was about the 90's Bulls but it's good to have new basketball life in the Bay Area again. I believe! Well I believe that they will win this series but I don't expect much past that. Truly one of the reasons they are winning the series is because Dirk Nowitski has been playing really bad the last four games. He was so cold last night it was kind of embarrassing.

Game 5 - Tuesday, May 1 at Dallas, 6:30 p.m. Who is down to watch it?

TV 201

I'm teaching 201 this Saturday. I like teaching the course and I get a lot out of preparing for it. But I kind of have reservations about teaching it this time because there are two people my age in the group.

I know for myself that I don't really like being led by someone my age or younger. I know there are a lot of people younger than me that are a lot more mature spiritually, but just the fact they are younger would make me feel weird being led by them. Am I an ageist?

Switching topics, why is there nothing on TV these days? Entourage is the only show that I look forward to seeing. I really wish it were an hour long. Darn you Marky Mark!

I really miss sitcoms. It's weird but most of the shows on our Video Recorder (TIVO) are reality shows! Never thought that would ever happen. I was totally opposed to reality shows when they first came out. But now it's all about Survivor, American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, Real World, Real World vs. Road Rules, America's Top Model (Mary's), Top chef, That designer show with Heidi Klum, Hell's Kitchen (which I love, that guy is my hero), and the list goes on and on.

Actually I did forget to include How I Met Your Mother and King of Queens in there. But bring back the good sitcoms!!!!!

Prayer Service

In light of the tragedy that occurred this morning at Virginia Tech, our school had a special prayer service today. Our school has a Catholic heritage so the prayer was led by the campus priest and they sang a read a lot of prayers by saints. It was very beautiful and I'm glad that I was able to come together with members of my school community and pray for the victims and their family.

Picante Review

So I had the best burrito I've ever had in my entire life last night. And I've had a lot of burritos in my short 32 years of existence. Including my first burrito in this little Mexican shack called Mek-shee-ko in Ulsan, Korea when I was 3.

The restaurant is called Picante. It's in Berkeley on Gilman and 6th. I've finally had a super burrito that's lived up to its name. The meat they use is really good quality steak from Harrah's Ranch and they smother the burrito with cheese. So every bite is this symphony of soft tender beef, seasoned rice, beans, sour cream, guacamole, and gooey cheese.

I've been thinking about this burrito all day and I've been telling all my co-workers about it. Try it, you won't regret it. Tell them Jin sent you. They won't know what you are talking about, but the burrito will still be awesome.

No Title

So I had a blind student come in and ask me to help her fill out the financial aid application. Then afterwards she asked me if I could walk her back to the dorms. On the way she asked if we could stop by the mailroom and get her mail.

As we opened up her mailbox, she asked me to tell her what she got. "Something from Big Sisters and some junkmail," I replied.

Anyways it was great helping her with these little things that she couldn't do herself. And even though we were only together for a short time, it was amazing to see all the things that she was able to do herself. She was also a great conversationalist. We talked a little about Korea and a little about financial aid.

Whose Son Are You?

Ruth 4

The Genealogy of David

13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. Then he went to her, and the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14 The women said to Naomi: "Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! 15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth."

16 Then Naomi took the child, laid him in her lap and cared for him. 17 The women living there said, "Naomi has a son." And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.


It's amazing how important lineage is to God. It was very important to the people in the Old Testament and it is still pretty important today. Ruth is such a short book of the Bible but it is important because she was a great woman of faith and also she was the great grandmother of David.

I guess every grandmother, mother, father, and grandfather thinks that their line is going to be great. My mom keeps telling me that I'm going to be the President of Korea someday, because a fortune teller told her so when I was born. (Pretty funny) But I too like all fathers wishes that my son will become a great person. How cool would it be if he became a politician, professional athlete, actor, doctor, great mechanic?

But you know what, I'm not done yet either. I feel like I've just began my life in a lot of ways. I know that I'm not done growing spiritually, financially, and physically (seriously 230lb here I come) I know that I haven't reached my full potential and become the man that God had in mind when he created me. I know that I'm on my way, but I'm not there yet. Throughout the Bible people always refer to themselves as _______ son of ________. When Christian grows up, I want him to say proudly I'm Christian son of Jin Choi.

You Are The Man!

2 Samuel 12

The LORD sent Nathan to David. When he came to him, he said, "There were two men in a certain town, one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had a very large number of sheep and cattle, 3 but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food, drank from his cup and even slept in his arms. It was like a daughter to him.

4 "Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him."

5 David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, "As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! 6 He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity."

7 Then Nathan said to David, "You are the man!

13 Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD."

I am reading through the 3 year Bible because I know that I can't read it one year. Right now I am reading through the story of David and Bathsheba. What struck me most was David's repentant heart. How many of us when confronted with our sin try to hide it or even deny it. But David repented and fell before the Lord.

Because of his great sin the Lord took his son and even that he took with grace knowing the Lord is just.

19 David noticed that his servants were whispering among themselves and he realized the child was dead. "Is the child dead?" he asked.
"Yes," they replied, "he is dead."

20 Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate.

21 His servants asked him, "Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!"

22 He answered, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.' 23 But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me."

I feel like this passage is so rich with substance that I could probably chew on it for years. But two things that I take way are; when confronted by my sins, acknowledge them and repent and the second, God is just.

Please Like Me

If someone just doesn't like you, can you really do anything about it? I mean if they don't like you for who you are at the core, that is something that you can't change. I've realized in my measly 32 years of existence, that some people will not like you and that you can't please everybody.

One time at my old church I went on this retreat with my class brothers. And this one guy confessed to me that he hated me for 3 years because I shunned him one time my sophomore year. So for 3 years unbeknownst to me this guy held a grudge against me and actually brewed with feelings of hatred. 3 years! I was thinking, WOW I didn’t know that I was so significant. But I guess I am.

So I say, try to keep yourself open for a relationship with a person that doesn't like you, but don't force it. Because in the end you can't make someone like you.

It Really Doesn't Matter

Nothing really matters,
Anyone can see,
Nothing really matters-,nothing really matters to me,

Any way the wind blows....


Don't you feel like that sometimes?

House Meeting

Our house had a big house meeting last night. All of us have been arguing a lot since we moved into our new house, well it started before then but I feel like it has escalated. So I got Mary and her mom together and told them both that this needs to stop. I want a house of peace.

Overall the meeting was good and it cleared up a lot of things for all of us. It was especially exhausting for Mary as she had to keep translating for us.

I am really worried about the future though. One of the things that came up was that Mary's mom thinks we spend too much time at church. She said that our family was deteriorating because of our involvement. She went on to say that family should come first, but we are putting church first.

That was pretty funny to Mary and I, well actually it was more upsetting. Because we both feel like we are putting in the bare minimum at church. We both feel that in some ways family should come first and by no means are we letting our family deteriorate. Mary's mom later admitted that it wasn't.

But Mary's mom is not a Christian and she holds very different beliefs than Mary and I do and it is really upsetting that she feels this way, because she is helping us raise our son Christian. It troubles me, because I know how she likes to make little comments about people that really hurt. She does it to me about Mary all the time. So I am afraid that when Christian is old enough to comprehend things, she will poison his mind with things that Mary and I completely disagree with. Things like, "church is not important"," don't be like your parents"," money is the most important thing", etc. I don't think that I'm being irrational because this could and will happen to a certain extent.

So pray for us. Pray that we will rub off on her more as she continues to live with us and begin to share the same views. And more importantly pray that she will accept Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. I have been guilty of not praying for her. I need to include her in my daily prayers.

We Gonna Party Like It's Your Birthday

This Saturday I went out for my best friend and his girlfriend's birthday party. We went to dinner at this place called Mochica in the city. It was my first Peruvian experience. Food was good and the prices were very reasonable. Order and share their appetizers because each one has a very unique flavor and style.

After dinner we went to a club called Boss. It used to be a Korean club called Bellagio, formerly Avaron. It's funny because the last time Mary and I went clubbing was my friend's last birthday party. We had an awesome time and it was good to catch up with old friends.

I feel so old when I go clubbing now. I mean our clubbing days were over years ago. I remember the last time Mary and I went clubbing on our own. We were in line and then this kid came up to me and was like, "Jin hyung, it's me David!" I turned and saw this kid that was in my junior high youth group when I was in college. That's when I said okay I'm not going clubbing anymore.

It's sad really. When did we get so old? On Saturday we went shopping for a washer, dryer, and refrigerator. Let me repeat, I went shopping for a washer, dryer, and refrigerator!