June 19, 2007
Is this thing on?
Hmm, really not sure what to do with this website any more. =)
I just don't know what to blog about any more; so many of my thoughts these days are either completely stream-of-consciousness or too personal. Either way, I can't imagine it being very interesting to anyone else but myself. That, and I'm super lazy and forgetful - even if something interesting did happen, I'd most likely forget about it by the time I dragged myself to a computer to blog about it! Haha. =P
I thought I would use this website to focus on my photography more, but (1) I haven't had too many opportunities to go shooting lately, and (2) I'm starting to use Flickr more to host my pictures instead!
I'm also spending more time on Facebook (if you haven't already created an account, you should! It's a pretty fun social network portal... think Friendster, but way more interesting, interactive and fun! ;)).
Wow... I can't believe I'll be leaving for China in 3 weeks! I'm super excited about what God has in store for us! I think this truly will be a pivotal year for me, in many different aspects of my life. God seems to have set many things in motion...
In the meantime, here's some silliness for your enjoyment:
Bow down and respect my nerdiness, you mere mortals! Muahahahaha!!! ;P
Posted by stevelee at 01:47 AM | Comments (0)
May 14, 2007
Survivor: Fiji
(writing this as I watch the season finale of Survivor...)
Noooooooo... Yau-man got voted off! Stupid Dreamz!!! >_<
I really wanted to see him win it all (as I'm sure he would have, if he made it to the final 3)... but can't really blame Dreamz and Earl for what they did though. *sigh*
...Man... that final tribal council had to be the most VICIOUS one I've ever seen! Lots of bitterness there, LOL.
Ahh well... once Yau-man got voted off, I think it was really obvious that Earl was going to win it all, unless Dreamz got sympathy votes... but even then, I think he pissed way too many people off!
...I totally don't buy Dreamz' claim that he knew what he was doing from the beginning! The guy is freaking RANDOM and two-faced! Don't give me that crap about how he PLANNED to betray Yau-man from the onset of the deal when he cries in front of the cameras and talks about being a "man of his word" during his private interviews! He's either lying to himself, or carried the whole "trick everyone plan" to an unnecessary extreme!
I give props to Yau-man for being such a classy and gracious loser, and how he totally encourages Dreamz! I think Yau-man nailed it when he described Dreamz as having "flashes of genius... just really unstructured in his thinking."
=====
WHOA... next season's Survivor will be based in China??? DEFINITELY must watch!
Wow... so sad that the Amazing Race, Survivor, NHL, and NBA seasons are all ending - what am I going to do until football season?? Hahaha, j/k! ;P
Posted by stevelee at 01:13 AM | Comments (0)
May 04, 2007
Playoff atmospheres: Sharks vs. Warriors
I just came back from tonight's Warriors game, where they knocked off the Mavs to advance to the second round! GO WARRIORS!!! I have to say... I thought the Shark Tank got insane during the playoffs, but that was NOTHING compared to the atmosphere in Oracle Arena tonight! I'm really impressed!!!
So it got me thinking... why is the atmosphere so much more insane than in the Sharks games?
I think it boils down to:
- They play music (mostly hip hop, and/or stuff with a really upbeat beat) throughout the game, which helps the fans stay pumped up. In hockey, they stop playing the music once the puck drops.
- They encourage people to stand and cheer. At the Shark Tank, you pretty much have to sit down and lean back, otherwise you completely block the view of the person behind you. This kinda keeps fans subdued.
- Warriors fans haven't seen the playoffs in 13 years... so they have lots of pent-up excitement!
- It's easier for your average sports fan to get into basketball and understand what's going on. There were LOTS of younger people at the Warriors game! Plus, you saw stars like Jessica Alba, Snoop Dawg, Carlos Santana cheering on the Warriors... no one famous seems to go to Sharks games! =(
To put things into perspective: when Patty Marleau scored his game-clinching goal in round 1 vs. Nashville, the Shark Tank EXPLODED... it was so freaking loud in there that they had to stop play for a few minutes to wait for us fans to settle down! It was like that MOST OF THE WARRIORS GAME tonight!!! People just remained standing for most of the game, yelling and cheering... that was truly an awesome experience!
Even though I paid out the nose for these Warriors tickets, it was completely worth it! In fact, I think I'll have to continue going to Warriors and Sharks games as long as they're still in the playoffs!!!
Man... I think I'm still deaf in both ears... and I don't think I'll be able to talk for a few days! Hahaha. =D
Posted by stevelee at 01:12 AM | Comments (0)
May 02, 2007
Broken people
It's amazing how God can use the most random of moments to speak to us!
I was reading the World of Warcraft forums and came across this snippet:
"...I know he had some issues with his mom always hitting him really hard while he'd try to do instances with us, and it'd make it tough for him to play. Anyway, on Maulgar we had a great pull and suddenly you hear his mom find him on the computer and start screaming at the top of her lungs. He had vent on the whole time and we could hear her just beating the ever loving crap out of him! You could hear him crying as she was calling him an "UGLY CROSS EYED FAT PIECE OF !#!!" and slapping the hell out of his face..."
Inexplicably, as I read that... I couldn't help but choke up as I envisioned the brokenness of that family... of an overweight guy struggling with self-image and self-esteem, vainly trying to escape a depressing reality through video games... only to be beat down - both physically and mentally - by someone who should be trying to build him up.
Perhaps I'm over-reacting, but it's hard not to when I used to be that kid... a lonely, depressed, suicidal kid just crying out for a light in the darkness! I constantly praise God for sending dear friends who loved me and never gave up on me - neither did they allow me to give up on myself. Through them, God gave me hope and promise of a new life...
I think this is part of why I have such a soft spot for the youth... when I think back on all the stupid things I've done, I know that God wants me to use these experiences to empathize with others who struggle, and encourage them to a healthier life.
I spent the rest of the evening praying for that family, and all the other broken families around the world...
Thank you God for your love and the example you give us in Christ Jesus! I pray that you constantly remind me of what a broken person I am, and how much more of you I need in my life!
Posted by stevelee at 12:15 AM | Comments (0)
April 16, 2007
Go Sharks!!!
OMG... in an area (the Bay Area, to be precise) filled with fair weather sports fans (*cough* Giants *cough* Niners *cough*), it's so refreshing to be surrounded by real fans that know when to make noise and cheer on their team... and not boo at the first sign of trouble. That's just lame.
I swear, Sharks fans are some of the best fans out of any sport! (A's fans are hardcore too... but I guess I'm biased, haha)
I knew tonight would be crazy after all the cheap shots that Nashville took on the Sharks in the first 2 games, but tonight was just insane! I loved it!!! After Patty Marleau scored the 3rd goal to put the game away, the place just erupted! You seriously could not hear yourself think! Hahaha... I probably lost my voice for the next few days, LOL.
Man... I love hockey! It seriously is the best sport to play AND watch!
I kinda regret not getting tickets for the other games of the Sharks-Preds series... but I suppose it's a blessing in disguise: I can save more money for the later rounds, and of course, the STANLEY CUP!
GO SHARKS!!!!
Posted by stevelee at 11:17 PM | Comments (0)
April 05, 2007
American Idol
Why is Sanjaya still on the show America, why?!?!?!?!
Thinking about Sanjaya (and the fact that he beat out better singers) irks me. *sigh*
/rant
Posted by stevelee at 01:54 PM | Comments (0)
March 19, 2007
Prayer is such a privilege!
I know so many of my entries sound repetitive - all simple praises of God and such. But that's the thing - God has been so good and faithful, that mere words can't express the extent of my feelings! For example, no words can describe the joy/brokenness/adrenaline/peace that comes from being in the Lord's presence. Especially after interceding on behalf of others - the emotions just run the entire gamut!
Praying with and for others also naturally creates fellowship - a bond that seems inherently organic, pure and genuine! When you're sharing the presence of God together, you can't help BUT to feel more love and connection with those around you. =)
Which is why I count it such a privilege to be able to pray so freely, and for others!
=====
I think my experiences with youth ministry and teaching overseas has firmly convicted me that any teacher who says they they don't have any favorite (students) is LYING!! Hahaha... as much as you try to be as impartial as possible, inwardly, you're beaming when one of your "favorites" does something to continue setting them apart from the others. =) I think I've gotten over the guilt of such feelings for the most part - after all, Jesus himself picked out 12 disciples to focus on, right? =D
These experiences have also confirmed what I suspected about myself for many years now: if God ever blesses me with a daughter, she's soooo going to be daddy's girl! =P
Posted by stevelee at 11:55 PM | Comments (0)
February 27, 2007
World Christian Conference 2007 pictures
Praise God from whom all blessings come!
It's always awesome to worship and have fellowship with the WCC community - the presence of the HS always is so much more tangible, such that I can't help but feel joy! In many ways, it reminds me of the sensations I have when I serve overseas!
As always, I feel like I've been blessed by the Lord so much more than I deserve; I received specific experiences and confirmations which answered past prayers and helped set what seems to be my next steps into motion!
It's been an amazing journey and process that God's taken me these past 4 years; well, all my life, really... but especially these past few years! Many things are set in motion, and I'm very excited to see where the Lord leads me in faith!
=====
I had the opportunity to rent and try out some lenses for WCC. Oh man, bad move... because now, I'm seriously wanting to buy new equipment!!! Well, it doesn't help that most of my lenses got stolen at a wedding I shot!
But yeah, I'm really drooling over the 35mm f/1.4 L - such a sweet lens! Plus, I still want to replace my 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS and 85mm f/1.8! *sigh*
Posted by stevelee at 10:24 PM | Comments (5)
February 02, 2007
IHOP, Kansas CIty
(Photo courtesy of Steph)
I went to Kansas City this past weekend with 2 friends from church to visit the International House of Prayer, which basically is a missions base focused around Spirit-led prayer and worship, 24/7! I wasn't sure what to expect, but I praise God for being an awesome and faithful God! I had an amazing time just basking in His presence - they have these prayer rooms open 24/7 which have different worship teams that rotate every 2 hours, comprised of some seriously talented people!
It's an amazing privilege and blessing to be able to spend so much uninterrupted time in prayer and reading the Word... even more of a blessing that I got to share the experience with 2 other friends, and have some fun yet meaningful fellowship time with each other outside of, well, fellowship! =)
Obviously, there's so much more to share about what I experienced this past weekend, but that's a conversation best done in person. =)
On a completely random note: I couldn't believe that food pretty much cost the same price as in the Bay Area! So much for my preconceived notion that everything in the middle of the country would be dirt cheap! ;P
Thank you Lord for being such a faithful and loving God! Your blessings and grace far exceed what I deserve!
Posted by stevelee at 02:13 AM | Comments (1)
January 21, 2007
Life after death...
Thanks everyone for your prayers and messages of condolences about my grandma's passing.
The family wanted me to give the eulogy at my grandma's funeral service; I really praise God for answering prayers and giving me the words to share with everyone there. I shared some fond memories about my grandma, and was able to integrate how God is the true provider of love and comfort in a way that honored both her and God. People came up afterwards to express how touched they were by my sharing, and asked about my faith.
It's very poignant and poetic in a sense; I had been praying for my grandparents' salvation... prayers which weren't answered. But even in my dear grandma's death, God provided opportunities for new seeds of life to be planted in the rest of the family. In many ways, it reminds me of how Jesus came to die for us all, so that we may have salvation and eternal life.
Continue reading "Life after death..."
Posted by stevelee at 11:11 PM | Comments (0)