from the cradles

i hate the beach for these simple five reasons:
1. i get burnt every single time i happen to go
2. the sand always manages its way into everything
3. it's boring without friends or family
4. sharks or anything else that lurks in the dark sea
5. the more time i spend there, the grosser i get
i can only think of one reason to love the beach:
1. it serves as a constant reminder of how much
bigger the Lord of the universe is.
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note to self: next time, don't go to the beach. if so,
stay only for a little while and make sure not to use
sunblock that has been expired for two years.

four wallets

too much of my time is being spent on the screen. i have a headache.
for once, i can understand why my mother dislikes technology.
peace and quiet which only the Lord can provide is what i need.
oh, and i'm thankful for this family...everyone, let's play this summer.

hyouhaku

Hello, everyone! I wrote you this poem, because I’m a poor public speaker.

See, when I see all of your pretty eyes staring, my voice tends to get weaker.

“Congratulations! You’ve finally made it!” Ah, to me that sounds so lyrical.

Because if you were to look at my past, you’d think my graduation was a miracle.

As my brother, Max, can testify, I was mean, disrespectful, and angry all the time.

To put simply, I would have been arrested in a second if being a punk were a crime.

But I spent most of my childhood searching for acceptance and masculinity.

While praying to God for forgiveness as a kid, I never accepted His divinity.

And all the while, He blessed me with parents that have always loved me to this day.

I guess I should say these things now, because next year, with you I will no longer stay.

Mom, your name is so fitting, because I don’t deserve someone like you.

You’ve taught me that it’s not money or romance, but only God that I should pursue.

Dad, I know we don’t speak much, because you’re not a big talker.

But when things are quiet, I always see you in prayer- I know, I’m a stalker.

Both of you show your dedication to the Lord and motivate me to do the same.

If I could describe you two in only one word, I would just use my name.

Now I must thank all of my advisers whom have helped me along the way.

Firstly, I’d like to thank the one who recently got married, the one and only Peter Guei.

Your smile, your witty black shirts. You are one of the reasons why I loved 9aday.

Hazel Lebiga, you’re always up to date with the media, you make encyclopedias jealous.

When it comes to zombies, business, and expository teaching, you are always the most zealous.

Next, I’d like to thank you, Kevin Chen, for helping me lead small group.

Without your guidance, I sometimes think we would never get off the subject of poop.

Herald, one of my big heroes, discipleship with you has been sweeter than churros.

If I could paint the lessons that you’ve taught me, it would span more than a few murals.

Onto the junior advisers, we can call them the “Super Awesome Mega Ultra Cool Changs.”

Emily, thanks for all the artsy decorations. Along with Serena, we’re always the paparazzi gang.

Emmanuel, thank you for all of your outgoing craziness. Physical or spiritual, always get gains.

To all of my peers, I would like to say thank you for these past few years.

Fellowship with you all has brought me great joy and to that I say “Cheers!”

Although I’m leaving, I have confidence in my faith of the gospel.

So, my brothers and sisters, don’t wait to love others, because all the time you have is snao.

so the story goes

while the big brother is up in norcal, the little brother at home
claims half of the second floor as his own. he misses him already.
but in these first days of his final summer, he can't help feeling
alone and quiet and still- just as he should be. solitude is often
viewed as a sad, forsaken state bordered by nothing, but to him,
there is a secret serenity hidden in isolation. he wouldn't mind
if the last page of this chapter were left somewhat empty, blank.
this summer, he just wants to sit at the feet of his God and listen.

kokuten

on to the next fight...a fire in his eyes
it's not time to rest yet, he picks up his sword
and walks uncertain of what is ahead
but confident of what is waiting at the end

foolish little brother

you can try to grab hold of the past, but it won't change.
just as you can cling to something trivial, the facts aren't rewritten.
you can make up a false reality, but in the end, you're in this one.
just as you can put on make up- things hidden will be revealed.
you can remain silent to keep your friends, but they are dead.
just as you can walk through a crowd of blind men in a burning
building and not lead a single one out to safety with you...
my friend, if you want to kill me, hate me, despise me then
run, run, and cling to life- you will most definitely lose it.
but hate me and i will only love you more. for a love that loves
in spite of rejection is far deeper than the love i have for you now.
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uchiha itachi remains the best anime character ever ^/_\^

free ball

a combination of dodgeball, capture-the-flag, and chess!
basically, i spent the whole day inventing a new game...
which could possibly surpass its childhood predecessor
conquer the castle. in other news, after some thorough
investigation, (also known as a best friend's intuition)
he is falling for yet another girl...this time, someone i know.
all i have to say is, "give it up, you don't know love yet."
if he spends his days fantasizing over that mushy crap...
it is not so surprising to find that he's not learning from
his devotionals. he's far too distracted, and amidst his
confusion, he may actually be trying to tell me something.
well, i would tell him to drop it. drop all the "500 days"
romance that is worthless. surrender to the love that is
eternally priceless. i love him and i want him to mature
in his faith. God, i pray that You break him apart and
that he would flee youthful passions.

health

about to run at castle park with emmanuel...
hopefully, i don't die.

fly, you fools

instead of doing homework...i'm listening to a marathon
of songs from all the animes and shows i've watched
throughout the years. what a wonderful afternoon it has been.

do you even know me?

the world really has gotten bigger for you
seems like a castle's in your way...
and you are running now on the wide path.
here i am standing where our friendship
used to be, wishing you had never aged into
the darkness in which you faithfully reside.
you have always been my brother neither
older nor younger- we were equally grown.
our time together has been great- but now
i understand another side of the pain that
comes from having a best friend. i've always
thought that the hardest part was letting go,
moving on to another part of life, only to
reminisce later with a nostalgic soliloquy.
but no- now i see that breaking the bond
would only be painfully trite, and much
too easy. loving you- despite your choices-
is much more difficult. it's unconditional.
i'm not judging you, for i know that i am
not your judge. no, i have strongholds in my
life as well- many of which you can relate to-
but when you bring alcohol into the picture,
all of those summer days in which we played
so carelessly when we were younger suddenly
have turned into night. suddenly, i see you
quickening your death. suddenly, our good
memories have started to blur (possibly more
for you than for me). should i be angry at all?
should i retaliate by crashing one of those
idiotic parties that you attend just to knock
you out so that you don't further harm your
body? or maybe i should go whip your "friends"
for being stupid enough to mess with my brother.
of course i should be angry! but...i am not.
instead, i'm on the verge of tears, desperately
praying for you! don't do this to yourself!
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Jesus paid a price that He didn't owe,
because we owed a price that we couldn't pay.

fat

in the past eight days, i've eaten food from outside for at
least one meal each day. kfc, costco pizza, carls jr., panera,
subway, and in-n-out. this needs to stop. i've been lazy
mostly because i haven't used my free time as well as i
thought i would. and thus, my entire body has slowed down,
including my thought process (explains the horrible writing).
surprisingly, my muscles have not deteriorated completely-
but my natural fitness can only hold out for so long. it is time
to do work. God, help me aim my thoughts and motivation
always toward Your glory. i pray that You would keep me
disciplined, not only physically, but spiritually as well.
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just made a workout schedule
from today until september 4th.
things are always more organized
on printed paper.