- There are over 1,500 want-to-be lawyers in Virginia.
- There are a lot of Asians in the ‘L’ section. (We sat alphabetically.)
- The Virginia Bar Exam covers a lot of material but the two days go by really fast.
- “I am in Christ.” My identity is based on my being ‘in Christ,’ not based upon my performance. I have been saved through faith in Christ, not by my own works, so that I may not boast. If I don’t pass the Virginia bar exam, it doesn’t make me less loved by God or less significant of a person.
- My boast is in the cross and will continue to be. If I pass the Virginia Bar Exam, it is because of God’s grace. Whatever I am and whatever I have is a gift of God.
- Humility – to whom much is given, much is expected!
- It is hard to do things for the right motive. True blessing is found in seeking first the kingdom of God! (Phil 2:3). I need to be caught up in God’s glory. There are significant events in life, but God’s eternal plan is unstoppable. (Phil 1:21).
- Trusting in God is much better than trusting in myself. God will provide for all my needs. I am of much more worth than lilies and grass. Fear is a signal for me to check my heart. Prayer and working hard go hand in hand.
- Studying is wearisome and tires the body. Trials are opportunities to practice joy and to learn sympathy with the trials and pain of others.
- God’s law and his ordering of the universe are beautiful. God’s plan for law and government is meant for our good. Law reflects upon a God of order, mercy, and justice.

God often reminds us of His grandeur by presenting us with pleasant surprises in life. I get hit by His provisions in life and am reminded of how much I have to praise God for. Every good and perfect gift is from above, from our heavenly Father.

Yesterday, I thought our numbers for Bible Study would be low, since a few of our regulars could not make it. God has a sense of humor. We had a van full of new comers, bringing this week’s group of Philippians studiers to 23. It was our largest group yet.

I am thankful for all of God’s provisions: for His Word to read and a Gospel to meditate on, a house to share and a place to fellowship. I am encouraged by the hunger for God’s word among the students at Liberty University.

I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith– that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. – Philippians 3:8-11

Please pray that I would take advantage of opportunities to serve God, that I would be led by the Spirit, and that I would treasure Christ and have opportunities to show the world where my treasure is. (I realize the latter is a dangerous request.) Also, please pray for me to have perseverance and diligence in my studies and for Christ-centeredness and wisdom in my relationships.

In Philippians, Paul starts out by saying: “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you!” Lately, I’ve been reminded of the depth of relationships Christians can have because we are “in Christ.”

We are in Christ. With God’s love, peace, and grace, our fellowship with one another should be a great source of joy in our loves. Richness, unity, and depth in relationships is possible because Christ has given us the ministry of reconciliation.

So I will say this: I’m thankful to God for all those who care for me. These include my parents, college friends, and church buddies who care for my spiritual and physical well-being. Thank you for your prayers and concern for my life. Glory to God!

Fellowship: what a foretaste of the consummation of the joy that we will experience when Christ returns!

John Piper and David Powlison, in applying Biblical truth to their battles with cancer, write:

John Piper: You will waste your cancer if you let it drive you into solitude instead of deepen your relationships with manifest affection.

When Epaphroditus brought the gifts to Paul sent by the Philippian church he became ill and almost died. Paul tells the Philippians, “He has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was illâ€? (Philippians 2:26-27). What an amazing response! It does not say they were distressed that he was ill, but that he was distressed because they heard he was ill. That is the kind of heart God is aiming to create with cancer: a deeply affectionate, caring heart for people. Don’t waste your cancer by retreating into yourself.

David Powlison: Our culture is terrified of facing death. It is obsessed with medicine. It idolizes youth, health and energy. It tries to hide any signs of weakness or imperfection. You will bring huge blessing to others by living openly, believingly and lovingly within your weaknesses. Paradoxically, moving out into relationships when you are hurting and weak will actually strengthen others. ‘One anothering’ is a two-way street of generous giving and grateful receiving. Your need gives others an opportunity to love. And since love is always God’s highest purpose in you, too, you will learn his finest and most joyous lessons as you find small ways to express concern for others even when you are most weak. A great, life-threatening weakness can prove amazingly freeing. Nothing is left for you to do except to be loved by God and others, and to love God and others.

I’ve determined that many of my friends are loving and caring. They pray for me and write to me. I’ll say it again; I’ll miss you all.

I’ll be away from my computer in the next week. Talk to you for now.

I’m back! Europe was wonderful. I am grateful to God for the chance to go. The Swiss Alps declare the glory of God. What is man that he is mindful of us? Nothing in all creation can separate us from his love.

We have so much to praise God for. He has been faithful to his church over the years. Consider Cranmer who was martyred for the faith. Will we stand up for truth?

I am filled with gratitude for God’s blessings. We have his word! We should cherish it with all we have. Consider Luther, who translated the New Testament into German for his countrymen. God’s word is precious. How high and how wide is the love of Jesus Christ.

After seeing the castles, I understand the hymn, A Mighty Fortress.

Is this a good reason for Asian pride?

“Dear Cecil:
A good friend of mine, a Chinese born in Nanking, China, told me that many Chinese (including himself) do not need to use deodorant. “We don’t have sweat glands under our arms,” he said, “We don’t need to use deodorant.” I’d always thought that all humans were endowed with similar glands and organs. We all have lungs, livers, hearts, lymph glands, etc. Is Mr. Fu wrong? He’s rarely wrong about anything, honest.
–Marshall

Cecil replies:
Mr. Fu exaggerates, but he’s not completely wrong. It’s not that Asians don’t have sweat glands under their arms; the difference is that they have markedly fewer apocrine glands than black or white people. That doesn’t mean they sweat less–eccrine glands, the other main type of sweat gland, are a thousand times more numerous on most bodies, and Asians have plenty of them. But apocrine glands are the kind that make you stink.” –

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/021004.html

I can’t believe its March already.

Today was another anticipated day of rest. I’m glad God helped me through the last week. I must proclaim that the Lord is good. For Sunday school, Mr. Beatty taught on being salt and light to the world. Pastor Dodds preached on John 3; the need to be born again. For lunch, I went to Dr. Jenkins. Evening worship was from 2 John; about God’s commandments as a tool to keep us in the truth. College fellowship was splendid. I was reminded that I need to be thankful in all things. I’m thankful for so many opportunities to learn about God and the opportunity to be a good steward of truth.

I need to be discplined and pray more so that my joy can be complete.