- "When did you start taking religion so seriously?" "What prompted this 'religious epiphany'?I'd like to clear something, I didn't take religion seriously, I took my relationship with Jesus more seriously. But that's jargon and I understand what people mean when they ask me this question. At a certain moment in my life everything was at an all time low. Results were trash, school attendance was trash, I was a poor example of a Christian, I was far from God. It looked like everything was going pretty downhill in every aspect of my life, spiritual, social, educational. But like the prodigal son I found my way back to my Father's arms and boy did he embrace me. I feel like it was that moment where I truly became a Christian, whatever I was before was what's referred to as 'Pseudo Christian'. I became a much more active member of my church community, attended service more, made my church friends my social network (which took time and effort mind you) and went to more church events. To put it in a Christian way: The Holy Spirit was burning inside me and bearing the fruits of the Spirit. I don't think this is something that can be fully explained, I don't really have the words for it, other than thank God who poured his grace upon me.I suspect due to this 'religious epiphany' that people have talked smack about me but that's okay, I was once among that crowd so I understand where they're coming from. But when you make God the center of your life, those comments and insults seem very insignificant. At this point, I would like to stress that I do not view myself as better than anyone because of who I have become (If that comment has been made). I feel like there are a lot of misunderstandings in regards to Christianity and myself but I have not become a 'religious snob'.
- "Where did you get all the motivation from?"
To be honest, I don't know. In the holidays before HSC, and after prelims, I realised how crap I was doing at school and that gave me drive to work hard. There are people who have consistently worked hard from year 7 to now so the way I see it is: if they've done it for 5-6 years in a row, surely I can do it for 1 year. At first my motive was to prove to everyone that I'm not a dropkick and a failure but that made me a really horrible self-centred person. My new motivation is to use my results to glorify God and to honour my parents. I plan on getting the best possible ATAR to basically say to my parents "Thank you for supporting me through 12 years of education, thank you for the thousands of dollars you spent on school fees and tutoring. Here is the end result of all that support/money." The sad thing is, the ATAR I get isn't even for them, it's for me. They don't lose anything if I get a bad ATAR (except maybe some pride in me as a son), I'm the one who will have to deal with the consequences. Which is an example of how much our parents love us, sometimes they care about us more than we care about ourseleves.
I don't really know how to end my post lol. I guess I'll just put a list of things my readers (If I end up having any) should expect to see on my blog.
- Devotionals (basically I pick a bible passage I've been studying and give my analysis, reflection and application of it)
- Theology
- Photos of awesome events.
- Normal things that happen in my life which I feel like blogging about I suppose. LOL.
I guess I'll end with my favourite verse as of yet.
I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:38-39
-A. Dang
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