God Is Merciful and I Need His Mercy

Upon hearing the sermon this morning shared by Mike Wilkerson, my first thought was,

“This is not what I need to hear today. Couldn’t there have been a better sermon for today?”

As much as the teaching was not what I was hoping to hear, the scripture used was such a great reminder.

¹⁴Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:14 – 16

The speaker shared about our need for Christ’s mercy in Our Suffering and in Our Sin. Christ empathizes with our pains, struggles, defeats and faults. Because of this, we can approach His throne boldly  - not with pride – but with confidence knowing that He extends mercy toward us over and over again.

Christ is merciful and I am a sinner saved by His grace. Each and everyday I am in need of His mercy because I falter, stumble and fail so often. Praise God that His mercies are new every morning and that I have access to Him.

God is merciful and I need His mercy.

Online Writing Challenge – Day 4

Post-It Question by Jenny Blake

That which each can do best, none but his Maker can teach him. Where is the master who could have taught Shakespeare? Where is the master who could have instructed Franklin, or Washington, or Bacon, or Newton? . . . Shakespeare will never be made by the study of Shakespeare. Do that which is assigned you, and you cannot hope too much or dare too much. – Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance

That which each can do best, none but his Maker can teach him. Where is the master who could have taught Shakespeare? Where is the master who could have instructed Franklin, or Washington, or Bacon, or Newton? . . . Shakespeare will never be made by the study of Shakespeare. Do that which is assigned you, and you cannot hope too much or dare too much.
(Author: Jenny Blake)

My Response

One of my biggest problems is that I do not understand how to apply the design knowledge I have to create a wonderful, good looking, usable web site. I know all the principles of design and the principles of usability, but when it comes time to create a website, all those principles go out the window and I just create.

How can I better apply my design knowledge to practical web design and development?

Online Writing Challenge – Day 3

One Strong Belief by Buster Benson

It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude. – Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance

The world is powered by passionate people, powerful ideas, and fearless action. What’s one strong belief you possess that isn’t shared by your closest friends or family? What inspires this belief, and what have you done to actively live it?

(Author: Buster Benson)

My Response

One belief I have that my closest friends and family do not share is the belief that each and every individual needs to hear the fact that Jesus Christ loves them, died for them and wants to give them an abundant life if they would accept.

How am I actively living this out? One way that I attempt to live this is out is by helping a non-profit raise funds to get the word out about the Gospel to villages, families and individuals in South Asia that have never once heard about the love of God.

Also, I share with those around me about the love of Christ when I think they might have never heard. Growing up in America, a so-called “christian” nation, so many poeple heard of God, but have never truly encountered Him. Once you encounter Him there is no turning back. You either accept or reject His gift.

You can have the abundant life with Christ or a life void of Christ, His love and direction.

Online Writing Challenge – Day 2

Today by Liz Danzico

Your genuine action will explain itself, and will explain your other genuine actions. Your conformity explains nothing. The force of character is cumulative. – Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance

If ‘the voyage of the best ship is a zigzag line of a hundred tacks,’ then it is more genuine to be present today than to recount yesterdays. How would you describe today using only one sentence? Tell today’s sentence to one other person. Repeat each day.

(Author: Liz Danzico)

My Response

I felt isolated even though I was surrounded by friends and when the walls of isolation came down the feelings that arose only made me want to put the walls back up again.

This was written in response to http://ralphwaldoemerson.me/liz-danzico.

Dust it Off and Try Again

That’s a line in a popular hip-hop sing, but still an appropriate and Biblical way to approach life and our day-to-day life.

How often do we pray for something one time and when we don’t get the answer we want, we stop asking? Or how eager are we to stop trying something the Lord has asked us to do if it doesn’t work the first time? Or what if a door is closed, but the Lord sakes us to knock one more time, do you trust Him enough to knock again?

In Luke 5 we see Peter is so ready to obey the Lord. Look at this:
v4 “And when he had left speaking, he said to Simon, Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draughts. v5 And Simon answered and said, Master, we toiled all night, and took nothing: but at thy word I will let down the nets.”

Despite Peter’s previous experience of failure, he was ready to do exactly what the Lord asked of him even if it meant doing the same thing again. I’m sure people around thought Peter looked ridiculous when they saw him going back out to fish. They knew he was fishing all night and knew he wouldn’t catch anymore just by fishing for a while longer.

Are you ready and willing to do what the Lord asks you to do, even if it’s caused pain and failure in the past? Or if it makes you seem foolish in the eyes of others?

Dust yourself off and try again, because the Lord asked you to.

Why I Like Twitter

Twitter is not new and this post is not going to blow your mind, but it will tell you why a 25-year-old guy, who isn’t interested in “tweeting” much loves to use Twitter.

Founded in 2006, Twitter was founded by a couple of guys as a micro-blogging tool and it took off, having over 184 million users today. That number is rising and rising quickly.

Now there are avid users and lovers of Twitter, such as iJustine who’s whole life can be read about on Twitter and watched a YouTube – it’s crazy! That is not who I am. I’m a mild tweeter.

I Like Twitter…Why?
There are a few reasons I like it and use it. I’ve listed a few of them below.

News
Through Twitter I am able to see and read the major headlines of the news outlets I choose as the headlines are being written. The New York Times, CNN, BBC, ESPN and others. All that input coming to me in real time. I click on the link they provide to the article and now I’m all caught up on my news!

Design
As a web designer, I want to know what the latest design trends are and I want to know the pros and cons of them from designers I respect. Twitter provides me with this, as well as a way to interact with them and ask them questions. Twitter educates me through the people who share on it.

Friends
I’m not claiming that Twitter r helps my social life, by no means. Twitter provides me a way to enjoy my friends witty comments, pictures and insights on life. As the world changes to being more mobile, twitter, facebook and other social sites are the way that people are sharing their lives. Not only are people sharing, but people are wiling to help. Have a question that you need answered? Ask it on Twitter and your friends will help you answer it. “Where can I find great steak in Dallas?” In 10 minutes I can get 5 responses with recommendations! It’s great!

Vision
This heading might seem a little off, but I used to think that Twitter would soon fade away, but I don’t think it will anymore. I’m not saying that Twitter is going to last forever either, but I don’t think it’s just a trend. I like it and use it, but I know plenty of people that hate it.

I believe Twitter is smart enough to realize that they need to morph as the culture changes. The world is becoming more mobile and living on the web more and more. Because this is the reality people want to be able to access all links and web pages from their Twitter applications. Shop for a date night, finding the restaurant, flowers, dessert, a romantic place to go afterwards – all by using Twitter and your friends as resources. This video created and produced in-house by Twitter shows where Twitter is going in the future.
the New Twitter.

Lastly, other organizations and peoples have created their own software to use Twitter, bringing it to new levels. Here is a link to show you the various applications created to help people navigate Twitter.
The Best Twitter Apps for Windows.

Oh ya…if you’re on Twitter, follow me! @jachacko

Newsletter for May 2010

Here’s my newsletter for the month of May. As sad as this is, this is actually my first newsletter…EVER! Enjoy!

View this document on Scribd

Dog Sitting

My days of dog sitting are now over! I believe I completed the task successfully and that I might be better for it. In case you want to read about the first two days. Here’s day one and day two.

Day 3: Teaching A Dog New Tricks

Even with my lack of experience with dogs, I thought I should try and teach Enoch a trick of some sort. With treats in-hand, I embarked (no pun intended) on the process teaching a dog.  Teaching kids is hard enough for me, but teaching a dog, how much harder could it be?!

Easier in fact! Enoch loved his treats and to make him get his treat he had to “play dead.” I’m not quite sure that’s really a trick or even something someone want’s their dog taught, but in my case…it’s a trick

Day: 4: Acrobats

He flipped out! Literally! I opened to door to my car to get a few things out while walking Enoch and successfully retrieved the items. I was holding onto the leash and Enoch ran and tried to jump into my car. I just held onto the leash and when he jumped, the leash yanked him back and literally did a back flip. It was crazy! Enoch the acrobat.

I felt bad for him, but he didn’t seem to mind too much.

Day 5: Chillin’

I honestly can’t remember all the things that happened, but for one day we just chilled. Enoch played fetch inside with his red chew toy and it wasn’t too bad.

Day 6: Saying Good-bye

On Sunday night, after having watched Enoch for only  a few days; it was time to turn him over to the next dog-sitter. Michelle, loves dogs and I’m sure Enoch was more than happy to be around her after being around a timid, dog novice like myself.

Michelle is a co-worker, serving as a writer at Gospel for Asia where I work as a web designer. Relieving me of my duties a whole day early, Michelle arrived at the apartment eager and willing to take care of Enoch.  I cleaned up my clothes, vacuumed and was on my way. Back to my apartment with no dog to watch.

Initially there was a sense of loneliness and a desire for a dog, but not more than a week later that feeling had already subsided and I was back to being content and even thankful I did not have a dog to watch!

By the Numbers: 3

In the April 12th issue of TIME magazine Steve Jobs and his iPad stole most the pages. I honestly don’t think the iPad is worth that much attention nor do I think Jobs deserves this much attention…at least not yet.

Although I don’t own an iPad nor held one, I don’t think the iPad is “revolutionary” yet. It’s a really big and heavy iPod Touch with 3G possibilities.  I’ll save my rant for another post.

On to “By the Numbers”:

714 – Estimated state-sanctioned executions for 2009 in all countries excluding China.

1,000s – number of executions in China in 2009.

I’m pretty sure this is China’s form of population control. Just saying.

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70 – approximate number of seconds it will take to download a full-length DVD on Google’s new network. Welcome to Googleville?

22nd – Global rank of the U.S. in Internet-connection speed

First of all, 70 seconds?!? That’s ridiculously fast. How much time would we, as Americans, save if everyone had access to such download/upload speed?

Secondly, how is it that America is still only 22nd in the world when it comes to our internet connection speed?  Aren’t we some sort of global leader of some sort? 22nd!? Really?! Who is ahead of America?

in 2007, America was ranked 14th in the world in broadband speed according to this graph.

According to SpeedTest.net, America is 29th in Download time and even lower in upload times! Wow! Even Hungary and Slovakia beat us!

Dog Sitting Day 2: Nerves

Day 2: Nerves

Since this is my first time taking care of a dog and because the dog is at the owner’s place, I’m somewhat nervous about the dog doing something while I’m gone. I’ve been told he’s a good dog, but I have a feeling Enoch will do something that will  cause me frustration – at some point.

I’m nervous. In the morning I took Enoch out to do his deeds, fed him and played with him for a bit. Off to work I went and came back over my  lunch break to make sure things were okay with this special Boston Terrier. We walked and again and he took care of some more business. For some reason his water dish was on the carpet (a good 10 feet from where it should be) and was turned over.

When I came back from work last night, the dish was on the turned-over and on the couch. Also, he must have peed somewhere cause I could smell the scent in the room, but couldn’t locate where exactly it was.

Day 2 was completed successfully, but the anxiety and worry over whether Enoch is okay and doing has shown me once again that I would not want a dog of my own.