Restoring the American Dream. Students in Jakarta, Indonesia, react to the announcement of Mr. Obama's victory, at the school he attended in childhood.

President Obama has won the hearts and minds of America.

Now he has to roll up to sleeves and back up the lofty speeches that helped him get to the White House.

How will he restore the vitality of the American economy?

How will he deal with the “war on terror” and the strained foreign relationships?

What will happen of the Republican Party?  The strategy to create an evangelical, right wing group centered on adhering to idealogy above all else has lead to a Demoractic House and Senate.

I was briefly watching a Frontline special on the rise of the Christian religion in China, mostly notably the growth is found in the rural and poor areas of China.

The show highlighted the government’s attempt to crack down on these so-called “house churches” that did not affliate themselves with the “official chinese christian church.”  That is, a church not founded by the government, the pastor not chosen by the government, and the rules and regulations of preaching not set forth by the government.

It was poignant to see the lengths of my fellow Christian brothers and sisters to worship together; in caves, in old ruins, in basements.  But now, as christianity is quickly gain ground in the metro areas of China, the government is reaching the crossroads.  Continue to track and to persecute the house churches or allow religious freedom…the spotlight is on them.

It is amazing to here these chinese christians leading the charge of the gospel there and being brave despite the unjustified jailings and beatings. 

Materialism and superficiality is wrecking China as they seek to become more economically successful.  The young generation of China will soon recognize the pursuit of the next best bag or the next best suit will not bring them much satisfaction in the end, but an unquenchable thirst.

But I was also reminded how the Lord will always take us through hellish paths to build ourselves and to rely on His strength.

We give in to the illusion sometimes that we are invincible, makers of our destiny, but only we are humbled by hurt and suffering done on ourselves or the ones we loved.

How do we stand when sometimes it feels the world is pressing us down?

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Started YCF workout log, today:

31 minutes, 24 seconds

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Summer class: Entrepreneurial Selling, Brand Strategy

MBA Internship: Market Strategy Project on Green Products

I think God is calling me to go into “green marketing”

I always wanted to do something fun, helpful, and creative. A marketing spirit trapped in an engineer’s body? Maybe because the body is Asian and I wear glasses. I always like the creativity aspect of marketing.

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Moving Home:
The deal: Pay rent plus cook once a week for the family. Fringe efforts include vaccumming and driving the folks around.
Yesterday, I learned a cantonese style tofu dish consisting of tofu, shrimp, and egg as ingredients.

I finally learned to de-vein shrimp too.

I think my dad is trying to teach me survival skills. Maybe I will learn how to clean a fish?

Unless these qualities are accepted in your culture, I don’t think being yourself will gain much ground.