VOLUME 14 NO.1 // SPRING 2018
Burdened with Glorious Purpose What is God’s plan for my life?
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
At some point, we all ask this question. As believers, we understand that God has a plan for us. However, the timeline, details, and goals of that plan are often frustratingly ambiguous. Like Atlas carrying the weight of the heavens on his shoulders, we carry the burden of our unrevealed purpose of life. In this issue of Seed, our writers explore God’s plan, whether it be playing soccer, eating with others, reading the Bible, deciding what to do after graduation, traveling the world, conquering the world, or parenting the Messiah. We invite you to pray, think, and ponder your glorious purpose in God.
This publication is published by New York University students and NYU is not responsible for its contents.
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GOD’S PLAN Daniel Tejada
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TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT Hyoju Ban
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BEYOND WAR Joseph Shin
CONTENTS 13 GOD GIVEN GOLD Temistocles Molinar, Jr.
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FEAR, FACT, & FAITH Alyson Ferro
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YOU MUST READ THE BIBLE Daniel Kim
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GOODBYE Yvette Shin
Invitation to Pray
Financial District
GOD’S PLAN Daniel Tejada
Earlier this year, hip hop artist Drake released “God’s Plan,” a chart-topping track centered around the rapper’s future success in the rap industry. Though many want him to fail, he believes that God will not allow it because his success is all according to God’s plan. Judging from his music and pop culture lifestyle, Drake’s religious views are unclear. However, it is safe to say that he does believe that God exists and has a plan for his future.
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The fact that he has such confidence in God is actually quite encouraging to me. Sometimes I envy famous people who have so much faith in themselves while I still lack confidence in my own future success. I honestly struggle to believe that God is backing my every move. As I end my third year of college, there has been a big emphasis on the idea of vision and the plans that God has for me in several aspects of my life, such as committing to my home church, deciding where to live after college, and choosing my future career. Throughout this blueprinting stage of my life, one question sits on my mind heavily: Is my vision aligned with God’s plan for me? Like the refrain of a song, this question repeats every time I envision my future. I am genuinely excited about what’s to come, but I also can’t help wonder if I am living according to God’s will for me.
Uncertainty about the future is unsettling and uncomfortable; however, it also keeps me humble. Similar to the feeling of conviction, it is a constant reminder of the humility and reverence I am called to have for the word of God and His calling on my life. The Bible reminds us in Psalm 37:23 that, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way” (NKJV). Through this process, I must remember and believe that He is guiding my steps and leading me to what He has for me according to my faith and righteousness. Like many people, I’m still uncertain about the future. I still wonder. I still ask questions. But through God’s word and “God’s Plan,” He reminds me that with the right faith and guidance, He will have my back no matter what. I trust that my future is truly set and ordained as his word tells me. I may not know the details of His plan, but as I move forward, I can be sure that He will be with me every step of the way. 5
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A glass A glass of organic of organic coconut coconut milk.milk. A probiotic A probiotic capsule. capsule. Fermented Fermented berries. berries. ThisThis is myisbreakfast. my breakfast. I previously I previously had no hadproblem no problem eating eating chocolate chocolate croissants croissants for for breakfast breakfast or instant or instant noodles noodles for dinner. for dinner. I would I would gladly gladly take take any any foodfood as long as long as it as was it was free.free. ThatThat all changed all changed whenwhen I started I started yoga.yoga. The The yogayoga studio studio I frequent I frequent has mirrors has mirrors on every on every wall.wall. EachEach morning, morning, I amIgreeted am greeted by my byimage my image fromfrom everyevery possible possible angle. angle. Pretty Pretty soon,soon, the croissants the croissants and and noodles noodles began began to take to take theirtheir toll. toll. All that All that foodfood had ahad price a price afterafter all. My all. My “free” “free” free body’s body’s concave concave curves curves began began to turn to turn convex. convex. Holding Holding yogayoga posesposes became became harder harder and harder. and harder. EvenEven breathing breathing became became difficult. difficult.
ToToEa Ea Not Nottoto
I decided I decided to make to make drastic drastic changes changes to my todiet. my diet. I saidI said goodbye goodbye to my tobeloved my beloved buttered buttered toast.toast. I stopped I stopped eating eating meat,meat, thenthen baked baked goods, goods, thenthen takeout. takeout. I formed I formed a a shortshort list of listwhat of what I wasI was allowed allowed to eat; to eat; anything anything not on notthe onlist thewas list was strictly strictly off limits. off limits.
by by Hyoju Hy
But my Butdietary my dietary restrictions restrictions camecame withwith an adverse an adverse side side effect. effect. offered offered me food, me food, I hadI to hadrefuse. to refuse. When When people people generously generously Recently, Recently, my friend my friend ChrisChris invited invited me tomea hot to apot hotdinner pot dinner withwith friends. friends. I genuinely I genuinely wanted wanted to go, tobut go,the butthought the thought of putting of putting my my foodfood in a big, in a big, communal communal pot terrified pot terrified me. Ime. hadI become had become so used so used to eating to eating my own my own foodfood by myself by myself that Ithat no Ilonger no longer felt felt comfortable comfortable eating eating withwith others. others.
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There There are several are several accounts accounts of Jesus of Jesus eating eating in theinBible. the Bible. Interestingly, Interestingly, all ofallthese of these accounts accounts emphasize emphasize whom whom He ate Hewith ate with rather rather thanthan whatwhat He ate. He Mark ate. Mark 2:162:16 sayssays that He thatate Hewith ate with tax tax collectors collectors and sinners. and sinners. LukeLuke 24:43 24:43 describes describes the Risen the Risen JesusJesus eating eating a piece a piece of broiled of broiled fish in fishtheinpresence the presence of His of disciples. His disciples. I I believe believe it was it was because because sharing sharing a meal a meal withwith people people was was an an important important part part of His of ministry. His ministry. It was It was His way His way of accepting of accepting His His eating eating companions companions and building and building relationships. relationships.
atatoror oEat? Eat?
people people oftentimes oftentimes means means accepting accepting Accepting Accepting the food the food theythey offeroffer or their or their invitation invitation to a to a meal.meal. I amIconstantly am constantly at a crossroads. at a crossroads. BuildBuild relationships relationships or eatorhealthy? eat healthy?
yoju u BanBan
Revelations Revelations 3:203:20 says,says, “I will “I will comecome in and in eat andwith eat with that that person, person, and they and they withwith me” me” (NIV). (NIV). JesusJesus is willing is willing to come to come in and in eat and eat withwith me so methat so that I may I may be with be with Him.Him. In fact, In fact, He paid He paid the ultimate the ultimate priceprice so that so that I may I may be with be with Him.Him. Dying Dying on the oncross, the cross, to say to the sayleast, the least, was was veryvery bad for badHis for health. His health. But doing But doing so so to betoinbea in a mademade it possible it possible for all forhumankind all humankind relationship relationship withwith Him.Him.
I don’t I don’t thinkthink I should I should throw throw awayaway my list myor listeatoranything eat anything givengiven to to me. God me. God carescares aboutabout my health my health just as justmuch as much as I do. as IBut do. IBut canI can learnlearn moderation moderation and flexibility. and flexibility. AndAnd I canI even can even shareshare my passion my passion for healthy for healthy foodfood withwith others. others. So the Sonext the next timetime I catch I catch my my reflection reflection at theatyoga the yoga studio, studio, I’m simply I’m simply going going to hold to hold my pose, my pose, maintain maintain my breathing, my breathing, and remember and remember JesusJesus whowho did whatever did whatever it it tooktook to betowith be with me. me. 9
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Grace Church
Greenwich Village
BEYOND WAR 8
joseph shin
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wo people sat down on chairs opposite each other, a round glass coffee table separating them. There were two cups of coffee placed on it, lightly steaming.
“Alone, please,” the first person said coldly. And with that, the room emptied of the quiet assistant who had brought the coffee, and the wiry typist, who was surprised and relieved that he would no longer have to record the imminent clashing of egos. “Coffee’s good. It settles my stomach,” the second person said, matter-of-factly. “Really?” the first said. “All I get is a burnt tongue. We didn’t come here to talk about coffee.” “I’m ready to negotiate. Happily.” The second took another sip from his coffee and sat back in his seat comfortably. “There has been quite a lot of bloodshed, more than is necessary. I—I’m well aware that my people are suffering, agonizing over the losses, which have been rising ever since the second siege.” The first had leaned over awkwardly while saying this, his large body now craned over like a skinny bird, his hand cupped around the warm mug. continued 9
“The death toll has been high for both sides, that is true. So many tears and wails.” The second propped his elbow on the arm of the chair and cradled his chin on his palm, thinking or appearing to do so. He averted his eyes to the stained-glass window to his right. “And?” the first grunted, his eyes locked onto the second with building impatience. “Maybe I like to take the less dignified approach to loss, in that I view these tragic occurrences as ...” and with that, the second shifted his eyes back to the first for a split second, as if to test the waters, before saying, “opportunities.” The first realigned his posture, his feet pushing deep into the floor and his spine curling straight up like a snake. “I must say, it’s not surprising to me that someone of your nature can’t empathize with suffering, to see it as it is, instead of philosophizing its effects.” “Please. Explain my nature,” the second said, a small smile beginning to form. “You’re eager to condescend to those who display any semblance of weakness, and you use that machine brain of yours to spit out empty words because it’s music to your deaf ears. I may be reactive, but I react correctly when my people suffer.”
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The second kept his eyes focused on the stained-glass window, its fragmented shapes telling the story of sturdy hope instead of fearful optimism. The first was right, and there was no reasonable retort. So the second looked straight at the first, their eyes finally building a bridge, one that most would be cautious to cross, but to the patient and wise, was of highest importance. The second said: “You are at the end of yourself. I can see it. That is why I’m here, because every limit you reach with that sanctimonious brain of yours can be extended with a smile and a caring hand. Every wall you collide with can be broken down with simple words that affirm alliance and mutual development. Do I sometimes speak for the sake of speaking? Yes. But that’s what you need right now, because bloodshed begets further bloodshed. And both of us are on the same team, in the same brain.” The first glanced away for a brief second before reorienting his gaze at the second. Their eyes were finally meeting, so the conversation could finally begin. The room around them, consciousness you might call it, coiled into order as it began speaking to itself. And with that, two bridged together to build a better whole. If the typist had remained in the room, he might’ve written this down: “Three in one is divine; two in one births the potential for maturation.” 11
Financial District
Fulton Street Subway Station
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od iven old
Temistocles Molinar, Jr.
I began playing soccer at the age of five. Since then, my soccer abilities developed dramatically over the years. Inspired by my idol, Lionel Messi, I gained a fierce desire to train and reach the highest level possible. However, in spite of my talent, passion, and determination, persistent injuries sustained during college prevented me from achieving my lifelong dream of becoming a professional soccer player.
As a result, I became very bitter toward the sport. I first stopped watching soccer completely, and later I even stopped playing it. I wanted nothing to do with soccer; I could not bear the fact that other players—who had worked no harder than I had—were being exalted at the highest level while I was not. I felt this way for several years until God’s word came to me in Chapter 25 of the Book of Matthew: The Parable of theofBags of Gold. The Parable the Bags of Gold. continued
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I first heard this parable during one of our Seed club meetings a few years ago. In it, a man entrusts his wealth to three servants. The first two servants diligently invest their gold and both turn a 100% profit. But the third servant hides his bag of gold and does nothing. I realized that I was just like the servant who dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money rather than put it to work. While the servant hid his money out of fear that his master would take what he had earned, I had hidden my soccer talent out of pride. As I meditated on the parable, I came to the simple yet profound realization that the talent I have to play soccer was given to me by God and is not my own. This talent, therefore, is God’s to do with as He pleases. Whether or not I play professional soccer does not matter, because it is not about what I want but what God
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wants. The moment I realized this, I felt foolish and wicked for forsaking the gift that God had given me and metaphorically hiding it under a rock because I could no longer do what I wanted with it. There was so much I could be doing with this gift, such as coaching kids or helping soccer leagues in the city. I began looking for coaching opportunities and joined two local men’s league teams that play every week. I discovered a newfound love for the game after I returned to playing, and I now see the game in a completely different light. God’s word has the power to change lives. And because of this, I have a new dream: to live the rest of my life as a testament to the power of his life-giving (and life-changing) word. So whether I end up playing soccer for others, for myself, or just for fun, I know that I will definitely be playing for Him. Bethesda Terrace, Central Park
Central Park
Tile Ceiling at Bethesda Terrace
Dust rose and wind blew against our sleepy faces as we skidded across the sandy red landscape of Bagan, Myanmar, in search of a sunrise. Our motorbikes were going oh-so-slowly at 20 kilometers per hour, but the moment was magical. Fear. I had wanted to travel to Myanmar for a few years before this trip—to meet its kind people and eat delicious food, to see the intricate pagodas, and to learn about a country that was so isolated from the world. This year, I was finally going to make it. However, a week before my trip, I began to question it from both an ethical and safety lens, even though I had done extensive research and was at peace with my decision. In the end, I made it out to three cities in Myanmar. I was still nervous at the start, which led me to spend the first day religiously taking Pepto-Bismol after every meal, avoiding local food, and Trip Advisor-ing each location. Needless to say, I was exhausted by the time I hit the bed. Fact and Faith. By the second day, I realized I needed to strike a balance. I decided to rely on facts rather than speculation, consulting a dozen internet articles to help me proceed safely. More importantly, I resolved to trust the judgment and reasoning skills God had blessed me with. This translated to: eating local food after thoroughly examining online reviews, riding scooters at slow speeds with helmets to save ourselves walks in 105 degree weather, and praying for our safety and that of others around us. When I stopped overthinking my actions, I ended up learning about Myanmar’s rich history and culture. Talking to residents about recent events challenged me to form new perspectives on the current political landscape. And the food was delicious and not overpriced. This seemingly simple balance of fact and faith led to one of the most freeing and insightful travel experiences I’ve ever had. And it taught me a lesson I can apply to other areas of my life, to appreciate God’s creation wherever I am and to trust His promise of protection when I follow Him.
Fear, Fact, and Faith
Alyson Ferro
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“YOU CANNOT EXPECT TO GROW IN GRACE IF YOU DO NOT READ THE SCRIPTURES.” CHARLES SPURGEON
Hans Christian Anderson Statue Central Park 18
YOU MUST READ THE
BIBLE DANIEL KIM
Reading the Bible can be burdensome. The sheer density of the truths packed into God’s Word can make it difficult for us to turn off the computer and pick up the Bible. However, Jesus did not pay much attention to these details when He said, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples” (John 8:31 ESV). Daily Scripture reading is not optional for those who profess Christ. It is an absolute. “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation” (1 Peter 2:2). The computer and the cellphone are captivating portals into dissipation, and they draw our eyes away from our Savior and toward sin far too often. We lose out to Satan and forfeit a good bulk of our eternal reward because we would rather watch YouTube than struggle alongside Paul as he explains how much Christ loves us (Romans 5:68). Satan is an efficient puppeteer, and he loves to regale us with pleasant distractions as he moves us along with glittering strings.
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LIFELINE ANCHOR GOLDEN THREAD THAT LINKS
IT IS OUR
THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR NOT READING THE WORD.
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US TO
CHRIST
When we contemplate the spiritual state of America in the present, we are confronted with a buffet of maladies that should grieve even the most hardened Christian. Everyone is quick to anger and slow to kindness, easily provoked but barely placated. We are swift to judge and slow to understand, tolerant in word but intolerant in deed. We disregard the value of human life while trumpeting our self-righteousness from every corner, digital or otherwise. It is my firm belief that people are miserable, aimless, and angry despite their prosperity because they have strayed away from the Scriptures. When the Bible is removed from the daily consideration of the human conscience, trouble and evil erupt like volcanic flame. And Christians, too, are falling
into the trap of exchanging their eternal reward for the temporary pleasures of a world that is passing away. While our brothers and sisters in China and Vietnam suffer because they cannot get their hands on a Bible, we cannot be bothered to open our own. While they die in churches, we are at home on Sundays playing video games. There is no excuse for not reading the Word. It is our lifeline, our anchor, the unbreakable golden thread that links us to Christ. Yes, some passages are hard to understand. Yes, it can be difficult to concentrate. But our Lord has already commanded us to persist in this area of our Christian lives as we would in all other areas, and He promises us that with the reading of the Bible comes great reward. Brothers and sisters, read the Bible! Open it up now, and read. Even if you haven’t for a while, and the golden tome is cloaked with dust, brush it off and read. It is the Lord’s command and His desire for us all.
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I see no faces. I look around and my eyes meet only backs and shoulders and chests. I cannot see their expressions but I hear their shouts. I have never heard such anger. All their hate is so focused, sharpened to a fine tip that stabs my flesh with every syllable. Years ago, the temple prophet told me that a sword would pierce my own soul. Did he know it would end like this? I want to shout back. I want to meet their curses with pleas for justice and mercy. But I am mute; I cannot even cry. Their curses choke me. I am drowning in a sea of rage. They are not the first to shout at him. I was his mother, the first to raise my voice to him in stern rebuke. When he played too long with the kids. When he forgot to do his chores. When he stayed in the Holy City by himself without a word to his father or me. But I was his mother; it was my responsibility to keep him safe. I was rebuking myself more than I was rebuking him. From then, he promised to behave, and he did. But I could feel his struggle. He was obedient to us, but I knew that his ultimate loyalty was to another. When he said that he had to be about his “Father’s business” we understood that he wasn’t speaking about carpentry. A familiar face emerges from the crowd, the youngest of the group, the one called “Beloved.” The others had fled in fear, but this one came to mourn his rabbi with me. Love is a powerful thing. It drives out even fear. From the cross, he looks down to me and to the beloved and says, “Woman, behold thy son,” and to him, “Behold thy mother.”
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Mothers should not bury their sons. But I am no ordinary mother. And he is no ordinary son. When he was born into the world, after hours of painful labor, I welcomed him, my precious son, into my arms. And when I am reborn into the next world, after a lifetime of labor, he will welcome me, his precious daughter, into his arms. He is my son. But he is also my Lord. He is straining to draw breath; the end is near. Suddenly, the tears explode from me. A groan that begins deep within my gut rises until it rushes from my throat. I vomit out the curses that had suffocated me with a loud cry, a cry that silences his accusers. All that can be heard are his gasps and my sobs. I collapse to the ground; strength escapes my body, as his spirit prepares to escape his. Our eyes meet one last time. The moment I have been dreading since his birth is now here. With his final breath, he shouts, not in bitterness but in victory, “It is finished.� Goodbye, my son, my beautiful, beautiful boy. Goodbye.
YVETTE SHIN
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C O N T R I B U TO RS HYOJU BAN ALYSON FERRO DANIEL KIM TEMISTOCLES MOLINAR, JR. JOSEPH SHIN YVETTE SHIN DANIEL TEJADA JOSEPH WANG
E D I T I N G & L AY O U T ANAH OOZEERALLY CARISTA ELIANI ALYSON FERRO REBEKAH SHIN YVETTE SHIN
C O V E R P H O T O BY J O S E P H WA N G D E S I G N E D BY C A R I S TA E L I A N I “FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU,” DECLARES THE LORD, “PLANS TO PROSPER YOU AND NOT TO HARM YOU, PLANS TO GIVE YOU HOPE AND A FUTURE. ” JEREMIAH 29:11 NIV