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Daniel Im

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significance

the definition of laziness

September 14, 2008 By Daniel Im

Laziness.  We all feel it.  We’ve all experienced it.  It’s something that really isn’t that foreign to most of us.  But why do we struggle with it so often?  Some of us, due to our laziness, choose to go on the internet, watch tv or a movie, instead of doing what actually needs to get done.  Others choose to sleep or go play sports instead of taking care of their responsibilities.

We all have times of laziness. But where does laziness originate from?  Why is it so easy to be lazy?

The dictionary defines “lazy” as being “unwilling to work or use energy.”

My wife and I have an arrangement – If one of us cooks, then the other person has to clean up.  As a result, there are often many times when I, full of laziness, don’t want to clean up even though it was my wife who cooked.  However, just because I don’t want to clean up doesn’t mean that I don’t do it – I eventually get to it.

But one time when I was trying to coax my wife into cleaning the dishes, she came back with a statement that cut through my heart and is, when you think about it, pure genius. She said,

“Laziness is not a condition, it’s a choice.”

Perhaps the thing that separates greatness from mediocrity is a simple choice.

What choice are you making?

blessings from God

July 23, 2008 By Daniel Im

I just read an awesome and insightful entry by Pete Wilson, which you can check out here.

The following are my thoughts on a similar topic:

We are blessed. Having the technology, time, and money to access the internet and view this post means that you are blessed. I probably don’t even have to convince you regarding how much you are blessed. Just look at the clothes you’re wearing, the things in your house, the fact that you have a roof over your head, the people in your life, etc.

As a result, there are a few different types of people. There are those who don’t even consider themselves blessed, in comparison to others, and have this insatiable desire for more. These people don’t feel like they have enough as it is, and are always thinking about what else they could buy.

On the other hand, there are those who consider themselves blessed, but still want more regardless.

We hear and read about all the people in the world who are suffering. The fact that one child dies every five seconds from hunger related causes (that’s 16 000 children everyday). The fact that 12 million people have been orphaned by AIDS, across sub-Saharan Africa, by the end of 2005. The fact that 10.1 million children died before they reached their fifth birthday in 2005. And the fact that approximately 30 000 people go to bed hungry everyday.

Sure we read and hear about these facts, but is our heart moved? Are we compelled to act? Maybe…maybe not.

I believe that if we do the following and make a paradigm shift in our thinking, our actions will follow suit:

[Read more…] about blessings from God

conversations with the homeless (radio appearance)

July 16, 2008 By Daniel Im

This upcoming Friday July 18th, I’ll be appearing on the radio, CKUT 90.3 FM at 8:30 am. You could also listen from the internet by clicking here.

I’ve been asked to appear on a radio show with Jeffrey Mackie to comment on an event we did a month ago with our youth ministry – Conversations with the Homeless.

We did the event for a couple of reasons.

Did you know that there are approximately 2100 verses on the poor and the oppressed in the Bible? That definitely says something in itself. Did you also know that in one of Jesus’ first sermons, he proclaimed that he was not only called to share the good news to the poor, but to also act and set them free from their oppression? (Luke 4)

As a result, I know that all of us have had contact with the homeless. My question to you is: What was your response? Did you ignore them? Did you give them something? Did you demean them? etc.

The easiest “charitable” thing to do for individuals who are homeless is to give them food, right? Well, instead of merely meeting their physical need, and feeling good about our “charitable” work, we thought we would take the next step and do something different – something that many people refuse to do and in many ways, something that is actually more difficult. We decided to give them our time. In other words, conversation.

I hope you can tune in and hear the interview.

competition vs. achiever

June 22, 2008 By Daniel Im

Some of you may not know, but I am an intense believer in the Clifton StrengthsFinder Assessment. Now I know the stigma that veils many assessments (i.e. assessments aren’t accurate, it will box me in, etc), but this StrengthsFinder assessment is extremely different. Based on millions of interviews and over half a century of academic research, this assessment accurately reveals what your natural talents are (I know because I’ve talked to countless number of people who have taken the assessment and loved it). Anyway, my goal of this post isn’t to sell the assessment, but to talk about a certain aspect of it. (In the future, I will continue to talk about strengths and talents.)

When I reflect on my past, I realize that I have never actually won many things. In all of my Tae Kwon Do competitions, I would always get third place or worst. In my short career as a 12 year old hockey player, I got the MVP award. Hahaha…okay I wish. Instead of the MVP, I got the MIP award – most improved player. And we all know that the MIP award is the award given to the worst player. Anyway, in all of that I have never actually won many things. However, even though I was deeply disappointed with not winning, I quickly got over it and went on with life. Why? Because “competition” is not one of my talents (themes) – “achiever” is!

If I had competition, then I would have a deep inner desire to win first place in all things. That is definitely not me. I don’t care if I get first place or second, all I really care about is working hard and doing the best that I can do. In other words, I have a great deal of stamina, and I work hard, but winning isn’t necessarily on the top of my priorities. Having said all that, I do like to win, but it’s just not everything to me.

Now what does all this information have to do with you?

Let me answer that question with a quote that my brother in law (Michael Hu) told me: “Know thy enemy and know thy self and you will win a hundred battles.” Sun Tzu Wu

In other words, in a culture where there is hardly any emphasis on self-knowledge, true greatness and significance will only be achieved when you discover the unique way that God has created you – the distinct fingerprints of God on your life.

significance

June 21, 2008 By Daniel Im

One thing that unites us all as human beings is a desire or a craving for significance.

When you search deep down inside of your soul, you will find a deep hunger for significance. In fact, you don’t even need to do much soul searching to discover that craving for significance. Think about today, was there a moment when you wanted someone else to see what you were doing? Did you do something to please someone or to be pleased by someone? All of these are inklings of our craving for significance.

For example, even my act of writing this post or creating this blog hints at my deep craving for significance.

We all have this craving for significance. Some of us ignore it, some of us surpress it, and some of us even flaunt it. I believe that do any of those would be less than human and less than noble. What we need to do is embrace our craving for significance and honestly look at it.

In what one area do we really want significance? Is it in your career? relationships? academics? Let’s get a bit more detailed. What do you really value? What is the desire of your heart? What is the one thing that you want to do on this earth before you die?

When we embrace our craving for significance, look at it long enough, and peel back all of the layers, we see one thing…

…the fingerprint of God.

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