I feel the desire to write this note. I want to be real with those of you that I know that might not get to see the deeper side of Jason Hoang. Truth is, I can tend to be a very superficial person. I am writing this to show people what has been on my mind lately and what God has shown me within the last couple of weeks. Recently I had a talk with a friend of mine. He challenged me to think about Jesus, and how he is able to pay the price for my sin. I mean how is it fair for Christ to be punished for MY sin. That is like an older brother getting punished for something the younger brother had done wrong. I just sat there thinking that it just doesn't seem right. Then my friend added, it is only because we are ONE with Christ that he is able to bear our sin, and in return impute or give righteousness to us. If we are one with Christ, we then find our identity and worth in Jesus. We are made a new being. Christ is the only one that can make us whole, that can make us complete, and restore our relationship with God.

This past Sunday at church the pastor gave a sermon on sex. He quoted Proverbs 5:15-20, you can look it up if your interested. Now I always thought that sex was a demonstration of the intimacy that Christ has with his Church. This train of thought is not wrong, but I have always failed to realize how intimacy with Christ comes from being one with Christ. When we partake in the act of sex, we become one with our partner. We become one physically, spiritually, and emotionally. This demonstrates the oneness and wholeness of God's character. The pastor mentioned that when we choose to have sex with someone we give our partner all of ourselves. That is why outside of marriage with no commitment, sex is a very destructive act. Then he began to look at the question of why sex was so appealing to us. I mean obviously it feels good, but usually our actions are driven by something deeper. He proposed the thought that when we have sex it gives us a sense that we are being delighted in. That despite all of the imperfections and insecurities within us we are being delighted in by our partner. We all desire being delighted in, and let me just say that there is none that delights more in us than God himself. When we are one with Christ, God looks at us the same as he looks at his very own Son. In Christ we become children of God. The same Father that looked down upon Jesus and said,"this is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased," looks down on us with the same pleasure in his heart and glow in his eyes. The beautiful thing about this is that it is not of ourselves, it is the gift of Christ. In him we can be filled and satisfied with no end. Our joy can be made complete in Christ, as his joy can be found in us. What a beautiful concept!

I do not want people to get the idea from this note that I think sex is bad. In fact I believe that it is a very beautiful gift from God. I encourage and implore those of you that are married to rejoice and delight in your spouse. In fact in Proverbs 5:18-19 God calls husbands to delight in and become intoxicated with their wives. I also challenge those of you that are married to express daily your delight and love for your spouse. Not just in sex, but reaffirm it in words and through all the little things. Sorry this note was so long, but it's been a big part of my thoughts. Good night all!!!