Learn From the Best

January 31, 2026

As a sports enthusiast, I have done a few things: running, SCUBA diving, swimming, cycling, snowboarding, skiing, triathlons, etc. I really enjoy all of them, but it takes time and effort to improve my skills. Even in running, there are techniques and skills you can learn to improve your performance. A lot of the time, I've tried to learn and improve these various disciplines on my own, and it’s not always easy to do so. I am not sure if I am doing them correctly. When I struggle with these issues, that’s when I hit the wall, and I don’t improve anymore.

Then, there’s a major breakthrough when you get help from an expert. For instance, in swimming, I would ask an expert to watch me swim a few times. All it takes is a couple of pointers from the expert and some simple drills I never thought of. That is when I improve to the next step. Of course, I don’t transform from a novice to a master at once, but these pointers will help me advance step by step. I found this to be true across all the disciplines I have engaged in.

Jesus did the same for the disciples on the road to Emmaus: “And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” Luke 24:27. Jesus, the Author, gave Bible studies to the disciples, and from the looks of it, it wasn’t a complicated study. It was simple pointers that helped them see that the Bible is all about pointing to Jesus. That was the start of their transformation. I think many of us struggle spiritually at some point in life, and the growth stops. That’s when we have to learn from the best, Jesus. Jesus, our Master teacher, will guide and lead us accordingly. 

Wind

January 24, 2026

It’s cold! The actual temperature here dropped to 17 below, but with the wind chill, it feels more like 40 below. The wind does make a big difference. When I run in the winter season, I can still run fine even when the temperature is low (not this weekend though, it’s way too cold), but it feels miserably cold when the wind blows, and it is a game-changer. However, in the summer heat, a cool breeze can make my run pleasant.

I was reading the story of the Red Sea crossing, and the Bible writes, “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided.” Exodus 14:21. Here in this story, the wind was used as a means to save the Israelites from being chased by the Egyptians. 

Also, in the story of Noah’s Flood, “Then God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the animals that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subsided.” Genesis 8:1. In this story, God uses the wind to bring the water level down so that Noah and his family could be delivered to land. 

In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit was described as like the wind. “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8; “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each one of them.” Acts 2:2,3. As we face the wind chill this weekend, may we also seek the Holy Spirit to be upon each one of us like the wind, and be filled by His presence.

Humility

January 17, 2026

We were at the Pettit National Ice Center in Milwaukee the other day. This is the very rink where they held the long-track speed skating trials for the US Olympic team a couple of weeks ago. I was observing the skaters around the rink, and there was a group of about four men going really fast; they were some serious athletes. I'd only seen speed skating on TV before, so it was a real treat to see these athletes train on the ice. One of them had USA written on their back, so I thought, “What if this is the Olympic team training for the upcoming events in a few weeks?” While these men were training, another woman, older-looking, was on skates, clipboard in hand. Whenever these guys zoomed by, she would yell something at them. I couldn’t figure out what she was saying, but clearly, she was coaching them.

A few minutes later, I approached this woman and asked if these guys were part of the Olympic team. She smiled and said that they were not, but someday they would be. Then she introduced herself to me, saying that she had raced in the Olympics back in the day. Her name was Bonnie Blair, one of the most decorated athletes in US speed skating history. She not only set multiple world records but also won five gold medals and a bronze medal over three Winter Olympics. She is a member of the US Olympic Hall of Fame. I looked her up later when I got home, and it was a pleasant surprise to learn about her accomplishments. And yet, she was so humble. Her demeanor was such that you would never have guessed her achievements. She didn’t tell me that she was an Olympian to brag, but only because I was so curious.

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:5-8. The Bible tells us that the King of the universe humbled Himself, became like us, and took the form of a servant. Paul teaches us to have this mind, to be humble like Jesus, and acknowledge what Jesus has done for us. May we be like Jesus and have the humility of Jesus.