Gene Gu

If I could sit down with my teenage self, I would tell him that there are three lessons he will not learn that will cost him years of confusion and missed opportunities. They weren’t in any textbook. No teacher ever brought them up. And yet, they have shaped my life more than anything I was formally taught. 1. School Trains You To Be An Employee, Not For Success What we learn in school contributes very little to how well we do later in life. The system is set up to prepare students to become another cog in the existing societal system—and most of us don’t realize this until we’re already out of school, struggling to make a living, manage our lives, and build a future. “The skills that actually determine success in life are rarely found in a school curriculum.” Things like how to learn independently, communicate clearly, network with confidence, build and manage relationships, resolve conflict, sell ideas, invest money, and manage your finances are just some of the ingredients for a suc...

1. As a Man Thinketh This book explores the incredible power that thoughts possess. And it taught me to be aware and careful about what I think about, as the thoughts you and I consistently think about eventually expresses itself in our actions, which then translate into our character, circumstances, and our eventual life outcome. 2. Atomic Habits The core idea of this book is how small, consistent changes compound into incredible results over the long term. And how you and I don’t rise to the level of the goals we’ve set for ourselves, but fall to the level of the systems we have in our lives. This book helped me view habits with a much greater appreciation and as an area of focus in my life. The practical insights and tips in this book on how to develop the habits I want and eliminate the habits I don’t want have really encouraged me and helped me in my personal development. It taught me that "Success is the product of daily habits — not once-in-a-lifetime transformation." ...

On September 10, 2025, at Utah Valley University, a tragic event unfolded that shook the western world to its core. Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA and a vocal conservative leader, was addressing a crowd of young supporters when a bullet struck his neck. In an instant, chaos erupted, and Kirk was gone. President Trump labeled it a "political assassination," sparking widespread mourning and outrage. But just weeks prior, another heartbreaking loss occurred: Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, was brutally stabbed on a Charlotte light rail by a repeat offender with 14 prior convictions—freed due to lenient "progressive" policies. Kirk's last X post fiercely politicized her death, blaming the system that allowed her killer to walk free. Today, we're not dwelling on the graphic videos still circulating on social media. Instead, let's confront the deeper question: What really killed Iryan Zarutska ? And what really kil...

Rocket scientists send us to the moon. Computer scientists built the internet. But being a scientist isn't just a profession—it's a frame of mind, a mode of thinking fundamentally different from preaching, prosecuting, politicking, or any other approach to understanding our world. We move into scientist mode when we're genuinely searching for truth. We run experiments to test hypotheses and discover knowledge. We follow the evidence where it leads, even when it contradicts our initial beliefs. And perhaps most importantly, we're willing to be wrong.   The Science of Spiritual Growth: Testing Hypotheses in Daily Life Hypotheses have as much of a place in our daily lives as they do in the laboratory. Experiments can—and should—inform our everyday decisions. You don't need to don a white lab coat to reason like a scientist. Research has shown that entrepreneurs trained in scientific thinking bring in more revenue twice as fast and attract customers sooner than those wi...

In a world obsessed with comfort and self-gratification, the ancient wisdom of sacrifice stands in stark contrast to our modern mindset. Jesus's parable of the rich fool in Luke 12 serves as a powerful reminder that true abundance isn't found in what we store up for ourselves, but in what we give away. The Rich Fool's Fatal Mistake The parable tells of a wealthy man whose land produced an abundant harvest. Instead of sharing his blessing, he decided to tear down his barns to build bigger ones, telling himself, "You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." But God's response was swift and sobering: "You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?" This powerful story reveals God's perspective—He abhors those who selfishly hoard resources while telling themselves to take life easy. By contrast, He loves those who take life seriously a...

In the journey of parenthood, few stories offer as much wisdom as Jesus's parable of the prodigal son. This ancient tale reveals profound truths about unconditional love, patience, and the delicate balance between guidance and freedom that every parent must navigate. As a father myself, I've found myself reflecting deeply on what this story teaches us about raising children in today's complex world.   The Parable Revisited Many of us have probably heard the ancient story about the prodigal son. There was a rich man who had two sons. One day the younger son asked his father to give him his share of the inheritance now. The father divided up his possessions and gave his younger son his share. Once the younger son received it, he gathered all his possessions and set off for a distant country. There he squandered all the wealth he was given in wild living. A severe famine came to the country where the younger son resided. Having lost everything, he found himself feeding pigs ju...

Photo by Maruxa Lomoljo Koren When Adam and Eve disobeyed God's command by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden, sin entered the world. From that moment on, humanity became marked by inherent sin . Every person born of man and woman carries this fallen nature, making us sinners from birth—regardless of our intentions, achievements, or religious status. This remains true even after we repent and choose to walk according to God's ways. It’s easy to fall into the trap of comparison—thinking we are better or worse than others, more virtuous, more moral, wiser, or more flawed. But none of those measurements change one eternal truth: you and I are still sinners. We are human, and as long as we live in this world, we will make mistakes and fall short. However, being born a sinner is not something we need to live in guilt about—just as we wouldn’t feel guilty for being born with physical limitations or tendencies. Our sinful nature is not a reas...