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Today is the fourth anniversary of my ordination as a pastor. One of the things I decided to do after I became a pastor was to watch the video that contains the ordination service. I wanted to revisit and relive the precious and humble moments. I must remember my humble beginning. How can I ever forget that? But man’s propensity is to forget. That’s why I got into the habit of watching the video. So I sat down on my sofa today and popped in the video. Then I had my son, 9-year-old, come and sit next to me. How can he really understand the ordination, but I wanted him at least to taste what it is like to become a pastor.
As I began to watch the video, the old memories began to sweep over me and I was there at the church in Arlington, Texas. I soaked in everything I heard again: Pastor In-Gyun Oh’s message about Christ’s calling, equipping, and sending out of his disciples, Pastor Kyung Kim’s words of encouragement about having tears in my eyes for my flock (Acts 20:31), and Dr. Ashlock’s words of encouragement about fanning into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hand (the apostle Paul) and how I should have the heart that burns when I walk with the Christ. I want to cherish these words spoken to me every day. It was very pertinent for me to hear these messages again.
I thank the church, the people who worked so hard for me to make the experience effective and successful, and the many pastors who showed up to congratulate me on my ordination. More than anybody or anything, I want to thank my parents, especially my mother who was at the ordination and is now with the Lord, who had always wanted me to become a pastor. I owe what I am to their sincere prayers, words of encouragement, and all the support. Thank you, dad and mom. You were so good to me.
After watching the video, I headed to church to pray. While praying, I rededicated myself to the ministry of the Word and prayer and to my church and my flock. I repented of lack of tears in my ministry. God restored in me the joy of serving him and the focus I need to have as I continue my life here on earth. God is my vision and my everything. Amen.
I attended the Hello Love Tour concert with Chris Tomlin last night. When I bought the tickets, I was told that I would have to pay $2 for parking, but they raised it to $10 at the last minute. It was a rip-off, but oh, well, the school must have wanted to make some profit out of the event. I’ve been to places where they raised parking fees twice, three times, and even more at times when there’s a special sporting event. So, my son, Moses, and I decided to walk for about 1000 yard after parking the car along the curb. It was fun running at night hand in hand with my son.
Inside the San Jose State University Event Center, I could feel the electrifying expectations of people and the love people have for God and Chris. Although I had seen Chris lead worship at one of the JAMA conferences, it was somewhat brief. However, last night it was different. It was a concert, but it was more than a concert. He had a message for Californians. He was more calm, mature, funny, and passionate about the causes God is passionate about. I loved the time. One of the things that sticks out in my memory is the song titled “GOD OF THIS CITY.” I liked the part when he sang, “For greater things have yet to come. And greater things are still to be done in this city.” It rekindled the passion and zeal I had had when I decided to come to California. People had given me caveats about how challenging it would be to minister in California. And I have tasted the bitter side through the church dispute and through English Ministry. I think I lost some of my passion for the state and for what God wants to do here. Chris Tomlin helped me to refocus.
Some of the young adults from my church were there with me. As I glanced at them while praising, I could tell they were having a blast in the Lord. I desire great things for them. In particular, Gibson, who was fasting all day due to his commitment to the church-wide fast drive in connection with Lent, caught my attention and he was into praise along with Isaac, Tim, Christine, James, David, and DH and his daughter. It was an awesome time.
Oh, God, may you do great things in this state and in this land. We expect great things from you, Lord. We humble ourselveves before you and seek your breakthroughs in these economically and legall challenging times. May you come through, oh, Lord. May you not delay.
We are in recession, but God is not. God is able to deliver us from the woes we’re facing. Oh, God, come and deliver us and deliver the world.
It was a historic moment when Dr. Jim Yong Kim became the first Asian Korean male who became president of an Ivy League university. Three qualities the outgoing president Jim Wright said about Dr. Kim were learning, innovation, and service. To me, the word service really stood out because from what I found out he had been a man of serving the world. It reminded me again of what Jesus said. Whoever wants to become great must serve others. Dr. Kim served the world, and how fitting it is that he now takes the leadership as president of Dartmouth. As a fellow Korean, I am super proud of you and may you maximize the gifts, passion, and service, and love you received from God for Dartmouth as well as for the world.
Here I led the praise in Korean and gave an English message about Christmas. The gifts we bring to Jesus speak volumes about who Jesus Christ is.
Today we had a joint Christmas worship service. Jesus Christ came to this world as light, and that light symbolizes life, hope, and love.
This is one of my favorite songs I sometimes use in my sermon. The title of the song is I DON’T REGRET A MILE.
I’ve dreamed many a dream that’s never come true,
I’ve seen them vanish at dawn,
But enough of my dreams have come true
To make me keep dreaming on.
I’ve prayed many a prayer that seemed no answer would come,
Though I’d waited so patient and long;
But enough answers have come to my prayers
To make me keep praying on
I’ve sown many a seed that’s fallen by the wayside,
For the birds to feed upon
But I’ve had enough golden sheaves in my hands
To make me keep sowing on
I’ve trusted many a friend that’s failed me
And left me to weep alone
But enough of my friends have been true-blue
To make me keep trusting on
I’ve drained the cup of disappointment and pain,
And gone many a day without a song
But I’ve sipped enough nectar from the roses of life
To make me want to live on.
The picture is taken from the following link: http://www.christianbackgrounds.net/backgrounds/thanksgiving-bb.jpg
Thanksgiving Day
This year I got to spend the day with Chunghoon’s family in Emeryville. I got to know Chunghoon’s extended family and had great fellowship with them. Chunghoon was a great cook and Grace and his mom helped him out. Interestingly, I found out that Chunghoon’s aunt and uncle and his children used to attend FKCC until 1989 when the second senior pastor was installed. I came to know the unknown part of FKCC history. Junghwan knew Chris and Joan and it turned out that Chris was his best man at his wedding. What a small world!
After eating chicken, stake, potato salad, corn, and soup, we had a chance to express what we’re thankful for. The way we did was that right before our meal we had taken three strips of colored paper and written down three things we’re thankful for. So after dinner we were given three strips and asked to read what’s written on the strips. Three things I was thankful for were:
1. Friends. I thank God for the renewed and deepened friendship with people.
2. Growth through hard times. I thank God who allowed me to go through hard times.
3. God’s grace. God’s grace always abounds for his children.
Reflecting on the year 2008, I had a few thoughts on ministry. As a second year EM pastor, I got to learn many lessons the hard way and what a full time English Ministry is like. The challenges and joys of being in ministry can’t be compared to anything in this world. In retrospect, I once again realize I have a long way to go in many areas of ministries, but I remind myself I was called not to success but to faithfulness. I love the people God has entrusted to me, and I want to see them grow, thrive, and become true disciples of Jesus Christ.
I realize there’s nothing more important to a pastor than making disciples and discipling people to disciple others as in 2 Timothy 2:2 which says, “The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” After all Jesus’ ministry centered around making disciples, especially the 12 disciples. Bill Hull, an expert on discipleship, says there are 5 characteristics of a first century disciples in his book entitled JESUS CHRIST, DISCIPLEMAKER. They are:
a. A disciple submits to a leader who teaches him to follow Jesus.
b. A disciple learns Jesus’ words.
c. A disciple learns Jesus’ way of doing ministry.
d. A disciple imitates Jesus’ life and character.
e. A disciple finds and teaches disciples to follow Jesus.
Sometimes people might not be sure whether they are the leaders or not and fail to act accordingly. They are too wary of how others would think of him and whether they will offend someone. One has to be sensitive, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be a strong leader. I remember the movie Kung Fu Panda and in it Shifu says to Po (Panda), “I am your master.” He didn’t think that way before, but knowing from his own master Oogway that Po is the only person, the dragon warrior, who can defeat Tai Lung, he finally believes Panda and begins to invest in him. Jesus Christ our Lord believed that his rank and file disciples could be like him and do what he did and even greater things than what he did when he called them. I am asking myself, “Do I really believe in my people?” “Am I making disciples who make disciples?”
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Alex & Brett Harris, DO HARD THINGS: A TEENAGE REBELLION AGAINST LOW EXPECTATIONS(Colorado Springs: Multnomah, 2008)
Randy Alcorn, one of my favorite authors, says on the book cover, “Will prove to be one of the most life-changing and culture-changing books of this generation.” This was written by Alex and Brett Harris who turned 20 on Oct. 28 this year. Their older brother, Joshua Harries who wrote Kiss Dating Good-by, is better-known than the authors. Although they just turned twenty, what they have done far exceeds what many adults would think teenagers are capable of doing. As the subtitle of the book reveals, the authors showcase many examples of what many teenagers actually accomplished regardless of their age. I was blown away by what these rebelutionaries (a combination of rebellion and revolutionary) accomplished and how they have begun a counterculture by choosing to do hard things. According to them, the movement of Rebelution has three pillars: character, competence, and collaboration. They state “Being salt and light is the goal of rebelutionaires, but the three pillars are how we get there. Taken separately, each one certainly has merit, but only when all three work together can we build an effective and sustainable counterculture.”
According to the authors, there are five kinds of hard things that can change people’s world.
· things that take you outside your comfort zone—taking risks to grow
· things that go beyond what’s expected or required—pursuing excellence
· things that are too big to accomplish alone—dreaming and daring big
· things that don’t earn an immediate payoff—being faithful and choosing
integrity
· things that go against the cultural norm—taking a stand for what is right
The book is chockfull of stories about these so-called “rebelutionaries” who made a difference in their respective worlds. Although this book was written mainly for the youth, the book is worth reading for parents, youth workers, and people in their 20s and even 30s who haven’t done hard things in their lives. Because they talk about unchanging principles for leaders such as character, competence, and collaboration (network), this book is a good read for leaders as well. I heartily recommend this book.
This is the sermon I preached at New Heights Fellowship on Oct. 12, 2008. The text is John 10:1-21. Jesus the Good Shepherd calls himself the Shepherd and us the Sheep.
Jesus the Good Shepherd guides us.
Jesus the Good Shepherd provides for us.
Jesus the Good Shepherd protects us.
Erwin R. McManus, The Barbarian Way: Unleash The Untamed Faith Within (Nashville: Nelson Books, 2005).
It’s interesting to think about what a book can do. I was introduced to Erwin R. McManus when I was at the seminary a few years ago. Dr. Fish required us to read An Unstoppable Force. At the time he was proud to tell us that Rick Warren and Erwin McManus were graduates of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and they were doing ministry extremely well. I was quite familiar with Rick Warren after reading his two books The Purpose Driven Church and The Purpose Driven Life. However, I didn’t really know Erwin McManus at the time. I think it was during JAMA conference I got to hear him once. And it was the Lead Like Jesus Seminar he co-hosted with Ken Blanchard which enabled me to see him up-close and personal. During the seminar I was sitting next to an American pastor who shared with me, “Erwin is thought-provoking and I think I need to read his books more.” After the seminar was over I had a chance to ask him a few questions.
Last week I finished reading The Barbarian Way. The book was mind-boggling and thought-provoking. No wonder he’s considered a cultural architect. His book had the intensity, depth, and power of The Purpose Driven Church. It reaffirmed my thinking about what the church should be like and how the church should reach out to the world. He talked a lot about how the church became tamed, civilized, and institutionalized, and thus lost the barbarian way of living, loving, and witnessing the early Christians showed. He claims, “God started a revolt against the religion He started. . . Anyone who can picture Jesus as the great Advocate of tradition is doing some serious doctoring of biblical history. Jesus was anything but the poster child for status quo. With a band of brothers and a small community of others, Jesus instigated an uprising that He expected to reach the very ends of the earth.” I think The Barbarian Way is somewhat similar to Wild At Heart by John Eldredge, but it’s deeper and more fundamental in terms of the issues he deals with such as the church, Christianity, and Christians in general. Currently I am reading his magnum opus An Unstoppable Force. TBW is a small book with 141 pages. I heartily recommend it to all Christians who want to see churches transformed to be the churches God designed them to be.
