THANKSGIVING 2008

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?”   

Give Thanks In All Circumstances

I had the privilege to interpret for Rev. Kim, the new senior pastor of First Korean Christian Church of San Jose.

Three Functions of the Holy Spirit

This is the sermon I preached at New Heights Fellowship on Nov. 9, 2008. The three functions of the Holy Spirit:

1. He convicts the world of its guilt.

2. He provides Jesus’ disciples with direction and truth.

3. He deepens Jesus’ disciples’ relationship with God and reveals Jesus through them.

DO HARD THINGS

1. 
2. 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.

 

 

 

Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled!

This message is based on John 14:1-4. Jesus comforted his disciples before his pending arrrest and death by telling them to trust in God and also in Him. He also told them to put their hope in their eternal home, heaven.

My Utmost 4 His Highest

My Utmost 4 His Highest (10_19_08) from john park on Vimeo.

This sermon is based on John 12:1-11 and about Mary who poured her expensive perfume and wiped the feet of Jesus.

Jesus the Good Shepherd

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.

The website for my recent sermons

sermons-New_Heights_Fellowship-10285.html 

This is the link to the website where I post my sermons. Check them out and get blessed!

KECA Next Generation Leadership Conference 2008

The NGLC was held at Union Evangelical Church in West Covina near LA on June 16 through 19. The speaker was Rev. Jim Bob Park who is the senior pastor at Binneri Presbyterian Church in Plano, TX. Participants were the godfather Rev. Stephen Choi, the general Rev. Steve Hwang, the vice president-at large of OMSI Doctor David Dick, Sam Koh, Sang Lee, Dominic Kan, Christine Kan, Young Kim, Ji Soo Park, Chanho Kwak, Steve Yu, Stan Lee, Sam Roberson Yi, and a few spouses. 

One day after the Next Generation Leadership Conference. When I Iook back, I have tons of good memories. First off, Rev. Jim Bob Park’s lectures were very informative, insightful, and encouraging. The fact that he did English Ministry some twenty years, especially 12 years of EM at Young Nak Presbyterian Church, gave much credibility to what he delivered to us. He didn’t address the issues as if he knew everything. Rather, he dealt with the issues as someone who had gone ahead of us. The interesting thing I found out was the reason why he made the transition from an EM pastor to the senior pastor at Binneri Church. He made the move because he wanted to help EM knowing that he can do only so much as an EM pastor. Now he’s the champion of EM as a senior pastor. He made an alarming argument that not only did EM experience silent exodus a decade or so ago, but it is about to experience extinction if nothing is done about the incumbent situation. You can find only a few 2nd gen students at seminaries. Some current 2nd gen ministers are getting secular jobs, leaving their ministries.

In his first lecture Pastor Jim Bob shared his own experiences as an EM pastor. He shared his upbringing. His father was a church planter. He lived in several different countries. He had a great KM senior pastor who was also a mentor to him. After Rev. Park retired, he felt like he lost his tie with the church. He had been called by a few churches, but he chose Binneri in Plano, TX because it was in the Central America that gives a geographical advantage. He also talked about “contextualization” as well as the importance of 2 gens to try to “put on” the armor of the 1 gens. There has to be mutual effort between 1st gens and 2nd gens.

In his second lecture Pastor Jim Bob talked about the importance of forming relationships. I couldn’t agree with him more. Everything boils down to relationship. He said that EM pastors need to build relationship with KM senior pastors, KM leadership such as elders and deacons. The most critical relationships that need to be formed are the ones with God and with our spouses. He also addressed the importance of educating 1st gens. They are afraid and insecure because they don’t know how to relate nor how to help. One interesting remark he made was that 1.5ers are like a bridge. The more used a bridge is, the better it gets. As a bridge, it has no choice but to get stepped on. I think about myself. Who am I? 

The third lecture was about failures. He asked us to share our failures and successes. Later he shared his own failures. He said that he majors in failures. “Failure is an event, not a person.” We have to learn how to fail well. One thing that really touched me was his sharing about his relationship with his son. When his son ran to his neighbor who was a cop after creating a problem, Pastor Jim Bob got extremely upset. As he prayed he realized he hadn’t been a good father because his son chose to run from him instead of running to him when he’s scared. Later, when his son came back with the neighbor, he embraced him and both of them and his family members all wept. A very powerful and redemptive story.  

Speaking of failures, first we have to admit that we’re not perfect. Second, we shouldn’t pass on the blame to someone else. Third, our failures do not simply disappear because we ignore them. Will you be bitter or better because of failures? Jim Bob said, “Real failure is not failing but failing to get up.”

Oh, what about the food? First night, we were served Japanese rolls. Yummy. The second day we had Korean BBQ. The third day we had awesome dinner at Redondo Beach. We had crabs, maeuntang (spicy fish soup), and hoedubbob (rice mixed with raw fish and vegetables). The last day we had bulgogi and dongchimi noodles.

Apart from the inspiring and informative lectures and mouth-watering food, the thing I will cherish the most is the relationships I formed at the conference. The relationships formed at the conference tasted better than all the food I ate. That is the thing I will cherish the most, and also it is the relatinships that will keep me waiting until next year when we will get together. It’s that taste that will remain when I think about the conference. The food taste will go away, but the relational taste won’t. Thank you all for your work and your presence at the conference.

I’d like to thank the godfather, the general, and the lieutenant Sam, and Sang and Union Evangelical Church, and the denomination that made the conference possible. Also I am thankful that I got to know Dr. David Dick who currently serves as vice president at large of OMSI. I enjoyed the many conversations I had with him. I ordered the books he had recommended: The Shaping of Things To Come and Let’s Start with Jesus.

I hope that our relationships would continue to be watered, nurtured, and strengthened. Viva NG leaders!

 

 

 

 

The Tomb Song « Allnations2god’s Weblog

The Tomb Song « Allnations2god’s Weblog