Gotta Serve Somebody

Several years ago I saw an unforgettable New Year's cartoon. A man was seated at a desk with a long roll of paper falling to the floor. The caption read, “This is the year!” It was obviously a list of New Year's resolutions. At first I thought the length of the list was due to the many resolutions he was making, but as I looked closely, I realized most of the list consisted of scratched out New Year's dates. He was actually making the same New Year's resolutions over and over again for years!

Sound familiar? I’m sure you're aware that many well-intentioned New Year's resolutions are never realized. How many times have you resolved that this is the year you will lose weight, quit smoking, exercise and get fit, get out of debt, or get your life organized? Psychologists report about half of us will make New Year's resolutions this year, but about 80% of our resolutions will never happen. They describe making resolutions as a near pointless activity that leaves people feeling despondent when their willpower fails.

Clearly, sheer willpower alone doesn’t work. As one person put it: “I want to do what is right, but I can't. I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.” The quote sounds contemporary, but it was written 2000 years ago by the apostle Paul. (Romans 7:18b-19) He had to admit that at times he struggled to be led by the Spirit, and at these times, he found himself in bondage to the desires of the flesh. Anyone who has ever opened a bag of cookies intending to eat just one, and then eaten at least a dozen, can relate to Paul's predicament.

Whether we like it or not, we cannot operate totally autonomously. Psychologists tell us that those people most likely to keep their New Year's resolutions share their goals with others and become accountable to them. We need to keep our own abilities in perspective, and realize that often we need help and encouragement from others if we are to be successful.

Insisting on independence, when we really need assistance, is a sure recipe for failure. This type of unhealthy self-dependence we call arrogance. It is the refusal to recognize our own self-limitations, humble ourselves, and accept the help we need. In order to receive however, we must recognize the abilities of others, instead of seeing ourselves as more capable than everyone else.

This is the essence of true humility: admitting our limitations and appreciating what others can contribute. Philippians 2:3–4 tells us: “Don't be selfish, and don't try to impress others. Be humble. Don't look out for your own interests, but take an interest in others too.” When we knowledge our need for others, we become aware they also have needs, and we are willing to serve them. God created us to be dependent upon Himself and on others. Understanding we also need God, makes us more willing to serve him.

True success in life depends on whom we’re serving, ourselves alone, or God and others. Serving ourselves, or selfishness, limits us and keeps us in bondage. Bob Dylan describes our choice well in his song “Gotta Serve Somebody.”

You may be an ambassador to England or France
You may like to gamble, you may like to dance
You may be the heavyweight champion of the world
You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls

But you've gotta serve somebody
It may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you've gotta serve somebody

Come join us this Sunday, New Year's Day at 11:00 AM. Our topic is “Humility,” and we will discuss the freedom that exists in choosing to serve God and others. This is the first in our new series “What the H of HROCK?

Pastor Che

The Face of Peace

If you were to draw a picture of peace, what would it look like? Years ago a group of artists was given just that task, to capture the image of peace. There were many pictures of beautiful sunrises over beaches or mountains, and other pictures of pristine meadows full of wildflowers and peacefully grazing sheep. One artist depicted two enemy soldiers embracing each other at the end of war. Other artists drew children of different nationalities holding hands across the earth under a shimmering rainbow.

One picture stood in stark contrast to all the rest. It was a rocky ocean cliff drenched in torrents of rain that were falling from an angry sky filled with lightning.. The ocean was churning and foaming. Huge waves crashed against the cliff, but tucked away in a cleft of the rugged rocks was a small white dove, her head tucked beneath her wing, resting peacefully. She had found a place of repose and tranquility in the midst of the storm.

Today with all the economic uncertainty, repetitive natural disasters, and civil unrest in one nation after another, life can feel like that stormy ocean picture. Everywhere we look there is instability, trouble, and we are battered by circumstances beyond our control. It is overwhelming, and it would be so wonderful to find a place of peace and safety like that little dove.

While that picture is very effective at capturing a mood of serenity, it doesn't begin to adequately depict the face of peace. Peace is more than tranquility in the midst of troubling circumstances. Peace is much more than the absence of conflict, and it is infinitely greater than personal security.

Two thousand years ago, an angelic host appeared to a group of shepherds one night and proclaimed "Peace on earth. Goodwill to all people!" If they weren't referring to personal serenity, peace of mind, or the end of war and conflict, just what were the angels announcing with the word "peace?"

The peace the angels heralded to the shepherds is explained in Ephesians 2: 12–14. "Remember, that at that time you were separated from Christ, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and being in the world without God. But now in Christ Jesus, you who were formerly far-off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He, Himself is our peace…"

The peace the Angels were singing about was the good news that God has come to earth to repair the breach in our relationship with Him. In this act of reconciliation, Father God not only invites us back into His family, He fully intends to restore us back to the original position of dominion and authority that was conferred upon us in our creation.

The word for peace in Hebrew is shalom, and it has a rich, extensive meaning. In its essence, shalom is a state of wholeness in every aspect of your life: harmony in your relationships, total health in your body, abundant supply in your finances and joy in your emotional well-being. So you see God was announcing far more than just peace of mind. He was inviting us into a quality-of-life that we have never known before, a life so abundant that we will spend the rest of eternity discovering it.

The face of peace is Jesus Christ. As we gaze upon Him, we see God's incredible love for us in His gift of peace to us. As you celebrate Christmas, may you come to experience more fully that peace the angels announced so long ago.

Come observe Christmas with us this Sunday. We will have only one service at 11:00 AM. Our topic is "The Prince of Peace," which completes our current series, "A Prophetic Christmas."

When Is Ordinary… Extraordinary?

Imagine for a moment that you have some important information to share that is international in scope, information that can potentially affect the life of every person on planet Earth. How would you get that information out? Hold a summit meeting with all the world's leaders? Perhaps you would have a world concert in key locations, using only the biggest name bands and rock musicians. Or maybe you would choose some famous celebrities as key spokespersons.

How would you feel about using a 3rd string quarterback, barely past his rookie year in the NFL? Despite an impressive college career (a Heisman Trophy winner in his sophomore year and 2 NCAA championships), all the experts agree he is not NFL quarterback material. In particular, his passing game is considered very weak. In a league where the average quarterback passes for at least 300 yards per game, this quarterback usually passes under 200 yards, and his passes are all too often intercepted.

Those of you who follow NFL football know where I'm going. In the last few months, Tim Tebow of the Denver Broncos has shot to the forefront of NFL football like a rising comet. The Broncos were 1–4, when Tebow became starting quarterback in mid-October. In the 8 games since then, Tebow has led the Broncos to 7 wins, coming from behind in the 4th quarter 6 times, a feat unparalleled in NFL history.

While he's becoming legendary for pulling wins out of defeats at the last moment, Tim Tebow is also creating a stir because of his frank declaration of faith in Jesus Christ. Pictures of him kneeling to thank God in prayer have become iconic, and the stance has been coined "Tebowing." and is being imitated around the world. In 2009, while still a college student, Tebow put the scripture reference John 3:16 on his eye paint, and 92 million people Googled the verse.

Tebow is unapologetic about his faith. He has stated, "My biggest prayer is that win or lose, good or bad, I'm still the same guy. I honor the Lord either way, and I'm not changing no matter what happens." While not everyone appreciates his spokesmanship for God, coaches and the players who know him best describe him as extremely hard-working, obsessed with self-improvement, modest, genuine, and "a real leader who freely gives credit to others."

There can be no doubt that Tebow has been given an extraordinary platform from which to declare his love and loyalty to Jesus Christ. Even his rivals seem to like him. When asked about Tebow, Robert Kraft, owner of the Boston Patriots said, " He's a real fine young man. I sort of like that he's about spirituality, and that the country is thinking about spirituality."

As we approach Christmas, I am reminded that God frequently uses ordinary people to accomplish the most extraordinary things. Take Mary and Joseph for instance. They were just two very ordinary citizens of Nazareth who became the earthly parents of God Himself. When God wanted to do the most extraordinary thing of all time: become a human being Himself, He chose to come in the form of an ordinary infant. But when God touches a situation, what begins as ordinary becomes extraordinary!,

I challenge you to do something different this Christmas. Allow God to touch your life and experience what happens when the ordinary becomes extraordinary!

Please join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. My sermon is ""Mighty God–Everlasting Father," the third message in our current series "A Prophetic Christmas."

Christmas Is Speaking: Who’s Listening?

Where did Christmas come from and just what does it mean anyway?

A brief look at history confirms the fact that Christmas as we celebrate it, is a meld of both Christian and pagan holiday traditions. The Roman, and many of the European cultures, celebrated the observance of the winter solstice. It was a time of feasting and drinking, and people brought evergreen branches inside their homes to commemorate the end of the shortening winter days and the return of sunlight. Some Christmas traditions clearly spring from these roots, for example: Christmas trees, using greenery for decorations, and the festive holiday meal.

The first record of Christmas was in the 4th century A.D. when Pope Julius I established December 25^th as the official date for observing the birth of Christ. Over the next 500 years the holiday spread throughout Europe, and Christmas has continued to grow in influence until today, when at least one third of the world's population observes the day. It is clearly the most widely celebrated holiday on earth.

Christmas has also become the largest single economic stimulus worldwide. In the United States 25% of all personal spending occurs around the Christmas holiday season. More than one economist has stated that if Christmas did not exist, the US economy probably would crumble, and that the current state of US international economic strength may be attributable to activity related to Christmas alone.

Why has Christmas grown to be a holiday of such influence and magnitude? I think we can gain some clues by looking at what people find meaningful about Christmas. Although everyone enjoys the gift giving, decorations and holiday meal, most people state the most meaningful part of Christmas is reconnecting with family and friends. They describe it as a special season of generosity, giving to others, love and peace. One third of people state it is their favorite time of year, and even nonreligious people report enjoying Christmas. As one atheist put it, “As much as I hate every religion, Christmas is such a wonderful time!”

What is responsible for creating this incredible atmosphere? I think it is “background radiation” from the first Christmas, when God released a message into the universe and the cosmos has echoed it ever since. What was that message? Fortunately it is been recorded for us in the second chapter of the book of Luke.

We are told that an angelic host appeared to a group of shepherds on a lonely hill outside Bethlehem. Their announcement was clear and simple. They told the shepherds not to fear because they had good news that would bring great joy to all people who accepted it. They announced the birth of an Almighty Deliverer, anointed with all power and authority, who had come to restore peace to the earth, and to promote goodwill among all people who would receive Him. It was a message of reconciliation and love from Father God to all humankind.

We know that the shepherds heard this Christmas message and received it, because they immediately went and found the babe in a manger and worshiped him.

Christmas is still speaking. Are you listening? What have you done with the Christmas message?

Please join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM when we will continue to unwrap the gift of Christmas, God's son Jesus Christ. My sermon this week is “Wonderful Counselor,” the second in our current series on “A Prophetic Christmas.”

When Receiving is Giving

Her heart is pounding with excitement. She looks down at the grey stone box she is holding and a joyful smile lights up her face. She thinks back to the previous week, the visit to the talented specialist who custom blended the rare, exotic fragrance she now holds in her hands. "Yes, it is perfect," she murmurs to herself. "It is the perfect way to honor the Master Teacher," who is now seated in their front room.

How she loves and respects the Master Teacher, and how grateful she feels towards him, for the incredible favor he did for her family a few days ago. A favor so great no gift could ever repay him, but this special surprise will let him know how much he is honored.

With eager anticipation she enters the room and kneels at his feet, opens the stone box and begins pouring the costly perfume over his feet. "Are you crazy? What in the world are you doing?" The voice is loud and condescending, and comes from one of the Master Teacher’s associates. He continues, "What a waste! You’re throwing away a year’s salary. That money could have been given to a worthy cause like feeding the poor."

Her smile vanishes, replaced by confusion and clouds of doubt. "Am I being wasteful?" she wonders. "I thought this was the perfect gift, but am I wrong?" She’s afraid to look at the Master Teacher; afraid she will see disapproval on his face.

Then she hears his voice. As always, it is calm and full of warmth. "Let her alone. The poor will always be with you, but I will only be here a little while longer. She honors me by preparing my body for burial."
Relief floods through her and joy resurfaces in a broad smile on her face. She looks into his face and is greeted by his love-filled eyes. "I knew it!" she thinks. "It is the perfect gift!"

You may have recognized the story above as an incident from the life of Jesus. (John 12:1-8) The woman, Mary, is the sister of Lazarus whom Jesus had raised from the dead a few days earlier. That was the incredible gift she could never repay. The criticism came from a disciple, Judas Iscariot, and caused Mary to doubt herself. But the warm way Jesus received her gift and his verbal affirmation validated her love and thoughtfulness. In receiving, He was giving.

Have you ever had an experience like this woman? You got what you thought was the perfect gift for someone, only to later have second thoughts about it. You were really anxious until they opened the gift. Then their excitement and happiness gave you so much joy, it was like you were getting the gift! As we enter the holiday season, I hope we all remember that we give to others, not only in the gifts we give them, but in how we receive the gifts they give to us.

In fact, do you know that you can make God’s joy complete? When God sent His Son into the world, He was so eager to give His gift to us that He had His angels deliver a singing telegram to some shepherds, and accompanied it with a spectacular light show (see Luke 2: 8-18). Whenever anyone receives the gift of His Son Jesus, God receives so much joy that He throws a party and all heaven celebrates! (Luke 15:7,10)
Give God the gift He most desires, by receiving Jesus as your Savior this Christmas!

Please join us this Sunday at 9:00 or 11:00 AM. We are starting a new series this December, "A Prophetic Christmas." This week, in my message, "Immanuel," we will unwrap God’s incredible gift of His Son, Jesus.

Real Gifts

We are coming into the holiday season when gifts and giving often occupy our thoughts.  Some gifts we will purchase with joy and excitement, while others will feel more obligatory.  How many times have you experienced an “empty gift,” a gift that had no real giving behind it? 

Perhaps it was the nice what-not you received from a co-worker you really didn’t know at  the annual office gift exchange, or maybe it was from a relative who felt compelled to “go through the holiday motions” of giving.  The object itself may have been nice, but it felt empty because there was no real heart of giving represented in it.

Contrast this with the times you have received a gift from someone who gave it intending to convey their love for you.  It didn’t matter what it cost, or even if it was something you wanted, for the love behind it touched you deeply.  If, like me, you are a parent, you can think of many examples. 

I remember when our son, Gabriel, was four.  He brought home a wrapped gift from preschool that he proudly announced was for me.  He was so excited for me to open it, that it was difficult for him to wait until Christmas.  When the day came, he insisted I open it first.  For a small gift it was heavy, and I couldn’t imagine what it could possibly be. 

Inside was a rock decorated with blobs of various bright colors, sealed with a shiny coat of shellac. “Oh Gabriel,” I exclaimed, “Its beautiful!  Did you make it for me?”  I was absolutely clueless as to what it was.

Gabriel was smiling ear to ear, beaming with pride.  He nodded “yes” enthusiastically and proclaimed, “It’s a rainbow Daddy.  It’s for work.  I made it!”  We finally figured out it was a paperweight, and for years I proudly displayed it on my desk.  I can’t tell you the number of times I looked at that paperweight, and remembered my son’s little face flushed with excitement, and full of love as he gave it to me.  It was a real gift that kept giving to me for years.

Our Father God is a giver, and He demonstrated the essence of a real gift to us.  John 3:16 tells us that God so loved the world (that’s us), that He gave us His only Son, Jesus, to come and demonstrate His love by dying for our sins.  Real gifts are motivated by love, and they carry the power of love as a giving force that touches our lives in profound ways.

God encourages us to be givers of real gifts.  He warns us that even sacrificial gifts can be given without love, and they will amount to nothing at all. (I Corinthians 13:3)  But He also gave us a beautiful example of a real gift.  Jesus was in the temple one day as the people were bringing their offerings to God.  The wealthy gave with a flourish, large amounts of silver and gold coins that clattered, drawing attention to their giving. 

However, Jesus noticed a little widow who quietly slipped in and gave a humble offering of two pennies.  He announced to His disciples, “She has given more than all the others, for she gave everything that she has.” (Luke 21:3)  Her giving touched His heart, for He knew hers was a real gift.  Only her love for God could have motivated her to give her all.

Come join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM as we look at the joy and blessing of giving real gifts in our new series, “The Grace of Giving.”  My sermon is “Giving that Pleases God.” 

Identity Theft

Halloween is upon us, and for one evening many of us will morph into another person by borrowing the identity of someone else.  It may be a character from the movies or famous figure from literature or history.  Some people become animals or even objects, but when the evening is over, everyone assumes their original identity.  Fleeting, intentional loss of our identity can be enjoyable, but when a stranger permanently “borrows” our identity, its no laughing matter.  It’s identity theft.

Everyone has seen the commercials.  Two white haired, little old ladies, Thelma and Norma sit on a couch and start talking and laughing in husky male voices about their new Harleys with all the trimmings.  A bald, buff African-American body builder is lifting weights at the gym.  Suddenly from his lips comes a shrill female voice raving about her new hair extensions.  These people are victims of identity theft, and though the spots are clever and funny, they remind us that any one of us could be next.

We are increasingly aware that nothing is really safe or secure.  Credit cards can be stolen, computer sites can be hacked, and ATMs can be tampered with and altered.  Organizations like banks, insurance companies, and even the government, that hold our personal information can be plundered and our data can get compromised.  In an instant our credit rating, financial resources and reputations can be jeopardized, and it may take months or even years to restore the damage.

As bad as this type of identity theft can be, there is an even more insidious form of identity theft being perpetrated against each one of us.  John 10:10a warns us: “The thief, Satan, only comes to steal, kill and destroy.”  How does he do it?  Primarily he convinces us we are better off on our own, carving out our own identity, rather than saying, “Yes” to God, and receiving our identity as His adopted child.  Then Satan subtly siphons off our true identity until nothing but a shell of us is left.

Two characters in the Bible, Saul and David, vividly illustrate this.  Both were selected by God to be kings of Israel, and both received God’s Spirit to guide them.  But Saul ignored God’s counsel and relied on his own reasoning.  He was influenced by others’ opinions and his own insecurities.  He became jealous when he feared David was becoming more popular with the people. 

The more he sought to establish his identity by comparing himself with others, the more depressed he became.  In the end he was so lost he sought advice from a witch with contacts to underworld spirits.  He lost his throne on the battlefield, where he also saw his son killed before his eyes.  In a final gesture of agony, he committed suicide by falling on his sword.  He lost it all, a victim of Satan’s identity theft.

In contrast, David eagerly sought God and became intimate with Him.  Although persecuted and pursued by Saul, David continued to show loyalty to the throne and did not retaliate against Saul even when he could have.  His integrity earned him a large following with the people, and after Saul’s death, he had a long and prosperous reign, being succeeded by his son, Solomon.  Even when he strayed and became involved in adultery and a murder plot, he repented and sought God’s forgiveness and obtained it.  He was able to recover from his error because his identity was firmly established in his relationship with God.  

Are you battling with identity theft, struggling to discover and maintain yourself through your own self-effort?  Always feeling like you are on the verge of arriving, but never quite getting there?  Say “Yes” to God today, and find your true identity rooted and grounded in Him!

Come and join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM.  My son Gabriel will be talking on “Break Your Fears” as the last message of the “Born Identity 2” series.

The Spice of Life

As President of Harvest International Ministries (HIM), an international apostolic network, I spend a lot of time traveling outside the U.S.  I enjoy my trips, especially getting to experience different cultures and meet wonderful people all over the world.  I don’t admit it to many people, but one of my favorite aspects of traveling is getting to sample all the delicious food!

I love food and I am an adventurous eater.  I seldom sample a food I don’t like.  Maybe because I am Korean, I tend to favor Asian over European cuisine, but I enjoy eating both.  The cornucopia of ingredients, spices, colors and scents over various types of dishes never ceases to amaze me and delight my taste buds.

Of course, I really enjoy traditional Korean dishes such as galbi (Korean barbecue), and all varieties of kimchi.  However, when I come back home, no matter where I’ve been, I almost always want to go out and have good old American Chinese food.  I never tire of chop suey or chow mein, sizzling rice soup, and all of the beef, pork, chicken and fish entrees.  I relish all of them.

When I think about the amount of vegetables in most Chinese food, I’m surprised I like it so much, because I’m really not that big on vegetables, at least not in isolation.  I can’t imagine anything more boring than a stalk of bok choy, for example.  But when blended with some tender beef strips in a tasty brown sauce, that same bok choy becomes irresistible.  It’s amazing how much better ingredients can taste in combination, than when eaten alone.  “Variety is the spice of life,” the saying goes, and when it comes to food I must agree!

I also think “variety is the spice of life” when it comes to our social associations as people too. As we mix with others who differ from us, we are exposed to new ideas and understandings, challenged to apply our skills in new ways, and develop deeper respect and appreciation for the gifts and abilities others bring.  Like a great Chinese dish with multiple ingredients, our community fellowship is so much richer as we blend together.

I think God feels this way about variety too, for He has created us in so many sizes, shapes and other physical characteristics, with so many different interests and talents.  And He encourages His children to come together in heterogeneous communities of mutual respect, love and impartiality.  In Galations 3:27-28, He reminds us: “All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ.”

God is not telling us that our differences do not exist.  He is telling us that differences do not mean inequalities, for we are all of equal value and worth in Christ.  God instructs us: “So in Christ, we though many, form one body, and each one belongs to all the others.” (Romans 12:5) “All of you be like-minded, sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.”  (I Peter 3:8) 

God loves variety and He intends for our lives to be rich and full through the unity we have together in fellowship as His children.  Please come and experience this fellowship with us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM.  Our guest speaker is Pastor David Hess, from Christ Community Church in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.

More Than a Dip

It lasts less than 10 seconds and happened in 1953, yet it is without doubt, one of the most classic water scenes in Hollywood history.  In the move, “From Here to Eternity,” Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr, are lying on the sand locked in passionate embrace, when a wave rolls in, covering both of them.  That image of frothy moving water and two lovers swept away in the intensity of their emotional desire, became an icon of the power of romantic love to which most of us can relate.

I saw a photograph of that scene the other day, and started thinking about some of my favorite movie water scenes.  One is from “The Graduate.”  Benjamin (Dustin Hoffman) has graduated from college, and his parents and all their friends seem to know what he should do with his life.  In an effort to escape everyone’s advice, he puts on his scuba gear and dives to the bottom of the family swimming pool.  From there he can look up and see everyone’s mouth moving, but can’t hear a thing!  His water world becomes the perfect insulating bubble.

My most favorite water scenes depict the sheer force of the ocean’s might.  The fury of the storm’s huge waves capsizing the boat in “The Perfect Storm,” and the icy depths waiting to swallow the Titanic after it hits the iceberg, capture the raw need to survive when fate takes a cruel turn.

Of course the largest dip in movies, or in reality, was the parting of the Red Sea, when the Israelite nation crossed over on dry land.  They were hotly pursued by Pharaoh’s army, which took a one-way dip to the bottom of the sea when the waters closed in on top of them, displaying God’s awesome power.  In all these examples, we see how in its many fluid forms and motions, water can represent so many important dimensions of our experience.

The most important water scene of all time was so much more than a dip.  It was the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist.  This event ushered in the public ministry of Jesus Christ.  He conducted His ministry the same way He participated in His baptism, in willing, obedient surrender to His Father.  He could have done anything, but He wanted to follow His Father’s plan and fulfill His Father’s purpose.  The waters of His baptism were a sign of His willing consecration to God, and a foreshadowing of His soon-to-be death and resurrection.

Like Jesus, our baptism as Christians is so much more than a dip.  Romans 6:3-4 explains the significance of our water baptism.  “Have you forgotten that when we joined Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined Him in His death?  For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism.  And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.”

Through water baptism, we signify that we have chosen to consecrate ourselves to Jesus.  We have died to the life of self-will and have willingly surrendered to follow His plan and purpose through the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us.  We know we have been raised to live a new quality of life in Christ.  Have you had this transforming experience of water baptism that’s more than a dip?

Come and join us this Sunday at 9:00AM or 11:00 AM as we look deeper into the transforming power of the foundations of our faith.  My sermon, “Laying a Proper Foundation,” is part of our current “Born Identity 2” series.

What’s Your Verdict?

Have you ever served on jury duty and been assigned to an actual case?  You had to listen to evidence and answer the question, “What’s your verdict?” knowing your response would profoundly affect another person life?  If so, you have some idea of what the defendants in two highly publicized trials are experiencing. 

One appeals trial took place in Perugia, Italy, and involved American Amanda Knox, previously convicted as accessory in the murder of her roommate, Britisher Meredith Kercher.  While the world and innumerable paparazzi watched, a judicial panel of 6 lay persons and 2 professional judges listened to evidence, including new forensic tests that uncovered serious flaws in the original findings.  After several hours of deliberation, the jury panel delivered their verdict, “not guilty,” overturning the prior conviction.

A relieved Amanda Knox and her family left Italy that evening, but public opinion was divided over the new verdict.  As one lay judge confided regarding the conviction reversal: “There was no clear motive established, and the forensic evidence was too faulty to sustain the guilty verdict.”

The other trial is taking place in Los Angeles and the defendant is Michael Jackson’s former physician, Conrad Murray.  He is accused of involuntary manslaughter, by administrating a lethal overdose of a surgical anesthetic, propofol, to Jackson at his home.  The trial has just begun, and the prosecution is already depicting Murray as an incompetent professional who unethically catered to the demands of his mega-star patient.

It is anticipated that the defense will highlight Jackson’s excessive use and possible abuse of many prescription drugs.  The defense is expected to contend that Jackson self-administered the lethal dose without Dr. Murray’s knowledge.  At present the evidence against Murray looks very compelling, but this could change as the defense presents its case.  The jury must be convinced “beyond reasonable doubt,” to render a guilty verdict.

We are all familiar with the justice system.  Accused persons are allowed to state if they are guilty or innocent.  This is their plea, not their verdict.  Their verdict is determined by a jury of their peers, after they hear evidence which both supports and contradicts the plea.  Thank goodness most of us will never go through a trial and have our future hanging on the verdict of others!

But did you know that each of us will have our day in the most Supreme Court that exists?  Romans 14:10b tells us: “Remember that we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.”  What’s more, Romans 3:23 states that we are all guilty of failing to live up to God’s perfection.

But here is where God’s justice system differs from ours.  Although clearly guilty, we get to pronounce our own verdict!  John 3:16 assures us that God loves us and sent His Son, Jesus, to serve our sentence by dying on a cross for our failures.  He gives us the right to declare our own verdict by telling us: “Today I give you the choice between life and death and I call on heaven to witness the choice you make.  Choose life that you may live!” (Deuteronomy 30:19)

What’s your verdict?  Say yes to Jesus, His love and sacrifice for you.  Take the verdict of “not guilty” and the new life God will give you!

The Face of Grace

How can you ever forget it?  Perhaps it was that time you needed to say something very important to someone you wanted to impress, and found yourself fumbling for words.  Or maybe it was when you had to give that report in class, and your mind went blank.  It might have been the party when you attempted the latest dance step, and failed miserably.  Or how about that easy hoop you should have sunk, but completely missed just as the game whistle blew.

All of us have some of those moments that we’d rather not remember; moments that make us squirm with discomfort.  We look with some envy at people whose lives seem to be touched with a special grace.  It might be the colleague who can effortlessly “work the room” at any business function and is never at a loss for words.  Or maybe it’s our friend who is a “hostess with the mostest.”  Her functions always have the most delicious menu and the unique and perfect decorative touches. 

On TV we watch professional dancers glide across the floor in a graceful waltz, or smooth quickstep.  We see perfect golf swings, near 10 gymnastic routines, no-hit baseball games.  There are vintage slow-motion shots of all-time great football duos like Roger Staubach-Drew Pearson and Peyton Manning-Marvin Harrison that are sheer poetry in motion.  Closer to home are those people like my wife, Sue, who seem naturally tuned in to others, and know when a small gift, or note of encouragement is just what someone needs.

The common denominator that all these people share is grace, the ability to move physically or socially in an almost perfect, effortless way.  We look at them and wish we were gifted with their particular grace, and that our attempts at similar skills didn’t feel so forced and awkward.  On our insides it just seems like things should come easier.

Grace is an attractive trait.  It is conveyed in ease of bearing, effortless skill and consideration or thoughtfulness of others.  People tend to exhibit it in isolated areas, but there was one person who possessed it in every aspect of his life.  He is the face of grace.  His name is Jesus Christ.

Jesus was aware of the needs of others and was never too busy to help them.  He was so approachable and easy to be with, that even young children sought his company.  He was brilliant, but always explained things to people in clear terms they could understand, without a condescending attitude.  When hypocritical religious leaders asked him provoking questions, he answered them with such an unassuming eloquence and élan that they were left speechless.

John 1:14 describes Jesus this way: “And the Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelled in our midst for a time.  We saw His glory as Father God’s only Son, sent from His presence.  He was full of grace and truth.”

God desires to fill you with His grace, the same grace Jesus exhibited.  He wants to give you access to the same gifts of character and skill.  “This good news that God is giving to you is going out all over the world.  It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just like it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God’s wonderful grace.”  (Colossians 1:6)  Say, “yes” to His gift of grace and watch your life change!

Please come join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. Our guest speaker, Pastor Charles Stock, will unpack some of the gifts of God’s grace that are ours in Christ Jesus.

Care-Full or Care-Free?

Are you feeling more unsettled these days?  Remember these recent headlines?

            Arizona Rep Giffords Shot and Six Killed in Tucson Mall

            Deadliest Tornado in US History Hits Joplin, Missouri

            Thousands Celebrate Overthrow of Mubarak in Egypt

            9.1 Earthquake and Tsunami Devastate Eastern Japan

            US Employment Rate Reaches New High

            Hurricane Irene Strikes East Coast

            Stocks Nosedive After US Credit Rating Downgrade

These are just a few of the major news stories we’ve been confronted with over the first eight months of 2011.  No matter how major and tragic an event has been, it was soon overshadowed by yet another catastrophe.  With our heads swimming with images of calamity, and our hearts trying to grapple with one worry after another, it’s been easy to feel “maxed out” on tragedy overload.

As I look back, it seems that major events of “bad news” seem to be increasing in both magnitude and frequency.  Trying to process and respond to them is becoming more difficult, and many of us are left feeling overwhelmed and anxious.  We find ourselves wondering, “What’s next?” 

Recent statistics from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) indicate that we are having increasing difficulty handling our anxiety.  Feeling occasional low levels of anxiety is normal, but excessive anxiety that is chronic, difficult to control, and interferes with day-to-day living is an anxiety disorder.  NIMH data reveals that anxiety disorder is the most commonly diagnosed mental illness in the US today.  Currently 18% or nearly 1 in 5 Americans is suffering with anxiety disorder and the numbers are rising.  Those 30 to 44 years old are the most anxious age group.

How can we cope effectively with one distress after another?  How can we stay in control when it seems that the world around us is going out of control?  God knows that the cares of life can become overwhelming, and the Bible gives us this advice:  “Give all your anxiety and worries to God, for He cares about you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

God does not want us to be care-full, but to be care-free.  Care is another term for anxiety.  It is defined as a burdened state of mind due to worry, having a disquieted state of mixed uncertainty and apprehension, and having mental suffering and grief.  God doesn’t want us to be overwhelmed and suffering with constant worry.  He wants us to trust Him and be anxiety free.

Jesus told us in Matthew 6:31-33:  “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For people run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Make the decision today to be care-free by trusting God as your provider.  Let Him be “careful” for you and love you as He longs to do!

Please come and join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM.  Our guest speaker, Mark Stibbe, will discuss our sonship in God in his sermon, “Ministering From a Place of Rest.”

Bundle of Joy

When I have a spare moment these days, one picture keeps resurfacing in my mind.  It’s a picture of the small but powerful Justice Daniel Baik, who in a moment of time forever changed my identity and the identity of everyone in my family.  A true futurist, he has extended my reach into a time yet to come that I will never personally visit.  Totally irresistible, he instantly won our total love and devotion.  Yes, on May 29, 2011 at precisely 3:29 AM, Justice Daniel changed our lives permanently.

You see Justice Daniel Baik is my first grandchild.  He made my wife, Sue, and me grandparents.  He conferred parental status on my daughter Grace and her husband, Steve, and turned my son and 2 daughters into an uncle and aunts.  He will inherit a future I can only try to imagine, and yes, it was love at first sight!

Newborn babies are truly bundles of joy.  They create a universally shared reason to celebrate, bringing family and friends together.  We eagerly search every detail of their tiny beings agreeing (or disagreeing) whom they most resemble, and try to project what they may do later.  “Just look at those shoulders.  That’s football material for sure.”  

They are mysterious puzzles of promise that progressively unfold before our eyes as the weeks and months pass.  And they continue to give us reasons to celebrate: the first smile, independent sitting, crawling, the first step and the first words.  No matter how many times we’ve seen these milestones in others before, they become fresh miracles in our new little one.

There is no way they can grasp the many moments of happiness, excitement and pride they so effortlessly provide to us.  We will continue to be enriched with celebrations of their presence and accomplishments for years to come.  This experience is expressed so well in Psalms 127:3-5a: “Children are a gift of the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is a reward.  Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.  Blessed is the person whose quiver is full of them.”

Did you know that God feels the same way about you when you choose to become his adopted child?  He thoroughly enjoys your presence and writes your every accomplishment on the tablets of His heart.  Although you may be unaware of it, He is constantly watching with pride as you grow and develop more maturity in Christ.  No matter how large His family, God marvels over the uniqueness of each of His children.  He is completely captivated by you!

When you become His child, He celebrates you as a bundle of joy.  Luke 15:10 states: “I tell you that in heaven the angels rejoice when one sinner repents and comes to God.”  God is a loving father who wants to adopt you as His child.  Say “yes” to His love offer today, and give heaven a reason to throw a party! 

Come and join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM as we continue to discuss being loved and adopted as God’s children, part of our current “Born Identity” series.

Pandora’s Box

Long ago, the Greek god Zeus sent his daughter, Pandora, to earth.  Zeus gave Pandora a little box with a heavy lock on it. He gave the key to Pandora’s husband and told them to never open the box. 

Pandora was very curious and wanted to see what was inside it, but her husband said no.  She became convinced it must contain something very important and desirable, and she didn’t want to be denied.  So one day, when he was sleeping, Pandora stole the key from her husband, and opened the box.

Out flew every kind of disease and sickness, hate, envy, poverty, death and everything bad that people had never experienced. Pandora slammed the lid closed, but it was too late. All the bad things were already out of the box and in the world.

Most of us have heard this myth before and are aware of it’s moral: “All that glitters is not gold.”  Have you ever pursued something only tofind it didn’t give you the satisfaction you thought it would?  It might have provided brief pleasure, but then you were left feeling empty and longing again.

Sex outside its intended purpose is a huge Pandora’s Box.  It promises so much pleasure and self-fulfillment, but its rewards do not last.  In fact, over time they become less satisfying and more and more brief.

I remember staring at the moon one night and feeling total emptiness inside.  I was 17 and lived for sex, drugs and rock n roll.  In fact, I had just finished having sex with a girl I desired who now lay sleeping there.  I knew she thought she was in love with me, but as I stared at her, I felt nothing.  The sex was pleasurable, but already gone.  I could only think, “There must be more than this.”

At that time, the idea of abstinence and sexual purity seemed absurd to me.  Why deny myself something enjoyable?  Yet if I was really honest with myself, I had opened the Pandora’s Box of sex, indulged in it, and it wasn’t really delivering what I thought it would.

God created sex and it’s one of His biggest gifts to us.  In its intended use, inside a committed covenant of marriage between a man and woman, it provides the deepest form of intimacy and ecstasy imaginable.  He designed sex to give us the utmost pleasure and fulfillment.  But when we pursue sex outside its created purpose, we open up a Pandora’s Box that leads to disappointment, and a host of unwanted consequences like emotional pain, regret and shame, STDs, unwanted pregnancy, HIV etc.

Unfortunately, most of us fall for this “false gold” while we are still very young.  Two-thirds of US teens report having engaged in sexual intercourse by age 17.  God knows the gift of sex is very powerful and that many of us will give away our sexual purity by opening the box.  

In John 8:1-11 there is a story about a woman caught in the act of adultery and brought to Jesus for judgment.  He does not condemn her, and reminds her self-righteous accusers that they are no better.  He tells them, “Let those of you who are sinless cast the first stone at her.”  He offers her a clean slate and tells her, “Go and sin no more.”

God does not condemn us when we repent and come to Him.  Instead, He forgives us and restores our sexual purity.  He promises to “make all things new.” (Revelation 21:5)

Join us this Sunday at 9:00AM or 11:00 AM as we look at the subject of sexual purity.  My son, Gabriel, will talk about “The 30 Year Old Virgin,” part 4 in our series on “Sex in the City.”

The Road to Nowhere

We were late, and I was determined to make up for lost time.  Our best friends had bought a home with a spectacular view, and tonight was their housewarming. The directions sounded simple: “Take Red Fern to Northwest Fern and go 2.5 miles.  It’s a gray stone and glass house on the left.”

We easily found Red Fern, but were unprepared when the road forked in two directions without any signs.  Sue, my wife, felt we should go left because it was west, but that road plunged down into a valley area.  I chose the road to the right with a steep ascent.

We wound along a canyon rim and my confidence steadily grew, but we hit the 2.5 mile marker with no house fitting the description.  “It’s probably up here just a little further,” I assured myself.  We passed 3, then 4 miles, and I became more determined that this had to be the right way, even though Sue began to protest that we had taken the wrong turn.

The road suddenly made a sharp left switchback toward a high vista.  “Aha, this is it!”  I just knew it!  Immediately there was a dirt turnaround and our headlights hit the reflectors of a sign that read “Dead End.”  Frustrated I turned around.  Despite all my confident feelings, we had been on the road to nowhere after all.

Do you ever feel like you are pursuing something that seems to be just beyond your grasp, and keeps evading you, no matter how often you repeat your attempts to obtain it?  If so, you may be trapped in some form of addiction.

We equate addiction with substance abuse, but we can develop a persistent, compulsive physical or psychological dependence on any object or behavior.  Gambling, shopping, texting, sex, pornography, eating, work, TV, video games (etc.) can all become addictions.  In fact, many social researchers state that we are a nation of addicts.

Addiction is an emotional relationship we create with an object or behavior.  Through the compulsive use of the object or behavior, we try to relieve stress, find comfort, and meet our needs for intimacy, while avoiding the reality and responsibility of everyday life.  In the short term it works and we find temporary satisfaction, which strengthens our attraction. 

However, addiction is an escape and does nothing to fulfill the real needs we have.  Over time it yields diminishing returns, and we must engage in it more and more to gain the same satisfaction.  Eventually addiction interferes with our daily life activities, our work, interpersonal relationships, even our health.  We become trapped in the vicious cycle of increasing addiction.  We are on the road to nowhere.

God warns us that compulsive overuse of anything will harm us.  In Proverbs 25:28, He states: “A person without self-control is like a city that is invaded by enemies who knock down the walls so it is easy to invade again.”  He describes addictions that can never fulfill us in this way:  “Can a man scoop fire into his lap without being burned?  Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched?” (Proverbs 6:27-28)  The very thing we addictively pursue to fulfill us is destroying us!

Get off the road to nowhere!  Accept God’s free gift of love in Christ Jesus that can break the bondage of any addiction.  God promises to supply all our needs according to His riches in heaven through Christ.  (Philippians 4:19)

Come and join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM.  I address one of the most insidious addictions in “The Peril of Pornography,” the third installment in our current “Sex in the City” series.

A Perfect Fit

One of my favorite stories about my wife, Sue, is when she baked a cake when she was 9 years old.  A week earlier she had baked her first cake from scratch under her mother’s watchful supervision.  It was delicious and with all the family compliments ringing in her ears, Sue wanted to repeat her performance, this time making cupcakes.  But she insisted on doing it completely on her own.  (Sue has always been independent!)

Unfortunately, she mixed up the baking soda and baking powder.  Her cupcakes were little round disks, less than an inch high and hard as rocks!  For years afterward, Sue heard her family kid her, “Remember the time you made us hockey pucks for dessert!”  It was such a small deviation from the recipe instructions, but what a difference it made!

To be fair, I have a similar story about myself.  We were expecting our son Gabriel and needed a new crib.  Sue bought one and brought home the box, you know the one that says, “some assembly required.”  Like most men, I tossed the instructions aside and dove into the project. 

A half an hour later, I looked at my construction and realized there was a bracket and 2 bolts left over, and I had installed the sliding panel backwards.  It took me another hour to disassemble my project, and this time following the instructions, to put the crib together correctly.

Before laughing too loud at us, I’m sure most of you can tell a similar story on yourself.  Maybe it was the time you got the colorful, kaleidoscopic laundry after failing to separate the whites from the non-fast colors, or you shrank your favorite T-shirt because you failed to follow the direction which said “line dry.”  Perhaps it was trying to use that standard screwdriver to tighten a philips-head screw, or the time you ignored the break-in directions and took a long hike in your new boots!

Most of us have learned the hard way that ignoring the manufacturer’s instructions, is a recipe for disaster.  We thought we had a better, simpler way, but we found out we were wrong.  The product’s maker had it right all along.

God is our Maker and He designed us for relationships, declaring that it is not good for us to be alone. (Genesis 2:18)  He also designed the perfect types of relationships for us: marriage, family, friendships, in which we could discover our identity and mature in an atmosphere of security, safety and love.

He gives us very specific instructions on how to engage in these relationships so they will best satisfy our desires and needs.  We may think we have an alterative way which will work for us, but God cautions:  “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to complete destruction.”  (Proverbs 16:25)  Ignoring our Maker’s instructions can be disastrous, robbing us of everything we desire.

Maybe you hesitate to accept God’s directions for relating because you think they will deny you fulfillment.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  God assures us: “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)  God loves you and wants to give you a far better life than anything you can imagine.  Discover His instructions for “a perfect fit” in your relationships!

Join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM for our second discussion on relationships in our current “Sex in the City” series.  My topic is “The Gay Myth: Beyond Will and Grace”.

Are You Drinking Living Water?

I will never forget the first time I saw it happen.  I was on a ministry trip to Asia.  She was a young child with scraggly hair and worn, dirty clothes, holding a plastic bottle filled with muddy water.  As I watched in shock, she put the bottle to her lips and took a long drink, feeding the bacteria and intestinal parasites already flourishing in her swollen belly. 

Her village bordered a small lake, its only source of water.  That lake served as their all purpose laundry, bathing and toileting facility, and provided their drinking water as well.  On that trip I learned that contaminated drinking water causes more disease and death in the world each year than even hunger and famine.  That little girl was drinking in death.

We have access to pure drinking water at the turn of a tap, and wouldn’t dream of polluting our body by drinking muddy water, but what about our mind and soul?  How pure and life-giving is the material we are pouring into the rest of ourselves?  We are bombarded daily by constant information and images from the world and technologies around us.  Do we know what we are consuming?

Take television for example.  The average adult views 30+ hours of TV each week.  Two out of 3 shows viewed depict some type of sexual act, with an average of 4 sexual acts per one-hour show.  Only 6% of the sexual acts portrayed are between persons married to each other.  References to the risks and responsibilities inherent in these sexual encounters occur less than 10% of the time.  The dominant message seems to be that these activities are normal, pleasant and harmless.

Studies indicate otherwise.  Watching TV definetly affects our attitudes and behavior.  In sponsoring a recent “National TV Turn-Off Week” campaign, the American Psychiatric Association called the impact of TV viewing on behavior “a public health problem.”  It went on to state that at least one third of Americans fit the clinical description of being addicted to watching television.

And television is only the tip of the iceberg of potential contaminants that confront us daily and subtly pollute our minds and hearts with their influence.  How can we reclaim control over our souls and keep ourselves pure?  

God knows that each of us struggles with these influences and has difficulty regaining our own purity.  Jesus met a Samaritan woman who came by herself at noon to draw water at a well where He was sitting.  She picked this time to avoid the ridicule of the other women. You see, she had lost the struggle to maintain her purity and was well known for her immoral behaviors.  She probably felt very alone and rejected.

Jesus offered her “living water.”  This water would cleanse and refresh her soul and fill her with joy and renewed hope for her future.   He told her: "If you only knew the gift God has for you and whom you are speaking to, you would ask Me, and I would give you living water. Everyone who drinks this well water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the living water I give him will never thirst. It will become in him a spring of water welling up to abundant life.” (John 4:10, 13-14)

Are you drinking “living water?”  Let God cleanse and purify you with His life-giving Spirit.  Say “Yes” to Him and experience His joy and renewed hope for your future! 

Please join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM.  We will be discussing “Overcoming the Spirit of Immorality with Purity” the first part of our new “Sex in the City” series.