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My mother was a truly amazing hostess. My father, who was a minister, frequently brought guests home at the last minute, and if my mom was caught off guard, she never showed it. She always graciously greeted each new guest and then disappeared for a period of time into the kitchen, only to reappear with a sumptuous snack or meal. She appeared to do this almost effortlessly, but I know it actually took a lot of foresight and planning.

You see, my mom wasn't just an ordinary cook; she was an exceptional one. She had a restaurant specializing in Korean dishes for lunch that was packed every day. When you went to her restaurant, you immediately felt welcomed and attended to. My mom knew how to create an atmosphere of hospitality, as well as being a good cook, and both these skills were amply demonstrated in her success as a restaurant owner.

I often think of my mom and her hospitality when I travel internationally. Every culture has its own way of demonstrating hospitality to strangers, and it often involves considerable self-sacrifice on the part of the hosts. I am always humbled and a bit overwhelmed when we enter the home of a poor family, and they have prepared a meal for us that often involves some type of meat, which they almost never eat themselves. It is more than a meal; it is an extravagant gift of welcome.

Hospitality is an ancient practice and was actually important in early times for survival. Towns were few and far between, with most people living in rural areas. For travelers, there were no accommodations like hotels or restaurants. They had to depend on the hospitality of people they encountered as they journeyed. It was customary to take in the stranger and offer them a place to sleep, something to eat and even protection if needed.


Many ancient cultures contained written or orally transmitted commands to take in the stranger and provide for them. One of the laws in early Israel stated, "The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as a citizen among you. You shall love the stranger as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God." (Leviticus 19:34)

Jesus equated hospitality with loving God and doing right. He said, "When you give a luncheon or dinner do not invite your friends or family or your rich neighbors. If you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, the lame, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." (Luke 14:12–14)

Hospitality is a godlike act, for God was the original host. The first two chapters of Genesis relate how He carefully designed and prepared the earth for us. He then created a beautiful garden, full of delicious things to eat and invited us in. He's been reaching out and welcoming us ever since. It brings Him great joy when we accept His hospitable invitation and spend time with Him.

Please come join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. We will be discussing hospitality as a way of participating in and sharing God's love, another in our series on "What's the H in HRock Church?"

Who's Your “BFF”?

Texting is part of our everyday lives, and it is redesigning our vocabulary. We all know that "BFF" means "best friends forever," and we know what we value in a "BFF." I asked several people what they look for in a best friend and came up with the following list: respect, shared interests, loyalty, honesty, trustworthy, nonjudgmental, common values and worldview, mutual concern and caring, sense of humor, integrity not afraid to confront and always has your back.

While your list might look somewhat different, I'm sure that you would also include many of the same behaviors. We all want to have at least one person that we feel is a true friend. We want someone we can count on in good times and bad, and someone we can trust with those parts of ourselves that we don't easily share.

Starting in childhood, we are raised with numerous examples of good friends. Doubtless you can remember many cartoon friendships like: Mickey Mouse and Pluto, Lilo and Stitch, Batman and Robin, Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble and Rocky and Bullwinkle to name just a few. If we read books, we were introduced to famous friends such as the 2 hobbits, Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson or the Three Musketeers.

The subject of friendship has made some movies or series classics that we enjoy over and over again. Examples that come to mind are: Stand by Me, Band of Brothers, The Odd Couple, It's a Wonderful Life, The Wizard Of Oz and Gladiator. We all can relate to the feelings of friendship, the tension of estranged friendship, the sadness of lost friends, and the joy of reunion with friends.

While some of us may have enduring friendships from childhood, most of us have had a series of best friends in our lives. The idea of a "forever friend," is very appealing, but most of us would have to admit that nothing lasts forever, not even a best friend. Sometimes we have a falling out with a best friend. More commonly we drift apart due to life changes such as marriage and family, diverging interests, moves to new locations etc.
We often find as we get older that our friendships become more centered on shared activities rather than a shared whole life experience. This reality was well described in the movie "Stand by Me." The central character, who is the narrator, comments: "I never again found the quality of friendship that I had with those friends when I was 12."

I don't think we ever stop wanting a BFF, no matter how old we get. As one unknown writer put it: "A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you've forgotten the words." It would be wonderful to have such a friend by your side forever.

Do you know that God seeks friendship with you? Jesus told his disciples: "Greater love has no one than this, that a person will lay down their life for their friend. I call you my friends, for everything my Father has revealed to me I have told to you." (John 15:13, 15b) On his last night with them, Jesus reassured his followers that even though He was going away, He would not leave them alone. He would send them the Holy Spirit to stand by them and be their friend forever. God wants to be your BFF, and He died for you to prove it.

Come join us this Sunday morning at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. I will be talking about the Holy Spirit and the partnership we can have with Him, another topic in our current series on "What's the H in HRock Church?"

What's on the Menu?

How is this for a menu: 46 million pounds potato chips

                                              1.25 billion buffalo wings

                                              10 million slices of pizza

These are the three most popular snack foods for Super Bowl Sunday, and this is what fans consumed last Sunday. While pizza, chips and dip are ongoing favorites, buffalo wings are now the traditional snack food associated with the Super Bowl with their consumption rising geometrically each year.

We all have our favorite foods that we crave. I like to watch people's plates when I'm at a buffet, because I can quickly tell what foods are on their personal menu. First there are the “carb cravers” who love to pile on the starch. Their plate contains items like spaghetti and stuffed baked potatoes, with a side plate of several slices of garlic bread. The “carnivores” have a sampling of every cut of meat available (never fish or chicken) and a baked potato or better yet, french fries.

The “Diary Queens” collect cheese spread and crackers, varieties of cheese wedges, lasagna with extra cheese from the salad bar, cottage cheese and fruit salad, and of course, ice cream for dessert. Then there are the “grazers.” These are the souls who forage on the salad bar gathering various flora with a multitude of toppings, and always return to your table with a slightly virtuous smile. I could go on, but I think you get the idea.

When we “get the craving,” we can't seem to get enough of the foods that are on our personal menu.  For me, it's Chinese food, especially kung-pao chicken. We can stuff our face and still be hungry for more, but foods are not the only area where we have a personal menu. We also have one in what we hunger for in life.

You don't have to watch people very long to see what's on their personal “life menu.” Some people crave power and influence, while others collect money and possessions. Some want to be on the cutting edge of fashion, and others hunger for fame and success. Some strive to be star athletes or highly respected authorities in their career field, while others constantly check their Facebook page to see how many “new friends” they have.

What's on your personal “life menu?” Which interests and pursuits tend to dominate your time and energy? Do they bring you deep and lasting satisfaction, or like food cravings, do they need to be constantly fed with more?

In His famous sermon on the mount, Jesus gives us an important truth about our “life menu.” He tells us: “Blessed, that is happy, are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness (a right relationship with God), for they shall be filled.” (Matthew 5:6)

You see, God originally created us to be in relationship with Him. He wants us to enjoy our lives here and the good things we can have. However, if we are not in a right relationship with Him, we will find ourselves continuing to be hungry and craving for “something more.” It doesn't matter how much we fill our “life menu” with additional attainments, we won't find ongoing satisfaction.

Put a relationship with God at the top of your personal “life menu” today, and begin to experience the deep fulfillment only He can bring.

Please join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. My son, Gabriel Ahn, will discuss how we hunger for righteousness and are filled, another topic in our current series: “What's the H in HRock Church?”

Going Steady

I remember it like it was yesterday. I was in junior high and my older sister was in high school. We had always been close, even as little children in Korea. We grew even closer when we came to the United States speaking no English, so we banded together as a supportive team.

But now all that had changed. Suddenly my sister was no longer communicating with me, but was constantly huddled with girlfriends in her bedroom amid lots of whispering and laughter. Naturally, I was curious, but every time I tried to listen in my sister would yell, "Che, get away from that door!"

She seemed to be preoccupied in some type of "altered" state with her mind constantly elsewhere. She spent more time than ever on the phone. Honestly I couldn't imagine having that much to say to anyone! She had obviously been taken over by some force, and I soon found out that force was a guy. You see my sister had "fallen in love," and was "going steady."

All her waking hours now seemed to be preoccupied with her boyfriend except for when she had to do her homework. Although I discovered girls at a young age, my sister’s behavior really seemed excessive and stupid. I remember thinking, "That will never happen to me!"

Boy was I wrong! A few short years later I was a sophomore in high school when I saw "her." She was the new girl and she was gorgeous! I became obsessed from the first moment I saw her, and soon discovered that my sisters "going steady behavior" made perfect sense.

Remember "going steady?" You were attracted to someone and they became the focus of your attention. When you were with them you seldom thought about anything or anyone else, and when you were away from them you couldn't wait to be with them again. There always seemed to be all sorts of things to talk about on the phone, although you could seldom remember what they were later. You wanted to do things with that person, buy things for them, take them places and be near them as much as you could. While it lasted, it was a wonderful experience in which you felt "fully alive," and on top of the world.

As we are all aware, the problem with the wonder and excitement of "going steady" was that it didn't last. Our fascination faded with time, but it was so great while it lasted. As we get older, we often substitute things like a career, hobby or recreational pursuits, and while we become very enthusiastic about them, they never match the all-encompassing fascination of that special relationship.

I think the reason that "going steady" affects us in such a powerful way is that we are wired to want an intense relationship with someone. God created us for a vital union with Himself. In 1 Peter 2:9 He tells us: "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His perfect light."

God calls this exclusive focus on a relationship with him "holiness." It means to be set apart, and dedicated and consecrated to God. You see, God is deeply in love with us, and is inviting us to "go steady" with Him. He wants to satisfy our deepest desires for a fascinating and fulfilling relationship that never fades.

Please come join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. We will be discussing holiness and our relationship with God, another topic in our current series, "What's the H In HRock Church?"