At Your Service

I recently read an article describing what Europeans like and dislike about America. Typically, they find Americans friendly and helpful, and they enjoy our cultural diversity and the fact that America has so many different types of activities to do and places to see.

Interestingly, one of the most frequently mentioned dislikes was service in restaurants. Typical European complaints were: “It was terribly annoying having a waiter interrupt me every 3 minutes to ask me if everything was okay. It's not about genuine interest in serving the customer, but seems to be a subtle reminder that the waiter expects to receive a tip. There is definitely a sense of what can I get out of serving you.”

I think it may have more to do with the type of restaurant. In upscale American restaurants, the waiters are highly knowledgeable about menu items, including how ingredients are prepared, cooked and served. They are ever present, immediately providing refills to empty glasses, placing a napkin in your lap, replenishing the bread tray, etc. without your ever having to make a request. It's almost as if they can read your mind and yet they do it unobtrusively, never interrupting your conversation or activity.

I remember one specific incident when I was stirring my after dinner coffee. A little spilled over the rim of the cup onto the doily and saucer. Without a moment’s hesitation, from out of nowhere the waiter dipped in, quietly said, “Let me take care of that for you sir,” and replaced the saucer and soiled doily. The action was so low-key that it drew no attention to my spill or to the waiter’s presence. But I certainly felt like I was the focus of his service.

People can have very different motivations in providing service to others. They may serve to be noticed or to build a positive reputation. They may serve for an anticipated future payback. They may serve out of a sense of duty, but actually resent it.

Jesus demonstrated a different kind of service to His disciples. He showed them what service looks like when it is motivated by love. On His last night, knowing He would be crucified the next day, Jesus took a towel and basin and washed each of the disciple’s feet. He was their leader, their master teacher and yet He performed a service that ordinarily would be supplied by the lowliest house servant.

After washing their feet, He said, “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you should also wash each other's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.” (John 13:14–15) He further clarified this when He told them, “I have not come to be served but to serve, and to give my life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28)

Jesus calls each one of us to service motivated by love. We serve, not for what we can get, but for what we can truly give to others. Serving their needs is our focus and our reward. For in a strangely wonderful way, it is in this type of giving service that we in turn receive the deepest personal fulfillment.

Please join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. Our current series is: “What Does Love Look Like?” and my sermon topic this week is “The Mindset of a Servant.”

Pastor Che

The Many Faces of Love

LOVE…….. It's one of the most popular and widely used words in our culture. We love everything from food to cars to sports teams to movies, songs, baby animals, hairstyles, athletic shoes, holiday destinations, tech toys and on and on. You name it; we love it.

Our everyday language is filled with love phrases such as, “love ya,” “I love it to bits,” “ya gotta love it,” “I just love…” When it comes to our attraction to each other, there’s “first love,” “puppy love,” “lovestruck,” “true love,” “blind love,” “love at first sight,” and “falling in love.” When things aren't going so well there's “no love lost between us,” “unrequited love,” “love and lose,” “love them and leave them,” and “tough love.” For the truly determined and optimistic there's always “sacrificial love,” “a labor of love” and “love conquers all.”

Love wears many faces in our culture. We seem to be constantly “in love” with something or someone. In fact we use the word “love” so frequently that we have to wonder if we aren't in danger of losing its significance altogether. Surely we don't mean that we love our spouse, children or romantic partner in the same way that we love pizza!

We only have one word for “love,” but in Greek there are four words for love. Storge is love of the familiar and comfortable and is often applied to family members. It's the kind of love we mean when we describe our favorite ice cream flavor or vacation spot. Eros is romantic or sexual love, and we know it as erotic love. Philia is the steady love of friendship. All these words represent types of love that we are all familiar with and engage in all the time.

But the fourth Greek word for love, “agape,” is generally reserved for God alone. This is a changeless love that is self-giving without expecting anything in return. It is a love that is freely chosen and given even to the unlovable. It has little to do with emotion and much to do with giving and self-sacrifice. It seeks to serve the other person and promote their good and well-being.

Romans 5:8 describes God's agape love for us: “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” When we cared nothing about God and had no love for Him, He loved us so much that He gave His own Son to die for us to show us His love. This is giving and self-sacrifice beyond comparison.

Jesus constantly showed and taught His disciples agape love. He told His disciples, “Whoever wants to be first among you must be the servant of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.” His final command to the disciples was to love each other even as He had loved them.

The apostle Paul reminds us of this in Philippians 2:2–4: “Have the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests, but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Jesus calls us beyond the many faces of love we know, to learn the freedom and true joy that is found only in the face of agape love.

Please join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. We are beginning a new series, “What Does Love Look Like?” My sermon this week is “Through Love, Serve One Another.”

Pastor Che.

The Loneliest Generation?

“I'm in my early teens and I am just so unhappy with my life. Everything seems so pointless.”

“I'm 15 and my teen years have been hell so far. I haven't had a single friend since elementary school. The past two nights I stayed up crying all night.”

“I feel like every day is just routine, nothing meaningful happens. I'm just so bored with my life. I can't remember the last time I was genuinely happy. Sometimes I feel so alone. I hate it. I just don't know what to do.”

These are random tweets from teenagers talking about their feelings. The American Medical Association reports that mental disorders have become the leading disability in our children, and that depression is at the top of the list. Close to 25% of US children suffer from significant depression at some point.

The recent death of “Glee” star, Cory Monteith from an overdose is a grim reminder that too often depression is claiming the lives of our young. In the past decade successful young entertainers like Brad Renfroe, Heath Ledger, Amy Winehouse and Kurt Cobain have all died of suicide or drug overdose. And we currently seem to be producing a new crop of young potentially self-destructive personalities: Justin Bieber, Amanda Bynes, Miley Cyrus, Paris Jackson and Bobbi Kristina Brown come to mind. Several of them have already been hospitalized for drug problems, suicide attempts or psychological disturbance.

What's wrong? Why is this happening to our young? Psychologist James Garbarino from Loyola University in Chicago states, “The social world of children has become poisonous to their development. The lack of adult supervision and time spent doing constructive cooperative activities with adults are key aspects of this toxic social environment today. Children home alone are more vulnerable to every type of negative cultural influence they encounter than they would be if backed up by adults.”

In short, our children are lonely, not so much for meaningful peer relationships as for meaningful relationships with adults. They may be the loneliest generation ever. While peer relationships are important for teens, they cannot provide the stability and security needed to emotionally support them as they search for their identity and sense of personal worth. Unfortunately, many parents are overworked and overscheduled, and have little time to enjoy a fulfilling family life.

Those of us who are in the body of Christ must take seriously the last command given to us by Jesus Christ, “Love one another, even as I have loved you.” We need to make a conscious choice to become involved with the children around us by conversing with them, taking an interest in what they're doing and listening to their ideas and opinions. We need to give them opportunities to demonstrate their creativity and ability to meaningfully contribute in the life of the church.

We would do well to remember that God told the prophet Jeremiah when he was only a youth, “Before you were formed in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart. I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 1:5; 29:11) God entrusts the mission of encouraging and empowering young people to us. Let's not let Him or them down.

Please join us at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM this Sunday morning. We will be concluding our first Women’s Conference, Heirs Designed to Reign, and our guest speakers Patricia King and Faytene Grasseschi will be preaching.

Pastor Che

Born to Reign

He's only a few days old, and yet the entire world is aware of his existence. He has done nothing to merit it, but one day he will be king. I am sure you have heard by now, he is Britain's new Prince, George Alexander Louis, and he was born to reign.

Like most newborns, there is much speculation about what he will look like. Of course he will resemble his parents and many computer composites have been generated suggesting how he might look as an adolescent or young adult. While his looks may be a matter for speculation, his upbringing is not. He is already a prince, and he will be brought up to be a royal.

As Prince George matures, he will have to master royal protocol and learn how to live in the public eye. He will discover that his life is not really his own, that he was born for a larger purpose than simply living as a privileged prince. No doubt his earliest learning will be instruction under the watchful eye of his parents, but he will have to be given opportunities to practice his royal skills outside the safety of the palace.

Eventually Prince George will be sent out on solo missions where he will represent the monarchy and the British Commonwealth. He will also be expected to use his position and influence to sponsor various charitable causes in Britain and around the world. He will take on increasing responsibilities throughout his lifetime. Unlike most people, he will never retire, because his job as a royal will never end.

When we are born again into the family of God, we become divine royalty. Like any child, we begin to resemble our father, God, and our brother, Jesus Christ. In fact we are told in Ephesians 5:1, “Be imitators of God, as beloved children.” As we mature in Christ we go from one spiritual level to another and we increasingly manifest the nature and character of our Father God. In 2 Corinthians 3:18, the apostle Paul states, “And we all, with unveiled faces, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

At first we are instructed and nurtured within the comfortable environment of our divine family, the church. However, we cannot simply sit and receive instruction forever. We must move out into the world and put into practice what we have learned. We must be doers of the Word, and not hearers only. (James 1:22)

Jesus fully expected that we would not only learn about His life; we would live it. He instructed us before He ascended, “Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to all creation. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues… they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” (Mark 16:15, 17, 18 b)

We were born again into God's royal family to represent His kingdom here on earth. He intends that we will actively establish the culture of heaven on earth. As divine royals, this is our purpose and our destiny, for we were born to reign.

Please come and join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. I am having a “Family Talk” with our congregation, and my topic this week is “An Apostolic Center.” I want to share the vision God has placed on my heart for HRock Church as an apostolic center, and focus on the next step as we go to a new level in the supernatural.

Pastor Che

Where Is Justice?

The trial dominated the news, but the “not guilty” verdict in the Zimmerman case has left many now feeling dominated by a sense of injustice. A few days ago I heard a political analyst make the following statement, “It was a fair trial, but I don't think that justice was served.” The outbreak of protests across the country indicates that many people share her opinion.

While the trial was conducted in accordance with legal standards, and a jury determined that Zimmerman should be acquitted on the basis of self-defense, many still feel a sense of moral outrage. It doesn't seem “right” that Zimmerman, who could have prevented the altercation by not following Martin, appears to be getting off without bearing any responsibility for his actions. Yet under the laws of the state of Florida, Zimmerman didn't do anything illegal.

While many feel he was motivated in his actions by negative racial stereotypes, no one but Zimmerman actually knows what was in his mind and heart that evening. Unfortunately, our judicial system is limited in how deeply it can probe into the mind and intentions of another human being. We can only approximate true justice at best, and sometimes that leaves us deeply unsatisfied.

All of us have been in situations where we experienced a sense of injustice. Maybe it was the fight we got into as a child that was actually started by the other kid, but we received the blame. Or a fellow employee used one of our ideas to gain favor with the boss and didn't give us any credit. Perhaps it was that speeding ticket we got when we were simply following the rest of traffic. Those of us who are minorities know the sense of injustice we have experienced at being treated differently.

There are no easy fixes for the sense of injustice because there is no universal agreement on what is just. Only God truly knows what was in the mind and heart of both Zimmerman and Martin that evening, and that is why only God can truly determine what is justice. Scripture makes it clear that God notes all the thoughts and intentions of each person. Deuteronomy 32:34–35 states, “The Lord says, ‘Am I not storing up these things, sealing them away in My treasury? I will take revenge; I will pay them back. In due time their feet will slip. Their day of disaster will arrive, and their destiny will overtake them.’”

We need to understand that God's vengeance proceeds out of true justice. It is holy and righteous, and free from self-gratification or payback. It differs from human vengeance that all too often is motivated by a sense of injury or a feeling of indignation and the desire to inflict pain on another. Human vengeance frequently only perpetrates further injustice.

I think we would all do well to remember the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. nearly 50 years ago at the March on Washington. He said, “In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.”

I pray that no matter what your views on the outcome of the Zimmerman trial, that you will remember that God is just, and in the end His justice will stand. And if you have suffered a personal injustice in some situation, God sees and knows it, and He will establish justice, true justice, not human vengeance.

Please join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. My dear friend, Winkie Pratney, will be our guest speaker with an engaging and timely message.

Pastor Che

“Let's Do Lunch…”

When I first moved to Los Angeles from the East Coast in the 80s, it took time for me to understand that when someone said, “let's do lunch,” they weren't inviting me to share a meal. You see in LA, “let's do lunch” is a socially accepted way to end a conversation, just as “Hi, how are you?” is to open one. It has the appearance of an invitation, but no substance.

I've increasingly noticed these days that many relationships, even in the church, are the “let's do lunch” variety. They look like friendship, but they really aren't. They are superficial, casual and temporary. They are relationships of convenience, not commitment. They are often built around shared experiences, and much of the conversation centers on movies, sports, tastes in music, tech toys etc. When there is a challenge or controversy, they often dissolve rather than weather the circumstances.

These “let's do lunch” relationships can't be very satisfying to the people engaged in them. Real relationships involve sharing your true self with someone else and being there for them. They require vulnerability and the risk of possibly being hurt, but provide the tremendous reward of being loved and accepted for who you really are.

Psychologists tell us that we gain a sense of fulfillment in intimate relationships with others. They identify 3 factors that characterize intimate relationships: closeness, communication, and commitment.

Closeness involves mutual self-disclosure. We allow our friend to see us as we truly are, and they do likewise. There is vulnerability to be sure, but also a sense of mutual acceptance. We don't have to wear a mask and try to be someone we are not. Someone else really knows us, flaws and all, and accepts who we are.

Communication means that we are able to say how we feel, whether positive or negative. We share happiness and high moments of success, but also feel free to share discouragement and times of sadness with each other.

Real relationships are built on commitment. We are loyal to one another through the difficult times as well as the good ones. Real friends confront one another when necessary and work through differences. They don't vanish when the going gets tough.

Real relationships are “let's do life” relationships. They are substantial and have depth and staying power. It's not surprising that Father God, who created us, also gives us instruction in how to have real relationships. In Galatians 6:2, He tells us to help each other carry our burdens, and be patient with each other's faults. In Romans 12:15, we are advised to be available in good times and bad. We are to be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.

Jesus told His disciples not to disappear when they encountered difficulties in a relationship. Instead, He advised them, “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.” (Matthew 18:15)

Father God is committed to “let's do life” relationships. Jesus assures us that His relationship with us is true friendship. “There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. Now you are My friends, and I have told you everything that the Father told Me.” (John 15:13, 15) He went on to prove himself a true friend by dying on the cross for each one of us. If you have never accepted His offer, I hope you will receive His gift of love for you today, and find in Him a “let's do life” friend.

Come join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. My sermon is, “The Family of God” which is a community of “let's do life” relationships.

Pastor Che

No Way Out

"It appears he has run out of options. He is a man without a country." The national newscaster was referring to Edward Snowden, the former NSA (National Security Agency) consultant who began leaking top-secret information about mass surveillance programs in late May. Shortly after his initial disclosures, Snowden fled to Hong Kong seeking political asylum.

The US Department of Justice has filed charges of theft of government property and espionage against Snowden. The Chinese forced him out of Hong Kong and currently Snowden is in the transit area of the Moscow airport. His US passport has been revoked and he has no visa, so he currently is a man in limbo while he tries to find a country that will grant him asylum.

Snowden worked as a computer technical consultant for both the CIA and the NSA since 2007. He had only been working in his current consulting position 3 months before going rogue with stolen information, which appears to have been his intention all along. What's hard to understand is exactly what Snowden thought he would accomplish in his actions. It is highly unlikely he anticipated being left in his current situation with no way out.

Actually, as we just celebrated the 4th of July, I am reminded of another American who went rogue, Benedict Arnold. He gained a reputation for bravery and heroism as a general in early battles of the Revolutionary war. Later, however, he defected to the British, serving in their Army, and fled to London after the British were defeated.

Arnold lived out the rest of his life in Britain and Canada, never really becoming a full-fledged citizen of either country. In the US, he has traditionally been considered a traitor, and his name "Benedict Arnold" is synonymous with treason. In the end, like Edward Snowden, he was a person with no way out, a man without a country.

Most likely, both Snowden and Arnold felt their actions were justified and would gain them advantage and approval with some group. I'm sure neither one planned on becoming a political refugee without a real homeland, forced to live their lives in infamy. Instead of being hailed for great accomplishments, they were left largely stranded with no way out.

It's easy from a distance to look at men like Snowden and Arnold and say, "What in the world were they thinking?" However, most of us, if we are honest, will admit that we have made some decisions that we later regretted, but there was no way out of the negative circumstances we created. It might have been that major credit card purchase we just had to have, and now we’re stuck with monthly payments at high interest rates. Perhaps it was a relationship we entered too quickly, or even worse, terminated prematurely and now we live with regret.

We've all made some decisions that at the moment looked promising and "the right thing to do." Unfortunately, in retrospect, we often see how we ignored certain facts that could have influenced us to choose a different course of action. Father God knows that too often our instincts can lead us astray. He tells us in Proverbs 14:12, "There is a way which seems right to a person, but the end of it is the way of death." In other words, it's easy to get trapped in a bad decision, thinking it will turn out good, but it doesn't.

Father God wants to guide our decision-making with His wisdom so we can avoid no way out consequences. But we must be willing to receive His instruction and learn how to be spiritually parented by the people He puts in our lives.

Please join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. Pastor David Oh will be preaching on "Being Spiritual Sons and Daughters."

Pastor Che