Giving Back

"Madiba, Madiba, Madiba"     "Tata, Tata"   

The cries have grown increasingly incessant over the last three weeks in Johannesburg, South Africa. They come from crowds of well-wishers gathered outside the hospital where Nelson Mandela, now 94, is in critical condition. There are round-the-clock prayer vigils all over the country interceding for his return to health.

"Madiba" is Mandela’s clan name from his tribal group. "Tata" is the equivalent of "daddy" and Mandela is affectionately regarded by many as the father of his nation. Born in 1918, Mandela spent the first 9 years of his life in an obscure village in poverty until his father died. He was adopted by a local chieftain, who mentored him as his own son, sending him to school and university, and grooming him for a high tribal position.

As an adult, Mandela used his training as a lawyer to get involved in political action against apartheid in South Africa. Eventually he was imprisoned on accusations of treason and sabotage and given a life sentence in 1963. He spent the next 27 years of his life in prison where he became an international symbol of the struggle against the racial apartheid policies of the South African government. He was released in 1990 and elected the first black president in 1994 in South Africa's first democratic national election.

He retired from politics in 1999, but has continued to remain active in humanitarian efforts such as women's equality, eradication of AIDs, and promotion of world peace. His birthday in 2009 was declared "Mandela Day" as an annual international event to celebrate his legacy. The day is meant to remind citizens worldwide to give back the way that Mandela has throughout his lifetime. The official statement reads, "Mr. Mandela gave 67 years of his life fighting for the rights of humanity. All we're asking is that everyone gives 67 minutes of their time, whether it's supporting your chosen charity or serving your local community."

Mandela was mentored by a tribal chieftain and gave back by mentoring a nation. Last week, I asked you to think about who's been mentoring you because we have all had a number of mentors in our lives, people who took a chance on us, educated us, gave us an opportunity and believed in us. My question this week is "Are you giving back?"

You may never mentor a nation, but you have opportunities to mentor someone. It might be helping that new employee at work learn their new position, or the new union apprentice learn the skills of the trade. Maybe it's teaching the kid next door who doesn't have a dad, how to use power tools. Maybe it's coaching the Little League team or volunteering at the local senior citizens center. If you are a parent or grandparent you have a multitude of mentoring opportunities with your children and grandchildren.

Giving back not only enriches the lives of those you touch, it fulfills you as well. Father God freely gives to us and instructs us to be people who not only receive, but also give back. He states in Matthew 10:8, "… freely you have received, freely give." He reminds us that we can give back to those around us by observing the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." (Luke 6:31)

Start looking for opportunities to give back and see if it doesn't change the world around you for the better.

Please join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. We are continuing our series on Spiritual Parenting, and my sermon this week is "How to Be a Spiritual Parent."

Pastor Che

Who Is Mentoring You?

“I think we could all use a Mr. Miyagi in our lives.” I will never forget this comment made by a reviewer years ago in reference to the original movie, “The Karate Kid.”  Mr. Miyagi was the soft-spoken, apartment handyman who befriends the teenager, Daniel, eventually becoming his mentor in martial arts. Under his mentoring, Daniel learns a lot more than karate moves. He learns how to have a life of self-control and balance, and he finds in Mr. Miyagi a replacement for the father that he lost.

Mentoring relationships are a popular theme in movies. Notable examples include: trainer Mickey Goldmill mentoring boxer Rocky Balboa, lawyer Ed Masry mentoring his assistant Erin Brockovich, Obi-Wan Kenobi mentoring Luke Skywalker in the use of the Force, Morpheus mentoring Neo in the reality of the Matrix, Professor Higgins mentoring the flower girl Eliza Doolittle, even the regal Mufasa mentoring the young Simba in “Lion King.”

Mentoring is a process in which a more skilled or experienced person serves as a role model, and teaches, encourages, counsels and befriends a less skilled and experienced person. Their purpose is to promote the professional and/or personal development of the less experienced person. Mentoring differs from teaching or coaching in that it is carried out within the context of an ongoing, supportive, personal relationship between mentor and mentee.

Often the mentee goes on to achieve far greater accomplishments than their mentor. You’ve heard of Oprah Winfrey, but who is Mary Duncan? She is the 4th grade teacher that Oprah Winfrey credits with being her mentor and a major influence in her success.  Winfrey said, “A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself. A mentor is someone who allows you to know that, no matter how dark the night, in the morning joy will come. I don't think anybody makes it in the world without some form of mentorship. Mary Duncan encouraged me and befriended me in so many ways. She had a very powerful impact on my early life.”

There are even instances of a person experiencing mentoring from a distance, having never actually met the mentor. Martin Luther King credits Mahatma Gandhi with being a major mentor in his life, particularly in the area of nonviolent protest and political action. In this case, Gandhi mentored King through his example of nonviolence in gaining India's freedom and his writings about that struggle.

Jesus Christ was a mentor to His disciples. He spent three years of His life intensively focusing on 12 men. He lived with them 24/7, taught them, answered their questions and modeled to them what life in God's Kingdom looked like by healing the sick, delivering the oppressed and performing other miracles. He even sent them out to practice what they were learning and gave them ongoing feedback when they returned. He was completely committed to their personal growth and development, and He loved each one of them. As a result, those men went out and changed the world forever.

Take a moment and think about who has been a major influence in your life. Who has mentored you? We continue to need ongoing mentoring throughout our lives. Who is mentoring you now? What people or influences do you regularly expose yourself to? For good or ill, those are your mentors. I hope Jesus Christ is one of your mentors, and that you pick your other mentors wisely. Your mentors shape your destiny. As Sir Isaac Newton said, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”

Please join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. I am addressing the frequently overlooked area of mentoring in the church. For the next two weeks I will be discussing “Spiritual Parenting.”

Pastor Che

KUDOS TO YOU, DAD!

As you can see, this is not our dad's usual blog. We hijacked it this week because we want to tell you some things about him that he'd never say. Thank you, Dad for all the ways you encourage and inspire each one of us. We admire and appreciate you for the reasons below and so many more.

We love you……… Your Kids

F	FEARLESS FAITH (Gabe Ahn) They say that the opposite of living in fear is walking in faith, and that is true of my father. He is fearless because he knows that his God is greater than the circumstances at hand. I'm convinced that my father will go down in history as one of the greatest men of faith the church has ever seen.
A	AFFECTIONATE (Grace Ahn Baik) My daddy is so affectionate! It was all cuddles and kisses when I was young. And now that he's Grandpa… well, let's just say my son's feet rarely touch the ground when Papa’s around!
T	TALENTED (Steve Baik) Dad is more talented than he would ever admit. His ability to recall specific Bible verses, endless statistics, and historical events astounds me. It's a rare gift that I truly admire.
H	HONORING (Kuoching Ngu) Dad epitomizes someone who knows how to honor others no matter their race, socio-economic status, religion, etc. He sees value in each person and demonstrates that through his actions by meeting with them one-on-one, blessing them financially, sharing words of encouragement, or praying for every single person at a conference, even if that means he'll be there for hours.
E	EXCELLENCE (Joy Ahn Ngu) My Dad is a man of excellence in everything he does. When I think about him I’m reminded of the verse, Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God! (1 Cor. 10:31) Whether it is ministry, the marketplace, or relationships, Dad believes in being the best at what God has called you to. His attitude of excellence is grounded in spending daily time in the Word and in prayer. Dad inspires me daily!
R	RENAISSANCE MAN (Mary Ahn) My daddy is a true renaissance man in every sense of the term. Although he is best known as an Apostle and Pastor, many people do not realize he has many interests. Dad always says, “Leaders are readers,” and he has accumulated four large libraries of thousands of books. I admire my father's vast knowledge of life and history beyond his faith and ministry. He is passionate about life, and most importantly, a lover of Jesus.

YOU’RE THE BEST PAPA EVER!  (Justice Baik, 2 years old and Annabelle Ngu, 5 months old)

Father's Day is this Sunday and we want to give kudos to all you Dads. Thanks so much for everything you do. And kudos to our heavenly Father God who loves us all, provides for us all, and will never leave or forsake any of us.

Please join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM for our Fathers Day service. Pastor Che Ahn will be speaking on, “How to Be a Great Dad.”

The Father's Blessing

The Breakfast Club is one of the most popular teen films of all time. Set in the mid-80s, it's the story of five students from different social strata in high school, and their journey of self-discovery during nine hours of Saturday detention. There are two highly popular kids, the “social princess” and the “ buff athletic jock.” Then there are the kids on the outer fringes of school society, the “brainy nerd,” the “campus basketcase,” and the rebellious, defiant “misfit.”

At first they regard each other with contempt and exchange verbal putdowns. It doesn't appear that they have anything in common, but as time passes, they become increasingly self-disclosing as they engage in various activities. At the end of the day, in transparent discussion they discover that they all share a powerful need in common: to be accepted and validated for who they truly are by their parents.

In compelling ways, this unmet need has shaped the personality and behaviors of each student. The “jock” and “brain” are both trying to live up to incessant demands to perform by their fathers. The “basket case” has adopted aberrant behavior to attract the attention of her neglectful parents, while the “misfit” is venting his anger toward his physically and emotionally abusive father in rebellion toward all authority figures. The “princess” struggles with her privileged image that masks the reality of her parents failing marriage.

All of them are longing to be accepted, wanted, belong to and connect with their parents. With this longing unmet, each has embarked on a life journey to find some way to fulfill that longing without success. This quest will continue to dominate the rest of their life whether they realize it or not. And the only thing that can fulfill their longing is the “father's blessing.”

A father's role is to protect, provide, bless, and establish his children's identity. From the beginning, Father God intended that the father’s blessing would impart deep into the heart of each one of us His image of our identity (Who am I?) and our destiny (Why am I here?).

Father God modeled giving the father’s blessing after creating Adam and Eve. “Then God blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.” (Genesis 1:28) In this blessing, He established both their identity and their destiny.

Fathers bestowing blessings on their children was a common practice in ancient times. In Scripture, there are examples of the father’s blessings being passed from one generation to the next. By what they say and do, fathers signal to their children whether or not they are accepted and valued. Too many people today never receive their father’s blessing.

To all of you who've never received a father's blessing, hear the words of Father God: “May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you His favor and give you His peace.” (Numbers 6:24–26) in summary, Father God is saying, “I love you. You're terrific and you’re mine.”

Please join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM for the conclusion of our LeaderShift Conference. We will be having special speakers at each service: Lisette Malmberg at 9:00 AM, and Brian Simmons at 11:00 AM.

Pastor Che

Live Long and Prosper!

With Father's Day approaching, this is the time of year when many men are thinking about their fathers, and unfortunately many of our memories are bittersweet. While fathers and sons can have strong positive bonds, all too often the father-son relationship is characterized by conflict.

Psychologists tell us that fathers and sons clash due to factors like inborn need for dominance.  Also, fathers often desire to live out their lives through their sons, and have expectations regarding which occupations are appropriate for them. Sons often feel they must rebel and defy their fathers to find their individual identity.

Father-son conflict is the subject of many stories and movies. “Field of Dreams” is one popular example. Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) is a farmer who plows under his cornfield to create a baseball diamond after hearing a prophetic-like voice say, “if you build it, he will come.” We find out that at the age of 14, Ray had a falling out with his father and stopped playing catch with him. Then at 17, following another argument, Ray left home. He never reconciled with his father or saw him again.

At the end of the movie, we discover that the “he” who will come is none other than Ray’s father. The movie ends with Ray and his father reconciling over a game of catch. The real theme of the movie is the dream each man carries to be validated and approved by his father.

My personal favorite father-son conflict is from the series Star Trek, and involves the half-Vulcan half-human Mr. Spock, and his father Sarek. There is ongoing strain and uneasiness between the two, largely due to the fact that Spock can never be completely Vulcan, and Sarek can never completely accept his son’s humanity. Added to this, is the fact that Spock turned down the opportunity to attend the Vulcan Science Academy in order to join Starfleet as an officer, causing a 20 year rift. The disharmony between the two is a persistent inner sorrow that each carries throughout life.

One of the most famous stories in the Bible concerns father-son conflict between King David and his son Absalom. Absalom becomes upset following the rape of his sister Tamar by his half-brother Amnon, because David largely overlooks the offense. Absalom arranges for some servants to kill Amnon at a feast, and then flees the country.

After 3 years, Absalom returns to the capital Jerusalem, but remains estranged from his father. In fact he hates his father, gatherers an army, and David is forced to flee the capital to save his life. The two go to war and Absalom is killed by David's commander. David is so overcome with grief at the death of his estranged son, that he continues to mourn the rest of his life.

God knew the strength and indissolubility of the ties between fathers and sons. He understands how we are created better than we do. This is why He commands us to “Honor your father and mother that it will be well with you and you will live long upon the land.” We do not have to love or even like our fathers, but God insists that we esteem and respect them. In positively affirming the tie with them in this way, we validate our own existence and release a blessing over our life.

Father God wants every aspect of your life to be fulfilled. This year, determine to honor your father, even if it is only his memory. As Mr. Spock so frequently put it, make the decision to “Live Long and Prosper.”

Please join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. We are continuing our series on families, and my topic this week is “How to Have a Great Marriage Part 2.”

Pastor Che

… Happily Ever After?

"Faith… Family… Ducks"   That's the motto of the hottest new reality show, "Duck Dynasty," It follows the daily activities of the Robertson clan, a tribe of rednecks from West Monroe, Louisiana, who turned homemade duck calls into a multimillion dollar business. It's been called "a family sitcom with shotguns," and ended its current season with ratings higher than CBS’ "Survivors," and Fox’s "American Idol."

It's popularity has left entertainment insiders baffled and fumbling for possible explanations. Some suggest the novelty of the family's lifestyle, the setting in rural Louisiana and the outdoor "he-man" emphasis of a bearded family patriarch and his 4 bearded sons has been the formula for success. Others suggest it is the authenticity of the central characters and the dynamics between them that is serving up the magic. I have watched the show once and was very impressed, especially because I don’t necessarily watch reality TV.

I tend to agree with those who emphasize that the show is uplifting, appropriate for family viewing and full of family values like love and loyalty to each other. Each program leaves the viewer feeling good and ends with the family together at dinner, holding hands and saying grace. It's a picture of a group of people devoted to one another, their family business and their shared faith in God.

There just may be something about a family lifestyle that's solid, dependable, supportive and committed, that is highly appealing. I am reminded that another family focused reality show that my wife Sue follows, "19 Kids and Counting," is starting its 11th season. It demonstrates that shows about loving, functional families are not only popular, but have staying power in an industry where most shows don't last more than 2 or 3 seasons.

I think these families model something that as humans we all value and desire: to belong, that is to be loved and accepted for who we are, and to be significant, to have personal worth and be important to someone else. I think that Father God created us with these very legitimate desires and designed the family as the primary method for fulfilling them. The family is His idea, and He intended that we would find our acceptance and worth within a loving family context.

After the creation of Adam and Eve, Father God's first words involve the creation of family. He blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. For this reason a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two of them are united into one flesh." (Genesis 1:28a; 2:24) Family is designed by God to be our foundation, both as individuals and as a society.

In our present-day era of fragmented families, single parent families and 50% divorce rate, many of us are struggling to find that elusive sense of belonging and self-worth. For the first time ever, there are more single adults than married adults in our population. Especially among the young, the so-called millennial generation, there is great skepticism about the desirability of marriage. It would appear that the myth of "happily ever after" has been completely dispelled.

But Father God intended that we would find deep satisfaction, fulfillment and even joy in marriage and family. He did more than that; He told us how to obtain it.

Come join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. We are continuing our "Family Mountain Series." I will be speaking on "How to Have a Great Marriage."

Pastor Che

Discipline: Who Needs It?

When you hear the word “discipline,” what comes to mind? Do you remember being hit, yelled at, ridiculed, put in timeout or grounded? Do you feel anger, fear, resentment, shame, sadness or the desire for revenge? For many, these are common reactions to the word discipline.

I doubt that very many of you feel love, gratitude, or appreciation when you hear “discipline.” This is because for most of us discipline is synonymous with punishment. We did something wrong or something our parents disliked, so they inflicted some type of pain or suffering on us. Too often, punishment is administered in the heat of anger, leaving both physical and emotional wounds on children. We feel worthless, rejected, abandoned, alone and alienated from the source of love.

Often these negative feelings follow us into our adult life and affect the ways we respond to instruction by authority figures such as teachers, employers, coaches etc. Our resentment over discipline is expressed in negative attitudes to police, military and elected officials, even the IRS! For some people, their negative attitudes and behaviors are so severe that they keep them in constant conflict with legal authorities, and spend years of their lives incarcerated.

But discipline is not punishment. The goal of punishment is retribution or payback. The goal of discipline is to provide training that corrects and molds character. While being corrected doesn't always feel good, discipline instructs and teaches frequently before an infraction occurs, as well as after. It seeks to instill self-discipline within the individual, so they can operate by making decisions based on principle, and not just be driven by their impulses. This form of behavior is essential for success in any area: athletics, academics, career, relationships of all types, etc.

When people are disciplined in this way they know they are loved, wanted, valued and worth their parents’ time and attention. True discipline gives children a positive self-image, respect for themselves and others, and a sense of personal responsibility and competence. Loving discipline is one of the best gifts a parent can give to their child.

Who needs this type of discipline? We all do!

Father God recognizes our ongoing need for discipline, and He lovingly seeks to provide it before we run into difficulty. Psalm 94:12 reminds us, “Blessed is the person you discipline, oh Lord, the person you teach from your law.” The Bible admonishes us to receive discipline. “The person who ignores discipline despises themself, but whoever heeds correction gains understanding.” (Proverbs 15:32)

Father God's preferred method of discipline is through teaching and instruction. He tells us in Proverbs 4:20–22: “My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to My words. Don't lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.”

Too many of us still see Father God as punitive and vindictive. But what does He really think of punishment? Actually He warns parents about the long-term damages of harsh punishment. “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4)

Start spending time in God's word. It's full of teaching and instruction that provides you with life-giving discipline that will bring you success. The book of Proverbs is a great place to start.

Please come join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. Pastor Karl Malouff will be preaching on "Building Lasting Relationships" as we continue our series on “The Family Mountain”.