Daisies...

Do you enjoy your work? God does! Genesis records that at the end of each day of creation, God relaxed and surveyed His creation, and with genuine delight, told Himself how good His creations were. God created because it brought Him joy! He expressed Himself in His creation, and all that He created glorified Him.

G. K. Chesterton, an English writer, theologian, apologist, suggested that God has a childlike excitement out of his work. As a matter of fact, he contended that God may be the only one left in the universe who has childlike emotions about work, while all the rest of us have grown old and cynical due to sin. God never tires of what He does. He enjoys it all!

When Esther, my daughter, was three, I’d throw her into the air, catch her and then throw her again in the air and catch her. And when I set her down on the floor after few times, she’ll say, “Do it again!” I’ll repeat this process dozen times, and she’ll never grow tire of these antics.

G. K. Chesterton believed that God may be that way about creating daisies. He asks us to imagine God creating the first daisy and enjoying it so much, something down inside Him exclaimed, “Do it again!” And when He made the second daisy, He is even more excited and shouts to Himself, “Do it again!” Imagine God continuing to create daisy after daisy, and after making the hundred billionth daisy being even more filled with joy and delight then when He began. God is a God who delights in what He does.

Bible says you and I were created in the image of God who loves His work. John Piper suggests in his book Desiring God that failing to delight in our work is denial of part of what we are supposed to be. Therefore, being like God implies delighting and finding joy in our work. 

But you say, “There is no way someone can enjoy what I do. There is no meaning and fulfillment in the work I do.” Really?

There is a story of a factory supervisor. He asked a new worker, “What was it like at your last job?” “It was miserable! I didn’t like the work and the supervisors were unfair to me,” replied the new worker. To which the factory supervisor replied, “Unfortunately, you’ll find it much the same here.”

Few days later another new worker was hired by the factory; and the factory supervisor asked the new worker the exact same question. “What was it like at your last job?” “It was wonderful. The work was interesting, everybody was good to me. The working conditions were ideal,” replied the new worker. To which the factory superior answered, “I’m happy to report that you will find this place as wonderful as the last place where you worked.”

People’s dispositions often determine what they experience. Some people will find reasons to complain even if they were in heaven. There are those who, as John Milton said, “can make a Hell of Heaven.” 

How about you? Do you enjoy your work? May you enjoy all that you do. And may you live with passion! 

Ice Water Anyone?

Deep down in every human being, is a desire to do something of worth that will last beyond this life. According to Spanish existentialist Miguel de Unamuno, “There is an urge in every man to render himself indispensable.”

People think that ‘indispensable’ means they have to do things that receives public recognition with bigness and fame. We think that to so something ultimately worthwhile, we must write a great American novel or pain some artistic masterpiece. There is a common notion that significance in life depends on some kind of public recognition. But such is not the case. Really gratifying deeds are often done quietly and with hardly any recognition. 

Barnabas is a familiar character from the Bible. He never wrote an epistle. He founded no major churches in his life time. And yet Acts 11:24 says this about Barnabas: He ‘was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith; and people were added unto the Lord.” He was a man who never earned a lot of titles, but he certainly earned a lot of testimonies.

Barnabas never did big stuff that would have made him the biblical standout that Apostle Paul became. He was committed to doing what might at first seem like little things for christ and the church. On the other hand, the precious kindness of Barnabas would be remember by those who survived him. If I had a choice of hanging out with either Paul or Barnabas, I would choose Barnabas. I am sure that a nice guy like Barnabas, who was constantly earning testimonies by doing little things, must have been more fun to be around in the long haul. Beside, there is no Apostle Paul without Barnabas! May we become like Barnabas, a man who encouraged people to be better than they really are!

Some of the most significant things we do in life are often ordinary. Happily on the Judgment Day, Jesus will reward a lot of people who hardly remember the important things for which they will be honored. Sending a card of encouragement to someone who is a bit down, baby sitting for few hours for stressed out single mom, calling someone on the phone to show that you care, and giving a glass of ice water in the name of Jesus! These are some things we do that we hardly remember doing after they are done. But the people we do them for often remember, and Jesus never forgets! 

Disciple Church, be faithful in the ordinary! Be faithful in lending a hand… calling to show that you care… sitting next to a new comer to show the warmth of His church…etc. No one may see it. But that does not matter, because Jesus sees it all! It is He who said, “If you have done it unto the least of my brothers you have done it unto me!”

Ice water anyone? Blessings. Live with Passion!

Go For It!

In the book of Exodus and Numbers, we discover children of Israel at the edge of the Promise Land. Moses sends 12 spies across the Jordan River to survey the land.

When the twelve spies return, they give a report on what they had seen. Ten of the twelve spies are horrified. In fear and trembling, they give a report on giant warriors. In their minds, they determined, to challenge the people in the land was foolish as surely it’ll lead to death. They said, “It’s foolish! We can’t win. Moses, did you bring us out of Egypt to kill us in the hands of these giants?” Ten spies were afraid to take risks needed to possess the Promised Land, which God had set apart for them and their children.

But Joshua and Caleb were different. They saw the same giants the ten spies saw; yet they were filled with confidence and determination. They said, “Let’s do this. Let’s go for it!” They held on to the promise of God. They were filled with faith. They resonated with the challenge that lay before them. They were not afraid to accomplish God’s dream. They remind me of Daniel’s three friends who, in the midst of certain data in a fiery furnace, said, “Even if God does not save us, we will not bow down to you!” They were filled with courage and faith!

Joshua and Caleb were risk takers. They would become the heroes of God among the people of God. They challenged the status quo and lived out a dream God has seeded in their hearts! They were willing to climb an insurmountable obstacles to live by the promise of God, who led them out of even greater obstacles, Pharaoh and Egypt! They were letting God given dream to pulse and breath! They were risk takers.

But what if they fail and people mock them? Mockers are not important! Mockers never make any differences. Critics change nothing. They only point out problems, but who can’t do that? Even a five year old can do that. The promise land belongs to those who take risks, whose face is marred with dust and sweat, covered in blood, who strive valiantly while daring everything, who may err and fall, but who has done his/her best! Their place will never be among those who are lukewarm and timid, who know neither victory nor defeat!

I love Nike’s slogan - “Just do it!” What is God calling you to do right now but you are too afraid to even try? Just do it! What is humming in your heart but the humming is drowned by the sound of fear? 

Just do it!

Never allow your fear to drown your God given dream! God is calling each one of you to ‘go for it.’ The Promise Land is waiting for you. Live with passion!

To Really Live

One elderly person said, “I just didn’t spend enough time experiencing how good a hot bath really feels.” In other words, he wished he had taken more baths and fewer showers. I think the elderly person is saying I wish I had ‘lived.’

Can I ask you a question? “How long have you lived?” Not how long you’ve been breathing… but how long have you really lived?

I remember driving to Yosemite National Park many years ago. I am not a nature lover, but when I was driving down to the National Park, I saw the Yosemite Dome that was so beautiful, I stopped to take it all in. I was overpowered by the awareness of how small I was and how big it was. In that moment of awareness, I felt like I stepped outside of myself and watched myself living and experiencing Yosemite! I sucked in the scene as I inhaled. In that moment, what I saw was so intense, if I were to live a million years, that moment would be part of who I am. What I saw was nature glorifying the beauty of Jesus. I lived that day!

How long have you lived? Most people walk around like a walking dead, and those who are alive are all to seldom truly alive. C.S. Lewis once said, “Our age is marked by moderate vice and moderate virtue.” Perhaps this is Satan’s greatest feat… deadness of spirit, indifference, passionless living! At least passionate sins are interesting but this lifeless living is unbearable don’t you think?

Jesus referred to such life as ‘lukewarm’. Neither hot nor cold! Jesus offered so much more than an entrance to heaven and deliverance from hell. Jesus offered a new life, different kind of life, a radical life… an abundant life, which is characterized by His indwelling, life-giving presence. 

When we have Jesus living in us, he offers so much more than a promise of an everlasting life. He offers life of joy that erupts from His own joy! An elevated life here and now! When we give the pilot seat of our life to Jesus and allow Jesus to live fully in us, which is to say to live in obedience to Jesus, we can live life on a whole new level of joyful intensity! Perhaps this week, it’ll be prudent for us to reflect on life we live and all that it has to offer in Jesus… perhaps you will experience new abundance in Him! Blessings. Live with Passion!!!

Reflecting on Relationships

In Thornton Wilder’s play, Our Town, Emily, the main character, dies while giving birth to a child. In the afterlife, Emily is granted one wish, and she chooses to watch herself and her family live out one day of the life she left behind. Emily chooses her twelfth birthday. She watches herself and family as they talk and interact and carry on the ordinary daily activities.

From Emily’s perspective, as an invisible observer, she is disturbed and horrified by what she witnesses and hears. Neither she nor her family members seem to give any serious attention to one another. Newly aware of how precious life is, she becomes upset and angry because none of them are emotionally involved in their interactions. Everyone is casual in what they say and do, not understanding as she does from the other side of death, that they will never get this day back. She agonizes over the way the day transpires. She cannot stand to watch herself and her family waste what she knows to be so precious. She is shocked that they live life with so little reflection on its importance. 

In the play, Emily turns to the audience and cries out, “Do any of you ever really live life while you're living it?” 

Are you really living? We fail to spend ample time reflecting on our lives.

I remember one night, when my kids were still babies, very small and precious, sleeping in their room. I can still see their beautiful faces and their peaceful innocence. I stood by them for a long time, just watching their chests rise and fall in complete peace. I now know I can never get that moment back. I wish I had done more such reflecting. I wish I had taken less for granted during our precious time together.

This week reflect on your relationships… and live life with passion!

Reflections

Fifty people over the age of 95 were asked: “If you could live your life over again, what would you do differently?” There were myriads of answers but three answers constantly surfaced again and again. These three answers were:

If i had to do it over again, I would reflect more.

If I had to do it over again, I would risk more.

If I had to do it over again, I would do more things that would live on after I am dead.

These are wise lessons on life from those who are most experienced in life. They give us a perspective that can better direct our lives. In the next few articles let’s consider their wise answers.

During the Vietnam War [1959-1975], a young West Point Academy graduate named John was sent to Vietnam to lead a group of new recruits into a battle. One night, a squad of Viet Cong overtook his men. John was able to get all but one of his men to safety in a nearby trench. The one soldier who was captured had been severely wounded, and from the safety of their trench, John and squad could hear the cries of their wounded friend. Compelled by duty and loyalty, John crawled out of the trench to rescue his dying comrade. He got to him safely and was able to drag him back. But just as the wounded man was rolled into safety, John was fatally wounded by a single shot to his back.

Many months later, the wounded soldier returned to the States. So John’s parents invited him to a dinner party to see this young man whose life was spared at such a great cost to them.

This young man came to the dinner drunk! He was loud. He showed no gratitude, remorse or concern for the suffering parents. At the end of the night, after the young man had left, John’s mom collapsed in tears and cried, “To think that our precious son had to die for somebody like that.”

I know our immediate reaction to such story is to judge and condemn this young soldier. But before we pass our own judgement upon this ungrateful soldier, let us consider how much like him most of us are? Jesus died on the cross for us, yet we continue to hurt him. Jesus paid a horrible price to give us eternal life, yet we continue to sin, often intentionally. We owe Him something better but we fail to deliver what we know we should be doing. We fail to reflect upon the cost of our salvation. If we did, our lives would be radically different. Perhaps this week, we can spend some time in gratitude and thanksgiving as we reflect upon the cross, upon which God displayed his love and his righteousness for us. Christian victory is found in Jesus! Let us rest and reflect more upon Jesus! Live with passion!

Live With Passion

Have you heard of a man name Emmanuel Nenger? I first encountered Mr. Nenger's story through a seminar taught by Zig Ziglar. Story goes that in 1887, Nenger went grocery shopping to buy some greens. At the check out, he gave the cashier a twenty dollar bill, and when she put the money in the cash drawer, she noticed ink from the bill had stained her hands due to the moisture from handling the greens Nenger just purchased.

The cashier had known Mr. Nenger for years. She thought, “This can’t be right. Mr. Nenger is no counterfeiter!” Mr. Nenger was an up right citizen and was known in his town as a person of character. But as required by the store, she decided to report the incident to the police, who confirmed that the twenty dollar bill was indeed a counterfeit.

With a search warrant in hand, the police searched Mr. Nenger’s home. In his attic, they found a room where he counterfeited money. Emmanuel Nenger was a master artist and he was reproducing money with paint and brush, all hand drawn.

The police also found three portraits that Nenger had painted and confiscated them. They were masterfully painted. In fact, those portraits sold for $16,000 at an auction. In 1887, that was a small fortune! The irony is that Nenger spent as much time counterfeiting a twenty dollar bill as it took to paint his portraits that would sell for over $5,000.00. 

For sure, Emmanuel Nenger was a thief, but the person he stole the most from was himself!

How about you? Are you stealing from yourself? God has engineered you with success and greatness. You are sons and daughters of God made in the image of God, redeemed by the blood of Jesus! Are you living up to the potential which God has placed in you? If not, why not start today. Believe in what the Bible says about you. And then live! Live with passion!

Thank you! Happy New Year!

2014 is God’s gift! We get to start fresh! We can leave behind the past and look forward to what can be. There is potential and possibility pulsing in the air as we look forward (more about that in the up coming articles). It’s time to look back, for 2013 was also a gift from God to Disciple Church to carve out the future according to His pleasure. I am excited!

Every Sunday at 7:30 am, praise team rushes in to pray and get ready for the worship service. I love them for their dedication and love for the church! At 8:30 am, our host team led by Joyce, promptly gathers to pray and to cast vision. Afterwards, she takes the team to survey the church to clean and to make sure that our worship room is ready to receive the precious souls God has sent us for that week. Who can forget the delicious coffee and the pastries, freshly baked by our freshman Sarah the night before the Sunday celebration! 

Meanwhile, praise team is beginning to start to practice their set and the sound of worship envelops the whole church even before the ‘official’ 9:30 am service time. I often find myself soaking in the worship songs as the presence of God covers our church. What a blessing! 

Now, prayer team led by Yesie prays over our church. I long to pray with them each Sunday. As our voices join together for the glory of God to touch our people each week, I say to myself, “I am so blessed to have them at DC.” Then the prayer team lays their hands on me and blesses me so that the congregation encounters the Holy Spirit’s special touch! What a blessing!

After our worship service, I walk through the halls to observe how our growth groups are doing. I let out a short prayer here and there for everyone to share honestly and genuinely because only in raw and vulnerable sharing can there be genuine community! Almost every week, I see people tearing up while sharing, which brings joy to my heart. I know there is honesty happening, which gives God room to shape and mold individuals and groups.

Throughout the week we have discipleship training, leadership training and bible studies. Someone recently asked me, “Aren’t you tired? How do you do it?” Another person suggested, “You need take a vacation!” Of course those things will come in due time, but physical tiredness drowns in the joy of being part of a community where God is working to make Jesus’ name beautiful. Besides, I’ll have eternity to rest in the arms of the Lord. For now, when I hear what God is doing in our peoples’ lives, my heart skips with joy! 

Last Sunday, we had couples gathering at Elder Jonathan’s house for a night of hot pot and a gift exchange. The food was great! But for me, sharing is always the highlight. As couples shared what they are thankful for in 2013, I heard how God worked in their lives… and in my heart I thought, “Those sleepless nights were worth it!”

Exodus, our college and adults ministry, gathered few weeks ago to share gifts. Elder Paul and Joyce generously shared their home and food so we could all squeeze together! Someone said, “Wow, we have doubled in number since last year!” Yes… doubled in joy, doubled in laughter, doubled in gifts, doubled in personalities, doubled in hunger for God… amen! What a blessing!

Who can forget the Christmas Caroling as we went around few of our church members homes and the senior citizen center. I met a 90 year old woman name Clare, she was in tears by the time the caroling was done! I bless God we were able to touch her heart with His presence. I know part of her tears is the joy of Christmas, but partly it was because it’s been awhile since someone came over in love to see her! Heaven on earth friends!

So we have to wonder once again, why do we do this? Why wake up so early on Sunday morning to rush to DC? For some people it’s a 30 minute drive! Why come to Discipleship training after a long day of work? Why pray each Friday night when the rest of the world is basically sound asleep? 

L-O-V-E! Love! We are recipients of unimaginable love! Emmanuel, God with us, is an expression of God’s love for us! The cross is the expression of God love for us! The community we have right now is an extension of His love for us! So we see in the life of Jesus, the overflow of God’s love towards us. And love naturally leads to commitment! Jesus’ love moved him to be committed to give it all up for you and I! And we say, Jesus is worth it all! We love him because he first loved us! And out of an abundance of love, we are committed to Him.

Christian commitment is rooted in love. We are committed to awaken the laity by training devoted disciples of Jesus to impact the world! Nothing happens until a commitment is made. Jesus did nothing half-heartedly; we ought to be the same!

I recently shared in my message a story about the Alps in Europe. Half way up the mountain is a nice "halfway-house." Climbers are encouraged to stop and rest there before they continue to the top. It is meant to be a resting place before the climbers continue. But many people come to the halfway house and remain there. The enticement of the warmth of the fire place, a cup of hot coffee and the view is to die for! This midpoint is such a warm cozy and enticing place that many people come to the half way house and relinquish their original goal of reaching  the top... they are half-way committed. 

I imagine, people are laughing and singing and sharing stories for the first hour in the half way house. But then the whole place is silenced as they look to the top and wonder what it would have been like to reach the top. Soon they may start to see the first group that made it to the top coming down with laughter and stories of what they saw and the whole half-way house with warmth of the fire, hot coffee and the view become quiet, uneasy, and dissatisfied! Why? Because people who once had a vision for the top settled for the half way house!

Commitment is an indispensable character that keeps us keeping on when the going gets tough. Commitment wakes us up in the wee hours of the morning when others are sleeping. Commitment makes a freshman bake pastry for the church every week. Commitment makes us set up to welcome the new comers to the church. Commitment keeps us up all night to prepare for the worship set! Commitment is a quality we cannot do without. Commitment helps us to find satisfaction and love in life when others are wondering what it would have been like!

Someone once said, “The way to success is built on a hill, no place is provided for a stop, it requires less effort to remain at the bottom but you will see so much more at the top!”

People say, “I am too busy for this or that.” I see lots of people busy doing nothing. Or if they are doing something, it’s not worth anything, which is basically nothing! 

Martin Luther King Jr. once stated "if a man has been called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep the street even as Beethoven played music and Michelangelo painted, he should sweep the street until all the host of heaven and earth will stand and say 'here lived a street sweeper.’"

Are you committed to give your best for the glory of the One who is the best? Today we celebrate communion. Let us remember Jesus, who was committed to each one of you because of love! Let us express our love for Him through our commitment for His vision to extend His community through disciple making!

“For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2

What was Jesus’ joy? To glorify the Father first and foremost, and to see you and I enter the fullness of joy in Him! May our commitments in life bring the greatest glory to Him and blessings to those around us! Happy New Year!