This past week, an epic showdown took place that has been much anticipated for a very long time.  This battle has been talked about, blogged about, speculated about for months.  People have gotten into huge arguments over which side is right, which side is the one they are pulling for.  No, I am not talking about the Republican or Democratic debates.  I am talking about the preview for the new “Captain America: Civil War” movie due to release in May 2016.
I’ve been a comic book fan for quite a long time.  I can talk about comic book characters and story arcs longer than most people can talk about anything.  I know more about Wolverine’s origin story than my own children.  I have a collection of comic books stored in four huge plastic bins in my old bedroom in my parents’ house in NJ that I refuse to let my mom throw out.  I’ll be 33 years old this year.  My mom hates me.
We have this nook in the entryway of our home that my wife Mina likes to decorate with seasonal paraphernalia like garlands and bells at Christmas.  I make sure that a Batman figure is prominently exhibited in front of the display.  Whenever Mina takes it down, I promptly put it back up despite her warnings of impending death.  My wife hates me.
My kids have tons of super hero Legos and other figurines.  I get really upset with them when they mix up the pieces and lose them.  I yell at them and make them put them back in the right places and play with them “with the respect due to Silver Surfer and Green Lantern.”  My kids hate me.
Some people might say, “David, it’s time to grow up.  Let’s move on from comic books and focus on, you know, raising your children.”  To them, I’d respond, “Is being a grown up that fun?  Is it really that much better to let go of things you used to love as a child but is frowned upon now that you’re older?  Am I supposed to stop laughing at fart jokes now too?”  As the apostle Paul said, “BY NO MEANS!”
Sometimes, we the church take being a Christian too seriously.  We sit around and debate matters of theology and church business as if we are the very gatekeepers of all that is holy.  We sit in service and worship with frowns on our face, perhaps in concentration, but where is the joy?  Where is our childlike faith?  Where is our unbridled excitement and anticipation to be with our Father?  Maybe for some of us, we’ve been at this “church” thing too long.  Maybe for some of us, we feel like God stuff has to be serious stuff – this is the Creator of FOREVER we’re talking about, right?
Yes, this is all true.  And 1 Corinthians 13:11 says “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.”  But I think this has to do with matters of spiritual maturity, not necessarily the posture of our heart before our Father.  As a father myself, nothing makes me happier than when my kids are happy…especially when they’re just happy to be with me.  So while we should all be growing up into adults in terms of spiritual maturity, let’s remain children in our joy and anticipation of being with our Father.
Also, who wants to watch Captain America: Civil War with me?  My mom, wife, and kids all refuse to go.

From Pastor David’s Heart
March 13, 2016

This past week, I said goodbye to one of my good friends as he moved on to the next chapter in his life.  Ok that sounds kinda morbid like he died but actually he just moved to Kansas City.  You guys know him as Pastor Keeyoung.
In the past, I used to have a lot of trouble dealing with change.  When I was younger, I never wanted to go far away from home and I always got upset whenever one of my friends moved away.  In fact, when I first moved to Maryland from NJ, I used to go back to the land of pizza and bagels at least once, sometimes even twice once a month just so I could see my friends again.  I tried convincing my parents to send me to Rutgers University, the equivalent of 13th grade in NJ, so I could stay close to home instead of going to UVA which seemed millions of miles away.  (In hindsight, that decision turned out ok… hehe hi, Mina!  I guess parents are right sometimes)
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve either grown more accustomed to change or just accepted it as a part of life.  There are moments it still hits me, like when I look at my oldest son, Josiah, and realize he’s about to turn 4.  I remember when he was born and looked like an alien and couldn’t do anything for himself.  Now he comes into my bedroom and tells me my breath smells.  Even Connor pushes me out of the way when I try to hug him sometimes.  They have become toddler teenagers already.
But change is a part of life.  And one of the reasons I’ve come to accept change better is because I recognize that it’s a necessary part of growth.  Particularly as a pastor of the young adult group, I’ve seen so many people come and go to our church the past few years as part of obedience to the Lord.  And while selfishly, I’ve always wanted them to stick around, I know that their leaving is part of God’s plan for their life.  God has always done the same thing; whether it’s Abraham’s obedience in leaving Harran, Paul’s obedience in going all over Europe and Asia, God is constantly calling many of us to go.  This is not to say that staying somewhere is disobedience to God – in fact, staying somewhere is a calling itself and sometimes even more difficult to obey!  But the truth is, staying or going are decisions mature men and women of faith need to deal with at periods of transition.  By ignoring the tugging at our hearts or the wrestling we need to do with the Lord, we are simply putting our heads in the sand and not living out the full lives that Jesus died to give us, lives worthy of the calling we have received (Ephesians 4:1).
So, even as I said goodbye to my friend, my heart was filled with more joy and excitement than sadness.  I have no claim on his life, on his future any more than I do on any of your lives.  We all belong to the Lord and our tomorrows are His.  How can we say no to the One who always says yes to us?  He has our future in His hands, and if we say He’s a good good Father, then why wouldn’t we obey Him?  Romans 8:28 says “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  As Deuteronomy 31:8 states, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”  So I won’t.
Though there will be an empty space on my couch where Keeyoung used to take naps, I’m at peace knowing that he’s gone because God said to go.  Besides, now Frank can fully stretch out on the couch without worrying about kicking Keeyoung’s head.  By the way, Frank, you’re not allowed to move anywhere.

From Pastor David’s Heart
January 17, 2016

*Note: many portions of this column are tongue in cheek.  Especially the title.  I love teleworking.  Mostly because I don’t do any real work but shhh…
I don’t know about you guys, but frankly, I love when the pope visits DC.  I got to work from home for three days this week!  Thanks to the Holy See!  (What the heck is a See anyway.  If I were the pope, I’d have people refer to me by a much better nickname like the AllFather or the Super Robe or the White Wizard.  I’ve been reading too many comic books.)
The reason I got to work from home was because of the potential traffic gridlock caused by blocked off streets and massive amounts of tourists that was anticipated, so my employer decided to allow employees to telework if they needed to.  I heard some people were planning on sleeping at work or going in at noon and staying past midnight just to avoid traffic.  Because let’s be honest, driving in traffic in this area makes one really appreciate gun control laws.  But ironically, for those that did have to commute, it didn’t really turn out to be that bad.
Maybe it was because of the amount of employers approving telework in anticipation of the traffic or people changing their commuting schedules to avoid any issues.  Maybe it was divine providence because the pope really does have a landline upstairs.  Whatever the reason, those that did brave the outside during the pope’s visit probably had a much easier commute than expected.  For a region that prides itself on having only 1 road between Maryland and Virginia, that’s pretty good!  (In other news, seriously, get it together Maryland and Virginia.  Build a bridge or something.  It’s not that hard.)
Often times, we’re so much more afraid of what the consequences we imagine could be than what reality actually turns out to be.  In matters of faith, this is probably a concept many of us church-going Christians are all too familiar with.  “But if I commit to an oikos group, my Saturdays will never be free.”  “But if I tell people I’m a Christian, they might expect me to be good all the time.”  “But if I go to a missions trip, I might have to… do stuff... and not be able to shower.”  Yes, these are all very true potential consequences, except the showering part – this is purely optional but highly recommended for the sake of your teammates as well as the gospel.
But, in Christianity, there is no such thing as teleworking.  Jesus’ Great Commission is not a message to a select few super Christians.  The Bible is not a book to be read only by Christian nerds.  Our faith is not meant to be a lamp hidden under a bowl.  We are supposed to live what we believe no matter what the consequences.
And the truth is, the consequences are never really as horrible as they seem.  On a personal level, some of my greatest experiences of true vulnerability and community have been within an oikos context.  Telling people I’m a Christian at work has allowed me to share my faith with those I might never have spoken to about Jesus.  And every missions trip I’ve been on, not only have I showered (except that 1 time when I wanted to see how black my scalp could get), but I’ve seen God move incredibly in the lives of others as much as myself.  I also know for a fact that many others in our church have had similar if not even greater outcomes.
So, church, let’s step out in faith and say yes to the Lord in things both big and small.  No doubt, there is potential for some traffic on the 495 of our souls (my old English professor just threw up).  But the truth could be so much sweeter than what we fear.

From Pastor David’s Heart
September 27, 2015

I went to the zoo this past week with my family. Nobody told me it was going to be the hottest day of the year. And nobody told me that they

decided to build the zoo on a hill. That was a really smart idea. Also, why is food at the zoo so expensive? Are these burgers made out of real

pandas?
Although I have a lot of complaints (which is kind of my thing – ask my wife Mina), it was worth it because my kids had such a good time.  We

were there for 5 hours and neither wanted to leave.  After a few temper tantrums, threats of abandoning them in the lion’s cage, and good old

fashioned physical dragging through the parking lot, we finally managed to corral our kids into the car, where they promptly passed out for the

entire ride home, only to wake up full of rage and energy as soon as we opened the garage door.  Being a parent is fun.
But despite all the fun we had as a family, going to the zoo is always kind of depressing for me.  Seeing these animals caged behind walls, subject

to the stares, jeers, and pounding on the glass (that would be my son’s favorite way to try to engage the animals) was really a sad sight to see. 

Many of the animals we saw had their backs turned or were hidden strategically, almost as if they knew that people were trying to stare at them

and they didn’t want to engage them.  Especially during meal times, which I guess makes sense – nobody likes someone staring at their face while

they’re chewing; it’s extremely uncomfortable.
And that’s why I don’t like going to the zoo.  Regardless of whether or not the animals were born in captivity or the wild, they have an innate

sense that they do not belong in a cage.  And it’s sad to see animals who should be roaming their own territories in total freedom locked up to

serve as entertainment for ogling sweaty strangers.  It’s almost as if they know their lives are limited – when you make eye contact with them, you

can almost tell how oppressed they feel.
In reality, people are in the same position as these zoo animals.  We live most of our lives caged within the confines of this world, living our lives

within the boundaries of what the world tells us we can or cannot do, how we should live, what’s expected of us, what’s appropriate, etc.  And we

believe that we are resigned to certain fates, certain destinies, and we cannot change them.  But as Christians, there is so much more for us.  Jesus

came to give us “life and life abundantly,” to set us free from the world we live in to allow us to step out in absolute freedom, joy, and grace into

a new life that is so much greater than the one we had.  But for many of us Christians, even after we have been saved, we still live our lives the

same way we did before we met Christ.  We don’t realize that there is so much more for us, not only in the next world to come, but in this very

world today.  And that is a tragedy.
If the zoo animals could, they would all escape and return to their lives in the wild the first chance they get.  Jesus has come to give us such an

opportunity to be set free from our mundane, worldly lives and wildly pursue a greater life with him in reckless abandonment.  Will we choose

what is greater?  Or will we stay in our own cages?

 
From Pastor David’s Heart
August 2, 2015

I went to get a pedicure with my wife Mina a couple weeks ago.  It was highly uncomfortable.  Not only because I was the only man in there and women were secretly laughing at me (I’m used to that – I get my hair cut at hair salons, have bought clothing at Forever 21, and in general, have experienced girls laughing at me, Mina included, as a daily experience) but because it feels weird to have someone touch your feet like that.  I’ve never had anyone handle my feet this way before.  The closest I have come to experience someone massaging my feet is when I try to rub my calloused toe on Mina and she punches my foot.  It’s quite soothing.
So, I had to distract myself.  I tried watching whatever was playing on TV, but it was “The Notebook”, which is probably one of the worst chick flicks ever made.  And I’m not biased against chick flicks – you are talking to the guy whose very first DVD purchase was “You’ve Got Mail” starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan (Side note: you know you’re old if you hear the movie title and automatically hear the sound of dial-up.  Also, if you know what dial-up is.)  But the movie just does not do the book any justice!  (Hmmm… maybe I shouldn’t have admitted that I read the book.)  In any case, I had to resort to playing a game on my phone just so I could focus on something other than the woman handling my feet and making fun of me to her co-worker while Mina took pictures of my discomfort because my wife’s favorite pastime is laughing at my pain.
Afterwards, I thought about how we as Christians believe the washing of feet is such an intimate act.  Partially because it’s so utterly humbling – feet are disgusting things – but mostly because our Lord did this very act – he knelt down before his disciples and washed their feet: disgusting, calloused, smelly, hairy, and all.  Even the feet of Judas were wiped clean.
And I wonder how the disciples reacted.  We know that good old Peter first tried to refuse it, then asked Jesus to basically give him a backrub at a Korean spa.  But I wonder if the others responded the same.  Were they as uncomfortable as I was at the nail salon?  Were they ticklish?  Did they refuse eye contact?  Did they feel guilt or shame knowing how dirty their feet were?
The truth is, Jesus washes our feet every day.  Because every day, he forgives us our sins.  He takes the filth and grime around our hearts, our hearts that are so not used to being touched and warmed and massaged, and wipes them clean with his own blood and tears.  When I stop to think about it, that makes me just as uncomfortable as any pedicure.  But we don’t often stop and think about it, do we, church?
I have a friend who has gone to missions in India to work with the Devadasi, a group of women in Hindu culture who are trapped in their station in life as temple prostitutes.  In a society with no social mobility, girls born into the lowest caste of poverty and insignificance are dedicated to a Hindu goddess and serve the rest of their life in sex work to provide a means for their family.  At one of the conferences put together by a local missionary to encourage these women, my friend and his other short-term missionaries sat the women down and washed their feet, one by one.  At first the women protested – the caste they are in is literally called “the Untouchables.”  But soon, their protests gave way to tears as men and women from a faraway land touched their filthiest body parts with a tenderness and love that they had never experienced before.  And in that touch, many of them saw Jesus for the first time in their lives.
For women (and men) who get pedicures all the time, it’s easy to get over the discomfort of someone touching your feet.  For us, who are forgiven all the time and take grace for granted, it’s easy to forget that there was a cost to our forgiveness and mercy.  But there’s even grace for our forgetfulness.  And even better, we can share in that grace with others too.  Let’s go wash some feet, church.

From Pastor David’s Heart
June 28, 2015

Suffering has dominated the headlines this past week.  Whether it was the devastating 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Nepal that has claimed over 6,000 lives and 130,000 homes or the massive protests occurring in Baltimore as well as other cities, the news cycle has had no shortage of heart-wrenching messages to deliver.  So much so that the disgusting work of ISIS in the Middle East continuing to murder, kidnap, rape, torture, and sell fellow human beings has gone largely unmentioned.
It’s easy to despair in situations like these.  I’m not sure what kind of person you are, but I’m a pessimist and a realist at heart.  My first thoughts upon hearing terrible news like Nepal or Freddie Gray is to ask God, “Lord, why did this have to happen?  When are these things gonna change?”  And it’s really easy for me to get down and feel like there’s nothing I can do to change the world.  What can I do to help people thousands of miles away who have literally lost everything they own and have no idea where their next meal is coming from or where they will sleep tonight?  What can I do to break down a system of racism and indifference towards people of a certain color and socioeconomic background that has been established by the very political and social infrastructure of this country?  What can I do to change the world?
One answer is – not much.  As an individual, there’s not a lot that this simple man can do.  I have no power.  I have no authority.  I can barely manage my own life – how am I supposed to fix anyone else’s?
But there’s another answer to that question if we call ourselves Christians.  And that answer is to save the world.  As Christians, we believe in a living God who loves His creation and desires for the reconciliation and restoration of all things.  We believe in a God who will “wipe every tear from [our] eyes” (Revelation 7:17).  We believe in a God who commands us to “not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).  We believe in a God who says that “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).  This is the God we follow, this is the God who will save this world.
Education will not save this world.  We are more educated now than we have ever been.  Politics will not save this world.  Look at the rise and fall of all the empires, political movements, and even the current state of affairs in the United States to see what politics has done to improve the world.  There is literally nothing that can save this world from itself other than the redeeming, restoring, reconciling, revealing love of Jesus Christ evidenced by the cross.
Of all the news coverage I saw online of the chaos going on in Baltimore, one of the most striking was when a reporter asked a pastor who was surveying the aftermath of his church’s community service buildings being burned down, “What do you see?”  And the pastor replied “I see revival.  I see the opportunity to rebuild from the ashes.  I see a Church that's been resilient… I see us coming back even bigger and better than before.”  This is who we are.  We are the church.  We are literally the body of the resurrected Christ in the world today.  We are the ones who bring the kingdom of heaven wherever we go.  We are the ones who have the power of the Holy Spirit flowing out of us to touch the lives of everyone we know.  This is who we are.  The task we have is clearer today than ever before.  Will we meet the challenge?
There is a Jewish proverb that states, “I ask not for a lighter burden, but for broader shoulders.”  Thank God for the shoulders of Jesus Christ that were broad enough to be stretched upon a cross for our sins.  Thank God for the shoulders of the church that are broad enough to be stretched across the world to save it.  Thank God for our shoulders that, though they may seem small, are doing what God has given us the strength to do, whether it be to give sacrificially, pray unceasingly, and love inconveniently.

From Pastor David’s Heart
May 3, 2015

I’ve been traveling a lot for work these days.  When I was younger, I used to enjoy it.  Spend a night in a random city, stay in a clean hotel room where you don’t have to make your bed, order room service, call it a night.  I used to even prolong business trips and leave in the morning so I could sneak in an extra night of free room service.  Now that I’m older and I have a family, I hate traveling and would much rather just be home.  Besides, I don’t make my own bed at home anyway!
It’s funny how priorities change as we get older.  Though I don’t see myself as very old (Timothy may disagree), I also don’t see myself as very young (Destiny may disagree).  But one thing that’s become clear is how different the things I care about have become.  Instead of expensive expensed meals, I’d rather be picking leftover food off my son’s plate as my wife chases him around the house trying to get him to finish his dinner.  Instead of staying up late watching movies ordered to my hotel room, I’d rather watch my kids sleep through the grainy images of a camera monitor.
I wonder if my faith has changed as well.  Everything I read about the movers and shakers of the Christian faith, be it in missions or in culture, seems to hinge around the younger generation.  David Platt became the youngest senior head pastor of a mega church at the age of 26.  Hudson Taylor first went to China as a missionary at the age of 21.  The Student Volunteer movement was an organization founded in the late 1800s that sent hundreds of college students and recent graduates into the missions field and was a huge part in shaping how missions exists in the world at large today.  And this is even true biblically.  King David is believed to have been 12-16 years old when he was anointed King of Israel by the prophet Samuel.  Samuel himself was dedicated to the Lord at the tender age of 12.  Thus, it’s clear that God definitely uses and moves in the heart of our young people to build His kingdom. 
So what does this mean for our church?  For the younger people, it’s obvious – go out and live radically for Jesus!  There will never be another time in your life like now, where you will have the maximum amount of freedom and passion to chase after God.  But for those of us who trend towards the older group, does this mean we’re done living passionately for God?  Are we simply supposed to be satisfied with growing older and taking care of our families and keeping up with the Jones’s?
Heck no.  There’s nothing wrong with taking care of your family and raising up godly children who love the Lord.  But I believe if we feel that’s our ONLY role in the kingdom of God, then we are selling God, and ourselves, very short.  Even though God certainly uses the younger generations to do great things for His kingdom, I believe that He’s got plenty for us older folks as well.  Abraham was 75 years old when he departed Haran for the Promised Land.  Elizabeth is believed to have been 88 when she gave birth to John the Baptist.  And if you’re looking for something a bit younger, this guy named Jesus is believed to have started his earthly ministry at the age of 33.
So, church, let’s not lose ourselves in the world and the rat race.  Rather, let us focus on God and “let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)  I challenge you, if you had dreams as a young man or woman but have given up on them since you’ve gotten older, dream again.  Ask for greater vision.  Pursue deeper intimacy with the Lord.  Even though my priorities may have changed, one thing I know to be true is still the same: God has big things for all of us but we have to be willing participants in HIS story to make HISTORY.

From Pastor David’s Heart
March 15, 2015

These days, because I have very limited free time, I’m very selective about the movies I watch.  I don’t want to waste 2-3 hours of my life on a bad movie!  I could use that time for sweet precious sleep!  My wife and I usually disagree on which movies to watch though – she likes the serious, introspective dramas while I just want to zone out and laugh at crude jokes.  You can tell how different we are by our favorite movies: hers are “Braveheart” and “Forrest Gump” while mine are “My Sassy Girl” and “You’ve Got Mail.”  Don’t cry, Shopgirl, don’t cry.  (You can tell which side of the generation gap you stand on if you hear “you’ve got mail” and think of the sound of a modem.  Also, if you know what a modem is.)
This is why when I watch a movie that’s not particularly good or too long, I get really annoyed.  I just wasted 3 hours of my life that I will never get back just to watch a bunch of hobbits in awful British accents run around like a bunch of ninnies!  Don’t waste my time with this stuff, Peter Jackson!  And why do all elves look the same?  Racist!
We all have similar attitudes with our time.  Maybe it’s because we’re living in an age of instant gratification where the speed of 4G LTE brings us anything we want in seconds.  Maybe it’s because our schedules are so full nowadays that it’s always just gogogogogo.  Or maybe we’re just spoiled.  But this attitude is often reflected towards church as well.
It seems like we have the same sort of consumeristic approach towards church as we do with movie choices or plans for Saturday night.  If it can entertain me for a few hours and is a better option than anything else going on at the same time, then fine.  Otherwise, don’t bother.  And believe me, I understand this very well.  Even as a pastor, sometimes I wish I didn’t have to go to another church function and just go home and hang out with my family or watch “Tangled” with my wife (a movie we can both agree on).  But honestly?  That attitude shows just how much we really are in need of more Jesus in our lives.
Now, let me caveat that church does not equal Jesus.  Going to a retreat every month, coming out to early morning prayer every day, participating in a weekly small group meeting 3x a week WILL NOT get you into heaven and WILL NOT help you know Jesus more.  These are just “things to do.”  They do not equate to God.
However, it is specifically at “things” like these where we have opportunities to encounter God with our church community in ways that we do not throughout the rest of our days.  Let’s be honest – how many of us are truly encountering Christ on the regular?  How many of us feel like there’s not a single area of our lives where we need the Lord?  (And not in a “God, give me more money” kind of way).  Yet despite the fact that we know in our heart of hearts that we do need more Jesus, we still go out of our way to make excuses or prioritize tons of other things over church.
I challenge you, church.  When you see an announcement for the fasting retreat, do you inwardly groan?  When you hear about a praise and prayer event, do you automatically pretend like you’re busy?  When you are invited to receive prayer, do you start inching towards the doorway?  Again, I get the sentiment.  But that feeling comes from our attitude towards “things.”  If we can channel our focus on Jesus instead, I think our hearts will change.  And frankly, there’s nothing that can change our hearts other than more Jesus.
So please sign up for the fasting retreat.  There are no good movies out anyway.

From Pastor David’s Heart
January 25, 2015

As Christmas is fast approaching, everyone starts to get excited.  Whether it’s because of presents, breaks from school, spending time with family, spending time AWAY from co-workers, whatever the reason – most of us look forward to Christmas as the most anticipated holiday of the year.  Now, one way to take this column would be to say – “BUT WE FORGET JESUS!”  But I don’t think that’s true.  We talk about Jesus all year round – if you are forgetting Jesus at Christmas, I don’t think we’re doing a very good job as a church, and that’s a whole ‘nother issue.
But what I will say is – let’s not forget those who have less.  Christmas is a time meant for family, giving, and thanksgiving.  However, if all of our focus is inward, I believe we neglect the gospel message that we are meant to bring to the world.  Especially during this time when there’s so much to enjoy, can we really celebrate when we have brothers and sisters around us suffering?  This is not meant to guilt people into forgoing their Christmas dinners and giving all the food away (although if you want to, don’t let me stop you).  In Micah 6:8, the Bible says “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”  Are we doing that this holiday season?  Are we acting justly and loving mercy and walking humbly with our God?
Maybe all it takes is to start a new tradition.  Before opening presents, set one aside that can be donated to a local charity.  Before Christmas dinner, stop by a local food bank to serve those in need.  Perhaps it’s delivering a hot meal to a family in need.  The fact is, we don’t need to travel overseas to help people – according to the Capital Area Food Bank, there are 78,000 people in Montgomery County who are food insecure.  78,000 of our neighbors who are unable to feed their families a full meal.  Where is the justice, mercy, humility for them?
As I consider more and more what it means to be a good parent and am struggling with how to share the gospel with my kids, one thing I know I want to convey is how blessed we are – not just materially, but with the gift of salvation.  We who are rich, can we not give more to those who are lacking?  Jesus in his parable of the sheep and the goats refers to what we do for the “least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”  We won’t forget Jesus this Christmas.  Let’s not forget the least of these as well.
P.S.  If you have a heart for serving others or feel convicted to do more for your neighbors, please consider joining the newly formed Community Service ministry led by Eugene Rhee.  We are not looking for people to commit all their free time to the causes we partner with – rather we just want people who have a heart to love our brothers and sisters on the margins.  Please consider joining as we start up next year and have more announcements!

From Pastor David’s Heart
December 21, 2014

There’s been a lot of recent news about elections all over Facebook, which is my primary source of information.  This may explain why I’m pathetically unaware of what’s going on in the world but am an expert on what Instagram filter is best for pictures of fancy dinners.  (Always go with Nashville.  You can’t go wrong.)
Politics is a touchy subject for many of us.  It arouses our passions and emotions, and draws sharp dividing lines between people with differing opinions.  I remember one argument I got into with one of my best friends because he was a single-issue voter which I found to be silly.  (Note that this argument happened many years ago and do not reflect my current views.  If you’re curious, my views now largely revolve around indifference.)
I don’t believe in using the pulpit to encourage one’s political leanings.  Trying to persuade a certain voting outcome under the subtext of faith seems irresponsible to me.  That doesn’t mean that the church should avoid issues that involve politics – we should be a standard bearer and truth proclaimer when it comes to issues of morality, compassion, charity, social goodwill, etc.  Granted, not everyone may agree with what the Bible says, which is our rights as free Americans and free-thinking human beings designed in the image of God.  However, this does not mean that God does not have a specific desire and agenda for the way our lives should be, and to ignore His word and truth is a very dangerous game.
That said, while I am encouraged by the desire, especially in our younger generation, of our society to vote and try to shape the landscape of our country with the power of voting, as Christians, ultimately, our power does not lie in our ability to mobilize a strong voting turnout or politic for certain government representatives.  Rather, the power to change our country, our society, and our world comes from getting on our knees in prayer.
In 1 Timothy 2, Paul says, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”  Paul’s desire is first and foremost for all of us to pray.  And the purpose of these prayers – of praying for our leaders to make godly decisions, of praying for policy changes that are in favor of God’s commands, of praying for God-fearing men and women to be placed in positions of leadership – is ultimately to save people.  It’s not to live in a land where I can pay less taxes so I can have a more comfortable life for my family.  It’s not to live in a land where I have the freedom to do whatever I want because TEAM AMERICA!  It’s to save people to Christ.
The truth is, there is a lot that I would like changed in America (and the world).  There is a great need to vote and try to protect our society from… really ourselves.  But rather than proudly wearing, “I voted!” stickers once every couple of years, I would rather our church simply pray every day for the leaders of our municipalities, counties, states, and country.  I’d like to see what a bloc of praying Christians can do to change a nation rather than a huge voting turnout.  This is the way our God works.  And frankly, at the end of the day, I’m pretty sure God’s party, which isn’t Blue or Red, is going to win. 

From Pastor David’s Heart
November 9, 2014

I spend more time reading Internet comments than is probably healthy.  There’s some sick pleasure about going to a random YouTube video and seeing how the comments quickly descend into inane arguments about Obama, Miley Cyrus, the Illuminati, or good ol’ racial slurs.  Who says the Age of Enlightenment is over?
I’m especially intrigued when the comments circle around matters of faith.  Sometimes, people present well-reasoned, thoughtful questions while other times, people just start talking about a flying spaghetti monster and insult your mother – and those are the so-called Christians!  But I remember one comment that distinctly stood out to me.  The commenter said, “How can Christians read the same book over and over again and not go crazy?  That is the definition of insanity.”
The commenter did have a point.  While the definition of insanity isn’t necessarily rote repetition, I can understand why someone might view doing the same thing over and over again fruitlessly as a sign of dementia.  But the key word in that statement is “fruitlessly.”  While I’ve read the entire Harry Potter series probably over a dozen times and the Lord of the Rings series nearly 20 times (as I’ve mentioned before, I was really popular in high school), none of these books have ever bettered my life, changed my heart, or helped me love my God and people more.
As Christians, we believe the Bible is the living Word of God – that God literally speaks to His people through the words written on these pages.  And I can personally testify to this truth – the times that God has spoken reassurances and peace to my heart through His promises in the Word, the times that God has revealed His heart to me through stories of His interaction with people throughout history, the times that God has challenged me and made me open my eyes to His truths.  Even reading the same exact verse but at a different time in life, I can hear God speaking different insights that I never had before.  This is the living Word of God.  This is how we draw nearer to our Father and grow in understanding of His character.  But we rarely seek out God’s word with that in mind.
My son loves the Disney movie “Cars” more than anything in this world and has about 100 toy cars to prove it.  He sleeps with cars, takes baths with cars, needs to have a car to ride in the car (how meta), will only eat with cars on the table next to him, cries for his cars when they’re not near.  And when you turn on the movie?  Oh boy, get out of his way.  Even though he’s watched it more times than I’ve read Harry Potter and the Hobbit combined (again, I did have friends in high school), he still loves it and never gets bored. In fact, he can watch the same scene over and over and he’ll still react the same way he did the first time he saw it.  I believe the reason my son can do this is because he really and truly loves “Cars.”  Randomly walking around the house, I can often hear him muttering to himself “I love cars.”  This is not a joke!  And this is why he can watch the same movie again and again – and not be qualified as insane.
If we had the same enthusiasm for Jesus as my son did for “Cars”, we would also approach the Bible with the same kind of excitement and joy we did when we were first saved.  Instead of approaching our quiet times or our Bible studies as something we “have” to do or an obligation to fulfill for the day, what would our spiritual lives look like if we loved the Word as much as we say we love our God?  If we truly believed that the Bible is God’s living Word to us, then reading it every day isn’t an exercise in repetition – it’s visiting with our friend and Savior, and seeing what new truth He has to say to us today.  So, call me crazy if you want, but I want to read my Bible every day.  Harry Potter will have to wait.

From Pastor David’s Heart
September 28, 2014

The other day I almost got into a car accident because I was distracted.  No, it wasn’t because I was texting (although that is very dangerous – seriously!).  No, it wasn’t because I was dancing like a madman to my favorite Kpop song (also dangerous both for car accidents and pride).  It was because I saw a white nose hair in my rearview mirror and was trying to pull it out.
Now, I’m used to white hairs.  I’ve had a bunch, mostly in the back of my head, since I was 10.  This always led to interesting conversations on the first day of classes where inevitably, whoever was sitting behind me would tap me on the shoulder and ask, “Do you know you have white hair?”  To which I would always reply, “Your breath smells,” and turn back around.  I was quite popular in high school.
But a white nose hair was a first!  And I was so shocked at seeing it that I had to pull it out the instant I glimpsed it, in order to a) verify its existence and b) commiserate at my getting older.
I’m not a guy who gets caught up in getting older.  If I die, I die.  It’s ok, I have life insurance.  And frankly, I don’t “feel” old – I’m still “cool,” right, Timothy?  Actually, just asking that question probably precludes me from being “cool.”  Nevermind, Timothy, I don’t care what you think.  (That’s a “cool” attitude, right?)  But even though I never cared about getting older, for some reason this white nose hair was really bothering me and got me freaked out.  I started wondering if I had reached the halfway point of my life.  Would I be able to see my sons graduate college?  Would I be able to see them move into my basement after graduating college?  Would I ever have my retirement home in beautiful New Jersey?  Those are all jokes – of course I’m going to retire to New Jersey, don’t be ridiculous.
I did spend a lot of time thinking about my sons though.  Josiah is 2 and Connor is 0.  They’ve got such a long way to go and I started thinking about what kind of men they’d be when they grow up.  What they would look like (hopefully mom), what their personalities would be like (hopefully mom).  What careers they would have, who they would marry, what their OWN kids would be like.  I was getting so deep into it that I actually had to stop and remind myself that my kids still poop in their own pants.  “Slow down, David.  Before you start worrying about your grandkids, why not enjoy the time you have with them now?”
This reminded me of Dr. Shamblin’s message last year about understanding the times in our lives where we find ourselves in the spiritual desert.  How instead of focusing on the promised land, we should be focused on where we are currently at and what God is doing in our lives at THIS moment versus what may happen tomorrow.  No matter where we are or what we’re going through, God is very purposeful in the situations we find ourselves in, and there’s always a purpose for God.  Oftentimes, we focus so much on the future and worry about what could or could not be that we don’t get to enjoy or learn from what we have in front of us right now.  For me, freaking out about my kids’ futures would preclude me from enjoying their toddler years now.  Tomorrow will come, with all of its worries and stresses whether I want it or not.  But what I do know is that His grace is sufficient for me today… and it will be tomorrow, too.
All this from a white nose hair that turned out to be a booger.  Go figure.

From Pastor David’s Heart
August 17, 2014

This weekend, I attended my second wedding of the year.  My wife, Mina, and I are at the stage in our lives where weddings take up a good deal of our social calendars.  We have potentially six this year though at our peak, I believe we once had eight in a year.  And though weddings can be fun, with two babies at home who will wake you up at an ungodly hour with no regard for what you did the night before, our days of staying out late and hitting the after party are way behind us.  I hope Josiah and Connor appreciate all the sacrifices Mommy and Daddy make for them!  P.S. please let us sleep.
That said, I find weddings somewhat… boring.  Whether it’s because I don’t like getting dressed up or I’m getting too old for this stuff, I’d rather be at home eating fried chicken and watching Josiah run around the house in his diapers while Mina slowly loses her sanity.  Don’t get me wrong – I’m extremely happy for the couple getting married and it’s always good to see friends.  But every wedding seems the same.  Everyone is dressed the same (bride in a white dress, groom in a suit), the sermons are all similar, food is the same (especially at Korean weddings), and awkward dance circles always inevitably take shape amidst a ring of clapping people.  Been there, done that!
One thing that even a cynic like me can recognize though, is what a special day it is for the bride and groom.  One of my favorite things to do at a wedding is look at the groom when the bride walks into the room.  While all eyes are on her, I like seeing how the groom reacts.  If he looks unhappy then, it’s probably not a good sign.  But usually, his face doesn’t disappoint.
This day is all about the bride and groom; it’s their special day!  The wedding day is supposed to be the best day of their lives.  Until marriage begins, in which case every day thereafter is better than the last one, right, guys?
Our approach to church in general and Sundays in particular is similar to my attitude towards weddings.  For those of us who have been going to church for some time, Sundays can be boring – same sermon, same people, same songs – just a routine to go through.  But for the person who comes on Sunday and encounters the living God for the first time, it’s so much more.  It’s their special day – a day of powerful meeting between them and the true lover of their soul.
At weddings, I’m always reminded of my own wedding and how happy I was that day.  I’m reminded of how fortunate I am to be partnered with a woman who knows all my flaws yet still believes in me and supports me unconditionally.  This Sunday, let’s remind ourselves of our own times when we, too, fell in love with Jesus.  Let’s look back and remember how blessed we are and pray that God would rekindle our love once again.  And let’s also lift up a prayer that today would be a special spiritual “wedding” day for a brother or sister next to us too.

From Pastor David’s Heart
June 29, 2014

This Monday is Memorial Day.  Wikipedia, my go-to-source for all information (after the Bible of course), says that “Memorial Day is a US federal holiday wherein the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces are remembered.”  In truth, I never really thought about this holiday, and always lumped it in with other random days off throughout the year.  And I doubt that I’m alone in these kinds of thoughts.  Does anyone even actually know what Labor Day commemorates?  Or Presidents’ Day?  In fact, why limit it to 1 day for all the presidents?  We should definitely have a separate day for Abraham Lincoln at least.  I mean, he abolished slavery and killed vampires!  Why should he get lumped in with scrubs like Franklin Pierce or Chester Arthur? (Thanks, Wikipedia!)  What an insult!
Despite being lumped in with other miscellaneous holidays, Memorial Day is absolutely different though.  There’s some real meaning behind this day.  While someone like me who doesn’t have any immediate family members in the military may not fully appreciate the weight of Memorial Day, at the least I can acknowledge that my life as I know it today would not be as it is without the ultimate sacrifice given by so many.  I will never understand and appreciate how someone who never knew me would willingly give his/her life for me.  While it may not have been a personal connection, rest assured, the sacrifice was immensely personal to him/her and his/her family.  If we don’t have the opportunity to personally thank a member of the armed forces today, church, let’s at least say a prayer for those we know and their families.  May God bring them all home safely.
The sacrifice of our soldiers reminds me so much of the sacrifice that Jesus made too.  The parallels are numerous: dying for those who didn’t/don’t/won’t appreciate you, bravely facing death when the opportunity to flee exists, sacrificing your life for the continued freedom of so many.  However, while we should undoubtedly remember what our soldiers have done for us on this Memorial Day, as Christians, every day should be spent thanking Jesus for the new life he’s given us through the cross and the resurrection.  Christ’s sacrifice is the reason we can live the lives of freedom, joy, revelation, and peace that God offers us every day.  His freely offered submission to death on a cross is the reason we are sitting here today under the grace of God.
In Galatians 2:20, Paul states, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”  Earlier, I mentioned how there is typically personal connection with the soldier who died for us.  But with Jesus, even as he was going to the cross, he knew us and loved us (John 17).  His connection with us was intimately personal.  And so, today, we thank you, Lord.  We remember what you’ve done on the cross.  And like Paul, we say let us live lives by faith in you.

From Pastor David’s Heart
May 25, 2014

Finally, some warm weather!  It seems like we’ve been under a long winter’s spell from a white witch but now we’ve finally been set free by… a sunny lion, I guess?  This analogy is not very good.
Spring has this way of bringing out newness or fresh starts in people.  The onset of the warmer weather and the departure of the paralyzing cold remind us that we’ve got things to do this year!  Time to start doing some yard work.  Time to get outside.  Time to get ready for the summer beach season.  Time to order allergy medicine.  In reality, maybe Spring is when we should actually make our New Year’s resolutions since it ties in so well with this idea of new beginnings.  Also, I’m pretty sure that about 99% of us have already given up on our original January 1 resolutions anyway… don’t worry, I’m not judging you – my own claim that 2014 would be the year of eating better has been pushed to a yet-to-be determined time.
And why shouldn’t we be focused on making changes anew?  Spring is the perfect time to remind us of new life.  As all the snow melts away to uncover the hidden green, and trees start to bear colorful leaves instead of dry cracked branches, we are reminded that even with death, there is always new life being born again.
In the same way, Spring is when we celebrate Easter.  Can there be a more synonymous season for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ?  For us, Jesus’ resurrection symbolizes not only our death to sin but also our new life in Christ.  In fact, not only during Spring or this Easter season, but every day, we need to remind ourselves of this fact.  Every day, we should wake up and commit to the Lord to die to ourselves today that we may live a new kingdom life by the power of the cross.  And Jesus never says, “too bad, you had your chance and you blew it.”  With Jesus, the invitation is always open and His grace is always enough.
So whatever our resolutions were, even if they have died, now is the time to resurrect them.  It’s not too late to go to the gym or read more or whatever else you may have resolved to do in 2014.  And it’s certainly not too late to start the M’Cheyne Bible reading plan that we go through together as a church or commit to a daily prayer schedule.  Wherever we are at, Jesus always gives us the opportunity to come back to him again.  Even now, if there’s a tugging at our hearts or a small desire to recommit some portion of our lives to the Lord, let’s embrace the thawing today.  Spring is here!

From Pastor David’s Heart
April 13, 2014

Last year, when we were in Ecuador for missions, we visited an old Roman Catholic cathedral.  It was several centuries old and one of the most beautiful buildings I’d ever been in.  Huge open doorways at several entrances opened right into the heart of bustling city streets as parishioners quietly sat on ancient benches in quiet contemplation.  And as I walked around the house of worship appreciating the architecture, beauty, and art, it was through these doors that I saw a sight that helped me understand my God a little more.
Sitting on the sidewalk a few feet from the open doors was a woman holding a listless boy.  The child was too big to be held – perhaps 8 or so – but he was fast asleep.  The woman wasn’t begging for money verbally, but her eyes spoke her desperate words well enough.  I had obviously seen beggars before but for some reason, that woman with that child in that setting hit me very differently.
As soon as I saw her, thousands of thoughts rushed through my head.  First, was the sympathy for her and her child’s place in life.  Next was a thought to give her all the money I had, perhaps even going to an ATM to max out my withdrawals.  Then came doubt – would the money even go to her or was this some gang-related scheme to prey on donors – was the child even hers?  Then guilt – even if she only saw a fraction of the money and some gang does take all her donations, isn’t that worth it, to give her a little?  And finally came despair.
God, where are you?  This woman, your daughter, sits inches away from your “house” and she is dying.  Literally, figuratively, spiritually, she is dying.  Where are your angels to protect her?  Where is your healing hand to touch her son?  Where is the church, your body, to feed your sheep?
And it was at that moment that I understood the desperation for Jesus to return.
We live in a dark, cynical world.  Outside the gated communities that we reside in, there is so much suffering in this world.  You don’t have to be a pessimist to believe that there is more pain than not in the world.  As a suburban, middle class church, this is a thought that’s “out of sight/out of mind” but nevertheless, the truth is the truth.  For the majority of this world, life is extremely hard. 
If this is all life is, if this is really all we have in this world, then yes, it’s depressing.  Just as random as some say religion is depending on where you’re born, then we’re supposed to accept that one’s chance at a somewhat happy well-adjusted life is also based on where you’re born?  In the words of the Princess Bride, inconceivable!
This Ash Wednesday we celebrate the beginning of the Lent Season which leads up to Easter, the greatest day in history.  Because of what happened on this day, we as the Church, the body of Christ, can say there is hope in Jesus Christ; there will be an end to the pain and awfulness of today.  We are not lying when we pick up a suffering child or victim, look them in the eye and say, “It will get better.”  Jesus is the reason we have hope.  For when he returns, all the tears, all the pain, all the heartache, suffering, shame, fear will be gone forever.  And it was this hope that I held onto as my prayer of despair became a prayer of desperation.  Jesus… please come back and save your people.  Please come back and set us free.
Come, Lord Jesus, come.

From Pastor David’s Heart
March 2, 2014